The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-08-19
How the Wilson "
Administration Has
PenaIiZed Patriotism

Having in view the possibility OF
'urther aggression upon the territory
,f the United States from Mexico and
the necessity for the proper protec-
ion Of that frontier" President Will
son. On June is, called out the mobile
arms OF the National Guard for federal
service.
He did not call them out at their
existing peace strength, but at war
strength, which Is practically double.
Lacking q system OF reserves, the
National Guard organizations immedi-
.tely had to start a campaign OF re-
cruiting, TO bring about the desired In
crease in their numbers
Patriotic young citizens. under the
urge of the cry. Your country needs
you," volunteered for service In graft
tying numbers. According to Senator
Chamberlain, chairman OF the Senate
Committee on Military Affairs. the re-
suit is that about $4,000 citizen sol
iiers have been mustered into the
federal service and are now on the
Mexican border OF in camp In their
acme states. There may be more. but
the administration refuses to make
Known the exact figures.
The movement is costing the public
treasury many millions OF dollars: It
costing the individual citizen sol
Hers many millions more. They went
% the front believing the cry. "Your
country needs you" for war service.
irhey sacrifcedN advancement In their
pivn occupations, severed home ties.
suffered, in thousands Of instances,
great financial loss The less pa
tristic, who did not believe the cry. or
believing, declined to nuke sacrifices,
tatten at home on these losses.
The real purposes of the ,eall are
slowly developing. They arsN two in
uumber:
First, q patrol of the border to do
the work which President Wilson'S
friend, Carranza, finds II impossible
10 do. Because the ,reoognized govern
ment In Mexico LIS too ineffective to
keep its own citizens In check and
prevent them numbering Americans
on American soil, the American gov
eminent undertakes the costly task OF
doing that work for them. The muir
der Of American citizens on Mexican
soil Is another matter. Carranza may
90 as far as he likes in that direction.
Second. a purpose OF the mobiliza-
ton on the border and In the camps
% TO train citizens 70 perform effective
military service! The regular military
establishment OF the nation is mani
testify too sman for the actual military
needs To luis ex ,ent the cry. Your
country needs you" was correct
But these facts were not made clear
when the call was issued The idea
ed for actual war service: not for
military training. Deceit was prac.'
t1ced.
Opposing in the open legislation for
universal military service. the admin.
tstration by its acts has established
what In essence Is a system of com
pulsory military service. II Is a sys-
tenn an the more vicious because II
operates only against the patriotic.
whereas a legalized universal training
system equalizes the burden OF mill.
tary service among all men and all
classes Of men
When. IN 1914, Europe plunged into
the greatest war of all history. and
in Mexico grew intolerable,
intelligent men realized the fact that
Il was incumbent on this nation TO
buf1d up its tiny regular army and put
It's other military resources In condt
lion Tor use. National safety demanded |
this. And yet, in December OF that
year; four months after the European
war began. President Wilson went be-
fore Congress and declared that all |
agitation for military preparedness
was hysterical; that we we're ado
auately prepared.
After a while the administers on
changed its mind and professed to
believe in the necessity for prepared.
ness. First came an enactment to
Increase tho regular army by 10000.
But the body OF the country. and even
all parts OF the Democratic admins
tration, could not change front 80
quickly as tho head. Recruiting for
The regular army Jagged. Not yet
have the 10000 been secured.
The need pressed. A new national
iefense act. providing for still more
mem In the regular army. was enacted.
NhA - |
nd.
Suddenly and without warning the
issued its call for mo-
,tlization OF the citizen soldiery. Il
,eemed stin obsessed with the Bryan
lotion that an army could be created
~ presidential ukase.
When tho call went out tho govern
nent did not own enough uniforms.
hoes. socks. blankets. hats. wagons.
rucks, horses. mules and other things
TO equip the men called; It
nd made. no provision for transport
nc the troops called b the points
where they were required.
Who suffered most by this amaS-
nd tack OF foresight this leapinE be-
orc iookinEf
0nly the $4,000 patriots who be-
Isved that their country needed them
or national defense: only the men
rho are making the great SACRIFICES.
The whole dasgracetui story may
% summed up In the phrase. the
has psnaliEed patriot
nm.
True, 4 Is accommodating. BY sub
.rh.Sa a raAArVa of trained aoldiara