Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-05
Secretary of War Talks to the
international State Guard
Association
DEFINES NEW MILITARY LAW
Some of the Points of the Dick Bill
Made clear-Queston of the Mini
mum of the Company One of Import
ance to be considered-other Iowa
News.

Columbus, o., May 5.-The Interna-
tional State Guard association of the
United States opened here yesterday
with 20 states and territories repre-
scented. Secretary of War Root and
Assistant Secretary Sanger, with staff
of regular army officers. are present.
Major General Dick of the Ohio Ma
tional guard is presiding.
The speakers at the afternoon session
were Secretary of War Root, Assistant
Secretary of War Sanger, Representa-
tive Conrey of Massachusetts; Cal. w.
II. Hall. U. S. A.; Judge Advocate Gen
eral Davis, u. S. A; Gen. Register of
North Carolina, Gen Stewart of Penn
sylvania, and Gen. Spencer of New Jer-
sey.
Secretary Root was greeted with en-
thusiastic applause.
In the course of his address, speaking
of the new militia law, Secretary Root
said: Some had supposed that i'm
mediately after the passage of the new
law a code of decisions would be issued,
defining certain parts and passages in
the bill. Nothing could have been more
unfortunate than such a belief. The
code is very broad; it will have to be
applied to many conditions arising 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 condi-
tons.
There are only two ways of raising
an. army by CONSUMPTION or by volun-
tary service. The National guard is the
school of the volunteers. 1t is not in
tended that the national government
shall pay the expense of maintaining
the guard but it is intended that 1t shall
add to the efficiency, the strength and
the dignity of the guard.
"A question now being considered is
the minimum of the company, and 1t
is serious one. 1t should not be fixed
so as to kill the organization of a COM
pany in the rural districts, where the
young men are not so numerous as in
the cities. The required five days
training is also to be considered-what
kind of training, and many other things
are to be determined.
Lines should be laid down 50 that
the regulars and the National guards
men will be drawn closer. 1t too often
happens that jealousies exist between
the officers of the two branches. but
that will be avoided by honest and sim
cere work. After the united maneuvers
at Fort Riley last year the officers of
both branches left thinking great deal
more of each other. The elements Of
one are needed by the other. There
never will be any trouble In raising
soldiers: the trouble will be in the linn
1T of supply and transportation and
equipment: all need arrangement and
organization. With the national gov
eminent performing the quartermast
er's and financial part of the work. the
National guard looking after the spirit,
we can have an army that the whole
round world can not contend with.
The whole question of efficiency
rests upon the officers. and men of the
regular army and the National guard
and it needs but the application of the
new law in sympathy and kindness and
with due consideration for others. and
we can not go astray."
After meeting at the board of trade
in the auditorium Secretary Root re-
viewed the Ohio State university bat
TALON and later the regulars at the
Columbus post.