The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-01-14
congress NOT
ENTHUSIASTIC
ADMINISTRATIONS ARMY BILL
NOT LOOKED UPON WITH
FAVOR.
WILL BE HARD TO PASS
Congressman Find Country Objects
To Forced Military
Training.

Washington, d. C.--If the senti-
ments expressed in private by in
fuential members of Congress, both
Democrats and Republicans, are a
fair indication of the way the wind
is blowing, the administration is not
going to have the easiest time put
ting through its preparedness pro-
gram. There probably will not be
much difficulty in passing reasonable
navy and fertilization bills, but it
will not be simple matter unless
are decidedly misleading,
to put through the army bill.
Senators and representatives ap-
pear unable to arouse enthusiasm over
the proposed continental army. Es-
pecially is this true of the Demo-
Gratis, who are opposed on general
grounds to a large standing army
of any kind or anything that looks
like militarism. Besides entertain
ing decided views on the question
they have begun to hear
from home-the church societies,
farmers oranges and other groups
are sending in petitions and resolu-
lions opposed to the army plans, and
the representatives in Congress are
bound to heed this sentiment from
their states when they come to vote
on the bills. They want to support
the administration. but they appear
outspokenly prepared to desert the
leaders in this phase of the prepared
ness program unless it is modified
considerably.
Most of the members on our side
seem very passive on the whole pro-
gram" said one of the leading DEM
ocrats in discussing the situation.
"They seem to be sorry that the
President has raised the prepared
ness question at all, but since 1t has
been raised they want to support
the administration in any reasonable
way. They are not ready to 60 to
extremes, however, and show little
enthusiasm over any Of It. / am
speaking of the most of the mem
bers on our side-of course there
are some radicals who would vote
for anything that could be proposed
in the line of military and naval
increase, and still others. peace-at-
any-price men, who go to the other
extreme-but the ones who repre-
sent the most votes In both houses,
think, wish the question had never
come up" The member who said
this is himself in favor of substan-
tial navy increases. and also of some
form of strong military system in the
country--he is, in fact, an admirer
of the German military system, SO he
does not voice these opinions out
of any desire to find conditions as
he pictures them.
To put the matter in nutshell,
feeling seems to pervade Congress
that the country is willing to
strengthen the navy and better the
coast defenses but not willing to i'm
pose military training upon the citi-
zens: that the country is willing to
spend good deal of money. II nee
essary, to buy ships and guns and
mines and munitions-the material
for war-but not willing to plant the
seeds of war In the thought Of AM
erican boys by imposing military
training in the schools and colleges.
Buy all the steel and powder and
material things that are necessary,
they say, so long as you leave the
boys alone. The country is not
ready, they contend, for the Presi-
dents army OF 100000 disciplined
citizens" proposed in his recent mes
sage-the "citizenry trained and ac-
customed to the use OF arms" as
proposed in his message of a year
ago.
The main arguments against the
army plan. as heard In private con-
versations with senators and repre-
sentatives during the recess, may be
summarized about as follows
Anv approach 10 militarism in
the United States Is unpopular.
2. No volunteer citizen army
scheme would succeed. because the
men could not be paid enough to at