Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-02

WASHINGTON. April 1.-Represen-
tative Hay, of Virginia, one Of the
prominent members of the Military
Committee of the House, has prepared
with great are a bill to create out
OF the militia of the several States
a reserve volunteer army for use in
time of war, to supply the regular
army. The bill contemplates a gener-
al broadening of the basis Of the Ma
tional Guard, its equipment with the
service rife, and it's complete organi-
cation in time of war into regiments,
brigades, divisions and corps, with the
three battalion formation as in the
regular army, and is designed to obyi-
ate the necessity of a large standing
army upon the expiration of the pres
ent law, July /, 1901, increasing the
the present volunteer army OF St, 900.
The bill will be introduced in the
House tomorrow and receive addi-
t.onal Importance from the fact that
Mr.. Hay is chairman of the Democratic
caucus. The bill makes all citizens be-
tween the ages of eighteen and forty
five liable to military service in the
volunteer army. 1t appreciates $4,000
600 annually for the maintenance and
equipment of the National Guard OF
the several States, this forming the
nucleus of the volunteer army, and
in each State a supply of ordnance
stores sufficient for ninety days use of
the National Guard of the State in the
event of war;. 1t provides a system of
mobilization for the Guard by dividing
the States into military divisions. and
provides for a board of officers in each
State, who shall hold examinations for
the position of second lieutenant in
the National Guard, such officers To be
promoted for merit and efficiency.
THE time has come" said Mr.. Hay,
to-day, in explanation Of his bill,
when it is necessary to consider care
fully the question of the future mill
tary arm of the United States. In the
minds of many, the maintenance of a
large standing army seems a necessi-
ty, and at first blush it would seem
that there is no other way out of the
difficulty which now confronts us. A
careful consideration of the question
has led to the belief that the SITUATION
can be met without a resort to thaT
worst enemy of a republic. a large and
prominent military establishment. The
Secretary of War has well said: That
the regular establishment in the United
States will probably never be, by itself,
the whole machine with which any
war will be fought This being admit
ted, it will certainly not be contended
that in time of peace the regular es-
adjustment will be the whole ma
chine Conservative men will seek
some means by which the regular es-
tablishment can be reduced to a mini
mum compatible with the requirements
OF the country in time of peace, and at
the same time will offer some plan by
means of which an efficient army can
be placed in the field should we I'M
for+,r atai- ap1aoa IN NOR
ION the first day of July, 1901, the
present army will be reduced to its
peace basis, 26,610 men. Taking into
account the situation which may con-
front us at that time, will it be neees-
sary to increase the regular establish
ment beyond that number. Reasons
for the increase are various. but the
most important are that there must
be a sufficient number of men TO fan
effectively our s%eacoast d%efences: a
sufficient number to preserve peace and
order in the Philippine islands and a
sufficient number to do police duty
against the Indians and to take care
of the various posts in the United
States. The number of men sufficient
for these purposes, is yariously esti-
mated al from g. 5000 to 100, 900 mea:
but 1t is 0 now necessary TO deter
mine this question because a year may
materially change present conditions.
But it will be admitted by all that the
strongest argument which can be used
against a large standing army, is the
creation of a we'll organized and thor
oughly equipped national guard.
This country has fought all Of her
wars with citizen soldiery, ard no
good reason can be given for depart
ing from the policy. Money snent for
the purpose Of organizing and equip
ping the militia of the State, is mono
saved, and the sooner this course is
adopted the better it will be for the
country. Heretofore the militia has
not been organized with a view to war.
The folly, not TO say the crime of such
a policy, was demonstrated in the
Spanish wal. The time has come when
we must solve the problem Of national
defense, and solve 1t, If possible, in a