The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-04-05
OMPULSION IS
COMING, HE SAYS
Senator Lodge Predicts Co
ercive Military Training
System Sooner or Later.
Senator Borah Attacks Proposed Fed
eralizaion of Militia Plan In
wolves Vast Expenditure.

Two notable speeches were made in the
Senate yesterday on the army reor-
sanitation bill, Senator Lodge, of Mas
sachusetts, predicted that sooner or
later the country would have to come
TO compulsory military training.
At this time this country Is practically
undefended," said Senator Lodge. "Our
defensss now so Just far enough If we
were invaded by formidable modern, we'll
equipped army TO insure the sacrifice of
many brave and noble lives and nothing
else. OF the two branches of defense,
that which can most quickly be provided
for Is defense by land-the army.
"Of course, II we had a navy COM
petent to meet an attack from the navy
OF any nation In the world, the defense
by land, though important would be less
important than 1t Is today. We have no
such navy today and there Is no use in
dwelling in FOOLS paradise and telling
ourselves that we have
Senator Borah. of Idaho, who also sd-
dressed the Senate, spoke in opposition
to the proposed liberalization of the Ma
tiopal Guard. The Senator dug up the
history of the performances Of the militia
in the various wars from the Revolution
airy war down and declared that they had
not been satisfactory. After commenting
on the rapid growth in government ex-
que the constantly lnCT6dS-
ing pay roll, Senator Borah said:
A Vast Expenditure.
Now we are about to put upon the
national pay roll $4,000 civilians who will
remain In the community in connection
with their business affairs and in the
politics of the country at an expenditure
of from $50, 900 to SIS, 900, 900 a year. OF
course 1t will never be less II we are to
indigo the fnfnFa ~ tha ar IF will n
crease by rapid strides and the cost win
be accentuated by the interest and
activity Of a large number OF men who,
without charging them with bad faith or
improper motives, will nevertheless be
Interested in building up their strength
and widening their power and accentuat-
ing their influence.
II expect l shall be told that the
militia Of the country is the country's
natural bulwark and would at all times
be equal to the national defense. This
doctrine in substance nearly lost US our
Independence. The story Of the State
militia in the war OF 1919 is one con-
tinuous and almost unbroken story of
disaster, Of humiE alton, and defeat
George Washington said in regard to
the Revolutionary war that II he were
called upon to say whether the militia
had been Of more help or more injury
in the fight he would have to say the
latter"
DO you not think the militia made
a pretty good showing at New Orleans
under Jackson?" inquired Senator
Hardwick. of Georgia.
Militia Ran Away.
In a general way they did" replied
Mr.. Borah. But let us bear In mind
that Gen. Jackson. more than once, put
the regulars in front of the militia and
notified the militia that IL they under
took to return home the shooting would
then begin When Jackson began to
realize that he had won his battle and
looked about ne discovered that part OF
the militia had broken and was fleeing
from the city"
Senator Borah quoted former Secre-
tary Root, former Secretary Stimson.
former Secretary Garrison. Secretary
Baker. Gen. Wood, and Gen. Scott as
agreeing with other authorities that
the militia could not be made an efficient
part OF the national defense under Fed
eral control. Senator Borah also read
from a speech OF the President. He
warned Senators against building up at
great expense a State police force which
could never be relieved OF that duty eX-
cept upon the action Of the respective
States.
The Senate rejected yesterday an
amendment by Senator Sterling. OF
South Dakota, providing that in case OF
hostilities the President should first call
out the State militia for service before
Issuing a general call for volunteers.