The Washington times., 1916-04-09

quired, Il may be said that they are here
at the suggestion and request Of mem-
bers of both the Senate and House who
are not only interested In the National
Guard, but who are earnestly trying to
preserve that institution against the as
saults Of those who would destroy II.
proposed by this committee were sub
niitted to Senator Chamberlain with re-
quest that they be considered and that
opportunity be given to present to him
session. This communication was not
acknowledged nor replied to. 1 think
II must be admitted that our committee
was not unduly insistent In plessing It's
recommendation upon the notice OF the
''These recommendation have, how
ever. been brought to the attention or
Senators through national guardsmen
OF their own States, and. for the most
ate as amendments to the Senate Dill.
inquiry suggests itself as to what
constitutes a bald or 'insidious' lobby.
I'VE may without disadvantage,
think, compare the activities OF the ma
other organizations and interests and
movements concerned with the same
legislation. What the bald lobby OF
the national guard has done has al
ready been stated.
Haven't Sought Interview.
Those composing II have not sought
TO interview or called upon any Senator
or Representative except when specially
invited to do SO. The writer has not
written or spoken to either Senator or
the Representatives from his own state
upon the subject OF military legislation
n privilege that probably would not
have been denied him"
With regard to the activities OF other
ORGANIZATIONS. General Foster declares:
The president OF one Of the patriotic
preparedness leagues recently employed
n whole page in a Washington paper
to warn the House OF Representatives
against legislating for the development
OF the national guard, and sent each
member one or more letters.
PRESUMABLY that newspaper space
was not donated for the purpose. The
organization referred TO and the many
others OF similar character rendered kin
by a system of interlocking directorates
which would put the Standard OIL sys-
tenn to blush In eXpending thousands Of
dollars In extending It's propaganda
against the long established volunteer
military system a the country IN favor
OF conscriptior and compulsory mill
tary service.
"Hundreds OF telegrams have Leon re =
ceivcd within the last few dayS In the
Senate from vnrioGs sources and corr
placently placed In the record as cvi-
dence of the patriotic purpose OF the
scnders. but te;egrams from natl onal
6uar,isnien were made the basis for
scathing denunc!ation. II II is an e
fense against the peace of the natio On
and the dignity Of the Senate for the
members u that body 10 be made ac-
quainted BY telegram with the views
OF their constituents who are Guards
men. upon matters OF pending leGirla-
ton, let the excuse offered by the e1-
ecutive committee Of The Military Train
ing Camps Ass1 citation for similar ac-
ton, as quoted in the New York Times
OF Thursday. be accepted also for the
omeno,ng c Gnaidsmedm' as ,d Inc Pissttsnurg s
consistent policy to keen out of politics
and legislative activities. but when II
teccmes matter of self-preserVation
such as Is this. II iH not only proper but
ures to protect the future OF the move.
ment -"