The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-03-05
Legion and
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partment The governor has the
power to organize the state guard.
cannot see in reading this bill, and
have talked with labor men and they
told me that they had no objections
to this bill at ALL In the terms of
economy the highest amount that
would be used would be about $4,000,
if that much, and that only in case of
emergency. Further than that it al
lows the governor of the state to
utilize the man power of the state of
81 years. Also, as fast as the army
trucks go out of commission in Camp
Murray, we can have them here in
| the state.
| Adj. Gen. LANCE next took the floor
and said, that all of the equipment,
rifles, kits, ETC., that were used in
the last war are supplied to us by
the federal government, but that the
uniforms, etc., must be bought from
the state This bill exempts no one
from military service. 1t would re-
quire special session of the legislature
in case an emergency arises, if this
bill does not pass. We are not al
lowed to organize or enlist more than
$50 men in the state. 1t is up to the
governor of Montana to organize these
units in any way he sees fit This
legislation, if passed, is there if we
need it.
Bob Merrill of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars from Havre was the
next speaker to appear before the
committee. He stated that: we are
working for anything that will give us
better Defense and l believe Mr.
Busha has said everything there is
to be said.
Frank Flaherty, state commander of
the American Legion from Great Falls
then took the floor. He said that the
War Department wants this legisla-
ton and urges the different states
to put through this measure. Some
forty-one states are introducing prac-
tically the same law. Also, that the
governor doesn't have to call the state
guard out unless there is an emer-
gency. The War Department furnishes
rifles, kits, etc. that they had in the
last war.
Adj.-Gen. LANCE took the floor again
and said that it took a special kind
of training to combat insurrection,
and unless the men do have that kind
of training we might as well not have
anything at all We might not have
IN oroaniua mona thon tmo m. thrQQ
units, and it doesn't cost the state a
cent to train the men. The governor
has about twenty applications for To-
cations of these units. The men may
be called out only for sabotage or in
surrection or things of that sort.
Mr.. Busha asked to speak again
and said that in discussing this mat
ter it would be good business to set
this business up now rather than have
to call out a special session If an
emergency arises. The Army, FBI,
Naval Intelligence and War Intelli-
gence and all of the men who have
studied thi sproblem know that this
is a good bill. Also that the age
limit is set in by them. 1t amounts
to real insurance for the State of
Montana. The $4,000 has not as yet
been appropriated in the appropria-
ton committee, and the committee
may reduce the amount. He further
stated that there is nothing in the
bill to be used against labor.
Mr. Hunter of Lewis and Clark !
county, moved that when the commit
tee brings this bill out tonight on the
floor of the house that it recommends
said bill 40 pass, this motion was |