Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-10
House Military Chairman Ex-
plains He Is Against Com
puIsory Service.
COMMITTEE HEARS PLANS
FOR DEFENSE OF NATION
Land Grant College Training, Good
Roads and Public Ownership
!. Among the Proposals.

When the House military affairs COM
mittee met today Chairman Hay. can
ing attention to the fact that he mac
been reported yesterday as having de-
clared himself as opposed to the ad-
ministration's continental army piah'
explained he had not intended 10 con-
vey that impression, but had meant lie
was opposed to a compulsory service
measure, as. he thought, were many
members of the committee.
Supply of Reserve Officers.
How fifty land grant colleges would
help build up an adequate corps OF re-
serve officers for the army was eA-
planned to the committee by Dr: ho-
mund ], James. president of the Uni
versity of Illinois. where 1000 CADETS
are training under the land grant act
DR. lanes thought William J. Bryan s
contention that a million men Woulo
Volunteer overnight in case OF war Wa
true. but he contended that wlthoul
trained officers they wouiG 10 me-. miiitapv
value He urged that more army olli-
GERS be detailed to instruct land-graa'
college cadets.
.rant colleges. Dr. James commended.
Wo,,ld accord with the democratic pol.
cies of the country, since the ouik o.
such officers to serve IN war Wouiu &c
men of the people, crosse " '
thoughts and wishes
Opposes Army Increase.
Miss Carolena Wood of New York. a
member of the Society of Friehos' iol-
lowed DR.. James before the committee
adding her voice to those OF the repre-
sentatives of the society who opposed
Yesterday any change i'll the nation
military policy. She urged members
of the committee to hold firmly the al
yanced position for world peace, TO
which American ldealS hdu oeeii
pledged.
p II. Daily, good roads editor OF the
Richmond. Va. Merchants Journal ana
Commerce, urged highway improve
ment a vital part OF any hiiii'di
preparedness scheme.
1--WE could not defend our Monroe
doctrine twenty-four hours, he de-
cIared, without our railroads to mo-
bilize our men and supplies" But in
the railroad chains, he added. the
weakest link was the vulnerabi or
the bridges and tunnels to dynamite
Highways should parallel the tracks
and interconnect all towns to PROVIDE
against this emergency, Mr. Daily de-
600 miles of good roads. the speaker
said over them the rural mail carriers
could rouse the whole country in the
same time it took Paul Revere to rouse
the continental minute men.
For Government Ownership.
James l. Cowles, president of the
World Postal League. told the commit
tee no scheme of preparedness would
be adequate that was not founded upon
government ownership of railroads and
ocean post routes. Chairman Hay said
the committee had no jurisdiction over
such plans. and asked the witness to
confine himself to army matters.
Louis A Cuvillier. formerly chairman
of the military committee of the New
York legislature. spcEs briefly for
militia pay by the federal government.
1t also was necessary, he said, to pro-
vide way to overcome the failure of
guardsmen to volunteer in time of war.
pointing out that only 400 men Of LOO
in the list New York turned out in the
Spanish war, and the It'll New York
refused to go at all.