The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-05-24
baltimore Sun, Democratic


The army bill now goes to the
president with all It's imperfections
on Its head. and It may be assumed
that he will sign 1t. There is. in fact.
nothing else for him to do under the
circumstances. II Is evident that
the country can get nothing better
from this Congress. and II must ac-
cept what II can get. 1t has been
treated like pauper begging for
aims. rather than as master de-
manding It's own from its public stew
ards. Its turn to speak will come
before very long. and the next Con-
gress will not be left under any mis-
apprehension as to the popular senti-
ment.
Mr.. Hay made several frank ad-
missions In regard TO IL In the closing
debate that are very illuminating.
The bill as agreed upon in confer
ence. he said. provides for 1880
lighting men" on the regular army.
1T has been stated" he added, that
this bill carries an enlisted force of
100000 men, and the inference Is
drawn that they are all to be put In
the army at once. As matter OF
fact, the increase OF $4,000 fighting
men. or rather the increase over the
number Of men now in the army, Is
to be provided for by five annual In
crements: and the increase in the Of
ficers. with the exception OF those Of
ticers who are to be used for training
the national guard and teaching in
military schools. are also to be added
In five annual increments. So, as
matter of fact, this bill provides for
the next fiscal year an increase of
about $4,000 enlisted men and be-
tween 5000 and 1000 officers. It is
entirely within the discretion of Con-
gress. without infringing upon the
rights OF any officer or man, to cut
off next year the increments which
are provided TO rim this bill. II
when this war in Europe Is over, II
when the battle flags are furled and
the war drums sound no longer. the
hysteria which has been pervading
the atmosphere OF this country dies
down. then Congress can cut off the
increment and make the standing
army OF the United States any num-
Der II pleases. This Is not an emer-
gency bill. 1t is not intended as an
emergency bill. 1t is not intended to
raise an army for the purpose OF pos
sible war with Mexico or any other
power"
Thus it will be seen that while
yielding little to the prevalent
"hysteria. which other people call
facts. Mr.. Hay has provided against
any very great immediate increase
in the regular army. 1t will secure
five years to secure the additional
$4,000 fighting men with the prom
Use Of which he Is soothing the "hys-
terical" country, and in the next
year or two. when DR.. Hay has made
1t realize how silly 1t has been to he
so frightened at nothing. even that
concession to national weakness can
be withdrawn. In the meantime,
the imperturbable Mr.. Hay is in no
hurry; he sees nothing to worry
about: he has diagnosed the whole
case as one of hysteria, and he is
the leading specialist in this country
on that disease. In fact. outside of
China. no such military diagonsticlan
is to be found on our planet. The
only person we can recall who knew
SO much on any subject was that
great Intellectual and that profound
Mr.. Willett. in 'Barnady
Rudge." who made specially OF the
moon and who would allow nobody