New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-13
Senate Amendment Is Re-
stored by Vote of
215 to 178
Conferrees to Get
Together Quickly
Action After Stormy De-
bate-Wilson May
Block Move

stormy debate. voted 20 instruct its
conferrees on the army bill to restore
the Senate amendment to permit Colo
mel Roosevelt to lead a division 70
France.
When the House action was reported
officially TO the Senate, Chairman
Chamberlain without debate secured
permission to withdraw the report
from the Senate and resume confer
ences on the bill.
The House vote had a double sig
nificance. indicating that the hard
fought amendment will stay in the bill
because il directed the conferrecs TO
accept the provision exactly as voted
in by the Senate.
In view OF the fact that it carried
by heavy majority, including Demo-
Gratis. in the Senate. there seemed no
doubt that it would become part Of the
new law providing the great army.
Il is by no means certain, however,
that Colonel Roosevelt will lead his
division to France under its terms,
because the amendment does not di-
rect the President to accept the divi-
sion; it merely authorizes him to do
so. All the weight of the Presidents
expert advice is against il.
Wilson Sends Letter
Just before the vote Chairman Dent
of the Military Affairs Committee made
a desperate effort to read to the House
a letter which he said he had received
from President Wilson.
Chairman Dents debating time had
expired, and one objection suficed TO
choke him of. The objection came
from Minority Leader Mann, who OPP
posed the Roosevelt amendment.
The Presidents letter is looked upon
as highly important. because il plainly
indicates that Mr.. Wilson is opposed
20 anything savoring Of the volunteer
system for the army. Mr.. Dent gave
the letter TO The Tribune tonight. IL
follows:
NV dear Mr.. Dent: Now that the
army bill has been successfully
brought out of conference | want
10 express to you my sincere appre-
citation of the services you and your
colleagues haze rendered in helping
10 bring the bill to final considera-
tion free from any feature that
would efnbarrass the system OF draft
upon which it is based.
trust that the conference report
may be very promptly adopted. Every
hour counts in these critical times,
and delay might have very serious
consequences. Sincerely yours,
fSigned) WOODROW WILSON.
How the Amendment Reads
The language of the amendment fol-
lows:
The President is further authorized to
raise and maintain by voluntary enlist.
ment. 10 organize and equip not to exceed
B four infantry divisions. tie os.cers OF which
shall be selected in the manner provided Dy
paragraph OF section OF this act pro-
vided, that the organization OF said force
shall be the same as that OF the corre-
spending organization Of the regular army
and provided, further. that there shall be
no enlistments in said force Of men under
twenty-five years Of age at time OF en-
listing and provided. further, that no such
volunteer force shall be accepted in any
unit smaller than a division.
The vote came at the end OF two
hours' debate. in which Colonel
Roosevelt was hotly assailed and
equally well defended from both sides
of the chamber. The debate ranged
all the way from references to Pres
idential ambition 10 the officially CEN
sored utterances Of Marshal Joffre.
! II was in suite of the Coloneps re-
quest TO his friends not 10 delay the
passage of the act that Repres sentative
Anthony. leading the debate on the
Republican SIDE. moved 10 recommit
! the bill. Chairman Dent of the Mill
( tary Committee objected to any
change in the conference report. AL
though he originally sponsored volun-
teer amendments
Dent Fights Proposal
I'VE went into that conference in
structed not 20 insert the Roosevelt
amendment by a House vote Of 10 TO
1876. and We stood by our instructions,
said Chairman Dent. II can't under
stand how men who voted against the
volunteer system in the House can turn
around and advocate the system for
some special person.
"If you make an exception you are
going against your own declaration
Representative Anthony declared that
it would be impossible 10 meet the re-
quest for troops Immediately he be-
i.eved Marshal Joffre had made Of the
War Department unless resort was had
20 the services Of 100000 patriotic
Americans, who stand ready to enlist
under the banner Of the one great
American competent 70 lead such an
army.
"Jofre," he said. "has told the War
Departmental we know Il to be .
! fact, despite the expurgation OF his
statements-that a force Of volunteers
could be raised here. and with one or
two months training in this country
could be sent abroad. and that after
, four months OF training in Europe they
could be trained and sent into the
trenches"
Representative Sherley. interrupting,
declared that Marshal Joffre had told
him trained troops should be sent.
'ls the General STAFF in favor Of the
Roosevelt amendment ?" demanded Rep
resentative Brittsn, OF Illinois.
Says People Favor Plan
IL do not know as 10 that, but I DO
know the American people favor H."
replied Mr.. Anthony. He sdded that
Gnlcn.f Dnoanvalt -