Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-08
Mr.. RAMsEYER's LETTER.

d.
gresham Ramseyer's letter IN yestei.
days Courier, in reply to petltlons
sent him from his constituents ursins
him to vote for the selective conscrlp-
ton bill, one is constrained TO reao IL
second time in an effort TO ascei-
tain whether the congressman lntehu-
ed to argue for or against the meas
ure.
Even after repeated readings there
remains some room for doubt, put AZ
least 1t is evident that Mr.. Ramseyer
does not approve entirely of the meas
ure even though he cast his vote LOT II.
He says, "This 'selective draft ous
mess does not exclude me and mine
and make you and yours serve In the
army, as some people have been leo
to believe"
The men who signed petitions for
the hills adoption did so on that very
account. They saw in the conscrip-
ton plan a promise that men who
should be offering their services as
volunteers would be drawn into the
army. They saw promise that the
draft would apply to rich and poor ana
would not consider social lines.
Mr.. Ramseyer seems to be labor1ng
under the delusion that the men OF
his district and his county are averse
to doing their bit in the army or In
any branch of activity which will en-
able them to serve with the greatest
effect and patriotic efficiency.
He labors to impress his constitu'
ents with the knowledge that the
farmers and laborers will be drawn
into the army under the draft system,
hut he overlooks the fact that just
such men are enlisting as volunteers
today, from his own county and all
over his own state.
The volunteer system. which mas
demonstrated its inadequacy at this
time when an army is vital neces-
sity and delay threatens national dis
sster ts draining the farms and shops.
II IL not decimating the ranks OF the
loafers who idle about lodging houses,
saloons. pool halls and rubhtsh-strewn
parks in the business districts Of the
big cities. Nevada, with hardly a
single community Of suficient size to
claim the name of city, leads all the
other states in volunteer recruits,
population considered.
It is to avoid this drain on the rural
communities and to equalize the de-
crease in the proportion of non-mil1-
ttary citizens as among the various
states and communities that the draft
law is favored by many people.
But principally 1t is urged because
It offers the only effective method OF
gathering together an army, which
must be done without unnecessary de-
day.
It is foolish and partakes Of lack
OF patriotism to temporize in consid-
Grafton of so vital proposition as the
question Of CONSUMPTION. The bill as
it has passed both houses leaves the
matter of exemption rules to the presi.
dent, the man in whose hands it should
be left He is able to devise plan
for recruiting an army and using the
excess men obtained by the draft in
the productive industries which must
be continued to second the army's &C
ttivities and make them successful.
The instrument congress must give
Ehe president and the people is law
authorizing the draft. For the United
States must have an army big enough
. represent this nation effectively in
Europe.
1t is as far from the point for Mr..
Ramseyer to haggle over this fact as
1t is to speculate, as he does in his let
ter, on his prospects for reelection.