The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-18
DANISH THE HOODO0 DON'T INDORSE HALE VEL
Natl Guard Officers Think Compul-
sorry Service Unnecessary
WANT MORE MONEY FOR MILITIA
Considering Undue ments offered, the
National Guard Is IL Surpris-
.s ingly Efficient Force.

Minneapolis militia officers do not agree
with Senator Hale of Maine in his state
ment that the time has come when the
United States should institute compul-
sorry service system. They are rather IN
clined to view his remarks to that effect,
| made in the senate, as so much buncombe,
but at the same time they do not regret
that the speech was made, as they De
lieve it will serve to emphasize the needs
of the militia . Said Major Frank r..
| Corriston: - -
Senator Hale speaks of the United States
| as war power. There is no reason why tnls
| nation should be SO considered. We are
| country Of peace and we should endeaVor 10
remain so. However, if war must come, then
believe that the national guard, with proper
encouragement from the federal government
! and from the states, could and would furnish
| all the soldiers necessary.
| Since the Spanish American war the gov
eminent has done for for the militia than IL
| ever did before, tut the states, and particular
| ly the western states, could 90 much LOT
! the good of the national guard service by
providing suitable arn,ories, and the armorles
should be provided by the states and not by
the cities in which they are located for the
| guard is state, not city, institution. II
| war should come let the militia go to the
| front at the first call and keep appointments
| out Of politics. .....-.
Patriotism or COmpulsiOns
| I cannot say that compulsory military train
! ing would not produce better trained soldiers
! than the national guard can now turn out, but
| on the other hand I believe the patriotism OF
American citizens is all this country needs.
! That has proved to be so in the past, and
personally l should be willing to back pat
riotism against experience for month or so
| at least. You will find that the man actu-
| at nv motives
| rapidly.
! The military training which men get in
universities and military schools all over the
| country is important detail. These insti-
| tutions turn out large numbers of young men
| each year, all of them Versed in the manual
| Of arms and in minor tactics; and their rec
! ord in the last war proved their training to
| have been valuable.
l believe an annual encampment Of the ma
| tional guard with the regulars would vastly
| benefit The former, although too long an en-
campment might seriously interfere with get
| ting good class of men in the militia, as the
| best men, the men we want, are usually un-
| able to leave their business for any con-
| siderable time, although they may be able
to get away for ten days or so each summer.
! The greatest need of the national guard,
| at least in the west, is adequate armories;
armories equipped with a gymnasium, baths
and other conVeniences. AT present have
| nothing to make the service particularly at
! tractive; and for that reason existing laws
| designed to punish minor breaches Of dis
! cipline in the guard cannot be enforced with
out danger 10 the service. When you ask a
| man to do something for nothing you cannot
| be too severe with him when ne does not
! always do it. In my opinion the service
would be greatly improved if the men could
be paid small sum, say 10 or Is cents,
| each time hey attended drill. While this
/ jS in.
| course of the year, and would provide an
| incentive for regular attendance that we now
| lack.
| Capt. Benefits Views.
I Captain Bennett, of Battery B, takes a
! similar view of the situation. He does
| not believe that compulsory military serv-
ice is necessary in the United States. He
! does believe that the ational guard
should be better housed and better
equipped than it is to-day. Said he:
i Compulsory military service is un-Americar
and we do not need it What we do need is
better facilities for the national guard The
guard now numbers about 115, 900 men; and il
gets $1.OOO,O0O worth of ordnance from the
government each year. The regular establish
men, gets $3.50, 900 annually. On conserya-
| men, gets $3.50, 900 annually. On a conserya-
tive estimate the militia should have 81 O0O, 0Ot
a year. That would make it possible to pay
| the boys little something for their work
At present we have no hold on the men. They
tgo to drill only because of the teasing and
the begging of their officers. There is nothing
l to make the service attractive. Here in Min
neapolis our armory Is little better than &
shed. I am constantly astonished that the
guard gets such good material where there is
so little to bring it out Notwithstanding oul
wretched facilities, the Minneapolis compa
MES are as good any in the union, but We
should have an armory equipped with a gym
1~o%h oh
appliances. With that accomplished, w
would be in position to recruit from tn,
best young men IN the city, and we would
get them, too ..
believe the national guard should remain
state institution, but also believe that tn
guard should be subject to call from tn
president at any minute: and that it SHOULD
be so drilled, disciplined and enlisted I'M
! der such regulations that no delay would b.
necessary in responding to the call and tina
reorganization would not be needed.
A Federal National Guard.
CAPTAIN M D. Garcelon goes ste1
farther than either Of his fellow officers
He would have the government assume
, ! immediate charge Of the national guard
r Said he: a
| We don't need compulsory military service
, Senator Hale to the contrary notwithstand
j., , ing. I don't believe it would be possible t
, enforce such law in this country. The PEG
pie would not stand for it. They would re
! gard it as the first step toward despotism
! However, such law might benefit certa
: class of young men by giving them somethin
to do during time of life when they woul
otherwise hang around the streets and likel
enough get themselves into trouble.
In my opinion the government should TAX
hold of the national guard, reorganize it an
:. equip it with modern arms and ordnance
Armories should be built in all cities tina
need Them and the service should be who'll
. under the direction of the federal government
y and responsible to Washington and to Wash
ington only. A more severe physical an
= mental entrance examination, believe, woul
have good effect upon the service; and tn
:, men should be paid little for their work
- not much, but just enough to make obedienc
i, to regulations and attendance upon drills at
- tractiVe. S..r'. ..-' .1~-sH.. r.. -s-'~
d CITY HOSPITAL DRUGS