The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-07

WAsHINUroN, April 6.-Senator O'0or-
man Of New York created something Of
a sensation In tho Senate to-day by
sending TO the clerks desk and having
read a letter received from Col. n. =.
Sternberger Of tho Now York National
Guard, whose address was given as the
Municipal Building, New York city.
Senator O'Gcrman INDUCED IN some
sharp comment on the letter from the
militia officer. which he construed as An
implied threat OF political reprisals
against him. The letter demanded that
Senator O'Gorman vote against section
IS Of the army bill. which was adopted
to-day and which Senator o'Gorman
voted for on the roll call.
Section Sc provides for III creation
Of n voluntary army TO be trained AZ
camps such az was held at Plattsburg.
n. Y. last year. and has been bitterly
assailcd by National Guard officers on
the ground that II is designed to mini.
mize tho Importance OF The state militia
organizations.
Tho letter said IN part:
~. I desire TO inform you that the
Hay bill as passed Is satisfactory to
wv Nrhstt' T'AI y uieo lot
larly that sections rs and n Of the
| House bill as passed he incorporated
In tho Senate bill. l am opposed to
section IS Of the old Chamberlain bill.
which authorizes the President to or
ganizc volunteers In time OF peace. This
to my mind II detrimental to all the
| National Guard.
TIA Use His influence.
go. | wish to cali to your attention
the fact that / shalt Use my influence,
not only with the National Guardsmen
but with all citizens with whom ! come
In contract, toward pointing out to them
that the so-called continental army
scheme Is impracticabie and will have
a bad effect IL passed. urge upon
you a. senator from New York State.
having about $4,000 National Guards
men In active service AT present and
, about three times that numbe who have
served In the National Guard. to oppose
any contemplated measure that Is detri-
mental 10 the interests OF the National
Guard at large"
In submitting the letter Senator
O'GorInan said:
Something Was said yesterday by
certain Senators regarding An ex-
trenely offensive propaganda organized
by certain citizens who are especially
interested In the National Guard !
hold a letter IN my hand addressed
to mo signed W. :. Sternberser. COT.
written on the letterhead OF the head
quarters division National Guard. New
York Municipal Building, New York city.
Like q Command.
1T will lie noted that IL lacks the
phraseolocy OF III American citizen 10
4. Coa.,xr - "a other v,ttlie nfiriat II
is more In the nature OF n command TO
| eliminate the volunteer army provision
from the standing bill. II il based upon
a positively selfish proposition. namely,
that in the opinion OF tho writer the
adoption OF that provision will he preju-
d.c!al TO the National Quail. He loses
sight entirely of the larger and more
! patriotic ASPECTS of the question as to
what Is the best thing for tho country
In this grave crisis"
After the clerk of m" Senate had read
the letter senator o'Gorman added
Il have not the honor OF any per-
sonal acquaintance with the writer OF
| that letter. and | suspect he does not
| know me. II he did he might know
that he adopted the very worst form OF
persuasion with tho Senator from New
York. I am not accustomed to accept
d~ictation from any source, and in IA
any attempt at coercion from any
source.
Praises Gen. or
.'Now with regard to one objection the
writer 81 that letter makes against the
provision for "A volunteer army let me
make this observation The head uf the
: National Guard OF the stat" of New
York Ia Major-Gcn. OI.yan Il nan OF un-