Evening journal., 1917-04-04
NO HAND.PICKED HOME GUARD COMPOSED OF
MEN BETWEEN Is AND As.

\ n another column We print today communication
signed &C. A. r." which we think It will be well for
Governor Townsend Adjutant-General Wickersham,
Mayor Price, the Wilmington Police Commissioners and
the officers and members Of the Wilmington National
Defense Committee read carefully and digest before
committing themselves to any line of policy with
spect to the organization OF Home Guard for our city
and State.
The communication is in approval Of our editorial of
yesterday in which asserted that there enough
men over as years old to compose that Home Guard,
and that under 45 years old should be permitted
to go into it.
Certainly, a storm Of protest would be aroused
throughout the city and state were Governor Townsend,
Adutant General Wckersham, Mayor Price, the Board
o. Police Commissioners the Wilmington Defense
Committee to give support to any scheme
to have hand-picked Home Guard, or to permit men
between Is and 40 years old who volunteers or con-
scripts should take their chances with others at the
front to get into such an organization while other men
Is and 49, but less favored, kept out Of
and its safe atmosphere and where both death and
danger Turk.
The Wilmington public and the Delaware public
would stand for such safetyhrst composition of
the Home Guard. Our officials may well understand
that now at any other time President Wilson has
asserted that this is to be war of democracy against
autocracy and is in that spirit that 1t must be ap-
preached by our public officials and population,
No one can dispute that there are enough keen and
alert men over As years old who amply able to
compose our Home Guard and to perform all the
duties that Home Guard will be called upon to per-
form.
With that fact beyond dispute it remains for the
Governor the Adiuant-G General the Mayor. the Police
Commissioners and the National Defense Committee TO
say to any between the ages Of is and 45 who
Seeks to become a member of the Home Guard
IF you anxious to put a uniform, why don't
you respond the Presidents call for volunteers and
become member of a real fighting force or take your
chances under conscription? What is there about you
that should exempt you by Home Guard process, from
sharing the common dangers and Inconvenience that
other between the ages of IS and As are called
upon to for the sake Of the nation? If you
value your standing in the community advise you
20 abandon all thought Of asking to be enrolled in
the Home Guard service which will honor
for As old but dishonor for men under
years old Who il they love their country should be
eager to fight for and not to seek the almost absolute
safety Of Home Guard enlistment"
If our public officials from the Governor down, will
pursue that they will win public approval and
praise It the only course left open to them
unless they to put unwarranted damper upon
active service enlisments by arousng class prejudice
through setting up a hand-picked Home Guard com
posed Of men is and as years age who ought
to be set aside for service the front volunteers
conscripts.
It should be borne in mind that on the basis Of an
estimated population Of 1O2OOOOOO the United States
the raising Of army OF 100000 men would NEAR
that out OF every thirty-four men, women ant
children would have to go into the military
The raising of army Of 100000 would meal
the calling Of out OF every group OF twent,
men, women and children in the land Thus. it will b.
that the organization Of a vast army will require
most Of the physically able to into the active
service, leaving those above the age limit or rejected
because of physical unftness, to perform the HON,
Guard duty.