Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-17
DRAFT DICE LOADED
IN FAVOR OF SOUTH
Angry Charges Made in Senate
by Lodge, Brandegee and
Others.
UNFAIR BURDEN ON NORTH
In Meantime, War Department
Goes Ahead With Prepara-
tons for Drawing.
UNFAIR BURDEN ON NORTH

WASHINGTON, July 1s.-While the
Senate to-day listened 20 angry
charges that the draft dice were load
ed" the War Department drove ahead
with its preparations to hold the draw
ing on Saturday and perhaps sooner.
Provost Marshal General Crowder
late this afternoon sent message to
the Governors of the eleven States
which have not yet completed their
lists urging them to speed up" their
local boards.
Secretary of War Baker declared that
IL 1t should come to a point where one
or two States were delaying the draft,
he would order new forces put in
charge to do the work.
Indications tonight were that this
would be unnecessary. Reports from
every State indicated that the work
will be completed by Wednesday at the
latest
The eleven States which have not yet
reported are New York. Missouri. Ala
bama. Virginia. Pennsylvania. Utah.
Ohio. Mississippi. Michigan. Kentucky
and Illinois.
Six include great cities: New York.
Philadelphia. Detroit, st. Louis. Chi
caGo, Cleveland and Cincinnati. where
the work has been especially difficult.
This accounts largely for the delay
The first whisper against the fair
ness of the draft was heard to-day. It
came from the Senate. and did not re-
main n whisper long. 1t developed
into a roar. The protest was made on
the question of State quotas, the charge
being that the provost-marshaPs office
had shown favoritism to the Demo-
cratic South In its apportioning Of
quotas.
UNFAIR BURDEN THROWN
ON NATIVE POPULATION
The large alien population of North
ern industrial centers-a population
not subject to draft-was not taken
into consideration in the apportion.
ment. according TO these charges, made
principally by Senator Lodge and SEN
ator Brandegee. AS a result an unfair
burden was thrown on the native popu-
lation of such cities. they held. For
instance, in city with registration
-of,-7,00o, fully $500 might be aliens
not subject to service. But the quota
was based on the total Of 1000, thereby
throwing upon the shoulders of the
$500 natives the necessity Of furnish
ing a quota based on double their num-
bers. Meanwhile. in the South, where
there are few aliens, the quotas would
be taken from the fun population.
The men of this country when they
throw their destiny Into the wheel of
conscription do not want the dice load
ed against them" said Senator Bran
degee. of Connecticut. He. with other
Northern Senators. claimed that the
present draft plan forced Northern
States to furnish moro than their Just
share Of the troops. while Southern
States were favored.
He objected to the exemption Of
aliens from draft when in calculating
populations aliens were included with
the citizens. This. said he. would work
great hardship in soi1e States.
Pomerene. of Ohio; Reed, Of Missouri;
Lodge. of Massachusetts. and McCum-
Der. OF North Dakota. agreed with
Brandegee.
After bitter criticism of the officials
In charge of the draft machinery, the
Senate adopted resolution by Bran
degee. calling on the Secretary of Com
merce to furnish the officia, estimates
upon which the draft will be based.
PROPORTION OF ALIENS NOT
TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION
Ir some !. Northern States. said the
Connecticut Senator. the proportion Of
aliens was some 20 per cent. but in
the South it did not come to 1 per
cent. In factories in New Britain, Conn.,
he declared $500 were citizens and
$500 aliens. The quota of draft in
this town would be 1000. but the men
would be taken from the $500 natives
My State has every desire to fur
nish its full quota in proper prupor-
tion." said the Senator. But it Is
seen that exempting aliens will place
the whole burden of protecting the life
and property of the foreigners upon
the Americans. This is not fair A
tremendous wrong mas been done In
the deaft law"
Pomerene said. in Cleveland. the esti-
mate had been made that there were
1,225.000 population, while as a mat
ter of fact there were not more than
| 100000. Akron was credited with 33S,-
600. although tho 1910 census gave II
| $4,000. Canton was given 1000, al
though the Chamber OF Commerce esti-
mated the population at $4,000
Senator Lodge said these figures
| made II evident that the estimates Of
Northern cities had been padded. .Tlreir
draft is proportionately heavy while
Southern estimates have been reduced
by the same benefcent authorities"
| he declared.
| I'VE are accustomed to being heavily
taxed In the North. But 1t is going
a bit too far when we are asked to
give more than our proportion of SOL
| diers."
Senator Mccumber wished to nego. /.
tiate with foreign governments, look
Ing toward drafting aliens by this
country. Senator Reed said he had
tried TO get the alien exemption law
amended. but was unsuccessful
COMPLAINTS RECEIVED
| FROM WESTERN CITIES
Other complaints have been received
here concerning tho estimates for
| western cities. The majority Of the
+. Gfot