The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1909-07-23
GEN. S. r. kffSlER
IN AN INTERVIEW
Talks to jackson News RepOrtes
About National Guard.

About National Guard.
Speaking in general way of the
Mississippi National Guard, it's outlool
for the future and the attitude OF tn,
general public toward that branch o
the service, Major General S. r. KEGS
Ter remarked that it is his understand
ing that there is certain inimica
spirit manifest against enlistment O
their members by the labor organiza
tions. In general way, after weel
of observation, Gen. Keesler remarked
"This encampment tends to effect
more good for the guard than any we
have ever had. The instruction has
been of the best-none could have been
better, and even this feature itself
should tend to put the guard on firm
er basis in Mississippi. Formerly en-
campments were supposed to work the
men all day LONG, with drills in the
morning and again drills in the after
noon, which constituted the order OF
the day. Now this has all been chang
ed. We finish the days work with
school at II o'clock with. Of course, the
evening at 6, and the men now realize
that If they are smart in the mornings
work they practically have the entire
afternoon to themselves.
"1n my opinion the people of Missis-
sippi are just now awakening to the inn
portance of a state guard, and realize
the National Guard is worthy the sup
port, interest and good will of the state,
and revival of public sentiment that
will uphold the guard. Many of the
legislators of our Southern states de-
clare that we are drifting towards mil
ltarism, which is not at all but just
common sense. General Wood recently
remarked that no man detests war 50
much as the man who has seen most of
it, but we need adequate readiness.
"The National Guard of Mississippi is
good, but it must be better and larger.
To produce these two results wider in
terest and deeper pride in the organ
izations are necessary. If We could
bring about such sentiment and per-
suade our young men to join the guard
the problem of military weakness in
our nation woula be solved; for in .
strong, well-drilled and capable militia
lies the hope of our country.
"We are seriously handicappedin Mis-
sissippi by parsimonious legislature
men who, instead of marching in the
van of progress go backward. OF course
there are men in the legislature who be-
lieve in strong National Guard and
adequate appropriations for it's main
tenance, but these are few and far be
tween, and when it comes time to pre-
pare for supporting the guard as it
should be, this same element predom
mates.
"Then the sentiment of some of the
labor organizations handicaps our work,
while some employers of labor are
equally as bad, and these are at fault in
their attitude toward the guard as far
as can learn, l find many young men
who would like to enlist and connect
themselves with the guard, but fear
that it would injure their business or
defect their standing with their en-
ployers. If motives of patriotism and
self-protection do not outweigh money
consider ations it is we'll that their at
tention be called to the fact that mil
itary training makes them more val
liable right now, in dollars and cents.
We want the labor unions to know that
the National Guard is in accord with
the ethics of their organizations. They
deplore violence in their ranks; the
guard puts violence down. / will be
glad when the time comes that the en-
ployers and labor unions shall be
brought to see that in aiding the Ma
tional Guard they are bettering them
selves.
'In Mississippi there are labor un-
iors who refuse to let their members
join the guard under fear of expulsion
and loss of work. Such conditions
might have consistently thrived during
the reign of terror, but under repub-
lican form of government, where the
safety of country depends on it's cit
izen soldiery such conditions should be
met with means that subserve the best
ends.
"With many members of the Missis-
sippi National Guard the annual en-
campment is their annual vacation, and
while it means sacrifice to many ol
them they need no urging or conscrip-
tiun. They always develop marked
loyalty to their organizations when en-.
rolled and helpful enthusiasm in their
training.
J II hope to see a law passed" remark.
ed Gen. Keesler, with emphasis, "that
will make it a severe offense for any
employer to discharge a man for doing
his duty with the guard, and such Law
might be OF benefit to labor organiza
tions Of such calibre.'
For Sale.
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