The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-04-02
GOVERNOR URGES
CIVILIAN RESERVE
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The committees report traces the
history Of the demonstrating and tabu-
lation In the state, explaining the
methods employed and reviewing CEN
sus events from February 8, when
Governor Holccmb delivered his spec
isl message to tho Legislature and the
Bill authorizing the military census
was passed, to the present time, When
the actual taking and recording OF the,
census is completed and the tabula-
ton and the classification of informa-
tion received by it is we'll under way.
The total men enlisted In the Con-
necticut census is shown to be about
100000. About 10000 volunteers as
sisted in taking the census.
Continuing. the report is as follows:
Connecticut has SO far been among
the leaders in preparation for war.
She has laid the foundation for an or
sanitation in advance Of any yet
evolved among the states-an organi--
zation based on the bitter experience
Of others which can be a vital aid to
the country and protection to her
own citizens. Modern warfare Is
waged not by a ruling class nor by
professional soldiers, but by whole
peoples, and the organization for mod.
ern warfare involves the utilization OF
the resources Of the whole country in
men and materials. To accomplish
this, men essential to industries vital
ia the life of the nation must not be
rushed into field service leaving con-
fusion behind. A modern army with
out a great organization of munition
works is not an army. All the re-
So or rpr11ira6 hJ1f
they must be drawn with discrimina-
,tion. Universal service is necessary,
but the great bulk Of the service that
will be required will be civil and not
military and the military service
is of equal Importance. If we shall
profit from the failures of the past
we must Immediately cast aside the
old indiscriminate system of volun-
teering and drafting as unfair and UNI
wise methods Of abstracting the re-
sources of the state in men. The In
discriminate call for volunteers brings
forth the patriotic, with or without de-
pendents, regardless Of age and actual
availability. resulting in unnecessary
distresses and drain on the state. The
general draft fails in the same way
hut with stigma added. The prob
lem is as much economic and indus
trial as military in that every man
who is essential to a group Of depen-
dents or whose especial qualifications
make him more valuable in industry
tran in the field should be reserved
from the first calls for field service.
IL The new militia law Of Connecticut.
adopted under the National Defense
Act, provides that after the organized
militia is modified, upon the Presi-
dents call for addition men and his
assignment to Connecticut OF her quo
Ia, the Governor may call from the
unorganized militia such portion as
he may deem necessary. The unor-
gariized militia are those able-bodfed
men between 18 and As who are not
actually enrolled In the National
Guard or its reserves. In case suffi-
cierlt men are not obtained by this call
the Governor may resort to draft. This
new law opens up great possibilities
for real solution of the problem.
Some minor amendments may be re-
lquireds but the General Assembly is
In session and the need is urgent.
Your assistants believe in ':univer-
sal service but they realize that the
temper OF our people has never yet
permitted compulsory universal SER
vice in the first instance and therefore
In the plan suggested the first step
must be a voluntary, patriotic deci-
sion. After this Is made, the whole
state is marshalled before the authori-
ties In an orderly and scientific man
ner. The plan will obviate the neces-
sity for draft except among class
whose duty is evident and immediate.
On the other hand. a real assurance
fl given to men. who are more needed
at home. There is no chance to it.
each man knows at the commence
ment that he will be called only
when his class Is called and his class
will be called when, and only when,
the plain exigency Of war requires.
Your assistants recommend that the
plan be put into effect by creating an
organization, purely civil in it's char
acter, combining representative men
In all walks OF life and in every line
Of endeavor, the organization to con-
sist OF a central body directly respon-
sibIe to your Excellency with branches
In every town of the state responsible |
directly to the Governor. The local
organizations would include an active
committee whose aim would be to
bring to the attention Of every man
the Importance of his personal duty
othe state. This should be done in
q Systematic manner. Every advan-
tage should be taken Of publicity and
the newspaper of the state should be
enlisted in the work. It should be the |
aim Of to enlist between 10000 and |
10000 in the propaganda. Men of
sixteen years and over should be urg-
ed to enroll In a great civilian re-
serve-a reservoir Of universal service |
In the tt4est sense of the word. This |
enrolment would be in accordance |
with and subject to the conditions Of
the published plan, would not be mill |
tary and would not be wholly voIun-
tafy until made. When made those |
enrolled would be bound to answer a /
cal Ito enlist for regular field service |
in accordance with the plan, the state
on its part agreeing that those enroll |
ed would not be subject to the draft |
and would not be called for military
service except in accordance with the
plan. Local tribunals would be es-
tablished to pass on questions arising
under the plan.
A by-product Of such a campaign |
would be great stimulation Of loyal |
ty and the finest kind of counter-ac- |
ton to the Vaccinations Of the paid |
agencies of foreign powers. The or |
binary citizen fears militarism, but he |
will trust his civilian neighbor who in 1
the same position as himself is yet |
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