Connecticut western news., 1917-04-26
CONsCRIPTION
 GAINS GROUND
Speaker Clark and Cannon to
 Oppose II.
OPPOSITION VAIN, IS BELIEF

Presidents Plan of SeIective Draft
 Winning Votes In Both House and
 Senate, Although Debate Drags On
 Final Vote Before End of Week Is
 Assured-Speaker Surprises Friends
 of Measure by Denouncing 1t.
 Despite opposition of Speaker Clark and eX-Speaker Cannon the cause of conscription has gained ground rapidly in congress, and in debates in both sen ate and house the shift of opinion and of support was evidenced.
 Sentimental attachment to the volun- teer method of army enrolment has given place in the minds of many mem bers of both houses to the conviction that the pation is confronted by a mili- tary problem so completely modern in its scope that the systems of other days must be discarded.
 The supporters of the administra- tion's contention for" a statute which will provide for enrolment by selective draft are filled with encOurag cement and qualification at the turn affairs have taken, while friends of the pro. gram of the house committee on mill tary affairs for raising an army by vol untary enlistment first are correspond ingly downcast.
 The drift of sentiment and opinion is disclosed in the food of applications for time by members of the house who sought opportunity to rally the support of the administration in the house and by the lassitude displayed in the sen ate, where the debate is winding along interminably without the slightest dis play of interest either from the floor or from the galleries and where already the administration leaders are claiming majority of nearly three quarters of the senate. F @.
 Cheers Conscripton Plea.
 In the house stirring speeches favor able to conscription were made by Rep resentatives Lenroot of Wisconsin. Husted of New York, Anderson of Min nesota, Republicans, and by Represent atives Harrison of Virginia, Gallivan of Massachusetts and Stephens of Nebraska, Democrats. The leading speeches in support of the volunteer plan came from Representatives Fields of Arkansas and Gordon of Ohio, Dem ocrats, and from Lafollette of Wash ington, Progressive-R Republican
 Representative Anderson's attack on the opponents of conscription wrought the house into frenzy of enthusiasm. MT. Anderson said in part:
 If the plan proposed by the commit tee could be understood in all it's cow ardly surrender to, expediency, in all it's weak yielding to prejudice and naked subversion of principle, it could not stand moment. But this compromise is Feneered with reasonableness and yarnished over with false appeal to patriotism. It pretends to appeal to the patriotic impulse of men to volunteer while threatening them with the draft. 1t pretends to invite men to serve while really affOrding them a way to avoid service.''
 Representative Anderson expressed disapprobation of the sentiment that we are making war to help democrat ize Germany.
 "We have no more business to make war to democratize Germany than we would have to make war to Christian ize the Turks,' he said. We are fight ing for the freedom of the seas for every, man and for every nation, for the international policy of the United States and it's place among the nations of the world, for a voice in the terms of peace and in making the rules which will govern the conduct of nations"
 No effort to curb debate in the sen ate will be made by Senator Chamber lain, chairman of the military affairs committee. He is hopeful that the de- bate will exhaust itself soon and that a vote may be obtained by the end of the week.
 Clark Against Draft.
 Speaker Clark surprised a delegation of proponents of preparedness by con- ing out f1atfooted against the admins tration's plans for compulsory military service.
 The visitors were representative of the National Security league, who had come to present. petition bearing 100000 signatures favoring compul- sory military training. Lloyd Taylor, the chairman, presented the petition.
 "We appeal to the patriotism of the members of congress that the action on the emergency measure advocated by the president may be prompt and har- monious so as to convince the enemy and the world of Americas purpose and sincerity" said MT. Taylor.
 Speaker Clark drowned and looked disturbed. Bluntly he replied to the delegation:
 'sWhat you want is conscription, and it is not going to pass. Why do you want to fasten the disgrace of draft on a man when he wants to enlist vol untarily? I want to see the youth and the flower of the country volunteer it's