Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-11

LABOR Organic lions Oppose Increase.
The United States army may be increased
by 1000 men under existing law, which
places the number at 10000. Congress ap-
propriates money for only $1,000 The plan
deemed wise by certain far-seeing lcgisla-
tors Is to make the full strength Of the
forces $1,000. That a bill providing for
such an augmentation of 10000 would pass
is extremely unlikely for reasons which
have to do merely with ordinary politics
1t would be. strongly opposed by the great
bodies Of voters composing the labor or
sanizations They would urge against the
measure every reason but the true one.
namely, that they look forward to a time
when they may come into collision with
the federal troops.
II 1t were not for this anticipation they
might well regard an increase of the army
as most desirable, inasmuCh il would
give employment to many thousands of
men who are now idle. The situation here
is not what it IS IN Europe, where men
needed in Industrial pursuits are withdrawn
from their occcpa lions to do military serv-
ice. In this country there is not enough
work to go around. Twenty five thousand
more soldiers would mean 5U,Gn0 pairs of
blankets and lgge acquisitions for clothing
that Is 10 say. more money for the people
who make the clothes ana a better market
for the farmers who produce the wool 1t
more horses. more wagons. more quarters
for troops-in other words. more carpenters
better demand for lumber more wagon
builders, more work for farriers, and so IN.
Conflict Coming.
Yet the labor Organizations would GER
tainly fight AGAINST an increase of the
army. Meanwhile. the business OF import
ing into this country the worst elements
of the population Of Europe goes on steaIi-
ly. The ranks Of the idle on this side Of
the water are being augmented by a con-
tinuCus flow of human beings, who are dis
COntented with the existing order of things
because they are not disposed to work
They settle down in the great towns and
are always ready to take advantage of any
disturbance by riot and pillage. Forty per
cent OF the persons at present confined in
the jails and asylums Of the United States
are of foreign birth. The time Is approach
Ing when all the large cities will have to
be regularly garf'5oned by troops All
signs point to a tremendous insurrectiDn
in the not distant future. which may
amount u a revolution. Probably It will
start IN Chicago, where a preliminary Skin
r!sh has just occurred. Already there is
talk out there Of enlisting Knights of Labor
il the National Guard tor the purpose of
Weakening the militia when the conflict
arrives
Regular troops are cheaper than militia
in more than one way. The National Guard
Is composed of material too good 70 be shot
down in riots. The President may use the
militia of one state u suppress disorder in
another state, but the cost OF transporta-
ton is very heavy. During the recent
trouble II cost more money to move the
ninth infantry, United States army frGn,
New York to Chicago than would have
been required to enlist and equip five full
companies of sixty men each. SIX troops
Of cavalry, with horses. were fetched alI
the way from Fort N!obrara Neb. and
four troops Of cavalry and three battalions
Of artillery came. with their guns. from
Il Gus.
Gen. L9gau's Plan.
Years ago John y. Logan urged that the
army be increased to $1,000 men lie was
in favor Of consolidating the troops at
strongly manned posts along the PRINCIPAL
railways and near the big cities. That is
what viii be done eventually II IS no
longer necessary to have small yarr!sons of
soldiers scattered all over She west COR pro-
lection against Indians. At the same time
it does not 90 to withdraw the troops from
the Indian country for the suppression of
riot In cities. The moral effect of the pres
erce OF soldiers on the frontier does more
to keep the Indians in order than killing
them. It IS only occasionally that an In
dian is killed: he has TO he hunted like a
bird, and Is hard to get. AS quickly a. the
troops are removed however It is custom
AIRY for these amiable aborigines to go off
on raids. burn every isola ed ranch muir
der the men, scalp the children and sub
ject the women to unspeakable outrages
On one occasion, when the Secretary of
War proposed to withdraw most Of the
troops for a time from certain frontier
posts. Cen. Crook said to him:
For every soldier Summoned away you
will sacrifice the life Of a white woman"
An army officer was telling the writer
yesterday that once upon time he burned
a string of six white women'5 scalps taken
from the shed~of slain warrior
The employment which an augmentation
Of the army by 25Gn0 men would give to
that number of aDlc-0Jdie1 young fellows
now lacking work might well be regarded as
most deSirabl .he lot of the common sol
der in Jncle Sans service is to be enviel
He is well paid. wen clothed and wei fed.
with no very hard labor To- do under or1i-
nary circumstances. His usual duties con-
siat in standing guard. practicinc marks
m8rship. for which prizes are given, and
drilling. II ia cavalry regiment he must
also devote an hour each day to grooming
his horse, which he may regard as If il
were his own special property, since no
body else IS permitted to use it.
The Soldiers Ijfr.
The soldier has good deal of leisure time
OF his own DISPOSAL At 3 pm. his days
work IS done usually. and liberty to leave
the post until the next morning may be OBJ
tanned by asking for It. Everything posi-
bic is done to provide for his amusement
The post ''Canteon' is a coy restaurant and
bar ROOM though nothing stronger than
beer is sold there. The cantesn is MANAGED
on cooperative plan, so that prices are
very low, and the profits are divided I'D
among the men. There is also a club for
the men at the post with pleasant rooms in
which are billiard tables. the newspapers
and other facilities for entertainment The
soldier gets his food, clothing and lodging
for nothing. His pay. which serves for
pocket money. is s13 a month for the first
year. Sl4 for the second year. $40 for the
third year. SIG for the fourth year and 81
when Of ict
ment expires. If he does his work well he
is likely to rise to the position of a petty
officer. with private room to himself and
increased emolument.
An increase of the army would make room
for n good many young men as commits
sinnal nfinera They would ha Id