Arizona republican., 1919-02-13
LARGE STANDING
 ARMY OPPOSED BY YC0NGRESSMEN
Vigorous Attack On Half
 Million Men-Army Staff Proposal Finds No Sup porters-Debate Introduc- es Criticisms From Many Angles-Pershing Praised


 WASHINGTON. Feb. 12.-General opposition to standing army in ex- cess of 175.000 men, as authorized in the national defense act three years ago, was voiced in the house today during debate on the annual army ap- propriation bill with it's provision for military force of $50, 900 officers and men during the period Of demobiliza- tion.
 Chairman Dent of the military com mittee was questioned closely as to the future army, with several members asking if the force provided in the bill was to be the permanent army strength. The chairman explained that it was not and there was consider able applause from both sides of the | house when Representative Mckenzie of Illinois, republican, said the mili- | tary committee favored small army. | Mir. Mckenzie said the proposal of ! the army staff for permanent peace militia of 0,000 had been rejected by | the committed, and Representative | Kahn of California, republican, inter- | rupted to say that not single mem ! Der of the committee favored the l proposal.
 Discussion in the house continued throughout the day, with leaders of fering no predictions as to when vote would be taken on the measure, which carried a total of $1,100, ,0000 900 for the war department, during the fiscal
 year beginning next July l.
 Attacks From Every Angle
 There was a criticism of the war
 department. praise for General Persh- ing and various American units which fought in France, discussion of bolshe- vism and protest against President
 Wilson accepting a set of books as a
 birthday gift from King George of
 England.
 Much Of the discussion was given
 over to the national guard. Repre-
 sentative Mckenzie said that whatever
 the future military policy might be
 the national guard should be retained
 and his declaration was vigorously
 applauded. Other members in urging
 retention of the guard after demobiiz-
 ation praised the work of the guard
 divisions during the war.
 Representative London of New York
 directed discussion to bolshevlsm witt
 the declaration that every new
 thought or new idea is called bolshe-
 vism," which he declared was but a
 passing stage of revolution common
 only to Russia" He urged repeal ot the espionage law, declaring that so- cialists had been unjustly imprisoned by it's application to throttle free speech and free assemblage. Repre-.
 sentative Walsh of Massachusetts, re.
 publican. declared Iondon's interes
 in repeal of the espionage law nigh
 be with the view of ''prejudicing tn. case of one of his colleagues" Repre- i sentative Berger of Milwaukee. who's, utterapces Mir. Walsh declared "wer' | not toward uniting our people durin: 3 the war or aid it's prosecution" We do not need the urging an, , teachings of Lenine and Trotsky O. ] the New York socialist and his asso
 ciates in improving our government, Q added MT. Walsh.
 s Critieises Casualty Delays 3 Republican Mann criticised the de - lay in casualty reports. saying that tn e Red Cross, although having the in
 formation, was forbidden to give it ( y soldiers relatives unless the war de e partment had previously announced il - Charges by Representative Hershe
 of Maine, republican, that regula - army officers were unduly favored i |, France. resulting in the demotion c i many competent national guard com
 manders, were answered by Repre- - sentative Shalienberger of Nebrasl<; t democrat, who declared that polite . was out of the army"
 e Mir. Shallenberger declared in Persh @ ing the United States was the onl . country in the world to pick an arm n leader who stood the test, and declare S that Pershing was the first person
 declare that the German army coul t be beaten and the Hindenburg lir 1 | gOTld bp qhad
 }, Representative Ramsey of Iowa, re n publican, protested against the ac l. acceptance of set of books by tl a president from King George. sayin q the action was unconstitutional be
 cause it had not been approved | e congress. Suggestions that law per l. mitting men of the army to recei, L. gifts from heads of foreign states co, e cred the case, because the p-esidel l. was commander -in-chief of the arm. l. brought a statement from Represents l. tive Kahn that that law applied on n to military decorations.
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