New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-18
Accepts Conference
Measure AS "Best
1t Can Get"
BORAH ASSAILS
MILITIA PLAN
Measure Inadequate, De-
clares Lodge-Now
Goes to House.
From TIE Tribune Bureau. ]

From TIE Tribune Bureau
Warrington, May 17.-Condemned as
inadequate, as including plenty of pork
but little real preparedness, and as
creating a political machine in the
militia which may offer as grave dan
gers TO the country as a foreign inva-
sion, the army reorganization bill was
passed by the Senate late to-day with
out a roll call as "the best We can
get"
The bill, according to Senator Cham
berlain, provides for a regular army Of
2ll 900 at peace strength and approx
mately 100000 at war strength, and
for a federalized national guard of
$4,000 at maximum strength. Repre-
sentative Hay says it will provide
regular army of 175,oOO fighting men.
The rest will be non-combatants.
Every possible angle Of the measure
was debated during the day, beginning
with the nitrate water power grab, and
including Mexico, the rebellion in Ire
land, the militia lobby's fight against
the volunteer army and a dozen other
topics Of lesser interest.
Senator Brandegee, Of Connecticut,
whose amendment when the Original
bill was in the Senate increased the
regular army to 25O,O00 men, closed the
debate with a hope that the "God who
locks after fools and drunken men VIII
go on taking care of the United States
in spite OF Congress-
Talk about militarism, Senator Bran
degee said, was the mere utterance OF
parrot cries. He commented caus'
tically on the belief Of some that
"million embattled farmers will spring
to the defence of the United States IN
event of danger
Would Have No Weapons.
"If they do spring" he said, there
will be no weapons for them to fight
with; and even il there were, they
would not know how to use them.
Why, some Of the men were at Plstts-
burg a month before they learned 10
put their rifles together"
The militia lobby came in for ter
rife gruelling from Senator Borah, OF
Idaho. He declared il would be better
TO kill the whole bill than 70 provide
for the militia pay and at the same
time an increase in the militia, tend
ing to build up a political machine.
"Insistent and persistent demands for
additional pay for the militia we shall
always have with US" declared Senator
Borah, "if this bill, creating this prece-
dent, is passed. There is no limit TO
what their demands will ultimately
reach. You have already seen what
BODY Of $4,000 men can do in the way
of bringing pressure to bear for the
enactment of legislation. Perhaps you
can conceive what more than 100000
men. as provided by this bill, may do
DO we want TO take the step OF
placing 425,OOO political agents in touch
with the Federal payroll! think by
80 doing we would be creating po-
Utjcal organization offering a danger
as grave as that of any invading army.
There is only one kind of mllitarlsm
possible in republic. snd that IS a
combination Of the military with the
political powers. This organization we
are strengthening by this bill Will be
subject 10 the political general who can
best mobilize it in his interests.
Work of Militia Lobby.
During the consideration of this bill
a major general OF the guard OF one
Of the states sat IN a gallery and dl-
rected the fight for the militia. | mus.
saw that a more efficient lobby was
never in the Capitol. After | had ad-
dressed some questions 20 the chairman
of the committee in regard 70 the bill,
but before ! had indicated my opposl-
tion even. the very next morning |
found on my desk not only telegrams
from numerous captains, majors and
colonies OF the national guard OF my
state. but from the chairmen OF county
committees Of my own party, and other
persons i'm MY state
"AlI OF them had wired me AZ the
direction. il vas very evident. OF the
director Of the lobby here. Was that
the military power OF this organization
or was il the political?
Senator Borah pointed 10 record OF
Federal payments where $4,000 went
10 officers. and only little more than
&. 900 10 the enlisted men.
"I want 10 call the attention OF
cor,.ors To the fact that in all this
Iohhv there is no word from the en-
listed men," he continued. 1T is an
officers lobby"
Senator Lodge. Of Massachusetts,, de-
clared that while he would support the
bill as the best that could be obtained
from the House, he wished 10 point
out as clearly as | could that as now
framed the bill is insufficient and in
adequate and that II this country is 10
be properly defended on land We must
make I'D our minds 10 take further
r.n,ino.d On Mage q column