Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-04-27
Now Admitted That the
Proposal Of the Army
General Staff Will Be En-
acted Into Law by Con-
gress.
HOUSE EXPECTED TO
REACH VOTE TODAY
Senate Under Agreement to
End Its Debate Saturday
Night Many Amend
ments, Including One for a
Roosevelt Division, to Be
Submitted.

Submitted.
Washington, April 27.-
Selective draft will be the
means whereby the United
States will raise her armies.
This was assured today as
house and senate neared the
close of many hours debate.
The forces opposing the administra-
tion bill and favoring instead the
volunteer system were weaker than
ever before and it was freely admitted
that the selective draft plan, practic-
ally as shaped by the army general
staff, will be enacted into law.
SENATE VOTES SATURDAY.
The house may vote late today. The
senate is under agreement to vote not
later than midnight Saturday.
AS the house now lines up. it will
probably have a leeway of around SO
votes in passing the draft scheme.
while the conscription forces in the
senate expect a majority Of 15 to IS.
An Indication of the trend Of senti-
ment in the house was given in gen.
eral debate. Forty three members
spoke for the Dent bill and its ac-
companying volunteer provision.
Eighty-one spoke against 1t and for a
straight selective draft army.
Chairman Dent Of the military COM
mittee. speaking for the volunteer
plan, and Representative Kahn, OF
California, ranking Republican mem
ber, leading the administration forces
fighting for CONSUMPTION, were to be
the last speakers.
MANY AMENDMENTS.
Many amendments are expected.
The principal ones are Representa-
tive's Kahn amendment for a straight
selective draft army. Representa-
tive Madden's, providing that each
state shall raise its quota of men in
proportion to population, and Repre-
sentative McArthur's, authorizing
Colonel Roosevelt to raise a volunteer
army before the draft starts.
NIGHT SESSION IN PROSPECT.
Under forced draft" pressure, the
senate began today at 10 o'clock-two
hours earlier than the house-its con-
cluding drive to put through the presi-
dents selective conscription plan for
raising an army.
A night session is IN prospect in the
upper house. Sixteen senators have
said they would speak.
Three great things to convince the
enemy of the futility of continuing
the terrible struggle" are necessary.
in Off
favoring conscription, in open debate.
I'VE should first drill, train, equip
and make ready at the earliest stage
an army of million men; second, we
should conserve our national resources
and human power by destroying
throughout the nation the liquor traf-
fic; third, we should stamp our pro-
fession of democracy with the seal of
sincerity by enfranchising the integ-
rity, intelligence. purity and lofty pa
triotism of our; women" Jones de-
clared.
mo substantial or operpowering
reason is presented" he said, against
selective conscription.
FOR MILITARY EFFICIENCY.
ut is said to be undemocratic. So is
war undemocratic. We must wage 1t
with military efficiency. Effective
methods must not be disregarded be-
cause they seem contrary to our ideals
Of peace.
Democracy is again on trial. Lord
.Northcliffe says, Democracy is bad
war maker That is true. 1t is true
not only because democracy abhors
war and is not trained to war, but be-
cause Of divided counsels and respon-
sibilities when 1t Is forced into war;"
Kenyon, Iowa, declared he would
vote for conscription and against the
volunteer system, despite the fact that
his constituents feel they oppose con-
scription.
Il will do II with full realization of
how unpopular 1t is in my state" Ken
yon said, because try to view these
tremendous questions from national
standpoint rather than a state view
point
KAHN CHAMPIONS BILL.
House debate approached the end
this afternoon when Representative
Kahn. California, In closing. denounc-
ed the volunteer system and begged
the house to stand by the president.
Kahn, Republican, but leader of
the Democratic Administrations for
ces, received q rousing welcome OF
cheers as he rose.
Chairman Dsnt of the military COM