Evening star., 1918-04-05
PLEAS ARE MADE BY
EACH ORGANIZATION
Senate Committee Hears Ad-
vocates of D. C. National
Guard and Defense League.
THEIR INTERESTS CLASH

committee yesterday afternoon the
pros and cons of the proposed law to
permit the enlistment in the National
Guard of men beyond the age limit now
set by law and combining the use of
the guard to the District of Columbia,
Maryland and Virginia.
Brig. Gen. Richard D. simms of the
District National Guard declared that
the legislation proposed was essential
If there was to be a military organi-
zation here during the war, and said
that the Home Defense League was not
military organization, but a police
organization.
William Phelps Emo. director Of
the Home Defense League. and Lieut.
Col E. P. Hazelton spoke for the
league. and insisted that the agitation
for the guard bill had resulted in re-
ducing the enthusiasm and interest in
| the Home Defense League The at
tendance at drills has fallen off con-
siderably since the talk OF the estab-
lishment of new National Guard or
zanization has been under way, they
said.
Membership Totals 500.
| Mr.. Emo said that the league had
| about $500 members. 1900 in a police
organization, 1900 in the rifles" and
$50 in a motor corps. 70 In med
| ical division and $50 in sepa-
| rate colored organization. The league.
| he said. had been organized with the
aid and approval of the District Com
| missioners and Maj. Pullman, superin-
| tendent of police. and has been in ex-
| istence almost a year
This is no time Mr.. Emo continued,
"for personal references. ambitions nor
| jealousies to delay the effective protec-
! ton Of our nations capital 1t Is ques-
ton to be decided whether we should. by
special legislation. create another organi-
"a ton here which would necessarily, in
its operations, overlap the functions of
our rifle division, especially since the DIS
trict of Columbia and the city of Wash
ington are one and the same, the Com
missioners performing the functions of
governor of a state for the District and
OF a mayor of city for the city Of Wash
ington."
His statement before the committee
concluded: "Co1. Winter was chosen by
the Commissioners before my connection
with the organization, to head the rifle
division Of the Home Defense League. and
he offered the position Of second in COM
mand to then Col Simms. but Col. Simms
did not accept and asked me to allow
him to organize second regiment Of the
Home Defense League. which l refused to
do on account Of division of authority"
Brig. Gen. Jesse Mel. Carter. chief of
the militia bureau of the War Depart
and. disclaiming authorship of the
pending bill, which, he declared, had
not been drafted by the War Depart
ment, but merely submitted to it for
approval, he yet insisted that some
such legislation was required if a mill
tary organization is to be eSta blished.
He said the War Department has no
authority over the Home Defense
League.
Inquiry by Senator Mcclellan.
Senator McKellar wanted to know
yhether it would be possible to raise
An organizat alton here in which it was
not specified that the men could not be
used outside of the District and Mary
land and Virginia. Gen. Carter and
Gen. Simms aid it couldn't be done, and
pointed out that large number of men
mere had enlisted in the Army. Navy
AMI Marine Corps and many others have
been drafted. and that many of the
others of military age were employees
in the government departments and
could not be spared.
Gen. Simms insisted that the Home De-
fense League was not sufficient to meet
all emergencies and predicted that
without any law to compel attendance
and compel the obedience of orders, the
membership would drop off. He said
that the National Guard headquarters
still was in existence and the organ
ization ready to expand if the law were
passed.
Lieut.. Col. Hazelton of the league de-
clared he could see no use of national
guard establishment in the District dur
ing the war and said the Home Defense
League would be sufficient to meet all
needs. The work of the organiza tion.
he said, has been excellent. He said
the attendance at drills, up until re-
Gently, has been over so per cent
He said that they had over 1000 men
qualified as rifiemen. A question by
Senator Wadsworth brought out the
fact that these men were qualified un-
der the National Rifle Association rules
and not under the Army rules.
Witness Cross-Examined.
Senator wadsworth cross-examined
the witness as to how discipline could
be enforced, since 1t was not a military
organization and did not have to sub
scribe to the articles of war. Col.
Hazelton insisted that the men would
obey orders since they had enrolled be-
cause of patriotic reasons, and also that
the police powers of the District Com
missioners were sufficient to enforce
obedience.
He told the committee that the league
had been using rifles loaned by the
high schools for drill, and that under
the law authorizing the Secretary of
War to issue rifles to home defense
leagues and state guards organized
during the war, an application had been
made for $500 rifles, and he believed
they would be supplied later after
sufficient supply was on hand for the
Army.
Senator Wadsworth suggested that rifles
would not get the league very far. and
without other equipment 1t would not