Arizona republican., 1916-08-10

1t a matter to be considered as real 1 eXigency.
 Then came the torch of another | leader What a change in sentiment | was wrought overnight in the councils | of the administration: there was feeling that an exigency did exist and i that something should be done. that it was no longer nervousness. but pru dence. caution and foresight which re- quired immediate action.
 There was an able secretary of war, and he devoted himself with astute- ness to the problem and he worked out plan. He thought he had pinned the administration so that it would stay put. l don't believe you could pin | the administration to any policy that would stay put. Well the matter got so bad that it was presented to con- ! gross. Only few months ago. it was l formally stated that our present de- mands called for this, forthwith: rais- ] ing the regular army from it's total on paper-although it was in fact some what less-of about los. 900 to Al 900 and d citizen reserve of 400, 900, trained by federal authority. in the annual in stallments of 133.000 each.
 That was to be regarded as essen tial Now. how long did that stay put? Why. within a short time the plan was abandoned; the secretary of war re- signed, and in his correspondence with the president. he practically pointed out what he regarded as the inexcus able abandonment-I don't use his exact words, but this was the sub- stance of it--of a program deemed to be necessary.
 Now why was it abandoned? We have had a great deal of talk about executive leadership not conspicuous then. when American preparedness was an issue. Why was il necessary to go through the land, dealing with the subject, when congress had its mind open to know the executives will?
 ron the contrary there was what . I regard as a backdown, a change of F front. It has always seemed to me a,cSt iegrett Lh,e .adt it vas change
 of front under d conception of paru
 san and expe1iency. We had. as a
 result +omeGh.ng .s hich is fruSht with much mystery.
 In the first place. under the army reorganization bill we have paper army of 17S,00O but an actual army for the fiscal year ending June 30 coo more in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1918. We have then, to rely
 upon the national guard.
 For the boys who have gone for
 ward uncomplainingly to the duty t'
 which they were called. and have beer
 sworn into the regular army over : night for a service that they had no ' contemplated and which I do no ! think the national guard should b. called upon to render-for those boy: : l have unstinted praise. But 1 con demn the system which brought mat
 ters to that pass.
 Then what a spectacle was pre- sented They were not properl.
 equipped when they started. suppl.
 were not ready for them and some o {, them suffere1 m the mole in whicsl :bev were tr,nspoI tated to discharg - their new duties Why, it was { 2 spectacle showing inefficiency of tn : first magnitude.
 "The rights about which there ha'
 been so much discussion are in tn U main plain rights, generally recog ' nlzcd But we i've in a Wo@ l in arms
 1t would be the rankest folly for II
 10 invite insult, for us to invite tn
 disregard of our word by having al
 obviors condition of unpreparedness
 Preparedness that is reasonabl
 and adeduate IS not militarism. Ther' is no militarism in this country. Bu ! adequate and reasonable prepared ness is an assurance Of our peace is the very u.;ress 'tI our %"'f-r" apect. It IS for us to say what W