Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-15
depends exclusively upon voluntary

depends exclusively upon voluntary
enlistment,
The whole scheme depends upon
linking the militia--the volunteers
and yeomanry--with the regular ser
vice, and while the volunteers unde,
their local title are only an organixa
ton for defense, the militia are com
petent for service on call In any par,
OF the globe. The yeomanry ar,
not an important part OF the service
as they now exist, They are strong
ly social--they furnish their owt
mounts, uniforms ami equipment
electing their own officers. TO be an
proved by the lord lieutenant OF their
county, and their duties are chiefly
of parade and the county bail. Neither
are they numerous. but they serve L
link in the military spirit through all
grades OF society,
With these forces, however. there
is no intervention OF state sovereignty
between them and the crown, They
exist by act OF Parliament dehnins
their status, and they are paid from
the eScheQuer upon warrant from the
secretary OF state for war drawn
to the order OF the paymasters OF the
regiments with which they are brigad-
ed The field artillery militia has
something OF the same status rs our
own. II has been thought better to
give the real strength OF that body TO
the regular service, and various rea.
sons are given for 1t, chiefly the one
OF economy, for 1t is said that the
militia officers in this branch should
be very capable men and the organi-
cations Of a high class to have Gu
trusted to them from the ordnance val
liable guns, horses and other equip
ment. for which-not as In the case ot
a rifle and infantry equipment
one man can be satisfactorily held
responsible
Referring now to the future status
OF the state troops. An officer pointed
out the fact that the encouragement
of the social factor with them was
necessity In order that there should
be distinct represslve class In labor
preston that national guard officers
are not likely to emulate. The recog.
milton of the fact, however that the
national guard did not meet the re-
Qurenents OF foreign war Is not con-
fined to army officers or to the war
department, 1t finds expression with
many senator's and members OF con-
gress, with whom the question Is al.
ready receiving anxious discussion. Ii
is pointed out that only two states,
New York and Pennsylvania, fur.
nished their quota OF troops from the
ranks OF the national guard; that
several states, and notably Massachu-
sets, withheld the guard from vol
unteer enlistment upon the plea that
they were the defensive strength OF
the state, and recruited an entirely
raw force to All the demands OF the
federal government, 1t IL further
pointed out that the men of tho ma
tlonal guard in many thousands OF
cases did not reach the physical stant-
ard demanded by the government
and that the organization OF two-bat-
talon regiments Instead OF three made
It practically impossible to accept reg
iments OF the guard In their entirety,
as offered by Pennsylvania, but who.
being subsequently accepted, were re-
formed to harmonlze with the regular
organization.
II would appear that there la q
certainty OF changing the military or
ganisatlon OF all the states so that
three battallons shall form each line
regiment OF the national guard. What
more may be done--whetner congress
will be able to deal with the ques-
ton effectively or will fall by reason
OF jealousies which such interferences
are sure to engender with state OF.
flcers--ls only matter OF speculation
But the problem Is receiving earnes,