The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-04
MIR. DICKS MILITIA BILL
MEASURE AFFECTING GUARDsMEN
NOW PENDING IN CONGRESS-.
AN Experienced Military Man Points
out some of Its Alleged Defects
and Suggests Remedies.

has passed the House. been read in the
Senate and passed the committee on mill
tary affairs. The bill Is called IAN act to
promote the efficiency of the militia and
for other purposes" but is known COLO
quially as the Dick BILL 1t divides the
militia into three classes-the organized
militia, TO be known as the National Guards
of the different States. Territories and Dis
trict OF Columbia; the National Volunteer
Reserve and the Reserve Militia
From the best Information it is believed
the bill will pass the Senate soon after the
holiday recess. If there are any defects in
this bill they should be pointed out now, by
those most vitality interested, and correc-
lions urged. that IL may be perfected be-
fore IL becomes a law. This bill concerns
all citizens more or less. but more especial
~ the national guardsmen of the different
States. II should be closely scrutinized by
them.
The object OF the bill is to increase the
efficiency and effectiveness of the militia
and develop 1t along national lines. so the
President may know from his own inspect
ors that he has a certain reserve force
properly uniformed equipped, drilled, dis
ciplined and Differed. The late experience
I'm war taught the Nation the need of this
BILL When war was declared against Spain
in 1898 there was. on paper. in each State, a
certain quota OF national guardsmen ready
TO mobolize and march TO the front at a
moments notice. when. i'm reality. they
were deficient in every thing that goes TO
make up an army. except their desire and
impatience to march TO the front.
The bill. in the opinion of military men.
IS one of merit and will be of great benefit
TO the country and militia as 1t passed the
House; but these men think there some
places wherein il should be strengthened.
OBJECTIONS TO THE BILL.
In discussing this measure. Col. John T.
Barnett said: TT affirmatively states when
the President may call out the organized
militia or National Guard. and for how
long time; but II fails to positively state
where he can use them. Can he send them
out of the United States against foreign
foe? This is a vital question. one that was
discussed more or less at the beginning OF
the Spanish-American war. It seems the
Constitution Is clear on that point; then
why leave IL in doubt in this bill? There
are places to philosophize ana discuss con-
stitutfonal questions; they not on the
battlefield or frontier, in the presence OF
the enemy. The bill should be so plain and
explicit as to give no opportunity to the
constitutional expounder. who is not infre-
quently heard during the first few months
of active service He makes the company
street ring with his voluminous knowledge;
he keeps the company in a turmoil and the
commander is heartily glad when he is rid
OF all the guard house lawyers There
should be nothing in this bill that will adj
nit of question being raised by this tur-
bulent expounder that will cause dissatis-
faction among the men who would, other
Mise maize good soldiers. 1T would help to
secure a good National Guard II the bill
stated that the President could. when nee
essary, send them to do service either at
home or abroad. Those who have had ex-
perience know it will be more difficult to
enlist the best fighting material II there is
a greater probability that the will be
retained In camps in the United States
than sent to the front. wherever that may
be. 1t is much more difficult to keep men
satisfied and properly disciplined in a camp
of instruction, with prospect of skir-
mish, than when you are on the march
and expecting to bump up against the en-
envy any hour. The average American is a
fighting man. and he becomes soldier for
that reason.
serve. Section "a designates who shall con-
stitute the first organization as follows:
Whenever a national volunteer
force shall be called for by authority of
Congress. and the members of any compa-
MES, troops. batteries or regiments of the
organized militia shall enlist in the volun-
teer army in bodies. such companies,
troops. batteries. battalions or regiments
shall be received as the first organizations
of such volunteer force This rule was fol-
lowed I'm the Spanish-American war, and
the experience In that and the Philippine
war teaches that 1t is very Objectionable.
1t makes a divided responsibility which
should not exist In military affairs. The
state or national idea should be adopted
and the other entirely eliminated. The ma
tional idea was carried out In the Philip
pine war, and all were national volunteers.
Companies and regiments were recruited
from ali sections, mustered and oficered
individually by the President from the
second lieutenant to the lieutenant general:
or the state idea should be kept dominant
and the National Guard of the different
States should be received into the United
States service as unit, as the organiza-
tions exist in the different States IL the
State has brigade, division or corps they
should be accepted as such. with the same
company, battalion. regimental and general
officers. The homegeneity, esprit and state
pride will be better preserved than If bril-
gaded with regiments from other States,
under unknown general officers. The men
will be acquainted with each other and
their officers The carpers, shirks. company
distUrbers and constitutional expounders
viii be shorn of their power for mischief.
In support OF this proposition 1 quote from
the report of Major William p. Duvall. Ar
tillery Corps. United States army on the
division encampment of the Pennsylvania
National Guard last summer: No matter
what political pressure might oppose the
step. IL the National Guard of Pennsvl-
vania Is ever called into the service of the
United States let 1t be mustered in. COM
manded and used as a whole. not broken
up and its fragments wedged into various
mosaics with troops of other States, at the
necessary sacrifice of its homogeneousness
soldity, regularity. esprit and pride the
very qualities which most distinguish IL
and make IL superb This can be said of
the Indiana National Guard with equal pro-
oriety. Major Duvall is an able and ex-
perienced officer, both in the regular and
volunteer service. and spoke from personal
experience a commander OF volunteers