The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-16
MAINE MAN NOT A BELIEVER I'm
MILITIA OR NAVAL RESERVES
FOR REAL WAR
COMPULSORY SERVICE WRONG
Claim Advanced That i'm EmerEen-
cies Volunteer Armies VIII. as
i'm the Past, BE the Ma
tiOn's Reliance
ENGLAND VIOLATING A TREATY

WASHINGTON. Jan ia spirited
discussion was precipitated in the senate
today by some remarks submitted by Mr..
Hale, of Maine, in respect to bills relat-
ing to the formation Of a naval reserve,
which he introduced He took strong
ground against the organization of
naval reserve, his comments being con-
strued by some of the senators into a
reflection upon volunteer soldiers and
land militia
Half dozen soldiers were on their
feet in an instant to defend the volun-
teers and the national guard of the
various states, and the debate took so
wide range that senators went back in
their reference to the days Of the Revo-
lutionary war to seek illustrations for
their arguments. While no action was
possible at this time, it is likely that
the discussion upon the measures, should
they be reported, will be very lively.
Compulsory Service Undesirable.
In his argument Mr.. Hale declared that
the reliance placed by some people upon
the naval reserve never would be real
lied. Experience had shown, he said,
that at the beginning of the war plenty
of young men were ready to enlist in
the navy and enter the ranks Of the ma
val militia, but at the conclusion of the
war their interest in the organizations
ceased and it was found difficult to
maintain them.
He was of the opinion that the United
States was not likely, as a nation, to
take much interest in the militia forces
either of the land or Of the sea- In
time of stress he was certain that the
country would be obliged to depend upon
volunteers, called out in an emergency,
or upon some form of compulsory
service. England, he said, had learned
this lesson from her smallest and wick
edest war;
eff he said, 1--WE are to become a
great war power, we will have to learn
the lesson other nations have learned.
Every one of the nations of the world
that stands snarling at another depends
10 some extent upon some sort of COM
pulsory military service"
Mr. Hale declared that England was
about to resort to conscription to raise
men to fight "a band of freemeh thous-
ands Of miles away" 1t had been prov
ed, he said, that naval militia was not
a success. OF course, it could be main
tanned in "a lingering, half-hearted man
ner,' but it never really amounted to
much.
In conclusion, he said: IF we have
determined that we are to become
great war power with a great army and
ing will answer the public request
Firing Becomes General
IL response to an inquiry from Mr..
Hawley Mr. Hale said he did not suppose
that the United States ever would dis
pense absolutely with the militia. 1t
would continue to be maintained In
half-hearted way In time CT war he
did not think it would be worth reckon
ing with
Mr.. Spooner pointed out that the dis
play made by the national guard of
various states on Pennsylvania avenue,
in Washington, on he occasion of an in
auguration parade, was a sufficient evil
dence of the practicability of the mill
tia
YES" responded Mr.. Hale, but the
loss OF. life on Pennsylvania avenue never
is serious
Several senators. among them Mr..
Mason Qll,), Mr.. Teller (Col.), Mr.. Hoar
(Mass), and Mr.. Bacon (Ga.), were
drawn into the debate in defense Of the
militia forces of the various states, Mr.
Hale finally disclaiming any intention
to reflect on the national guard.
Mr. Hoar said that while the naval
militia was yet in an experimental stage,
it was manifest that in every Warlike
emergency the country must be pro-
tected by a trained militia, or by reg
ular army, or by both. Our independ-
ence in the war of the revolution had
been won at sea. England could have
continued for a hundred years, if neces-
sary, the land war of the revolution, be-
cause she was able to pay the cost. 1t
was not the French alliance, but the rate
of maritime insurance which compelled
the unwilling monarch to come to peace.
After Mr. Bacon had protested that 1T
was the valor of our soldiers and sailors
70 ~, f1lniTs
independence, and not the rates of In
surance of English ships, Mr. Tillman
insisted that Mr. Hoar should give some
of the credit Of achieving Independence
to other colonies than New England.
Amid laughter and applause he declared:
There's glory enough to go round, as
our great admiral in command at the
battle of Santiago said"
England at Her Old Tricks.
At the conclusion of the discussion Mr..
Hoar introduced the following resclu-
ticn:
"rhat the president, if in his judgment
it be not incompatible with the public in
terest, be requested to inform the senate
whether the department of state had
any official information whether the
British government exacts duties on
goods intended for prisoners of war in
Bermuda, in violation of article sixteen
of the convention adopted at The Hague,
which is as follows: Gifts and relief
in kind for prisoners of war shall be ad-
mitted free Of all duties of entry and
others, as well as of payments for car
riage by the government railways
In explanation of his resolution Mr.,
Hoar said that some charitable organiza-
tions in this country had sent supplies
and comforts to Boer prisoners detained
in Bermuda. Upon these supplies du-
ties had been collected in contravention
Of The Hague treaty. He desired merely
to ascertain whether the state Depart
ment had been informed Of the situation.
The resolution was adopted and the
senate went into executive session. At
ter an executive session Of twenty min
utes bills were passed making the fol-
lowing appropriations for public build
ings:
ton, W. Va, $4,000; Superior, Wis,
100000; for enlarging the public build
ings at Dallas. Tex, and at Portland
| or. $4,000 ana $25O,0OO respectively.
Mr.. Tillman then announced the death