Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-07
PROPOSED GREATER FEDERAL
MD 70 NATION Al ARD

.'Th" suggestion that In. situation
can properly y. met by some sor; II
provision making thcS" troops subject
to call OF the nation for all purposes
II! cas-" II war, instead or only for the
tire. purposes Specified In the COust!-
tution, overlooks ana dlsrcgards the
fundamental ha -ic trouble which this
remedy docs NOT even touch much less
cure. The National Guard. however. rs
IL exists. ~ i Federal asset. II is
SO circunstanccd thtt it can volun-
t.or for service In time OF war and
be taken In n !; exists. /. therefore,
propos. a large addition TO the Federal
aid extended 70 the uationa! guard. 80
that tn" system MAY be operated TO its
maximum calaci,y and be available for
the FEDERAL purposes specified. ia its
most effective condition.
with respect TO the so.callcd militia
pay bill. only desire 10 say this. !
have always felt that any pay for
nom. training should proceed from the
state ana not rom the nation. If thc
Congress prefers the method OF direct
Federal pay. Il Is not a matter IN which
have amy individual Judgment upon
which care 20 insist"
Mr., Garrison took up suggestions
that The swiss Or Australian military
s. stems be adapted TO American needs.
or the former, Ne said, universal mill
training WORK in the public schools
formed it, most prominent elements,
while the Australian system likewise
required military service from all male
citizens. In rhis country" he con-
t!uucd. II IS not believed practicable
Al this time 10 Eound Il military policy
upon either OF tie two essential bases
OF the systems just described TIL"
national government has no jurisdiction
over the public school systems Of III"
various States. \ constitutional amend
mont would hc required 10 give ii any
such jurisdiction. Furthermore. IL is
not believed that the people or this
country have reached the conclusion
that compulsory military service is IA
necessity. However rational such con-
clusion may he. and however inevitable
IL may bc thought that the people viii
eventually reach such n conclusion, II
IS futile TO found n policy upon any
such requisite ri this time, II there
is no. 4 reasonable hope 10 expect that
il VIII receive ;he approval of the peo-
pie at this time. II you found your
system upon any such essential basis.
and there is no good ground 10 expect
that YOU can secure such a basis Ivy
legislative enactment, the result would
b. that no step whatever would be
taken, and that would he a lamentahle
result IT. on the other hand, YOU adopt
IA prh ctlcal system, based upon tn: vol
urttary action Of the people. and that
fails. then policies based upon uni
versal service or some form OF com
pulsory service VIII he enacted as tho
only remaining remedy"
SECRETARY OUTLINES
CONTINENTAL ARMY PLAN
The secretary hen outlined the con-
tiucntal army plan. which proposes to
raise 100000 men in annual incremcnts
of $4,000 each from districts approx
mating the 400 Congressional districts.
each 10 supply $50 men annually. Tho
men would enlist for three years with
the colors. and three years on fur
Tough. and would be armed. equipped
and oIiccrcd. Their training would be
done by the officers and men of the
regular army organizations. and they
would be paid during the time of their
service on the s1me basis as the rcSu-
lar army.
For convenience of designation he
continued. this force has been called
the continental army, hut In fact IT Is
system OF Federal volunteers, raised,
organized, equipped and trained in time
of peace. There is absolutely nothing