The evening world., 1917-04-23
DEMAND
CONSCR|PT|ONLAW,
DECLARES WEEKS
Wilson'S Army Bill Is De
bated in Both House and
Senate.

" "AoiliN'flOsN ApTl Sas-fNTf1Sl-
dent Wilson's conscription bill was
debated in both Houses Of Congress
to-day.
In opening the Senate dobate Sem
ator Weeks Said tho people demand
conscription or would demand II II
they were correctly informed.
when war was declared with Ger
many" said ne. the President was
and military forces OF the United
states 20 bring II TO n successful con-
clusIon and wo pledged all tho re-
sources Of our country for that pur-
pose. The question We must now
consider In how we are going TO give
the President what we have directed
him to employ.
Whenever We have engaged in a
great war II has been necessary 20
resort 20 draft in order TO bring II 20
a successful conclusion. There is moth
ing In National compulsion that Is
repellant to democracy provided the
thing 20 bo compelled is recognized
as beneficial to the nation. II there
were II would reject Governmental
regulation OF the hours OF labor. com
plIlsory insurance and compulsory
education. A system OF compulsory
military training should be estab-
lished."
When tho House began debate no
limit was fixed, but 1t was agreed that
1. should run on to-day until 6 o'clock.
Chairman Dent OF tho Military
Committee, who favors a call for
volunteers. while the conscription re-
gistratIon machinery is being made
ready, opened tho debate. He said
that his difference with tho Admins
tration over adding OF the volunteer
amandment TO the straight out selec.
tive conscription bill was most en-
barrasslng to him.
~ have been 10 the President and
the Secretary OF War" he said. with
every proposition OF compromise on
tho theory that unity OF action was
more important than tho method o.
raising an army. II ought TO be made
known TO the country that we will do
what is necessary"
Mr.. Dent explained that the bill as
amended by the committee gives
authority TO raise an army OF prncti-
cally one million and safeguards the
American Dirthright 20 volunteer for
service in defense OF the country. The
President, he pleaded, Is still author
lied TO proceed with arrangements for
the selective draft and has absolute
authority TO determine on which sys-
TEN the army for tho war would be
raised.
While there is strong opposition
to the army draft plan In both houses,
letters. kilograms. resolutions and pc
titlons from back home" show the
sentiment there Is for the selective
draft, and there Is every reason to
believe the Administration bill will
be supported when the showdown
comes.
Sentiment In favor OF the selective
draft measure Is daily growing
stronger In the House. Representa-
tives who have sounded out their
constituents have found that most OF
them are for the Presidents plan.
Representative Henry A. Barnhardt
OF Indiana rs opposed to the seleotivs
draft or any other form OF conscrip-
ton. He sent a telegram to forty
newspaper editors in his district
hoping to get support for his posi-
ton. Much to his surprise, a large
majority of his answers have been
to the effect that the people OF the
district are for selective draft.
Representative Blanton OF Texas.
another opponent OF the draft plan,
wired to people OF his distric. and
urged them TO get the views OF his
constituents ON the Administration
bin. Mass meetings were held and
resolutions favoring the draft were
adopted.
An amendment to the conscrlptlon
bill designed to permit Theodore
Roosevelt 10 recruit and take n dlvl-
sion OF volunteers to France is to be
offered by senator Harding.
! Representative Mason, OF Illinois.
| introduced "a resolution demanding
| that tho War Department tell
whether IL turned down Colonel
| Roosevelts offer and II so, demands
| Secretary Bakers reason.
I