The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1916-03-02

q the various pateAworks OF opinion.
the actual - Of turning it out nay -
considered . good one. for tAe diA-
culties Which have beea in ths Uay
have at tiaas seemed to 10 ia0as-
Dountable.
Pts~s Wsrs A~tASsaistie.
When the military comaittees q
the house and senate Arst net to con-
slider preparedness neasurss there
vas . feeling that 1t night be tmpos-
sible for any kind Of = compromise TO
be reached which would be satisfac-
tory to the members OF both houses.
There were tvo Numerically opposite
plans proposed for the accomplish
ment Of preparation through the land
forces OF the United States. Seem
ingly the senate committee was de-
voted beyond divorce to . plan for q
continental army and seemingly the
house committee was just as devoted
to the cause Of antagonism to a CONT
mental army. As for the members OF
the house and senate generally. some
OF them were divided among them
selves as to the merits Of the two
plans. while others believed there
should be no preparedness At all. This
was the situation when the subject
came up for first consideration In the
two branches OF congress.
AS soon as Secretary Garrison re-
signed 1t seemed that there vas . re-
newed feeling Of confidence among the
Democrats In the house that their plan
to strengthen the National Guard and
to ignore the proposal for continen-
tai army was the more certain to suc-
coed. II is well known. of course. that
President Wilson and his former sec.
retary Of war, Mr.. Garrison. were In
favor Of the continental army plan. In
one of the presidents letters to Mr..
Garrison at the time OF the secretary's
resignation he said he had confidence
in the patriotism and the judgment OF
the members of the committees OF
congress.
Wilson WiiIine to Yield.
This letter was taken to mean that
Mr.. Wilson did not think that. because
he personally was favorable to the
continental army plan. 1t necessarily
followed that the house members were
wrong in standing for another plan.
In other words, it seemed to be Mr..
Wilson's view that II the majority Of
his party in the house thought its
plans were better than his plans he
should bow to the majority's judg
ment
This intimation from Mr.. Wilson
seemed to be grateful to the leaders
Of his party In congress and especially
to the committee members. The house
members saw in what he said an init
nation that he would accept the plan
for the strengthening Of the National
Guard II he had to. and would forego
II necessary his strong efforts to se
cure q continental army. Acting on
this supposition, the house leaders in
timated they would begin at once to
expedite preparedness legislation
There seems to be some hope today
that the matter may be disposed oi
before the first week In April. but oi
course the senate may be . stumbling
block, for there is no rule in the sen
ate such as there is In the house BY
which debate could be shut of at any
given time.
Regulars Oppose Militia Bill.
Nearly all the army officers OF high
rank are opposed to the measure
which would make the National Guard
the chief line of reserve strength OF
the United States forces. 1t must not
be understood that the army opposes
the militia because 1t thinks that the
guardsmen cannot give good service.
The army would prefer strong militia
would prefer it because the militiamen
are trained. are virtually constantly
| under arms and know at least the pre-
liminaries of drill discipline and field
service.
The real reason why the army Off,
GERS oppose the proposed militia
Strengthening legislation as a chief
part of preparedness is because they
believe the Constitution of the United
States stands in the way of giving to
the United States government full con.
troll of the National Guard In other
words. the army officers would prefer
the militia as real reserve II they
| were certain that the federal govern.
| ment could control the state troops in
| all matters necessary for the good OF
| the armed service of the country. pro.
vided war were to come
What Its Advocates Say
National Guardsmen who are In
| Washington and the members OF con.
gress who prefer the Strengthening of
the militia to any other plan for pre-.
paredness OF the land forces, say the
Constitution of the United States is
specific only along certain prohibitive
lines, and that congress can legisiate
so as to make the National Guard
forces virtually part of the govern.