The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-28

might protect many of the brighter, more
capable young men from the immediate
ravages of battle and utilize their energy
and their skill and particular fitness III
providing for the country's needs at home
as well as the field of battle-in other
words it appears to us as being scientific
grouping of the men instead of the hap
hazard plan presented by the volunteer
again, if consumption is adopted and
this war is prolonged, as some predict it
may be, the age limit will be increased
considerably beyond twenty five years, pos
sibly up to the point where men of your
age would be amenable to the draft:
am sure of course, that from your brilliant
record in former critical conditions in this
country, that you would not require the
draft to make you defend your country,
If need be with your life and yet there are
undoubtedly, great numbers of men who
will never volunteer to get into service
thru the volunteer system-they have just
as much right to defend their country as
you have-they owe just as great a debt
of obligation as you do-the country means
as much to them as it does to you and
there is no reason why they should have
any preference over you simply because
they do not see their patriotic duty as you
see it and stay at home possibly to prosper
by reason of the abnormal business con-
ditions that the war brings while you
sacrifice this opportunity and offer your
life to your country. To say the least
that sort of system is not equitable and
fair and the man who is going to volunteer
as Won nndonhtedlv will has nothing to
fear from CONSUMPTION. The greatest op-
ponents to conscription are usually men
government asks for men within their age
limit
''The people of Kansas, thru the gov
ernor have expressed to the president their
united support and fidelity thru this
critical period and without desiring to
criticise any public official or to- to-. in any
right to his own opinion, yet l believe that
the sentiment in Kansas is so strongly in
favor of standing behind the president that
the attitude of some of our congressman
who would do other than this, does not
meet with popular approval here in Kansas
granting of course, that there are people
who hold to the point of view that few
of our congressman seem to maintain in
this present crisis, yet the great mass of
recommendations of the president and his
cabinet in this critical hour should not be
thwarted by subterfuges that time and ex-
perience. not only in our own nations his
tory but of the nations Of the world, have
shown do not give satisfactory results.
Il trust Won will pardon this long letter
and while i am sure | cannot give you any
information upon the question of conscrtp-
ton vet | am quite sure that your letter
does an injustice to the men of the Cham
Der Of Commerce of Topeka and can in no
way help you in arriving at an honest de-
bill, unless you of course are willing to
admit that the most patriotic motives
prompted the action of the men to adopt
the resolution which was sent you. Per-
sonally l know this was true of the men
who attended that meeting and l know that
the same spirit prevails thruout the state.
Kansas is back of the president and I'M
doubtedly if the issue were drawn so that
expression could be given by every citizen
of the state that there would be no doubt
in the minds of her representatives in
congress as to how they should cast their
vote
to you in casting your vote on the bill next
week the writer will certainly have occa-
sion to rejoiee-at any rate l am glad Of
triotic sentiment of the men OF the Cham
Der Of Commerce Of Topeka"