The Washington herald., 1917-04-13
Interesting Chats
From Hotel Lobbies

David II. Clarke. of Lonaconing, Md,
lined yesterday. in the course OF a chat.
the great wave of patriotism that is
sweeping over Maryland.
Maryland always has been patriotic,
said Mr.. Clarke, "as her war record
deadly in earnest than she is right now.
Almost before the President had told
Congress that a state of war with Ger
many existed. Maryland was making
plans for a war census of its abIe-bodied
young men.
This war. census is now being hur-
ried through and within a week or two
the State authorities will know, almost
to a man, the fighting strength of its
population. or course. a great many
OF these young men probably will
fail through physical defects, partic-
ularly in the Baltimore and Cumber-
land districts. but more than half OF
the States young men-in fact, probably
10 per cent of thcn-will be availa BILE
for the army and navy when the call
actually comes. There is very little SEN
timent throughout the State that actually
has opposed the conscription plan. The
big idea seems to be that the adminis-
tration knows what 1t is doing and that
Maryland's part Is to take its. orders
and obey thenf siSss,s. ---
'Conscription is liable, unless it is very
carefully conducted. to hurt the State
a great deal and it may be that if rigidly
applied. 1t will cause a great deal Of
animosity toward the President and his
advisers. Just now, however, Maryland
Is doing her Bit"
A great wave of anti-conscription senti
10 in
western part of the United States, ac-
cordinS to Charles f. Morgan. Of Fargo.
n. D.. who is registered at the Raleigh
Mr.. Morgan believes that Congress has
erred If it believing that America is
ready TO swallow the conscription bill
in its present frame of mind.
'Out in our neck of the woods" said
Mr.. Morgan, were too far away from
the war fever that has swept the Eas,
to really get what the administration is
driving at in this matter of conscription
It's not difficult for us to understand
that the United States has been driven
into the war. but this talk about con-
scription hit us so suddenly we can't
even yet believe the President mean:
what he said
However, the Northwest Is gradually
awakening to the fact that tomorrow
or next week. half our young men NAV
De dragged OF 10 nEht an enemy 3.0OJ
miles away and we're not altogether will
ing to admit that the idea Is based on
necessity. In the first place folks in
my section are talking freely about the
use of Prussian methods of conscription
by the United States, which hitherto
has been a haven of refuge for those who
wished to escape military service of the
German kind.
furthermore. we're a little in the
dark as to how the administration cx-
poets the United States to get very mad
at Germany when Germany's crimes
have only touched such a small portion
of the population. There's no doubt at
all that IL there was the slightest chance
of America being attacked, We wouldn't
need any conscription. Accordingly, n
America Is not In danger. why should
we need such an enormous army thai
volunteer enlistments will not meet the
emergency.
1.-THE Northwest is beginning to get a
little bit suspicious of this conscription
idea. 1t is beginning to ask who is be-
hind it; who is advocating the plan, why
has America suddenly changed front on
the policy of military service and why
should we be in such fearful danger from
any enemy that is admittedly on its last
legs.
"It is perfectly safe to, say that when
the matter of conscription actually comes
up in Congress, the Northwest is going to
be heard from-mighty strongly, too"