Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-26
The Roosevelt Volunteers.

Officers In the war department are
| said to DO opposed to granting per-
mission to Col. Theodore Roosevelt to
raise a division Of volunteers for early
service in France. because they think
iit would be inconsistent with the plan
for raising a regular army by seiective
draft
IL this objection were valid. Col.
Roosovelts patriotic offer should be
declined.
But where IL there any inconslst-
ency2 Where would the two plans
conflict. and how
/ Col. Roosevelt proposes 70 raise a
division Of volunteers, TO be command :
ed by regular army Officers. lie pro-
poses to accept men above the age OF
%, who would not toc subject 10 draft.
The presidents plan for selectivc
draft would not be affected in the
slightest degree by raising II division
OF volunteers. Is it argued that young
men who could not get into the RoGee-
welt division would lose heart? They
would be subject TO draft just the
same. Is It suggested that young men
drafted would suffer under the i'm
putatlon that they had not Voiun-
,tcered? The answer is that they could
mot volunteer They would be upon
exactly the same footing a. other men
OF their age. rich and poor. is objec-
ton made because the volunteer d.
vision would go forward FIRST and gain
all tie credit? There will be credit
enough for all who go to the front.
The emergency calls for the Ameri-
10, IN, lIp
al home because somebody would get
credit for taking II 10 the battle line!
The man who raises this objection
should search his heart and ask him
self II he Is not willing 10 sacrifice MS
countrys welfare TO his own desire Tor
first honors.
The law providing for universal Sc
lective draft could not cast any I'M
putation upon any man. 1t would not
prevent any men above 25 from volun-
,eering In the first expedltionary
force, nor cast doubt upon the patriot
ism of those who did not volunteer.
The Roosevelt division would be Gre
ated to meet an emergency. The army
raised by seiective draft would go for
ward when ready. Neither could re-
place the other. and neither could pos
sibly Interfere with the other.
There IL work to be done for all
Americans II 100000 men above 20,
already familiar woith arms and drill,
are ready to fall In for service IN
France, why hold them back? LIS the
war department unable to provide for
100, 900 men now? 1t can be given
means, and the task OF Quitting 1907
600 men will furnish valuable ex-
perience to be applied to the bigger
ask later on.
Every one OF Col. Roosevelt's divi-
sion would be picked man, capable
of rendering invaluable service to the
inexperienced men who will be raised
by selected draft. Thousands OF them
could be brought back after active SER
vice at the front to train the recruits
according to the actual needs OF mod
ern war. Just as the American yolun-
teers now at the front could be OF the
greatest service in training men here,
no the Roosevelt division would be
available.
In the meantime the American flag
would have been planted in France,
never to withdraw while German
armies were on French soil. The inn
provised forces would In due time give
wSy % the regular army OF the United
States, which would carry the nag to
victory .--washington Post.