Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-07

although these allotments are not yet
authorized With two senators and
four representatives. Maine would have
4Soa men, but orders from Washington
allow the recruiting Of only about 5000
at the present time.
1.-THE size Of q states Guard may
be increased only by order Of and In
the discretion OF the governor. ! 'se-
fbeve as the situation is today that we
dc not need moxe than 222S officers and
| men and SO shall not increase this
| number unless 81 me emergency arises.
The Increases made by me since 1871
| are enough for the present.
Many thoughtful military men be-
lieye that the present basis Of 500 is
| too large and rot practical. and have
/ asked that 1t Re reduced. In our own
state some Of cur military leaders are
OF this opinion and believe that the
| maximum Of Maine should be 5000.
Major General Richards, chief Of the
| bureau in Washington. himself is
| quoted as saying that he realized the
| impossibility due to insuficiency OF
| funds Of completing the Guard plan
or the 500 basis. This represents the
| situation in Name, for If the Guard is
| increased an undue burden will be
| placed upon the taxpayers.
| 1.-THE tendency to expand the work OF
all State departments is natural,
whether they he civilian or military.
and appeals from every department
are coming in FIR more and more funds.
1t is for the Legislature. to determine
! TOW much money should be spent.
! IN, 81 1,oe low al
increased since the war. In 1914 SOL.
766 was appropriated for this work, in
| 1921 there was an appropriation of
| $117,639.23. This was the largest ever
made for the purpose in peace time,
and / gave it my approval. The present
budget committee has been requested
to appropriate $1T3,6SS for 1928 and
| will probably be called upon to add
| to this 100000 for the construction Of
| two armories, but that sum does not
include maintenance for these afmories.'
| These items make a total of $273,6SS.
or an increase If 1890 since / became
! governor.
| 1.-THE State of Maine must economic
| In every department for the taxpayers
burdens are overwhelming, and the mil
,nust not expand their present actiyi-
ties.
THE cost of our military forces
| is mounting rapidly. When all troops
are at their annual encampment the
State pays over $1,000 a day to the
soldiers in addition to the amount
they, receive from the Federal Gov
eminent. S20,100 is asked for ar
mory rentals and repairs, while the
single item for small arms practice
is $4,000 in addition to this. The
United States pays liberal sums to
the Guard of Maine and privates re-
ccive $500 a day for drill work, and
this sum increases up the line to
$6.67 for captains.
''In 1914 we had a small National
Guard and outside of that there were
but a few hundred men in the State
who had ever had real military train
ing. Today the situation is digerent.
! 200 men went from Maine into
the World War and received military
training. Most of these men still
live in the State and they will make
good fighting material for ten years
more. They can be called upon #
need arises. Several thousand of
them belong to the American Le-
gion. This source of strength was
unknown before the war but should
be taken into consideration in form
ing the States military policy. With
tie nation at peace with the world
! and with $1,000 veterans of tried
loyalty, we all should bend every eff
fort to return to peaceful pursuits.
Good citizens have reason to sleep
soundly in their beds and need not be
disturbed if the Maine National
Guard is for the present not in
creased in numbers.
II do not believe in compulsory or
| universal military training, nor in
great preparation for war. There is
q large amount of military prOpa-
ganda abroad in the land under the
/ false name of patriotism" and it
well may be that most of it is backed
by the munition manufacturers. This
propaganda is hard to counterfeit for
it talks of "self defense" and uses
catch phrases to mislead citizens. It
must, however, be discounted and
the selfish pleas of profteers must
not be needed.
II have ideals for the future and
believe in the gradual. mutual re-
! duction of ornaments by the great
nations of the world. These ideals
only can be realized after consider
able lapse Of time and after public
sentiment throughout the world has
changed Today we must face con-
ditions in a practical manner. The
| World War revolutionized the mill
removed the military menace of
Germany Today the world knows
the strength of the United States in
men and material. Disarmament
will come but meanwhile avoiding
anything savoring Of militarism we
must make reasonable preparation
! for actual defense.
1.-THE people of Maine have en-
| trusted me with the guidance of their
affairs for the next two years and
shall see that their lives and prop
erty are protected. / have faith in
| the National Guard. am proud of it,
and shall give it proper support. Its
members know my regard for them
| for I repeatedly have urged tcitizens
| throughout the State to give the
Guard their moral and material
backing. The State of Maine is safe
and / shall do my part to have it
| continue so.
"As Commander in Chief of the
Maine National Guard I appreciate
| the responsibility that is placed upon
1,ol cI,i IL 10