The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-06
WHERE THE BLAME BELONGS.

of the efforts of the latter in this di-
rection are often as ridiculous as they
are unwarranted and unjust.
In this category would appear to be
the endeavor of United States Senator
George E. Chamberlain, chairman of
the senate committee on military af-
fairs, to place the blame directly on
the people of the country as a whole.
and individually, for the lack of pre-
paredness of the National Guards of
the several states that has manifested
itself in their mobilization for services
on the Mexican border. Senator Cham
berlain delivered himself of a lengthy
interview to this effect the other day
on reports that he had before him of
units of the National Guards leaving
for the front short of horses, mules,
supplies and even rifles.
Explaining that his remarks were in
no way to be construed as an attack
on the guardsmen, he added: What
the failures of the last ten days ought
to do is to show the American people
their duty, the duty of each one-tc
begin to get ready for whatever situa-
ton may come up"
''It is the American people," he went
on. who are responsible for few ma
chine guns, no aero service to speak
of, a lack of horses, an organization so
inefficient that in ten days we have
succeeded in starting only a few
states to the border. and those in
various degrees of criminal unpre-
paredness."
Was there ever such effrontery!
And the American people should
hurl this criticism back in the teeth
of Senator Chamberlain, and with
compound interest. They are perfect
ly justified in so doing.
For a number of years now, the
National Guards have been under the
direct tutelage of the federal govern
ment. All of their equipment has been
provided and paid for by Uncle Sam.
If they lack anything in this line it is
the fault, not of the people, but of
congress and the war department
And these same American people
whom Senator Chamberlain criticises
so severely and unjustly have been
permitting without protest their con-
gress to vote a matter of 100000, 900
in appropriations year, and for the
past fifteen years or SO, for the pur-
poses of the army and our military es-
Establishment. and for the purpose of
maintaining it, such as it was, in an
efficient manner.
Such an annual allotment for mill
tary purposes has been most generous.
Compared with the military expen-
ditures of the governments of Europe
before their great war began, and
those of Germany included, and tax
ing into consideration the pigmy of
military establishment we have been
maintaining, these appropriations
have been outrageously and excessive
ly exorbttant, and especially in view
of what has or has not been obtained
for them.
What has been done with this
decade or so?
Where has it gone?
Why hasn't some of it been used to
provide our military establishment
with something real in the way of an
aero service, instead of mo aero SER
vice to speak Off"
Why hasn't some of it been used to
provide all of our National Guards1nen
with rifles, to provide them with
horses and mules and supplies and
other equipment that they might
need?
Well, one reason it hasn't is because
so much of it has been dissipated in
the maintenance of a huge number
of army posts in out of the way and
unstrategic places that have been of
in,
efficiency of our regular army, but
on the contrary an actual dctriment to
the development of such efficiency.
And who has squandered the mill
tary money of the nation in this ia sh-
lon? The people, or their representa-
tives in congress, of whom Senator
Chamberlain is one, and to whom the
maintenance of these unnecessary. in
effective and most expensive army
posts are only another form of the
pork" in which they so delight to
revel.
Neither can the railroads be
blamed for delays" said Senator
Chamberlain in the course of the re-
markable interview in question. 1.-THE
American people never have suggested
that the railroads ought to be prepared
as part of the nations military ma
chinery."
Was there ever a criticism or sug-
gestion so puerile?
What have the American people so
many nightly paid representatives in
congress for? To vote money at the
rate OF s1O0,O0O,000 year for military
purposes in hit and miss fashion for
the development of a military estab-
lishment, or to vote this money on a
definite plan for an efficient devel-
opment, and plan of their own, If
they are smart enough to devise 4: bet
ter one than any that may be sug-
gested to them by the expert military
authorities of the country?
Or what have the American people
been uncomplainingly spending $780,