The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-12-27
Plan ron UNIVERSAL TRl|N|NG
bid FOR COMPULSORY MILL
TARY SERVICE BEING PRE-
PARED BY GENERAL
STAFF.

Gen. Scott Un<ser Gross Examination
Again Condemns National Guard
Sysoem and Says Il Can Mover Be-
co0e E2cctfTe-Admtts Defects I'm
Army System.
Warrington. Dec. Ala definite
plan for universal military training
viii BE- had before congress next
month IN the Bhape Of . bill formu-
lated ~ the general staff of the army.
accompanied by complete estimates
Of coss n compared to the present
volunteer system. Mai, Gen. Scott,
chise of staff. told the house military
committee today that the work was
In pregrsss anil would require about
. month 10 complete. Chairman Dent
said the commhttes would be glad to
80 th> hi.
In response to q laughing question
- 20 who would introduce IL In the
house Representative Kahn OF Cali
fornfa hid:
II would b glad to have the honor
% introduce It."
Gen. Scott was subjected to sharp
croes-examinato on today on his
reiterated Recommendation for a uni
vsrsal service sasur based In part
on results of tile volunteer system as
shown In the mobilization Of the Ma
tional Guard far border service Five
Of the ~ members Of the commit
tee took occasion to assert their BE-
lief IN the theory Of universal serv-
tee. while two emphatically declared
aUnlnsS such = systom. Those fav-
oriag u were Representatives Kahn.
Greene Of Vermont. and Tilson Of
Connecticut (Rspublicans) and Olney
Of Massachusetts, and Farley of New
York (Democrats). while those OPP
posed were representative Mcclellan
Of rspnsssee and Quinn Of Missis-
sippi (Dsmocrats.)
The statement Of Representative
Ntesn.S Who went to the border a. a
pelepsk IN the National Guard. retir-
1eGo@aQy, forewsd Cen, s~cott'asre-
Ant fnsmbsrs, y majority OF the
Natfonsl 0uardmsn who come back
from the border. are IN favor OF
universal servicss." declared the chief
Of staff. II agree with YOU" Repre-
sentative Tilson said, "that voluntary
military -srvice is not an adequate
system n probably will break down
In time Of var ns II has done before.
The National Giiard system In parti-
eulsr 10 economically unwise because
Of the dual control v the forces by
the federal government and the
State"
! Representative Mcclellan declared
ne was "one American" who did not
wish TO follow the example Of Ger
many and France In raising and
training armies. When Representa-
live Quinn put Q. question to the Wit
ness ON tine assumption that congress
might pass sucf, a bill. Representa-.
tive Mcclellan interjected:
You need NOT. fear. 1t will not"
TT won't except over my vote" said
Representative Quinn.
The probable nature of the bill now
being drafted by a committee Of the
General stan WIS not disclosed by
Gen. Scott. who also refused 20 estl-
mate the cost of such a system, ex-
cept to say that proportionately Il
would be much loss . N the expense
OF the volunteer me,..Od OF raising
troops. II Is known, however. that
the possibility Of welding into the
new project the various sections of
the defense act dealing with indus
trial organization for wal purposes.
the rikht 10 take over and operate
manufacturing plants, railways and
other peace time agencies Is under
consideration. Secretary Baker told
tho committee rec emily he was unde-
cidcd as between universal military
service and a system of ~selective con-
sorlption. the latter plan being un-
dsrstood to include the industrial az
we'll as the military services.
How close will this system YOU
have proposed bring US to mlitar-
ism?" asked Representative Little
page.
Absolutely away from it, an
swered the officer. "I do not see that
there In anything like militarism I'm
a.