The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-25
the world of commanding and par
amount influence.
ARMY BILL DEBATE.
Representative Mcclellan PAYS
Tribute to the Regular Soldier.


Tribute to the Regular Soldier.
WASHINGTON, jan 24.-The debate
on the army reorganization bill opened
in the house today under an agreement
by which the general debate is to run
n1teen hours. exclusive Of three night
sessions; the final vote to be taken not
later than o'clock next Tuesday
Practically three propositions are be-
fore the house. the house bill providing
for standing army of 100000 men, the
minority substitute increasing the
standing army to 10000 men and lodg-
ing with the president discretionary
power to call out $4,000 volunteers for
emergency service. and a proposition
to continue temporarily the regular
army at its present war Strength-62, =
GOO men. 1t is also understood that Mr.
Miles bill. Among the supporters of
the majority bill there are those whom,
like Mr.. Mcclellan Dem, N. W, a son
of George B. Mcclellan. who favor a
provision for a general staff made up
of officers Of the line, so to make the
army organization responsible to a
single head. The fate Of the measure
is still considered doubtful, though
Chairman Hull and his friends profess
great confidence in its passage. The
debate today was not exciting. Mr..
Hull and Mr.. Mcclellan in support of
the measure and Mr.. Hay, of Virginia,
in opposition. divided the honors The
other speakers were Messrs. Parker
in favor and Messrs. Cox Oem,
Tenn). Bell Pop., COLI and Latham
Oem., Tex) against it.
Mr.. Mcclellan paid a beautiful trib-
ute to the regular soldier
You are doubtless familiar with the
cartoon representing a soldier return
ed from the war being lionized by a
group of citizens.
Are you one of the heroes? asked
a young lady as she grasped his hand
No. replied the soldier Tn no
hero. I'm a regular
There is more truth in that one sem
tence than on all the treatises on war
rolled into one," continued Mr. Nc
Clellan. mo heroes in their own es-
timation. only regulars. The United
States regular does his work quietly,
without fuss and without buster
Whether they are on the deserts or in
the jungles or whether it's suffering for
want Of sufficient food, whether It's dy-
ing of yellow fever. or cholera or be-
ing shot to pieces by Indians or Span
tards. he takes it all with the same
hearty cheerfulness. with the same cool
bravery, for it's all part of the work Of
the regular. The regular asks for no
thanks for doing his duty But he
asks and has a right to expect that you
will make him an efficient instrument
"And to God be the thanks
For the men in the ranks
Let the line be black or white
For the men at arms who stand on guard,
And keep the flag in sight, Great ap-
plause)
Mr.. Hay (Dem., Va.), a member Of
the committee, then took the floor in
opposition to the bill. He said this
country had depended In every crisis
upon the volunteers and he considered
such an army the peer of raw recruits
with the advantage of when their serv-
ices were not needed they could be
mustered out and millions in taxes saw
ed the people by making It unneces-
sary to maintain a large standing
army. He did not believe such a large
army necessary, or such a vast ex-
penditure Of money justified In con-
clusion he said:
"Our situation is such with reference
to other countries that large stand
ing army never has been, is not now
nor ever will be a necessity Every
battle of the future. if there are to be
any-which God forbid-must be fought
upon the high seas. We must look to
our navy to bring us victories