The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-13
ALIEN SLACKERS
To. Be DRAFTED,
SAYS THE SENATE
Passes by Viva Voce Vote
Chamberlain Bill Making
Action Mandatory

Washington. Sept. la.-Takins the
situation into It's own hands, the sen
ate today passed d bill making man
datory the drafting OF what are said
To be more than a million alien slack
ers in this country.
ss .s9az2R. wseAa, ass. tho senate passed
Fl resolution directing the president to
enter INTO diplomatic negotiations 10
gather in these slackers. This dlplo-
matte channel was declared to be the
policy ~ the administration rather
than the more drastic procedure But
certain senators said today they we're
tired OF waiting" for the state depart
meni to act and that diplomacy was
too slow.
1, M iatsFs4atton sas given rhat the
bsil would be called VI. 1t met with
little opposition. however. when the
viva voce vote was taken
In the house a similar bill failed TO
meet equal success. a plan to bring
II Np after The urgent deficiency bill
Is disposed Of. was blocked by stat
tord. of Wisconsin. He made no ex-
planation. Ii is sa.l that rula viii
be brought in making the bill In or.
der ana II VIII be put through
The senate bill. 81 which Chamber
laIHs 81 oregon. chairman of the milf
tar} affairs committee Is author. was
amended to-day In one particular. 1t
now provides that while Germans and
other aliens Of the central powers
such as Ausirtans. Turks and Bulga-
rtanS' cannot be made 10 fight. tbsv
can he drafted and utilized for ofhar
necessary purposes during the present
emergency This means they can he
used ON road work, farms. etc. Chi.
nese, japanese and others whose trea-
ties provide that they shall NOT I've
subject here to military duty. ara ox-
w plea from the bill As passed. the
j. That all aliens here moro ma,
a year and who have not declared
their intention To become citizens ara
subject To draft
: That they shall he exemn, r.
their treaties SO stipulaie. Their din
lomats here may waive this. In fh,s
case thsr are given ninety DAYS 10
leave the country. 70
3 That the president can draft
alien enemies for non military mr.
poses
= That those who have declared
their intention TO become citizens, "a ;,
enlist for American service
o That Americans in foreie, ar
mics shall not lose their citizenship
o. Ihat states where the large nom
ulation of aliens affected II. the draft
quota shall in future be given credi,
for these aliens
This last portion of the bill demon
strates TO an extent one reason whv
the measure was so strongly urged.
Brandegee of Connecticut, said TO-
day that S6.6 per cent of the popuIa-
ton OF his state was alien, due TO the
influx OF workers in the manufactur
Ing establishments. These aliens re-
manned at their benches and received
protection while Americans who had
worked next to them were drafted.
Senator Stone, OF Missouri object
ed to the passage of the bill. A
chairman OF the foreign relations
committee which recommended the
previous resolution he took the ground
that diplomacy was the right course.
lie warned against possible dangers
OF interference, with existing treaties.
If we insist on this" said he. how
can we ever protest against other ma
tons doing the same thing with our
nationals residing within their Dor
dersr How can we,-for instance.
keep Carranza's government from taxi
ing an American citizen and putting
him in service in the Mexican army?'
In answer. Senator Lodge, of Massa-
chusetts, said:
1T is within the power of any
of our allies to give us authority to
apply the selective draft or to with
hold it, IL they consent. that is a
settlement: II they refuse,
nothing can he done.
II have had many letters from both
native and naturalized Americans say
ing the present situation Is unfair.