The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-03-04

II the various patchworks OF opinion
the actual Job of turning 1t out may DC
q good one. for the JILL
entities which have been in the way
have at times seemed to De insui'
Plans Were Antasonistie.
When the military committees VI
the house and senate first met 10 oon
slider preparedness measures thei'
was a feeling that it might be lmpoS
sible for any kind of compromise u
be reached which would be sallsi"o'
tory to the members Of both houses
There were two Numerically opposi.e
plans proybsed for the accomplish
ment of preparation through the ianu
forces of the United States. Seem
ingly the senate committee was uo
voted beyond divorce to a plan ior
continental army and seemingly 'he
house committee was just as deVoleu
to the cause of antagonism TO con'i
mental army. AS for the members vi
the house and senate generally. some
of them were divided among then
selves as to the merits OF the wv
plans, while others believed tnere
should be no preparedness at all. MS
was the situation when the suoJe''
came I'M for first consideration IN Tue
two branches of congress.
AS soon as Secretary Garrison re-
signed it seemed that there was re-
newed feeling of confidence among INC
Democrats in the house that their pan
70 strengthen the National Guard anu
to ignore the proposal for cohtinen
tai army was the more certain 10 sue
coed. 1t is well known, or COURSE 'h"'
President Wilson and his former sec
retary of war, Mr.. Garrison, were III
favor of the continental army plan. IN
one of the presidents letters 10 MT
Garrison at the time OF the secretary
resignation he said he had commence
in the patriotism and the judgment Oh
the members of the committees OF
congress.
Wilson Wiling TO rleiu'
This letter was taken to mean that
Mr.. Wilson did not think that, because
he personally was favorable TO the
| continental army plan, it necessarily
followed that the house members were
wrong in standing for another plan.
In other words, it seemed to be MT.
Wilson's view that if the majority OF
his party in the house thought lts
plans were better than his plans ne
should bow to the majority's 1udg-
ment.
This intimation from Mr.. Wilson
seemed to be grateful to the leaders
of his party in congress and especially
to the committee members. The house
members saw in what he said an init
nation that he would accept the plan
for the strengthening of the National
Guard if he had to, and would forego
if necessary his strong efforts to Sc
cure a continental army. Acting on
this supposition, the house leaders In
timated they would begin at once tc
expedite preparedness legislation
There seems to be some hope today
that the matter may be disposed Of
before the first week in April. but o.
course the senate may be stumbling
block. for there is no rule in the sen
ate such as there is in the house BY
which debate could be shut off at any
given time.
Regulars Oppose Militia Bill.
Nearly all the army officers Of higf
rank are opposed to the measure
which would make the National Guart
/ the chief line Of reserve strength o
/. the United States forces. 1t must no
, be understood that the army oppose!
| the militia because it thinks that thu
, guardsmen cannot give good service
The army would prefer a strong militi;
J to a continental army, so called. ant
} would prefer it because the militiamel
| are trained, are virtually CONSTANT.
D under arms and know at least the pre-
5 liminaries of drill, discipline and fell
I service.
3 The real reason why the army off
: GERS oppose the proposed militi
strengthening legislation as a chic
a part of preparedness is because the
I believe the Constitution of the Unite
q States stands in the way of giving t
|. the United States government full col
/ troll Of the National Guard. In othe
g words. the army officers would prefe
4 the militia as a real reserve IL the
|. were certain that the federal govern
h ment could control the state troops
n all matters necessary for the good {
T. the armed service of the country, pr
!. vided war were to come.
Q What Its Advocates Say.
National Guardsmen who are
. Washington and the members of CO..
gress who prefer the strengthening {
the militia to any other plan for pr
paredness of the land forces, say tt
Constitution of the United States
a specific only along certain prohibit,
L lines, and that congress can legisla
n so as to make the National Gual
If forces virtually a part of the COVER
It ments army, and that those thin,
f. which the national government cam
le do are immaterial to the case. tt
h. people will have to study both sid
f of this matter before making up the
b. minds as to whether the army exper
are right or whether the Nation
10 Guardsmen and the members of CO