Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-04-11
MAJOR JEFFREYS
!. MAKES REPLY TO
SENATOR B0RAH
Declares That Weak Points
in the National Guard
Gould Be Remedied by
Congressional Action.

reply 10 MS recent letter TO Ad1utant
General Grow regarding the national
guard and its efficiency. General Crow
asked Senator Borah to support the
amended guard provisions ana in an
swer Idaho's senior senator explained
mis- reasons for declining to do so. He
pointed out many of the weaknesses
OF the guard and the abuse of military
power, as we'll as the expenditure of
large sums of money for it's support
and the part politics was playing as
Damaging to its efficiency. Major JEFF
freys says in his letter that many of
the present weaknesses may be rene
died by congress and the various state
legislatures. His letter is as follows:
Senator w. L. Borah,
washington, d. c.
MY Dear Senator. The statements
ade by you in your letter to the add
jutant general of Idaho, giving your
views on national guard legislation, re-
fleet great credit upon the personnel
Ind the organization of the national
Guard of Idaho, especially at this time
When the guard is SO bitterly assailed
from many quarters. 1t is regretted,
however, that your time has been so
taken up with other matters that you
could not have given this subject more
study If this had been done, your
conclusions regarding the national
guard as whole, might have been diff
ferent. Kindly allow the national
guard situation to be presented TO you
From different view point.
Can Remedy Political Feature.
THE statement that politics inter
feres with making the national guard
an efficient force is true, but this sit
patton can be readily remedied by con-
sressional action. Your statement
Ulder the constitution the appoint
mt of the officers and training is
left entirely to the state, is not clear
10 me. That part of the constitution
bearing directly on this subject reads
hs follows: To provide for organ
|zing, arming, and disciplinng, the
militia, and for the governing such
part of them as may be employed in
he service of the United States, re-
Deriving to the states respectively, the
appointment of the officers, and the
authority of training the militia ac-
Eording to the discipline prescribed by
congress- Webster defines discipline
ks education, training. to act in ae-
Fordance with established rules
Therefore, we hold that congress has
he right to make all rules and reg
hlations necessary regarding the APP
Pointment of officers. If a politician
yould not fulfill all the requirements
Jailed for by congress, he could not be
commissioned. In fact, the power of
ne state would be only to recommend
"If an error has been made in
90 In
hen and soldiers of early days were
ilty of the same act, for Patrick
Henry said in a speech delivered in tho
Virginia convention, Your militia is
iven UP to congress; all power will be
their own possession He further
lated, quoting the constitution that by
his you see that their control over
ur last and best defense is unlimited
George Washington in message to
congress in 1895 said, In my opinion
ongress has the power. by the proper
rganization, disciplining, equipment,
nd development of the militia to make
a national force, capable of meeting
very military exigency of the United
tates.
Can Remedy Defects.
1T is true that some persons object
enlisting in the guard for the rea-
pn that strike duty is embarrassing
nd we would be pleased to see the
is before congress amended so that
raj funds for support of national
nard be withdrawn from the states
hen the national guard is used To
uppress labor troubles.
IF this could not be reached by this
bngress the national guard of Idaho
rould appreciate your support in re-
uesting that the next legislature of
his state pass a law prohibiting the
Sc of the national guard in labor trou-
les. If a few of the states acted in
his manner, we believe that it would /
an easy matter to secure favorable
htional legislation on the same.
1.-THE statement is made that the |
hr departments reports show that in
lis, 564 officers and 1882 men were
bsent from the annual inspection; :.
SO during the year of 1914 the aver
Re number Of men absent during
eekly drills was 63,201, or nearly so
er cent. The first statement shows |
hat about 100000 officers and men
ere present for inspection, and that
approximately $4,000 attended all drills.
is hoped that you will give this mat
n some special thought. 1t is not I
he Of the wonders of the age that |
Yer $4,000 men in the prime of life. |
he giving up other enjoyments and
hitting in their odd times to fit them
|lves for soldiers that they may, il |
occasion arises. give their lives for
Cir country? How many other cit-
ms are giving this much service for
cir nation without recompense?
Nov we are only asking that the |
en- be given 81 a night for drill, not /
ough pay. in some instances. to pay
rect car fare, and for country boys
ho drive in to attend drill, the feed I
his horse will take up his pay. This
fact, is not pay feature at all, but |
reimbursement for their expenses,
u not cent for their time. This
he also applies to officers for their
penses are greater.
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