The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-18
ARMY BILLS ARE
TO Be FOUGHT OUT
BEFORE CONGRESS
Two Measures to Reorqanlze
Army Meet Opposition.
Two Bills Opposed by Guards
as Hostile to Their Order.
~ cHAs. S. HAYDEN.
(Staff CoFresbondentA

WASHINGTON, Aus. Is (spl)-A
Y ngnt ls now impending before this
Songress over the formation OF the
peace time army. Two bills already
nave been presented, one recommended
" the war department and the other
known as the Kahn Chamberlain I'm.
named after its authors, members OF
we mouse and senate respectively. II
IS probable that still another bill en-
odylng the ideas of the national guard
assoclatlon' VIII be presented. although
II mas not yet been formally drafted.
% iaT as now appears all parties are
agreed that there should be some form
~ UNIVERSAL training provided for and
the Dllls now before congress contain
such provisions, Members of congress.
poth In the house and senate, however.
are py no means reconoilled to this and
me plan for universal service, as dis
tlnguished from training, called for
under the bill recommended by the war
ton.
Neither the war department bin nor
the Chamberlain bill is satisfae-
Sorg 70 me former national g%uardsmen
ana az 2 recent meeting Of the organi-
cation. held In New York, u was de-
clded to carry their fight before con-
gress. II Is the contention OF leaders
IN the national guard association that
both the present bills are based upon a
policy OF militarism. ut out -Prusslans
me Russians" as one OF them ex-
Guardsmen Oppose.
Former national guardsmen from ev-
cry state In the union are to be orga-
nlZed for this fight and with the poilti-
CAT prestige which many OF them en-
Joy 1t is quite probable that they will
Iind many willing champions among
LhH EAn0Nnrn aud
have their ears to the ground. The
association has planned to establish Of
ices In New York. A publicity bu-
reau will be established with q view
Of arouslng the country to what the
guardsmen consider the Ubiquitous sys-
TEN contemplated under the bills now
before congress.
In the eyes OF the K ~guardsmen
there Is little to choose between the
two bills. That OF the war department
cQntemplates q standing army Of &c.,
600 officers and men with universal
service during a short period for $780,
900 boys or attaining the age of 10
years. The Kahn Chamberlain bin
would not authorize SO large a standing
army but contemplates the use of the
drafted men for a longer period and to
make requirements In the regular army.
II Is commended that while the Kahn
Chamberlain bill virtually abolishes the
AbiA tilhA llS WAT department.
bill puts what is termed 1.-THE yellow
dog tag on the guardsmen by remov.
ing members Of the organisation from
liability to draft In time of war. The
guardsmen feel readiness with which
they were mobillzed at the beginning
OF this war and the part which they
played In 1t entltle them TO consldera-
ton Is q fighting unit, in fact the
fighting unit In any citizen army to be
formed.
Small Standing Army.
The measure OF military prepared
ness which the national guard assocla-
tion advocates calls for a very small
standing army. organized for police
have any direct control over the ma
tlonal guard which, in turn, should have
charge OF training the young men in
military activities. This training, 1t is
pointed out, car be carried on as II
has been In the past by drills at nights,
on holidays and at cncampn1ents, which
may be held during vacation periods
when Industrial delpands are slack
Under this arrangement, IL II urged
the country and, In many cases, the
parents viii not lose the Industrial pro.
d~nctiveness Of a half a million or more
men for any length Of time, More.
trained at their homes by officers Il
be chosen from among their own PEG.
pie and thus obviate any possibility oil
cruelty or unjust treatment.
1t Is argued there does not now exisI
any reason even for inspection Of ma.
tional guard units by regular army Of.
ficers. This was the practice befor,
the war but II is pointed out that nov
there are some l7b,0 900 officers, trained
In this war. who return 10 civil life ant
who. II Is claimed, are fully competent
form this duty.