The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-01-08
BAg PlNl
FOR STATE POLICE

CHARLESTON. W. Va, Jan. 81
Urging West Virginia to display h
the com period Of reconstruction the
same unity Of purpose which marked
their endeavors during the war. Gov.
ernor John ]. Cornwell In his bienn-
ial address toh the Legislature today
outlined a program Of legislation to
meet many Of the problems confront
ing the state in turning from the ways
Of war to pursuits Of peace. This
legislation included:
The provision Of some kind Of
military or police force for the state
to take the place Of the former Ma
tional Guard and the present Special
Police Deputy Sheriff Law. which ex-
pires with the signing Of peace.
A bill to further prevent industrial
casualties, which IN the last year have
been larger at home than among
West Virginia soldiers fighting in
France.
Cooperation with the federal gov
eminent in plan to give employ
ment to and care FOR returning sol
diers by securing work for them on
some 100000 acres OF cut-oyer lands
in West Virginia.
Improvement and expansion Of state
institutions with larger appropriations
made necessary by the increase OF
materials and the high cost Of living.
Amendment OF the statute on capi-
italization of banks and trust compa.
MES to eliminate the present limit Of
100000 to encourage larger institu-
lions.
Amendment to Section 43-A OF Chap
ter IS OF the Code, making it a felony
to display the red flag or any flag
other than the stars and stripes in pub
lie meetings, parades or elsewhere to
prevent the spread Of so-called inter-
nationalism or Bolshevism.
Speaking of the problem Of military
or polite protection, the governor said
it was one of the most important ques-
lions with which the coming session
of the Legislature will have to deal.
The National Guard" he said, aft
er being drafted into federal service
shortly after the entry of this country
into the war, now has passed out OF
existence. The men will be discharg.
ed from the service in due time ano
will return to civil life. The National
Guard, rather expensive organiza.
tion. was supported jointly by the
state and federal governments. When
congress passed the act under which
the federal government contributed
its support, 1t was assumed that this
joint arrangement between the states
and the general government would
provide an efficient army Of police for
the state as we'll as an efficient fight
ing force in event Of the country being
engaged inSwar. The experience Of the
last two years shows that to have been
an erroneous view. Only few states
spent enough money on their National
Guar dto bring 1t up to high state
OF military efficiency. The National
Guard Of most states were held in
training camps OF this country longer
than the men who went into the Ma,
Itional Army under the Selective Ser.
vice law. Many of the men In the Ma
itional Guard units could not pass phys
ical tests, were discharged and the
regiments supplied with selecttve SER
vice men. For this and many other
reasons / regard 1t as impractical to
begin revival of National Guard or
CARNATIONS, even If the federal statute
for 1t is not repealed In the military
readjustment which will take place to
meet new conditions following the
treaty Of peace. To avail ourselves
Of the provisions of the National Guard
Act of 1916 aud receive government
assistance it would be necessary for
US now to have in out National Guard
force 2,400 men. This would have to
be increased to three regiments by
1921 and would entail heavy expendi.
ture. The federal government viii not
need that force for the success OF the
;selective service act means that II this
country shall have to fight another
war (Which God grant II will not have
to- do) that army will be raised In the
same way General Crowder produced
an army Of more than three millions
OF picked men In an incredibly short
time, to the amazement of our allies
and to the undoing Of Germany. For
these reasons the National Guard law
had as well be wiped from our stat
utes. &
1.-THE Special Policy Deputy Sheriff
Law, enacted as an emergency meas
ure by the Legislature at the second
extraordinary session in May, 1917,
expires with the signing Of the treaty
Of peace. which will formally end the
war. When that occurs the state will
be left without any military or police
force whatever. That law, make
shift and "a compromise, has worked
very well. There has been little &C.
casion to use the sheriffs, fortunate
~. 1t has cost little, only few men
having been called into the service.
Without any noise or ostentation good
men had been picked out in certain
counties, conferred with by the chief
OF police, Major Davis, and we have
been ready at all times to meet any
thing that might have arisen. 1t
seems to me that from the standpoint
OF economy and efficiency that law
might be re.enacted, with certain i'm.
portant notifications, and serve US
well during peace times.
"The method OF selecting the men,
the sheriff nominating and the county
court appointing them, is unsatisfac.
tory for several reasons. In some coun
fiaa Goods, nuyn Iny. ~ %t,e -, ~, ,,,,a