The Washington herald., 1921-02-06
President Says He Fails
To Find Warrant
For Decrease.
LACK OF DEBATE
FEATURE OF VOTE
Only Sixteen Democrats
Stand With Chief on
175,000 Force.

Without debate Of any nature, the
House last night overwhelmingly
voted to override President VIII
sons veto OF the resolution limiting
the size Of the army to I75. 900 en-
listed men. The vote was 27l 10
ls, with voting present" Those
who opposed the action were all
Democratic. They are as follows:
Bee, Of Texas: Bland, Of Virginia.
Campbell, OF Pennsylvania: CIeary.
Of New York: COady, Of Maryland
Esgau, OF New Jersey; Fisher, OF
Tennessee; Igoe, OF Missouri; Nc
Andrews, Of Illinois: Minshan, OF
New Jersey; PeIl, Of New York:
Rsker, Of California; Sims. OF Ten
nessee; TagIe, Of Massachusetts,;
Weaver, Of North Carolina, and
Wellirg, OF Utah
The President in his veto message
sent TO the House disspproved the
resolution on the grounds that the
condition Of the world had shown
no change which warranted a reduc-
uon Of the army from the 2SO,OOO
men authorized in the army reor-
ganiEatiOn bill OF last year He
also called attention TO the fact that
a cessation Of recruiting would
preserve the stan corps dispropor-
tionately enlisted and the Combstsnt
corps insufhciently manned"
Text of Veto Message.
The text OF the Presidents veto
message follows.
To the House OF Representatives
4 return herewith. without my
approval, House Joint Resolution.
No. 40, directing the Secretary Of
War to cease enlistinE men in the
regular army Of the United States.
except in the cases OF those men
who have already served one or
more eniistments therein
The text Of the joint resolution
disclCses that its Purpose he 20 cause
q discontinusnco OF enlistment In
the regular army until tho number
Of enlisted mer shall not exceed
l75.OGO- No provision is made in the
resolution Ter the preservation OF
ny proportionste strength in the
combstant corps Of the army and
q mere dIscoRtinUance OF enlistment
would, for q rong time, preserve the
stan corps dlsII OpOrttOhately en-
listed and the com batsnt corps in
sufficiently manned to maintain the
instruction and training which
ought to be assured II any army OF
l75,OO0 men is 10 be efficient IN pro
portion to its aggregate number.
"On June 4, 1920, l signed a bill,
passed by the present Congress, pro-
Nding for the reorganization OF the
army. Because OF the profoundly
disturbed condition Of the world and
in order that full benefit might
accrue TO the people Of the United
States from the lesson Of the world
war as to what. under modern con
ditions, is required 20 be the nucleus
Of an efficient army, the War De
partment had recommended an army
Of approximately 100000 men. The
Congress, after prolonged consider
alton, determined to authorize, and
did authorize, the reorganization Of
the army on the basis Of an enlisted
strength Of approximately 100000
including in the organization new
arms like the Air Service and the
Chemical Warfare Service. the, use
OF which were developments OF the
war and provision for which Is a
necessary dNNlllOu 70 l0e pTeNaT
strength Of the army. The act sU-
thorized for the first time in our
history a tactical organization OF
the army, resting upon divisions as
tactical units. and required the
training Of the National Guard and
the organized reserve in territorisI
areas OF the United States in asso-
citation with the divisions OF the
regular army. At that time the
Congress plainly regarded the pro-
vision then made as the minimum
which would provide for the added
arms and new duties imposed on
the army, and for that efficiency
which the peace time army Of the
United States should have as a nu-
cleus OF mobilization in the event
Of national emergency reEfeI
that ! am not able TO see in the con-
dition OF the world at large, or IN
the needs OF the United States any
such change as would Justify the
restrictions upon that minimum
which is proposed by the House
joint resolution.
"(Signedl
WOODROW WILSON.
The White House, February =