Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-13
BIC PEACE ARMY
NOT FAVORED BY
ANY MEMBER OF
HOUSE MILITARY
Chairman Kahn Says Admin
istration Bill Has No Friends
Among Military Committee
Membership,
NATIONAL GUARD WILL
BE FULLY CARED FOR
Acceptance of Books From
King George by President
Wilson Brings UnfavorabIe
Criticism From Some.
tsY aosNrns JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wrHtI

tsY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wiRsl
Washington, Feb. 12.-General op-
position to IA standing army in excess
of 175,OOO men as authorized in the
national defense act three years ago
was voiced in the house today dur
ing debate on the annual army ap-
preparation bill with its provision for
a military force of $4,000 officers
and men during the period of demo-
biliZation.
Chairman Dent of the military
committee was questioned closely as
ito the future army with several mem
bers asking if the force provided in
the bill was to BE the permanent
army strength. The chairman ex-
planned that it was not and there
was general applause from both sides
of the house when Representative
Mckenzie of Illinois, republican. said
the military committee favored a
small army,
Mr.. Mckenzie said the proposal OF
the army general staff for a perma-
nent peace time military esta blish-
ment of 100000 had been rejected
by the committee and Representa-
tive Kahn of California, republican,
interrupted to say that not single
member of the committee favored
the proposal.
Discussion in the house continued
throughout the day with leaders Of
fering no prediction as to when a
vote would be taken on the measure,
which carries a total of $l,100, ,000,-
600 for the war department during
the fiscal year beginning next July. /.
Department Criticised.
Debate was not confined to the
bill itself There was criticism of
the war department, praise for Gen
eral Pershing and various American
units which fought in France, dis
cussion of boshevism and protest
against President Wilson accepting a
set of books as "A birthday gift from
King George of EnglanS,
Much of the discussion was given
over to the national guard Rep
resentative Mckenzie said that what
ever the future military policy might
be, the national guard should be re-
tanned and his declaration was Wig
orousiy applauded. Other members
in urging retention of the guard after
rehabilitation praised the work of
the guard divisions during the war.
Representative London of New
York directed discussion to boshe-
vism with the declaration that "ev-
cry new thought or new idea is call
ed bolshevism" which he declared
was but passing stage of revolu-
tion common only to Russia" He
urged repeal of the espionage law,
declaring that socialists had been un-
justly imprisoned by its application
to throttle free speech and free as
semblage
Need No BoIshcvilei Arguments.
n Ia oil ~
ohusetts, republican, declared thet
Mr.. Londons interest in repeal of
the espionage law might be with the
view of "pre-judging the case of one
of his colleagues" Representative
Berger of Milwaukee, whose utter
ances, Mr.. Walsh declared were
not toward uniting our people during
the war or to aid it's prosecution"
I'VE do not need the urging and
teachings of Lenin and Trotzky orl
the New York socialist and his asso-I
ciates in improving our government, "I
added Mr.. Walsh.
Republican Leader Mann cr,1cised
the delay in casualty reports, saying
that the Red Cross, although having
information, was forbidden from Civ
ing it to soldiers relatives unless the
war department had previously an
nounced it,
Charges by Representative Hersey
of Maine. republican, that regular
army officers were unduly favored in !
France resulting in the demotion of
many competent nationa. guard COM
manders, were answered by Represen-
tatiye Shallenberger of Nebraska,
democrat, who declared that politics
was out of the army"
MIR. Shallenberger in praise of Cen
eral Pershing declared 'the United
States was the only country in the
war to pick an army head who stood |!
the test and added that Pershing !
was the first general to declare that |
the German army could be beaten and
that the Hindenburg line could be
smashed.
Representative Ramseyer OF Iowa, |
republican protested against the ac-
ceptance of set of books by the pres
ident from King George, saying the
action was unconstitutional because it |
had not been approved by congress. I
that law permitting men
of the army to receive gifts from
heads of foreign states covered the
case because the president was COM
mander in chief of the army, brought |
a statement from Representative
Kahn that that law applied only to
military decorations.