The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-04-08
WAR ELIGIBILITY.
President Cannot Compel National
Guardsmen to Enter Service.

But Would First Ask the Governor, Who
Alone Could Issue Orders-President's g
First Move Would Be to Call for volun-
teers-Statistics of the Reserve Militia
of New Jersey-Morris County Gould
Furnish $4,000.
Special Correspondence of the CHRONICLE.
TRENTON, April 7.-While our govern
ment is considering the best method of
settling the Cuban question and securing
redress for the Maine disaster and at the
same time preparing for peace by plac-
ing the country on war footing, the
question most interesting to every ciGi-
zen is, ''Who will be eligible for military
duty in the event of war?" The average
American is not interested in this ques-
tion because in the hope that he may
fall short of the requirements, or evade
in some way the necessity of taking
up arms in defense of his country, but
simply because he wants to know where
he stands, so that he might draw up his
will and make all necessary arrange
ments to absent himself from his work
or the duties of his calling.
The physical requirements for enlisting
in the United States army in time of
peace are as follows: The applicant
must be between the ages of 81 and 80
years, of good character and habits, able
bodied, not less than feet inches in
height, and between 1873 and 100 pounds
in weight. If the height is above feet
10 inches and the weight over 1866
pounds, tine applicant may join the ar
tillery or infantry, but not the cavalry
The pay is $13 a month, and the embryo
soldier is found, that is, he is provided
with equipments and board. Those are
the requirements of peace times, but
should war break out, every male, be-
tween the ages of 18 and As years, of
sound mental and physical condition,
would be eligible for service in the army.
OF late there has been much specula-
tion as to the Presidents authority to
call out the National Guard of the
various states and press them into service
as regular United States soldiers. While
many have contended that the country's
executive has every power to call upon
the state militia in an emergency and
that the latter must obey his commands,
others again have denied the right of the
President to issue orders to the States
! Guardsmen. A prominent military
officer told me to-day that there was no
question with military men in relation to
this matter, their claim being that the
President had no authority whatever to
compel the National Guard to enter the
regular service or even to issue COM
mands to them directly. If there was
desire to have the militia of New Jer-
sey guard the seacoast, and the President
was the first one to recognize the advisa-
bility or necessity of such a move, he
would communicate with the Governor
of the state and the latter would then
issue the necessary orders. My military
friend held that the National Guards
men had sworn fealty to the state and
consequently were in duty bound to obey
any command issued by the officials con-
nected with the militia of the state,
wherein the safety of the people or prop
erty in such state was harassed. But he
could not be compelled to go outside the
boundries of the state in his capacity as
a National Guardsman. If, however,
the President called upon the Governor
for certain number of volunteers
and the various regiments of the National
Guard decided to enlist by companies
or regiments, or even in squads, that
would be an entirely different matter
and they would then be sworn in as
regular, United States soldiers, subject
to the orders of the President and u. s.
military officers. They would not be
considered deserters from the National
Guard and would resume their positions
upon their return home.
In the event of war, the call for volun-
teers would be the Presidents first move.
There is no doubt but what he would
have more responses than he would
know what to do with. Should the
number of volunteers fall short of the
number called for and more men were
needed, other calls would be issued. IF
the required number could not be pro-
cured then draft would be made. It
is not at all likely however, even in the
case of prolonged war that this last
course would be necessary, as there are
more than sufficient brave hearted pa
triots in the United States who would
sacrifice everything for the love of their
country and the upholding Of its honor.
According to the last report of the Ad-
jutant General. the total number of the
Reserve Militia of the State, estimated
from the census of 1890. is shown to be
nearly 100000 men. This reserve is
composed of those able bodied men be-
tween the ages of IS and 45 years, who
would be available for military duty in
case of war. 1t is thought that this num-
Der is now close to 500, ,000 According
to this report, Hudson County could
furnish the greatest number of men, the
eligibles in that county being placed at
over $4,000. Cape May County could
only furnish 5000, while Ocean and
Sussex could supply but limited num-