The sun., 1917-04-24
HOUSE WARNED
OF FOES PLOT
Eagle of Texas Traces Anti
COnscriptiOn Fight to
German Sources.
DEBATE LASTS 6 HOURS
Senate Discussion Turns to
Question Of Sending
Troops Abroad.
DEBATE LASTS 6 HOURS

Troops Abroad.
WARRINGTON. April 23.-Entering one
OF the hardest uphill fights that a
minority OF the House ever tackled. sup
porters OF President Wilson'S plan for
the immediate application of seiective
conscription in the formation OF a war
army wrestled for six hours to-day with
the huge. shapeless mountain OF un-
reasoning sentiment behind which is in
trenched the volunteer system of mill
tary service.
II became more than ever apparent
to-day that there is no hght over
whether a great army shall be raised.
the only question being what strength
can be mustered by opponents OF the
Administrations selective draft plan.
In the Senate passage Of the general
stafY bill virtually without change Is
regarded as certain. On the House side
the Presidents supporters also are con-
fident Of success. though the contest
there will be bitter. Discussion In the
Senate may continue until Saturday.
but the House. under a tentative agree
ment for eighteen hours OF general de-
bate probably will be ready to vote by
Thursday.
Features NJ the House debate included
the statement Of Representative Lunn
of New York. Democratic member of
the Military Affairs Committee that
were he strongly pro-German and dis
posed to injure The cause OF the United
states he would insist upon the applica-
ton Of the volunteer system as opposed
to conscription and the announcement
Of Representative Eagle Of TeXas that
ne had traced to the same German
sources which urged opposition to the
President on the McIemore resolution.
the armed ship bill and the war resolu-
tion the propaganda now being carried
on in opposition to conscription.
Seldom has SO large proportion of
the membership OF the House attended
even a short debate. The demeanor OF
the House members was even more
solemn than during the debate on the
war resolution. Applause was frequent.
Points of the Debate.
Friends OF the Presidents plan are in
clined to permit the volunteer sentiment
to talk itself out without too great re-
etriction. There was little attempt to-
day to cross-eXamine orators who advo-
cate the volunteer system. Chairman
Dent was kept on his feet more than an
hour by questions. almost all OF which
were directed at him by those favoring
the volunteer plan. These points were
clearly brought out by the debate:
call for volunteers in regimental
units at this time would be an en-
barrassment rather than otherwise as
the Government Is not prepared to arm
and equip even the number OF men
desired to recruit the regular army and
the National Guard up TO war strength.
The Government will he prepared TO
thai extent by July I.
Friends of the volunteer system. in
cluding Chairman Dent, admitted
that intelligent selection would be i'm
possibp under the volunteer system as
DrS,,osed in the majority bill since the
President would have 10 accept men at
assigned rendezvous in resimen,al or
smaller tactical units and would he
una ble 10 weed out easily or effectively
the men desired for agricultural and
industrial work.
Despite efforts Of the volunteer sup
porters to make false issue over the
minimum age limit originally sug-
gesied by the War Department. it was
clearly shown that not only had the
minority who favored conscrpt on con-
sented to a change applying it to men
between cl and 40 nut that the Secre-
tary Of War had consented to the
change.
The proposal o' 'o!. koo~eNeit that ne
be permitted I" raise an army mas ap-
parent! 'n)ureo 'he prospects Tor tne
conscr'pt'on pldn INA. II. so earnestly
a"No'""S an u IL " "a " "e
ferentiate between the proposal for
daul sy stem made by the ma jori,, Of the
committee and the Colonels proposal
p'""'
On.uinu NJ the Debate.
r"ur o' 'ne e,s" N"' sup
ported the fresideht III 'ne 'omh'ttee
spoke to-naF' HepresentatNe NC.
kenzie or Illinois hepupiican' opened
the depa,e WIN s'rr,hS appeai 10 me
m'no'e "eS 10 p"tt"h' W tne Spir''
OF the fathers and aid in an aggressive
prosecution OF 'hr war ihree mem
bcrs OF 'he committee VINO serve" WIN
volunteers III i'uhi,' 'em"Sat
ana 'faso ana 'Ieene' h'Puo''hhS-
strongly suppo'Itu 'he cohscr'p''oN
measure Two SoutherherS' Ada'nsor
anu ,sM,'' "s' 'Po"' ''''"7'' 'o' '"e
fresidehts pan
'hairmah 'en' an" "'Presen'a''Ve
N'cho's OF ""u'" a'o""a useo up inc
t'ne on 'nc ",'Io''N SUE N,cno'S
brough' IN 'ne ra'e aues.,o''' "n''n aP'
parentir is CAUSING S"u'herh m"mner'
no htt'e concern 'h'uen the picture
n'a"" u! ->'v"''s "o".' w '"'PoSS'pt
under any military statute ever drawn