The Topeka state journal., 1916-08-01

De escaped Dy tie condemnation of others.
we are peace-loving people, but We
Iive In world of arms. We have no
lhought of aggression, and we desire to
pursue our democratic ideals without the
thsse ideals, so intent upon our normal de-
,seiopment, that do not believe that there
not m1litarism- 1t is the essential assur-
anee OF security; it is necessary safe
We Arc Unprepared.
1t is apparent that we are shockingly
unprepared. There is no room for contro-
Yersy on this point since the object lesson
ess beTeer beesr than A og5 oo saes
there or in Mexico, and as these have been
deemed insufficient the entire national
summoning practically all our movable
military forces in order to prevent bandit
thheursions INC In view of the warnings of
we should find ourselves in this plight. For
our faithful guardsmen, who with fine
bearing the burden, 1 have nothing but
praise. But 1 think it little short of abb
men from their shops, their factories. their
offices and their professions for such
purpose; This, however, is not all. The
strength. which was only about one-haif
the required strength. 1t was necessary
and unframed. Only small percentage of
the regiments recruited up to war strength
VIII have had even years training in the
means one hundred hours of military drill.
and on the average, means much less
ton. The states in this department con-
tain about 72 per cent of the entire organ
lied militia of the country.
The Militia Problem.
| am informed, by competent authority.
eee fr0T With 5hl1 the ppns
raised to war strength as required would
amount to about 131 900 men; that In re-
to on the border about 81 900 men, and
In camp in their respective states about
ready been acc aeeompiished. % there ra' still tit re- re-
mains to be supplied in recruits about AS
0o0 men, Men fresh from their peaceful
have been hurried to the border for actual
service. They were without proper equip
ment; without necessary supplies; suitable
conditions of transportation were not pro-
vided. Men with dependent families were
sent; and conditions which should have
been well known were discovered after the
event And yet the exigency, comparative
~ speaking, was not very grave one. 1t
involved nothing that could not readily
years of disturbance, and required only
n modest talent for organization That this
administration while pursuing its course in
Mexico should have permitted such condi-
uons to exist Is almost incredible.
Wilson Has Not Led.
In the demand for reasonable prepared
led Those who demanded more adequate
forces were first described as nervous
and excited" Only about year and
half ago we were told that tile question Of
preparedness was not pressing one: that
the country had been misinformed Later,
under the pressure of other leadership, this
1t was said, had learned something" aud
it made a belated demand for an increased
prosecuted consistently and the pressure
exerted on congress with respect to other
measures vas notably ab-
sent. The president addressed congress
but little over six mouths ago, presenting
the plans of the war department, and con-
gress was formally urged to sanction these
plans as ''the essential first steps" They
an increase of the standing
force of the regular army from its then
listed mel, to a strength of 7,136 officers
and 134, 701 enlisted men, or 151.Sf3 all told
1t was said that these additions were
for its present duties.- Further, it was
proposed that the army should be supple
mented by a force of 100000 disciplined
year. through a period of three years. AT
least so much by way of preparation for
Dc defense, seemed - the president M to ,,6 be
1--WE cannot do less" But within two
moths this program was abandoned and
the able secretary of war who had de-
voted himself persistently to this impor-
tant question felt keenly the change in
policy that he resigned from the cabinet.
HNOM. LHe army Dilt prov
for an army on paper of 17s,OOO but in
fact it provides for only los, 900 enlisted
men f,r the line Of the regular army for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1917, and
l am Informed that for the next fiscal
year there will be an increase of only TO-
900. The plan for the supplemental federal
army completely under federal control was
givn up.
should Have Rectified Matters.
We are told that the defects revealed by
the present mobilization are due to the
IL
defects that under the constant warnings
of recent years, with the whole world in
been studied and rectifiei. The afminis-
tration has failed to discharge its respon-
Apparently, it Is now seeking to
gram. But it has imposed upon rhe country
an incompetent naval administration.
we demand tctae ade1uofe matt na5iona nal defense s
and eastern coasts. We demand thorough
ness and efficiency In both arms of the
regular army is too small. We too
great country to require of our citizens
of aEe p a wn 6eT m
now called. AS well insist that our citizens
in this metropolis be summoned to put out
fires and police the streets. We do not
count it inconsistent with our liberties. or
with our democratic ideals to have an a1e
nearly 1O0000.00 need to be surer of
ourselves than to become alarmed at the
prospect of having regular army which
TAN GedSoudDtN DToltcl our poTutT anu per
form such other military service may ne
in the absence of a grave emer-
gency. 1 believe, further that there should
be not only a reasonable increase in the
regular army, but that the first citizen re-
serve subject to call should be enlisted as
federal army and trained under federal
authority.
Country Demands Preparedness.
The country demands that our military
and naval program shall be carried out in
a businesslike manner under the most
competent administrative heads. that we
shall have IN up-to-date preparation: that
the moneys appropriated shall be properly
expended. We should also have careful
plans for mobilizing our industrial re-
for promoting research and utiliz- |
ing the Investigations of science. And a
policy of adequate preparedness must con-
stantly have in view the necessity of con-
serving our fundamental human interests |
Of promoting the physical well being of
1ur population. as well as education and I
training; of developing to the utmost our