The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-01-21
MILITIA NON on
ARMY BASIS


Washington, d. c., Jan. 21-The
i famous "Dick Law" which national
ICES, so to speak, the militia organi-
cations of the various states by plac-
ing them upon the same footing as the
regular army and making them a
national organization subsidiary to
/ the regular army in case of war, went
/ into effect today. This law, framed
/ by United States Senator General
/ Charles Dick, of Ohio, was originally
passed by congress in 1908 and was
intended to become operative at once.
1t was readily seen, however, that the
states could not change their systems
so soon, and that much time would
be needed for the reorganization.
Then it was decided that the law
should go into effect in 1908, but
when the five years had elapsed it was
found that even then several of the
states among them Pennsylvania and
Delaware were not quite ready for the
change and the time was once more
extended to January 81, 1910.
| The law provides that the militia
shall consist of every able bodied
male citizen of the respective states
and territories and the District of
Columbia. and every ablebodied male
of foreign birth who has declared his
intention of becoming citizen, who
| is more than eighteen AMI less than
forty-five years of age, and shall be
| divided into two classes: The organ
| lied, and uniformed active MALTA In
the several states and territories and
the District of Columbia who have
heretofore participated or shall here
after participate in the apportion-
ment of the annual appropriation,
shall constitute the organized militia
and shall, from now on, have the
same organization, armament and dis
! cipline as that which is now or may
hereafter be prescribed for the regul-
ar army of the United States, subject
in time of peace to such general ex
| ceptions as may be authorized by the
secretary of war.
/ Under the new law every regiment
| of infantry or calvary of the organ
! lied MALTA and each separate or un-
assigned battalion of infantry or en-
gineers or squadron of calvary of the
militia is entitled to one assistant in
spector of small arms practice with
the rank of captain of first lieutentnt;
while each organized brigade is en-
of major and each division to one
with the rank of lieutenant-colOnel.
\ The president of the United States, in
time of peace, has the right to fix the
minimum number of enlisted men in
troop. battery, etc.
The law provides that whenever the
United States is invaded or threaten
ed with invasion by any foreign pow
er, or a rebellion against the author
ity of the government, or when the
president should be unable with the
regular forces at his command to exc
cute the laws of the Union, it shall
be lawful for the president to call
forth such number of the militia as
he may deem necessary. In his call
the president may specify the period
for which such service is required.
No commissioned officer or enlisted
man of the militia is to be held to
service beyond the term of his exist
ing commission or enlistment.
The secretary of war is authoriz-
ed to issue from time to time to the
organized militia such number of the
United States service arms. together
with all accessories and such other
accoutrements, equipments, uniforms
and clothing as used by the regular
army of the United States. The Sec
rotary of war is also authorized to
provide for participation by any part
of the organized militia of any state
on the request of the governor, in the
encampment, manoeuvers, and field
instruction of any part of the regular
army. Upon the application of the
governor of any state the secretary
of war may detail one or more officers
or enlisted men of the army to report
for duty in connection with the organ
lied militia. A consulting board OF
five officers of the militia shall be Sc
lected by the secretary of war for
term of four years to report to him
| from time to time and confer upon