The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-05-14
ROOT SPEAKS OF MILITIA
Secretary Of Navy Delivers Address
to National Guard Association.
NO TROUBLE RAISING SOLDIERS
MIR. Root Says With With National
Government as Cuartermaster and
National Guard Looking After the
Spirit, We Can Have an Army tho
World Cannot Contend With,

"OTlI SdIlIiOb SShhShe
Columbus, O., May 5.-The Inter-
state National Guard Association OF
the United States opened here with
25 states and territories represented.
Major General Dick, Ohio National
Guard is presiding Secretary of War
Root and Assistant Secretary Sanger,
with astaff of regular army officers,
are present. Secretary Root made an
address before the convention. Speak
ing Of the new militia law, he said:
Some supposed that Immediately
after the passage of the new law a
code OF decisions would be issued.
defining certain parts and passages OF
the bill Nothing could have been
more unfortunate than such belief.
The code is very broad; it will have
to be applied to many conditions aris'
ing in different communities, some
rich. some poor, and the questions
will have to be handled as they arise
and with all the leniency possible to
meet such conditions.
There are only two ways of rails.
ing an army-by conscription or by
voluntary service. The National
Guard is the great school Of the vol
unteers. 1t is not intended that the
national government shall pay the
expense of maintaining the guard, but
1t is intended that it shall add to the
efficiency, the strength and the dig
nifty of the guard.
"A question now being considered is
the minimum of the company, and
its is serious one. It should not be
fixed so as to kill the organization OF
a company in the rural districts
where the young men are not so nu
merous as in the cities. The required
five days training Is also to be con
sidered-what kind Of training, and
many other things are to be deter
mined.
Lines should be laid down so thai
the regulars and the National Guards
men will be drawn closer together
1t too often happens that jealousie:
exist between the officers of the two
branches. but that will be avoided
by honest and sincere work. After thu
united manoeuvres at Fort Riley las
year the officers of both branches lef
thinking a great deal more of eacl
other. The elements of one are need
ed by the other.
"There will never be any trouble
in raising soldiers; the trouble vii
be in the limit of supply and trans
portation and equipment. All neet
arrangement and or nization. Witt
tho national o,c-.lt tQ performing
the quartermaster's part Of the worl
and the national part of the work, an
the National Guard looking after tn
spirit. we can have an army that tn
whole round world cannot conten,
with.
"The whole question Of efficienc
rests with the officers and men of tn
regular army and the National Guar(
and it needs but the application Of tn
new law in sympathy and kindness
and with due consideration for other:
and We cannot go astray."
The other speakers were Assistan
Secretary of War Sanger, Represent;
tive Conrey, of Massachusetts,; Colt
4 mel w. Fl. Hall, Y. s. A.: Judge AdvC
cate General Davis, Y. S. A.. Genera
Royster. of North Carolina; Genera
Stewart. of Pennsylvania, and Genera
Snencpr Of New Jersey