Norwich bulletin., 1916-04-06
Senate Debates
the Army Bill
ADVOCATES OF FEDERAL voLUN.
TEER PROVISION CONFIDENT
NATL GUARD ATTACKED
Senator Chamberlain, in Defending ths
Federal Volunteer Provision, De-
nouneed Attempts of National ouars
to Interfere With Legislation.

10 interfere With Legislation.
Washington, April 5.-Advocates OF
the federal volunteer provision Of the
senate army bill believed the section
had been saved By a narrow Tnargiu
when the senate recessed tonight
without having reached vote on the
Lee amendment 70 strike II out. Sen
a1or Chamberlain, chairman Of the
military committee, again asked that
action be deferred, as one or two sena-
tors still desired to be heard.
Volunteer Provision Debsted All Day
Debate on the volunteer provision
lasted all day, champions Of the ma
uonal guard supporting the amend
ment occupying most Of the time. In
the closing hour. however. Senator
Chamberlain vigorously defended the
provision as vital TO any military plan
\ and denounced attempts of national
/ guard ORGANIZATIONS to interfere with
| legislation he was Joined by Sena-
| tors O'GCrman and Williams, warning
| the senate that at the close OF the
| European war the United States
1 would need great navy and an ade-
| quate army to back her demands upon
| the belligerent powers for indemnifi-
cation for the losses sustained through
/ violations OF her rights as a neutral
Warning by Senator Williams.
1 As surely as the sun rises rOmOE-
| row." Senator Williams said, unless
| this country puts itself into a condi-
ton where IL can resist and withstand
bullying, we are going to be in trOu-
bic with the victor in this war unless
we surrender the positions we have
diplomatically taken and timidIy sub
init to the rule which the victor may
lay down for immunity Of disclaimer"
| Sclf-preservatiCn is the inteTna-
| tiOnal code OF the belligerents" said
! Senator N 1fs1 H~f
rights Of neutrais had been invaded
by ali of the warning European pow
ers-
Power Needed to Enforce Demands.
And protests of neutrals will only
be regarded" he added, IF backed by
sufficient power TO enforce their de-
mands."
when this war is over" said SEN
atOr Chamberlain, IF we intend to
, demand recompense for American
lives and property destroyed. il we
are going to demand auy satisfaction,
, then we ought to be prepared 10 back
! all our demands by force Of arms If
necessary And in whsS condition are
we? We have not the power TO en-
| force q single demand we have made"
Senator Williams declared that while
, Increasing the army was important,
| enlarginG the navy was OF frst i'm
pUrtance. The senator said he would
vote to increase any building program
I
: such n navy by 1918 that il could NEE:
| and defeat any force that might be
started against it.
Universal Bankruptcy if War Lasts
= This war cannot last more than one
Z or two years" he said
If Il lasts longer than that II wi
produce universal bankruptcy"
e Senator Chamberlaiu's arraisnmeni
d Of the national guards activities wak
e | supported by Senator MCCumber and
Senator Nelson. who called attention
| to kilograms from national guard off,
4 Cials sent TO senators urging them &C
n vote against the federal volunteer pro-
- vision.
n Elimination of National Guard.
IF the national guard intends to
. come here politically and undertakes
: to control legislation calculated TO pro-
: tect America against the world" said
. the Oregon senator, 7 Tor one from
now on shall favor the elimination OF
the national guard as n military fac
:, tor in this country. They have been
o here and are here for this purpose"
II Lobbying of Outside Influence
Senator Nelson declared that he
never before had seen such lobbying
as the outside inuence have brought
= 20 bear TO defeat certain sections OF
- this bill"
y Senator Sherman sourht to intro.
| charges OF lobbying. Senator Gambler.
lain said he would favor 10 whey
= brought up in the regular way. bu
= would not permit It to delay consid'
a Grafton OF the army bill
Universal Military Training.
Senator O'Gorman and Senator
"a Chamberlain both predicted that II
10 the end the country must come 70 uni
g versal military training TO solve IL
p army problems Both the federallza
ton OF the militia and the vOluntee
scheme were experiments. Senate
a O'Gor1nan said, and should be tried a.
y such.
A senator Cummins called attention Z
20 telegrams from the military training
- camps association introduced by Sen
ator Chamberlain today urging tina
the volunteer provision be retained. H
asked II these were not Fimila
40 plane with the messages from na
10 tional guard officers TO various sena
IN IN tors.
u Chamberlain Attacks National Guar
Senator Chamberlain disagreed
te While he felt that every citizen ha
$ the right to appeal to congress, b
IN said the national guard movement as
ng sumed the proportions OF definit
he organized propaganda
The greatest danger OF militartsI
there Is In this bill" he said, ''is
I'd the political power We may be build
" ing up in the national guard, the pow
d. er we have already seen and felt here
'ly President Wilson Urges Speed.
IS President Wilson urged several ser
ators who called at the White Hous
today to speed up action on the arm
ne bill. He was assured that eyerythir
- possible was being done 70 hasten az
~ ton Senator Chamberlain again gay
eu notice that he would object TO ar
- effort to consider other matters fro
g now on and would insist on long
hours II necessary to get the measul
through
NJ Movements ef Steamships.