Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-22

guard reorganization against the recon-
mendation of army officers is attributed
/ to him.
only the force of President Wilson's
1 interference put the regular army In
crease In the new reorganization bill
through the house in the face of Hays
| opposition.
Recently President Wilson appointed
HAY TO a judgeship in the court of claims
and he is now serving his last term In
/ congress.
The war department contends that
many features of the army bill were
written into II In the conference and
never were debated in house or senate.
| VETO MESSAGE.
| President Wilson's veto message fol-
lows:
ITO the house Of representatives:
81 have carefully considered the bill
entitled: An Act Making Appproprla-
tions for the Support of the Army for
the Fiscal Year Ending June 80, 1917,
and now take the liberty of returning
| IL with my objections to its approval
THE bill constitutes an essential 2artl
of the legislation providing for the mill
| tary establishment of the country and
wisely and generously provides Tor thel
/ reorganization of the agencies or our ma
tfonal defense. and IL is with genuine fe-
luctance that delay its becoming lawl
the provisions which has been embodiedl
IN the very necessary and important re-
vision of the articles of war which mas
been added to IL.
THE existing articles of war are UNI
doubtedly archaic They have not under
gone comprehensive revision for mure
than one hundred years. They do not al
ways furnish the means OF meeting
prompty and directly the needs OF dlsci-
pline under modern conditions, and many
contingencies now frequently arise IN
the government of the military FORCES
which were not contemplated when the
present code was formulated. The rela-I
tions of the government of the United
states have greatly broadened within
the 100 years. We now have insular
possessions and national interests far
away from our continental shores. BOTH
the practice of arms and the theory OF
discipline have undergone many modern
changes and a manifest need Tor such
a revision of these articles as is mere
presented has long existed. /. therefore,
the more keenly regret TO find in the
prouosed revision of the articles of war
a provision to which 1 cannot give my
approval -
The original act establishing the re-
tired list of the army referred to the
personnel therein included as only par
TALLY reIare0s anu pEONAueu NtdA re-
firing officer should be entitled to wear
the uniform of his high grade, should
be borne on the army register, and
should be subject to the rules and arti
cles of war, and to trial by general
court martial for any breech OF these
articles. BY the act of July "a, 1878,
officers OF the army on the retired list
were specifically declared to constitute
a part of the regular army, provision
which is found repeated in subsequent
acts affecting the organization of the
army and other statutes enacted dur
ing this period made retired officers OF
the army available for certain classes
Of active duty, in time OF peace with
their consent, and in time OF war with
out their consent. BY the recently en-
acted national defense act, the authority
of the president over retired officers
has been further extended so as to
make them subject to his call in time
Of war for any kind of duty without
any restrictions whatever. Courts and
attorneys general have in long line
of decisions held that officers of the
army on the retired list hold public OF
fee.
at thus appears that both the legisla-
tive and judicial branches have drawn
sharp distinction in status between re-
tired officers, who are regarded and gov
erned at all times as an effective reserve
of skilled and experienced officers and
potential source of military strength,
and mere pensioners, from whom no
further military service is expected. Of
ficers on the retired list of the army are
officers of the army, members of the
military establishment distinguished by
their long service, and, as such, examples
of discipline to the officers and men in
the active army. Moreover, they wear
the uniform of the army, their education
hsa1I han nfNf as Al
peciaIly qualified in military matters to
represent the spirit OF the military es-
Enlistment and they are subject to ac-
tive duty I'm time of national emergency
by the mere order of the commander-in-
chief -
They are. therefore. members of the
army officers of the United States, ex-
emplar of discipline and have in their
keeping the good name and the good
spirit of the entire military establish.
ment before the world. Occupying such
a relation, their subsection to the rules
and articles OF war and to trial by gen.
eral court-martial have always been re-
garded as necessary. in order that the
retired list might not become source
of tendencies which would weaken the
discipline of the active land forces and
impair that control over those forces
which the constitution vests in the
president.
THE purpose of the articles or war In |
times Of peace is to bring about uni
formity in the application of military
discipline which will make the entire
organization coherent and effective and
engender a spirit of cooperation and
proper subordination TO authority which
will in time of war instantly make the
entire army a unit in its purpose of
se!f-sacrifce and devotion to duty I'm
the national defense. These purposes
cannot be accomplished IL the retired
officers. still a part OF the military es-
tablishment still relied upon to per-
form important duties, are excluded
upon retirement, from the wholesome
and unifying effect of this subsection |
10 a common discipline. l am persuaded |
that officers upon the retired list would |
themselves regard as an invidious and
unpalatable discrimination which in eff
/ feet excluded them from full member
ship in the profession to which they
have devoted their lives. and OF which |
by the laws of their country they are |
| st!II members. So long as congress /
sees fit to make the retired personnel |
part OF the army of the United States, |
the constitutionality or the proposed ex-