The Harrison times., 1917-10-13

WHICH can equal III llS opportunities
and in its probable success the draft
ing process by which a million or two
young Americans are to be taken into
the ranks of the army to serve their
country on the battleline.
Democracy in the Draft.
Mai. Gen. William L. Sibert, who
commands the First division of Amer
lean troops in the field in France, said
to the writer of this article just before
he was ordered 10 foreign service:
"There is no democracy like the democ-
racy Of the dog tent
Now the dog tent or as it IS some
times called, the pup tent, is the little
shelter tent which soldiers use when
camping at night along the way Of
march. Each tent holds only two men.
In the great National army it Is entirely
likely that the same tent will be OC-
cupied by the son Of laborer and the
son Of millionaire manufacturer. 1t
is also entirely likely that one may
be occupied by boy of Polish de-
scent and by another boy of English,
German or Irish descent. The COM
panionship, army officers say, makes
for mutual sympathies and mutual
aims. 1t also levels ranks, or the So
called social ranks of this country.
So 1t is that today in Washington
regular army officers are showing
eagerness to be given commands in the
new National army, not only because
Of their teaching desire and their wish
to see civilians develop into soldiers
but because of the absorbingly inter
eStlng study that there will be In
watching the great melting pot Of the
army fuse these metals into one solid
block Of gold Americanism.
Methods Of Delay In Congress.
Congress has voted almost solldly
in the affirmative for all the war
measures which have been pro-
posed for the purpose Of helping
this country win In the great conflict
which confronts It, Nevertheless
congress has taken a long time TO put
through the measures before 1t. The
result has been that criticism has
come from one part Of the country,
while another part, though not prais-
Ing the slowness Of congress- in enact
Ing legislation, seemingly has been
glad that the lawmakers have re-
mained in session, for II Is true that
part Of the country believes that SEN
ators and representatives should be
here virtually all the time while war Is
In progress.
Now II seems to be the desire Of Il
majority Of the house and senate to
adjourn some time In October, "the
earlier the better" rs some members
put II. Whether or not adjournment
can be brought about still remains to
be seen, because all signs fail in war
times.
without going at all into the merits
Of the controversy between those who
think that congress should stay on the
Job constantly In war time and those
who think II should pass war measures
quickly and then adjourn, the methods
which are used to delay the passage of
bills can be described without bias be-
cause they are resorted TO by members
Of all parties,
Some OF the members who delay
things do not do II solely for the pur.
pose of delay, but to get for them.
selves the opportunity to make long
speeches which they think their const-
tuents will read with unbounded pleas.
ure and profit. Then there are others
who deliberately attempt to delay the
enactment Of legislation and these
others generally are found In the sen.
ate because In the house delaying tnc
tics cannot be used TO any great nd
vantage, for the representatives ordl
n0rily can set the time for the voting
on any bill.