The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-26
CRITICS OF GUARD ARE REbUKED BY
 PRESIDENT WILSON
Delegation Advocating Com pulsory Training Is Told "Unrestrained Language
 Will Win No Support

Washington. January 25.-President from the Maryland League for National Defence, whhh attacked the National Guard and advocated universal military training, rebuked them for their "unre- strained language" and said they would have better chance of his support if they were more reasonable in their atti- tude.
 The memorial read to the President by Maj. Randolph Barton. spoke of the Na- tonal Guard system as "a disgrace" and "a. failure" It urged universal compul- I,sory military training and service, and mentioned the mobilization of the Nation al Guard along the Mexican border as an l example of the failure of the system. HAD WRONG ATTITUDE President Wilson told the delegation that their attitude closed the oppor- tunity for discussion of the question, and was not helpful.
 The President. discussing compulsory military service, declared that unques- tionably physical training was needed. and would accomplish a great deal, but lit can be had without compulsory mili- tary service"
 He added that he was desirous of do- ing the wise thing and that the entire subject was receiving his most earnest consideration. He vigorously defended the efforts being made in Congress to build up proper military service.
 DEEPLY INTERESTED T do not need to prove to you or any, body my deep interest in this subject" said the President. T will frankly say to you I would have been more impressed by this memorial if it had been expressed in more restrained language. From some of the unqualified statements in this paper I must frankly dissent I think 1t due to my colleagues on the hill (the cap- ftoD to say so at this off-hand condem- nation of the system which they adopted after long debate upon the urgency of many of the leading citizens of the coun- try. It is the least that I can do You do not commend cause which deserves the most serious consideration by pre- senting it as you have presented it.
 "These things impress me the more after what we have heard from the med icaI societies Unquestionably physical training is needed and will accomplish a great deal, but it can be had without com pulsory military service and compulsory military service does not meet the diff culties which you have alluded to. IS BIG PROBLEM
 Any brief service in the army of the United States withdraws men from civil pursuits, just as much as the recent serv- ice on the border does. No service except a standing army with professional sol diers prevents that occasional and fre- quent withdrawal of men from civil pur- suits. That may be inevitable, but what you are proposing does not meet the diff
 1culty which you condemn. These things are of the utmost intricacy and difficulty and are not to be settled ex cathedra.
 And yet notwithstanding the fact that think you have gone too far, I will say to you that of course this will have my most earnest consideration. It is receiv- ing serious consideration with the coun- try, and we in Washington, of course, share and feel the great tides of opinions in the United States I am sure that speaking as I may speak for the members, of the House of Representatives and or the Senate, we are all desirous of doing the wise thing for defense of the coun- try, and it must, and will be done, but we must not close debate by having too dogmatic an opinion as to a method.
 ssI know vou will understand tha mi r;t in which I make this protest and this statement"