Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-02-07
COAST OPEN TO ATTACK
LITTLE PROTECTION PROVIDED
AGAINST FOREIGN INVASION.
Major Hammond Tells Why Oregon
Taxpayers Should Support Home
Military Companies.

the movement to build an armory for
the use of Company H, Oregon Ma
tional Guard It is a meritorious
movement and one to which we believe
few taxpayers will object, once the
plan is thoroughly understood. The
amount necessary to erect such
building, after the state has made It's
donation, will be so small as to be
scarcely worthy of remark. Only
small fraction of mill will be requir-
ed. and the tax will amount to an av-
erage of only little more than VI for
each property-owner in the county. A
great majority of the taxpayers would
be required to pay but few cents
each.
The financial phase of the movement
for securing state-aided armories is
ably discussed in a recent number OF
the Eugene Register, by Major Creed
C. Hammond, of the Fourth Oregon
Infantry-the regiment of which the
Polk County company is part. MAJOR
Hammond's statement of the situation
is so fair and comprehensive that the
Observer is glad to print it in full, be-
Iieving it will be read with interest by
every taxpayer in Polk County. He
says:
&C. J. Hurd writes an article in a re-
cent issue of the Register, entitled,
Taxpayer Objects to Armory Scheme,
in which he belittles the Eugene Com
mercial Club and ridicules the armory
proposition as a pipe dream, in reply
to an article of mine on the armory
and our military unpreparedness.
'Mr. Hurd's share Of taxes, accord
ing to last years tax roll, would be
about $O.2045, which reads well along
side of Millions for Defense, But Not
One Cent For Tribute | have the
greatest Of respect for the grangers
and their good intentions, and l know
they mean we'll and will do well, when
they thoroughly understand all condi-
tions.
''The taxpayers are not asked to
build an armory for Eugene, but Tor
the National Guard stationed here
When the United States furnishes the
arms and part Of the equipment, and
the state the rest, it is but fair tha1
the county pay half of the armory con
struction, as in the event of war anc
invasion of this Coast, Lane County
will need protection as badly as any
other coast county. The Nationa
Guard is a home guard, but Is subJec
to the call of the president and gov
ernor besides the County Judge ant
Sheriff. The United States War De
partment has no authority to buiit
armories for states or counties, but thu
county and state have the necessary
authority Multnomah has already
spent $3.50, 900 on her county armory
yet she would pay big share of oui
armory, as she pays one-third of thu
state taxes.
''The taxpayers are not asked tt
build a convention hall for Eugene.
country taxpayer would have just al
much right to its use as one from Eu
gene. The country people have occa'
sion to use halls, too. only recent!
the dairymen's and buttermen's con
yentlons were brouhgt here by the Eu
gene Commercial Club for the benefi
of the farmers. They wanted the ole
armory, but it was too small, and pri
Vate buildings, separated, had to b.
secured. This convention was of mor'
direct benefit to the farmers than t.
the Commercial Club. Mr.. Hurd at
taeks the club for supporting the arm
ory proposition. His attention is call
ed to the fact that the membership o
over 400 is made up from our bes
brains and heaviest taxpayers.
'"The guardsman pays his share
taxes and performs all of the duties o
a good citizen but in addition, studies
works drills, and prepares himself t
defend his country and home-al
without pay. Which is the better citi
zen, Hurd or the guardsman?
"Mr. Hurd's last paragraph show
his lack of information on our coun
try's unpreparedness to repel an Asiat
ic invasion, He feels like lookin
west every morning to see If thos
awful Japs have landed Some day
my uniformed friend, they may LAND
and what win you and the rest of tn
country do without any organization
discipline, arms or ammunition?
japan Versus the United States.
since speaking of those 'awfl
Japs' have you studied the statistic
and history OF recent years? Have yo
watched the growth and conquests {
Japan, her sudden and herculean lea
from obscurity to a place OF dictate
amongst the nations-her defeat of III
two largest nations of the earth, mah
ing her supreme in the Eastern Pacih
ali OF this in the past Z years?
seven years ago Russia's nav
ranked third and Japan was at III
bottom Of the list. Russia had tn
largest army in the world and Japan
was hardly consldered-yet Russia di
not win single decisive victory O
land or sea.
we were surprised at her sudde
and unannounced attack on the Run
SLAMS at Port Arthur-but war is n,
declared to commence at years ne
tice IN these modern times natio
can break treaty just as an indivit
ual does and this right is recognize
and was followed by Japan. tn
strongest military power can make {
break a treaty az will. We were sui
prised al her transport service in LANE
ing such vast armies across the sea
so short time. soon she had a mi
lion men, armed and disciplined, q
the main land The whole world VI
astounded at the suddenness. immcn
ity and perfection Of Japan's prepares
ness for war American army Office
said that Port Arthur could not
taken. yet the japanese captured
with held army from the rear ou
ers said that Mukden. with its defcns
and distance from the japanese has
could not be taken. yet the Japane
captured a. Think OF that battle. vii
a fEhtlng line l5O miles long and soc
e00 men engaged. With our prese
capacity. IL would take us five yea
40 make as many guns as the Japai
ese had IN that one battle, TO say not
ing OF the guns with her other ne
armlcs
Veterans Thcrc-ftere RcTuits.