Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-27
The Selection" Proposition.

Wilmer Atkinson. publisher of The
Farm Journal" Philadelphia, under
date of April "a, issues a letter of so
much common sense patriotism that we
commend it to our readers-with sug-
gestions concerning one or two points
lot quite plain:
l venture to hope that the words con
scription' and draft be eliminated from
the military bill now before Congress
and that the word selection be used in
stead
The reasons for the substitution are
these, as thoughtfully stated by another:
The effect of a term upon those who hear
it depends on the meaning it has acquired
in its remembered history. word Is
known by the ideas it has kept company
draft" ever since they have been domi-
ciled on this continent have been asso-
ciated with things un-American, and are
still in bad odor.
Can we at once change this meaning?
Can we in the present emergency all at
once take away the stigma that belongs
to it in. history and literature? These
words have long pointed to the very OPP
service. Therefore why use such malo.
dorous terms at all? Those who would
rally to the standard of equality OF pa
triotic service, will miss the goal when
they near tne WOTuS uTdll anu Vii
scrption'' and 'slackers'' shouted at
them. Ones American volunteer is worth
two conscrpts as fighters. The union
was saved by volunteers, not conscripts
The experience of Canada in raising an
;rmy is told in an article in "The Sur
there THAT CONFUSION IS NOT
NECESSARY IF YOU APPLY MODERN
~ THE PROCESS OF SELECTION.
old-time method of obtaining recruits
s;;ch as we are using now has been dis
carded with the result that the atmos-
phere is entirely changed. Scientific Sc
iective volunteering has not only con-
served the liberty Of conscience Of the IN,
d'vidual, but IT HAS MUSTERED AN
hRMY OF 100000 VOLUNTEERS,
EQUIVALENT TO FREE WILL Ia Ar
TION OF THE UNITED STATES; AND
10000 AMERICANS COMPOSED PART
OF THIS ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS;
Haven't we wisdom enough to do what
cur northern neighbor has done? 1t is
up to the President and Congress to md
a method equally effective to obtain an
adequate army without butting against
he preiudices Of the masses of the peo-
ple. Labor has already uttered an lnsls-
tent protest The 10000 striking workers
Of Germany recently. in resolution, de-
manded the abolition of conscriptlon; does
It not seem strange that the U. s., IN us
war for a world democracy, SHOULD
Enthusiastically ESTABLISH A SYS-
TEN THAT rs THE BASIS OF PRUs-
IAN AUTOCRACY. against which near
ly the whole world is now in arms?
I wish it understood that the writer Is
in favor of a fighting army, large enough
to he an essential factor In wiping Prus.
sian militarism from the earth and or
sending William Hohenzollern to the dis
card; That he is in favor W rTrSS q FRME
TRAINING. and of equality Of -patriotic
service; AND DOESN'T WANT TO see
the lob botched-by an army OF American
CONSCRIPTS arrayed to fight Tor LIB
ERTY
One point we would bring out more
clearly, to the average reader. than Mr..
Atkinson has done, is the confronting
OF individuals with their selection and
leaving to them acceptance or refusal
of a n-compulsory draft" 1t would
be hard, and a serious matter socially
for a young man confronted with Sc
lection" to refuse. For such selection
would have been made after consider
ing his duties to dependents. physical
fitness, and possible public service IN
some branch of industry.
Universal enl cllment of men OF mill
tary age, followed by examination Tor
physical fitness. and record of useful
ness with prospective activities. would
prepare the government for selection.
In our humble opinion the first result
would be a new tide Of volunteering to
get ahead Of selection" and it's impli-
cation Of being driven into It,"