The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-11-05

most dear can be achieved by th'
slow process Of history only In th'
kindly and wholesome atmosphere o
peace. and not by the use OF hostile
force. The mission Of America in th'
world is essentially n mission %
peace and good viii among men. Sh,
has become the home and asylum o.
men Of all creeds and races. Within
her hospitable borders they have
! found homes and congenial associa
! tons and freedom and wide ant
cordial welcome, and they have be
come part of the bone and sinew anC
! spirit of America itself. America
has been made up out of the nation,
Of the world and is the friend OF IN,
nations of the world
But We feel justified IN preparing
ourselves to yndicate our right tc
independent and unmolested action
by making the force that is in Us
ready for assertion.
And we know that VIC can do this
in 0 way that will be itself an Illus
tration OF the American spirit. In
accordance with our American ira
Gitions We want and shall work for
only an army adequate to the con
stant and legitimate uses of interna
tional peace. But we DO want to
feel that there is great body of
citizens who have received at least
tho most rudmentary ana necessary
forms Of military training; that they
will be ready to form themselves into
a lighting force at the call Of the
nation and that the nation has the
munitions and supplies with which
TO equip them without delay should
II be necessary to call them into ac-
ton. We wish to supply them with
the training they need, and we think
we can do so without calling them
at any time too long away from their
civilian pursuits.
II is with this idea, with this con
ception, in mind that the plans have
been made which 1t will be my priyi
leeg to lay before the congress OF
It's next session. That plan calls for
only such an increase in the regular
army of the United states as expert
ence has proved TO be required for
the performance Of the necessary du
ties of the army in the philippines
in Hawaii. in Porto Rico, upon the
borders of the United states, at the
coast fortihcations, and at the mill
tary posts OF the interior, For tn,
rest. II calls for the training within
the next three years of a force OF
100000 citizen soldiers to be RAISED
In annual contngents OF 10000, who
would be asked to enlist for three
years with the colors and three years
on furlough, but who during theil
three years of enlistment with the
| colors would not be organized as s
standing force hut would he expected
merely to undergo intensive training
for very brief period of each year
| Their training would take place in
immediate association with the or
ganized units of the regular army
It would have no touch Of the anna
tcur about It, neither would II exact
of the volunteers more than they
could give in any one year from their
civilian pursuits.
And none of this would be done in
such way as in the slightest degree
to suporsede or subordinate our pres
cnt serviceablc and efficient national
guard On the contrary tie national
guard itself would be used as part
of the instrumentality by which train
ing would be- given the citizens who
enlisted under the new conditions
and should hope and expect that the
legislation by which all this would
be accomplished would put the na
toual guard itself upon better and
more permanent footing than it has
ever been before giving it NOT only
the recognition which it deserves, but
more definite support from the
national government and more def
mite connection with the military or
sanitation Of the nation.
What we all wish 10 accomplish is
that the forces of the nation should
indeed be part Of the nation and not
separate professional force, and
the chief cost of the system would
not be in the enlistment or in the
training Of the men. but in the pro