The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-12-22
DIDN'T ELECT
WILSON, ALLAN
BENSON SAYS
~ OLSON GARDNER

WRoffiNe ONt ptGs
Among those who don't claim /
credit for the election OF Mr..
Wilson Ia Allan /. Benson, the
socialist candidate for presl
dent. Mr.. Benson has Iust been
In Washington.
81 was perfectly convinced"
said no. "that alone was re-
Wilson. but found 30 many
other members OF the 4 Did ~
club that | decided 20 renounee
all credit and be the one per
son In tho United States who
Is not responsible for his eiec-
tlon. had nothing 10 do with
the reelection OF Mr.. Wilson"
Senator Borah has taken the
lead TO repeal the militia federal.
ixation clause Of the Hay Chamber.
lain act
our experience with the feder-
allied militia on the Mexican Dor.
der" said the senator. shows what
/ | predicted: that Il IL not possible
Ca federali,e tho militia. We can.
not have n force half state and half
federal The soldier must be IN
der the authority OF the federal
government. or he must be- under
tho authority OF the state More.
over. he must be n soldier and not
a workingman temporarily absent
from his work for temporary sol
diering. The militia lobby. which
swarmed in Washington last win.
ter. made n botch OF our army leg
iHlation. The officers were after
salaries for themselves. which they
got The result IL an army which
cannot be recruited up 60 anything
like its full strength; tumble OF
authorities aud jurisdictions. n du
I plication OF salaries: and general
I failure TO secure soldiers when we
need them. Congress- must now
face this problem anew and solve
1 IT,"
Some time before long our reEu
lar army soldiers are going TO learn
to be farmers and mechanic They
are going 10 get vocational cduca
. ton Tucked away In the Hay.
Chamberla. bill. passed ai the last
session. In a clause which author,
l Tres this. Little has been done yet
in this direction. owing TO the fact
that tho army has been very busy
in Mexico. but the power is vested
with the secretary OF war TO make
| life In the regular army more pleas.
ant and desirable by offering these
educational advantages.
The bill prosid that In addition
To military training. soldiers while
In the active service shall hereafter
BE- given the opportunity To- study
aud receive instruction upon educa.
tlonal lines Of such character as TO
increase their military efficiency
and enable them to return to civil
life better equipped for Industrial.
commercial. and general business
occupations.
Civilian teachers may be EN-.
giving such instruction. and part OF
this instruction may consist OF vo.
cational education either in agri.
culture or the mechanic arts. The
secretary ~ war IL given power to
prescribe rules and regulations for
conducting the instruction provided
for and he also has power at any
time to suspend. increase. or de.
crease the amount OF such instruc-
ton. consistent with the require
mcnta OF military duty"
The failure OF the Hay Chamber.
lain army plan has opened up con.
sideratlon 81 several alternatives
Some OF Thorn are: Cl A profC salon.
al army with higher pay and cduca.
| tionsl Advantages TO make the
army life more attractive. ca
modification of tho Swiss system.
involving abolishing the regular
standing army. aud substituting
short term training for youthful
volunteers 10 be turned back as DO.
teutial reserves after the training:
CD federal volunteers on the lines
Of the continental army plan sue.
gested by former Secretary OF War
Garrison. 90 universal military
training without compulsory sery.
ice. 90 universal compulsory mill.