Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-20
STATE HOUSE.
Adiuiant Gen. Dill Returns
From U s. Convention.
Speaks on Trend Of Meeting Of
u s. National Guard Assn.
railroad Commission Grants Peti
tions..Repalrs In State House.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Regular Meeting of Governor and
Council, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1913, ~
A. M,

Adjutant General Dill, who has Just
returned from the annual convention
# the National Guard Association OF
the United States, held at Chicago, in
IN interview, Saturday. said: 1T was
one of the most momentous in the -
years history of the association.
And going deeply into the subject,
he said:
The feeling that perhaps the war
department was overreaching itself
to secure greater federal control of
the organized militia seemed to ami
mate majority of the delegates on
their arrival and as the convention
progressed this spirit found its way
into speeches and resolutions. Some
If the hardest working and most level
aeaded officers in the National Guard
1atly told the war department officials
chat there must be a change in policy
er divorce of interest. The National
Guard officers We're unanimous in the
war department in its effort to make
rhe organized militia an efficient fed
efal force but they did not hesitate
to condemn policy which would re-
luire for the organized militia some
thing which the war department adj
.nits is physically impossible for the
regular army
Gen f.. G. Young of the Illinois
National Guard, chairman of the exc
cntive committee of the association,
made vigorous protest against the
usurpation of control by the Federal
government He said that while he
had at one time been inclined toward
Matchmaking the organized militia he
had finally come to the conclusion
that local control insofar as it is
practicable is in accord with the ideas
If the American people and the spirit
of its institution. Applying this he
said: Men of the right type and char
acter, who form our citizen soldiery,
do not take readily to lit and spur
Men who are spirited enough To make
successful soldiers will not yoluntari-
~ place themselves in a position to
he arbitrarily and unreasonably dealt
with. Discipline exercised from a
local bureau in Washington, spread
out over the entire United States,
handled at long distance, with its in
creasing loss Of time, is bound to lose
entirely the personal equation which
is to essential to the citizen soldier.
A sympathetic encouragement, enthu-
siastic leadership, patriotic devotion
to a sentiment. and not the big stick
are the guiding principles
BY very decisive vote the conven-
ton accepted the views of General
Young and gave passage to the resolu-
tons authorizing the executive COM
mittee to submit to Congress direct
bill providing pay for armory drills;
expressing the belief that the govern
ment of the militia should rest in the
states in time of peace, as provided
in the Federal Constitution; request
ing the war department to repeal Cir
cular No. s, which provides for the
organized militia brigade and divi-
sion organization which the war de-
partment admits to be physically i'm
possible for the regular army: and
hhally stating that if the war depart
ment wishes an increase in field artil-
lery, cavalry. engineers, signal corps
and sanitary troops it must secure
special Congressional appropriations
tor then maintenance.
me committee on resolutions offer
ed resolve favoring the appointment
oi National Guard officer as chief
OF the division of militia affairs in
the war department, a position now
hiled by an officer of the general staff
Int
not prepared To go To this length and
'he resolve was not given a passage.
me net result of the convention
was To make it plain that the MEM
oefs OF the organized militia propose
10 stand on thier constitutional rights
anu are ready to break with the war
department if such a step should he
,ette necessary. The Immediate ONT
-ohie OF the convention will be watch
"a win no little interest by National
=, IN this and other states.
ne war department has done Won
iefs In helping the militia toward real
leid eiilciency and it is to be regret
ed That there has been even a slight
lash, At all events, there was no
l.tempt at deception on either side
iuflng the debates at Chicago and II
$ probable that out of the publicity
ma discussion there will come a bet
ef understanding between the or
'anized militia and the division of
militia affairs"
.t5apt. Albert Greelaw, I'd Infantry
sifo' rs 10 succeed General Dill in tha
NICE or adJutant general, Nov. I. was
delegate to the convention and
hrough arrangements made by Cen
raj Dlil was admitted to the meet
hs OF the Association of Adjutant
GENERALS during the conferences with
ne war department officials. thereby
e'tins closely in touch with the Ma
iotlai phases of the work which he ia