New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-17
Guard System Inherently
Wrong, the Senator
Declares
GOVERNOR SPEAKS
FOR CONFUSION
Time Ripe Now, He Says,
in Address TO National
Association
fTrrn N, Tffnnn. Bnr,tu ]


Washington, Dec. 16.-The National
Guard Is inherently wrong IN that u
results IN men who do not Join feel
ing that they have been entirely re
lieved Of the responsibility Of training
themselves TO defend their country,
Senator James ". Wacsworth, of New
York, told the National Association for
Universal Military Training this after
noon.
Governor Whitman declared he could
find no sympathy with those who be
lieve that to place a rife in the hands
Of a boy would make him bloodthirsty.
ut does q boy good to be taught 70
handle q rife and how TO shoot
straight" be declared, "snd nothing
could be more ridiculous or absurd
than for people to say, az certain esti-
mable ladies have said TO me, that the
idea of compulsion in this country IS
abhorrent.
Let q boy of twelve be found on the
streets Of New York OF IN any other
city, who has not gone to school ana
the truant officers use compulslon. NOt
only that. but they will bnng ms
parents before a justice If they do not
see 10 IL that the boy is sent 20 school.
The State Of New York has an interest
in that boy.
Governor for COmpulsiOn
And say, if we have to compel
men 10 undergo military service for the
good Of their country, let's compel
them. And ! think the time has come
in this country when IL ls necessary 70
compel men 10 perform the little ser
vice that will fit them TO serve their
country should the time come when it
is vitally necessary"
Governor Whitman outlined his plan
for military instruction u the schools,
as described in his speech at Plstts-
burg and elsewhere in New York.
Senator Wadsworth denied that the
liberalization of the militia had re-
suited in its breakdown.
THE failure of the National Guard
on the border reveals the inherent
weakness Of the volunteer system" he
declared ut is an attempt Of the few
TO do the duty OF the many.
1.-THE alarming tendency of the young
men OF to-day is that the volunteer
IDEA. the belief that others will volun-
teer 10 acquire the military training
necessary to afford the country a suf-
fcient amount Of trained soldiers 70
defend it in case Of need, has relieved
those who do not volunteer from any
sense Of responsibility whatever.
CHOSE men on the border are max
ing the sacrifice for those who did not
20. and if 10 were not that they were
foregoing opportunities for advance
ment and being separated from their
families, there would not be the
amount Of complaint which has re-
suited. For never was body Of men
better fed and taken care % than those
men on the border The outdoor life Is
beneftting them physically, and adding
ten years to many mans life.
Would Solve Class Problem
81 believe that six months compul-
sorry service for every young man would
solve one Of the greatest problems con
fronting this country to-day that OF
class feeling. II the young men Of
both rich and poor parents could be
forced TO live together, side by side.
sleeping under the same tents, digging
the same trenches, making the same
marches and brought into camp a.
night healthily tired and hungry. II
would do more to make them appreciate
that the other fellow is a human be
ing. with the same passions. virtues
and faults. than anything else IN the
world"
Senator Wadsworth declared that the
regular army cannot be recruited UP
10 the strength already authorized IN
less the United States should 60 into
omen competition in the labor market.
This. he said, would be tremendously
extensive. as the cost at present pay Of
maintaining a man in the field average
- e. nm e. a Inn q wear