Rock Island Argus., 1916-01-22
Former Official Gives His
Unqualified Approval of
Outlined Program.
COMPULSI0N FAVORED
Speaking Before Security
League Stimson Shows
Contempt of Subs"

Washington. Jan. 22.-UnQualified
endorsement of the administrations
continental army plan was given today
by Henry L. Stimson, secretary of war
in the Taft administration in an ad
dress before the National Security
league.
Decluring himself in favor of COM
pulsory universal military service as
the true solution Of the defense prob
lem, Mr.. Stimson said he regarded the
program now advanced by Secretary
Garrison as the sound initial step.
"If congress is not ready to sanction
universal training" he said, "the meas
ures which are enacted should be those
which, so far, as they go, are in ac-
cord with this great fundamental duty
and which will lead most naturally to
the establishment of such a system.
Instead OF ourselves performing the
most vital duty of citizenship said
Mr.. Stimson, we have been hiring 9TH
er men TO do it for us. Other democ-
racies have been more insistent and
intelligent and today are reaping the
advantage of their action, not only in
their national security but in the sta
bility of character which their train
ing has given to the individual.
Disapproyes Paying Militia.
Zone of the propositions which is be-
Ing seriously urged before congress
is that we should pay our state militia
from the national treasury and should
attempt to develop them into our fed
eral citizens army while they still re-
tain their legal character as a state
force Four years ago, when 1t was
clear that no other force Of federal re-
serves could be obtained from con-
gress. reluctantly gave my approval
G'a pay bill in order to obtain the ad-
vantages Of training and discipline
which the measure provided. Further
study of the subject and Of the situa-
ton evoked by the war have made 1t
clear to me that such legislation would
be mistake.
Under the federal legislation the
organized militia is primarily state
force instead of national reserve and
do not believe that any effective citi-
zens' army can be created out of a
force dominated by 48 separate sover-
eighties. For nearly Is years efforts
have been mals by the federal govern
ment, as well as by the state authorl-
nes, to increase the number of the
guard, yet it has remained nearly sta
donary.
The national guard is in fact state
military force which we are also re-
curing to do duty for the national gov
Eminent
So long as such forces exist the
states are tempted to slur their police
aaties and to rely wholly on citizen
soidiery for that purpose.
Regard Soldiers in Wrong Light.
What is even worse, there has grad
aaily grown up among our laboring
uasses the feeling that the only SOL
uers with whom they are practically
acquainted represent a different class
VI the community and are maintained
LOT the purpose of being used against
mem. Instead of regarding the mil
.ua man as citizen training to per-
l0fm his duty of defending the coun-
ny IN case Of real war, the laboring
Iah has come to regard him as a rep
'esentative Of capital. being trained as
policeman against labor.
finally this liability to state police
uuy mas tended to shape the term of
enlistment and the training Of our mil
.'a 10 the disadvantage of their func-
aOn as national troops. Instead of be-
aug trained through brief but contin-
S'us periods Of intensive work with
'ae colors and thereafter being left
comparatively free as reservists, the
nn