New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-17


bear hard on their districts.
Representative kitchin. leader of tho
anti-preparcdncss forces. Ia chairman
of the Ways and Means Committee,
from which must come any legislation
affecting the revenues. lie has an
nouncod that this will not he started
until the preparedness programme has
been adopted. $50 that we shall know
just what we must provide The re-
suit is that all members of Congress
are afraid that the revenue laws which
are still unborn may bear heavily on
them in particular. and will send them
To the stump with hard fight Ines"
men are all fighting shy of prepared
ness, though probably half would be
for II II the revenue laws had been
drawn. No man can tell whether he
will Ice in that half. however, and none
will take chances.
While the navy hearings have not
yet got beyond the stage Of technical
discussion and The general principles
which must govern the increases have
not been considered officially, 1t al
rcndy Is evident that the sentiment for
strengthening the navy is far stronger
than that for the army. Many legls-
lators feel that with navy TO de
fend the shores during the first months
after the outbreak Of war the coun-
try could rest secure and build up an
army at leisure. Few are willing to go
80 far as the President has asked, but
most do feel that something must be
done which will be big enough to be
pointed to with pride on the hustinRs.
Present indications arc for the adop-
ton Of a bill increasing the regular
army by few thousand men. strength
cnlng the coast defences and aviation
corps, providing reserve artillery and
some reserve munitions, and making
some attempt TO strengthen the ma
tional guard and make II more avail
able for Federal use.
The greatest foe OF the Continental
army plan. high administration ON,
cal said to-day. is the organization OIL
the national guard throughout the
country. The recent conversion o.
Representative Hay, chairman OF the
House Committee on Military Affairs
to the cause of the militia is regarded
az the severest blow thus far dealt 70
the scheme. and will eventually, 1t Is
feared, block all plans for an increase
in the land forces Of the United States
National Guard Opposition Dangerous
a circular letter sent out by the enecu
tive committee of the National Guarc
Association % the United States. This
letter was shown TO officials of the ad
ministration tonight, and WAS De
scr,hcd as "the most dangerous an'
.nsidious propaganda against the cause
# prtpare0nCss that has as yet beer
launched.
THE real menace Of campaign OF
this sort" one official said, us that u
.- fo-4c-cd ~ tho" -vhom most mon 4
believe to be genuinely anxious Tor th'
EA.. Ol4 , Wc..d.t. las IACt o., hO"c' 90
that the so-called National Guard As
sccistIon IS not truly representative ol
the rank and file OF the militia, but Is
controlled entirely by the adiutant'
general OF the several states and theii
npDointees, who are mostly clerical EN-
pioves IT. their Offices. The line OH
GERS and the enlisted men have no more
to say in the organization than you
CT |.
"Anv scheme for national defence
that IS founded on the militia or on any
ether organization not directly aho
wholly under the control OF the edera a
government Is d swindle, IoId Drlcf
and a bogus CHECK. National GUARDS
men are directly urged to use theh
votes as levers under their Congress.
men to pass legislation that will divert
millions OF the governments none;
into private pockets without dollars
vortt Of rca, protection in return
Further than that, IL j. proposed to
make it impossible 10 develop either
army along any truly useful lines. Not
only does this self-styled militia i TIA, as IS,
I In |
IN ia own interest. but IT means &c
spike the nations guns at the same
time
The letter contains severn misstate
ments. among which Is the declaration
that the War Department Is more nos
lie 10 the militia than IS the army IT.
self The fact is that Secretary Gar
rison recommended that the appropriai'
lion Tor militia equipment approx
natelv be doubled, whilc the Army Wal
College. in its report on the military
situation. advised the withdrawal OF al
Federal aid from the national guard.