New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-13
VERGES
ON NCONSCRIPTION
Tide Of "SlackerS" Across
United States Border
Must Be Stemmed.
fBy Telegraph 70 Tho Triogn,

Toronto. Feb. II. Canada finally mas
been brought under the shadow OF pos
sible conscription. Aole-bodied young
men. many Of them possessing inde-
nendent incomes. are evading military
service BY the simple device OF moving
over the international boundary Into
the United States, to remain until the
return Of the days Of peace.
So constant is the stream Of SLACK
era across the boundary that indig-
nant and harassed officials are planning
every obstacle short Of conscription 10
prevent their departure from the coun-
try. They have exhausted all 'he
arqumentative measures that we're eN-
pected TO shame young men into the
service and are about 70 substitute
more forceful methods.
Al meeting Of the Citizens Re-
cruiting League Of Military District
No. ,. including Toronto and Hamilton
which has enlisted about 20 per cent
If all the forces sent TO the front oy
Canada, a resolution was adopted ca't-
inc upon the government TO MAKE ~
impossible for anybody OF miltary ase
10 leave the country without pas
port furnished by competent q"
thority. 3 this
resolution Ia that II the pote".it.,, 80
colder can be forced 70 remain IN the
l.. orr1r
scr,,ice by constant heckllng OF me"
ana women recruiting agents VINO stop
nedestrians on the street and ask e"'-
barrassing questions concerning 1heI.
reasons Tor enjoying life OF ease
vhile others are fighting their BATE.
Rut the passport plan Is iraus"0
u.i.b so many difficulties that ~ may
he necessary to abandon II. Inc ei-
feet on traffic at such points as DeVlo.V
and the Niagara frontier would oe '''
tie short OF revolutionary. 49,.
still another phase Of the SITUATION
tba. will demand careful study Is tne
nossibility that as many recruits "ou'u
he kent out of the country by the pass
mort system. should it be adopted Dy
,he United States in retaliation a.
,rould no kept IN. Citizens OF the
I'nited States. who have been joining
the Foreign Legion in large numbers
ro,ld find il practically Impossible 10
do so # officials on the United states
side of the border should INSIST upon
asking questions concerning ther rea-
sons for visiting Canada.
The present crisis has been Orougns
about largely by the Just complaints o.
hose who BY enlisting are shouidet ing
their share of the government Dut-
dens. The obvious injustice or permit
ting 10 escape those who do not care
IN nerform their unpleasant duties mas
been brought 70 the attention OF tne
government By more than one VIC
mother or sweetheart VINO mace no
omen protest when the man they loFed
was sent to the front
Another feature OF the volunteer sys-
tom that government officials wish 20
correct concerns the taking OF fathers
and husbands away from families "hen
their earnings at home are most need-
cd II Is said that IN one case ialher
Of eight children volunteered ana NAs
accented. The result was that regular
nav. assigned pa. separation allowance
and natriotic fund allowance would to
fal - 600 a wear as the cost Of TINS sol
fier's stay a. the front. Meanwnile
there remain here plenty Of unmarried
men whose responsibilities would not
exceed $500 year and whose deaths
would not leave burden of dependents
10 he looked after bv the country.