The midland journal., 1916-03-10


The democrats in the senate con2A
tered against the Republican senators
with speeches by Senator Stnns OF
Missouri, chairman OF the committee
on foreign relations and by John
Sharp Williams OF Mississippi Liter.
ally the senate has been forum for
give-and-take speeches with diplomacy
as its text
II has been pretty definitely SHOWN
BY the speeches already made in the
house and senate that preparedness Is
a political issue. even If diplomacy has
no such a place. II is also shown that
neither Democrats nor Republicans
seem to feel that iu the matter OF pre-
paredness they should not talk poll
tics The reason that preparation for
defense has become political issue
is that the Republicans believe in
greater measure preparedness than
do the Democrats. and. therefore. pre-
paredness as policy has become a
party matter
Compromise on Preparedness?
1t seems almost certain today that
military preparedness bill N the
form in which it will finally go TO the
president for his signature will be
compromise between the house meas
ure and the senate measure.
AS the country knows pretty thor
oughly by this time. the plan Of Chair
man Hay of the house committee on
military affairs is to federalize the
militia to as great an extent as possi-
Bile. and thereby to make the state
troops reserve for the regular army,
instead of institutinE continental
army of volunteers, as was and still
is the senate plan. Chairman Hay was
opposed to q large increase in the
regular army, but it is now believed
he, his committee with him and also
the housey will agree eventually to an
shall reach a strength OF about 10000
men. This regular force, supplements
ed by a largely increased and strengt n
ened militia, will form the main land
forces for defense purposes OF the
United States. provided. of course,
that the expected compromise with
the senate is reached.
The senate committee on military
affairs, of which Senator Chamber
lain of Oregon is chairman. has stood
for the Garrison plan of large con-
tinertal army of volunteers and for
an increase in the regular army to a
number much greater than that fixed
kxy aiV ,f fhn
committee. It seems today as if the
outcome will be that the house will
yield to the senate in the matter OF
a considerable increase in the regu.
las army and that the senate will yield
to the extent of giving over its conti-
mental army and accepting as sub
stitute therefor a federal militia
plan.
Federalized Militia Argument.
There are army officers of high rank
who hold that the militia never can
be thoroughly federalized. In other
words. they believe that all the laws
which congress may pass to bring
about liberalization will not do what
they are expected to do. because, as
the army men say. the Constitution
of the United States stands in the
way.
In contravention to the army view,
friends of the federalized militia plan
say that high legal authorities agree
that the United States government,
without violating the Constitution.
can take over virtually full control OF
the militia. Moreover, they say that
pecuniary aid which will be granted
by government to the militia can
be withdrawn at any time that the
states do not live up to the agree
ments which the government insists
that they shall make. if they are to
be the recipients of Uncle Sans
bounty.
Provisions for officers.
1t is believed the number of cadets
at West Point will be doubled by the
legislation which 1t is thought tho
house and senate will agree upon. It
is also expected that government aid
in the form of money will be given
to state college in each common
wealth for the purpose of instructing
young men adequately in military sci
ence. 1t is held that these schools
will give young Americans sufficient
military training to enable them to
take up the duties of the junior com
mission grades in the volunteer serv-
ice of their country in time of trouble.
1t is proposed by the house COM
mittee. and it seems likely that it's
plan will enter into the law, that the
officers and men who enter the state
militia shall serve for six years. three
with the colors and three years with
the reserves. The equipment, train
ing and discipline of the militia is to
be prescribed by congress Enlist
ments in the Guard are to be made
with the understanding that the presi-
dent may draft the militia in time OF
emergency without requisition upon
6o Of