New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In your issue Of January H. under
the caption "Miltia Fights Wilson Defence
you have scratched the surface Of matter
which would well repay your further eXplo-
ration as a patriotic service to the country
at this time. II may not be known publicly
that at the recent meeting Of the National
Guard Association it was voted to maintain
at Washington during the present session Of
Congress :. lobby at an estimated expense Of
S25 day.
As an ex-national guardsman who has OBJ
served closely the trend of affairs in militia
circles, although for some time not actively
concerned therein, may point out some
aspects of the present militia opposition to
Secretary Garrisoi's continental army
scheme? The opponents of the continental
army consist of three classes. The first con-
tans those who rightly contend that enlist
ments cannot be secured if the training is 10
be only in continuous periods of two months
each year, the average maj being unable TO
sacrifice this time from his bread-winning
occupation, and that. in any event, force so
trained cannot fulfil the function Of first
line troops-the fundamental defect in Sec
rotary Garrison's scheme of substituting
these for even half the number of seasoned
regulars. The second class who oppose it
consists of those who honestly believe that
the present state militia is or can be made
an adequate national defence by further
legislation and appropriation. The third
class consists Of those within the ranks of
the national guard who are placing first the
interests of their organization and OF them
selves, and of Congressman who see in
panderng to local militia interests through
increased appropriations favor for them
selves among constituents.
The worst of this is that the enterprise of the
national guard element mentioned above raj
lies to its support a substantial element in
the civilian population, whose unthinking
sympathy is easily aroused by any plea Of
contemplated injustice, which IS the cry
:aised By the national guard opponents Of
the continental army idea. There is abso-
lutely nothing in Secretary Garrison's scheme
&c warrant this apprehension. 1t points
clearly 20 what every thinking person with
inside knowledge will instantly recognize as
the actual motive The Tribune has already
mentioned the interests of the paid adju-
tants general of the various states. The
writer has no means of personally knowing
the truth of this, but he has means of
knowing the precisely similar feeling pre-
yailing among other officers and members OF
the national guard. 1t is their organization,
first, last and all the time
The best illustration which can be given
Of this is what happened in recent reorgan-
ization measures in the New York National
Guard To comply with the Federal laws,
,-hich Obliged conformity TO the organiza-
ton Of the regular army before the state
could receive its share of the Federal APP
propriation, a well known regiment had TO
be disbanded and reorganized in battalion
formation, eliminating number of officers.
The executive order effecting this witnessed
an outburst against the authority of the
major general which went to the length OF
bringing 10 bear upon him pressure from
local Assembymen for the reinstatement of
officers, under penalty of the defeat of much
n the way Of needed appropriations at Al
bany. In the inner circles the intention was
freely expressed TO force him out Of Office
Happily. the Governor remained firm, except
for qualifying that part of the order affect
ing the regiments numeral designation.
The rights and wrongs in this incident are
rot Of moment. What is of moment is the
vicious possibilities inherent in any sys.
TEN where Governor can interpose to de-
feat or not, at his discretion, the neces-