Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-19
M|[|T|AMEN MUST
TAKE NEW ]. 5. OATH
OR Do POLICE DUTY
ONLY SIX MEMBERS OF COMPANY
C HAVE SUBSCRIBED TO FEDER-
AL OBLIGATION MEETING
CALLED FOR SUNDAY p. M.

/ The cnly members Of the company
| c Third Infantry |. n G. will be called
upon at meeting in the armory Sun
day afternoon to either subscribe to
the Hay" oath putting themselves in
to the organized Militia of the United
States or remain in the state forces
and be sent to some state mobilization
camp for general police work.
The only members of the company
who so far have taken the new oath
are Capt r. C. Woodward, Lieut. vii.
liam Raymond. Privatese Harold Nc
Alpine. Charles Causland, James Mill
gan, Jr., and Paul Zisyzik. At the
meeting Sunday afternoon at 3 O'Clock,
/ the matter will be put squarely up to
I the men at which time it will be thoro
4 ly discussed Members of the COM
inand, among whom are many unfav
Crable toward taking the new oath,
are now believed to be experiencing
change of mind. When they realize
that service is compulsory during the
balance of the current enlistment, and
the prospects of being sent to state
camps, it is thought all will switch to
| tn federal service and assume the new
obligation.
All guardsmen Of the state, accord
! ing to legal Interpretation OF the
law, who have not subscribed to the
new oath, known as the Hay" oath,
which provides that men now serving
| in the organizations will be carried on
the reserve for three years following
| the termination of regular enlistment
| period. are given ten days to make a
decision in this matter. Failure to
take the new oath will divide the or
ganizations into two classes, one to
be known as the Organized Militia OF
the United States, and the other to be
known as purely state organization
and to be directly responsible to the
governor of the state in which they
reside. Just what disposition will be
made of the latter class has not been
decided, but it has been suggested that
these men be mobilized and used
around the large concentration camps
to perform such duties as road build
me ditching and assisting in the gen
eral police of the camps, thus giving
the newly recruited organizations
more time for instruction. Some work
will be assigned to these men who
fail to sign the new oath. as they are
recognized as being under military
control for the period of their enlist,
ment; and in the local company nine.
ty per cent. of the enlisted men have
over two years to serve on the first
enlistment, as the majority of them en-
listed just after the call of last June
The official bulletin from the adult
ant generals office relative to this sub
ject was received by Capt. Woodward
on Wednesday The substance of the
order was as follows. 'ln view of the
existing state of war in this country
and the mobilization of the National
Guard being imminent, it is necessary
to place all of the organizations on
the footing of Organized Militia Of the
United States. And the enlisted per
sonnel of the guard will be required
TO subscribe to the new Federal oath
in the next few days. This cannot
be delayed longer than the first drill
night following the receipt of this or
der. All men who fail to subscribe tt
same will be reported direct to this of
fee the list of names being prepare
IN duplicate. one to be retained with
the records of the company the 9th
ers to be sent to the Office of the ad
jutant general. The men whose names
are contained in these lists will b'
directly responsible to the governor o
the state during the balance of TIT
current enlistment and he has u
power to make such assignment 0
them as he deems ft