New-York tribune., 1917-01-12
WHY GUARDSMEN DON'T RE-ENLIST
Conditions and Spirit Declared 10 Be
Wrong in Militia
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: It is with feeling of anger, believe
that tho average American will read IN ms
morning paper that five men IN the "a r'eiu
Artillery we're "spread-eagled.'
IL has long been known TO most men tha'
conditions are not what they should be IN
the Guard. and that the average American
man of spirit and respect for himself VIII
not enlist. What the Guardsmen nave
gone through who have just come PACK from
the border will be the cause OF the ialiufe
of the National Guard as means oil natohai
defence. Il is the fault of no one put the
government. in that il allows conditions to
exist in army circles which cause 'he ou.
slider tthe plain American citizen) who Is
now and has at all times been good CON
scientious and patriotic citizen, to refuse u
serve his government.
These men WHO Join the Guard give their
time train themselves to be soldiers, hold
themselves liable for service at all times
and some even pay dues to be admitted 20
the Guard. and when called out lose their
civil rights and come under army regulations
and for what? When called out, as IN
the recent Mexican crisis, they lett tner
homes and families, gave up their business
and do they get any return at all from the
Government commensurate with what tney
give? In a good many cases these GUARDS
men came back with little money, with no
positons (having lost them when sent TO the
border) and with immediate calls for money
with which to meet expenses. BESIDES al
this, there is something even harder for them
to put up with, and that is II they have an
officer who does not treat his men with kind
ness and respect their rights. Also, If an
officer has a grudge against man under
him there are more ways than one in which
he can make life unbearable for him. Your
paper prints to-day that "a per cent OF the
Guard will not re-enlist, and why? Surely
in a matter as vital AS this there should be
an investigation that is an Investigation
to determine why they will not re-enlist and
why these FIVE men revolted against their OIL
hcer.
The average American IS q proud man.
with spirit, character and respect Tor MIN
self and others, with broad thoughts ana
ideals as regards the institutions and free-
dom of the American people. When by mis-
chance he joins the Guard and finds condi-
tons opposite to what he expected, that ne
is not treated with the man-to-msn respect
(he having given the obedience due to those
in command) which should be the right OF
every CITIZEN Wno seiNcS mo NoN1'J
no return, he naturally has the right to feel
disgusted.
If we return to the principle we had in
the Revolutionary War, when our Minute
Men held themselves ready at all times to
serve their country, TO give their lives and
their property with no return, but who in
sisted that they be treated as men, with re-
spect for them as such, and if you took the
millions in this country, who, am sure feel
much the same-if you would give them an
opportunity TO train under conditions where
there would be no chance for them to ever
lose their self-respect then this country
would never have TO fear about protecting
its.y ". l.. W.
New York Jan. 10, 1917