The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-13
ASHURST CHARGES
BAKER BREAKS LAW
Arizona Senator Says Secrc.
tary Refuses Equipment
to Rifle Club.
COMPLAINS TO SENATE

WASHINGTON. April Ex-senator
Ashurst " Arizona. a Democrat. made
. vigorous attack on Secretary Of War
Baker In a speech to-day in the Senate.
He charged that the Secretary had set
himself above tho law. and had done d
grave injustice to the people OF Arizona
n probably imperiilsd their security.
The trouble arose over a refusal BY
secretary Baker to make a distribution
OF rifles to a voluntary military orsani-
zation at Bisbee. Arix. This orsanixa.
ton was formed under the law for the
announcement Of rife practice, but Sec
rotary Baker expressed the opinion that.
II the members received guns they might
Invade Mexico, or bring about other In.
ternationai complications.
Senator Ashurst received telesraphic
protests from tho military organisation
and citizens Of Arizona, declaring they
desired the rifles solely for tho purpose
Of better protecting themselves from a
possible Mexican invasion.
Congress" said Senator Ashurst. has
. right to assume that It's laws are ex-
ecuted by another branch OF the Gov.
eminent. II IL my duty. painful 81 may
be. to calf attention 10 one Of the laws
passed In 1906 n another in 1914.
which one OF the Departments arbitrar-
lily refuses to execute. Although very
much agitated. I shall do what I can to
preserve a ain exterior while I briefly
A nd srtttb(tt1tt. l.s. 49, ~ -,
county the facts as to the arbitrary
action OF the present Secretary OF War"
Senator explained the operation OF
the board OF rife practice under the
war Department and called attention to
the laws passed to encourage such rife
practice. which provide that. when vol
unteer organizations are formed in CON-
pliance with the law. the Secretary OF
War shall issue arms and ammunition
various rifle clubs in Arizona have
been formed" he continued. "and the
members Will compare most favorably
with the Secretary Of War in ability,
patriotism and resolution OF character.
They have compiled with the law. |
have just t~clephoned to the War De.
partment ascertained that fact. But
for reasons which the War Department,
thought were sufficient, IL suspended the
law.
'One stuart. King OF England. lost
his head n another lost his crown be-
ne favored the dispensing power.
They dispensed with statute Parliament
had made. II Ia the duty Of a Senator
when a department sets up It's ipse dixit
and says I Am greater than the law TO
call attention to such conduct. Impeach.
ment proceedings would teach such gen.
tlemen that they are executing laws. and
not making laws.
II want the country TO know. and I
van the Senate to know. that the rife
club association In the War Department
Ia asking the newspapers TO urge the
Of rife clubs In every county
and then when the clubs are organized
according to law. the Secretary Of War
refuses them equipment and calmly says
to me: i think. Senator. that your
citizens might get h0theaded and do
some damage
81 resent the statement. The citizens
OF my state who organized this club are
cool headed men and are not any more
likely TO do damage TO our country. our
or our institutions than is the Sec
Rotary Of War. who says he Is above the
law. The citizens Of Arizona will obey
the law. which Is more than the Secre-
tary OF War is doing