Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-05-26
President Wilson Orders
Tribunal for 116 Who
Wouldn't Muster Out.
HEARING WILL BE
HELD IMMEDIATELY
Are Liable Under Dick
Legislation; Subject to
Fine and Imprisonment.
VIZ hundred and sixteen Texas ma

VIZ hundred and sixteen Texas ma
w ASHINGTON, May 25.-One
tionaj guardsnen who have failed to
respond to the call for service ef, the
Mexican border will be court mar
tailed by President Wilson.
The offense for which they will be
tried may be punished by fines or i'm
prisonment as the court may direct,
with the approval Of The president.
Secretary Baker announced today
that the guardsmen would lie tried
promptly under the Dick law revers-
ing a previous decision to delay action
in order to deal with the cases under
the new Hay chamberlain army reor-
ganiZation bill The president HIM
self will appoint the court martial and
Major General Funston has been in
structed to recommend its members,
majority of whom must be officers
of the Texas national guard.
No Action Elsewhere.
SO Ear no steps have been taken
toward prose Cutin,s New Mexico and
Arizona guardsmen, who, like the
Texans. have failed tC present them
selves for muster. a further report
from General Funston regarding them
IS awaited.
Secretary Raker tcright issued the
following statement. explaining the
action of the war department.:
''The Dick bill provides as an Of
fense the failure on the part Of men
of the national guard to present
themselves for muster when called
upon by the president to do so. One
hundred and sixteen members of the
Texas national guard are reported to
have failed to so present themselves.
Under the Dick bill they would be
guilty OF failure to present themselves
FOR muster.
"When the pending legislation Is
approved and the militia of the states
is reorgariZed and federalized there
under. the obligation Of the enlisted
men of the national guard will be to
preserve constitutions of the United
States and their respective states and
the lawful orders of the president and
the governors of their respective
states. Thereafter when the president
issues call to the national guard,
the call will Of its own force muster
each member of the national guard
into the federal service and il will
no longer be necessary for the men
to present themselves for muster.
Covers This Case.
THE offense denounced by the
Dick bill, therefore, will be impossible.
as it Will not be required that the
men should present themselves for
muster The Dick bill, not being re-
pealcd. expressly remains in force.
The 116 men in question, having
taken an oath to preserve the consti-
tuition of the United States and to obey
the lawful orders of the governor of
Texas and not having yet taken an
oath to obey the president as COM
mander-in- chief, must still present
themselves for muster. They are ca
pable, therefore. of committing the
offense in the Dick bill and are
therefore liable to punishment.
~ have decided to have the court
martial assembled by command of the
president and have asked General
Funston to recommend the members
thereof. While | shall not prescribe,
] shall be inclined to recommend that
the proceedings be abated in cases
where the men are willing to take the
oath"