The New York herald., 1921-02-13

came TO my personal attention. Tho
/ Guard officers had devoted their lives
TO building up their organizations yet
when the crisis came they We're ditched
and their commands turned over TO
officers OF the regular army. Arid the
regular army officers We're the judges
OF the efficiency of the Guard officers.
THAT happened in France-it hap
pened in America. l recall that in
1917 l visited a camp where National
Guard troops were in training. The
general commanding was a regular
army officer and he was very courteous
to me, sending his automobile to the
station for me when l arrived and MAX
ing things comfortable generally.
zone of the things he wanted to show
me was the condition of the camp hos
pital. 1t was poorly equipped, without
heat, without water, without the neces-
sary supplies and without proper sani-
taiy facilities. I sent a telegram that
night TO the War Department, saying
that the hospital was In such shape
that If a we'll man were to go there no
would be dead in sixty days because OF
the conditions. Within forty-eight hours
Washington had authorized the RENEE
dies and the work was in progress.
NOW the point is this--this happened
to be a National Guard camp, and the
D
National Guard camps in secondary con-
siderat!on"
A Typical Example.
Mr.. Clark said he remained in the
camp for several days. studying condi-
tions. Finally, when he decided to leave.
he went to call on the commanding Cen
eral to say good-by. He went to the
Generals tent.
General" Mr. Clark began. I'm
going 70 leave now and I've come around
to say good-by. But before / go | want
to say few things to you. This is your
tent, and some OF the things l have to
say may not be complimentary. II you d
rather step outside I'd be glad to do it."
The General smiled.
That's all right" said he. 60 ahead
and say what you wish inside the tent"
''Weli." continued Mr.. Clark. you
have been put in command of the Ma
tionai Guard organizations of two great
States--Mssouri and Kansas. The men
you have are tho flower of the manhood
of those States. Whatever reputation
you make In this war will be through
these men-they will either make or
break you. It Is UP to you to treat them
right"
The General hastily assured Mr.. Clark
that this was his intention.
very WELL" said Mr.. Clark. where
are the papers In the case Of Col. -----?'
you can't see the papers," responded
the General.
''Why?" asked Mr. Clark.
"They have been sent to Washington" :"
Back in Washington a few days later.
Mr.. Clark called on Mr.. Baker, the Sec
retary of War.
'1 want" said he, Ito see the papers
in the case of Col. --"
"I never heard of Col. - or his case,
either" said Mr.. Baker. but he added
that they probably were in the hands of
the Adjutant- General of the Army
Effort TO sheIve officer.
The papers have been returned to the
camp the Ad1utant-GenerapS office
explained. Mr.. Clark never did see the
papers. but he followed up the case to
his own satisfaction. Charges had been
brought against the officer to obtain his
removal. The charges were in two
parts, one pertaining to the officer s
conduct the year before on the Mexican
border and the second relating to his
fitness for his present duty. The Gen.
eral who had appointed the board of in
curry had recommended that the
Colonel be removed.
"As a result of the airing OF the
case" Mr. Clark explained, the Mexi-
can border charges were dropped ana
the Colonel remained in the service. He
was, however, assigned to duty other
than with his regiment. 1t had been
nothing more nor less than an effort TO
make way for some regular army
| officer.
| Now so long as such thing is per-
n1itted IL is no wonder that interest viii
lag in the National Guard. And II Is
important that the National Guard be
maintained in order to relieve the coun-
try of the burden OF large standing
army. otherwise we will have to go
on staggering under the burden or
costly preparedness"
Indorsc Primary system.
The tonic shifted to the political sys-
tenn. Few persons know the polltlcal
history of tho country as well as Mr.
Clark. In politics for many years, per-
manent chairman of one national con-
vention. the leading candidate for the
Presidential nomination on many ballots
Mt another. champion in thirteen con-
seutatiyes. he has learned in his own
way the Justices and injustices OF our
| tests for a seat in the House OF Repre-
present electoral system.
''In view of everything that mas nap
pened, particularly the events of the
| last year, do you believe in the primary
system?" / asked Mr.. Clark.
Most emphatically," said he. I'm fact
I am so strongly in favor of the primary
system that would favor the abolition
of the national party conventions They
do not carry out the will OF the people
as was demonstrated during the last
wear. neither one of the major can0i-
dates having been the choice In the pri-
maries.
"The trouble with the convention is
that II makes possible the trading OF
delegates. Certain groups will get TO.
gether and make p deal for one thing or
another. and in that way the VIII OF the
convention Is blocked.
zone OF the objections that has been
raised 70 the primaries is thSt the peo-
ple do not know who they arc voting
Internationally In regard to the less
important offices. They 20 10 the polls
and receive a ballot containing many
names and confusion results the out
come is that they vote intelligently foi
the men who are on the ticket Tor the
more important places. but they are lost
when Il comes 10 the lesser lights.
one Possible Reform.
''It seems to me this could be. over
come by n combination OF the primary
system and the convention system, In
the states and smaller election units
IL A.