Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-17
BY George E. Chamberiin
Chairman Senate Committee on Mill
tary Affairs.

Chairman Senate Committee on Mill
tary Affairs.
ut may be stated without aualifica-
ton that no congress since the adoD-
ton of the constitution has such rec
ord of accomp lishment as has the first /
session OF the Sixty fifth congress-the /
first war congress. This statement /
has particularly to do with legIsla-
ton that has been made necessary for |
placing the country in a proper atti- !
tude for defensive as well as for an |
offensive World war
"On the second day of April. 1917,
the president declared his message to
congress calling attention to the fact
that America because Of the attitude
which the imperial German govern
ment had assumed was already in
state os war, and advising as to the
needs of the country for bringing that
war to successful conclusion. On
the fifth day Of the same month con
gress adopted resolution declaring
that state of war existed, and on the
next day the presidents proclamation
OF war was issued.
with the exception Of few laws
which were passed during the proceed
ing session providing for q reergani-
cation Of the army and an increase of
the navy in the number Of hattleshius
and In the personnel as well, America
was practically unprepared to play its
part in the greatest war Of history.
Immediately, however, upon the issu-
ance of the presidents proclamation
and as soon as the needs OF our coun-
try were brought to the attention Of
congress legislation began to be for
INFLATED, discussed and enacted which
the crisis demanded.
Criticism Unjastified.
| There has been disposition in
some quarters to criticise congress
sional action and to charge dilateri-
ness upon the part OF the administra-
ton. Such criticism was and is
wholly uniustifed, however much
merited might be q criticism that con-
| gress had acted with too much raste,
| for between the declaration OF war
and the adjournment of congress
everything was done which seemed to
be necessary in order that America
might play her part In an international
cataclysm
/ TT would be impossible In a short
statement to go into details with ref
erence to legislation which has beer
tenacted, but 1t is proper to call atten.
ton to few Of the most salient meas.
ures. First Of all as an efficient
measure for raising an army the selec
tive draft law easily occupies the frs
place. The draft was urged by Wash
ington and his generals as necessar,
TO the successful carrying bn of thu
revolutionary war, and reluctan
congress finally enacted such a Law
| without the power to enforce it, ant
one Of the first acts Of congress undo,
the constitution was the compulsorl
service law of 1892, which remained OF
the statute books until its repeal b,
the so-called Dick law in 1908. Tina
s act was impracticable and unsuited Il
:. modern conditions and in a war sucl
d as that which is waging now wouit
: have been wholly lacking in efficiency
, Jefferson favored such a law, and on
, OF the ahlest unofficial procurement
of President Lincoln was in favor O
the draft act OF 1863.
Draft Law Necessary.
Before Great Britain had proceed
ed far with the performance of he
+ part in the pending struggle he
statesmen and military leaders real
q lied that such a law was necessary /
# raise an efficient army. and after
long struggle such an act was FINAL
! passed.
THE same thing is true of Canad;
and only within the past few month
I has such an act been passed by th
n Canadian parliament, so that it will b
II seen that in the very beginning of tn
participation by the United States i
the war congress, profiting by the mis-
!, takes OF her allies, promptly passe
the seleetive draft law which con
O pels those between the ages of q an
- 81 years to recognize that the righ-
= of citizenship involve a reciprbci
Il duty and makes every man with
military age respond to a call to Il
@ coiors when his service is needed.
ID Within this period OF six month
IN therefore we have seen an army of
Il million men raised by the voluntet
: system supplemented by the selecti7
IA draft law. This army has bee
raised, too, by the civilian forces
=, the government, and we have had ii
remarkable spectacle within rece
~ weeks Of more than 100000 your
l men mobilizing to their respecti
~ rendezvous unaccompanied by militia
~ leaders and practically on orders /
. sued by the commander in chief OF L
army through appropriate tribuna
20 in the different states. If the who
he army could have been raised By Ii
-, method instead of through a resort
~ the volunteer system the burde
would have been more eQuitably di
" trihuted throughout the several col
munities In the several states, til
ry afforting protection against the dep
ton Of labor in commercial, agricl
tural and industrial life
OH The Aircraft Program.
b. Next in Importance was the act a
a. propriating $640.0000O0 for the &c
struetion of aircraft, and later I
bill providing for the creation Of [
aircraft board. Under these two al
i,S the United States with a possible O,
as put OF few airplanes per year "
now, through the mobilization of
20. Industrial life to the accomplishing
en- Of this important work. be able
ny construct airplanes in sufficient nu
M bers TO meet her own reqniremel
and possibly those OF her allies
nj well. II as has been asserted in ma
quarters these machines are to be