The Monte Vista journal., 1917-05-05
nv EDWARD HEATING

,d on volunteers or conscripts to
ssbt the war against Germany?
THAT issue will be squarely before
Congress when this letter is printed.
shall vote against conscription.
To my mind conscription-or in
,o,untary military service-is just
another name for militarism and mil
,.orism and democracy cannot exist
side by side.
am willing to make any sacrifice
n nreserve the republic, but. while
waping war on autocracy abroad, we
must not destroy democracy at home,
The Militarists' Plan
The professional soldiers who con-
troll our War Department have sub
mitted bill to Congress providing
for the conscription of all young
men between 10 and 25. The rest of
the population would not be required
to render military service.
According to newspaper reports,
the War Department expects to call
out the "19-year-old" class first.
There are more than million of
these boys in the country, and after
those who are physically disqualified
or who have dependents, had been
excused, "beardless army" of 50O,-
900 would remain.
This force would be subjected to a
period of intensive training and then
if peace had not been declared in
the meantime-would be shipped to
Europe and the "2O-year-old" class
would be called up.
What Conscription Means
1t will be seen from the above that
Universal Military Service" is a
msnomer.
1t does not mean that all citizens
shall be equally liable to service.
1t means that boys who have never
yoted-who have never been given a
chance to say whether they want
peace or war-shall be compelled to
limb on a foreign soil.
The supporters of this scheme say
1t is the democratic" way of raising
an army.
What is to be thought of the Dem
ocracy of a nation where the bearded
men drag the people into a war and
then insist that the beardless boys
Shall do all the fighting?
Suggested House Substitute
The House Committee on Military
Affairs rejected this scheme and sub
mtted the following plan:
Recruit the regular army and the
National Guard to war strength and
authorize the president to call for
eooOOO volunteers. This would give
us an army of about 100000 men
and 1t is not possible for us to arm,
equip and train greater force dur
ing the next six months. At least
'hat is what the military experts tell
us.
Ill case the volunteer system fails
10 furnish an army within reason
aoie time. the president would be
authorized to conscript all men be-
tween Il and 40, and select from the
l'Sts thus provided such numbers IS
he desired.
Ihe professional soldiers and the
ua'y papers in the large cities-rep-
'esehting the views of big Bust
ness want conscription because:
FlRsT-Conscription will enable
Tue war department to recruit the
'esular army to wartime strength
anu that means promotion and in
creased pay for almost every officer
.onhected with our regular army es-
ao''Shment. American boys can not
'o'h the regular army without recog-
n'N'hg caste system which robs
'Nem OF their self-respect The Gov
e'Nheht has spent millions on re-
Nut'ihg without results and now the
u''''arists demand that the strong
Vi the law shall be used to fill
~, 'ne ranks of the regular army.
NC volunteer system would give
u"c'e Sam the soldiers but wouldn't
eN' ~ the regular army officers the
promotions they covet.
"pparently, it has never occurred
.nese army autocrats that if they