Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-01-30

efficiency Of calling such men TO de-
fend the nation,
Adequate Volunteer system
"Whnt we want Is to associate in
training with the army Of the United
states mon who win volunteer for q
sufficient length of time every year to
get the rudimontary acquaintance with
arms, the rudmentnry skin in ham
ding them. the rudimentary acqualnt-
uncc with camp life, the rudlmcntary
acquaintance with military drill and
discipline and We ought TO see to 1t
that we have men of that sort In sur
flcient number to constitute an ideal
army when we need nm army for the
defense OF the country,
II have heard II stated that there
are probably several million men In
this country who have received suf-
ficient amount Of military drill either
here or Ia the countries in which they
were born aud from which they have
come to ~. Perhaps there are; no.
body knows, because there is no means
Of counting them, but II there are 50
many they are not obliged To come at
our call We do not know who they
are. That is not military preparation.
Military preparation consists In the
existence OF such body of men
known u the federal authorities,
I'VE have no such body of men in
the United States except our national
guard, Now, | hnve very great re-
spect for the national guard. | have
hcon associated with one section of
that guard In one Of the great states
OF the union ana ! know the character
Of the officers and the quality of the
men ana | would trust them both for
skill aud efficiency; but the whole ma
tiunnl guard Of the United States falls
short Of 10000 men. II Is character
i2od BY very great variety Of disci-
plinc ana efficiency as between state
and state and II Is by the constitution
Itself put under the authority OF more
than two-scorc state executives. The
president of the United states has not
the right to call on those men except
IN the case OF actual invasion, and,
therefore, no matter how sklful they
are. no matter how ready they are,
They are not the Instruments for i'm
mediate national use.
Iavurs strong National Guard
Il believe that the congress OF the
United States ought to do, and that it
will do grcnt deal more for the ma
tional guard than II ever has done,
and everything ought to be done to
make II Il model military arm, but
that is not the arm that We are inn
Interested in We are in
tcrested In knowing that there are
men all over the United States, pre-
pared, equipped and ready to go out at
the call of the national government
upon the shortest possible notice.
You viii ask me- Why do YOU say
the shortest possible notice. Be
cause gentlemen. let me tell YOU very
solemnlN you can't afford to postpone
this thing ! do not know what a sim
gle day may bring forth.
Il do not wish to leave YOU with the
impression that | am thinking OF some
particular danger | merely want 10
leave you with this solemn Impression
thut , know that we are daily tread
Ing amidst the most intricate dangers,
and thAt tile dangers that we are
trcading amongst are not OF our own
making aud are not under our con-
tr0i; and that no man In the United
States knows what a single week or n
single daA or single hour may hiring
forth. THESE are solemn things To say
to YOU, but would he unworthy of
my office IL did not come out and
tell ycu with absolute frankncss Just
exactly what | understand the sltua-
ton 90 he.
II do not wish 20 hurry the con-
sress OF the nited states These
things are too important to be put
through without thorough sitting and
debate, and I am not in the least ieal-
ons OF amy of the searching processes
OF discussion That is what free peo-
pie are for. to understand what they
are about and TO do what they wish
To do only II they understand what
they are about But II Is impossible
to discuss the details of plans In great
bodies unorganlzod bodies Of men
Ike this audience, for example All
can DO in this presence is to tell you
what ! know of the necessities of the
case and 60 ask YOU to stand back
of the executive authorities OF the
United states in ursing upon those
who make our laws as early and ef-
fectivc action as possible
America is not afraid OF anybody
know that l express your feeling and
the fceling of all our fellow citizens
when / SAY that the only thing | am
afraid Of is not being ready to per-
form my duty ] am afraid OF the
danger Of sham, | am afraid of the
danger Of inadequacS. | am afraid Of
the dangerot not being able to express
the great character of this country
with tire mendous might and effective
ness whenever Nv ate Called upon 10
act In the field 81 the worlds affairs
for II Is character We are going To eN-
press. not power merely.