Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-12
Congress Must Act

CONGRESS must act SQuubbles i'm Senate
~ or House. now that the conference report
the national defense bill is ready for APP
proval, would be u crime---a crime against
the country and against humanity Prophe-
cics that some of the overZeaious friends
of Colonel Roosevelt will seek TO delay &C
ton. by efforts to restore to the measure the
Roosevelt volunteer army that the conference
was sensible enough 10 reject, we hope are
unfourded. Colonel Roosevelt himself. if he
has regard either for his own reputation or
for the national safety, will visit all such
efforts with stern resentment
We have been six weeks at war. and the
raising OF that army with which we must aid
to make the world safe for democracy. has
not been started. For this situation the
blame rests at the door of Congress. The
selective draft cannot be applied until the bill
now pending becomes the law of the land.
That splendid enthusiasm, that martial ardor
and that passion for human rights. which the
Presidents speech aroused in Congress and
the nation, in some quarters have begun to
fade Old jealousies and prejudces. merged
for a time in patriotic fcrvor. again make
their appearance. Just to watch Congress
from distance, without hearing what was
being said, We might we'll conclude that some
venerable pork bill being debated. rather
than this great constructive measure, with
which the fate of the republic is involved.
Who is Roosevelt. or any other man. that
he should stand in the way? How Sena-
tors or, Representatives hope to Justify to
their constituents delay for which the men
and of America will pay a bloody
price?
Time will be required to make the selective
draft. The President is ready with his procla-
nation and the Governors of States are pre-
pared to name officers and places Of registra-
ton. but even after the registrations have
been concluded the work will but be begun.
The process of wedding out the exempt will
require many days-perhaps many weeks. A
month more must elapse before the States
can supply their quotas to the national gov
eminent, or even the names and addresses
OF the men who make UP these quotas.
Congress must act and act at once. There
has been enough debate and. in the sessions
of the conference committee, ten times too
much. There is not man il Senate or House
who has not heard everything that can be
said on this subject. Argument will not
change a vote
The battle fields of Europe have been
drenched with the blood and covered with
the bleaching bones OF the victims of delay
Not country at war-not even autocratic
Germany-but has been guilty. and not
country but has paid the dreadful penalty
We are following the path which leads to
national humiliation, and following 1t despite
all the warnings of disaster which the experi-
ence of others has erected.
Congress must act 1t should act to-day
1t must not tritle longer with the lives, the
fortunes and the honor of the people it has
been chosen to serve.
Congress must act. Sounding phrases will
not extenuate nor good intentions excuse
postponement of the hours compelling obli-
cation. The nation demands the power as
already it has the will. to plant its stainless
standard on the ramparts OF the foe