The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-07-02
THE MILITIA MIDDLE.


public mind recently to great
extent, and many want to know
what it is all about, especially IS
this information asked where
there are no military companies;
at one time, about every county
in the State had from one to sew
eral companies, but these were
forced out by the regulations re-
aulred by what is known as the
Dick Act-a federal law which
provides for a National Guard;
BY the advice of some of the mil
itia officers the general assembly
endorsed this Dick Act, and made
it the military law Of this State,
when this was done there was
considerable opposition, it was
argued then, if it was attempted
to apply strict army discipline
to our citizen soldiers it would
have the effect of causing Grip
pling of the military service, but
those who like the tinsel and
pomp of the military insisted.
with the result, the law was &C
cepted, and our militia was reor-
ganized under it. The United
States government under this
act, provides equipment and un-
norms, and contributes some
money for encampments, and,
when the men are in service,
whether in their home or for
eign State, they are paid the
same as are the regular enlisted
men who are in the army service
as profession and a means OF
livelihood, the difference be
tween the regulars and the mill
tia is, the militia. although en-.
listed for a term Of years,
subject to call at any moment,
when called they must go, get
pay only when in actual service,
the regulars are paid all of the
time, because they are always in
service, whether it IS guard duty
or shining the shoes OF their Of
fcers.
South Carolina adopted this
law, and while there are many
in the militia who do not take
kindly to it, it is the law, and
they realize that they must do
one of two things, either surren-
der their membership by getting
an honorable discharge, or COM
ply With the regulations of
the war departmental their
bed is hard they must stick the
closer to it; when they sub
scribed their names to tn e
enlistment, It they were bound
as hard aud fast as those who
went into the army service for a
Job or a profession, and when
the Chief Executive, who is the
commander.in chief Of the mill
tary forces in the State under.
takes, because of his personal
opposition to the law, to refuse
to require the discipline as laid
down by this law he brings on a
condition calculated to cripple
the efficiency of the service, and
weaken the military arm of the
State.
Were South Carolina in a po
sition to make ample appropria-
tions to support and maintain a
military there might be some ar
gument in favor of being inde-
pendent of the general govern
ment, and have a military with
our own regulations, but this is
not the condition, and the mill.
tary is largely dependent upon
the general government, at least
for its ordinance and supplies,
having accepted the require
ments to secure the necessaries
s it does look to us the governor
could very we'll afford to let the
military men administer the work
of this department.
There are some who do not az
preciate the need of a military
force, we hope there will never
be a need for the militia, but
should the emergency arise, it is
needed instanter, quicker still
were that possible, therefore it
is wise to be prepared, the known
preparedness has the effect of
keeping the peace, it is a police
force on constant duty, it has
the salutary effect Of making
those who would cause an upris-
ing or an outbreak, ponder well
before they undertake such an
enterprise.
We deplore the present mill
tary situation, it does no good to
undertake, for sinister purposes:
to place the blame on the COVER
nor, because when this is at
tempted there will be many who
will Tx the blame on the Adju-
tant General. and why the Adju.
tant General? He has been the
chief of staff for the past three
years, and the militia is under
his immediate supervision, the
governor merely has a perfume
tory supervision, this too, on
gala occasions. but the Adjutant
General comes into personal con-
tact, it is to him the reports are
made. He knew the condition of
the military companies, and it
uas his bnSineSS to keen them