Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-07-03
ALBUQUERQUE :
40 boNOEn \ NATIONAL JOKE.

Under tbs new law, passed "a the
hate session Of congress, the state MILF
tia VIII be no longer a national Joke.
but viii be hereafter one Of the most
valuable arms Of the national service
-lt Viii BE- really and truly q part
Of the American army, and q big part
If C. too Tho Kansas city Journal
calls attention to the fact that the
passage Of tho Dick bin with its
amendments. has Injected new life into
a branch Of the military service Of the
country that has bceA the sport ef
politicians and the child Of chance al
most from the beginning The old
colonial troops were IN many respects
superior % the regular army and conf
prised a a~ritizeu %soldiery" with much
latitude Of actlon and no little distinc-
iion But during the years that have
elapsed since taea the "milltis' has
degcnerated into 4 state Of desuelude
ana only the ardent enthusiasm Of a
few scattered leaders Kept the branch
alive aud available
The position Of the national guard at
the present time II little understood by
the public generally While the Dick
BIN VIA concerned chiefly with tac-
ties and formation 20 make the militia
conform to the regular army. az con-
dislaf precedent 20 a share In the an-
nual appropriations of congress. the
several amendments have Transformed
4tse national guard into United states
volunteers with exactly the same
status when mustered IN. AZ regulars.
General Bell acting secretary OF war,
recently pointed out thai there ~ ne
longer any militia ia The old ana uc-
cepted SENSE, as an laws reserving the
organized militia for exclusive service
within the several states have been SUI
perseded. The federal constitution
guarantees a. The states the appoint
mcnl Of militia officers aud the pow
~ ~ congress is limited hy the consti.
lulion 10 use thc militia go execute
the laws 81 the union. suppress insur-
rection and rcpel Invasion
However as Jhe law now stands the
oid limitations have been removed ant
the old provision limiting the scrvic,
Of ihe militia to nine months outside
al the various lpgimcntal states. ma.
been supers.aea aud to ain intents AUD
purposes thr president could make us'
ct the militia m amy maunor tu vhici
volunteers nr rcpalnrs can Boz employ
ed To some extent tine neW laws au'
regulations may nrurs something of
hardship upon some 81 tae men enlist
al Boo the militia. bur 90 is believed ana
tht more useful and dignincd positloI
nf militlamen under thc new resim
pnI outweigh the apparent disabilitie
Of Che service.
General oliver has announced ina
the war department contemplate th
organization 90 five army corps @
seUoe men each the militia ot con
tisunHs states t1 belong 90 the SAM
corps together vlth the regular troop
stationed Within tue pncrai district
Training camp. wlU he established 10
thr various corps AND 800, government
VIII lend FL. aid lu urIns to an min
tiulueu th, a%itaniesos 1f uHsui train
Jag under roraIat army officers VIII
this arrangement mt Rov.rna!eu
hopes 90 have tNo wears from now.
coherent force of 25o zoe men raineO
iu field m%aneuyers properly cluippo.
ana ready Tor Instant action
As already announced through th
columns az TIE Morning Journal os
local company VIII 60 into camp ia
IT, first annual training un the lit
inst one week from ucxt Tu sday.