Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-11-23
Want GUARD AS
FIRST Line OF
citizen Army
Continued from Page u

.
men In the nation who during period
of more than a quarter Of century,
have devoted their time and energy,
In the National Guard, to the develop
ment and maintenance Of such force.
This association pledges its sup
port TO any reasonable increase In the
regular army that may be recommend
ed by the president of the United
States as in his Judgment necessary
for the better national defense and
pledges its best efforts to secure the
enactment Of such measures into law.
Must Have Larger Force.
The committee Is OF the opinion
that the training and development Of
a larger force for national defense is
imperatively necessary. For years this
association and the National Guard
have been working for legislation
which will make the organized militia
a federal force in time of war. AS
there Is some question as to whether
the legislation now on the statute
books and other proposed legislation
accomplished this result without con-
stituti0nal amendment, the committee
recommends that Congress propose
such an amendment to the federal con-
stitution as Will make the organized
militia effective for service both with
In and without the continental limits
of the United States, upon exactly the
same terms and conditions as the reg
ular army can by law be used, grant
ing to the Congress the right. to pre-
scribe the discipline, equipment and
training thereof, reserving to the sew
eral states the control OF their forces
In time of peace. the appointment Of
the officers thereof In accordance with
q uniform system to be prescribed by
the Congress, and the organization, To-
cation and arrangement OF the units Of
the same.
I'VE recommend that the National
Guard use its best efforts to have such
amendment passed by the Congress
and ratified by the several states ct
the earliest possible moment. Pend
ing the ratification of such amendment
we ask that Congress enact law en-
bodyine the principle Of federal com.
pensation to the National Guard as
return for its assumption Of the con-
tractuhl duty Of federal service and
its services In preparing therefor,
Expect Force Of 100000.
This step taken, there will be such
an increase in the forces of the or
ganized militia that the nation will
have an immediate dependable and
trained force Of not less than 200, 900
men as the nucleus from which to ex-
pand az necessity may arise. We be-
lieve that the National Guard can be
80 developed, that by reason Of its
continuous instruction throughout the
year Il WIN produce greater state Of |
military preparedness than can be OBJ |
tanned by citizens In any other way. |
We call attention 20 the fact that the |
National Guard possesses the facilities |
and means for carrying on such train |
ing. through its armories and rifle
ranges and the continued regularity Of |
control and instruction, which should |
be done in strict accordance with fed
ersl requirements.
I'VE emphasize the fact that the |
National Guard Of the United States,
now organized and equipped, IL com 1
posed Of officers and men whose first |
thought Of service is for the nation |
and II not SO available under existing |
constitutional requirements Il cannot |
be too speedily made SO. In order that |
the National Guard may properly dis
charge the duties for which its mem |
bers have enlisted.
I'VE are Of the opinion that the de-
Of the National Guard along /
the lines suggested would give us at /
once a strong first line and the first /
Of the quota of any organ
lied force that may be required for the
national defense and that both in its
personnel and as an institution it is
entitled to and should receive such
preference.
Appeal to State Pride.
we believe that state pride and
state officers make the best possible
argument for recruiting; and that a
force raised by that method would be
In harmony with the traditions of the
people in the various localities, be-
cause just regard must be had at all
lines for the sentiments and preju-
1ices of the people Of the various
states with regard to the forces to be
armed, equipped and trained within
heir borders.
I'VE therefore recommend the fol-
owing:
First, that this association approve
he increase In the regular army as
recommended by the president Of the
United States.
Second, that this association rec
,mnend the adoption by the Congress
Ind ratification by the states of such
IN amendment to the federal consti-
ution as will make the organized mi
itia of the United States available
or federal service, within or without
he continental limits of the United
States to the same extent that the
'egular armies of the United States
ire by law available, granting to the
Congress the right to prescribe the
raining, discipline and equipment
hereof. reserying to the several states
he control of their forces in time of
oeace, the appointment of their Off |
:ers in accordance with uniform
system to be prescribed by the Con-
yress, and the organization, location
ind arrangement of the units thereof,
md providing for the organization of a