Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-26
WILSON REBUKES
CRITICS OF MILITIA
Objects TO Language Used by
Members of Delegation
Visiting Him.
GUARD CALLED "DlSGRACE"
Marylanders Go to White House
to Urge Universal Mill
tary Training.
GUARD CALLED "DlSGRACE"

By Associated presfl
WASHINGTON. January e5.-presi-
dent Wilson. speaking to-day 10 mem
bers OF a delegation from the Mary
land League for National Defense.
which attacked the Natipnai Guard and
advocated universal military training.
rebuked them for their ''unrestrained
language" and said they would have IA
better chance OF his support If they
were more reasonable in their at;i-
tlidc
The memorial. read 20 the. President
hy Major Randolph Barton. spoke Of
the National Guard system as a dig
grace" and "a failure" !, urged uni-
Nersal compulsory military training
and service. and mentioned the ,nob!-
lizat.on OF the National Guard along
the Mexican border as an example Of
tho failure OF tho system.
President Wilson told the delega.
ton tina, their attitude closed the OPP
portnnity for discussion % the uucs-
ton. and was not helpful
The President, discussing cornpul-
sorry military service. declared that
unQnest!onaoil physical training was
needed and would accomplish = grea,
deal but II can bc had without com
pulsory military service"
DEFENDS EEF0RrS NOW
BEING. MADE IN CONGRESS
lie added that ne was desirous OF
doing the wise thing and that the en-
tire subject was receiving his mos,
earnest cons ide ration. lie vigorously
defended the efforts being made in
.
service.
IL do not need TO prove 10 you or
anyhod; my deep Interest in this sub
iect.' said the President u will
frankly say TO you would have been
more impressed by this memorial IL
II had been expressed in more re-
strained language From some OF The
unqualified statements III this paper /
must frankly dissent. ! th!nk 4, due
10 my colleagues on the hill uhe CAPT
told TO say 30 al this ohhand con
d"mnation OF the system which they
adopted after long debate. upon the
urgency OF many OF the leading citi-
zens OF the country; it is the least tina,
can do You do not commend "A
cause which deserves the most serious
consideration by presenting +, as you
hav" presented II.
'Thes" things Impress me the more
after what We have heard from the
medical societies EnQu"s,ionablv.
physical training j. needed and will
accomplish II Srea, deal, bu, !, can
bc had without compulsory military.
service, and compu,sory military SER
vice does not meet the difficulties which
YOU have alluded to-
MATTER CANNOT
I,E SETTLED oFFHAND
Any brief service I'm the army OF
'he United states wi,hdraws men
from civil pursuits just a : much as the
recent service on tho border does No
serviuc except = standing army with
professional soldiers prevents that oc-
casional and freuuen, withdrawal OF
men from civil pursuits That may he
inevitable, but what YOU are proposing
does not meet the diaiculty which You
condemn These things are of the
u'mos, intricacy and diNiculty. and are
not ,o bc settled eN cathedra
md yc'. Notwithstanding the fact
That think YOU have gone too far
VIII say TO YOU THAI, OF course. this
will have my most earnest considera
ton. Il is receiving serious consid-
Grafton with the country. and we in
Washington. OF course. share and feel
the great tides of opinion in the United
states am sure that, speaking. IL
may speak. for the members OF the
House OF Representatives and OF the
Senate. VIC arc all dcsirous Of doing
the wise thing for the defense OF the
country. and ii must and will be done,
but We must not close debate by hav-
ing too dogmatic an opinion as TO a
method.
II know that YOU will understand
the spirit In which make that protest
and this statement"
The memorial which aroused the
President contained a detailed criticism,
% the sending of the guard to the
Mexican border. and said il was '.ut-
tcrly and absolutely inadequate for the
defense OF the country" The spec
tacic now presented on the Mexican
border was referred to. and il was
declared that there We have men do
ing police duty who ought never TO he
called upon for military service. away
from their homes. except as last re-
sort
1t is Il Scandalous waste of public
money" WAS another statement in the
memorial. such r system is dis
grace to civilized people," it con-
tiuucd.
Later il was made clear at the White
House that tho Presidents remark 5
were not To he taken TO mean that he
had made mp his mind in opposition 20
universal military training. lie Is
waiting to examine the details of bills
To bc laid before him before reaching
decision.
DIiSbnDc Apr nrhurD