The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-26
SPEAKER CLARK
LEADS FIGHT ON
DRAFT MEASURE
House is Cool Toward Mis-
sourian Who Makes Plea
for Volunteer Plan.

for Volunteer Plan.
Washington, April 2S.-The two star
performers in Congress yesterday
were Observation-Disclosures Clark and
Senator Ree'1-both Of whom spoke
against the selective draft plan in the
bill to increase the army to 1000, 900
men. Mr. Clark had the floor for al
most an hour in the House, and MIR.
Reed for four and half hours in the
Senate.
1t was apparent from the scattering
applause in the House when Mr.. Clark
argued seriously against the selective
draft that the president had won his
fight there, regardless of the attitude
of Chairman Dent and Mr.. Clark.
Representative Gardner Of Massa-
chusetts, after a personal poll of the
House, announced last night that the
plan will carry by a majority Of from
40 to so in that body.
Representative LaGuardia Of New
York is polling his district on the
question, Shall we raise an army by
consumption? He has received 80 500
replies and majority of 200 are for
CONSUMPTION. Of 200 replies received
yesterday, 140 are for CONSUMPTION.
Mr. Clark was not in his usual form.
Sc was like a man who did not know
exactly what to say. If the audience
seemed to lose interest he would
thrust at Roosevelt, or some other
well known person. His speech lacked
the force Of the one he made against
the bil to repeal the Panama Canal
Tolls Act.
Calls President Inconsistent.
Mr.. Clark, half in Jest, charged the
President with being inconsistent in
his recommendations for prepared
ness Once the President favored the
volunteer plan, he declared, but now
he demands the selective draft. For
anyone to differ with the President
Of the United States said Mr.. Clark,
sis not a pleasant thing to do. The
President Of the United States is the
most powerful ruler on the face of
the earth. He is more powerful than
the Kaiser. regret exceedingly that
[ cannot agree with the President.
Two Sides of the Question.
1--WE have entered great war-a
stupendous undertaking. This House
will vote every man and every dollar
that are necessary to win it. The
principal difference between the two
sides Of this question is that one side
wants CONSUMPTION and CONSUMPTION
only. They are determined that all
shall be drafted. The ether side de-
sires to give all Of military age the
opportunity to volunteer before con-
scription.
81 protest with all my heart and
soul against CONSUMPTION. So far as
Missouri is concerned, there is very
little difference between a conscript
and a convict
Referring to the Administration bill
under consideration in the Senate, the
Speaker said its advocates are relying
on winning out in the conference for
their measure should the House not
pass 1t. They want us to swallow
it, hook, line and sinker," declared
Mr.. Clark.
"It has been maliciously stated that
we want to retard things. That is
absolutely preposterous, and if it were
not for violating parliamentary speech
l could name it in stronger terms
than that. II the President would
ask Congress to call for volunteers it
would be passed Ill both Houses in 4S
hours. BY this time he would have
had the men in camp"
This remark was greeted with loud
applause and shouting on the part of
those favoring the volunteer plan.
Another objection to the War De-
partment BILL" he continued, is the
age Of 10 to Is. That is not fair.
The boys didn't bring on the war and
the burden Of carrying 1t on shouldn't
he put on their tender shoulders.
"A reporter came to see me for an
interview. I said I wished the edi-
tors could be put in the first rank.
That interview was never publish
ed
Mr.. Clark, in an effort to arouse
the Democrats against the selective
draft plan, and that If it won, the
two men who would deserve the cred
it are Representative Julius Kahn OF
California and Augustus P. Gardner
of Massachusetts. prominent Repub-
licans.
Lauds Volunteer System.
1.-The volunteer has done most OF
our fighting. He is one Of the glories
of our Nation said Mr.. Clark, quot
ing from Gen. Grants memoirs an
argument against CONSUMPTION. 81
take II" he added, that those who
are bowling for CONSUMPTION, and
nothing else, would rather take the
opinion Of the modern carpet knight
than that Of the silent soldier, but
pin my faith to the 'invincible war
rior,'''
Speaker Clark closed his speech
with the announcement that his only
son. Bennett Clark, now parliament
tartan Of the House, at $4,000 year
would enlist, but he hoped he would
not be- called upon to fight by the
side of a Stacker, and that if he should
be killed be killed his, epitaph might
be: This man, a Missouri volun-
teer, died fighting for his country"
This ending brought thunderous APP
plause from the House and galleries.
Representative Sherley of Kentucky
answered Mr.. Clark. He spoke for
the Administration measure.
II