The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-09-08
How The Wilson
Administration Has
Penalized Patriotism

the necessity for the proper protec-
ton OF that frontier" President Will
son, on June Is, called out the mobile
arms OF the National Guard for federal
service.
He did not call them out at their
existing peace strength, but at war
strength, which is practically double.
Lacking a system OF reserves, the
National Guard organizations immedi-
ately had to start campaign of re-
cruiting, to bring about the desired in
crease in their numbers.
Patriotic young citizens, under the
urge OF the cry. "Your country needs
you" volunteered for service In graft
tying numbers. According to Senator
Chamberlain, chairman of the Senate
Committee on Military Affairs, the re-
suit is that about $4,000 citizen sol
iiers have been mustered into the
federal service and are now on the
Mexican border or In camp in their
aome states. There may be more, but
the administration refuses to make
Known the exact figures.
The movement is costing the public
treasury many millions of dollars; 1t
$ costing the individual citizen sol
Tiers many millions more. They went
% the front believing the cry, Your
country needs you," for war service
They sacrificed advancement in their
civil occupations, severed home ties,
suffered In thousands of instances,
great financial loss. The less pa
:riotic, who did not believe the cry, or
believing. declined to make sacrifices,
.atten at home on these losses.
The real purposes OF the call ara
slowly developing. They are two in
aumber:
First, a patrol of the border to do
the work which President Wilson's
to do. Because the recognized govern
ment In Mexico is too ineffective to
keep its own citizens In check and
prevent them numbering Americans
on American soil, the American gov
eminent undertakes the costly task OF
doing that work for them. The muir
der OF American citizens on Mexican
soil is another matter. Carranza may
go as far as he likes in that direction.
Second, a purpose of the mobiliza.
ton on the border and in the camps
is to train citizens to perform effective
military service. The regular military
establishment OF the nation is mani
testify too small for the actual military
!. needs. To this extent the cry, "YouI
country needs you," was correct.
But these facts were not made cleal
when the call was issued. The tde;
was promulgated that men were need
! ed for actual war service; not TO
military training. Deceit was prac
ticed.
. Opposing in the open legislation 70
] universal military service. the admin
istration by its acts has establishe
what In essence is system of con
: pulsory military service. 1t is sy'
TEN all the more vicious because
. operates only against the patriots
i whereas legalized universal trainin
) system equalizes the burden Of mil
5 tary service among ell men and a
e classes of men.
2 When, in 1914, Europe plunged mi
d the greatest war OF all history, an
|. conditions in Mexico grew intolerabl
intelligent men realized the fact tn;
1t was incumbent on this nation
:, build up its tiny regular army and pV
& its other military resources In conc
Q ton for USE National safety demandt
3 this. And yet, In December of tn
8 wear. four months after the Europes
3 war began, President Wilson went b
8 fore Congress and declared that
8 agitation for military preparedne
q was hysterical; that we were ad
3 quately prepared.
8 After a while the administrati
Y changed It's mind and protested
Il believe In the necessity for prepare
3 ness. First came an enactment
4 increase the regular army by 300
q But the body Of the country, and ey
* all parts OF the Democratic admin
8 tration, could not change front
B quickly as the head. Recruiting
b the regular army Jagged. Not
8 have the 10000 been secured.
B The need pressed. new nation
8 defense act, providing for still mC
men in the regular army, Wds 0hoSe
8 But still the men were not forthco
& ing.
8 Suddenly and without warning
8 administration issued its call for
8 bilization OF the citizen soldiery.
z seemed stin obsessed with the Br1
3 notion that an army could be crea
8 by presidential ukase.
n When the call went out the COVE
Il ment did not own enough uniforl
3 shoes, socks, blankets, hats. wage
8 trucks, horses. mules and other thi
ao8 essential to equip the men called
had made no provision for transp
ing the troops called to the poi
$50 where they were required.
4 Who suffered most by this an
8 ing lack of foresight this leaping
g fore looking?
s Only the $4,000 patriots who
* II. o1upfry uaadad III