The Washington herald., 1917-04-22
What Leading Newspapers
Say on the War Situation
The Fisht for Delay.
iNsH York nnssl

New York TmeSj
me organized opposition, in and out OF
Congress, to the only reasonable army
plan, In the most critical hour in the ma
tion's history, is not TO be viewed lightly.
IL has already had so much success that
vote on the bill In the House Of Rep
resentatives cannot be reached before the
latter part OF next week Probably the
debate will be carried into May. oficial
recognition OF the state Of war between
this country and Germany was made
April g. A month viii be wasted, holding
In abeyance the execution OF defense
plans that were in shape when Congress
assembled. The opposition, hitherto di-
rected against the acceptance of any
military plans whatever, Is now concen-
trated in favor OF the discredited yolun-
teer system. We are having a daily OBJ
ject lesson in the inadequacy Of that sys-
tenn. At the present rate OF recruiting.
the regular army and the National Qua I'd
would not be filled this year.
The advocates of the volunteer plan
disingenuoUsly assert that 1.-The adminis-
tration has made no oficial and hearty
appeal for volunteers" This Is an tnde-
fensible charge against the administra-
tion. The appeal for volunteers has been
heard in every part OF the country, and
the result is that patriotic citizens in
every State are now convinced that we
cannot obtain an army except by the
adoption of the sound democratic prin-
ciple of universal service. Hundreds Of
thousands of young men are waiting for
the military defense Of the nation TO be
put on a fair basis.
There was reason 10 hope when Con-
gres assembled for an extra session that
the plan for army extension would be
put In operation without delay. But 1t
has been delayed so long already that
alarm is manifested. AS The Chicago
Tribune says, "it is time for the American
people to make themselves heard In Con-
gress." There is no doubt where they
stand. It is. therefore. quite unnecessary
to rehearse the historic arguments
against the volunteer system, which has
cost this country so dearly in lives and
money in the past. 1t is not the vol
unteer system that the opponents Of uni
versal service, with a few exceptions,
are fighting for. The real object is TO
delay the preparations to make ourselves
felt in the world war.
Support the PRECEDENT.
ATLANTA Constitutionl
In quibbling dissension and procrasu-
nation over the Presidents selective con-
scription plan Congress is not only i'm
peding the progress OF this government
in the prosecution Of the war, but is
rendering a distinct service 10 this coun-
try's enemies.
The men who compose the American
Congress ought TO be big enough. broad
| enough and far-sighted enough to real
ize that-and patriotic enough TO call a
halt!
This is no time to quibble over details.
The President has acted upon the sug-
ges.ion OF the army experts. and without
dissenting voice they recommend the
plan which the President asks Congress
to adopt.
The administration, after long days and
nights and with painstaking care and cal
! culation, has worked out and presented
I for Congressional ratification such a plan
as conforms with its conception Of the
nations needs.
And Congress should now. II ever. fol-
| low the Presidents lead.
Upon the Presidents shoulders rests
the responsibility of successfully guiding
the American people through this war
| crisis: and it is. therefore. incumbent
| upon Congress and upon every patriotic
citizen to follow his lead and lend
| strength TO his arm!
So let Congress quit its bickeriug and
! wrangling and give the President the
| support he so earnestly asks. and which
he must have IL we are to remove every
| obstacle to success.
And in doing that the Congress will
| merit and receive the fervent thanks and
plaudits OF the rank and nte Of the
American people!
Get back of the President,
Stop Quibblingi
Pass the war bills without further de-
| lay and then-go home!
The New Republic.
We do not credit the rumors that the
| Russian revolution is considering a sep
arate peace with the German empire, be-
cause a separate peace would mean that
| the revolution had committed suicide
To abandon the liberal nations Of the
west and tie up with the Prussisn aUtoc-
| Iacy would mean a profound reaction
| in Russia The new regime depends
upon the solidity of the league Of ma
| tions, upon a close cooperation with the
Atlantic democracies, a cooperation not
| only OF spirit and purpose but of a
| finance and commerce. A separate peace
would isolate Russia morally, politically,
economically. would make il in fact a
vassal of Germany, and every political
weakness would be the opportunity for
intrigue and penetration. That the Rus
| sian revolution wants peace soon, that
il seems ready to abandon plans OF con-
American people will fully sympathize
with the desire and recognize its wis
| dom. They even believe that the revo-
luton has made possible an easier and
a better peace. But that ii must be a
general peace is the great thing. for only
out OF a general peace made by a loyal
alliance can a league Of nations arise.
| and that league is the natural home and
protector of democratic Russia
New York Evening Post.
The House committee has receded
from its untenable position on the CEN
sorship provision of the espionage bill,
and the Senate yesterday saw as hot
shot poured into it as any newspaper
could wish. So much good has free
discussion about free speech accom-
plished. The result is reassuring as
indicating that Congress is not yet
stampeded by those who would vir-
tually declare martial law from Maine
to California at once. The bill will
have to be watched closely during its
remaining stages in the House, and
the form in which il is before the Sen
ate makes il deserve the severest
criticisms with which Snators like
1