The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1916-09-09
How the Wilson
Administration Has
PenaliZed Patriotism

Having In view the possibility o
further aggression upon tho territor!
Of the United States from Mexico ant
tho necessity for the proper protec
ton Of that frontier" President VIII
son. on June Is. called out the mobil,
arms Of the National Guard for fedora
service.
He did not cali them out At theil
existing peace strength, but at wal
strength, which is practically double
Lacking system OF reserves, thu
| National Guard organizations immedt
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 tho 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
diers have been mustered into the
federal service and are now on the
Mexican border or in camp in their
home 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; It
Is costing the individual citizen sol
Hers many millions more. They went
20 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
triotic, who did not believe the cry, or
believing. declined to make sacrifices.
tatten at home on these losses.
The real purposes OF the call are
slowly developing. They are two in
number:
First, patrol of the border to do
the work which President Wilson's
friend, Carranza, finds it impossible
to do. Because the recognized govern
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-
ion on the border and in the camps
S to train citizens to perform effective
service. The regular military
OF the nation is mani
estly too small for the actual military
leeds. To this extent the cry, your
country needs you," was correct.
But these facts were not made clear
when the call was issued. The idea
vas promulgated that men were need
I'd for actual war service; not for !
military training. Deceit was prac-
iced
Opposing in the open legislation for
military service. the admin.
stratiOn by its acts has established
What In essence is a system of com.
ulsorv military service. 1t is a sys-
EN- all the more vicious because II
perates only against the patriotic,
vhereas legalized universal training
ystem equalizes the burden Of mill.
airy service among all men and all
lasses of men.
When, in 1914, Europe plunged into
ne greatest war OF all history, and
onditions in Mexico grew intolerable
ltelligent men realized the fact that
was incumbent on this nation to
l1ld up its tiny regular army and put
8 other military resources IN condi-
on for use. National safety demanded
lis. And yet, In December OF that
ear, four months after the European
ar began. President Wilson went be-
re Congress and declared that all
citation for military preparedness
as hysterical; that we were ade
lately prepared.
After while the administration
Hanged its mind and professed to
Sieve In the necessity for prepared.
,ss. First came an enactment to
crease the regular army by 10000.
1t tho body Of the country. and even
parts OF the Democratic admins.
alton. could not change front 50
ickly as tho head. Recruiting for
Q regular army Jagged. Not yet
ve tho 10000 been secured.
The need pressed A new national
fcnse act. providing for still more
IN in the regular army. was enacted.
i still the men were not forthcom.
:.
Suddenly and without warning the
issued It's call for mo
ization Of the citizen Soldiery. I'LL