The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-24

Gov. Whitman's announcement. made
at Albany Saturday night. that no would
sign the Stivers bill Immediately caused
a great deal OF comment yesterday
among people interested on both sides
OF the preparedness question. The Stivers
bill provides for compulsory service 10
the National Guard. making all male
citizens OF the state subject to draft II
public interest fnds 1t advisable In
order TO increase the number OF enlist
ments. Failure to obey the compulsory
IL punishable by Ave years
Imprisonment.
The bill was framed by Brig. Den.
Louis w. Stotesbury. the Adjutant-Gen-
eral. and introduced by Senator Stivers.
chairman 81 the military committee of
the state Senate. 1t provides that the
Governor may call for volunteers or
order that aiV enrolment be made Of
that part of the reserve militia residing
In any city or town and that q draft
be made or volunteers secured therefrom
Of such number as may be required to
make up or complete the complement
Of organizations Of the National Guard
or naval militia, or any part thereof
located therein"
Gen. Stotesbury yesterday outlined
Tho working possibilities of this law. II
! thu standard Of efficiency or public
safety demand more guardsmen than
the present system has shown Itself
| capable OF producing the Governor may
direct the authorities OF any city or
town to obtain a desired number OF en-
Iis,ments. II the volunteers prove In
adequate, the town authorities shall
enroll the reserve militia residing within
such city or town and draft therefrom
the number specified"
TriIs Of similar Laws.
ut liz by no mean the revolutionary
thing that people think IT is Gen
Stotesbury said. THE Federal military
law OF 17ea provided for enrolling the
militia of all States. all nen between Il
and A.. and every man had three day
compulsory service IA year Compulsory
service is the oldest American institu'
tion. We had II la this state up tt
1Sis, when the state organized militia
a volunteer organization and self sup"
porting, took its place and vas adopted
by the state, the unorganized militia
being exempted. In 1870 II law provided
that the entire militia. meaning all citi
zens. shall be enrolled whenever thu
Governor deems it necessary. This Law
* still in effect. but there ~ no pro
vision for training the men enrolled.
1T has always been ar American prin
ci1le that n citizen owes service. and tn
new law merely amplifes the old OH,
by making 1t possible to call on th'
militia To- fuliill this obligation If publi'
safety demands"
There are other bills. sponsored b,
Gen. Stotesbury and now awaiting Gov
Whitnan's signature, which provide 70
enrolling all citizens in the state, and 70
trainia. pupils OF the public schools
This does not mean that all citizens ar
10 be mustered into the National Guard
hut that the name and address of ever.
eligible citizen will he known and h
will bc registered in a way to make hin
available in case OF need. Training f.
school children will not mean that pu
pills In the lower grade will he laugh
the manual OF arms. but th'y will b
given the army hygiene instruction ant
when old enough. viii he given militar
; training to fit them a. member. of III
u~norganized or organized militia.
! All 20 Re N~egistcred.
This means that when these law ar
: IN effect Il sufficient time. every male G
|, IS years will have had some militar
training, will be "A registered unit q,