The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-04-27
VOLUNTEER SYSTEM.

We 90 not InlQh MUCH oA Foluu-'
teer system for an emergency like
that which now confronts the coun-
try. The selective Consumption idea
is the best. OF course it is all right
to arrange so volunteers may enter
the regular or the National Guard
armies 'for the period of the war.
There is. nothing Objectionable to
that, and besides it has its advan-
tage in that it furnishes the oppor-
tunity for all who desire to serve.
But this system, or rather lack OF sys-
TEN. which permits and encourages
all kinds of political and other ao-
yenturers to undertake the Whooplng
ND of volunteers in order to get COM
missions for themselves, we don't
like. AS a rule such adventurers are
not fit for command, and they are In
capable of giving the best service.
The effect too is demoralizing. II
this war is right, and it is, then it Is
everybody's war, and selective con-
scription is the right way to raise the
man power.-Yorkville Enquirer.
At first we were not In favor of se-
lective or any other kind Of con-
scription, but the more We have
thought Of 1t the more We are con-
vinced that it is the proper method
of raising the man power to fight this
war. It is claimed that volunteer
army is the most efficient and that
men who volunteer to the service
will make better soldiers. That may
be true to a certain extent, and was
true of the civil war. And yet there
was conscription on both sides IN
that great conflict. But times have
changed, and then this is different
kind of a conflict. A majority OF
those who have volunteered couldn't
tell you why they enlisted, or for
what they are expected to fight, ex-
cent that their country had called and
they had answered the call, and
really after the state Of war has
been declared that is reason SUM-
cient to the patriot.
But there is another reason why
we think that selective conscription
is the proper method in this war. In
a government that furnishes equality
of opportunity it is right that 1t
should exact equality OF service. And
then it puts every one on the same
footing. The loud talking patriots
as we'll as the real patriots who ex-
emplify their patriotism by their
deeds rather than by their mouths,
are placed. on an equality, and the
government selects those who are
really the best suited for the service
desired, whether it be on the battle
deld or in any other part of the ser
vice. The rich and the poor, and the
learned and the unlearned. Or as
some one else has expressed It:
Under the voluntary. system in
time of war, the serviceabIe manhood
of the nation is divided into two
parts:
There are the patriotic young men
who volunteer to go to the front,
and if need be, die in order that the
nation may live; and there are the
slackers who are perfectly willing to
sacrifice the other fellows on the al
tar Of patriotism.
"That is not democratic arrange
ment.
"a democracy which offers equah-
ty of opportunity has a right to ex-
act in return equality of service"
And then as the Enquirer says 1t
will give more system in the forma-
ton of the army and get rid OF the
political adventurer.
There may be provisions in the
present bill before congress that
would make it Objectionable. We are
talking about the principle.