Militia Man

He might go to Hell for it, admitted Major General William Graham Everson, husky, square-jawed Baptist preacher, when he took the job two years ago of Chief of the Militia Bureau of the War Department. But, said he, "I won't be traveling a lonesome road."

Last week Major General Everson had finished up his militia job and the likelihood of his going to Hell was about to be materially reduced. He was resigning his post to take the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Denver. Looking back over his administration of the National Guard, for which the U. S. spends in the neighborhood of $27,000,000 a year, he wrote: "Never was the National Guard more thoroughly organized, equipped and trained than it is today. Having accomplished the major missions that challenged when this appointment was accepted, believing it unwise to initiate new and larger military projects during this unusual season of economic readjustment ... I respectfully tender my resignation."

Born 52 years ago in Ohio, Major General Everson served in the Spanish-American War, was ordained a Baptist minister in 1901, fought on the Italian front in the World War, was the American Legion's chaplain in 1923-24. As head of the National Guard, he supervised 51 state and territorial organizations.* During his two years in office. Major General Everson flew more than 100,000 mi. throughout the land, earned the name of Flying Parson. He had held pastorates in Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Kentucky.

*First to call itself a National Guard was New York's 7th Regiment, now socially distinguished and officially called the 107th infantry.

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