The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-05-24
PRESIDENT SIGNS
). DRAFT MEASURE
WILSON, SETS JUNE FOR REG
lsTRATIoN OF MEN.
CALL TO THE CoLoRS SEPT |
Executive Explains in Statement That
Military Experts Of Country and
Allies Oppose Sending Volun-
teers Under Colonel.

Washington, May 19.-Flatly reject
Ing that section of the measure which
would permit Colonel Roosevelt to or
,ganiZe volunteer divisions, President
Wilson signed the CONSUMPTION bill.
The bill was signed despite opposition
(which manifested itself at the eleventh
hour in many quarters.
The president issued the following
statement at the White HOUSE:
81 shall not avail myself, at any
rate, at the present stage of the wu',
of the authorization conferred by the
act to organize volunteer divisions.
. ITO do so would seriously interfere
with the carrying out of the chief and
most Immediately important purpose
Contemplated by this legislation:
"The prompt creation and early use
of an effective army would contribute
practically nothing to the effective
strength of the armies now engaged
against Germany.
mo Time for Compliments"
81 understand that the section of
this act which authorizes the creation
OF volunteer divisions in addition to
tile draft was added with view to
providing an Independent command for
Mr.. Roosevelt and giving the military
authorities an opportunity to use his
fine vigOr and enthusiasm recruiting
the forces now at the western front.
ut would be very agreeable to me to
tpay Mr.. Roosevelt this compliment and
the allies the compliment of Sending
to their aid one of our most distin-
Iguished public men, an .eX-preSident,
lwL) has rendered many conspicuous
public services and proved his gaIlan-
try in many striking ways.
POLITICALLY too, it would no doubt
have q very fine effect and make a
profound impression. But this is not
the time or the occasion for compli-
ments or for any action not calculated
ito contribute to the immediate success
of the war. 1850.
Seeks Advice From Both Sides.
"The business now in hand is UNI
dramatic, practical and of scie3ific
detiniteness and precision.
~ shall act with regard to it at
every step and in every particular un-
der expert and professional advice,
from both sides of the water.
THAT advice is that the men most
needed are men of the ages cOntem.
plated in the draft provision of the
present bill, not men of the age and
sort contemplated in the section which
authorizes the formation Of volunteer
units, and that for the preliminary
training of the men who are to be
drafted we shall need all of our eX
perienced officers. Mr.. Roosevelt told
me, when had the pleasure of seeing
him few weeks ago, that he would
wish to have associated with him some
of the most effective officers of the
regular army.
''He named many of those whom he
desired to have designated for the
service and they were men who cannot
possibly be spared from the too small
force of officers at our command fol
the much more pressing and necessary
duties of training regular troops to be
put into the field in France and Bel
GUM as fast as they can be got ready
The first trOOps>sent to France will
be taken from the present force of the
regular army and will be under the
command of trained soldiers only.
1.-The responsibility for the success
full conduct of our part in this great
war rests upon me. i could not escape
1t If / would. am too much inter-
ested in the cause we are fighting for
to be Interested in anything but sue
cess.
Seeks Only Expert Advice.
"The issues involved are too i'm
mense for me to take into considera-
tion anything whatever except the
best, most effective, most immediate
means of military action. What these
means are know from the mouths of
men who have seen war as it is con-
Quoted, who have no Illusions and to
whom the whole grim matter is a mat
ter of business. l shall center my
attention upon those means tld let
everything else wait. should he deep
ly to blame should 4 do otherwise,
whatever the argument of policy or of
personal qualification of ADVANTAGE"
Begin Registration June 5.
The presidents signature Sc. in mo-
tion Immediately machinery designed
to produce within years time ma
tionai army ofamOre than 1,000.O00
trained and equipped men, backed by
adequate reserves of men and supplies
and by an additional 100000 soldiers
under training.
The war bill was carefully gone over
during the day by Brigadier General
Crowder, judge advocate general and
provost marshal general.