The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-04-03
WILSON'S POWER
ALLOWS DRAFTING
Hay Act Gives President Pow
er to Raise Great Army.
CAN CALL ALL FROM 10 TO as

This, However, Only In Case Of War.
All Factories Are Obligated to Carry
Out His Orders-FaiIure to Comply Is
a Felony Punishable by imprisonment
for Three Years.
Under the Hay national defense act,
approved June 3, 1916, the president
has the authority to raise an army of
100000 or more to use in or out of
the United States. The same measure
provides that he may draft men from
eighteen to forty-five years old into
the service Of the country In time of
war. Section 10 provides that: when
the members Of three or more regi-
ments Of the national guard of any
state, territory or district shall have
been brought into the service, the re-
serve battalions of such regiments may
be organized into provisional regiments
and higher units.
"If for any reason there shall not be
enough voluntary enlistments to keep
the reserve battalions at the prescribed
strength, sufficient number Of the un-
the service of the United States to
maintain each of such battalions at the
proper strength"
The act provides for one reserve bat
talon for each regiment of infantry or
cavalry, each nine batteries of field ar
tillery and each twelve companies of
coast artillery brought into the service
of the United States from the national
guard in time of wal.
Can Draft Limitless Numbers.
Such reserve battalion is to consti-
tute the fourth battalion of any such
regiment or twelve companies of coast
artillery. Reserve battalions shall con-
sist of four companies of such strength
as-may be prescribed by the president.
The act also provides that the army
can be increased by FIVE annual incre-
ments, but in time of war or when
war is imminent all of the increments
can be put in at once, making a stand
ing army of 250000.
In time of war the president is en-
powered to draft without limit from
the unorganized militia, which includes
all men between the ages of eighteen
and forty-fve.
The author of section 70 of the Hay
act asserts that the power of the pres.
ident to enlarge the army under that
provision practically is unlimited.
The president in time of war or when
war is imminent can, through the head
of any department of the government
in addition to the present authorized
methods of purchase or procurement
place an order with any individual
firm, association, company, corpora
tion or organized manufacturing indus.
try for such product or material as
may be required.
Presidents Orders imperative.
Compliance with all such orders for
products and material is made obliga-
tory and takes precedence over all
other orders and contracts Heretofore
placed. Any person, firm or other bust.
ness combination failing to comply
with the provisions of this section OF
the act is to be deemed guilty of fel.
only and liable to punishment by i'm.
prisonment for not more than three
years and by fine not exceeding
$4,000
The Hay bill also provides for the
procurement of gauges, dies, jigs, etc.,
necessary for the manufacture of arms
to be used by the government or man
ufacturers of arms, ammunition and
special equipment necessary to equip
the land forces likely to be required
by the United States in time of war.
The act provides for the establish
ment, maintenance and operation of
nitrate plants to supply nitrate for
manufacture of powder.
1t contains a provision for an officers
reserve corps in time of war, and it is
understood now that enough men are
listed under this provision to train any
number of soldiers the government
NAV naa1