The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-30
BY GEN. SCH0FlEl0.
He Believes . National Reserve should
Be Organized Ready tn Serve the Gov
eminent 1t . Moments Notice.

nv .
Re Organized Ready To Serve the Gov
erunsen ut . Moments Notice.
Ore Of the chief problems of this
coming winter. a question that day by
day commands more and more atten-
ton and will not down, is that con-
corning the national guard OF the vari-
Gus states. Shar these bodies of citi-
zen soldiery be recognized; that is.
shall the entire national guard of the
country be ~reorganized and put on a
eminent. perhaps. in more direct con-
troll of IL? Or. has the guard. after all.
proved itself adequate and is the old
state of affairs satisfactory?
These are puzzling n much mooted
questions. They are among the great
est questions of the moment. They
compel consideration and demand
study and the adoption OF the most
feasible plan. This Is not a problem
10 be set aside. II is scheduled for ac-
tton and debate in this coming session
a congress-. and not only do men OF
me militia of the states and the regu-
lar army odicers feel keen interest In
II bat all intelligent laymen. north
snA south, east and west, are aroused
ana have their views.
Because q happenings Of immediate
Interest this matter has not been d.
rootly brought up In the public press.
II n being discussed actively every
where. unoficiaily. nevertheless. The
interest taken In IL grows continually
keensr and keener. II will. therefore,
- Of the greatest m to know the
views. the carefully thought out opin-
tens Of experts. men who have served
IN the guard and the regular army, n
Or both, tacticians, men OF force n
training who have studied these ques-
uons and know what the guard should
be, and. too. its limitations.
Such men the writer has recently
seught out and talked with. by word
Of pen and mouth. Interestingly dif-
ferent. varied n q all shades OF
opinion are their views. What they
say II here set down at length and In
black and white. that IL may be OF aid
in the present problem, that IL may
help to determine what In future the
national guard OF the United States OF
America mould be.
Before these questions are given. how
ever, there is one point to be brought
forward. one incident to relate. In
camps at Chickamauga, commands d.
roctly alongside of each other, had very
d1ffesent fates: One regiment OF militia
wouh show an almost perfect bill OF
health. another close by II, under
seemingly the same general conditions;
a long list Of hospital cases. So marked
were these differences that they could
only be attributed to the methods OF
the commanding officers. One regular
army colonel commanding volunteers
pitched his camp in the open. exposed
10 a broiling sun. and kept his men
well. Another-a lunte colonel
allowing his subordinate to suggest
and to consider their comfort-pitched
his in the shade. and had a sick roll
OF size. Because OF this II has been
claimed that the discipline In the guard
Is insufficient. There are those. on the
other hand. who argue the militia are
not to be handled l X regular troops.
The constitution gives congress the
power Ito raise n support armies"
with no limitation in respect to the
service to be performed. and an entirely
distinct power to provide for calling
forth militia" for specific purposes,
namely, ito enforce the laws OF the
union. suppress insurrection and repel
invasion"
The appointment OF militia officers
and the training OF the militia is re-
served TO the states. but there il no
where In the constitution any sugges-
tion that Il hail be left to the states
10 dprolut any OF the Objects OF lht
armies" which congress Is given
power to raise and support" On the
contrary. the constitution is manda-
tory that the president shall appoint
'all officers of the United States
Even II II is possible 10 regard the vol
unteer troops employed in the civil wal
as militia. those employed in the wal
with Mexico and In the recent war with
Spain cannot possibly be so regarded
for there Ia no warrant in the constitu-
ton for calling out the militia fol-
any such purpose. The course hereto
fore pursued by the government of the
United States In leaving to the states
the appointment of the reglmental OF.
ioers OF volunteers troops organized
for the national service. was In plair
disregard OF this mandate OF the con.
stitution. Perhaps II lie not necessary
to seek further for an explanation OF
the evil effects which experience has
shown to b. responsible from tina
mode OF oficering the national troops
Similar results would doubtless follow
the appointment by the several states
Of civil oficers In the service OF IN,
Omitted States.
Tho constitution plainly provides fol
two entirely distinct classes OF mill
tary forces. namely. United State
armies and state militia. which latte,
may. ivr specific purposes only. b.
called into the service OF the Unite
States. The good OF the public service
no less than the mandates OF the con
stitution. requires that the distinction
etwee these two CLASSES OF troops b.
strictly observed. in their enlistment
appointment OF o~fhcers. discipline. etc.