The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-03-24
HERRING WANTS To
KNOM ABOUT m


Adiutant General Harry r. Her
ring Of New Mexico has written n
letter TO the Albuquerque newspa-
pers expressing surprise at the lack
of enthusiasm manifest among the
young men of Albuquerque In the
matter Of Joining the states stand
ing army. The a, utant 3 enerai
fails TO grasp the cause for the feel
ing prevalent In Albuquerque toward
the guard. and points out that should
war come. our young men would
necessarily enlist; therefore. why not
do Il now and get the necessary
t%raining7 The adiutant generals
letter follows
Editor The Albuquerque Herald.
Dear SIR
IN view Of tn fact that there
seems to- be a misunderstanding IN
regard to national guard service. !
would be very much pleased to have
you publish the following:
l have noticed In both Albuquer-
que papers recently the statement
that the chief objections on the
part OF the young men Ia Albuquer-
que to Joining the prospective new
national guard company were poss'
bility Of war in old Mexico and
strike duty.
l cannot believe that the men OF
Albuquerque who are eligible Tor
service in the national guard and
who have been approached on the
subject OF Joining fully understand
the situation. and II n OF them
have given such an excuse for nSt
Joining the new company. ] feel sure
that they did not understand how
the statement might b. construed.
in the first place, New Mexico has
gloriously proven her patriotism and
valor In past wars. n | feel sure
that II the men in this state we're
called upon To volun.ear for service
In the protection of our country and
| her principals. that We could ems
| at once several times the number
/ that we would he allowed to send
Secondly. under the present law
no member Of the national guard
can be forced. without his consent 20
do duty outside OF his state
Thirdly. if We should get into "a
real war every a~ble-bodied citizen
| between the ages Of rs and ~ years
could be conscripted for service nH
placed In amy command and unde
any officer hat was the most con
yenient. without regard To MS per
sonal choice, ana with no previous
training such as Is offered by the
national guard service, his conditlon
would be much worse h " he had
been a member OF the guards.
These reasons. when understood
should preclude the idea Of my one
really offering as an excuse for not
.a.aWI HNan Neff
that ne fears war.
In regard to strike duty, there Is
no more absurd subject cnder heaN-
On than the relation OK the national
guard Ia strike duty.
The national guard IL not compos-
ed of strike duty policemen and Is
not Intended 10 be used for any
purposes whatever except to pre-
serve the peace OF the state and 10
protect is citlzens and institutions. ]
am willing To grant nat there have
been times when the use of troops
was abused. but the calling oat OF
the guard must DE left to the discrc-
ton Of the governor Of the state and
the men who are afraid to go into
the guard because of fear OF being
called upon To do strike duty show
very little t"unildFnte IN Ahf hihtif
ltion and integrity Of the governor
when they. by their refusal. Infer
that he will misuse the service OF the
guard.
Now. To come To our state Of
New Mexico. we are "a new state in
The formative period, and We mus
de, clop in all directions, so let us dc
80 along the right lines. MS de-
partment OF the state Is the national
guard. and I am doing my utnnst Ca
give Il development along proper
lines. desire To have the best
men In the state. II possible, as mem
bers of the guard. and those who are
not members, I desire 10 have nf
ready sympathizers and helpers IN
the work. and | believe. honestly
II the citizens OF New Mexico vii
stop consider the guard Ia the
/, right light we viii have an organiza'
, ton worthy Of New MeNico. the last
and fast becoming n hest state ir
! the union.
HARRY r. HERRING
Adjutant General.