The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-19

(Dy W. @. McAdoo. Secretary Of tn,
- Treasury
The number Of claims for exemn
tiep from military duty under draf
NV has caused a painful impression
b many quarters. but after all, doe.
not the fact that no provision has ye
ueen made BY the government for tn,
sppport Of the wives and children
mothsrs or Fathers. of the men VIII,
have been drafted explain many o.
these claims for exemption?
yDdcr the draft law the government
hds the power to require every able
'sodisd man between 81 and 81 year.
~ ags to perform military duty. Thou.
sqnds Of the drafted men are wage
ssArners who married years ago and
trs the sole support Of dependent fam.
ilies. 50 long az the government
has made no provision for the care OF
these dependents. II is natural tina,
such drafted men should seek to pro-
sect their loved ones by staying at
home. I am sure that II the congress
should promptly enact the pending
war insurance bill. which makes def
mite allowances for the support of the
dependent wives and children. fathers
or mothers. Of our soldiers and sail
ors. claims for exemption on that
score will cease. This Is an impera- :
tive duty Of the government. We can
not deprive helpless women and chill
dren Of the support Of the wage
Garner by forcing him into the mill
tary service of the country unless the
government substitutes itself as their
support.
imagine the emotions Of the man
who is called into the military SER
vice Of his country with full knowl-
edge that his loved ones are left with
out means OF support and may be re-
duced 10 want unless the charity of
the community In which they live
comes to their relief. 1t would be
nothing less than a crime for a rich
and just government to treat its fight
ing men SO heartlessly and to subject
their dependent wives and children.
who are unable to fight. to greater suf-
fsring than II they could fight.
The morale Of an army Is as essen
tial to Its effective lighting power as
gums. ammunition and other instru
mcntalities of war. or equal import.
ance Is the morale Of the civil popu-
lstiou which must support the armies
In the neld. We cannot have this
essential morale unless the nation
comforts the men IN the ranks with
knowledge that everything possible
will be done for them and their fam
ilies. and renders to the civil popula-
ton at home the assistance which
will make II most effective in up-
holding the government and tho
nghting forces.
The purpose Of the war insurance
bill now pending in tho congress is to
secure the future of Americas SOL
diers and sailors by insuring their
lives and providing adequate compen-
sations and indomnities for loss Of
life and total or partial permanent
disability; also to protect thoir fam
HES against poverty and want by pro-
viding them with sufficient means of
support during the absence of the men
at the front.
The nation. having been forced to
resort to the draft In order to create
quickly an army to save the country,
p under a higher obligation to do
these things for It's fighting forces
than II volunteer army only was
created. This great and rich republic
cannot afford to do less, and 1t must
do what is proposed In a spirit of
gratitude and not as charity. Every
soltiier. and sailor who serves his
country In this war will earn every
thing the proposed war insurance bill
provides; to be q beneficiary Of the
proposed law will be a badge of hon.
or.
When we draft the wage Garner. we
call not only him but the entire fam
lily to the flag: the sacrifice entailed
Is not diyisible. The wife and chill
dren, the mother. the father. are all
involved In the sacrifice--they direct
iy share the burden OF defense. They
suffer just as much as the soldier,
but In a different way. and the nation
must generously discharge as a proud
privilege the duty Of maintaining
them until the soldiers and sailors re.