The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-25
PRESIDENT DEFINES DRAFT.
MEANS CONSTITUTED AUTHOR
TTY SHOULD SAY WHERE
ONE is BEST FITTED no
49, SERVE.
star Measure Reported Favoraoiy 10
Senate; Amended Bill Reported in
House.

washington, April 19.-As one step
toward meeting opposition in con-
rress to the administrations army
p,ans. President Wilson today sent
a letter to Representative Helvering,
OF Kansas, explaining what is meant
bv selective draft and expressing earn
est hope that the bill drafted by the
war department would be passed.
The letter said:
..I welcome the inquiry Of your let
ter OF April 1S, because have real
lied the truth of what you say from
INV own cbservations, namely, that
what is meant to \be understood by the
selective draft is not generally un-
derstood throughout the country.
'sThe process of the draft is think,
very clearly set forth in the bill draft
cd by the war department and which
/ so earnestly hope that Congress will
adopt, but it is worth while to state
the idea which underlies the bill lit
tie more fully.
.T took occasion the other day in
an address to the people Of the coun-
try TO point out the many forms of
patriotic service that were open to
them and to emphasize the fact that
the military part Of the service was
BY no means the only part and per-
haps, all things considered. not the
most vital part.
.Orr object is mobilization OF all
the productive and active forces of
the nation and their development to
tho highest point Of cooperation and
eficiency, and the idea of the selective
draft is that those should be chosen
for service in the army who can be
most readily spared from the prnsecu-
ton Of the other activities which the
country must engage in and to which
IL must devote a great deal Of its
best energy and capacity.
saThe volunteer system does not do
this. When men choose themselves
they sometimes choose without due
regard to their other responsibilities.
Men may come from the farms or
from the mines or from the factories
or centers OF business who ought not
to come, but ought to stand back o.
the armies in the field and see that
they get everything that they need
and that the people Of the country are
sustained in the meantime.
'sThe principle Of the selective draft
In short has at its heart this idea,
that there is a universal obligation to
serve and that a public authority
should choose those upon whom the
obligation Of military service shall
rest and also in a sense choose those
who shall do the rest of the nations
work. The bill If adopted will dc
more. believe, than any other single
instrumentality to create the impress
sion Of universal service in the army
and out Of it and II properly admin
istered will be great source Of stim-
ulation.
Those who feel that we are turn
ing away altogether from the volun-
tary principle seem to forget that
some 100000 men will be needed to
I'LL the ranks of the regular army
and the National Guard and that u
very great field Of individual enthu-
siasm lies there wide open"
The president and leaders in con-
gress are confident of the ultimate
enactment Of the army bill without
material changes. The fight probabl,
will begin in the senate. Chairman
Chamberlain, of the military commit
tee, submitted his favorable report
today.
After calling attention to the fact
that the selective draft has been rec
ognized by "a world in arms" as the
''only adequate and effectual" method
Of raising an army, the report says
the bill provides thorough means Of
recruiting the regular army and the
National Guard for absorbing more
than 600. 900 volunteers.
'Thus happily" 1t says, 1.-The bill
while establishing and placing the ma
tional dependence upon the almost
universally approved system of draft,
at the same time accommodates itself
to such volunteer spirit"
1t says the opportunity for volun-
teer army is greater than ever before
offered in one piece Of legislation.
"The volunteer method has never