Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-05-04
BUSY TIMES FOR
NATIONS LEADERS
Draft Measure Occupying the
Attention of Congress.
MAY MAKE COUNTRY DRY

Duration of the War Receiving Seri-
Gus Consideration = Other Matters
That Occupy Attention of Our Law
makers.
Washington. = Especial Correspond
ence.]-Pretty nearly every phase of
the war situation has occupied the at
tention of President Wilson, his cabi-
net and all other officials now in Wash
ington during the past week. Out
standing among these were:
Preparations for the conferences with
at which 1t will be decided what part
the United States will play In bringing
about the defeat of Germany.
Consideration of the bill providing
for the drafting Of men into the Unit
ed States army and navy.
The proposal to send help to Russia
men, money and munitions. 1t has
been held that if the Stars and Stripes
are flying on the eastern front there
will be little danger of Russia quitting
and making a separate peace with Ger
many.
Consideration of the spy bill, In
which drastic regulations concerning
the actions Of alien enemies appear.
Discussion of the proposal to make
the United States bone dry for the
duration of the war;
In Wake of Draft Bill.
Here is what will happen when the
draft bill becomes a law:
First.-The president will designate
by proclamation a day of registration.
the voting precinct being used as the
smallest unit for enrolment. The gov
errors of the various states will be
asked to have the sheriffs of the oun
ties appoint registers to take the
names of all males between the ages
of nineteen and twenty-five. Those
who refuse to enroll will be arrested.
Second.-The state officers will ex-
empt from military service persons
engaged In industries, including agri-
cultural, found to be necessary to the
maintenance of the military establish
ment or the effective operation of the
military forces or the maintenance of
udt1Oudi lulCIcSLS QuIAlS Lie CnlCl SCA-
cy."
T~hird.-Those not exempted will be
reported to the wal department. which
will make further exemptions.
Fourth.-It is estimated that by Aug.
! the 100000 men desired will be in
training camps. In the meantime the
government must provide equipment
for the recruits.
Fifth.-It is estimated that the reg
istration will result In an enrolment
of 100000. and about 40 per cent of
this number win be weeded out on ac-
count Of physical disabilities. The
500,0 900 to be selected from the remain
ing 60 per cent will be chosen BY lot.
Prohibition Regulations.
Nation wide prohibition during the
period of the war is provided for in
a bill introduced by Congressman How
ard of Georgia.
The medical board of the Council of
National Defense recommended to the
council that war prohibition be adopted
as a step necessary to effective prepar-
edness.
1t is known that the majority of the
council are personally in favor of pre-
venting the manufacture Of liquor as
long as we are engaged in war, al
though many of them are not ordinari-
~ technically known as prohibition
lists. The medical board was informed.
however, that the Council of National
Defense believed it would be exceeding
its power should it adopt such a meas
ure and said that any action taken
would have to come either from the
president or congress-.
There are constitutional difficulties
which will have to be solved before
the United States follows the example
which has been set for it by other
countries % in the val.
The Situation In New Republic.
That the Russian situation Is caus
ing a good deal of concern in official
and diplomatic circles Is frankly con-
coded. While no Importance is at
tached to the cabled report that Ger
many and Russia are paving the way
for negotiating an armistice prelimina-
ry to the consideration of peace terms.
there is known to exist great uneasi-
ness as to the solidarity of the new
Russian democratic enterprise.
Ambassador Francis has not report
ed any developments in the situation
at Petrograd that justify credence of
the report that the temporary govern
ment is breaking down. 1t is admitted
that the most important consideration
confronting the United States and her
European allies is to defeat German
intrigue for a let-down in military op-
erations.
Continue Business, Coffin Demands.
The United States is threatened with
"a disastrous stampede of misguided
PATRIOTISM declared Howard e. COT
fin. member of the advisory commission
of tho Council of National DafnnSa