The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-23
.T,R, ARMY AS
RIDER ON. BIC
MILITARY BILL
Senator Harding's Amendment
to Send Force to France.
Open Debate on Draft Measure
Predict Victory.
WILSON IS At The HELM
President in Personal Touch
With Congress Fight.
PrOgressives and Republicans
Rally to His Support.

disposing of the great war loan, house
and senate shortly after noon today
went into the final stages of the prob
lem of raising an army of two million
men for defense of the nation.
1t was the first day o: debate in the
house and the second day for the sem
ate.
1t was still believed today that botf,
houses will take final action Thursday
or Friday at the latest.
The conscription feature. in soma
form at least, will pass both houses.
While house and senate debated. the
Roosevelt angle-the colonel's plan to
French trenches, was vigorously in
jected into the situation.
Boost for Il. X. Army.
epublicans-Harding and Lodge
are behind a we'll laid campaign that
has for its object granting permission
for ex-President Roosevelt to plant the
American flag on European battle
line.
Senator Harding of Ohio, started the
Roosevelt fight by introducing an
amendment to the administration bill
authorizing the president to raise by
voluntary enlistment four infantry d1-
amendment does not name Roosevelt
but means him.
Debate ConScription Measure.
washington, April 23.-Congress to-
day started debate on the adminis-
tration's conscription army bill which,
if passed will subject millions of
American citizens to the universal ser
vice plan and enable the government
irnrne eiately to start training the big
in history a
smash at Germany.
The house had before it the army
bill as reported by the military COM
mittee with conflicting recommenda-
tions, one proposing the volunteer plan
and the other President Wilson's Sc
lective draft. The house fight was
bitter. Representative Kahn of Cali
fornia, a Republican, and a native of
Germany, led the administration
forces. Chairman Dent of the military
committee headed the opposition,
favoring q volunteer army.
Administration supporters were con-
fident Dent could not muster suffi-
cient votes to beat conscription.
Strong pressure is being brought to
bear on wavering members. 1t will
continue to the end of the debate.
probably Wednesday, when the admin
istration hopes to have all uncertain
opponents whipped into line.
Not So Bitter in Senate.
The senate fight is not so bitter. It
appeared certain the draft program
would ultimately pass in the upper
house.
touch with every move. His intimate
advisers were said to be positive con-
Scription would win. A group of Pro-
greSSiVeS gave added strength to the
presidents forces when they endorsed
a number of administration measures,
including the draft.
The big bond issue, which will pro-
vide the sinews of war for America 6
first armies in the field and for the
work of training recruits. is about
ready for sale. Secretary of the
Treasury McAdoo plans to utilize Of
fers of advertising to awaken the peo-
pie to the fact that this huge number
must be raised to insure the defeat
of the kaiser and release America S
forces for the battle lines.
Representative Kahn's report of the
house military committee signed by
eight members of the committee, four
of whom have seen military service,
insists on the original general staff bill.
Kahn, a Republican, will champion
the measure in the house.
A letter from Secretary Baker to the
military committee a few days ago, in
which Baker pleaded with 7 e COM
mittee to report cut a strict selective
draft bill, was published with the re-
port.
Minority Committee Report.
The minority declares that the ma
iority of the committee have seen fit
to set their own views on the raising
of the proper military forces for the
successful conduct of the war, above
the views of the trained military ex-
perts of the government. In this great
crisis we deem it to be our patriotic
duty in this manner of increasing tenn
porarily the military establishment of
the United States to follow the coun-
sci of the commander-in-chief of our
army and his expert advisers. We de-
sire to follow the plan which they have
laid down for US in this manner, rath-
er than follow any plan which We our
selves might devise
The report emphasizes the difficult
ties of obtaining volunteers in the Civil
war and in the present war. 1t would
take about two years. the report states,
to raise the men needed if the present
rate under the volunteer system should
continue.
Volunteer System Uncertain.
THE volunteer system would always
carry in its train an element cf uncer-
tainty" the report said. 1T is our
Judgment that the volunteer system is
nor democratic. In this republic
Hevery American should esteem it an
honor to bear his share of the coun-
try's burden. That can only be done
under the principle of universal obli-
CATION to serve. In our opinion. if is
for the nation. not the individual. TO
determine what service the citizen
should bear.