Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-03-05
OPEN FORUM
THAT MILITIA SCANDAL

Editor Capital News: In an editor
ial the Idaho Daily Statesman as
serts in effect that the national guard
system has been branded as an
unqualified failure? Such statements
have been used frequently of late by
this paper and other papers as well
as by certain senators and public
speakers to the National Defense
Act"
Presenting that the Statesman and
other papers and public men referred
to favor some system of national
military preparation we will take the
liberty of asking a few pointed ques-
tions, namely
First, if the national guard Is fail
ure, why?
Is it the personnel of which the
guard is made?
Is it the equipment, pay, rations and
returns given by the government?
(These are the same as given the reg
ulars or better and delivered under
the direction and rules followed by the
| regulars and under the supervision of
regular army officers.)
Is it the volunteer feature of the
system?
Is 1t the lack of sufficient training
of the officers and men? Who is re-
sponsible for this? Or:
Is 1t the constitutional restraint lin
iting the use of the national guard or
| militia to a defensive purpose only?
Second, can the defects of the ma
| tional guard be cured?
Why not completely 'federalize" the
organization by eliminating entirely
the state control? properly arm,
equip and train the officers, cadets
and men?-eliminate entirely the vol
unteer feature? (The volunteer sys-
tenn of enlistment in a nation is only
scheme by which the "slicker," the
"schemer'' and the moral coward
escape the burdens and responsibilities
and get the conscientious, courageous
and patriotic to bear the sacrifices of
which these share or reap the bene-
| fit)
| Third, what character of organiza-
ton can be substituted which will
have less defects and will meet the
national needs?
| In the last article, as in most of the
Statesman's references to the militia"
since the mobilization, the editor at
| tempts to impugn the actions Of the
governor in his appointment of Of
ficers (under the provisions of the old
law and charge scandals.
If the Statesman knows anything of
a definite character, why does it not
spring it?
l will at this time make two defi-
mite charges and challenge the States
man to make a full, clear statement of
the true facts.
First; The political story published
at the time of the mobilization of the
Second Idaho originated in the brain
Of a man who failed to get an ap-
pointment, Matched the story for the
purpose of discrediting the officers of
the Second Idaho (Republicans and
Democrats alike, some of whom he
has declared he will GET; gave 1t to
Statesman reporter, who failed in
an effort to discover any scandal
otherwise in the court proceedings
and was sadly returning from the
barracks empty handed to the States
man office disappointed"
l have this from the man himself
who wanted me to join him in an at
tempt to raise hell with the regi-
ment.
Second: The Statesman can not
hold it's political influence and &C
complish it's political ends by getting
and publishing the facts" regarding
the so-called Boise barracks scandal"
The Idaho Daily Statesman, I dare
you.
WALTER r. CUPP.
! Caldwell, Idaho March 2, 1917.