The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-08-21
McAdoO Urges Quick Action
On War Insurance Bill
tBy W. G. McAdoo. Secretary of the
TreaSurE.D

Draft law mas ca uSeu Il painful III
preston in many quarters, but after
all. does not the fact that no proNl-
sion has Yet been made by the GOV
eminent for the support Of the wives
and children. mothers or fathers, OF
he men who have been drafted eN-
plain many OF thes" claims for eX-
,.HGptiOi.
Under the Draft law the Govern
meut has the power to require every
aDlehouied man between Il and 81
Years OF age to perform military du-
ty. ThuusanuS Of the drafted men
are wage-earuers who married years
ago and are the sole support of de-
pendent families. SO long as the
COY eminent has made no provision
for lhe care Of their dependents, it
is natural that such drafted men
should seek TO protect their loved
ones by staying at home. | am sure
that il he Congress should promptly
enact the pending War Insurance
bill which makes definite allowances
for the support of the dependent
wives and children, fathers or moth
arS. OF our soldiers and sailors claims
Tor exemption on that score will
. cease. This Is an imperative duty Of
the Government We cannot deprive
helpless women and children of the
support OF the Wage-earner by fore
ing him into the military service of
the country unless the Government
substitutes itself as their support.
Imagine the emotions of the man
who is called into the military ser
Vice of his country with full know
ledge that his loved ones are left
without means Of support and may
be reduced TO want unless the chart
~ of the community in which they
live comes to their relief. 1t would
be nothing less than crime for a
rich and just Government TO treat its
fighting men so heartlessly and to
Subje their dependent wives and
children, who are unable to fight, to
greater suffering than if they could
fight
The morale OF an army is as es-
sential to its effective fighting power
as guns, ammunition and other in
Strumentalltles OF war. OF equal
4 importance Is the moral OF the civil
population which must support the
armies in the field. We cannot have
( this essential morale unless the ma
ton comforts the men in the ranks
Win the knowledge tlat everything
possible will be done for them and
their families. and renders to the
civil population at home the dssls-
lance which Will make 1t most efec-
( tive IN upholdlnG the Government
; ana the hghUng forces.
Inc purpose OF the war insurance
Din now pending IN the congress Is
, 10 secure the future OF America 5
soldiers ana sailors by lnsurlng their
IiNeS ana proNldlhS adequate COM
( pehsdllois ana lliuelihilleS LOT loss
! OF lie ana total or partial pefma-
! heEt dlsaDlllly; also 10 protect thelr
/ families against poverty ana want by
! providing them with sulllclen means
! OF support during the absence or me
! men at the front.
! Inc nation, having been forced 10
resort 10 tne dfaIt III oruer 10 create
quickly an army 10 save the country,
! Is under a hlSner ODlSatlon 10 40
these things for its lighting forces
than II volunteer army only was
created. This great and rich repub-
J lie cannot afford TO do less, and 1t
, must do what Is proposed IN a spirit
I OF gratitude and not as charity. EV-
cry soldier and sailor who serves his
country in this war Will earn every
/ thing the proposed War Insurance
4 bill provides; to be a beneficiary of
/ the proposed law viii be Il badge OF
honor.
When We draft the Wage-earner,
we call not only him. but the entire
/ family to the flag; the sacrifice en-
tailed is not Invisible. The wife and
( children, the mother, the father, all
are involved in the Sacrifice-they
directly share the burden OF defense
They suffer iuSt as much as the SOL
der. but in a different Wav. and the
nation must generously discharge as
proud privilege the duty of main
tanning them until the soldiers and
sailors return from the war and re-
sumo the responsibility.
We have drawn the sword to vim
dictate Americas violated rights, to
] restore peace and Justice and to Sc
cure the progress of civilization. We
cannot pemrit our soldiers. while
/ they hold the front, TO be stabbed in
the back by uncertainty as to what
/ is being done for their loved ones at
1 home Our tomorroWs are in their
hands-theirs in ours. The national
, conscience will not permit America S
soldiers and their dependents 20 go
unprOvided with everything that a
/ just. generous and noble people can
do TO compensate them for the stuff
erings and sacrifices they make to
serve their country.
Aside from the care and protection
of their dependents while the soldier
is alive, the proposed war insurance
act provides for definite compensa-