The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1903-04-22
NIGER Is seen IN
THE NEW MILITIA Law.
r,uIy LAID TRAP TO EXTEND
:. THE FEDERAL POWER.
eorces of Southern States Could
., Turned Against Their Own PeO-
Mo gy Presidents Order.

p'N
aaino the new militia law pass
,ho recent session of congress it
e . a. that it rests with the legisla-
Is ''' - tho states to accept or reject
lut'' nros of the act. Commenting on
voc w. notter the virginian-Pilot says:
'p Indeed. we regard it as by no
certain that the general assem-
Wv Wv, will pass an act to recognize the
w ,.io in conformity with the new
s nlls statute. Unless we are great
! mistaken, the legislature OF Virgin
Ill hesitate a long time before it
,,horizes in that state the crganiza-
'ion Of a regular army reserve whose
s.ors shall be first responsible to the
aasident instead of the governor OF
,r;.ninia We believe no intelligent
oor read the new federal law
orofuIly without becoming convinced
-. II is a carefully laid trap to catch
states. and that under the specious
nretepse of promoting the efficiency
of,be militia is concealed a sinister
nlan for dangerous extension OF the
federal power.
oIf the purpose of this act was mere
IL n promote the efficiency OF the
militia why was the clause inserted
enabling the president TO issue orders
direct to such officers of the militia as
he NAV think proper = "
Some of our southern contempora-
,es think there Is danger in the new
federal statute, and in the opinion OF
the New Orleans States 1t woule be
the mart of wisdom for the general as
oomhly of every southern state to
studv the militia act passed by the
recent republican congress carefully
before accepting Its terms. We are
in full accord with the view of our
NJrfork contemporary that 1T would
not be safe to have organized in the
southern states militia forces under
the command of a president notorious
" hostile to the south and contemptu-
Gus of those things to which southern
ers cling tenaciously, for we do not
know what day the militia forces of our
states would be turned against their
people by orders issued by the presi-
dent over the heads Of the governors,
as he has the authority to do under
the statute.
1t would be better and safer for the
southern states to disband their mill
tia as at present organized and reor-
ganize and equip the same under their
own laws. Not for a moment should
the fact be lost sight of that move
ueBts on loot in the republican party
Ut the uorth have as their purpose the
REDUCTION of southern representation
10 Congress and the electoral college;
the overthrown of the constituents OF
southern states and ultimately the
restoration OF negro domination In the
south. In our opinion the acceptance
Otthe terms of the new militia law
would result in the destruction of the
fine national guard That we now have
ID the south, for. as Neutrality-suspicious.
says Young men OF intelligence
and GOOD paying positions are not
going to put their necks 10 the regular
army moose for fifteen dollars month.
-ley are not going to subject them
selves TO the liability of being ordered
anywhere in the union TO do any sort
Of duty. The result will be that the
Virginia militia Will have To be re-
crulted from the worst elements of the
Cues-thOse who as civilians are
cangerous to the public peace aud
safety"