The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-23
TO
Be ADOPTED
Congress Started Debate To-
day, But President is Conf
dent That He Will Have
His Way.
PRESSURE Is HEAVY
Opponents, Who Want Volunteer Syn.
tom Given Chance, Are Being
Fought With Great
Vieor.
PRESSURE IS HEAVY

WASHINGTON, April 23.-Congress
today started debate upon the admins
tration's conscription army bt1l, which
IL passed, will subject millions OF
American citizens to the draft and en-
able the government to Immediately
start training the biggest army IN
American history for q smash at Ger
many.
The house had before It the army
bin as reported by the military COM
mittee with conflicting recommends
tons. one proposing the volunteer plan
and the other President Wilson's So
lecttve draft. The house fight was bit
ter, Representative Kahn. Of Cali
fornfa. republican and q nativej OF
Germany led the administration forces.
Chairman Dent Of the military COM
mfttee headed the opposition. favoring
q volunteer army.
Administration supporters were con-
tident Dent could not master sufficient
votes to beat conscrfption.
Strong pressure is being brought to
bear on waverirsg members It will
continue until the end OF the debate,
probably Wednesday, when the ad-
mfnfstration hopes to have all uncer-
tain opponents whipped into line.
The senate fight is not so bitter. 1t
appeared certain the draft program
would ultimately pass in the upper
house.
President Wilson was in closest
touch with every move.
His intimate advisers were said to
be positive conscription would win.
A group Of progressives gave added
strength to the presidents forces when
they endorsed number Of admins
tration measures. including the draft.
The big bond issue, which will pro-
vide the sinews of war for Americas
first armies in the field and for the
work Of training recruits. is about
ready for sale Secretary of the
Teasury McAdoo plants to utilize Of
fers of advertising to awaken the peo-
pie to the fact that this huge sum
must be raised to insure the defeat OF
the kaiser and release Americas
forces for the battle lines.
ENGLAND Advises conscripton.
[By Ed. l.. Keen, United Press Staff
Correspondent
LONDON, April 23.-Americans
here Join with the British in the
hope that the United States will
raise it's army by conscription-not
by volunteer draft. A careful can
vass of scores of prominent A1neri-
cans here together with the view eX-
pressed in the lobbies of the house
of commons, developed this unity to-
day.
Members Of commons are en-
over the idea that America
send an expeditionary force at as
early a date as possible-under |
or any other leader. They |
think the effect would be splendid.
But almost without exception the |
members privately expressed a
strong warning that America benefit !
by England's experience and avoid /
the stripping Of the nation Of trained
men needed to organize and drill the
big army.
I'VE welcome the proposal of an
American expeditionary army said
General Page Croft, NJ. P, to the
United Press "But we realize If the
United States builds up great army,
trained soldiers will be needed to
create the machinery. Therefore we
10 not advocate pressing the United
States to send strong expeditionary
force unless we are convinced she
nas a sufficient number of profess
sional soldiers to train that army.
eff the United States IS building
lew divisions at once, such troops
f they are trained by professional
be ready to leave
'or France by the end Of July-in
line for the last two months Of the
summer offensive operations. But it
IS necessary Am erica should avoid
he difficulties England experienced
n not having trained soldiers at
nome for drilling
Among Americans here the prin-
,ipal subject of talk is the congress
,ional action providing for the rails
ng Of Americas army. It was gen.
orally suggested that Lloyd George
lad the failure of the British volun-
.eer system in mind when he urged
n his recent speech that America
profit by England's mistakes.
Anyone who lives in London these
fContfnuaN- on Da2a 2l