New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-15
PLAYING POLITICS WITH THE GUARD
Its Maintenance on the Border Unnecessary
and Harmful.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: I was very glad to see on the front
rape Of to-day's Tribune the first indication
Of real live journalism which has been con-
spicuous by its absence in all the papers IN
rlgard 20 Wilson'S treatment of the National
Guard as political playthng. Your dispatch
from Washington exactly fits the practically
unanimous opinion of all the 100000 National
Crardsnen on the border, their many rela-
tives and friends and a large portion Oh inc
public. ., c.1 10
When man joins the National Guard ne
corsiders the possibility of active service, but
no has always understood that he would not
he called 10 the colors on such service unless
there existed a national emergency, ana wneh
,yc tool the Federal oath last June we be-
loved that through three years Of b!under-
inc tho crisis had at last arrived. and were
therefore. willing to do our bit without ques-
tioning the Justice or good sense OF lnterven-
ing in Mexico.
We had not been in Texas week before
We realized that we had been trlcked-1haO
the public had been fooled, and also the press.
There was no emergency last June, when the
Guard was called. except Mr.. wilson's po-
Itical emergency. There is no emergency
rou The Guard was modified 70 make
crardstand play for preparedness. with poll
Tics as the Interior object. 1t has been held
an tho border for no other reasons than the
nolitical ones which concern Mr. wilson r
nersonal fortunes, and it will not be sent
home until the political situation Is rlpe 10Y
such a movement. When thousands OF meh
are sacrificing their business and IN many
cases undermining their health, and the coun-
trv's money is being absolutely wasted ou'
with large portions Of the public pehevlhs
still that the militia was needed on the DoF-
dor. We have to admit that Mr. Wilson de.
serves the title of the greatest politician Of
them all" the politicians job beng o.
course. to fool the people.
Let us omit all criticism Of the medical
corps Of the army and National Guard, whose
performance has been atrocious on the Dor
der: all criticism Of our Anticipated war De
partment systems and red tape, and all
odious comparisons Of regular army treat
ment of the Guard. /. e., anything Is good
enough for the militia, as compared WIN
their efforts for the comfort of the regulars
The fact remains that the money has been
wasted and that the militiamens time is sun
being wasted on the border, contrary 10 the
popular belief that the militia will come nome
trained as they have never been trained ne
fore. physically fit. hard as nails. etc, ETC.
after p long tour of duty with the regular
army on the border As a matter OF fact
after being down there eight weeks they mad
acquired less knowledge along military INES
than they absorbed in eight days man@uYres
last summer at Camp Whitman, "hen they
really were working with regulars, and less
than they obtained during any OF the ma
npuvre campaigns such as were held IN re-
cent years in Connecticut and MASSACHUSETTS
!rstead, they have qualified as ditch dlggers
subway laborers. street cleaners and ROAD
makers. all Of which is hardening work IN
the hot Texas sun, but of no military value,
and which the United States army regula-
tons prescribe shall pc done by hlred iaoo'
whenever possible.
The various units on the border had their
first hike but two weeks ago, and their first
combat exercise only several days ago. II Is
admitted that the military training outside
of close order drills has been practically nil
There has been practically no target practice
and very little actual patrol work. and even
such military exercises as were gone through
with lost q great deal Of their value through
the absence of so many men on the ditch
digging details
The "wonderful conditioning" of the men
will vanish after they have been one month
in New York But the public likes TO be
fooled so they will believe what they are
told by Messrs. Wilson and Baker and the
censored dispatches from the border. The
Mexican situation has nothing whatever to
DO with the length OF stay of the troops. II
is the political situation that has everything
10 do with il. and therefore their chances OF
returning much before election are very
small. But If Mr.. Wilson counts on the votes
of the Guardsmen and their relatives and
friends through "wave of enthusiasm" en-
cendered by the return "of the boys" just
before election, he 10 very much mistaksn.;