Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-18
|CITY LEADERS
] FOR SELECTIVE
I.CONSCRIPTION
War Efficiency Demand
ed by Citizens of
Philadelphia
METHOD BEST
AND QUICKEST
Every Man Should Be in
Place Where He Can Do
Most for Country
HrD,C nT TIIIUN L CNAy
rNGLAND'S PLIGHT LESSON

All classes ol Iitll III hhauSiphia uc-
,,ond selectiye conscriptiCn.
College professors, business men and the
,,on in the shops who work with Drawn
" ,rolj as brain demand that President
Wilson'S plan be adopted by Congress with
out further haggling
The EVENING LEDGER has received hun
srsds of affirmative replies to it's postcard
ssst to find the sentiment of the community
an this all-important question. Only seven
reoatiye replies were received.
Tho spirit of the people ce the city of
liberty is shown by the attitude of Prov
40, edgar Fahs Smith. of the University
~ PENNSYLVANIA. without a moments
hesitancy today he declared that he favored
selectve conscription at the earliest pos
sible moment.
"is not an American. I am ready to
.houlder a musket any minute myself if
necessary or to holystone the deck of one
AZ our fighting ships. have always favor
I'd compulsory military training. I favor
ANYTHING that will help us to win the war
quickly and decisvely. Selective conscrip-
tjon Is the answer"
Unanimous Endorsement of the Presidents
tlan was given by the Independent Repub-
lcan Alliance at it's meeting at 2159 East
York street. In ndorsng the selective con-
scrptve law, the meeting decided it would
be better 10 De Sdle tndIl SOTTy.
Prominent business men agree that it's
4 the only economical scheme to conserve
the strength of the nation.
Scores Of persons have expressed a de-
mand for selectve conscription by signing
the petition at the Ledger Central.
Many suggest that the public schools and
colleges be closed Immediately and the
youth of the country be enrolled in a great
agricultural work to produce food for the
more mature fighters.
Endorsement of selective conscription was
given this afternoon by the Pennsylvania
Society Co'onial Danes of America at it's
meeting in Estey Hall. The meeting
4 adopted the following resolution.
That the Pennsylvania Society Colon
ial Danes of American indorse the
entrance Of this country into the war
and that the society indorse the bill
providing for universal military con-
scription.
PROMINENT MEMS VIEWS
Views on the question follow:
THOMAS ROBINS-I am heartily in fa-
vor Of selective conscription. You know,
everybody is liable to military service
now, but the practice has been to let
the enthusiastic portion of the people
furnish the action. Now, the Presidents
idea is to make actual what is at present
merely theoretical. Selective conscription
Is the only just and economical scheme
to conserve the strength of the nation
n and get the best out of that strength.
DIR. II. EVERT KENDIG, secretary of the
Business Science Club-It is absolutely
necessary that selective conscription be
made part of our general defense
scheme. l would be ashamed to think
that any American would hesitate to do
his share of the country's work in a
crisis like the present one, and selective
conscription is simply scientific working
Attt 80
scheme. We must have it, and it really
ought not to be necessary to have to work
up sentiment for it.
GEORGE Is. WELLS, merchant, Eleventh
and Market streets-Selective conscrp-
A ton is the only remedy in the present
crisis. Every hour spent in arguing other
wise is waste of time. I believe that we
ought to start at once by closing every
nigh school and every college in the
country and conscriptng boys from fif-
teen TO nineteen years old for agricul-
tural work under expert supervision. They
would be compensated by obtaining a
practical education In agriculture and
improving health. They would return to
tner studies more vigorous than ever.
We all know that the food problem is one
OF the most serious things we have to
cohtend with in wartime. Many agree
that the chief reason for the high cost
Of food is the shortage of labor. In view
IVA VI the general conditions SelectiVe con-
scription is the answer to the problem.
Let our Representatives in Washington
elniinate politics and bear in mind that
tney were sent there to represent the peo-
pie.
Sn. sOSEEPH LEIDY-I am thoroughly
III accord with the plan for selective con-
scription. 1t is the only efficient way of
obtaining results. Such a plan will eX-
petite matters by eliminating no end of
unnecessary red tape 1t should be de-
claed upon at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
"ALIER LEE ROSENBERGER, next
president of the Business Science Club
Selective conscription is the best and only
aoequate method the Government can
ee"ptoy in forming an army
rhANK II. HUSTEAD, $40 North
LIa,hsle and an important figure in the
.naependence Square rally a few weeks
sso-Selective conscription is neces-
V. There Is no room for argument
I'er other ways and means when there
ohiy one that will answer the emer-
n nsv,cy ssncy Selective conscrption is that one.
K,,n,. kIksCHBAUM. president A. B.
schpaum Company:
IN no other grounds excepting that
pohtical expediency can one recon-