The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-20
THE CALL FoR VOLUNTEERS.
The Presidents Right to Call Out the
State Troops VariousIy Discussed.

The Presidents Right to Call Out the
State Troops yariousIy Discussed.
"A Washington bulletin TO the Morning
News yesterday announced that the cabi-
net had practically decided to call for
$1,000 of the national militia as volunteers
TO supplement the regular army in Cuba -
1t is expected that the call will be issued
to-day and military commanders are anx-
ously awaiting orders and instructions
with regard to the enlistment The words
national militia in the bulletin were mai
| uraly interpreted TO mean the organized
volunteers.
The impression among them last
night was that the, organized volun-
teers, state troops, would be called upon
to tender their services at once for prob
able use in Cuba, as ii seemed to be taken
for granted that there will be no fighting
on this side. There was considerable de-
| bate as to what would likely be done if
such should be the case.
It is not expected that all the members
of the volunteers would offer their serv-
ices, it having been admitted from Wash
ington that the President has no authority
TO order the militia for service out of the
country. II is the opinion of military men
that a considerable percentage of the vel
unteers have good reasons for not Offering
| for service in Cuba. An order for service
on this side would bring out practically
| the full strength of these organizati ions.
but an order TO foreign strand is a differ
| ent matter.
Lieut.. Col. Garrard. of the Guards bat
talon was asked if he had any instruct
ions or information as to the plan to be
pursued by the government in securing
volunteers.
None, whatever" he replied / am en-
tirely in the dark in the matter Very
probably we shall have definite informa-
ton tomorrow"
The President having decided to call
for volunteers, Col. Garrard said ID is no
| longer necessary to discuss the question
of his rights as to the uniformed militia
! or stale troops. Members of the state
troops can enlist in The service of the
government when the call for volunteers
is made or not as they see fit.
Col. Garrard was asked if any steps
had been decided on as yet for the en-
listment of companies battalions here for
the war. He replied not that he was
aware of
If the government calls for $4,000 volun-
teers divided among the states in proper
! ton 10 populat-on, Georgia would have to
respond with only about 1000, and Chat
! ham county, having about one-fortieth of
the population of the state, would have to
furnish only 80. taking 1t for granted that
the state quota would be distributed
among the counties on the basis of popula-
ton. 1t is safe to say that Savannah will
furnish considerably more than her quota.
For that matter Georgia could raise 10 600
troops as easily as 1000,
| Col. w. w. Gordon of the First Cavalry
was asked about the authority of the
President, when it comes to the disposi-
ton of the state troops, whether it was his
opinion that the President has the right
to order out the volunteers of the state.
and then, after they have responded 10 lis
| order, assign them to duty in q foreign
country.
Col. Gordon answered that he had his
opinion about IL. but he did not feel at lib
eTty to express 1t, being a member of the
militia and an officer He said he did not
think it worth while to discuss the ques-
ton as TO the orders that are to be obeyel.
as he might be right and he might be
wrong and whatever he might say as an
officer might have weight and influence On
the minds of some of those enlisted