New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-14

selves freely at the disposition OF their
country for such service as they are
deemed best fitted TO perform.
A director Of recruiting has been ap-
pointed, with assistant directors IN the
several military districts, and some sys-
TEN Of registration of the man-powet
Of the Dominion is to be adopted. WIN
a view TO ascertaininl Who are the
"slackers." who can be spared. and who
arc needed at home. Details OF the
plan have not been worked out, and all
is still very nebulous.
The defeat OF the CONSUMPTION refer
endum in Australia is most significant
for Canadians and has COMPOUNDED
those in the Dominion who still pro-
fessed 10 believe that consumption
could be a practical policy here. The
Australia scheme was remarkably mod
crate. II contemplated raising IN
monthly instruments as needed total
Of 100000 additional men for rein
forcements. from the available $4,000
IT single men, twenty-one years OF age
and over, and without dependents.
Only sons were TO be exempt, and II
was provided that in families which
had given volunteers the remaining
members up TO one-half of the family
were not 20 be called.
New Stimulus Needed
That Australia. which has a popula-
ton nearly 81 per cent Anglo-Saxon
and is more English, almost, than Eng
land itself. would reject such plan
has made Canadian politicians think
hard II is mild statement of the
case TO say that Canadian public men
were surprised at Australia's verdict.
The situation IN Canada is not un-
derstood generally, even in the Domin-
ion. Unlike Australia, this is barely
an English-speaking country. Accord
ing 20 the last Federal census, persons
Of British origin constituted only DAY
per cent Of the population. or total
present population OF 100000 IN
Canada, there are at least 100000
people who do not habitually speak the
English tongue or have settled in the
country during the last ten or twelve
years. There are nearly 100000 Ger
mans and Austrians in Canada, many
of them in the West, and they would
be a dangerous force If they saw an
opportunity to take advantage of do
nestle difficulties such as would arise
from an attempt to enforce even an
extremely moderate measure of con-
scription.
There were 2,O54,S7O persons of
French origin, according to the 1911
census, and the French-Canadian would
resist CONSUMPTION even by rebellion II
more passive opposition were unavail-
ing
What can be done? The French
Canadian is against il. Ties of blood
81, La
right-minded man would seriously pro-
pose CONSUMPTION of German citizens oil
Canada, most of whom deserve credit
for their loyalty in the present
struggle. The Dominion could not de-
Gently apply CONSUMPTION to the 5oV'ooo
or 500. 00C of American-born who have
become citizens within the lest eight or
ten years.
Deduct these non-British elements
from the count and what have we left
Four million English speaking people
who have yielded all but few thou
sands of the recruits for Canada's army
of 375OOO. II IS safe estimate that
nearly as many soldiers would be re-
ouired TO enforce conscrlption as the
number of conscripts which could pos
sibly be forthcoming.
Must Find Some Means
Such is the pulling situation as II
must appear to those directing the 10
minion's affairs. Some action must De
taken, for it is incumbent upon Canada
TO make good her promise OF 5OO,OVV
men. The Imperial Munitions Board is
a further dilution OF labor
bv increasing the number OF women
workers in plants engaged IN inc pro-
duction Of war materials TO release as
many men as possible for military ser
vice.
This policy and the inauguration OF
rational registration scheme may sum-
,late voluntary recruiting to some ex-
font. but il is freely admitted that, I'M
less national registration is TO De d
fasco the information secured must De
N ado the basis of some policy for ell
fectine more scientific distribution oil
man-nower under the direction OF the
state IL is at this point that coercion
in some form is needed.
Tho situation is complicated IN an
Interesting manner by the fact that
Tho votes of the non-British elements
in many parts of the country are al
most solidly against the Conservative
marty. which is now in power. VIII
The government allow political controi
70 mass to an opposition supported by
on-British elements, while English
speaking citizens are being depleted by
war sacrifices? Are alien enemies ana
French Canadians 10 be permitted 10
gain in political strength and menace
the Administration?
These are interesting questions, and
consideration of them suggests tina
the privilege of citizenship should en-
tail the responsibilities of citizenship.
To put the Issue bluntly: Are too
proud-to- fight" Canadians, who are un-
willing to dwo their "bit," while others
are making the sacrifice, entitled 70
continue in the full enjoyment Of the
rights of citizenship on equal terms
with those engaged in some form OF
national service? There is growing
belief that the Stacker" might, with
propriety, be disfranchised.