The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-07-18
DICK MILITIA LAW.

Serious trouble is impending over
the enforcement o. what Is known as
the Dick militia Law, an act passed
By congress providing Or the reor-
ganization o. the militia Of the various
states along the lines oi the regular
army organization On the asslmilstfDn
of he state militia Ia accordance with I
this scheme is dependent the annual
federation appropriation for arms and |
eqIipment VI tie nationa. guard OF
the several states.
lt is regarded as probiematicai
whether or not the militia organiza.
lions of all the states can be changed
10 time 70 conNUrm 10 the Dick laV
eIlch is 70 become Effective on Jan
nary 2ls'. 1905 Several Of the states
have presented % the war departmnt
statements Of the organization ~ their
.uonal guard aid 10 a majority OF
/ Instances they have been found by the
officials of the department not In
compliance with the Dick Law.
T-e author Of the Law is Senator
| Charles Dick. Of Ohio. who has been
Identified with the Ohio National
| Guard for many years and who, nov,
/ is the major general commanding the
guard of his state. He also is tie
| president Of The national guard as
sc,yciauon % the country and Is re-
garded as an authority on militia mat
tcrs.
Ia compliance with the law, inspect.
Ing officers Of tie war department now
are Engaged in sulHns the militia or
gauizations Of the states with view
20 determining whether they conform
100 the proposed statute. The reports
received from the inspectors show
that iu almost every state changes
i viii have 90 Doe made iu the urgau.za
l uuus lu ord O. to meet the require.
/ meufs OF tue new law. Some of r.'
/, changes are radical aud several OF IA,
statues are obiectius q, them. Liul,
4, progress has been made in cnectina
. the changes in any Of the states, but
as the law is clear and mandatory b
will bee necessary for the changes &,
be- made If the states ar to btaiI
the benfit Of the federal approprIa
A tons
f. To bring the militia up t. the stand
r ard OF the regular army, In its organ
lzation and equipment Is no cas-
oil matter and some Of the less populou
Is and less wealthy states are meetin
u with considerable difficulty. a fe'
- VI the states. like Massachusetu
H. New York Pennsylvania and OhiC
.oI already nave their militia organize
n. tons in good shape although 1t wi
Id be necessary FOR them to make som
O. changes in organization In order fun
n. Ia conform to the requirements
ID the Dick law. A good many OF tn
Id states. however. maintain only sma
lcI militia organization and 1t will b
al practically impossible for them
20 maintain. for instance, twelye-compi
le ny regiments. as they have not IN
e population necessary for so large
n force Of militia.
.s. It has been proposed that, at III
ss opening OF congress next Decembe
he resolution be- passed either pos
in poning the date o fthe effectiveness
Vi. uf the Dick law, or that modificatio
st Of the law be made for the benel
lc of the smaller states. It is believe
lr. by rac war department authorize
lu that II the law be So modified as
u.| prmlt the small states 10 do the be-
Sc they can In their state military u
,w pauizatlons it would bee in line "n
vi public policy and would bee recelv,
400 with satisfaction by enthusiastic mi
ld tia officials i'm the less pppuloua state