The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-22
Wilson'S Bill Reported Fa-
vorably and Hostility in
Senate and House.
REPRESENTATIVES
WANT VOLUNTEERS
Majority Of Committee Op-
poses Immediate Draft
Baker Makes Appeal.

Washington, April 21.--President
Wilson's fight to organize u wartime
army in accordance with the advice Of
the war department and army general
staff will begin in earnest Monday in
both houses Of congress.
In the senate today the administra-
tion bill, supported by Senator Cham
berlain, chairman of the military COM
mittee and majority of his commit
tee associates, was formally started on
it's way to a vote and the way cleared
for unin terrupted consideration of the
measure.
In the house both majority reports
were presented from the military COM
mittee and the bill will come up Mon
day with Representative Kahn leading
the committee minority's fight for the
administrations plan unamended.
while Chairman Dent. heading the ma
iority of the committee directs the op-
position, urging trial of a volunteer
yystem before resorting to the selec
tive draft of the war department plan.
The minority report, signed by eight
members of the committee. rests for
authority on a letter from Secretary
Baker to Chairman Dent, declaring the
opinion that any compromise on the
departments plan would be attended
by unfortunate results
Favors Volunteers.
The majority report, signed by
Chairman Dent and II others, says in
part:
"The bill authorizes, but does not
direct the president to issue a call for
a voluntary army of 100000 in the first
place and of an additional force of
100000 if necessary.
"The bill further authorizes the
president to proceed at once with the
registation of all male citizens be-
tween the ages of 81 and 40 as pro-
vided in the plan of the war depart
ment for a draft. So that all Of the
machinery authorizing the draft Of
100000 for the first force and of the
additional 100000 will be put in op-
Grafton at once.
ut will require, according to the
testimony of the secretary of war be-
fore the military committee, at least
three months and probably longer to
complete this registration. In
the meantime. If the president sees
fit, he is authorized to call for volun-
teers and upon the completion Of the
registration he has the absolute power
to decide whether he will take an army
of volunteers or organize one by draft
1.-The bill provides that organization
of all forces. other than the regular
army. shall be composed of men who
come from, and of officers appointed
from. the same state or locality as far
as practicable.
Both the volunteer and the draft
dent to refuse to accept either by en-
listment or draft the services of per.
sons needed by the industrial pursuits
of the country"
Favors Draft System.
Secretary Bakers letter included ir
the minority report was written as t
final plea from the military branch o.
the government in behalf of the ad
ministration bill. Mr.. Baker expressed
the conviction that any compromisr
of the principles governing the de,
rartment's bill for raising a new arm,
would be attended by unfortunate re
suits. He asserted that the bill, a
drawn, preserved as much of tn
volunteer spirit as could be done with
out "embarkng on the experiment o
mixed system of draft and volun
teering."
Mr.. Baker stated that after stud
of every report he could obtain on tn
volunteer system both abroad and il
this country, he believes that whateve
success has attended the system ha
been due to a system of compulsiOn
almost as drastic as the provisions O
a law itself
The secretary wrote that the draf
provisions allowed those who are nc
to be called or whose call is propose
to continue their normal purpose
undisturbed by uncertainty as to thei
duty and unagitated by neighborhoo
pressure or misunderstanding"
A detailed explanation of the bill b
Senator Chamberlain was the onl
long speech in the senate today. Sey