The Washington herald., 1916-03-18
By Il. n. JOHNS.

That the Federal government should
take steps to remove army and navy Of
fcers and enlisted men from the same
legal status as criminals and psupers in
which they are placed by the Missouri
constitution is the recommended ton Of
Capt Ridley Mclean. Judge Advocate
General Of the navy. Capt Mclean does
this in a correspondence relative 70 the
right OF reserves Of the regular army and
navy to exercise the privilege OF suffrage
under the Missouri constitution.
Some time ago a former enlisted man OF
the navy advised the department that he
wanted to enlist in the naval reserve II he
were not deprived of the right OF fran
chise under the Missouri constitution.
Capt Mclean took the matter UP with
Judge Advocate General "A. G. Patterson.
of the Missouri National Guard, who in
a lengthy opinion declared that a broad
and liberal construction OF the constitu-
ton of Missouri would permit the re-
serves for the army and navy TO exercise
the right OF franchise" Gen. Patterson
held, however. that the Missouri constitu-
ton absolutely disfranchised' officers.
soldiers Of the regular army, navy and
Marine Corps.
In his reply Can't Mclean said in
my opinion the above cited provision OF
the Missouri constitution is clearly re-
pugnant TO the Federal constitution, and
therefore null and void as applied 10 per
sons belonging to the regular navy who
are otherwise qualified voters in that
State: and that should such persons in
the regular navy be denied the right OF
suffrage bv the Missouri authorities. the
department should lend its assistance and
request the cooperation OF the Depart
ment OF Justice in obtaining an aUthori-
tive decision in the Federal courts as to
the validity of such discriminatory pro
vision against persons in the regular navy
as a class.
1T NAV be noted that other persons
denied the right Of suffrage by the same
.article of the Missouri constitution are
inmates OF poorhOuses. asylums. public
prisons and persons convicted OF felony
or other infamous crime. In the same
category with the foregoing are placed
officers. soldiers and marines in the reg
ular army. or navy OF the United States
who are similarly denied the right to vote
at elections in the State"
As a step toward the organization OF
the resources OF the country behind the
army the Senate Committee on Military
Affairs has incorporated into the bill
which Chairman Chamberlain reported to
the Senate yesterday a clause which au-
NNOI lStS llit I EeSlutul 10 ullllLe lne SeTN-
ices Of postmasters as recruiting agents
for the army. This amendment has been
so framed that it more than triples the
recruiting facilities OF the army
Under il there will be over 5000 places
at which men could enlist in the army
as compared with 900 or 800 that arc
maintained by the War Department al
present. II this provision were a Law
now the additional 1000 men provided for
in the recent resolution Of Congress for
the regular army could be placed or
the muster rolls in a single day
In the event of war that would call
for the raising OF a volunteer army OF
any other force Of a million men II
would be absolutely necessary TO enlarge
and reOrEanize the recruiting service Of
the War Department During the civil
war a system OF provost marshals was
imprOvised which proved TO be inefficient
and unsatisfactory. II in the time Of
peace. 1t is urged by army officers the
postmasters could be trained 10 handle
recruits, they would constitute the most
efficient recruiting system that could be
devised for war, In several reports from
the War College the recommendation hs,
been made that postmasters be utilized
All other countries use civilian author
ties for this purpose.
Marine militia companies of three diff
ferent States. Ohio. Illinois and Califor
mia, are forming to augment the fore,
of United states marines in time Of war
The United States Marine Corps. consist
ing Of but 1891 men, has no reserve force
other than one marine militia company
! in Massachusetts and another in Louis
ana. The marine militiamen will b,
trained in the duties of the United Statei
marine regular, ashore and afost an,
| will be attached to the several Stat,
naval militia Tganiza tons.
Naval General stan
/ Some OF the questions which hay,
| been asked by members Of the House
Naval Committee in the hearings which
! have become fixture of this session in,
dictate a disposition to regard witt
! greater favor than hitherto the creation
| by law OF a general stan. Representative
Roberts. OF massachusetts,. takes tn,
! lvehest interest in the subject, and It /,
1 largely due to the search for informal ior
on his part in that direction that has sug
l