The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-28

There nave Deen many tlTneS Wnen
the emergency would have justified the
doing of 1t IL 1t had been possible. In
the War of 1912 the Canadian cam
paign was entered upon with the ex-
press agreement upon the part of New
York and other border states that the
state troops would cooperate with the
army of the United States. The gov
ernment did not assume either to COM
mand or control these troops. although
the situation was one of absolute des-
peration in the end. For when the
crisis came not a man OF the state
troops would cross the border. The
battle of Lewiston was fought under
the very eyes of 5000 New York state
troops who, though not a mile away
from the battlefield, permitted our
little army to be slaughtered, and the
campaign turned into disastrous de-
feat, rather than go beyond the bound
ary Of their state.
Again during the dark days of the
rebellion, although a number of state
organizations volunteered and were ac-
cepted for short periods of service,
there was no instance where the gov
ernment assumed the power to order
them into the field. Is 1t reasonable to
suppose that during the many crises
which then occurred, this power would
not have been exercised if it had ex-
listed? 1t is clear that the present war
department does not consider the Ma
tional Guard subject to its orders, for
it is quoted as saying these troops
would be invited to assist in case they
should be needed.
CONDITIONS NOT RECOGNIZED.
The trouble with Major Morrisons
construction of the law and the de-
cisions of the courts quoted by him
grow out of a failure to recognize the
conditions following the passage of the
Act of 1895. A perusal of that act
shows that it contemplated the organ
ization of the entire militia forces OF
the country. Every able-bodied man
between is and 45 years of age, not
exempt by law, was a member of some
grade of this force, and could be in
stantly ordered to duty. Muster
days." as they were called, were held
twice year, at which every man was
required to report, with his own uni
form and gun or other weapon, and
| ammunition, all provided by himself.
This organization was more or less
efficiently maintained up to 1885,
The writer well remembers attending
such musters back in the 40 decade.
They were then mere burlesques, and
very soon the militia ceased to have an
organized existence. Contrary to the
purpose of the Act of 1895, and recog-
| nizing that it was practically dead, the
| act of the general assembly of Penn
| sylvania of 1887 above quoted, speaks
of the militia as the enrolled-not or
| ganized-militia.
1t being now clear that the National
| Guard, as at present organized, is not
| subject to the call of the national gov
| ernment, the important question arises,
how can this defect in it's organization
| be remedied? The answer to this ques-
| tion is my justification for writing this
article.
| The constitution of the United States
| gives power to congress Cart. l., Sec.
8, pl. 10 ito provide for organizing,
arming and disciplning the militia,
and for governing such part of them
as may be employed in the service of
the United States, reserving to the
| states respectively the appointment of
the officers, and the authority of train
ing the militia according to the dis
cipline prescribed by congress-" The
| remedy lies in the exercise of this
| power. The militia, like our citizen
| ship, is first national and then state.
The National Guard should be so or
| ganized. Its contract of enlistment
should recognize the paramount right
| of the nation, in case of war, for at
least certain definite term of service
| whilst in time of peace it should be as
| at present, under the control and in
| struction of the state.
BILL HE PROPOSES.
have made a rough draft of a bill
which is appended which embodies,
think, all that is necessary to accom-.
plish this purpose. 1t will be noticed
that this bill puts the entire cost OF
maintenance of the guard when so or
| gariZed upon the national government
This would be an inducement to the
states to reorganize the guard to con.
form to this law. 1t would save Penn.
sylvania 100000 per year. The ma.
tional government is of right, ant
should be in fact. the head of all mill
tary power. This act would make il
so. The value of this would be ample
compensation for it's annual cost.
Again, the cost would be much easier
borne, when placed upon the nationa
government With the states the none!
must be raised necessarily by direc
taxation-always the most burden
some. With the general government i
is raised by customs revenues and in
direct taxation. OF course, this fea
ture of the bill may readily be modi
fed, so that the cost shall be equal!
divided or otherwise as may be deemed
best. f. l.. Hitchcock.