Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-13
The War on the Guard.
[Des Moines Register.l


Secretary Garrison has not reversed
himself with respect TO the national
guard.
The unexpected display of common
sense which recent dispatches made
him reveal in his argument before the
house committee on military affairs
was completely contrary to the facts
of the occasion. \ reading of his en-
tire address discloses that his idea of
the maximum capacity" of the ma
tional guard refers TO its present mini
mum capacity, and that in fact his
argument was an assault upon the ma
tional guard from beginning to end.
For pifflicated nonsense il is hard to
beat Secretary Garrison. For obstinate
clinging to a futile plan evolved by his
own cerebral processes and for per-
versions of fact and reasoning, he
stands almost alone in his day. He
even tinds it necessary to pervert the
United States constitution TO strength
en- his cause.
The way Garrison treats the consti
tuition is indeed an index to his
methods. To discredit the national
guard, it is necessary both to malign
it and 10 belittle it. Its functions must
cidental. restricted, loose jointed and
ungovernable.
Secretary Garrison says the United
States constitution fixes as one of the
duties of the militia TO aid in re-
polling invasions.'
But the constitution says the duty is
ito repel invasions.'
The constitution doesn't make the
"a &c
reserved for Secretary Garrison's re-
vised constitution. The difference in
wording is slight. but il is one of those
important turns of phrasing which do
their subtle work in the minds of the
reader or the listener.
Secretary Garrison has two grievous
complaints against the national guard
complaints which he has undoubtedly
heard every day of his official life from
officers of the regular army.
They are that officers of the militia
are appointed by the states, and the
states are left to carry out the dis
ciplne prescribed by congress.
Doesn't the secretary know that the
officers Of the much-touted Swiss army
are appointed solely by the cantons,
which correspond to states? There is
only one military officer in SwitZer-
land. out Of an army of $4,000. who
is appointed by the federal government
Doesn't Mr.. Garrison know that all
but the highest officers of the Ger
man army are appointed by the sew
eral Kingdoms Of Germany, these king
doms corresponding to our states, and
that the imperial government has only
a negative veto power?
These are facts which Mr. Garrison
dares not face. He hasn't the nerve to
state them to the house committee on
military affairs and go on with his
argument in favor of the emasculation
Of the national guard.
He would be laughed out Of coun-
tenance should he admit that two of
the most efficient armies in the world
those Of Germany and Switzerland
have their officers appointed by the
several states, and that for similar
reason the American militia system is
a failure.
No, Secretary Garrison would i'm
mediately forget about the officers, and
say that the militia is a failure for
come other reason. 1t must be proved
failure, you know, or the majors and
lieutenant colonies of the regular army
can not suddenly swell up into
brigadier generals.