Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-12
PRESIDENT NOT TO FACE
DEFEAT WITHOUT A
FIGHT
OPPOSITION FORMS
MANY LEADERS ARE LINING UP
AGAINST ENFORCED SERVICE
PLAN-cOUNTRY TO BE WARN.
ED OF DANGER.
By ROBERT B. SMITH.
international News Service Staff Cor.
respondent)

BY ROBERT Is. SMITH.
international News Service Staff Cor.
respondent)
Washington, ID. c., April 12-PTesi-
dent Wilson will appeal directly to the
people of the nation ii he finds it i'm
possible otherwise to overcome the
opposition to his war plans. This was
made very plain today when the chief
executive resumed his conferences
with senators ana representatives to
smooth out the obstacles to the con.
scription army plan.
The President. 1t Is stated officially,
intends that the country shall realize
the great necessity for this measure
being passed so that an adequate army
can be organized to carry the fighting
right to Germany. In order to disarm
part of the opposition the war depart
ment has let it be known that when
tho selective draft bill is passed II will
be willing to accept as volunteers
some half million men to fill the gaps
in the national guard and present regu-
lar army line.
Teamwork between the White
: House and congress IL somewhat
strained at present History is repeat
ing itself and nearly every one in con-
gress has his own idea as to how the
: war should be carried on.
nd
sentative Kitchin opposed the war re.
G solution both of them are now lined
4 UP for the administrations policies and
J, this is certain to help But there is
9 opposition materIalizing from unex-
J. pected sources that may prove embar-
Q RAISING 1t centers in the men utter
ly opposed to conscription and whose
views now are being generally endors
ed by the Paciicist movement thru
out the country.
Although opposition has been voiced
to plans for sending an expeditionary
army over seas, the administration Is
now worried. In this at least CONGRESS
', has no say. 1t cannot dictate how alIe
army shall be utilized without creai
ing very dangerous preceden
Washington, April 12-There il 10
! be no political alliance between the
entente allies and the United States,
Administration officials emrhasi4ed
this fact today to forestall criticism Al
ready in evidence as the result OF tilc
9 announcement of the coming anglo
French high commission headed by he
: Minister of Foreign Affairs Arthur
: Balfour The Joint commission, it y
explained comes here to give the Unit
ed States the benefit of its expert
: counsel. It will tell just how France
= and England are meeting the problem
- of food supplies, munitions and the
like and the British members will give
information as to the present methods
in vogue in raising the army.
The complete personnel of the COM
mission is withheld pending its actual
arrival in this country. 1t will include,
however. in addition to Nc. Balfour
+ eminent linanciers and army and nav
q al men The French mission is headed
n by former Premier Viviani, at present
a minister of justice in the French
e Cabinet
:. One of the questions that early will
y be discussed is the sending OF small
n force to its position on the firing line
in Belgium Already officials mere
G have been made aware of the fact that
> there is great yearning among the
@ entente public to see the stars ana
s stripes on the firing line. Another
e question to be considered will be the
e manner in which this government VIII
o extend its planned three billion dollar
credit to the entente.
r With Brazil joining Cuba in break
d ing with Germany, and Argentina ana
u Costa Rica having given assurances OF
S moral support, the entire American
g continent with the exception OF Mexl-
l. co promises to be soidly aligned IN
IL opposition to Germany within another
r, week
N This fact and the wonderful sue
cesses of the British armies on the
wost front is believed here to be re-
sponsible for the ruins OF peace
moves which are now widely circulat'
= ed in Europe and the United states.
officials here say that SO far as they
Ie can learn these peace reports nave no
n solid foundation In diplomatic CIR
: ces the suggestion Is made that Ger
20 many and Austria. thru neutral sour
te cos believed here to be Sweden ana
I'd Switzerland have been sounding out
the various nations to see whether
Of renewal OF the original peace offer
ri would be better received at the pres
. ..-.------ - 49,.