The sun., 1917-04-18
WILSON URGES
CONSUMPTION
President Hints Further
Delay May Imperil Amer
ica's War Plans.
ADVISES HOUSE LEADERS
Senate Committee to Report in
Favor Of Selcctivc Ser
vice To-day.
ADVISES HOUSE LEADERS

WAsHINGToS. April 17.-Determined
efforts to hasten action in Congress on
the Administrations war army bill with
it's selective conscription provision were
begun to-day by President Wilson and
Secretary Baker They take the posi-
tion that further delay will endanger
the war plans against Germany.
The Presiden. discussed the situation
at length with Chairman Dent of the
House Military Committee. and later
called In Representatives Mann and Len
root, the Republican leaders of the
House. Secretary Baker appeared twice
before the House Military Committee.
the second time at a night session.
Opp pJsition to the CONSUMPTION prin-
ciple. particularly among House Demo-
Gratis. was taken up at the Cabinet meet
Ing. and afterward II was indicated that
the full influence OF the Administration
| would be concentrated on the passage
OF the army measure.
The President Is understood to be de-
/ termined upon forcing opponents OF the
! General Stafts plan out into the open, so
that the country will have an oppor-
, tunity Of judging whether they are in the
! right.
Only Way, Baker Says.
Secretary Baker told the House Mil
itary Committee fatty tonight that the
War Departments plan for the organiza-
tion Of an army by selective conscrip.
tion was the only feasible way Of meet.
Ing the emergency with Germany. After
the committee adjourned Chairman Den,
! called all the Democratic members 10.
gether In conference. He expressed hope
| OF getting unanimous report, despite
| the division in the committee over the
draft provision. The committee vii
meet tomorrow for the final vote on the
draft issue.
!, y plan put forward In the committee
vhy Representative Lunn. Democrat, of
New York, which Secretary Baker agreed
would be acceptable to the War Depart.
ment contemplated that instead of the
conscrtption of men between the age,
OF 10 and -. there should be four
i classes. to be successfully reached il
the draft. beginning with 500. 900 men ir
the first class. between the ages OF 81
and %. with authority Of the President
to call as many more Of this class as h,
deems best in his discretion before going
TO the next class. The three othe
groups. in sequence, would he between
the ages OF Is and 81. 80 and IL anc
1. and As.
Arguments of the opponents of select
i've service, based on the idea that tn.
new army should be raised 10y "a cal
for volunteers, are met in official quar-
ters by directing attention TO the fac
that the present plans OF the War De
partment allow for more than 200, 90,
volunteers, enlisted for the term Of tn,
war
Appeal to Wilson Fails.
! Representative Dent who Is an op
ponent Of conscription, went to tn,
White Hotise on his own initiative to tel
OF opposition to the staff bill He foun,
the President fixed in his position. Az
terward Representatives Mann and Len
root were called in so that Mr.. Wilso,
might learn the position Of the Republi
cans. They remained at the White Iious
for AN hour. and while they said no pol
had been taken and they were not In :
position to state how their colleague
would vote. they assured the Presden
that the Republicans would show no par
tisan spirit In considering the legisla
t!on
Tho Senate Committee voted favor
ably to-day on the selective Conscriptio
feature and will report the bill to-mor
row with that feature retained, Their
was no roll call, but three Senators wer
said to have been opposed to this feature
Two others opposed to conscription wer
absent.
About the only change OF importauc
made In the bill ny the committee wa
one which would specifically include per
Sons engaged In agriculture with thos
in other industries who are to be ex
cmpted from the selective cOnscription.