The Alaska daily empire., 1916-09-16
Boys of Eighteen Are to Be Taken Into Army For First Time in
 Years
NEW NATIONAL DEFENSE
Was Made in the Face of Spirited Op- position in the
 Senate

hNeAoAAAANA OANf 2NNAs Ice A'fNN ial)-There win be some desire among those who are interested gen. orally in National defense, and more specifically in the National Guard and the regular army. to know some thing of the details of the operation whereby the age limit for enlistments was reduced from 21 years, to IS years. The change was made in the face of a spirited opposition on the part of number of Southern eSna- tors, led by Senator Underwood of Nabama, and in making it the Sen ate reversed a position previoulsy taken.
 The question came up in the Sen ate when that body was considering the army bin in the light of Pres ident Wilson's veto. lt was an old question and had frequently been thoroughly discussed, and to the as- tonishment of a good many obser- vers the reversal of the position came without previous warning. Sen ator Underwood forced a roll-call and it showed twenty-five members sup porting the 1S-year age limit and twenty-three the limit of 2l years
 If Senator Underwood had prevail ed it would now be impossible for a young man less than 21 years old to enlist without the written consent of parents or guardian. This was the law from the time of the Civil War down to the present and ap- piled not only to the regular army but also to the National Guard.
 Change Made In Conference
 When the army reorganization bill was in conference, the conferees changed the lawful age from 21 toI IS years, without the question be- ing brought before either house, ex- cept in so far as the conference re- port brought 1t there In other words this change of age was actually made in conference without previous con sultation with either the House or Senate. The conference report hay ing been adopted. and tho bill now being in force. the 1S.year limit is the law Of the land for the first time in half a century
 When the army bill reached the Senate originally that body by more than 8 two-thirds mapority op- posed the 1.year plan. The House conferees, however. declined to agree with the Senate, and the 1S-year plan was retained in the bill After the bin had been vetoed by the Presi dent. those men in the Senate who opposed the lS.year limit determined to make another fight but to their surprise, the roll call, showed them 70 be in the minority The two- thirds majority previously shown had melted away under the pressure of public opinion in favor of an adc- Quate program Of defense.
 Discussion of the plan evoked a lively debate in which Senator Un- derwood contended that boys Of 1SI are mere children" who could be dragged away from comfortable homes by the recruiting sergeant. He said military. men were respon- sible for agitating the change but took pride in declaring that the country was not goyerened by mill tary men not controlled by militaryI sentiment
 Nelson Champions Youth.
 Senator Knute Nelson, of Mime sota came forward as the resolute champion of the young men under 21 years who are now on the border with the state troops, and Of others who would enlist in the service.
 ITO my mind" said the Minnesota senator, land l speak from exper fence. the best school young man of IS years can attend is the army where he must conform to the dis cipline and regulations there enforc- ed. enlisted in the United States army as private soldier at the age of IS years. and served through a large part of the civil war. have always regarded that as the best part of my education and my best schooling in life. would never have gotten along as well as have had it not been for the teaching the experience and the discipline I re- ceived in the army of the United | States"
 Tt is belittling the army to say that it is a mistake to put young men of IS years into it. hold that the army of the nited States is as reputable body of men as any that can be found within the broad ex- panse of the republic. It is as good a place to put our young men, under the charge of the skilled and compe- tent officers, as any other of which l have knowledge; and. as honorable | as is even the service in the Senate of the United States"
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