The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-04-26
HOUSE VOTES ONl
DRAFT THURSDAY
Bitter Contest Expected Over
Consumption Measure.
DEBATE TO LAST 10 HOURS
Most of Speeches in Lower Branch of
Congress Fsvcr Administrators
PIan-Passage of Measure in
,.l.. Senate Assured.

houses OF congress debating the war
army bill, it became more than ever
apparent that there is no fight over
whether Il great army shall be raised
the only question being what strength
can be mustered by opponents of the
administrations selective draft plan.
In the senate passage of the general
staff bill virtually without change is
regarded as certain; on the house side
the presidents supporters also are CON
tident of success, though the contest
there will be bitter.
Discussion in the senate may con-
tinue until Saturday, but the house,
under II tentative agreement for IS
hours of general debate, probably will
be ready to vote by Thursday.
Most Speeches Favorable.
Most of the speeches in the house
were in favor Of the administration
plans, after Representative Dent,
chairman of the military committee,
had made an opening statement ear
nestly supporting the bill as amended
by his committee to authorize calls
for volunteers, with provision Cor ap-
plying the draft only if the volunteer
system fails.
Representative Kahn of California,
ranking Republican Of the committee,
appeared in the unique position Of
spokesman for the president and lead
er of the administration forces.
Representatives Mckenzie, Illinois;
pnnnGNIrpnig MaSaa-
chusctts; Lunn, New York; Greene
Vermont; Adamson, Georgia, and
others spoke for the draft as the only
effective method of raising the army
needed.
Representative Nichols of South
Carolina joined Chairman Dent in
clampioning the volunteer plan.
Weeks Fights for Draft.
Senators Wadsworth and Weeks, Wig
orously advocating the draft, and Sem
ator Thomas as strongly opposing it,
made the principal addresses in the
senate.
Chairman Chamberlain of the SEN
ate committee said that lie might seek
unanimous consent Wednesday for IL
vote that day or Thursday.
He said he did not now expect to
cndeavOr to use the new ClOture rule
both because he was not certain he
could get the twO-thirds necessary to
invoke it and because it might result
in more talk than would follow in the
normal course.
Senator Harding, Republican, of
Ohio, who is supporting the admins
tratiOn bill, presented an amendment
authorizing the president to raise not
more than three divisions of volunteer
units. with the provision that no units
smaller than division shall be ac-
cepted for federal service. This
would permit Colonel Roosevelt to
head division to France, as he has
requested.
People Demand Draft.
In opening the senate debate Sena-
tor Weeks said the people demand
CONSUMPTION, or would demand it If
they were correctly informed.
Senator Sherman suggested that
like President Lincoln, the present
executive should have called for vol
unteers Immediately upon the declar-
alton of war. Senator Nelson, ii Civil
war veteran, said Lincoln's call was
for state militia--not volunteers.
When Senator Wadsworth praised
the war departments policy of stimu-
Eating recruiting of present National
Guard organizations and discOuraging
formation of new units Senator John
son of California asked if an effective
American force could not be placed in
Europe sooner by using both the vol
unreer and draft systems.
ave Want to Fight"
"We're in the war;" said Mr. John
son. eve want to fght-not with
dollars alone, but with every force ut
our command. A very large number
might volunteer Immediately if
called"
Senator Wadsworth said there was
no comparison between the Civil war
times and present conditions.
ia 1861 both sides rushed volun-
teering," he said. 1--WE have time now
to build up carefully constructed
effective army. Fortunately for the
United States, the British and Amer
lean fleets protect US from invasion,
giving us, thank heaven, time TO build
Il real army, avoiding the mistakes Of
other nations. We can thus show the
world that we are to be effective in
this war TO its bitterest end.
81 still am unable to understand
why, if we are going to fight we
shouldn't use every available means
tho volunteer, draft, universal
training and the like" said Senator
Johnson.