New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-28

agricultural balance" said Senator
calder.
Nut Have Power to Select
Under a volunteer system there IS
ro way Of preventing men from leav-
ING necessary industries and Gripping
resources that are just as important as
tho army itself
The government. In order TO keep
the nations industries at high point
Of efficiency. must have the power to
reject men for service in the ranks
Who are needed more elsewhere"
such rejection Will be no reflection
upon those men, but viii be tribute
to the fact that they can do better
service for their country outside Of
the army.
As an example, one of the first
things this country faces is the CON
structon OF Il large Aect Of cargo ships
ia addition TO Increasing the navy. 1t
would be a grave mistake. both from a
military and economic standpoint. to
take any man into the ranks whose
services are needed In building ships.
There is a shortage Of such labor now
ut is my purpose 60 vote for this
measure. and for two reasons: First
DO IS the only certain way OF raising an
army OF sufficient size, and. second, |
can see TO reason why one man who is
patriotic enough 10 take up his share
Of the burden should do his service
while another less patriotic should be
permitted TO shirk his duty"
Kahn Closes General Debate
Representative Kahn. of California,
ranking Republican member Of the
Military Affairs Committee. and who
was born in Kuppenheim. Germany,
closed the general debate for conscrlp-
tion in a speech to-day lasting more
than two hours, in which ne summed
up cOmpreheusivcly the arguments for
the selective draft and against de-
pendence on the volunteer system.
His speech was in striking contrast
to that Of Chairman Dent, who
seemed 70 be apologizing for his OPP
position 20 the Administration, and
10 that OF Speaker Champ Clark.
Mr.. Clarks speech was an old-tme
Fourth Of July Grafton "a eulogy OF
the American volunteer. Mr.. knhn's
speech was a long series Of logical
arguments showing why the volunteer
system was not satisfactory and had
never been satisfactory, and why the
selective draft was the only fair
method Of distributing the burden.
The House cheered Mr. Kahn loudly
when he began his summing up IL
favor Of the selective draft. In every
war. he said, some Americans had put
every obstacle in the way.
"The extreme pacifist always has
been with US" he said. "and frequently
he hampered the operations Of the
government, in and out Of Congress"
A system which permits the volun-
teer to sacrifice his life in defence OF
his flag and permits the shlrker TO re-
main at home he denounced as neither
fair just or democratic.
EurOpe's COnscripts Brave
Mr.. Kahn said honesty compelled
admiration Of the fighting quality anC
valor Of the Germans. that Belgium:
army was made up from draft, that
the soldiers who fought the battle OF
the Marne and are now driving back
the German forces were all men con
scripted by France and that the ltal
ians are conscripts.
Under systems Of universal obliga
tion to service in war time" he said
these men were trained for just sucf
an emergency as that which confront'
them to-day. Any one who attempts L
belittle the valor Of the conscript does
not know what he is talking about.
There must be no blunders like
those made in the past. Every mar
between twenty-one and forty years ole
must know that he is liable to be called
during the progress of this war. Hi
country viii determine when his ser
vices are needed and will notify hin
in proper time. That is the democratic
fair equitable way.
Mr.. Kahn declared that If France
had awaited the enlistment Of volun
tccrs there probably would be NJ
France.
Chairman Dent followed Mr.. Kahr
with the final argument for the volun
teer amendment. As Mr.. Dent finished
about fifty pro-volunteer members or
both sides Of the chamber rose anC
applauded Fully twice as many re
mainei seated.
Debate in the Senate was opened b,
Senator Jones, Republican, Of Wash
ington, who supported the selectiv,
draft.
"The man who must conduct the wal
our commander in chief, urges il as
wise and necessary measure now" h
declared "1he military authorities, al
most without exception, urge il. Tn
Senate committee. which has fully ex
amined it, recommends 1t. The lesson
of the great war point 20 il as a wis
course. Why should l not vote for it D.?
Senator McCumber. who did not ind
cate his position on the bill, asserte
that 10000, 600 trained men would no
win the war for the United States
the submarine menace were not over
come.
Senator Kellogg. Republican, Of Min
nesota. spoke in favor Of the Admin
istration bin. 81 deny that this vii
create a large standing army or en-
courage militarism." ne said. Teach
ing young men how 10 defend thei
country does not make for militarisr
it has not done so in France, Swift
gerland or other nations where mill
tary service is obligatory and uni
Nersal.'