The Sentinel=record., 1917-04-20
WOULD NOT HAMPER WHERE
 MEN ARE MOST NEEDED
Men Who Are Employed in Factories, Mines and the Farm Would Not Be Called On Under the selectiVe Draft Plan-There Is at Present Room for 6oo,ooo Volunteers.

Washington. April 19.-As one step toward meeting opposition in con gress 10 the administration army plans, President Wilson today sent letter to Representative Helvering of Kansas explaining what is meant by selective draft and expressing earnest hope that the bill drafted by the war department would be passed. The letter said: 'I welcome the inquiry of your letter of April 9 be- cause have realized the truth of what you say from my own observa- tions. namely, that what is meant to be understood by the selective draft is not generally understood through out the country.
 "The process of the draft is, think, very clearly set forth in the bill drafted by the war department. and which l so earnestly hope the con gross will adopt but it is worth while to state the idea which underlies the bill a little more fully.
 "I took occasion the other day in an address to the people of the cOun- try 10 point out the many forms of patriotic service that were open to them and 10 emphasize the fact that the military part of the service was by no means the only part and per haps, all things considered, not the most vital part Our object is a mobilization of all the productive and active forces of the nation and their development to the highest point of cooperation and efficiency, and the idea of the selective draft is that those should be chosen for service in the army who can be most readily spared from the prosecution of the other activities which the country must engage in. and to which it must devote great deal of its best energy and capacity.
 "The volunteer system does not do this. When men choose themselves they sometimes choose without due regard to their other possibilities. Men may come from the farms or from the mines or from the factories or centers of business who ought not 10 come, but ought to stand back of the armies in the field and see that they get everything that they need and that the people Of the country are sustained in the meantime.
 The principle of the seiective draft ln short has at heart this idea that there is a universal obligation to serve and that a public authority should choose those upon whom the obliga- ton of military service shall rest and also in d sense choose those who shall do the rest Of the nation work The bill, if adopted. win do more, l believe than any other single instrum ntality to create the impression of universal service in the army and ont Of it, and if properly administered. will be q great source of stimulation.
 Those who feel that we are turn ing away altogether from the yolun- tary principle seem to forget that some 6000o0 men will be needed to fill the ranks of the regular army and the national guard and that a very great field of indiyidaal enthns iasln lies there wide open.'
 The pres dent and administration leaders in congress arA confident of the ultimate enactment of the army bill without material dhange~ The 
 fight probably will begia in the sen ate where the bill will be taken ap soon as the espionage pfeasure is dis posed of. Chairman Chamberlain of