Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-08-17
Cooperation. Not Fault. Finding,
ts Now the Duty of Americans.
By HON, PAT HARRISON
Congressman Prom Mississ,no


Congressman Prom Mississippi.
The extent of the opposition Il
certains parts of the country t,
the selective draft plan of raisin,
an army is. III my opinion, great
~ exaggerated. In my state O.
Mississippi some of the most in
t1uential and distinguished mel
opposed the draft. They be
lieved that the volunteer system
was the wisest, best and most pa
triotic. Speeches supporting thai
view have been widely circulated
Ii the state. But Mississippians
are thoroughly reconciled to the
law and recognize, in the main
its squareness. its justice and its
wisdom. Since the measure be.
came a law l have received only
two letters either protesting
against it or seeking exemption
from its operation.
Whatever may have been one
judgment between the relative
merits of the volunteer and selec.
tive draft systems before the law
was passed, every true American
should now stand for a strict and
fair and impartial administration
of the law as it is. Every days
delay in the immediate and eff.
cient prosecution of the war is
costly to the American people.
1t is costing them money and it
is going to cost them lives the
lives of Americans who are to do
our fighting. The only way to
bring victory to our arms and the
arms of our allies is by united
and enthusiastic cooperation by
all Americans with every branch
OF our government. The sooner
we act, the more unitedly we act,
the more effectively we act, the
less the cost will be to us in mon
ey and in lives.
The manner of raising our
army is established by law.
Criticism of the law now by men
high in public life can do no good,
but may do much harm. It may
dampen the ardor and enthusiasm
of those who must enter our army
under that law and the dampen-
ing of the enthusiasm and ardor
Of our soldier boys is to that ex-
tent a blow against our govern
ment. Critics of the selective
draft encourage a defiance of the
law, in face of the present crises.
They have not the interest of
their country at heart and
are unworthy to be classed as
American citizens.
The President of the United
States is in this time of war
charged with the gravest and
most responsible duties. In the
administration of new and un-
tried laws and the operation of
the greatly increased military
and naval forces of the country,
together with all the vast number
of additional matters, rendered
necessary by the war. no doubt
mistakes will be made. It would
be a miracle if they were not.
But the critic especially if he be
a leader of men whose duty it is
to play an important part in
moulding public opinion the crit
'c and the fault finder whose only
activities are criticising and
fault-finding Of those who are ad-
ministering the law and carrying
on the numerous and vast opera
tions incident to the war is not a
truly good soldier or a good leader
or a loyal American.
The disintegration of Russia
which has been so costly to the
entente allied cause and which
will materially delay the success
full termination of the war,
should be a striking lesson to those
Americans who are inclined to
criticise and find fault with those
whose duties and functions are to
carry the war to a successful and
victorious end.
Great and large powers neces-
sarily must be conferred upon the
Executive of the nation at this
time. The delegation of such
powers in ordinary times would
not be dreamed of. But prompt
ness and efficiency are imperative
Dow and to obtain the highest ef-
/. cheney to strike with the power
End might of the nation, we must
&elegate for the time unusual au-
4hority to the Executive head.
4 Americas course in this war is
'sf tremendous Importance to her.
Telf and to us. It is of tremen-
RIous importance to the peace and
aafety and freedom of the world.
Never in our history was unself-
ash cooperation patriotic unity