Arizona republican., 1917-04-20
HOPES PEESS F()R ADOPTION
 II: P[ANS
Republican A. p. Leased Wire]


 WASHINGTON. April 19.-As one step to.v2rd meeting opposition ir congress to the administration army plans, president Wilson sent letter to Representative Helvering of Kan sas, explaining what is meant by se lective draft, and expressing earnest hope that the bill drafted by the war department would be passed
 The letter said:
 T welcome the inquiry of your letter of April 19 because 1 have realized the truth of what you say from my own observations. namely that what is meant to be understood by the selectiVe draft is not gener- ally understood throughout the coun- try.
 The. process of the draft is, think, very clearly set forth in the bill drafted by the war department and which I so earnestly hope tho congress will adopt, but it is worth while to state the idea which under lies the bill a little more fully.
 T took occasion the other day in an address to the people of the coun- try to point out the many forms of patriotic service that were open to them. and to emphasize the fact that the military part of the service was Inv no means the only part, and per haps, all things considered, not the most vital part. Our object is q mobilization of all the productive and active forces Of the nation and their development to the highest point of cooperation and efficiency. ard the idea of the selective draft is that those should be chosen for service in the army who can be most read fly spared from the prosecution of the other activities which the country must engage in anG to which it must devote great deal of it's best en- ergies.
 The volunteer system does not do this. When men choose them selves, they sometimes choose with cut due regard to their other respon- sitilities Men may come from the farms or from the mines or fror1 the factories or centers of business who ought not to come, but ought to stand back of the armies in the field and see that they get everything that they need, and that the people of the country are sustained in the meantime.
 "The principle of the selective draft, in short. has at it's heart this idea: that there is a universal obli- GatiOn 10 serve, and that a public authority should choose those upon whom the obligation of military ser- vice shall rest, and also in q sense choose hose who shall do the rest of the nations work The bill, if adopted, will do more, I believe, thar any other single instrumentality to create the impression of universal service in the army and ont of it and if properly administered will be a great source of stimulation.
 Those who feel hat we are turn ing away altogether from the volun- tary principle seem to forget tha' some 6eg.0G0 men will be needed to fill the ranks of the regular army and the national guard and that a very great field of individual enthus- iasm lies there wide open.''
 The president and administration leaders in congress are confident of tle ultimate enactr. .ent of the army bill without material changes. The fight probably will begin in the sen ate, where the bill will be taken up as soon as the espionage measure is dis. posed of. Chairman Chamberlain of
 Continued on Page Seven)