The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-02-12
The New Militia Law.
st. Louis Globe Democrat.

Congress was long time in finding a
satisfactory militia measure, but got
! together a few days ago and the bill
that was passed, having received the
presidents signature, lie now law.
By the national constitution, con-
gress is given power Ito provide for
calling forth the militia to execute
the laws Of the Union, suppress insur-
resctions and repel invasions," and
ito provide for organizing, arming
and disciplining the militia, and for
governing such part OF them as may
be employed in the service OF the
United States, reserving to the states
respectively the appointment OF the
officers, and the authority of train
ing the militia according to the disci-
pline prescribed by congress. The
new law in no way interferes with
state functions. Its object is to pro.
vide the national guard with better
and uniform arms, to encouragement
camps OF instruction in which the
militia and regulars will take part
together in maneuvers aud practice
marches, In time OF war the presi.
dent may call on the national guard
for nine months service within the
boundaries of the country. and when
volunteers are summoned for service
outside OF United States territory
the militia regiments will have the
first chance to enlist. -Arms-and
equipments to be furnished the state
militia by the national government
will be OF the regular army pattern,
and the tactical organization will be
the same.
The president OF the United States
is the. commander in chief Of all the
military forces OF the country, but
there is nothing in the new law to
interfere with the prerogatives Of the
different states. 1t offers advant-
ages, however, for efficiency. Shar-
ing in the national appropriations,
one of 100000 having already
been made, will depend on proper
compliance with the rules laid down
for re-equipment and discipline. 1t
will rest with q governor whether the
militia Of his state shall take part in
the periodical joint camp Of instruc-
tion. His request is the starting
point in the matter ~ far as his own
state is concerned. When the Span
ish war occurred the national guard
was armed with six different patterns
OF rifles, requiring as many kinds OF
ammunition, which would be q dan.
gerous circumstance in active service.
Scientific training demands that in
equipment and tactics, IT, militia
standard should be that ofthe reeu-
lar army, which is established BE-.
cause believed to b thshsd6s
r. A state may, Of couf1e, nSl Isct its
militia under the now law. The gov
srnor appoints the officers, . vital
factor in the case touching discipline.
He orders participation 10 national
sncampments or ignores the matter.
But the majority Of the states win
gladly claim all the benefits Soi the
new law and be always ready to re-
spons to national call a. provided
BY the constitution and statutes. At
the present time the nstional guard
Of all the states numbers lis, 1000
men, adormidable force il uniformly
armed and instructed. President
Washington 5pid in 1904: 3rhe de-.
vising and establishing d 4. WE'LL
regulated militia would b : genuine
source Of leehlatiys honok and ! per-
feet title to public ersti tudpg' and he
asked congress 70 pesp ! ! Law that