The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-01-10
UNIVERSAL MILITARY
TRAINING URGED IN
COMMITTEE REPORT


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militia organizations fun credit for
their enthusiasm and spirit Of patriot
g. sacrifice" the mobilization has
proved that universal training under
a single federal control IL the only sat-
i%sfactory solution Of the country's mill
tary problem. IN the opinion Of the
committee on national defense APP
pointed some months ego by Mayor
John purroy Mitchell to investigate the
national guards concentration at she
Mexican border In response to the call
of President Wilson.
T.-c committees report. made pub
De last night. urges universal military
training. but emphasizes IAN immedi-
ste need for an adequate standing
force for the protection OF the borders
and other similar service. Tho details
Of the country's defence system
should De worked out. u is recon-
mcndcd. "by the military experts
whose knowledge and experience are
at the disposal OF congress
willard Straight. banker. formerly
In American consular service. Is chair
man Of the executive committee sign
ing the report. other members are
cleveland II. Dodge. william y. DYKE
man. George w. erkins, Alfred r..
smith. Alexander NJ. white and t9hn
Mitrhell. labor leaders. Mir. Mitchell
dissented from the conclusion drawn
IN favor Of universal military train
ing.
The report embodies Information Of
economic and military character OBJ
tanned from Official and unofficial
sources War department data was
studied, officers and men Of the IA
tional guard were questioned and "A
military expert and cri.ic 81 estac-
lished reputation visited the Mexican
border. The committee "mrccly pre-
sents the facts" the report points ont.
"and draws from them tho conclusion
that voluntary enlistment and depend
ence upon the dual federal and tate
control have proved "A failure
Many Give Experience.
by direct inquiry among New York
state cuardsmcn. the committee says
Il ascertained that 65 per cent Of the
e,400 who submitted replies had TO
give up their regular civilian income.
Many Of these reported they lost their
positions and were unable 20 get them
back when the men were mustered
out.
Eighty-four per cent Of those who
were questioned replied mo whom
asked " they intended To- enlist agnin.
\ great number declared "cmphatical-
us Tor universal service and asserted
iihev would not do military service
honccforth under any other system.
In obtaining economic Information
the committee sent queries TO employ
ors aa well as 90 tho men. Guards
men the report says In his conncc-
tiou told about their pecuniarv los
Sos and tho suffering caused 10y their
dependents; ana EMPLOYERS told ~ tho
effect OF the mobilization ON business
md CAV" their conception ~ "a sound
national military policy Tho facts
established. the export says, may ~
stated under iwo heads economic and
uiiltafN. Regarding tho economic
side. DO BE- stated:
E"unomi,allN lu~unnd.
"Dy bringing into service men with
heavy family and business |raspons.-
hIIucs. although there was available
iu the country a FAR more than AIDE
ouato number OF unmarried mon Wh,
mad not attained "a high economic yale
ur tho mobilization ahowcd thut tho
N"|..N||||| L|LNNA --HNf'N|f 20 L-N-NN"- N.
economically uusound II caused wide
bread distress Co IN" dependents 'f
Hu1rdsmeu. and % took mature men
from position. where thcy had cstan-
he'd their usefulness 10 commorC.
and Industry. The burden u threw
upon employers was lucluitlhlv dis
itriuutcd, iu thai some employers c"u-
tuuei TO pay their men during service
. az d.. -H -HT .N-.. 49, ..
| tudcr tho pre- tiliur system Of voluu
tlry enlistment b. wa not possible TO-
select from tho national guard. cithrr
before the mobilization cor afterwards
thc class OF men most easily 60 be
pared Tor military duty
az the military aspect The report
continues.
"Tho mobilization showed that the
national guard was not 60 be- depend
90 upon FOR defense Reports OF the
secretary Of war, NJ ~ bureaus Of tho
war department, are cited iu support
Ipf this finding
Statistics based ON inquiry among
[ employers show that of i3l who cN-
pressed opinions upon military prcpa-
ration in general fEN favored IL and
two opposed IL. OF 500 who express ed
opinions on UNIVERSAL service. $3.50 ia
,orcd It and - oppused II. only four
employers favored % continuance Of
the present national guard system, tho
report says. and two % thcse believed
ALSO In universal service. Tho report
continues:
Employers Replies.
"NoVt TO the declaration FOR univcr-
sal service, the most striking feature
~ the employers replies was the en-
phasis they placed upon the need II
an equal distribution of burden. They
said thes were ready to give time or
to their men Tor training, but they
wanted the training 20 be governed by
some rational scheme under which an
employers, as well as an men OF mill
tary age. would fare alike"
The replies from the 2iOO New York
puurdsmen IN, report says Indicate
that ~ was not rough military life
they objected 1" but the incquality ~
treatment
Tho equipment system, the commit
tee found. fell down not only because
the federal government failed To- sup