The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-13
lnstructs Its Conferees to Accept
Senate Provision as to Vol
unteer Force
WILL MEET MONDAY
TO SETTLE MATTER
Alter Vigorous Debate House
by Vote of us to l78 Open
ed Way For the Colonel to
Take Decisive Step

Washington. May le.-rolonei Theo-
dore Rooseyelt's fight for congress
sional authority to raise division of
volunteers for service In France ia
won. BY vote of 2l5 to us the
house after vigorous debate this after
noon recommitted the conference &c
port on the CONSUMPTION bill with in
structions to its conferees to agree 10
the senate amendment authorizing &C
ceptance OF the coloners offer.
A few minutes later when the house
action had been reported to the SEN
ate. Senator Cham bcrlain. head of the
senate eonferees on the conscription
Dill. asked permission to withdraw the
report submitted Thursday He re-
reived permission without objection
and the report went back TO confer
ence
The conferees will meet again Mon
say morning. With their new instruc-
uons Indications are that an agree
Wynt VIII be reported within few
hours Those IN charge Of the bill
hoped 30 have the measure ready for
the presidents signature within few
aaYs
Might Develop Other Differences.
Whsther the recommitting OF the
report will throw other points of diff
ference tn addition to the Roosevelt
amendment. open to controversy. was
n disputed question tonight Some OF
the conffrecS took the view that the
contest over the age limit. army pro-
h!hition and the Fall amendment au-
thoriying volunteer cavalry patrol
Of three regiments to protect the
Mexican border during che war with
Germany could be reopened in the
conference. If this is done some delay
may result in getting the report back
before the house and senate.
Ii Is considered almost a certainty
however that the age linlit--twenty-
one to thirty years inclusively---wi
remain unchanged.
Congressman Gardner, Of Massa-
chusetts. and Lenroot. OF Wisconsin,
led the tight for the Republicans IN
fhe house to have the colonel head a
division going to France.
III, seems that some of tho warm
est advocates OF the volunteer plan
have now switched and have become
its bitterest opponents" said Gard
ner.
THE Roosevelt amendment has de-
ysloped the first political note sounded
at this session OF congress. deeply
deplore II. Nothing would inspire
Americans more than the sight of the
stars and stripes borne on French
battleneids at the head of tho Roose-
Welt division
lenrott argued that il the Repuhii-
i cans were willing TO support Presi-
dent Wilson even when ii aided the
Democratic party. the Democrats in
turn should be willing to give Roose-
Welt an opportunity in France.
| Congressman Anthony. the author
or the motion TO recommit. said
II believe there is a tremendous
sentiment in the house and senate at
large in favor OF sending a large force
~ France. | don't believe II will be
possibIe to send force to the front
within the time suggested by Marshal
Yoffre. II we wait for the raising OF
an army by conscription.
Anthony's motion required the in
clusion of the following section in
the CONSUMPTION bill:
Four Infantry Divisions.
The president is hereby authorized
70 organize. equip and maintain by
voluntary enlistment. not exceeding
four infantry divisions. officers of
which shall be selected in the man
ner provided by paragraph 3 of Sec
ton of this act:
Provided that the organization OF
said force shall be the same As the
corresponding organization OF the
regular army. provided further that
there shall be no enlistment III SAID
force of men under twenty-five years
OF age at the time OF enlisting. and
proyided further that no such volun-
feer force shall be accepted in any
nnit smaller than a division
as the general stan in favor Of the
u roosevelt diyision?" interrupted
Representative Britten, of Illinois, II
don't know what the general stafi
wants. but I know the people favor
the Roosevelt division" replied
Asked by Representative Nichols,
az south Carolina. whether any one
could raise division under the terms
az the proposed amendment. Anthony
replied: The amendment does not
name anv one, but there In only one
man in the country who could do it.
Theodore Roosevelt"
ThAre was loud applauDd al
Anthony's reply. and cheers greeted
fhe announcement Of Representative
/ Langley. Of Kentucky, when he said
n supporting the amendment
T believe 1t would give great
deal OF comfort to the kaiser to learn
fhat Theodore Roosevelt is not COINS
Is France"
All we are going to have no poll
sfNs IN this matter. said Representa-
NV Austin, Of Tennessee. II appee1
" vou ~ giyc si-is sreAt typical Amer
800 y chEnce On tho French 'front.'
= z.55ls $500 ~ NJ