The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-17
A~-FEDERAL. MILITIA.
Exception Taken BY ~ Ex.0uards.
man 10 the Proposal.

happens that ! was In Europe Just at
the close of the second balkan war.
without claiming the gift Of prophecy.
II is true. nevertheless. that ] wrote 10
a number of friends hat the issue val
not settled that Europe was threatened
by a general war which would be
brought on by Germany. 1t also hap
pened thai ! was In England when Lord
Roberts was making his campaign for
preparedness. His speeches. as well az
those # Lord Lansdowne. impressed me
10 much that I wrote TO SOM OF our
public men that We should also look to
our defences. Those warnings feE
among the thistles and tares Of unwfll-
ingness to see the truth. destined 10 b
made clear by the light Of the onrtsh-
ing European confiagration. Later,
when a few far seeing patriotic men In
New York organized q National Security
League, I confess I could not believe
that In 70 short a time the movement
could be 50 successfully guided AZ to
make the whole nation sit up and eee
Itself as II really Is, unclad and de-
fenceless.
Now. II further happens that ! have
been here in Washington for the las
month. watching the influences that gov.
ern results, and trying. at the same
time. to push forward the defence pro-
grammr. so far as the opportunity ONE
to the individual citizen without ultc-
rior motives. Perhaps the resignation
Of Secretary Garrison. more than any
thing else. has ~quicKened the pubic 30
licitude as to what the final outcome
will be. While I syuYpathixe with the
feelings. opinions and underlying prin-
,iuiee nf Garraturv Garrfoon'a O01trv.
his resignation I cannot commend. II
Secretary Garrison could not get what
he wanted. II WIS his duty to remain
and do his best to prevent what lie
thought would be- disastrous. II | IN
derstand correctly our form of govern
men and administration, the Cabinet
collectively considered is essentially ar
advisory BODY. Advice can never be
mandatory. Therefore "A Cabinet OH
GER. under these limitations. Is pre-
clSdcd from carrying his advice 10 the
point OF demanding the surrender of the
Judgment of ti. President. II that were
the case the Cabinet officer would be-
come the President and the President
would then be suboriinated to the posi-
tion OF a Cabinet officer. In other words.
final authority and decision rightly and
Justly rest with the President. and q
President who did not assert that atti-
tide would best. for the nation, HIM
self resign.
Now, since Secretary Garrison Is nut
OF the Cabinet and since he was a spe-
'cifc member who represented the ulti-
mate goal OF national defence, uni
verSal compulsory military service. In.
fi,,ences toward tina, end can be exerted
only by appeals through the press and
hy dlrec, communications to Senators
and congressman
WHAT IL the situation this moment?
The continental army scheme IL dead,
Since is rulNjn,ert would have de.
pended upnn volunteers. r,s demise needs
no funeral grafton. The plans Of the
House Military Committee. II UNDER
stand correctly. M. To- increase, tn. ,aRu-
lar army. pcrh,ps 10 the size asked by
the General stan. and 20 make the Sec
ond army of J.feuc. ON of the State
militia. fcl.rnlized 10 IN. extent OF re-
c,i,inc nav from the Fedora, Treasury.
and subject, "a Federal CONTROL. so far
as p.rmiss,hlc under the state laws
which h,ouph, these bodis. into ,cist.
c,,e To mi. latter uro,,s,,ior there
are ,br.. s.riou. objections, which may
he classiu.,i as military. political and
discriminatory.
In TN. f.Jeraljzed militia army I have
no confidence. and sneak from the
pruc,in,l experience 81 an enlisted ser.
,t,. I'm , ~c,yslry ,r,oo Jis,rus, ,bi.
r.d.r.lz.-i militi, noc,ns. IN tho frs,
Instance 4, ~ mo-, organized on , b.. :
Of military efficiency. either as IN OH
GERS or mo- and never can h.. Neither
mo, nor officers eulis, with the purt.,se
of b,comiuy efficient soldiers bur 10 At
ain some so,i,l Or nrofe.si,nal enl
Fnr piirposes of uational defence. there
f,-, could mo-, trust this c~ed.ral!z.d
miit,, 10 rcu-l an invasion. even o:
r-a ssh,np. -s fr,,, \,br.sl, = conn
,,.udej hy Tim, gallant, officer Major
GENERA Wiui,n ]. BRYAN. aid financed
uy IN, c,rn.r, Peace Foundation.
III. nnIi,,,,, obia,,Io,s arc tho mosr
s.rIous Has TN, q n. laugh, the
American nc,nle n, lesson Arr. we no,
now pa,,nc SIso0oo. QUO oc pensions.
when h,lf fhs, amount il prop biz MI
,b., is ius,ly dl. If the p.usion rolls
rnria IA. uur.ed AT The unwor,hyo Y..
no 90 yr..sm,u. Senator or party in
I'm, r,., h,.i century la, da red To le.
.is, lin. claim. of In, L. A. r. Through
tn. working of the law of nature we are
i,,., now getting away from III. mill.
,,ri.ul Of In. q A. Il. and vet I, is
p,.po..d 80 raiuNenate tho q. \. II. hy
fad., ,liziur Nh. udl,tia through pa,
from ~, FedsrnI Treasury.
IL is tri. tho National ask
only , small augmentation. hut mex,
car they vii, van, more. and as wears
pn hy and their numbers iu,r,as,, the
yoIruna of ,h.ir demards will grow tn n
sum tina, would make our preseu, pen.
sion u,,roll s.cm a ,riN,. The VERY
,,r, thai they are Offering their ser.
vices FOR nav should discredit them
r,Ira.e and bravery are qualities OF