Willmar tribune., 1900-10-20
; Official View
5 of Mi1itariSf1.
Observation-Disclosures

Is OF M1l1far1S1f1.
6ooooooooooooooooooooo ooooo&
The Army and Navy Journal ia
practically the official organ of the
officers of the regular army, says the
Chicago American. In it's issue of
September Is the Journal had this
editorial: *.,.;..
COMING LEGISLATION FOR the ARMY.
The time is again. approaching when
congress will be called upon by tho
war department to- finally settle the
pressing question of army reorganixa-
tion and augmentation. So much has
been heard all over the country about
s'militarism," ''imperialism, and
''expansion" that the action which
will necessarily have to be taken dur
ing the next session for increasing tho
strength of the army, commensurate
with the increase in the amount of ter
ritory which it has to guard, will be-
looked forward to with the greatest
degree of interest by both civilian and
soldier.
Although it is true no bill for pre-
sentation to congress has been actu-
ally drawn by the war department up
to date, the measure, in it's essential
features, has been tentatively planned
by the secretary of war and his able
assistants in the adjutant generals
| department.. Many of the salient
points which will be covered in this
bill have already had attention called
to them in these columns, but natur-
ally the details of the forthcoming
measure are not yet known by even
those who will be it's trainers.
We look to see many army bills
this session, as we have been informed
that nearly every member of the ma
jority on the house committee on mill
| tary affairs has plans of his own
for reorganization. It is safe to say,
! however, that no bill of such extreme
Importance as the army bill can pass
congress unless it has the support of
the war department, and naturally oil
of the personal measures Of tho tndl-
viduals in congress will have been
drawn without any great regard fer
what the nations Of the world have
decided isbest for modern military or
ganization.
The most important part of the COM
ing army legislation will be that which
deals with the increase in the regular
service. With this the war department
will have to operate very carefully. as
the greatest opposition will be forced
upon this section. By the time the
military bill comes before congress
the people will have decided by pop
uIar vote whether, under the existing
conditions, it has become necessary
or not to have a larger standing army
to uphold the honor of the country aaa
ihe declared policy Of the present ad-
ministration.
The fact is not questioned that in
case we are to maintain our sover-
eighty over the Philippines, Porto
Rico, and even Guam, the military
must be increased. We are now 4
world power Of the first magnitude.
and if we continue in this position,
where we SO rightly belong, an ade-
quate army must be provided: 1t is
conceded by even the most optimistic
that congress will not accede to an
army of greater size than 5000 men,
hence for an army of this strength the
war department will undoubtedly ask.
Possibly it will be necessary that
another temporary force of volunteers
be called, but this the war department
greatly opposes and the authorities
there claim it will not be needed if the
permanent increase is granted. The
argument used with much foroa
against the method of procedure is
the enormous expense to the govern
ment of sending volunteers to the for
eign possessions for a comparatively
short period of service and then re-
ter out. v.-s -. r. .. g. - ! ~,
Whether the army is to have the
much-desired increase and the needed
reorganization depends, as we have
said, upon the peroonnel of the army
itself. If the bill of Mr.. Root is Wig
orously opposed by officers through
their influence, and if there is much
|quibbling by members of the service
over minor details of no paramount
Importance, the measure has little or
no hope. This of all times is ths most
opportune period for army increase
i and reorg anization, and we sincerely
I hope officers will realize the fact and
Elend their aid to the Dill to be adVo-
4 Gated by Mr.. Root. .sS.. .55
LINCOLN ON LABOR AND CAPITAL.
There IS one point to which ask att
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