Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-12
military TRAINING
UNDER COMPULS|ON
DEAD As DOOR NAIL
Colonel T. w. Miller Now Fight
ing to Save Bill in Modified
Form.
OPPOSITION is GENERAL
sprrjnl Dispatch From Every Evenings
Washington Correspondent.

Special Dispatch From Every Evening S
Washington Correspondent.
Washington. Feb. li.-Universal mill.
iarv training. under compulslon, in the
United States is as dead IA the proverbial
door nail. There is no chance that il
will survive the adverse action of the
Democratic caucus of the House which
decrccd that such policy was not s,lit.
able for this country. SO convinced are
Republican leaders that they cannot force
their will ON Congress in this matter,
shat il would surprise nobody il an official
announcement ~ made within the next
iorty-cight hours withdrawing the Wads-
worth and Kahn bills.
Colonel Thomas W. Miller, legislative
representative of. the American Legion,
Is bitterly disappointed at the action Of
the House Democrats. Colonel Miller,
who formerly represented Delaware in
Congress, ~ expected to make a fight for
thc Wadsworth bill or modification of
H. lie wants 10 have the principle of
universal compulsory military training
written INTO law.
II IS not believed, however, the recent
Endorsement by the Legion of compulsory
universal military training amounted To
much more than an expression Of opinion
hv the commissioned officers who all
favor the Wadsworth bill or something
nearly resembling it II was pointed out
hy senator Mcl>cllar that ~ the conven-
ton of tho legion IN which resolutions
were adopted lndorslng what amounts TO
conscription IN tune Of peace, was entirely
dominated by men who wear shoulder
straps.
"Of course the officers want universal
military training because this would
give them large army tn command and
tssurc permanent military occupation
lor thousands of commissioned men,
aid senator Nckellar. The rank and
ale Of the American Legion do not favor
lcacc time cOnscrIptlon and the sooner
has becomes generally known the better
There Is not now the smallest chance
hat the Wadsworth bill will become a
law
Many Republicans are known To be
opposed to the plan of taking a half
million young men into military camp
very year. Among these are Cappcr Of
Kansas, Borah ol Idaho. Sherman Of
Illinois and poindcxter of Washington.
These will vote with the Democrats If
he bill Is ever allowed 70 come up for
inal decision IN tho Senate.
Although Colonel Miller is fighting
hard 10 save the life of the hill IN modified
form. u Is said by men who are IN posi-
ION % know that the sentiment OF his
vn state Of Delaware iS decidedly against
The west appears 20 bc a unit in
,poslng such legislation and there Is
evidence that II is particularly popular
the east
The heads Of more than twenty large
arm organizations have united with tac
American Federation ol Labor IN oppoeli
L.
~ sections. of the country arc working
hard 20 bring about its premature dennis
Some suggest that part oi the money
which would be needed to finance such
scheme should be- used In making a
model standing army. small a 10 numbers,
but effective as tn equipment. They
propose further that the money they would
leem wasted on the WadswoIth plan be
used in part tn build good roads and 10
aid the soldiers who fought IN the world
war.