The Detroit times., 1917-04-20
DRAFT BILL
FIGHT DUE
next WEEK
House Will Take Up
Measure On
Monday
SENATE REPORT
RAPS VOLUNTEERS
President, In Open Let
ter, Defends His
Plans

WASHINGTON. April 2o.-The
presidents plan 10 raise great
American army by selective con
scripuon will be fought out on the
house floor.
answering in their determine
ton 10 force all responsibility for
any draft system on the president,
the house military committee, thru
Chairman Dent late Thursday. fer
mally reported the greater army
bill. putting II up 10 the president
10 choose between CONSUMPTION and
volunteering.
Men VINO are standing behind the
president In his conscription plan
said they will deliver a minority re-
port which will show the country
how politics and fear OF defeat at
the polls caused the majority 70
cast OF responsibility
The bill. which will be taken up
Monday provides. in the conscrip-
ton feature that all physically able
males between p and 40 years are
eligible
The president made his hrst drive
against the opposition in an open
letter 20 Rep Helyerson.
The president letter follows
The principle q selective draft. in
short. has at rs heart this tdea-that
80 o. "a
serve and that public authority
should choose those on whom the
obligation % military service shall
rest and also In a sense choose those
who shall do the rest OF the nation. =
work. The. bill. 10 adopted. VIII DO
more. believe than any other sinF
Rle instrume utality 20 create the IN
preston OF universal service In the
army and out OF 81 and n properly
administered viii he great source
Of stimulation.
took occasion the other dav in
an address 90 The people % the coun-
try 10 point out the many forms "t
patriotic service that were open %
them and 70 emphasize tho fact that
the military part % the wsr WAS b1
no means the only part sno prrnaps
all things considered, not the most
vital part
our object Ia a mobilization 81 all
productive and active forces % re
nation and their dcvelopr1e 70 the
highest point ~ cooperation AMI
efhcieucv The -d~a % the selcctive
draft b. tsst those should 10 chosen
7 fer FHTVTCH IN the army WHO can %
most readily spared from inc prose
rHffan % the other activities, Nd D.
the country. must engage IN and a.
"a hich II must devote a great deal Or
It's best eirrEy and capacity.
The vniunner system docs Eat 30
tbs Wh~H men choose them SCI -.
th~v sometimes choose without dee
regard 10 their other responsible lttieE.
Men may come from the farms or
from the mines OF from the Factories
or centers OF business, who ought not
20 come. but ought 20 stand back of
the armies IN the Geld and Ace that
they get everything that they nced
and that the people ~ The country
are sustained IN the meantime.
Those who feel that we are turn IN 2
away altogether from the voluntary
min irls seem 20 forget t0at ~"
500 600 mcn VIII 10 needed ~ III f-e
rsnkA 81 the regular army and the
national guard and that a ver, great
Asid 81 Individual HnthusiaFU les
there wide open.
Violent contemplation Of the vol
unteer system r. contained In the
majority report OF the senate mill
tary Affairs committee submitted
last night
"In a word" the report says, the
volunteer system. which this meas.
ure is designed 70 supersede, is un-
democratic, unreliable. extravagant,
ineficient and above all. unsafe
The committee explained. how.
ever. the bill left room for opera.
ton OF so much Of the volunteer
system as in our Judgment is worthy
OF adoption" by providing for alb
sorbinE Of more than 500 600 volun
teers in the regular army and the
national guard.
The volunteer system does mo-
accord with the principles Of on
Institutions. continues the major
ity report. 1T Is undemocratic. 7
shifts the burden OF national de
tense from the many. where u right
fully belongs to the shoulders OF tn
few whose condition In life or pa
triotism impels them first 70 one
themselves 10 accept the risks anC
hardships war"