The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-01
DO We FORGET 81 FAMOUS ARTISTS
Norris L. Gage Writes of Need
of Military CONSUMPTION.
Fittest of Nation and Individual
Is One Prepared.

(The writer of the following letter
was a volunteer soldier in the war for
the preservation of the UnionD
To the Editor of the State Journal:
1t is boastfully asserted by leading
party organs that the late Republican
convention in one of its resolutions de-
clared expressly against military con-
scription.
The present generation seems to
have forgotten, if it ever knew, that
the rebellion of 1861 never would have
been suppressed, that the Union never
would have been maintained, had 1t
not been for the use of that powerful
weapon of last resort. military con-
scription, or what is commonly known
as the draft.
Enthusiasm ran so high in 1861 and
early in 1862 that voluntary enlist
merits with the aid of a small regular
army were sufficient to fill the Union
ranks; but before President Lincoln
made his call for 100000 more on
April /. 1868. it was decided by the
war department and by congress that
military conscription law must be
enacted with all necessary require
ments for its enforcement. The law
was passed March 3, 1868, and Colonel
Frye, regular army officer, was pro-
NOTED to brigadier general and as
signed to duty as provost marshal gen.
eral to enforce the law. Thereafter
when call was made the number was
apportioned to the various Union
states in proportion to the population
of each state. Assistant provost mar
shals were appointed for each con-
gressiOnal district, surgeons were ap-
pointed to decide who were exempt on
Of nh diG9 hiIifV and all
other men between the ages of 1 8 and
As were subject to draft, unless they
furnished a competent substitute. AT
no place except in New York city was
the draft resisted. and there it was
suppressed by veteran troops sent up
from the Army of the Potomac.
Under this law General Frye placed
over 100000 soldiers in the Union
army. No draft was necessary in
Kansas, as the state furnished more
than it's required quota by volunteer
enlistments. In many localities money
was raised by local taxation to hire
volunteers and thus the quota was Sc
cured without resort to the draft. But
it was the threat of the impending
CONSUMPTION law which produced this
effect.
During all the time the draft was
being enforced there was an over
whelming Union sentiment in the
north, but the feeling which prevailed
was. why should a comparative few
of US enlist and suffer all the risks al
the nominal pay of $13 a month while
the great majority remain safely al
home, making money and reaping the
rewards of our work? We are all in
terested in a common cause which we
deem of vital moment and each should
share alike in the risk" This logica
defense of the draft law was con-
coded as proving it's justice.
No nation can long survive unless
every able bodied man is subject tC
military duty in it's defense in time OF
peril. Every nation on the continent
of Europe either directly or indirectly
has military CONSUMPTION law
France would have been submerged
/ had it not been for such a law. Eng
! land has found. when it is almost toe
late, that she is sadly in need of such
| a law.
| In the long run the Fundamental
/ law of the survival OF the fittest con
| trolls the universe ana the fittest fol
| bot a nation or individual is the one
! best prepared. Without the right t
marshal all its resources of men and
| material any nation however wealth,
in money and men. must perish.
NORRIS L. GAGE.