Evening star., 1917-04-08
BACKS
CONSCR|P TON PLAN
Secretary Baker Believes
Forced Enlistment Must Be
Adopted at Outset.
CONGRESS FIGHT LIKELY

Conscription must be applied from
the very outset of war to raise the re-
quired armies. in the judgment of the
President, Secretary Baker and the en-
tire military arm of the government.
Secretary Baker solemnly informed
the House military affairs committee
of this belief yesterday, during a dis
| cussion of the War Department bill
providing for training an army of a
| million men. raised by selective con-
scription during the next year.
There will be opposition to the pro-
posed conscription plan in both the
House and Senate, and bitter fight
against this Legislation is expected. But
the supporters of universal military
service. to be applied through conscrip-
tion, feel that they will be successful
in the end. because, they say. it has
been clearly demonstrated in the past,
both in this country and abroad, that
the volunteer system is not to be relied
upon.
Sentiment Is Divided.
Representative Anthony of Kansas.
a republican member of the military
that he would not support compulsory
Of the committee who have opposed
universal military training as a per-
manent system favor universal serv-
ice at this time of emergency.
Secretary Baker made an earnest
plea yesterday to the committee for
| quick passage of the bill.
Chairman Dent of the committee,
| with Representative Kahn of Califor-
mia, ranking republican of the commit
tee present, made this statement:
Secretary Baker discussed the bill
in a general way, answering questions
from the committee as to preparations
made and in contemplation to carry on
! the war.
"lt is impossible to say when the
committee win get the bill into the
House. as members of the committee,
| except myself. have not had an oppor-
| tunity to examine it.
Il cannot say yet what the attitude
| of the committee will be regarding
the question of selective conscription
with the bill and 1 could only Judge
by the ques' asked the Secretary.
Plan Deemed Essential.
Secretary Baker is convinced that
the draft system is absolutely essen
| tial and that the voluntary system
| would not work adequately The argu-
ment that has been all along made. Of
| course, is that under a draft system
everybody would be treated alike. and
| that it would not be the case under
the voluntary system. The method of
| selection under the conscription sys-
| tenn would be a matter of depart
mental regulation. All men between
| the ages of nineteen and twenty-five
would be listed. and the War Depart
ment then would undertake the process
| of elimination. The exemption on ac-
| count of dependents provided in the
| bill is very clear.
! ha 10 ha F1,
eligibility to enlistment are from eight
cen to thirty-five in the regular army and
| eighteen to forty-five in the National
Guard. and the new bill changes this to
make it eighteen to forty in both cases" "
| Hear From Constituents.
| Members of the House are receiving
letters from constituents who have sons
of military age, or approaching it, beg
ging for exemption of certain classes of
cases analogous to that of the indiyjd
ual in question. so as to include them
| Letters are also being received by mem
bers of the House from persons who favor
conscription a practical and utilitarian
policy. severe but efficacious measure
of war
| Secretary Baker told the committee
there are enough small arms to eauip
the first 100000 men; that within
fourteen or eighteen months most of
he available, and that within two years
there would be sufficient equipment to
put 2.000,0 900 men on a complete fight
ing basis. He said there were 1000 600
men in the country between the ages
of nineteen and twenty five, of which
he estimated 100000 were available
for service after eliminating those in
factories in arts or sciences where
they perform work necessary for prep
aration of the country for the war, and
the men who have dependents or mill
tary defects.
Will Send Troops Abroad
Secretary Baker said that If the war
Department were called upon to send
troops for duty in Europe it would
do
when we enter the war are we to
fight for or with England?" asked
Representative Caldwell of New York
That is more of political question
than a military one" said Secretary
Baker. who made no direct reply
, Mr.. Caldwell rs one of q number OF
, members OF the committee who oppose
. conscription without first carrying out
the volunteer plan to its limit
,, Secretary Baker opposed a. sugges
tion that there be written into the bill
up the ranks of the National Guard By
draft only after the voluntary system
failed.
Detailed Consideration.
t Detailed consideration of the meas
D II ure will be taken tomorrow when Mr.
( Baker. supported by Maj. Gen. Scott
: chief of staff: Judge Advocate Genera
- TTvon nt;.,.<J - Cecil TS.-S