River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-12-04

as State Guards, in Florida as State
Troops, in Massachusetts as Volun-
teer Militia, in Rhode Island as Mi
litia and in Kentucky as Volunteers.
These bodies of citizen soldiery are
organized under state law and up
on the state falls most of the ex-
pense for the support of it's troops.
The state provides uniforms, equip
ment, tents and many hundred
smaller items that are necessary to
the soldier in the various branches
of the service 1t is the state which
pays the officers and men for spec
ial duties, and it is the state or a
subdivision of the state which pro-
vides the armories in which the
guardsmen drill and in which
equipment is stored. Quite gener-
ally the county is the par
ricular unit that constructs the
armory, but now some of the states
are providing structures at state
expense, notably New York, which
is building up an unusually strong
and effective National Guard.
But, under the new law, the Ma
tional government has assumed a
part of the burden and has in con-
sequence secured some voice in the
management and control of the
state militia. Under the federal
law the government distributes to
the states 100000 for the militia
and defrays various expenses in adj
dition. States which accept this
aid must accept certain require
ments and submit to the control of
the War Department. Practically
all of the states have accepted fed
eral aid and federal control. South
Carolina apparently remaining as
an exception. The militia of state
which does not accept the provi-
sions of the Federal law is not "or-
ganized."
The Federal Government pre-
scrlbes the system of drill, which
must conform to that of the regular
United States troops. At least five
consecutive days in each year must
be devoted to encampment. Funds
are distributed among the states de-
pending on the number of organized
troops which the state has. The
national government supplies arms,
ammunition, belts, etc. Regular off
GERS are detailed to instruct and as
sist the state troops. Thus the or
gained state troops are becoming
in equipment and training uniform
with the regular army, and in effect
a part thereof.
The president of the United States
may call out the organized militia
to execute the laws of the Union,
suppress instruction, and repel in
vasion," as the Constitution pro-
vides. Further, he is the exclusive
judge as to whether the conditions
require that the militia be called in.
to the service of the United States.
When called into the service of the
United States the President is COM
mander-in-chief of the militia and
Congress has control of the state
soldiers.
At times when the militia is not
within the service of the United
States the state authorities are in
control. The governor is generally
commander-in-chief, Usually the
power of calling out the militia to
suppress disorder and enforce the
4w within the state rests with the
governor though in a few states
other officers have this authority,
Thus in Massachusetts the mayor
Of city may call out the militia to
assist the civil authorities in cases
Of local disorder.
The offering of the militia is
within the control of the state gov
eminent. Usually the members OF
the company elect the company off,
GERS, the line officers elect the field
officers, and the field officers elect
the general officers. After being
elected they are usually examined
and, if competent, are then com.
missioned under state authority,
/ The non-commissioned officers are
generally appointed by the regi.
mental commanders.