New-York tribune., 1908-04-03
TAFT PLEADS FOR ARMY
1DTOC4TES LIBER.fLITT.
Speaks of Possible ReOoIt of An
archists and Socialists.

Columbus, Ohio. April William Il. Taft
snake a. the Columbus Board of Trade dinner
-o-niEht on TIE army. a topic which he thought
had too little consideration in times of peace.
H ssid-
Naval action Is usually affirmative. To be
,sas-l the navy must strike. ard this makes
s function dramatic and commands the pop
,,g- attention The function OF the army Of late
,rs-s has generally been that Of accomplish
-rs-- by patient efort, stretching sometimes
r-e- months and years but always requiring
riaSe attention. tenacious courage and self
-sS--afn- It's work has been not only that Of
s--s-k bat more often that OF administration
e-s -sClFcaTicn-
xxe ned an army for three purposes. First
,s essential - any satisfactory system Of na-
,ionsl defence. second. as an indispensable in
=-~rs-re-t II carrying oCt our established inter
rational policy and, third, for the suppression
= sns,-rectiOn and civil strife
rov could maintain the Monroe doctrine
= = should ever. be questioned in the strenuous
80 for trade and for colonization? Could We
- = otherwise than by expeditionary force
- rte country invaded for the purpose OF assist
i-z -re local forces in repelling the INVADER Il
* ---e that cu- navy, enlarged as II Is, would
--schz-ce most useful function in the defence
~ -rs invaded country. but i could make Ettle
hes5vav against hostile forces landed therein;
ard after that the only method Of asserting our
International policy would be by the use Of the
army OF the United States
u course. there is no probability OF Z recur-
rsrce Of great civil war, but should the forces
ri anarch-sn and socialism and revolt against
wel organized militia would be most necessary.
Sru7-eSslcr OF local disturbances is 10 the regu-
lar army an unpleasant duty, ana II IS one 10
which The President would summon regular
--e1ps with great reluctance. An increase in the
efficiency Of the militia may well relieve the
regular army OF any such duty. The moral ef-
@ect of regular army, however, TO discourage
lswlessnsss Is invaluable
The history OF this country since the begin
rfug q the Revolutionary War shows that dur
rg az least one-fourth OF the life Of the country
the government has had a war on its hands
II some part OF its territory II is therefore
unv-se 10 proPhesy as 70 what may happen
in This respect il the future
The most InsiGioUs argument against the
maintenance Of an army OF present efficiency
IS that We once had q magnificent army Of vol
untee-s of million men; and il Is asked. Can
rc- raise suCh an army again2"
The awful sacrifice Of life and money which
~ had % undergo during four years in order
70 train this great army is forgotten and the
country IS lulled into the utterly unfounded
assurance that : volunteer enlisted to-day or
: --flf-ia-ran enrolled tomorrow can in week
u month be made an effective soldier We
have no right 70 ask our c1tlze1s 70 expose
reducing the chances Of disaster and death by
proper military education OF the officers and
proper military training OF the men.
Speaking Of the army to-day and OF its in
r-overnenr and adaptation 70 modern needs. he
gave the credit 70 the ability. energy and en-
-tl.stasul q E,ihu Root. formerly Secretary Of
War
n conclusion ina secretary Sa1c-
Congress rlarifests such an interest in the de-
veI0pnaeur OF the army and q willingness from
line 10 time TO improve the various bTanches
hat during the next decade ! feel confident We
shall have regular army and a reserve citizen
-rl6ierv sufficient TO put into the nelC Z5O.vUJ
-7er. cauable Of carrying on war with courage
and efficacy. We DO not raise armies BY con-
scripticu except As z last resort. As conse-
ruence. or army IS much more expensive than
r-ur0rean armies. even in time of~peace- our
regular army OF $4,000 men costs US about ST.
10000 q year France maintains an army Of
546 OOa men at e cost Of s133, 100000 e year
germany maintains $4,000 men for sI44, ,oo0e00 /
-e2r
: shc-rsiE-ted parSIr1ony with respect 70 an
Ecie-t army which might suppress q rebellion /
y foreign v-z- in = short time leads 70 the /
-zisi-g q e1orn2oUs fresh levies OF unslLed
FOODS and the expenditure of great treasure /
which might have been avoided After the /
-7e-Eencv arises, and when il is too late for .
economical preparations. then the Legislature
pens he Treasury by appropriations and pro
-si1-s of the greatest Gberality 70 meet the
eCessiries which only time and thorough prepa-
z-io- could proue-lv and economically meet