The Washington herald., 1917-08-21
SUB RECRUITS
MAY BE vogue
Possibility That System
Used In Civil War Will
Be Adopted.

The possibility Of having ''represen-
tative recruits'' for men under or over
the selective draft age who on ac-
count Of age or disability, cannot en-
list in the military service OF the
country. II "a thought will be con-
sidered in the near future by the War
Department
This novel idea was inaugurated
in the Civil War when the War De-
partment issued orders stating that
men who were not selected in the
draft or not liable to draft could Sc
cure a representative to represent
them in the National Army and pro-
vided the same patriotic honor to them
as IL they had enlisted.
OF course, the idea OF having repre-
sentatives would be impossible at the
present time, but men who are unable
to render any patriotic service to the
country could obtain someone to en-
list in the service OF the United states
as his representative recruit and
thereby be rendering a patriotic SER
vice.
On the Inauguration Of this plan
on June Is. 1854, President Lin
coin. after the issuing OF orders to
that effect, was the FIRST to take the
opportunity Of enlisting q recruit as
his representative and with the help
OF Noble Larner. a resident Of the
District of Columbia, secured John S.
Staples to Join the services OF the
country in his place.
Paying the sum OF 500 to Staples,
as a bonus for enlisting. the president
then congratulated him, sent him off
TO the Second District OF Columbia
Volunteers recruiting headquarters and
saw that he was enlisted in Company
II as his representative recruit"
At the present time it would not be
patriotic TO pay any person money for
enlisting but with the effort of some
patriotic person many men could be
obtained to enlist in this way without
paying them any bonus.
President Wilson, Representatives
and Senators in Congress, the Cabinet
and other high officials who ind IT i'm
possible to enlist under present con-
dititons, could in this way not only
encourage recruiting but would find
that men would come in fiOcks for the
honor OF representing them.
Should the War Department Issue
orders allowing persons not subject to
draft to enlist as representative re-
cruits' for men unable to render such
q patriotic service, 1t Is very likely
that President Wilson would set the
example by securing the first repre-
sentative recruit" After this 1t Is
thought that about five or six thou
sand men would be enlisted in this
way and that prominent people would
be represented in the service Of the
country.
OF course. too. the parties repre-
sented would assume the material OBJ
legations OF those who go to the front
in their behalf. assuming as it were,
the attitude OF a godfather. Not IN
frequently, also. 1t will probably be
found, an attachment will grow up be-
tween the representative and one rep
resented which will be sustained
throughout their respective lifetimes.
Figures in the civil war show from
official records that 1896 men enlisted
in this way after the issuing Of the
orders to this effect by the War De-
partment. Records also show that
even women and child had repre-
sentatives in the army or navy Some
persons had two. three and four men
enlisted.
With so large a number OF prominent
local and national men, Washington
alone could furnish about 1000 men
for the army and navy.
Whether any action will be taken in
regard to this Is not known, but it is
very likely that the War Department
will give due consideration to the pos
Sibility of carrying out this plan in
the present war.