Evening star., 1923-06-28
Tells War College Graduates
Proponents Fail to Realize
Consequences.
ARMY OFFICERS URGED
TO MIX WITH CIVILIANS
Become Leaders in Communities,
Secretary Advises Mill
tary Men.

Flat opposition to any project for
using the Army to aid in prohibition
enforcement was voiced here today
by Secretary Weeks, speaking at
graduation exercises at the Army
War College.
Il cannot believe" he said. that
ployment for the Army. such as en-
forcement of prohibition. have given
serious thought to the possible con-
sequences of such a practice.
The War Secretary said he was
opposed to the use of the Army for
enforcement of civil laws unless all
civil police power shall have been ex-
hausted and there results that state
of insurrection and rebellion which
federal law provides alone shall jus
tffy use of troops in affording the
protection guaranteed to state gov
ernments by the Constitution"
Restriction by Congress.
'ln 1878" he said. Congress, with
a full knowledge of the dangers and
abuses which had arisen as a result
of the use of the Army in augmenta-
ton Of the civil police power, saw fit
to pass the act forbidding the partici-
patton OF even a single member OF
the military establishment in a
posse comitatus.' The reasons for
that legislation appear to me now to
be as sound as when enacted"
Mr.. Weeks position was stated in
eloentaily in his plea to the gradual
ing oHlcerS, who have successfully
completed the final stage of their
military education and been recorded
general staff duty. to see that the
Regular Army hereafter takes a
larger share in the civil life OF the
country. The time has passed. he
said when there should be an isola-
ton for the regulars. the national
defense act having made the work
of providing for national security
equally that of civilians and regu-
lars, although the regulars do the
planning.
Cooperation of All.
ut is both. logical and desirable
that there should be complete under
standing and cooperation between
our citizens and those who are i'm
mediately responsible for making ef-
fective plans for our defense" Sec
retary Weeks said. The War De-
partment recognizes the great possi-
bilities which the Army possesses for
rendering important public service of
broad character. 1t must be a
force for civic oetterment wherever
found.
Graduates of the Army War Col
lege have had unusual opportunities
to gain this broad conception of serv-
fnn
bilities in the military profession
You have successfully commanded d
troops where success was dependent
upon consideration for both the well
fare of the individual and the mass.
End of Isolation.
Il urge that you enter into the
life of the community in which you
may be assigned, and associate init
mately with your fellow citizens in
any constructive work which inspires
your personal interest Do your share
in promoting progress in your local
ity, whether 1T be in religion. educa-
ton. or one or more of the many COM
mendable fields of civic associations.
Assume leadership in removing the
last vestiges of isolation which are
the Army's heritage from those pio-
neer days when its place was in the
isolated regions of our territory rath-
er than in the centers of population"
Gen. Pershing Speaks.
Gen. Pershing, who also addressed
the graduating officers. said: THE
one-time role of a regular Army OFF,
Ger has passed with the Indian cam
paigns and the requirement of colo
nial possessions.
Our mission today Is definite, yet
so broad that few, IL any, have been
able to grasp the possibilities of the
new fields opened up by the military
policy now on the statute books
Mai. Gen. E. F. McGlachlin. jr., re-
firing commandant of the War Col
lege, had elected to retire also from
the Army, after more than thirty
years active service.
IN his own address Gen. McGlachlin
urgently recommended that the War
College become increasingly a great
military university, where represen-
tatives of all departments of the gov
ernment should discuss the problems
of war. He insisted that ito the bal
anced mind, that sees things as they
are, 1t Is not opinion, belief or faith,
but certainty, that there will be more
wars" In support of his statement
he enumerated what he called bases
of argument against the pacifists" in
the way of general conditions exist
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