The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-05
The National Guard.

In his speech before the National Guard
Association of the United States yes
terday, at Columbus, Ohio, Secretary Root
emphasized the Importance Of the APP
Proclamation Of the regular and volunteer
forces Of the country as provided in
the new militia law, which he predicts
Will, in its application, give us an army
that the whole round world cannot con-
tend with
The antagonism which has appeared in
some Of the southern states toward the
new law, during the last two months,
arises from a Misrepresentation Of the
terms Of the law. The New Orleans Times
Democrat, the Charleston News and Cour-
Ter and other southern newspapers. see
grave peril in the power accorded to
the president as to the use Of the mill
tia. They have but specifically read the
federal constitution who claim that there
is any startling innovation in the Dick
law for 1t Is based upon the sections de-i
fining the powers of congress, one OF
which powers is to provide for calling.
forth of the militia to execute the laws
of the union. suppress instructions and
repel invasions," and to provide for "or-,
ganizing, arming and disciplining the mill
tia, and for governing such part Of them
as may be employed in the service Of the
United States, reserving to the states
respectively the appointing of the Off
GERS and the authority of training the
militia according to the discipline pre-
scribed by congress-" s
The new law does not, in any respect,
antagonize the provisions Of the consti-
tuition. The president has been given the
statutory powers and congress has taken
steps to arm and discipline the militia
designated in the militia, law, the mi
litia of the states" Some years ago. in
the federal circuit court Of South Caro-
lima, Judge Nathan Golf, on question
whether a militia company Of Charleston
was part of the militia Of the United
States, decided that it was, and was SUBJ
ject to the provisions made by congress
for the organization, discipline and call
ing out of the militia by the president.
There is considerable southern objection
to the clause of the law providing that
the organization, armament and discipline
of the militia shall be the same as that of
the regular army and the president will
at some future time fix by order the num-
Der Of enlisted men required for each
company; to all Of which the militia must
conform within the next five years. This
prescription is well within the powers of
congress. The authority for such action
dates back to 1892. The fathers en-
acted the first militia law. The fathers
south and north. adopted the militia clause
of the constitution. They gave the presi-
dent power to call out the militia, when
necessary, without saying, "by your leave
to the governor of any state called upon
to furnish men. The new militia law
simply carries out more intelligently and
patriotically the prescriptions of the fed
eral constitution. If, as the New Orleans
States says, the act was most shrewdly
drawn In the direction Of the centraliza-
ton of the government then the faith
ers,' more than a century ago, were also
addicted to Capitalization of power. They
simply wanted to make government
which would have power to defend itself
from invasion and internal disorders.