The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1916-01-22

men IN his state would voluntarily
subscribe To the continental army
plans IA outlined 4 the convention
by the assistant secretary Of war. Mr.,
Hreckinridgc. have personally
asked n number Of regular army Of
ficers their opinion In regard to his
plan, and have not beer able to find
one single man who believed that tho
plan was feasible. will 30 further
and state that IN my opinion neither
Mr.. Garrison nor General Wood be-
licve that such a plan viii ultimately
work out, but II IN my opinion that
these gentlemen believe the best in
%tcrests Of the country demand that
the people at large be shown that no
system of voluntary cnlistincnts SsS
military service Is feasible. aud that
b best method for demonstrating
this II To hav the plan as outlined
by the secretary OF war approved by
congress and then have such u plan
fail To- work. and consequently con-
aress will be compelled to PASS some
form Of compulsory military service.
Personally ! aga "e with the q ntlcmen
that a compulsory military law would
eventually work to the best interests
of the Tinted states. but cannot
agree that the method of forcing the
people To- accept this law by lemon
stra,ing that the continental army
plan VIII not work In the best means
Of arriving at such a desired result.
7 believe that the advocates Of the
continental army plan will agree with
me that the national guard %organiza-
ton, which Is IN organization more or
less efficient. IL composed of n mum
her of men who are patriots ard who
desire to give to their country the
benefit Of their knowledge and train
ing which they have received In the
last fifteen or sixteen years work In
the national guard. and Il such Ia the
case | ask that these advocates of the
continental army plan consider well
the recommendations made by the
National Guard association last Mo-
Vcmbcr. and see for themselves that
In this recommendation We members
of the national guard expressed our
[, desires to ne taken ovcr as an organ-
ization under government control.
ana we further suggested through our
executive committee to congress "A
ii'ahN Ntfl'bN tu'n "a ttNuiA 'puiu
be obtained. We do not ask pay for
the national guard undcr the present
system, and II is a fact | believe con
ccded by all hat the heads OF the
national guard organizations in the
several states are In better position IL
know the conditions existing m their
several states IND to be IN hcitcr posi-
lion To judge the requirements for
making an efficient organization out
of the available material IN our SOW
cral states than anyone else.
The plea OF the national guard
which has not been thoroughly under
stood Is to make us national In fact
and not in anne TO make US localized
federal troops subject To the call OF
the president In "A similar manner to
the troops 10Y in the regular service,
Ia nah us subject to federal regula-
,ions and To compensate ny for the
time which Is necessary for vs. to pre-
! pare ourselves under such federal
regulations Tor efficient servioc
| would be pleased Ia nave you
publish this communication.
Very truly yours.
HARRY r HERRING.
Adit. Gen. state of New Mexico.
Editors Note-S.e editorial Ia the
Evening Herald for December :,