The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-12-21


senator Rorah of Idaho, notwith-
standing this is short session, limit
Cd as to time. and crowded with other
business, viii do his utmost between
about the repeal of all that part of the
Hay army reorganization act which
federalizes the national guard. If his
proposal is approved by congress the
national guard will be left exactly
where it was before the Hay bill
passed: it will be a state institution
solely, beyond control of the federal
government. it's officers and men will
be subject only to the call of their ren
spectiye governor, and their names
will be taken off the federal payroll.
When the Hay bill was pending be-
fore the senate last session Senator
Borah made a one-man fight against
the plan to federalize the national
guard. He had little or no support
from other senators, especially as the
fight was being made Immediately
before the campaign and senator's
were timid about opposing piece of
legislation that seemed to be so pop
ular with the national guardsmen.
Senator Borah's attitude was in en-
tire accord with former Secretary of
War Garrison-an attitude which
brought the secretary into controver-
sy with President Wilson, and resulted
in his resignation.
Today, in the judgment of men who
are familiar with the national guard
and its experiences on the border,
Senator Borah and former Secretary
Garrison stand vindicated, for opin-
ion of militay men generally is that
the federalized national guard is an
utter failure, and the Hay law, or so
much of it as applies to the guard, is
utterly without merit, and can not
survive.
The Borah bill introduced on De-
cember S proposing to repeal the en-
tire national guard section of the army
reorganization law, has been referred
to the secretary of war and the under
standing Is that Mr.. Baker will report
favorably, IL not on the bill, at least
on the proposal contained therein. If
the bill is referred to the war college
or to the general staff of the army, 1t
is sure to receive the endorsement of
those bodies, which are now thorough
ly convinced that the federalized mill
tia scheme is not feasible, and must be
superseded by some other plan of de-
Tense and preparedness.
Declares 1t Unconstitutional.
Last summer, when fighting the fed
eralization part of the Hay bill, Sena-
tor Borah based his objections on
several grounds. He maintained, first
that the plan was unconstitutional
but this point will not be determined
il the Borah bill is passed He next
charged that the plan could not be
successfully carried out; that the ma
tional guard could not be federalized
in way to obtain practical and eftici-
ent results. Thirdly, he assailed the
scheme as grossly extravagant, ant
asserted that it would cost the coun.
try anywhere from $60,00O,O00 to $75,.
100000 a year. not counting the cos
which accrues by reason of the mobil
ization on the Mexican border.
Senator Borah maintains that hi
predictions have been fulfilled tina
the plan has not met the expectation
of those who favored it, and tn
scheme having been early shown to b.
a failure, he thinks the time is rip
to repeal the law. He would no
couple with repeal some substitut
plan of defense; rather, he would de
federalize the national guard an