The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-02-26
BY JAMES p. HoRNAoAY.

Ing made with the work Of rebuild
Ing the National Guard Of the coun.
try. Every state lost its entire Ma
tlonal Guard during the war good
many military men predicted that n
National Guard organization would
never again be formed, but events OF
the last two or three months show
that those predictions were wild OF
the mark. Congress showed It's friend
ship for the Nntiona! Guard idea by
making adequate financial provision
for the reorganization Of the guard.
Practically every state governor has
also taken an interest In restoring the
organization. and ms result the mil
itary division OF the war department
Is now able to report that the work
Of forming guard units Is making
good progress in every state. by the
end Of this fiscal year, II Is predicted.
the organization will be back practi-
cally where II was when the United
States entered the war.
The federal government, under the
new system expects 10 retain a firm
hold on the National Guard, but at
the same time the fullest cooperation
Of the states Is sought. In working
out the plan, the division OF militia af-
fairs says. II was recognized that the
preservation of the local units must
be conserved and that the breaking
up Of local organizations. as they were
broken up In 1917. would probably
never be tolerated again. For this rea-
son the bureau determined that the
tactical division should be the basis
Of the organization.
Regular Army Plan Followed.
Under this plan the composition OF
the units that go 10 make up the Ma
tional Guard organization must he the
same as that prescribed for the regu-
lar army. subject to such general ex-
ceptions as may he authorized by the
secretary OF war. The strength Of
the regular company, in time of peace
Is 100 men, and that is the minimum
strength the bureau has fixed for the
National Guard. There has been some
objection 10 this from sparsely set
tied sections OF the country. the OBJ
jectors saying the minimum strength
should be fixed nj 65 men. To meet
this objection the bureau has sug-
gested that In places where the 100
strong company cannot be raised two
platoons Of 80 men each be organized
In nearby sections, the two forming a
single company.
But this suggestion has not been IA
vOrably received and the prospect
seems 10 be that the secretary OF war
will not change the ruling that every
company shall have at least 100 mem
bers.
With n view to aiding the guard In
It's reconstruction the militia division
! has taken pains 10 select high grade
officers 10 act as inspector-lnstructors
/ These instructors are now starting out
on their rounds OF duty. They are
without exception men who saw serv
| Ice I'm France and the new National
Guard will get from them the last
word In military training. The fed
eral government expects 10 be able
10 furnish instructors for every Ma
tional Guard company in the country
and in addition 10 these instructors
there will. OF course. be a representa-
tive OF the war department associated
with the adjutant generals STAFF IN
each state.
So there is TO be close union between
the federal government and the state.
I'm building up the new state organlza
ton. The war department has alsC
selected thousand sergeants from
the regular army who are TO be under
instructions for three months al IN,
infantry school OF arms at Camp Ben
nlngs, Georgia. These men, at IN,
end OF the training course. are 10 g,
out as sergeant instructors for guar,
units.
Rumored Changes In Supreme Court
The reconvening of the Suprem,
court of the United States always re
wives talk about possible changes II
this tribunal. The fall meeting of tn,
court this year has not proved an ex
ceptlon TO this rule. Chief Justice Ed
ward Douglass White and three of tn
associate justices, Joseph McKenna
Oliver Wendell Holmes and William II
Day, are of retirement age. The chic
justice will be seventy-four In Novem
her, Justice McKenna was seventy-si,
In August. Justice Holmes was sew
enty-eight last March and Justice Da,
was seventy last April. Each one
however. is vigorous, both mentall
and physically, and not one OF then
as far as known has expressed an,
thought OF quitting work.
II the four members of the cour
who are In the seventy-year class, o
any one Of them, had keen desire q
retire now would be an opportun
time, for the court AZ this fall session
Is confronted with one OF the heavIes
dockets II ever had TO deal with. Tn
war interfered seriously with the wor
OF the court. II did not serve TO pre-
vent litigation being started but II di,
result In the delay Of much importnn
litigation In the higher courts OF tn
country and particularly In the su