St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-03-15
Neither Bill Is A Success.

We have already expressed our view
that the two bills introduced in Con-
gress to increase the military strength
of the country were expensive
and unlikely to succeed because
they rely too much upon vol
unteers to the regular army or the
national guard. Another weakness is
shown by the Springfield Republican
which says
Neither the Senate bill nor the
House bill providing for the reorgan-
ization of the nations military forces
succeeds in federalizing the state
militias. The bills provide only for a
near liberalization. The House COM
mittees report says: Much has been
said by well-meaning but superficial
persons about As little armies, com
manded by As different generals, and
trained in As different ways. Even a
superficial study of the constitution
would have convinced any unpreju
diced person that Congress has the
power to discipline, train, organize
and arm the militia of the entire
country with uniformity But the
fact remains that no complete federal
ization is provided for, or is contem
plated by these two congressional
committees.
However far Congress may go in
disciplining, training, organizing, arm
ing and paying the Massachusetts, mill
tia, under the proposed legislation,
the governor of this state will con-
tinue to command it and to appoint
it's chief officers-subject to confirma-
ton by the council and to removal by
TN
continue to exercise power to mobilize
the militia. whenever he wishes to.
and to call il out for strike or riot
duty 1t will continue to be a state
militia, at least in time of peace. and,
on that account, the proposed federal
ization in any true or complete sense
will be a sham. That nothing more
than this is expected by the 8 states
in the Union is clear enough from the
fact that in not one of them has the
LEGISLATURE, if in session, made the
slightest move toward providing
substitute force, like a state constab-
ulary, for state police uses in periods
of local riot or disorder.
There is no doubt that the national
guard will continue to be a state or
ganization, under state control, no
government pays its members In
case it should be called upon for ma
tional service it would be Differed by
men selected by the state government
rather than by federal officers ranked
according to their service and ability.
We still believe it will be financially
impossible for this country to pay
enough money to induce a sufficient
number of men to volunteer to keep
the regular army or national guard
up to the strength called for in the
bills now before Congress. We still
believe it is a citizens duty to protect
his country and his duty to prepare
himself to make such defense. The
government should not be obliged to
pay so large a body of men as is nee
essary for. reasonably safe defense
of the country. If Congress will real
ize these facts and provide a system
that will require of every citizen of
suitable age period of military train
ing as a part of the requirements of
citizenship it will make the develop
ment of an effective force for defense
possible. If it attempts to carry out
the plans submitted in the bills now
before it, it will put the country to
tremendous expense for what real
test would prove a lamentable failure.