Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-29
People Behind the Draft

Z ROM various sections Of the country come
reports of organized efforts to defeat
registration for the selectiye draft In
Chicago on Sunday so-called "peace meet
ing" developed into an attack on the Presi-
dent and the new army bill. and riot re-
suited There was a similar riot in Ceve-
land. Trouble brews in Southwest Vir-
ginia. In many cities men have been de-
tected in the act of distributing antidraft
literature. There are abundant evidences
that registration is not to be accomplished
without difficulty and disorder
In all of this it is easy to observe the
hand of German propaganda Honest
pacifsm, Utopian socialism and misdirected
indvidualism play their part but the in
SEPARATION is supplied from Berlin The Ger
man espionage system, as the country has
had recent occasion to learn has not ceased
its work in the United States. However, it
is busy now sowing discussion instead of
bombs and seeking thus to weaken the mill
tary power OF this people,
That such an enterprise will win any
large measure of success we do not believe
This nation has not gone to war hysterically
but its approval Of the war declaration and
Of the war aims announced by the President
is unmistakable. It's temper is marked by
resoute purpose, rather than by military
frenzy. The people of the United States
have never found it necessary to hate the
people of Germany, however bitter their de-
leSldtlOu Ol lne IeTIndu auIOCTaCy and It's
cult of frightfulness. America has taken
up arms that injustice and cruelty may be
rebuked, that oppression may be ended and
that freedom may endure. To these high
ideals the people committed. They have
accepted the principle of universal liability
to military service as essential to the attain
ment of democracys ambitions In this
struggle, and they concede its fairness as
we'll as its necessity.
Neither treason pacifSm will find il
easy to make an impression on minds so
controlled We look forward TO a Regis
tration Day observed in the spirit of sacrifice
and Of patriotic willingness to perform any
and every service. From the overwhelming
mass of the young men who have been
called by their country look for loyalty
which has flaw.
But there will be others-German sympa-
thizers pacfsts, internationalists "conscien-
tious objectors,'' slackers, cutters and plain
cowardS-to make trouble Unless a stern
and unyielding public sentiment holds these
men to the mark, they will seek in every
way possible to evade registration and after
they have been registered, to evade service
Some will discover dependent relatives" to
whose support in the past they have never
contributed cent and physical disabili-
ties" that none OF their friends have known
OF before. Behind 1t all, stirring I'D trouble
encouraging the laggard TO hold back, fam
ming old resentments, will be the conscious
or unconscious agents Of the German propa-
ganda i'll the United States. Citizens gen
orally, Of every age and every walk in life
must recognize their duty to check such
impulses-and save their country from
shame
We must unite and solidify public senti-
ment behind the selectiye draft. We must
| make that sentiment active and militant
We must make its presence and its influence
| felt. We must show the doubter and the
| Eestater that his doubts are not shared and
| his hesitation not approved by what Is best
| in the community in which he lives On
| June all OF us can fight a good fight