The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-09-14
The Nation al Guard: Its Duty
to the Public; the Public Duty to the Guard

servation of life and property, and
in securing peace, order and safety for
the citizen in the home and in the
street. The decision or the merits of
any dispute must be made by other
agencies than the National Guard.
Both sides to any controversy arising
in this state must be and will be made
to understand that the Natinal Guard
Of Oklahoma. represents only the peo-
pie Of the state itself, as whole, and
not the selfish individual interests of
any man or set of men.
The People Should Understand
1T is necessary that the people of
the state understand the duties and
functions of the National Guard in
times of internal disorder and not the
misled by any cry that the Guard is
being used, either to oppress the work
ingman on the one hand, or, on the 9th
er hand to bait corporations with
view to making political capital out
of the labor vote The situation is
complicated enough at the best, with
out any such misconception. No man
knows what a day may bring forth in
these times when bolshevists, syndi
calists, l. w. W.'s and others of that
stripe plan the ruin of all the institu-
tions bought and perpetuated by the
blood of American patriots for the past
$50 years.
Practical Support
"rhe National Guard is and must
be the safeguard of the state against
the revolutionary elements who plot
the destruction of our homes and in
stitutions. 1t is necessary that the
good citizens of the state, and partiCu-
lary the business and professional men
give earnest and careful attention to
the signs of the times, and support as
far as may be necessary, the military
arm, the National Guard, which is call
ed upon as the last resort in case of
disturbance. This support must be
not only an academic moral support, it
must be a practical, everyday sup
port. 1t involves an expenditure of
time, money and service.
THE record of sacrifice of the Am
erican people during the Great War
was indeed glorious. We are now con
fronted with a situation fully as dan
gerous to our institutions. and the sit
uation must be met in the same spirit
of sacrifice, so that the Guard may
be ready to protect you and yours
should the time ever come when it
is necessary.
What the Guard Needs
"What does the Guard need? First,
a broad-minded, sympathetic legisla-
ton, both state and national, which
has for its aim the upbuilding and
strengthening of the Guard along its
legitimate lines:
Second, suitable armories. All over
the United States, with a few nota-
BILE exceptions, National Guard organi-
cations quartered in old halls, unused
store buildings and over barns and
stables, all entirely unfit and made
quate for the purpose, and beneath
the dignity of our government The
shame is as great as it would be for
the United States court should it be re-
quired to hold its sessions in such a
place. Where a National guard organi-
zation is in existence, at that place
there should be a suitable armory, so
! that the organization can be properly
! taken care of and instructed in a mill
tary way. and that the men may have
suitable home, surrounded by up
lifting influences.
Third: OF greater Importance than
armories and material, there shOold
be an abundance Of men, of suitable
age, for service in the Guard. 1t in
wolves some sacrifice on the part of the
homefolks and of employers to permit
| their loved ones or their employees to
enlist, and some sacrifice on the part
of the men themselves. But there can
he no nobler service than the protec-
ton of our homes and our institutions.
Duty of Employer and EmplOye
"lf it is the duty of the young man
to enlist in the Guard, it is much more
the duty of the older man, and par
ticularly the employer of labor, to see
| that he who enlists suffers no loss
thereby. There are men in every com
munity so short-sighted that they will
not permit their sons or employees to