The Madison journal., 1917-08-25
.TE 3UTf o. AUST gov .RNMlkT
BY w. G. MCADOo

that no provision has yet been made by
the Government for the support of the
wives and children, mother or father.
of the men who have been drafted ex-
plan many of these claims for exemption?
: Under the draft law the Government
/ has the power to require every able
bodied man between u and 81 years of
age TO perform military duty. Thousands
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 pro-
vision for the care of these dependents,
, it is natural that such drafted men
should seek to protect their loved ones
/ by staying at home. am sure that if
the Congress should promptly enact the
pending war insurance bill. which makes
definite allowances for the support of
! dependent wives and children, fathers
or mothers, of our soldiers and sailors,
! claims for exemption on that score will
cease. This is an imperative duty of the
| Government. We cannot deprive help
less women and children of the support
of the wage-earner by forcing him into
military service of the country unless
the Government substitutes itself as
their support.
Imagine the emotions of the man who
is called into military service of his coun-
try with full knowledge that his loved
ones are left without means of support
and may be reduced to want unless the
charity of the community in which they
live come to their relief 1t would be
nothing less than crime for rich and
just Government to treat its fighting
men so heartlessly and to subject their
dependent wives and children, 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 instrumentalities
of war. Of equal Importance is the
morale of the civil population which
must support the armies in the field. We
cannot have this essential morale unless
the Nation 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 home the assistance which
will make it most effective in upholding
the Government and the fighting forces.
The purpose of the war insurance bill
now pending in the Congress is to secure
the future of Americas soldiers and
sailors by insuring their lives and pro-
viding adequate compensations and in
IDENTITIES for loss of life and total or
partial permanent disability; ais to pro-
tect their families against poverty and
want by providing them with sufficient
means of support during the absence of
the men at the front.
The nation, having been forced to re-
sort to the draft in order to create
quickly an army to save the country, is
under higher obligation to do these
things for its fighting forces than if a
volunteer army only was created. This
great and rich Republic cannot afford to
do less, and it must do 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 proposed war insurance bill provides;
to be beneficiary of the proposed law
will be badge of honor.
When we draft the wage-earner, we
call not only him but the entire family
to the flag; the sacrifice is not divisible.
The wife and children, the mother, the
father, are 4Il involved to the sacri-
flee they directly share the burden of
defense. They suffer just as much as
the soldier. but in different way, and
the Nation must generously discharge as
a proud privilege the duty of maintain
ing them until the soldiers and sailors
return from the war and resume the
responsibility.
We have drawn the sword to vindicate
America s violated rights, to restore
peace and justice, and to secure the pro-
gress of civilization. We cannot permit
our soldiers, while they hold the front,
to be stabbed in the back by uncertainty
as to what is being doned for their loved
ones at home. Our tomorrows are in
their hands theirs in ours. The national
conscience will not permit America s
soldiers and their dependents to go un-
provided with everything that just.
generous and noble people can do to
compensate them for the sufferings and
sacrifices they make to serve their coun-
try.
Aside from the care and protection of
their dependents while the soldier is alive
the proposed war insurance act provides
for definite compensation for his de-
pendents in case of death, for definite
and adequate indemnities in case of total
I or partial disability, and for re-education
of the MANNED and disabled man, so that
he may take up new occupation and
make himself useful member of society
We must restore their efficiency ano
adjust their still available faculties anc
functions to suitable trades and voca
l.; ,,,b;cb tho initlries of the battle