The Washington times., 1917-04-11
LETTERS TO TIMES
FROM ITS READERS
The Times Staff Will Furnish
More Than Its Quota to the
Service of the Country.
To the Editor OF THE TIMES:

To the Editor OF THE TINES:
Dear Sir-I am twenty-four years
of age and come OF fighting stock.
Ny, father fought on the side of the
Union in the war of the rebellion
and my grandfather commanded q
company in the Mexican war. 1t Is
my purpose to enlist in this war II
the country needs my services. There
Is one thing that I can't understand,
however, and that is, that not a
single person connected with the
ownership OF any Washington paper
has so far volunteered to enlist. 1t
seems to me that the newspapers
which are constantly urging the
young men of Washington to come to
the colors ought to give us an ex-
ample Of genuine patriotism. Up to
this time none of the editors or own
ers of our newspapers or their sons
have offered their services to Uncle
Sam. confess that 1 am getting
just little tired OF lip service.
would like to see a little of the gen.
uine article, and hope this letter will
result in having some OF you men
who are connected with The Times
offer their services. II you don't do
so, after all that you haye published,
you will prove yourselves more cow
ardly than any pacifist. 1 haven't
any use for a pacifist and ] don't
think very much of editors who are
always yelling for war and who re-
fuse to fight when the country needs
their services.
JAMES FERGUSON.
Washington, d. c., April 10, 1917.
Says Conscription should BE Enforced
on Men More Than Twenty-Five Only.
To the Editor OF THE TINES:
So woodrow Wilson, an ex-college
president, means to cOnscript go per
cent of the college boys into the war
and leave old bachelors under forty
five years old to loaf around and do
nothing!
The nineteen to twenty-five age viii
catch so per cent of the college men.
This will be a calamity. After the
civil war the country suffered because
her young men had been cheated out
of their education by the war. Is our
President going to be a party to ruin
ing our young men and our country,
while old bachelors are left out?
The proper age of conscription to
begin with should be between twenty
five and forty-five. Neither college
scripted. Please call this to the at
tention of Congress.
S. NJ. SMITH.
Alexandria, April s.
Suggests Elevation OF Messengers I'm
Government Service to Grnde of
Clerk.
To the Editor Of THE TIMES:
Noticing the announcement through
the papers several days ago that the
President had signed an order doing
away with the apportionment rule
and competitive examinations for
Civil Service positions, / wish to
make the following suggestion:
There are at present in the Govern
ment employ several hundred mes
sengers and messenger boys, who are
daily doing clerical work. and who
are perfectly capable OF performing
the duties OF a clerk. Why not issue
an order promoting Immediately
these young men to the clerical grade
without further examination, pro-
vided, OF course, they are capable in
the eyes of their chiefs
Such an order would not only be
OF great help to these employees, but
| to the Government, as they are
trained in the work and would be i'm
mediately available for service,
whereas new employees will have to
go through the usual training period,
and then may not prove efficient.
Will not some. influential persons
bring this suggestion to the notice
OF the proper authority. 1t will,
know hear good fruit q