The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-01-20
DICK BILL PRACTICALLY IN
EFFECT IN STATE SOME Time
Law Generally Effective Tomor-
row But Michigan Has Been
Working Under 1t.
MAKES BIG STANDING ARMY
TELEPHONE SOUTH 10

The News publiched an article re-
Gently i'm regard To the Dick military
bill which. IL was said. win become
operative throughout the union next
Friday, January 21." That is true,
but since that story was written, Gen
r. J.. Bates Of the Michigan National
Guard has been interviewed. and IT
seems that the Dick bin will not be
any more operative I'm Michigan Fri
day than IL was two years ago. The
Michigan National Guard took the
necessary steps 10 come under the OPP
erations OF the law soon after it's
passage. but a few of the states were
slow in conforming TO the provisions
OF the new measure. As has been
mentioned before. Wit the advent OF
January 21, all OF the states win be
in harmony with the innovation i'm
military affairs.
Under the new law the members Of
the Houghton and other companies
are in a practical sense members II
the regular army. Although they are
stin subject to the call OF the gov
ernor. they are also under the imme-
date jurisdiction Of the president of
the United States. who can call them
out at any moment.
The members OF the state militia.
too are subject TO federal rules in re-
gard to absence from the city. If they
want TO go away for any considerable
length of time, they must apply for
and procure a furlough. If a soldier
in the National Guard leaves his home
city and is gone more than 10 days,
he is subject to military action against
him on the charge of desertion.
The applicant for membership in
the National Guard must under the
Dick law pass the same medical ex-
animation that the candidate for the
regular army is up against which will
reasonably mean a radical improve
ment in the physical status of the
militia in the various states.
The new law also does away with
the election by companies of the Off
GERS. except in the case Of second
Lieutenant. which office Is still elect
i've. The first lieutenants and cap
tains will continue TO hold Office in
definitely, unless promoted in the
same manner as elevations are made
in the federal army.
StiH another feature that will be Ct
special interest is the fact that tho
Dick law provides for pay Of officers
and men engaged in all drills. This
means that when the members q
Company c give a night a week fo~
driI at the armory they get paid for
their services, which is very accept
able because the boys can use the
change.
The snug little sum Of s4OOO.OOO
was recently appropriated by the con-
gress TO be used in equIpplng the
Michigan National Guard. which must
be fitted out like the regular army IN
every particular An additional ST.,
$50. 900 has been asked for to be used
in the project Of bringing about COM
bined maneuver enterprises on the
part OF the ItEulAI army anu lIiilAiei ~
this country. General Bates gives out
the opinion that this second proposed
appropriation win be made.
with the Dick law In full operation
and the entire national guard "regu-
larly' equipped for military service,
this great organization will constitute
nm additional standing army Of 49,
900 men, wen drilled and subject 10 the
presidents call "to arms" according
to General Bates.
In the old law the lighting forces
were named in the order OF regular
array. volunteers and militia. The
new law has made n change impera-
tive and, according to the general
steps have been taken to have the
legal order changed TO read regular
army militia and volunteers.
General Bates is enthusiastic In re-
gard to the merits of the new military
law and it is easy to realize that the
result OF the Dick measure will be to
contribute immensely TO the potency
Of Uncle Sans military men. II gives
the nation q practical increase OF over
100000 men in the standing army