The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-04-30
THE SELECTIVE DRAFT.

CONGRESS has carried out the will OF the people, and
the 'clcctyc draft which was adopted by an over
whclming majority will cause the United States to have
the most effective army IN the world We have the ma
tcrlal All that is necessary is the training
There were tcw member, OF congress who cung to
the plan OF volunteering raise force operate with the
allies They represent the scattered minority OF a nation
which is preparing take its place the field OF action
to assure future freedom II all Of the members Of con
had taken the stand as that assumed by the
small minority years would be required raise army.
The nation would he in peril Possibly human rights would
be tamplcd in all the world And when the "yolun,ccr"
member, o congress volunteer again he candidates for
congressional honor seems safe to say that the voters
will adopt the SccctNc draft choosing congressman and
leave the volunteer" senators and representatives at
home
The senate measure provides for the drafting Of men
between the ages Of p and p the house fixed the limit
between the ages OF p and 40 an adjustment will be c
cctcd in few days that the bill may be signed by
the president to enable the department to- carry ont
the provisions Of the new law
Under the law, no man will be permitted to hire a
substitute In former wars the rich man was allowed the
right to pay to serve Tor him The new method
provides that the draft shall apply to all persons alike
each drafted 10 be used in such branch of the gov
crnnlcuI service for which he Is best fitted
IdilNCSN features the ScctlNC draft plan ulCr the
volunteer system which has been in effect some men
mancd at home 10 pile up money while their less
fortunate ncghbor, to the front for the purpose OF
protecting government The homes received the
benefits TIE volunteers suffered the Nryauon which is
horror of every war
In our city aged citizen hobbies about he was
volunteer. His rich neghbor, remained at homo while
he went forth and back with only leg His pa
rosm and devotion his government were asset, to the
rich who did volunteer his ardor represents
liability to him in his declining years.
So, the volunteer plan was found To- I've inefficient and
in its place has come the sclecNc draft plan which vii
be found equitable and iorccul We will sec the young
men selected for the places where they can best give o
thS alcut The artisan will be used where his skill i,
most needed We will have conditions similar to thos
which embarrassed England In hata,ountry the haync
makers volunteered When the demand arose for men Il
manufacture harness II was found that those men wer
carrying rifles somewhere in Europe They were prompt
y recalled to work the leather which the army needed
From that experience will dodge the mistakes which de-
vclopcd under the volunteer system
With the ideal sccotiyc draft method in force We vii
send SharpshootoS to the firing line wcl keep on
expert farmers in the green fields well use our skilled
chaueur TO operate amorcd cars and ven send no mar
forth with rifle in hand he give better service il
some other way 10 the man behind the gun