The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-30
The National Guard and National
Legislation

Reports come from Chicago that the
national guard organizations in that
city will make an effort "to defeat in
Congress any army reorganization bill
which may be considered as likely to
cripple the national guard as a nation.
al defence" 1t was not made appar-
ent in the late war in what particular
respect the national guard was ma
tional defence, and it is not clear now
in what particular Congress could Grip
Pile au organization that had neither
strength nor fra ne into which
strength and virilily could be infused.
The national guard, with here and
there an exception, was itself a hope
less cripple. Congress can pay little
attention to protests from that old and
int fficient organization.
Representative Hull, chairman of the
national House committee on military
affairs, is pre- pairing bill which con-
templates making OF the army an or
ganization adequate for the country's
defense, and it is this measure the
Chic. go national guardsmen are pre-
pairing to oppose. Referring to this
matter the New York Sun says:
The disastrous results of similar inter-
ference, under the plea of national guard
interests, in Mr.. Hull's bill Of last spring,
ought surely to teach the promoters OF the
Chicago plan something At that time,
with war needs imperative, a sensible
project for putting the regular army on
high plane of strength and efficiency was
opposed as not giving the State militia
organizations enough of a chance in the
fighting. SO successful was this opposition
that when the President made his first call
for volunteers he expressed preference
for organized State militia forces. But
we all know the results of taking for for
eign service militia regiments and compan-
les originally formed for service at home.
The State troops were fearlully handi-
capped by their ignorance of campaigning.
The men who interfered with the first
army bill of the last session had their way,
bnt at a great cost to the country, and TO
lub OldJb JlOODS WuOSb lubtIbbJb lnty WbCb
80 eager to foster.
One of the stated causes of the in
efficiency of the army in the late oper-
atoms was the large number of ap.
pointments from civil life into the
ranks OF commissioned officers. What
the Hull bill will be is not yet definite
ly known, and what action Congress
will finally take to provide an army
that will adequately meet the require
ments of efficient military service is
still more matter of conjecture.
No sooner had the protocol been
signed than the President and war
department were imporluned, by every
State in the Union, to muster out its
troops. Vermont was foremost in pre-
senting its appeal at Washington. Its
troops were in no condition, morally or
physically, for active military service.
There were loud protests against doing
garrison duty. This was the condition
of the volunteers generally. They
wanted to get back to their homes and
leave the service, though hostilities
were only suspended, not permanently
at an end. Now that, in view of the
experiences in the late war, it is pro-
posed, as a matter absolutely necessary
for the military prott ction Of the coun-
Try and for safeguarding its interests
beyond the main shore, to consi-
TUE an army on plan adequate for
this vitLl need, old national guard
officers are preparing to defeat such a
reorganization unless the militia is in
some way made part of it.
The subject Is one of many difficult
les, and involves many subjects fol
consideration. 1t is plain, however
that the national government must
take the initiative in the task of creatin 9
an effective militia force, as well as q
regular army, and any separate or prior
action by any State will, at this time
be premature and i'll considered TIE
way for the State of Vermont to do is
to await the action of the government
al Washington in this matter, mean
time doing away entirely with the
existing national guard organization
which has been shown TO be net simply
inefficient but scandalous failure
Pass The Hit bill upon which the Sell
ate has already acted favoiably, anC
let things rest for two years. In 1906
the Legislature may be able to act sd
vislbly and inttlligently on this sub
ject. AT present 1t cannot. There
fore, no forward movement should bs
madesnow, and an organization tina
has been productive chiefly of wastefu