Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-12
WILSON INSISTS ON BILL
TO RAISE ARMY BY DRAFT
Declares Ii Is Only Way to Meet De-
mand for Great and Efficient
Fighting Force.
IN CONFERENCE At CAPITOL
Hears From Speaker Clark and
Leader kitchin That There Is
Sentiment Against War Depart.
ment Plans.
IL CONFERENCE AT CAPITOL
! BY Associated Press.l

WASHINGTON, April 1l-President
wilson. in a conference with Speaker
champ Clark and Majority Leader Kit
chin Al the Capitol to-day, insisted on
the terms of the administration plan
Tor raising large army on the princi-
pie OF selective draft. At the same time
1t was learned that the War Depart.
mcnt virtually had decided on plans
under which opportunity would be
given for approximately 100000 men TO
volunteer for services for the term of
the war
The net result of the new plans would
be TO make the total National Guard
and regular force to be organized first
independently OF tho selcctivc draft
plan. approximately $4,000 men, maxi
ing room f2r the absorption Of 500 600
volunteers No attempt to enlist mon
TO accomplish this will be made until
congress has acted. and authority is
granted TO enlist such volunteers for
the duration Of the war only.
The President talked for nearly an
hour with Speaker Clark and Repre-
sentative kitci.in. and discussed the ad-
ministration army plan in detail. MAX
inG clear that it had been drawn up
only after the most thorough consid-
GRAFTON ut the War Department. and
after II had been decided that IL was
'he only way TO meet the demand for
great and efficient fighting force
FIRST WANT OPPORTUNITY
GIVEN TO VOLUNTEERS
Both Speaker Clark and Rcprescn
tativc kitchm told the President ,bat
much sentiment existed in Congress
against the plan. principally on the
ground that draft should not he re-
sorted to until an effort had been made
10 raise an army through volunteers.
Carctnl reconsideration OF the terms
OF thc existing national defense act is
responsible for the contemplated change
ot inc administrations policy in regard
l" the mobilization of tho National
Guard for war. Officials now think the
law grants the States the right TO or
sani@c additional guard units ,p 10 tho
fnil unit of 500 men To "A congressional
district
The effect OF this change would bc
10 make II possible for the National
Guard To have a full strength OF 40 Ooo
eh''*'cd men IN the first element of the
Wartime national army. The present
policy OF the War Department, or
drafting only those units now existing
and such additional units AS NAV bc
necessary TO fill out divisional organ
other evidences of pcrmanencv. would
produce about 100000 men
The department has decided Score
tary Baker told the House Military
Committee to-day. Ia raise tho regular
army to full strength prescribed h,.
the national defense act-cy7 90 Dim
mcdiateiy on the passage of the war
organization bill by Congress. This
means that three additional incrc
mcnts 'otalinE approximately $4,000
men would be required Many new
regiments would be formed by dividing
existing regiments and filling each half
M TO fuli war rcgimcntal strength
Previously IL had hccn thought wise
10 add only the 1915 increment. con-
serving the capacity OF the regular
establishment as "a training force. II
has been determined that three addi-
uonal incrcmcnts can be absorbed
without impairinE seriously the train
inS efficiency of the force.
Secretary Baker pointed out that men
who now enlist in either service hind
themselves to serve three years with
the colors and three years I'm reserve
Recruitment OF the National Guard be,
Nond peace strength would not he at
tempted. he said. until authorization
for the wartime volunteers was
granted.
During The day Il committee. headed
by Jane Addams. OF Chicago. called on
Secretary Baker to discuss the cxemp-
ton clauses OF the administrators
army bill providing for the additional
forces TO be raised by sclective draft.