The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-27

TINE announcement of the war de-
i partment that National Guarc
units composed of college students
will be mustered out in time for such
guardsmen to proceed with their
school work in the fall, will be hailed
by institutions of
Student Militia to learning and boys
BE Mustered Out alike with salts
faction. National
Guard organizations made up of col
legians still in concentration camps
will not be sent forward The mus
tering out of student troops on the
border will take place September 1,
and those not at the front and not to
be sent there will be relieved some
what earlier.
No estimate is given of the num-
Der of guardsmen that will be affected
by this action of the government.
Probably not more than five or six
thousand students are organized in
units; but since many men who have
families dependent upon them are
soon to be excused from further ser
vice, the militia available for patrol
duty will be reduced all told, it is
roughly estimated, by fifteen thou
sand men. But there will be enough
left to hold Mexican raiders in check.
The President made no mistake in
calling out the entire National Guard
when was was imminent. That very
act changed the menacing attitude of
Mexico and quickly minimized the
possibility Of hostilities. Moreover, the
organized militia has been subjected
to strenuous war-footing discipline
that was needed for the making of
real soldiers, to say nothing of the
practical test that has been made of
the war departments preparedness to
meet an emergency.
At any Fate the young men of col
ledge classification will be all the
stronger and all the larger visioned by
their military experience this sum
mer.
M ORE than ordinary interest at
1v1 taches to Names state election
which will be held on September IL,
and as the democrats were victorious
in 1914 and as Governor Curtis adj
ministration has been exceptionally
clean, business-like and popular there
is reason to hope that the victory
of two years ago will
Maine Election be repeated. Maine
In September went democratic in
the state election of
1910. The republicans elected their
state ticket in 1912, but in the presi-
Dental election two months later
Wilson received substantial plurality
over Roosevelt. 1t was the first time
since the republican party came into
existence that Names electoral vote
had been cast for a democrat.
For long years that state was SC
overwhelmingly republican, both in
presidential and gubernatorial cleo
tions, that the democrats had little
or no expectation of changing what
seemed to be the unwritten law. But
now that Maine has ceased to be re
publican as matter of course, the
democrats are working with all theil
might to score another triumph month
after next.
The national democratic campaign
committee will aid the Maine democ
racy and President Wilson himself
will do all he consistently can to in
sure the election of the democratic
candidates.
In August both parties will "shel
the woods" They will send speak
ers of national reputation to stump
the state, and altogether the cam
paign promises to be the most excit
ing the erstwhile republican strong
hold has yet witnessed.
Republican defeat in Septembel
would have stunning effect OF
Hughes and his managers. If thu
democrats should win the national or