The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-04-11
MAKE STATE TROOPS
I'd STANDING Army

WASHINGTON, d. c., Special
Members of Congress, advised Of the
seriousness of the situation in Mexico,
are endeavoring to put through a bill
authorizing the employment Of State
militia outside the United States Re-
preventative /. s. Pepper OF Iowa, a
member of the House military affairs
committee, introduced an amendment
TO the existing law. permitting the
use of the State militia outside the
country
In the Senate, Senator Henry A.
DUPONT, OF Delaware, chairman Of the
military affairs committee Of the up
per branch, has introduced a volun-
teer bill, providing a flexible method
Tor raising volunteer troops and for
providing officers for such troops. His
bill makes it certain that there will
be no confusion in the raising Of vol-
unteer troops
Attorney General Wickersham has
advised the President and the Secre-
tary of War that the State militia can
not be used outside the United States
under the existing laws. and it was
TO remedy this defect that Represen-
tative Pepper introduced his bill
Already the Secretary of War has
called for reports from the officers
OF the various State militia, with de-
tails as to how each State would move
its troops TO Mexico.
Among the adjutant generals who
have conferred with Secretary Slim
son are Adjutant-GeneraI Stewart, of
Pennsylvania; Acknowledgement Wey-
brecht, of Ohio; Major-Genera Ed
ward Young, of Illinois, and a half
dozen others Of lesser rank.
Most OF those who conferred with
the Secretary of War deny that the
| Mexican situation was discussed di-
rectly, but admit that they were asked
| to give a list of their men, their
equipment, and facilities for transpor-
tation.
Fear Alarming Reports.
Officials of the War Department are
ports from being circulated. ''' because
/ they still hope that it will be unneces-
+ sary to cross the border. The hope is
gradually diminishing, however. The
great fear in Washington is that If the
City there will be attacks on American
feeling against the United States in
Mexico, and it is the boast of some of
the Mexicans that If the present gov
eminent is overthrown. and lawless-
ness reigns in Mexico City. American
women will be attacked.
! The War Department wants Con-
gress to enact legislation" explained
Representative James Hay, chairman
of the Military Affairs Committee,
ever Congress authorizes him to In
| crease the strength of the army, TO
call out the national guard as a volun-
| teer army and send 1t for duty any
place in the United States or outside of
, the United States. The national guard
wants similar legislation.
! The War Department. however,
wants the guard under such circum-
! stances to be merged into the regular
army, without maintaining its present
! organizations intact and it's present
/ officers. This is a feature Of the War
Departments plan that the guard is
! strongly opposing.
Il may say that the chance of Con-
gresS enacting the scheme of the War
| Department into law is not very good
/ Congress is made up of Representatives
from the States. and 1T Is altogether
| likely, at least so far as the House Is
! concerned, that the Pepper bill, which
provides that the national guard or
their own officers. will be passed"