Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-07
THE VOICE OF
THE PEOPLE
Conscription Of Men From 18 to
55-A "Tipless Day"
Advocated
WOULD DRAFT MEN UP TO IS

To the Editor Of the Evening Public Ledger
Sr--To make America thoroughly efficient
for the purpose of war. my opinion Is that
the Government should first levy upon all
men of the NATION by the selective draft
system, the draft to include all men. mar
ried and single. from eighteen years of age
to ffty-fve years of age.
Naturally to get the result looked for
these men would have to be classified 80 that
they may all work at that which they are
most capable: with eyes to the future re-
sponsibility should be fixed relieving men
from the firing line with others depending
upon them for support
As to classification l would suggest that
boys of eighteen to twenty-one years,
inclusive. should be made into a reserve
fighting force and used only as a fighting
force after all other resources had failed
to gain the objective which Is whipping the
Kaiser These boys should be guarded as
far as possible for the reason that places
must be filed after the war, made vacant on
account of the war
Now the active fighting force ! believe
should be made up out of the men without
any responsibility between the ages of
twenty-o lone and twenty-five years. inclusive,
out of which an army Of say, 100000 could
be raised and trained.
BY taking men of the class named above.
and where there are no wives, mothers. etc.
to leave behind, the nation Is not set back
to any real great extent excepting labor,
and ! believe even the labor question can
be answered.
would answer the labor question as fol-
lows: The remaining men. single. from
thirty-five to hfty-hve years, and the men
with dependents from twenty-one to nifty
five years. should become Immediately under
the control of the United States Government
] mean that military Of this Government
should have charge of all these men should
class all men and see that all men did their
part toward the successful termination of
this world war. Should all men become a
part of the Government forces. how could
there be any strikes or disorders such as
have been caused by the l. w. w? ! say 1t
simply could not happen and would not hap
pen for this reason. II none other. the mill
tary has a right by law to try cases by
court-martial and shoot to XIII II necessary
Is there any good reason why man just
over thirty zone years of age should not be
forced to do his part in this struggle that
may take years to completeE i said forced
II he will not volunteer, and 1t looks to me
as II the volunteers only work when they
receive all they desire, such as wages, and
they must be high. and then some will not do
their bit.
Why should n laborer because he Is over
thirty-one be pampered and petted into
working in some munition factory when he
is being paid well for that which he does !?
Any man who will not do his bit now should
be taken by the Government and made to
do either In some Industrial enterprise or
on the firing line.
And, furthermore, there Is only one way
and that way Is to draft them.
People will say how are we to pay unless
We the people, are taxed? The muniton
factories. shipbuiiding and the powder
works i'm fact any business that Is necessary
toward making the United States victorious
are all paying their employees.
Why could not the salaries paid the men
be maid over TO the Government and the
Government pay the men? BY this method
all men would receive the same rate for
labor, and that must reduce the cost Of
production. H. L. CAMfBELL
Ventnor, n. j., December q.