New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-06
Sure System Can't Live,
but Doesn't Want Death
Laid at Its Door
uAVLAW'S FAILURE
TO SHOW BY APRIL |
Guard Not Popularized by
Federal Payment of
S34 a Year
rr~ mi, Tribune Bureau }


Washington, Jan. 5.-Determined not
-, hone for the National Guard
,.,r as there is a chance Of It's re-
- the War Department is tanning
s.,,ssly the little spark Of life that
ms in the Guard system. The high
oHeers OF the department, though
..r.,eed that the system is as good
:, 3.a6 are aiding with all their might
5.,,mined that the approaching demise
..,u not be laid at their door.
The plain fact is that the militia, in
..,s Of the supposed stimulation OF
vos,r,l pay. in spite of the impetus
-:r., by SEXUAL service, in spite of the
...roiting campaign Of last summer, Is
rorse of-far worse-than before the
Nav law was passed.
Tl;-.v DAYS after the rehabilitation
- the National Guard is completed
he. means about April l, according to
,~.sert plans. and would be a fitting
5,.s-it Will be possible for the en-
,,-+s Of the General STAFF to show
..ssstieslly the appalling degree of the
u,vlsv's failure. They will know then
ana will be abs 20 demonstrate 70
President Wilson himself, II he cares
n listen. that he National Guard, IN
s,ssd Of being increased threefold by
the new legislation, has actually lost
in numbers and organization.
Bv that time every unit will have had
annie opportunity 10 qualify under tho
Drovjsions Of the Hay act. All orgsni-
-ations that have failed 70 do so will
he haired from further Federal aid. II
thew desire TO continue, they will have
10 do SO az their own expense or AZ the
sypeose of the states. They will not
belong TO the national defence system.
Fifty Per Cent Fail to Qualify
Figures at the War Department show
that whereas on June 80 last there
we're I.4-0 companies Of organized
militia in the United States. there are
today only about $50 that have quail
fed under the new act. This Is fall
ING of of nearly so per cent IN the total
number Of companies, and yet it does
not tell the whole story, because regi'
mental organizations have been DIS
rupted wholesale by the failure Of IN
dividual companies to meet the hay
law standard. -,
The War Department early last 1sil
set November 80 as the last day Tor
National Guard organizations TO quail
is. except those on the border, which
we're TO be given thirty days after tnelr
return home. This date was later post
Doned 20 December 81. and now fur
her extensions have been made.
No. only has the department been
generous with its time. but 10 has
lowered the standard. The peace
strength Of an infantry company under
the ol6 law was sixty-fivo men. Under
the new law II is one hundred men.
Bu. the War Department. 50 anxious
is it 70 give the militia every possible
chance offers TO accept companies hsv-
ing Only so per cent Of the old peace
.treng.h-f-ty-two men.
The same favor is shown the artil-
',r, cavalry and non-comoatant units,
and about the same results have been
achieved.
Men Balk at Federal Oath
The men are baking at the Federal
oath prescribed by the Hay law. II
requires q s.x-year enlistment three
with the colors and three in reserve,
less the time already served under the
cld contract il also makes the men
liable unless the courts interpret
otherwise 70 any Federal service. even
outside the limits Of the United States.
these obligations did not exist under
me old law
But the whole character of the Guard
is changed by the fact OF Federal pay
alone. The trainers or the act believed
that in paying miiitiameu S84 year
they were going 10 populsriZe the ser
vice. TO has had the opposite erect
The men who entered u before TO-
patriotic reasons find IL commercial
led. The pay OF officers, running a.
high a. $500 q year in time OF peace, OF
course, is popular among the oihcers.
Further than this. the Guardshen
Usl those who did not 60 20 the Dor
oer-take the mobilization as warn
ng Young business men have had
heir business ruined 20 the founda-
TONS and win have 90 start again when
they get home. Others have seen their
lamllles struggling along on lhe XIV
tuments $50 q month
Reseutful Feeling in Guard
Others who did not go 20 the border.
men without families and without busl-
ness troubles. resent the method or
selection that left them ~ home. They
feel there has been discrimination, just
As many OF the regiments now IN Texas
feel they have been Disseminated
against when other units, after shorter
service than theirs, are chosen 70 80
home
All this makes recruiting hard, re-
enlistments few and refusal TO assume
ne obligations Of the Hay law gen
eSl. The militia IS crumbling, and
ne authorities q, The War Department
NOV it.