Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-03-01
TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE

The heavy vote of the Wisconsin assembly for the
abolition of National Guard of that state is indicative
of condition in that commonwealth worthy of serious
thought The is that of socialist, that u.s. OF
man who does believe in the American system and
we that radcalism expressed in Senator La Fol
ettes ideas and attitudes to find favor with SUB
stanta majority of the people of the state But we were
not prepared to learn that which proposes to
withdraw the support of Wisconsin from institution
as old the republic in if not in form could
sweeping an Endorsement IN any state OF the
Union.
THE TRIBUNES Investigator, Mr.. Arthur Evans,
concludes that if it not believed in the lower house
that the bill would be killed in the senate there would not
have been large vote In other words it is another
of passing the buck but that at any rate assumes
there is enough opinion favorable to the bill to induce
the lower house pass the responsibility to the
We might overlook it legislative joke bad joke,
but there has been serious movement against the Guard
and citizen training of which the Guard bill is but one
manifestation.
can policy "to provide for the defense by small
standing army maintained by the Union and militia or
body Of citizen soldiers maintained by the various
eighties which compose the Union The National Guard
the latest and highest development OF the militia and
unless ready to put the common defense entirely
the hands of standing army to adopt the theory
of extreme pacfism and completely dsar is the duty
of Wisconsin to the nation well as to herself to man
tain her proportion of organized civilian sodiery repre-
scented under present national policy by the National
Guard and the organized ed reserve .-.-.
among loyal Americans in the full it will need
We assert therefore, that this is breach OF
faith disloyay to the American sisterhood OF states
and to common country
It is we concede natural fruit of the spirit which
Senator La Toilette has found profitable politically
to stimulate in Wisconsin But it is challenge to loyal
Amercansm not only in Wisconsin but throughout the
nation challenge ought to accept at with the
resolution to find out what the extent of disntegratng
influences and to combat them before it is too late
The example is the more impressive 1t we think OF
the record of the National Guard and citizen sodery OF
Wisconsin 1t is of the most inspiring in American
history fact exceptional record of vaor and sodl
cry efficiency Once the people of Wisconsin proud
of this record. What has come over them? Are they
thinking of withdrawing from the American republic to
set up a socialist commonwealth of their own?
1t is probable that the import OF the bill has
not home to the people of the state We know that
considerable element of organized labor is hostile
to the Guard because called keep the peace when
is that reason for abolshng the Guard the people of
Wisconsin afford to adopt? They would be more hon
est with themselves and the rest of If they proposed
the abolition by formal act of the right of private proper
ty and individual liberty and set up sovietism.
The bill may also appeal to others an economy,
relief of taxpayers from state expenditure the Guard
Is possible that the people of Wisconsin far
ther than that? The Guard costs about % cents in
habtant. Cheap insurance.
Whatever the motives fanced sef-interests which
support this dscredabe proposal it is in itself omi
portent loyal Americans cannot afford to ignore
1t reveals demoralzed public opinion in OF the fore
most of the American commemorative, under the long
continued influence of alien ideas and seduousy nfamed
discomfort.
Something more important than the National Guard
is at stake honorable that historic institution u.s. The
not propose stop with it's destruction They are hostile
to the American system of ordered liberty and they will
destroy if they 1t is up to Americans who believe
in Amercanism the fathers founded it and
tions of Americans have cherished 1t to discern these
fluences and to wipe them out-Chicago Tribune.