Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-04-26
THE DRAFT PLAN.

under debate in congress. Still, the
speaker comes from that section OF
the United States which is less in fav-
or of war if any one area can be dis
tinguished as such. The speaker rep
PRESENTS Missouri district, and the
natural and human element of the
folks at home may have its bearing
OF his attitude. 1t should be so. if
IL isn't
Speaker Clark believes that no man
should be made to fight for his coun-
try, unless he desires to perform this
task. That's not a new belief in this
world, and anarchy is stage in gov
eminent close akin to an operation of
such procedure.
In other words, congress is a body
of fits and insists gathered together
in two halls, under one flag or more,
parading as on ornament to our gov
ernment-and all the laws which they
enact should be regarded or disregard
ed at the pleasure of the party affect
ed. Things have come to pretty
pass, at that.
A communication in this paper to a
member of congress brings forth a
striking and penetrating argument in
favor Of the draft measure. Under
the reasoning of the esteemed speaker
OF the house, it would not be becoming
for a person to pay his taxes unless
he wanted to. Yea, when the time
comes to make the annual payment of
taxes. the tax collector should call
for volunteers-to pay or not to pay,
that is the question.
The Times Recorder is unhesitat-
iugly in favor of the draft legislation
as the striking and necessary manner
OF raising an army. We proceed
or the theory that every citizen of
the United States is equal in his rights
and his immunities; that every person
should bear an equal part of the
government-that it necessarily fol-
lows that every citizen owes the
same duty and on the basis of equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none" there should be a common
ground for serving our country.
No one doubts the superiority of a
volunteer soldier after he has been
trained. He is the grandest and most
patriotic citizen on the face of the
earth. But, it does not follow though,
that he should offer his life's blood on
the altar of his country while the
elusive citizen of military age re
rains at home. despite the taunts anC
outrage of the condition.
There is decided difference be.
| tween the common belief of conscrip
:. ton and the purpose of the draft meas
ure now before congress. The pres
ent plan to raise the army necessar,
: for the United States provides for tn
equal duty with the aim towards plac
iEg every citizen affected in the wor1
which will produce the greatest bene
fit to the nation. Who would have tn
blacksmith attempt to perform tn
work of a dentist? Under the volur
teer system, the dentist might be bat
8 Ting in the trenches, and the biacl
s smith would handle artillery wit
t new men being trained to do h
work which both have already bee
qualified by previous experience.
d And while we are charging Il
e Kaiser with being in league wit
n God, it might be well for the Amer
g can people to ponder over the a
, nmption which congress seems to hay
reached--that they are chosen to n
d the affairs of our government witho,
Il regard to past, present or future Tt
r trained observers of the United Stat
i in their chosen fields have reporte
and the brains agree. Is congress
disregard their prayers backed by sol
[ facts?