The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-09-22

ard another can land 23S,OOO On the
IA. life, but congress provides for a
regular army of only 100000 men, the
Increase to be made in five annual In
stal!ments, and with little change I'm
the pay or the attractiveness of the
service, Notwithstanding that labor
was never so scarce, wages never so
high. An increase Of 10000 men au-
thorlZed some months ago for the army
has not yet been secured because.
though there are 1000 recruiting Off
GERS looking for them. only about 1900
have been found in three months.
National Guard Plan Fails.
1t Is proposed to meet the require
ments of national defense by distrbut-
ing annually in the way of salaries
and wages, between $50,0O0,000 and
S60,0OO00O to the National Guard OF
the states, and To bring the Guardsmen
under the partial control of the federal
officers. There are many fundamental
obstacles TO the success of this plan.
by its adoption we are relying on the
militia for military strength and this
same reliance has always failed us.
has caused n waste of treasure ana of
! lives and has given the United States
many years of needless war. Even as
this measure was being agreed upon in
Washington the futility of depending
on militia was demonstrated, when the
Guard of three southwestern states
was called out. Tile men were few in
number, inefficient, and responded I'M
willingly. There is nothing I'm this
law just enacted that will prevent n
recurrence of other disasters in our
history like those which have always
followed dependence upon militia. Ii
takes Il full year 10 make dependable
soldier whereas the Guardsmen have
but two weeks of field training, and
40 weekly drills during the year. In
any event, the liberalization of the
| the men do not wish To serve under
federal Jurisdiction. They get no pay
and the matter stops there.
The day has gone by when we can
reasonably expect TO maintain the
great army and the great navy that we
need on the old standards Of pay. The
very wealth and the very people that
the army and navy are needed to pro-
tect, beckon the possible recruit away
from the service.
Always Danger Of War.
Another evidence of the relaxation
of national perception due TO our great
commercial success, is the doubt that
there is any need for national defenses.
We have said TO the old world nations,
you must not acquire any territory in
the new world and we have shut the
gates of the United States against peo-
pies of the Orient. Each of these con-
ditions Is alone sufficient to embroil
us in war at any time. If we should
yield up both Of these objections war
would come swifter. japan is deter
mined to be recognized as an equal
with the whole world, besides that she
must find room for an annual surplus
population Of 100000 persons. She
wants our Pacific coast. AS prelim-
mary to getting ii she has planted
over 10000 Of her men i'm the Hawai-
ian islands and has established 10000
men on the Pacific coast. The latter
are not like Irish, Swedish, Italian. or
other European immigrants who come
as individuals to be welded into the
life Of the nation. The japanese on
the coast are government men. Their
allegiance is to Tokyo, their profits 90
to Japan and their pay is fixed by their
government!
III Japan chose 10 land en- army on
the Pacific coast now, we could not
prevent it. She is ready; we are not
ready.
The man with the rifle on whom we
have In the past placed dependence
cannot save us now. He will be killed
OFF by long range guns and machine
guns long before he can get within
striking distance. The Mikado has
trained armies, great navy, and the
money. The perSistently reported
story of Japan's inability to finance a
war Is false.
Danger In State Of Mind.
These are some Of the dangers we
find on awakening from the long sleep
which prosperity has enabled us to In.
dulge In, but our great danger lies in
our own state OF mind, our own devo-
ton to ease and money getting, our re-
luctance to lay aside the pursuit of
profit long enough to reclaim ourselves
and repair the neglect Of years of our
national defense.
The failure Of congress to cure this
chronic ailment was to be expected.
Congress Is a representative body. 1t
Is national mirror. In Its action you
see the national sentiments reflected /;
consequently, congress gave about
what the people wanted for national
defense. AS body il did not dare TO
give more. 1t legislated looking home
ward instead of overseas.
The remedy for this condition is a
home remedy. 1t is first of all the
realization that this nation cannot go
on In the old way. One of two things
/ hon