The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-09-11
Pershing Well Fitted
For His Newest Post,
Says Army Authority

g.. HII|. JOHN MA = aNAfNh ~
- y, ... Washington iust
.l..mcut to the press on
president Harding an
.H. auu establishment Of
",., kury policy. The presi-
........p ls as follows.
o.',,,. .....s, national defense law
tr.f .. economical and demo-
r .rv policy thoroughly
I..,... .t.u our national tradi-
provides for "A small rcgu-
u2'.-.., 10 bo augmcnted by great
.. t...,. u the event Of national
1 u-A...,..,. This Is our traditional
t" ...... But whereas In the
E,.. Hrgcr war forces have
.uurilrd after the occur
....t. emergency. the new law
.,.. ..s that the framework
|h.u ... .nization shall be estdb-
H.3 and developed in time OF
g. U. .. .lr as tbs Is practicable
,spoush OBJ. voluntary service OF our
.",Y, r.ung men. The army OF
Zr,.,. states, az dcfinei In the
~, Iy. comprises the regular
r,, ta. .tu0nal guard and the or
..-.rvcs. Every patriotic
ssrps1 should encourage the deyel-
o",gsri .f .nosc forces, each within
W. nror 4nncrc.'
Ipuyh In Our History.
r,er fne days of Washington our
.'5iI,r,- from time TO time have
......,t. 40 point out the dangers
md ....u,DuIcncCs arising from our
1cfec,.t. military institutions, ana
=, recommend the establishment by
concr,ss OF an organized system OF
,.,iouaI defense. Mr.. Harding is
me f.r.t of our presidents who has
Ssen able to announce that tins leg
lslatlvc * has at last provided an
s5rouat, loyal sanction for the per-
mancrt orguni2ation of the national
defense.
gress approved June 3, 192o' re-
fsrred to IN the presidents statement
ss nm new national defense law, is
no, generally understood. This is
'sreolv due To the fact that its con-
srueif.. provisions instead of ap-
,ssrir. as complcte new sections of
isy, glr scattered throughout the
| t.tay sting national defense act of
iaf8a- amendments here and there.
The important new provisions,
though simple in the extreme, are
hurled .u am enormous mass of rela-
,yely uuImportant detail. Those
who have had the time and patience
TO secr.gate and analyze these new
nroyisiuua are surprised to find that
! congress has finally chrystallizcI the
N.itarv policy Of the United states.
\ is ,hi. significant fact that the
president announces TO the country.
Our Traditional Military Policy.
II is our traditional military pol
ry that We are to maintain small
regular or standing army in time or
peace and that this small peace
establishment Is to be augmented or
reinforced by great armies of citl-
zen soldiers when a national emer-
gency calls for greater forces. The
defect 0f our military system in the
mast has been that the organization
OF these larger forces has been de-
ferred until after the declaration OF
war. The experience of the world
var has shown that even under dire
stress and with the cooperation or
powerful allies. the eXtemporiZation
oi such an organization requlreS
more than year with the tremen-
dous waste of treasure and energy
that always accompanies hasty or
gsnizat.0u.
The correction of this fundamcn-
tai defect was the main problem that
confronted the last congress In its
program IF military legislation. II
was apparent that the existing mill
-ary system would certainly fan TO
meet sudden military emergency in
time and the experience of the re-
ce.pNar had shown that even when
.rle for cNtomporiZation is proNl-
}1entially granted, the cost OF ex-
importation threatens national
bankruptcy.
1t was obvious that the new mill
tary legislation should be based on
'ht principle that the framework OF
the national defense must be system
a,icalK organized in time Of peace.
\ Rejected Measure.
The first measure considered by
congress as a solution OF this funda-
mental problem was the bill submit
ted by former Secretary Baker short
ly after the armistice. This bill pro-
posed military organization in time
Of peace but in institutional forms
hitherto unknown to our political
system. II proposed a great stand
ing army in time of peace to be ex-
nandcl as such in time of war. 1t
did NOT propose measures for the
''LipA 'h -llA anu ilNllildll P'A AA'NN''''
ot our additional citizen armies but
practically eliminated them as es-
sent.al features Of our military sys-
TEN. The congress deliberately re-
jected this proposal because it in
volyed nrohibitive cost. because II
provided inadequate preparedness
ana bc.usc 1t proposed military
Institution universally regarded as
TYurnlut 10 the genius of our insti-
talons II rejected this official pro-
nosal hJt only after exhaustive hear
PAngs I'm which 1t was apparent that
WV thoughtful men. In the army or
cut w..a able to give 1t their APP
pr1yal
Congress has thus settled the mill
,a'y policy of the United States and
mas pr'scrihed that the military or
SEEA(