The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1916-08-11
how the Wilson
Administration Has
PenaliZed Patriotism

Of the United States from Mexico and
the necessity for the proper protec-
ton 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 a system OF reserves. the
National Guard organizations immedi-
ately 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
aiers have been mustered into the
federal service and are now on the
Mexican border or in camp In their
home states. There may be more. but
the administration refuses to make
Known the exact ngureS.
The movement is costing the public
treasury many millions OF dollars; Il
% costing the individual citizen Sol-
Hers many millions mora They went
% the front believing the cry. your
country needs YOU" for war service.
They sacrificed Advancement In their
dvn occupations. severed home ties,
suffered. In thousands Of instances,
great financial loss. The less pa
riotic, who did not believe the cry. or
believing, declined to make sacrifices.
,atten at home on these losses.
The real purposes Of the call are
slowly developing They are two in
number:
First, a patrol OF the border to do
the work which President Wilson's
friend. Carranza, finds it impossible
70 do. Because the recognized govern
ment In Mexico Is too ineffective to
keep It's 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
go as far as he likes In that direction.
Second, a purpose of the mobiliza,
ton on the border and In the camps
Is to train citizens TO perform effective
military service The regular military
establishment OF the nation is mani.
ha
needs. To this extent the cry, "Your
country needs you" was correct
But these facts were not made clear
when the call was issued. The idea
was promulgated that men were need
cd for actual war service; not fos
military training. Deceit was prac
tced.
Oppostns In the open legislation fos
universal military service. the admin
istration by IT'S acts has established
what In essence 10 Q system OF com
pulsory military service. II q q sys
tenn all the more vicious because Il
operates only against the patriotic,
whereas . legalised universal training
system equalizes tho burden Of mill
classes Of men
When. IN 1914. Europe plunged int
the greateSt war OF all history, and
CONDITIONS IN Mexico grow intolerable
Intelligent men realized tho nac8 that
Il was Incumbent on this nation b
build up ~ tiny regular army and put
ats other military resources b condi
- -
cha And yet, In December Of that
year, four months after tho European
war begin. President Wilson went b.
lore ConSTess and declared that aIl
agitation for military preparedness
was hyStsrical; that ~ were adS
auately prepared.
After Q while the administrators
changed its mind and professed b
believe IN the necessity for prepared.
ness. First came an enactment TO
increase the regular army by 10000.
But the body OF the country. and even
all parts OF the Democratic admins.
tration. could not change front so
quickly as the head. Recruiting for
the regular army Jagged. Not yet
The need pressed new national
defense act, providing for still moro
men In the regular army. was enacted.
But still the men were not forthcom-
ing.
Suddenly and without warning the
administration issued its call for mo-
Utilization OF the citizen soldiery. II
seemed still obsessed with the Bryan
notion that an army could be created
by presidential ukase.
When the call went out the govern
ment did not own enough uniforms.
shoes, socks, blankets, hats, wagons.
trucks, horses. mules and other things
essential TO equip the men called; II
had made no provision for transport
ing the troops called to the points
where they were required.
Who suffered most by this amaz-
ing lack OF foresight this leaping be-
fore looking?