The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-08-03

members of this regiment. Every man
either took the new oath or complied
with this provision in the Dick Dill
prior to the time when he was actually
required to perform except three,
who, after the muster-in rolls were
prepared, were properly taken before
the United States mastering officer, In
formed of all their rights, of the call,
and the provisions contained in Sec
ton Z of the Dick bill and were order
ed by the mastering officer to muster,
and but two refused to do so. They
were not Inundated except that nu-
initiation which ought to come to any
American citizen who has entered into
a written contract with his govern
ment and agreed to obey the orders of
the President of the United States and
who, when the first order is issued.
fatty refuses to obey the same or
comply with the provisions of the laws
of the country which he has sworn to
defend. That there may be no mis-
take a copy of the new oath and the
old oath follow:
New Oath
| do hereby acknowledge to have
voluntarily enlisted this 21st day of
June, 1916, as a soldier in the National
Guard of the United States and of the
State of South Dakota, for a period of
three years in service and three years
in the serve under the conditions
prescribed by law, unless sooner dis
charged by proper authority. And I
do solemnly wear that | will bear
true faith and allegiance to the United
States of America and to the State of
South Dakota. and that | will serve
them honestly and faithfully against
all their enemies whomsoever, and that
I will obey the orders Of the President
OF the United States and of the Gov
ernor of the State of South Dakota,
and of the officers appointed yer me
according to law and the rules and
articles of war. This oath is subscrib-
ed to with the understanding that
credit will be given in the execution Of
this contract for the period which /
have already served under my current
enlistment in the Organized Militia of
the State of South Dakota.
Old Oath
do hereby acknowledge to have
voluntarily enlisted this 21st day Of
June, 1916, as a soldier in the South
Dakota National Guard, for the period
of three years unless discharged by
proper authority. And also agree to
accept from the State of South Dakota
such bounty, pay, %ratioOns and cloth
ing as are or may be established by
law. And / do solemnly swear Cor
affirm) that / will support the constitu-
ton of the United States ard the con-
stitution of the State of South Dakota,
and that l will faithfully discharge the
duties of a member of the South Da-
kota National Guard, and that l will
obey the orders of the Governor of
this state and the President of the
United States and the officers appoint
ed over me according to law and the
rules and regulations of the army of
the United States to the best of my
ability.
Some editorials assume to state that
the officers could have evaded the law
and that the whole matter was optional
with them, which is far from the truth,
u~nwarranted by law, and not a truth
full representation of the facts. Every
officer and soldier has a duty to per-
loIIl anu ~ appears LudI the OUeS VINO
have failed are the ones who have
singled out some gullible newspaper
man and attempted to paint to the pub
lie an excuse for his not fulfilling his
contract with the government.
All of the argument came about be-
cause Of these three things: 1st-a
few thought war had actually been de-
clared when they joined, and that this
call meant business, and they had no
desire to stay on under other condi-
tions; 2nd-they wanted credit for
time already served, which was secur-
ed for them; and 3rd-they did not
want to be held a reserve, until it was
explained to them as above set out,
when one and all admitted that if
there should be three calls for troops
in the next year they would be there,
whether in reserve or not. None of
those are attributes of towards.
Respectfully,
BOYD WALES,
Col. 4th Inft. S. ID.
Z. p. EVERS,
Capt. 4th Inf. s. d. N. G..