Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-09-09
WAR DEPARTMENT
GAN DRAFT MEN
UNDER NEW BILL
Authority Has Been 1ncorporat.
ed Into Federal Military
Code.
FEW PEOPLE REALIZE
SCOPE OF STATUTE

Washington, Sept. S.-That con-
scription-the power to draft all male
citizens between the ages of IS and
IS in time of war-nas been incor.
porated into our laws will surprise
many citizens. Congress found it out
only few days before adjournment.
Representatives Huddleston Of Ala
bama, exposed the joker by which this
serious result has been brought
about. 81 think" said Mr. Huddles-
ton, speaking in the House August
rs, that the attention of the Ameri-
con people ought to be called to the
fact that we are have CONSUMPTION
incorporated into our laws. 1t is now
possible as general provision OF
law and as permanent part of our
law, to take peaceable citizens out of
their homes who have never belong
ed to the militia and put them into
the ranks and send them to the front
to fight. This power Of CONSUMPTION
is not retained by Congress, as it
ought to be, but is given to the Ex-
ecutive and may be eXerted by him
without consulting Congress. Did you
know that, gentlemen of the Con-
gress? Do the American people realize
that? No. l will guarantee that there
are not dozen members who realize
that the condition to which l refer
has arisen
Reviews History
Huddelston thereupon reviewed the
history of this remarkable legislation.
He showed how on March %, Rep
resentative Hay of Virginia, Chair
man Of the Military Affairs Commit
tee, brought in a committee amend
ment, prepared by Representative
Carl Halden of Arizona, providing for
Reserve Battalions" to be organized
in each congressional district when
ever the militia regiment for that
district is ordered to the front. The
vial part of the amendment was as
follows:
"If for any reason there shall not
be enough voluntary enlistments to
keep the reserve battalions at the
prescribed strength sufficient num-
Der of the unOrganiZed militia shall
be called into the service of the Unit
ed States to maintain each of such
battalions at the proper strength"
The unorganized militia consists of
all able-bOdied male citizens of the
United States between the ages of IS
and As years.
Used Word "caiIed"
The legislation as thus proposed
was unobjectionable. 1t used the
word "called" which was entirely
consistent with securing the desired
recruits by volunteering. The bill
went to the Senate, was amended,
came back to the House, and went
to conference" committee. In the
secrecy of the committee room, the
word "called" was stricken out and
the word "drafted' was substituted.
but when the conference report was
made to the House, no word of the
change was mentioned in the report.
When confronted with the facts by
Huddleston, Representative Hay ad-
mitted the charge, but excused it Ey
saying: What is the difference be-
tween the President being authorize l
to CALL men out and to draft them?
There is no difference, so far as the
PRESIDENT is concerned"
This statement by Hay is very re-
markable in view of another state
ment made by him nthe same sub
ject on March %. The difference
between the words, "call' and
draft" came up at that time, when
Representative Miller Of Minnesota
asked that some other word than
draft" be used in authorizing the
president to bring the militia into the
federal service. He suggested the
word, "ordered.'' Mr.. Hay replied:
Says It Was Necessary.
"The word, order and the word.
draft are two entirely separate and
distinct words, and mean entirely
separate and distinct things. And if
the. gentleman will looK into the de-