Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-26
MILITARY CAPTAIN
IS SOMEWHAT Fierce
Says Those Who Do Not Agree
With Him Are 'Undesir-
able and Loud MOuthed'

If there is any lack of efficiency in
the present organization Of the Oregon
national guard, naval militia or any
other branch of the civilian soldiery, in
the estimation Of Captain R. W.. Collins,
of the U. S, Coast artillery corps and
inspector instructor of coast artillery
reserve of Oregon the fault lies mainly
with the attitude of ignorance indif
ference and lack of moral and financial
support ON the part Of the general pub
lie.
He also ascribes much of the attitude
of indifference and non support mani
feet upon the part of certain classes of
the public to Ignorance of the true con
ditiOns and status Of the militia and
pronOunces those who compose one
| class-a "small number who look upon
the defense of the country as a crime
but who are very loud-mouthed '--as
undesirable citizens and declares they
should be drummed ont of the country
for their Groom is better than their
company He also endorses Adjutant
General Finzer's S suggestion for tho
organization of a state cOnstabulary,
for the enforcement Of the law in ag
gravated cases and for strike patrol
duty, as a solution to the problem of
securing membership of the state
militia as many of the younger genera
tion eligible to military duty are OPP
posed to the national guard and would
otherwise enlist were it no for those
features.
In his report to Adiutant General
Finer, which forms a part Of the lat
ters biennial report to the governor,
Captain Collins gives an analysis of the
work of the coast artillery corps Of the
Oregon militia for the past two years
under his instruction and inspection,
which shows that the corps has i'm
proved but that there are several fac
tors that prevent it from obtaining the
state of efficiency that should be
reached. These factors he classifies as
follows:
"Lack of continuous and well direct
ed support of the members Of the com
munties in which the organizations are
located,
"Lack of proper amories in some
localities.
0rLack of sufficient number Of
well.trained officers and nOn.commis-
| stoned officers.
"'Small and irregular attendance at
the weekly drills, special meetings, tar
get practice and encampments.
"Lack Of sufficient number Of vol
unteers for militia service from young
business men and professional men and
others.
"The comparatively small number
who render three years actual service
attending each year the "a required
drills and encampmcnts.
A part Of the lack Of proper support
by the different communities. declares
Captain Collins, seems due to the fol.
lowing influences:
!. OF n comparatively small number
who look upon the defense Of our coun'
try as a crime, but who are very loud
mouthed.
.. OF those who think that the Amer
lean citizen does not have to be trained
to be a good soldier.
3. OF those who believe that the
United States, without any preparation
can lick the whole world.
niThose under the first division, y
says Captain Collins, SHOULD be
classed as undesirable citizens for, no
matter how exalted their present posi-
tions, they do more harm than many
who for other reasons, are considered
undesirable; their room can be better
taken by others who concede that the
privileges enjoyed under our system Of
/ government constitutes n debt to the
community that can only be repaid by
service.
"The shortcomings of the second and
| third classes are due to ignorance; If
| those of these classes can be made to
| realize the consequence Of their swash.
huckler attitude and the falsity Of
their assumption, and they with the in
| difference can he awakened to the
necessity they will gladly aid in obtain
ing and supporting an adequate defense
| force"
Advocates State Constabulary,
Zone of the great drawbacks to en-
| listment in the guard" says Captain
| Collins, ''is the fear of being called out
on strike duty some refuse to enlist
because Of this possibility and few
citizens, especially labor union civilians,
look down on police duty especially in
eases where they serve at small pay to
keep out the regular police at higher
pay.
''Thc soldier and the sailor, be he
regular militiaman or volunteer returns
with interest the contempt Of the ef.
Terminate, luxury loving member of the
nation but tries to do his duty for ALL
| but the militiaman will never under our
present system Of military service
reach the state Of efficiency demanded
Of him without compensation from the
state or national government or both
and the sooner the paybill now before
congress or n similar one with state 60.
operation, Is made n law the better II
will be for the nation. especially as we