The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-21
No FREQ Camp at Chicago!

bill introduced Into the Senate provides
for the establishment OF camp OF instruc-
ton at or near Chicago in August. 1893.
The camp is to be held for fifteen days. and
$l.5OO.OOO Is to DO appropriated Tor it. This
would be at the rate Of 100000 Il day. and is
rather high-priced schooling.
The pupils are to be "such number OF
regulars as the President may direct and
10000 volunteers. who shall be members Of
militia organizations in existence at the
time OF the passage Of the act. one-half OF
whose members at least must volunteer
and who have had ut least three months
previous military instruction and training
The volunteers are to receive no pay for
their services. but transportation, subSiSt-
ence. and medical supplies are to be fur
nished by the United States. No doubt it Is
believed that the chance Of visiting the
Fair on free railroad tickets. with a fort
nights board and lodging at public ex-
pense. will attract the National Guard from
all parts OF the country.
There is nothing in tho bill. apparently.
limiting the stay OF the regulars at Chicago.
and they may remain there for months;
but fifteen days is the period Of tho militia
encampment. and since tho regulars are
instruction. it Is presumably for the benefit
chiefly Of the National Guard that this
scheme is devised
1t is difficult to imagine any other ex-
penditure OF such an amount for the Ma
tional Guard. or Mt least any other that
Congress would authorize. which has SO
little to justify 1t. Joint encampments
OF regulars and militia have often proved
mutually beneficial. tho officers Of the
former getting the opportunity to COM
mand more troops than they are accustom-
cd to. while the citizen soldiers learn some
thing by watching the professionals.
but all this can he done sufficiently.
wherever it Is needed at all. by the assign
ment Of neghboring garrisons Of regulars
to State cncampment. with no extra eX-
pense TO tho Government To move half
the organized militia Of the entire United
States to Chicago for that purpose seems
prapos,erous. The California National
Guard. for example. II IL requires such In
structicn, can always have it at home by an
invitation 10 the regulars OF the Preside.
Angel Island. and Benicia tho Texas mill
Tia by calling on the regulars OF San Au-
tonic. and go on.
Everything OF real importance. common
surute with the expense. can be obtained
by brgading regulars with the troops of n
State in local cncampmrnt. or in u set Of
field man9uvres. The War Department is
always glad to detail officers either as in
spectors or instructors. The tactics for the
rank and file are complete with the schools
Of the company and tho battalion. To
transport $4,000 men from all parts OF the
country. some OF them distances OF 900,
1900. and 1000 miles and back. with the
cost Of their rations and shelter, in order
to give few general and staff officers Il
certain amount of practice. is too absurd.
Besides. about the last place that one
would naturally select for any real work Of
instruction next summer is Chicago. There
is no place In which the temptation would
be so great TO turn the camp into mere
spectacle. 1t is not only to be festival
summer. but Chicago is to be the centre Of
the festival. leaving out Of the account
tho absorption OF much of the attention
aud interest the men by the Worlds