The Spanish American. [volume] (Roy, Mora Co., N.M.) 19??-19??, 1917-08-25
Nc Adoo's Plea

PSiSA AAVAiA AAAAiiO0A NNeJ NANANA
the draft law has caused a pain
full impression in many quar-
ters but after all, does not the
fact that no provision has yet
been made by the Government
for the support of the wives and
children, mothers or fathers, of
the men who have been drafted
explain many of these claims for
exemption? Under the draft law
the Government has the power
to require every able-bodied man
between 21 and 81 years of age
to preform military duty, Thous-
ands of the drafted men are
wage-earners who married years
ago and are the sole support of
dependent families. So long as
the Government has made no
provision for the care of these
dependents, it is natural that
such drafted men should seek to
protect their loved ones by stay
ing at home. | am sure that if
the Congress should promptly
enact the pending war insurance
bill, which makes definite allow
ances for the support Of the de-
pendent wives and children,
fathers or mothers, of our sol
diers and sailors, claim for ex
emption on that score will cease.
This is an imperative duty of the
Government. We cannot deprive
helpless women and children of
the support of the wage-earner
by forcing him into the military
service Of the country unless the
Government substitutes itself ais
their support. Imagine the en-
otions Of the man who is called
into the military service of his
country with full knowledge that
his loved ones are left without
means of support and may be re-
duced to want unless the charity
of the community in which they
live comes to their relief.
1t would be nothing less than a
crime for a rich and just Govern
ment to treat its fighting men.
so heartlessly and to subject
their dependent wives and child
ren, who are unable to fight, to
greater suffering than if they
could fight.
The morale of an army is as
essential to its effective fighting
power as guns, ammunition and
other instruments of war. Of
equal Importance is the morale
Of the civil population which
must support the armies in the
field. We cannot have this es-
sential morale unless the Nati)n
comforts the men in the ranks
with the knowledge that every
thing possible will be done for
them and their families, and
renders to the civil population at
nome the assistance which will
make it most effective in uphold
ng Government and the fighting
forces.
The nation, having been forced
10 resort to the draft in order to
create quickly an army to save
The country, is under a higher OBJ
igation to do these things for
It's fighting forces than if a vol
lnteer army only was created,
This great and rich Republic cen
not afford to do less, and it must
10 what is proposed in spirit of
gratitude and not as charity
Every soldier and sailor who
serves his country in this war
will earn everything the propos-
ed war insurance bill provides;
to be a beneficiary Of the propos-
ed law will be a badge of honor.
When we draft the wage-earn-
er, we call not only him but the
entire family to the flag; the sac
rifce entailed is not divisible.
The wife and children, the moth
er. the father, are all involved in
the sacrifice they directly share
the burden of defense. They suf-