South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-21
Eight Members of House Com
mittee File Report Con-
demning Volunteer Plan
of Raising An Army.
.ENGLAND'S SLOW START
SHOWS NEED OF DRAFT
Would Take Two Years to
Raise 724,718 Men Unless
EnIiStmentS Show In
crease, Says Report.
international News Service:

INTERNATIONAL news service.
WASHINGTON, April 21.-De-
nouncing the volunteer system as
neither equitable nor democratic"
eight members of the house COM
mittee on military affairs. four of
whom served in the Spanish-Ameri-
can war, today hled a minority re-
port calling for the passage with
out amendment of the army general
staff selective draft military bill. At
the same time Chairman Dent, of
the committee, filed the majority
report signed by Is members, which
calls for the adoption by the house
of the amended bill provided by the
committee which provides for the
volunteer system but would permit
the president TO adopt CONSUMPTION
after the volunteer plan had proved
a ia lure.
The majority report followed
closely the lines of the report made
by the subcommittee which drafted
the opposition bill II was stated
authoritatively today that under no
circumstances will the administra-
ton accept the majority's measure.
and the presidents lieutenants will
line up solidly in support of the
minority report.
Kahn Will Lead Fight.
The fight for the latter will he
led by a republican. julius Kahn Of
California. The others who signed
the report were John c. Mckenzie,
republican of Illinois; Frank L.
Green, republican, Vermont; John
@. Tilson. republican, Connecticut;
Richard Olney, II. democrat, Massa-
chusetts; Joseph Crago. Pennsyl-
vania, republican,; T. w. Harrison,
democrat. Virginia; George r. Lunn.
democrat of New York.
In support of their contention that
the volunteer system would prove a
failure, the minority incorporated in
the report the letter Of Sec'y of War
Baker to the committee announcing
that the president and the war de-
partment united in support of the
measure and giving the views of the
general staff on the subject. The
committee then recalls the facts
that during the war between the
states when both north and south
were compelled to abandon the vol
unteer system and accept conscrip-
ton the conscript was looked upon
with contempt and ever since the
work CONSUMPTION has carried with
il a meaning of reproach.
IF the majority plan were adopt
ed at this time and again should
prove a failure the conscript would
once again be looked on with dis
favor" continues the report. IF,
on the other hand, the legislation
that is enacted provided for selec-
tive CONSUMPTION every citizen OF the
republic will know that those who
have been selected have been called
TO the colors by their country as a
universal obligation 20 serve in the
hour of the nations need"
Point to- England's Failure.
Reference then is made 10 the
failure of the volunteer system in
England and il is declared that even
campaign of social ostracism fail
ed TO save the system. II England
] had adopted CONSUMPTION at the out
set instead Of waiting for two years
its position at present would be
much better. says the report.
The report then continues:
some of those who favor the vol
unteer system point with pride &c
/ the fact that 600 volunteers are
enlisting every day at the present
time According TO a letter from
the secretary Of war 10 the chair
man of the committee. 72471S vol
! unteers will be required for oul
regular army and the national guard
I Organize Tons. To would therefor,
take 724 days. including Sundays. OF
about two years. TO get the volunteer
! forces required for these tive
branches alone of our stablish
ment Does this look very hope
full ."
Arguing against the draft bin be
fore the military affairs COMMITTEES
today. Joseph Cannon. labor organ
izer. predicted blood would follow
in the streets il CONSUMPTION d
adopted