Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-21

fore the Senate today which voted
unanimously to dispIace the e.
rionage bill and to give their en-
tire attention to the draft meas
ure. Senator Chamberlain In
charge Of the measure predicted
that II would be passed by mar
gin of from 10 to 20 votes.
Washington, D. c., April 21--De-
nouncing the volunteer system az
neither equitable nor democratic
eight members of the House commit
tee on military affairs four of whom
served in the Spanish-American war,
today filed minority report calling
for the passage without amendment OF
the army general staff selective draft
military bill At the same time Chair
man Dent of the committee, filed tn.
majority report signed by 15 members,
which calls for the adoption by the
/ House Of the amended bill provided
by the committee which provides for
the volunteer system but would per-
nit the President to adopt conscrip-
tion after the volunteer plan had
proved a failure.
The majority report followed closely
the lines of the report made by the
subcommittee which drafted the OPP
position bill. II was stated authori-
lively today that under no circum.
stances will the administration accept
the majority measure and the Presi.
dents lieutenants will line up solidly
in support of the minority report
Tie fight for the latter will be led
by Republican, Julius kann, of Cali
fornia. The others who signed the re-
port were John G. c. Mckenzie, Re-
publican Of Illinois, Frank l.. Greene,
Republican of Vermont; John w. Will
son, Republican, Connecticut; Richard
Olney II, Democrat, Massachusetts,; J.
S. Crago, Republican, Pennsylvania;
7. W. Harrison, Democrat, Virginia;
George r. Lunn. Democrat Of New
York.
In support of their contention that
the volunteer system would prove
failure the minority Incorporated il
the report the letter of Secretary OF
War Baker to the committee announc
ing that the President and the War
department united in support of the
measure and giving the views Of the
general staff on the subject. The COM
mittee then recalls the facts that cur
ing the war between the States when
both north and south were compelled
to abandon the volunteer system and
accent conscription the conscript was
locked upon With contempt and ever
since the war conscription has carried
with II meaning OF reproach.
If the majority plan were adopted
at this time and again should prove
failure the conscript would once again
be looked on with dlsfavor,' continues
the report. II, on the other hand
the legislation that Is enacted pro-
vdes for selective conscriptiOn, every
citizen of the Republic will know that
those who have been selected have
been called to the colors by their
country as universal obligation to
serve in the hour of the nations
need"
Reference then is made to the fall
ure of the volunteer system in Eng
land and said that even q campaign
Of social ostracsm failed to save the
system.
Study Food Situation.
Washington, Z. c., April 2l--Every
available American coastwise vessel
not essential to the trade of the United
States Is Immediately to be diverted
to the transatlantic trade, This is
necessary if the supply OF toodstutfs
and munitions Is to be kept moving
Europeward The federal government
thru the shipping board has called on
the various railroad companies own
ing vessels to detach as many as pcs.
! sihle from the coast wise trade This
will be dona in the immediate future
I and the vessels will be maintained In
that service until the wooden vessels
: now under construction can be placed
In commission.
France at the present time Is SUIT
fering more than Great Britain from
shortage of supplies. This Is due en-
tlrely to the success which the Ger
man submarines have met within
hlnrkndinr nnrtain French nnriN Stems