The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-07-17
THE HOME GUARDS

dDOut Tue I1Onc uudIuS, "AiSh, III
der special act of congress, may be
organized in all the states and the
District of Columbia, their specific
title suggesting their limits and pro-
visions being made for the furnish
ing of some equipment by the gener-
al government. There has also been
a great amount of Smiling behind
the hand" and sarcastic comment
made upon the mention of the pro-
posed organization and it needs that
some of authority and experience
should speak plainly of the necessity
for action, and of the very important
duties and responsibilities that will
rest upon the men who volunteer to
drill and act in unison when an emer
gency arises, under expert direction
and with full intent to assist in law
enforcement and the suppression of
internal disturbances. In some states
the Home Guards are already work
ing up their organizations and with
commissions obtained in the regular,
prescribed way, the officers of these
volunteer troops-called sometimes
state police or state constables, or
whatever, are endeavoring to fit
their commands for duty Because
some chose to think that the joining
of home guard organization meant
the endeavoring on the part of an
individual to escape the possibility of
going to war, many men are slow to
apply for admission in the guard.
There is nothing unpatriotic, no pos
sible excuse to call the member of
the guard Stacker" and there
should be no secrecy about the per
sonel. the strength and efficiency OF
this branch of service that has a def
mite purpose and may have much to
do.
Within very short time the Ma
tional Guard, which has been body
for service in the several states
chiefly, and with only an occasional
call for duty outside the borders of
state, is to be taken in charge by the
national government and every man
removed from the state in which he
has served, and from the United
States. While the number of men
taken by this means is not very
large, the conscripted army will fol
low closely, taking nearly million
more men from possible service at
home. In the millions that are left
at home when our armies cross the
seas to meet foreign foe there will
be still present with us all of the dis
turbing elements which we have
known in the years past, often re-
quiring the heavy hand of authority
and sometimes force of arms that
peace and prosperity may continue at
home. To the legally qualified and
periodically trained Home Guards
will fall the work that has been de.
manded Of the National Guardsmen
up to this time-and one has but to
follow the newspaper to know that
the state troops have been repeated
ly called in the past few years to aid
civil authorities in maintaining order.
Florida has made some progress in
organizing Home Guards and il is TO
be hoped that the plans made will be
put through and companies formed in
many Florida towns and cities. The
membership is expected to be made
up of business and professional men,
exempt from service in the regular
branches of the military system, but
none the less capable and efficient
men who will expect to respond n
any call made and to give a portion
OF their time to drill practice and
study of military science. II is NOT
expected that the members of Tho
Home Guards will be asked to devote
a great amount of time to this yolun.
tary service, but sufficient to he of
use In time of need A great thing is
10 do away with the idea that there
is anything to be ashamed of in con.
nection with the guard. 1t NAV he
that during the absence of our troons
In France or elsewhere, the people NAV
pehave SO well as to scarcely need
the restraining hand of the police. .
man-but the man in uniform ON ~
s stree se 10 = good thin. nevertheless
'ack in Canada, life. h.. 9S lots of
Try, everywhere mar Oa' what, after
ordor '' compared with 81.