Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-13
Congress Of Officers and
Men Today at Boston.
VIII Discuss Legislation For
Good Of the Service.
Proposed to Conform More 0Iossty
TO Regular Army Plan.

| militia officers and men representing
| a total organized volunteer fighting
| force of more than 100000 members
and an organized constituency of H.
| 100000 available men to be held in this
| city during the next three days, at
| tended also by delegates from the ma
| tional war department, efforts will be
] made TO accomplish a closer union of
the amateur and professional soldiers
of the country, and a greater working
| efficiency of the latter class, or, in
short, to shape a new military policy
| for the United States.
The occasion Of the gathering IS the
annual meeting Of the National Guard
Association of the United States. ana
delegates are expected from nearly
every state and territory. The conVen-
ton will be held tomorrow, TUESDAY
and Wednesday in Old Faneuil hail.
| General Charles Dick, author OF the
| bill bearing his name under which Tho
National Guard has been re-organized
| and president of the association, VIII
preside.
The five-years period within which
| the provisions of the bill were to oper-
ate has elapsed. So active Is the de-
mand for new legislation. that many
! delegates are known to be coming to
| the convention with formal suggestions
or resolutions advocating more or less
| important changes in the national laws.
Among such proposed changes, one
| by General Charles A. Drain, OF New
| York chairman of the executive COM
mittee of the National Guard Assocta-
ton, will probably be among the first
| and most important to which the cor
| yention will give considerable he
will suggest that the National Guard
| at the outbreak of war be passed from
| state to federal control except az TO
| the COMMUNICATIVE chief and that it be
part of the first line with the regular
| army ready for immediate service in
war whenever the President might wish
to use it and for as long as the then
! existing enlistments Of the men should
| endure.
| Legislation along these lines, he be-
| lieves. would prove satisfactory So
| luton of the problem of military po-
| Icy for the United States. General
Drain Will further say:
Such a course would equitably in
volve such increased appropriations on
| the part of the United States az would
| insure the proper training of the Ma
tional Guard in peace and a condition
| of complete equipment for field ser
vice with the National Guard in peace
| States Of the obligation to furnish
| stores would allow the states to use
| their present or increased state ap-
| preparations for local administrative
expense, the maintenance of the troops
during peace and the construction Of
| arn1ories.
The adoption of such system would
not only give to the United States an
| addition to its first line of defence OF
a trained army of some 10000 men.
but it would insure in the states q
| force for internal use adequate for
every emergency. This would be peace
strength. War strength would reacit
| 100000. The country Is full Of men
| who would like to learn to do their
duty as volunteer soldiers in time Of
war and go out as such when war
came, but who have no desire for per-
manent military service.
There should be liberal detail Of
officers from the regular army for SER
vice with the National Guard in peace
to be employed as the governor might
direct"
The department at Washington. it Is
understood, considers the convention
as one Of unusual Importance. and It's
delegation will include Robert Oliver
Shaw. assistant secretary OF the de-
partment. Brigadier Generals George s.
Davis and w. w. Witherspoon and Col
Erasmus NJ. Weaver of the general
staff.
The business of the convention viii
be taken up at general sessions to be
held during the forenoon Of each day in
Faneuil hall. while important commit
tee meetings will also be held at tho
American House.
The delegates will direct their at :
/, tention closely to the Dick bill This,
bill, it is believed, will be modified
along the lines that the war depart
ment having Power" to organize and
provide for the National Guard should
Continued on Page Ten.)