The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-05-09
TALKS
ABOUT NABP POLICY
Does Not Think Much Of the
National Guard
+ Units.
(By Associated press)

10y AbSOClhleu fTeSSJ
NEW YORK, May O.. Having
hfailed in time of peace to prepare for
war" Theodore Roosevelt said in a
speech here last night, the United
States and the Entente allies will pay
for this act Of folly" before the war
ends. Meanwhile, he urged, Ameri-
cans must bear themselves manfully
IN the conflict, land pay with our
blood" sending to the front as rapidly
as possible great force of fighting
men.
a Talking to a Brooklyn audience,
members Of the Kings County Repub-
lican comynittee and their guests, the
former PRESIDENT discussed the coun-
try's participation in the war in its
military, social and industrial phases.
He suggested incorporation of the I'M
married men Of the National Guard OF
the states into regiments filled out
either by the draft or from volunteers
from tn exempted classes, and the
dispatch of these. men to France or
England for period Of intensive train
Ing preparatory to taking their places
On the firing line.
Colonel Roosevelt emphasized neces-
sity for the prs stlce OF economy and
the avoidance OF waste; said there
should be no improper profit-making,
but tina. reasonable profits should not
be eliminated, discussed methods OF
hEancing the war; and asserted that
Che great problems which confront the
nation could not be solved Sin spirit
OF class greed with capital and labor
not in partnership
America has two.fold duty at this
/, time, Colonel Roosevelt said. First,
Immediately to meet with every in
strlmentality available the immediate
needs of the war" and second, per
hanentiy to shape our policy not mere.
iy in military, but in social, and indus
trial matters, SO as to place this re-
public on a permanent foundation OF
Justice and strength"
Reiterating his approval Of obllga.
tory universal military training and
service, the Colonel again urged use
of volunteers not included in the draft,
saying the men could be placed at the
front within ninety days.
ANY attempt 10 keep our men here,
and train them for year before send
Ing them over" he said, would mean
that we would rightly awaken the sCorn
of our allies for tire delay, and that the
men trained here, and not at the thea
tire OF war. would be imperfectly train
ed from the standpoint of modern war
rars.e
Expressing the highest admiration
for the National Guard, the Colonel
said there probably never was
worse blow struck against our military
efficiency than the passage Of the Hay
bill"
"The only wise and patriotic course
to follow in eQpEecf ioniwtth the Nation
al Gaat6 q U wis 10 use each
National Guard regiment asa basis and
framework for a regiment of United
States Volunteers. Under these, cir. 4
cumstances, all the officers and enlist
ed men, who are fit 10 go, or who ought
10 be asked to go, would be transferred
Into the new volunteer organization,
making a skeleton, or framework or
ganization, which would then be filled
out either by draft, or by volunteering,
as necessity might demand. In this
manner we would leave in the state
those who ought never to be asked to
go out Of the state, or to perform other
than the ordinary state duty, and we
would use the men who ought to go as
neucleus on which to build a regi-
ment fitted to render the most eff.
Gent service in war"
Meanwhile, he said, the flag should
gA,o the firing line at once, with men
liz Ping volunteers from the exempt.
ed classes "in order to make good our
position until the principle Of universal
obligatory service begins to produce
It's full effect"
Back of the military preparation,
and essential to it, Colonel Roosevelt
continued, must be industrial and agri-
cultural preparation. No more pleas
ure craft should be built but only car
20 ships and cruisers, he said, and
flower gardens must give way to food
areas,