Evening star., 1898-12-24
Argument for Forming an Army of
the People.
PLAN OF GEN. RUNKLE,U.S VOLUNTEERS
Views of Gen. Harries, Commanding
the District Militia.
AN UNEVENTFUL WEEK

haustive article, described as IAN argu-
ment for the organization of an army of
the people, by the people and for the peo-
ple,' has been prepared and published in
pamphlet form by Brevet Major General
Ben Piatt Runkle. United States Volun-
teers. General Runkle explains that during
the coming session of Congress there will
be a strong and persistent effort to secure
a large and permanent increase Of the reg
ular army, and there is, at the present
| writing, every prospect that such effort will
| succeed. Certain questions will arise in the
| mind Of any intelligent person who gives
attention to this perhaps the most impor-
| tant, question that has demanded the at
| tention of the American people for many
years.
General Runkle proceeds to answer in de-
tail the following questions:
what sound reasons exist, or are likely
to come into existence in the immediate
future, for any considerable increase of the
standing army?
What class or classes of the American
| people are demanding such increase, and
what are the motives that actuate them in
pressing such demand?
What the objections to any consid-
cradle permanent increase Of the army?"
Gen. Runkle's Answer.
In undertaking to answer these questions,
General Runkle says, he feels compelled, in
the first place, to maintain that nothing
should be said or done to discourage or
weaken the military spirit of the American
people. and thus pave the way for fright
full disasters. 1t Is Indispensable to the
preservation of freedom that the military
spirit should be maintained, he adds, and
the people of a free nation should always
hold themselves in state of perfect readi-
ness against either a foreign enemy or q
domestic oppressor.
The plan proposed is set forth in his an
Swer to the question: How can the rea-
| sonabe objections to an increase be met,
and at the same time provision be made
| for ample defense of the republic and its
pOSSeSSionS?"
says, to so organize our army that it can
| not be used to oppress the people, to have
| it ample in size, made up Of the best ma
terial, efficient in every way, and to officer
that army with thoroughly educated men,
trained in the art of war to the highest
| degree, and at the same time in perfect
sympathy with the people and devoted to
| their interests.
The general then goes on to state:
ut has been said by writer who has
carefully considered this subject, and dill
| gently sought for a way out of the difficult
| ty of providing adequate military defense
| for the nation without endangering the lib
critics of the people: L believe that there
| is another way of getting out of this mill
tary difficulty, and that is by introducing
universal compulsory service. If we must
| have large army let have truly DEM
| ocratic article for our money There is
| sound sense in this suggestion
The writer then points out the difficulties
that would have to be overcome in intro
ducirS the compulsory system here.
| Need of an Army.
Gen. Runkle says further that 1.-The coun-
| try will need an army of not less than
100000 men, with a strong and carefully
| trained reserve. Our population numbers
probably S0,0O0,O00. This would then re-
quire a call for one and quarter men
for each thousand of the population, or as
| we have at least 100000 of men liable
| to do military duty, the call would be for
| ten for each thousand fighting men.
Now, to the end that this army shall
| not be available for any other purpose
| than resisting invasion by a foreign power.
| and defending the outlying possessions of
| the United States against attack, and be at
| the same time subject to call from the
state executive, he shall be authorized to
| order to his aid the troops quartered in
| any other state or in all the states Such
| plan would insure certain and full pro-
| tection and eliminate, as far as it can be
| eliminated, the danger of interference in
| local self government by national au-
! thoritv.
IN what other and farther ways would
| this plan guard against the dangers latent
in army organization as now in force? By
taking out of the hands of the national
| executive authorities the power to con-
! troll a large body of trained soldiers for
| any other purposes than those plainly set
| forth in the Constitution, and make it i'm
possible to concentrate them for any other
| ends than those fixed by statute"
| PropOunds Questions.
| "How is this force to be officered? What
| under this plan is to be done with the Off
| GERS at present serving with the infantry
| and cavalry? What disposition would be
| made of the Military Academy" Gen.
| Runkle asks.
| The officers now serving with the troops
| should be assigned without loss of rank to
| the new national guard, he suggests, and
| the Military Academy should not be done
away with, but the whole process and man
! ner of making appointments thereto should
| be changed.
| Gen. Runkle concludes his article by say
| ing: whether not this any similar
| plan shall be adopted, it is certain there
| will soon be a reorganization of the staff
| of the army. At present, while each de-
| partment is independent, no one can carry
on it's work successfully without the CO.
| operation of one or more of the others.
There is no strictly military head having
| control over all, and to whom each depart
| ment is responsible for it's conduct. Out
| of this condition has probably grown what
| ever of failure there has been during the
| Spanish war. There should be a carefully
organized staff. with chief who would
| control every department and should be to
| ours what Moltke was to the German army.
Everything would then move with order
| and precision and there would be an end
Of complaints that have their origin in the
natural results of a badly organized sys-
| tenn. Should the plan outlined in this ar
| ticle be carried into effect, the staff could
| be easily made to fit the new conditions.
| 'It may be said that the general govern
| ment would find 1t difficult to carry out
| such plan, but there need be no uneasi-
ness on that score. When the people de-
| mand that the army shall belong to those
| who produce the wealth and pay the taxes
| as much to those who, consuming much,
| produce nothing a way will be found, the
| necessary statutes will be enacted, the fear
! of military rule will pass from the minds
Of men, and the people will rest secure in
| the possession of that highest of gifts from
God to man, freedom with peace
Views of Gen. Harries.
When requested by Star reporter to ex-
! press his views regarding the plan pro-
posed by Gen. Runkle. Gen. Geo. H. Har-
| ries. commanding the District of Columbia
| militia, said:
''The time may come when 1t will be pos
sible for the American people to discuss