The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-12
ADJ.UTANT
GENERAL
IS !, SEVERE
Why the Militia Does Not
Prove More Effective.
EMPL OVERS ARE
NOT PATRIOTIC
Will Not Allow Employees TO
Leave Their Work for
Drill Purposes.
SOME LABOR LEADERS
OPPOSE THE MILITARY
Newspapers Of Cities in Virginia,
Georgia and louisiana Have
Prejudiced the Minds Of
Militiamen BY Their Dis
torted Niews-Fear Of
Having Negro Officers.
SOME LABOR LEADERS
OPPOSE THE MILITARY
Newspapers Of Cities in Virginia,
Georgia and Louisiana Have
Pre;,,d;ced the Minds of
lBy Associated Press. )

(By Associated PreSs)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE annual
report OF Acting Adjutant- General Hall.
OF the army, was made public to-day.
IT deal. with every phase or the military
establishment The actual strength Of
the army on October 10, 1903, was 3.6sl
officers and $500 enlisted men.
over half OF the report is devoted
Il, the militia, and H. givcs a detailed ac-
count OF the workings OF the act to pro-
mote the emciency OF the militia, passed
at the last session OF Congress.
Regarding tho dependable strength OF
the militia in time OF national peril, the
Adjutant-General states that although
the obligation OF officers and men OF the
militia to respond promptly to sudden
call OF the President has been on the
statute books more than hundred years.
and OF the organized militia or. national
guard for nearly, forty and the neglect
to so respond is punishable by such pen
titles as a court-martialf may direct, ex-
!. rerjence has shopn that I his obligatlon
IL theory rather than a TACT &;
Small Proportion.
without going farther, back than the
late war with Spain, the proportion OF
the membership of militia organizations
that would have actually respo. ded to Q ch
calls Of tho President has borne a very
small proportion to those actually borne
on the company rolls"
The Adjutant-General comments at
length on the opinion developed in some
quarters to the militia law. which. he
saws. is less on the whole thar was an
t,cipated. He says 1t is true that cer-
tain radica. leaders OF the labor unions
regard tho militia as q menace to their
'purposes although 1t Is doubtful he
adds, IL, this enmity extends to any con-
siderable portion Of their membership
Continuing. the Adjutant-General' states
that there Is an inexplicau.e opposition
on the part of employers to permitting
their employees who are members OF the
national guard to leave their work to
participate In drills, encampments and
target practice, as we'll as in responding
tc calls for service from the State or the
suppression OF disturbances.
Cannot Waste Time.
> . q . =
Business and professional men con-
nected with the organized militia OF some
OF the States the Adjutant-G General
adds, "reel that they cannot ahord to
waste their time In riots or labor trou-
bles, while they woulu be perfectly will
Ing TO respond In case of0war. In. some
cities OF Virginia. Georgia and Louisiana
the newspapers have prejudiced the minds
of the militamen by their distorted
views The fear Is expressed IN some
Southern communities that under the
Presidents orders national guardsmen
might be compelled to serve under col
ored commander. and still others believe
that they are State troops and should not
be ordered for duty outside the State.
All these examples. however. are to be
regarded as sporadic, rather than con-
i, Ia gious. AS the intent Of teh law becomes
better understood. with perhaps some
! further legislation, 1t is believed that all
opposition will be confined to such lrre-
/ r % . 3 . . Il aft