Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-06-01

est possible way, exercising the in
formed judgment of those who had
consulted the experience of the
world, rather than by attempting to
coordinate the haphazbard impulses,
however generous, brave and self
sacrificing, of those whose zeal might
we'll lead them into sacrifices which
the country could not safely afford,
while it excused those who were I'M
willing, though able, to do their
duty.
With these ends in view, the bill
prepared by the war department aims
to create a national army, one army,
equalizing the term of service, so that
all its members will be entitled to be
discharged from the military service
when the emergency has passed.
Since we already have the regular
army and national guard, made up of
volunteer recruits the policy recon-
mended by the department provides
for raising these two elements to war
strength by continuation of volun-
teer enlistment, and adds new forces
drawn from the country by a system
of selective CONSUMPTION.
How 1t Works Out.
This plan provides for a contin-
uance of the traditional policy of the
country in the matter of volunteers
so far as existing forces are con-
cerned; but new forces would be
chosen in the following manner:
All the men in the country between
the ages of 10 and 25 years would be
registered. 1t is estimated that they
would number about seven million.
OF this seven million approximately
AZ per cent, or about three million,
would be disqualified for various rea-
sons. OF the remaining four million,
Ave hundred thousand would be
chosen by lot, first apportioning to
each state its proper proportion, and
then, within the states, making a fur
Their apportionment among the con-
gressional districts. and perhaps the
counties or territorial units, the ap-
portionment in each instance being
based upon the population of the unit
as shown by the last federal census.
The five hundred thousand men
thus chosen would be the first ele-
ment Of the new army formed &C.
cording to q plan which would pro-
vide further forces in like number,
from time to time, as our military
need required.
Under this plan the new forces
would be made entirely of young
men; but wars are always fought by
young men. In the Civil war the
number of men in the Union armies
Of 81 years of age and under num-
bered 2.159.79S, while the total Of
those over 26 years of age was only
1926: and what was true in 1851
would have to be true now, for the
very important reason that under our
modern industrial system and in view
Of wars dependence upon 1t. it is
least possible to spare for military
service men above the age of 20.
Young men are better able to en-
dure the hardships Of the campaign;
they are less often husbands and
fathers, and their absence from home
entails less suffering and separation
from essential social ties: they more
readily acquire the training and skill
necessary in the use of arms.
The Fairness Of the System.
The measure prepared by the war
department, therefore, provides for
the regular army. now $4,000, with
161, 900 volunteers to bring 1t to war
strength; and the national guard,
now $4,000 with 100000 volunteers
to bring 1t to war strength. In other
words. $4,000 volunteers will be &C.
cepted in these two forces. and some
additional provision is made for vol
unteers in the recruiting of units at
home for the maintenance in the field
of these forces at their full strength
and for training purposes. in all per-
haps two hundred and fifty thousand
more.
But beyond these, and in addition
to them. the bill provides for five
hundred thousand men as the first
unit to be called into the service in
accordance with the selective prin-
ciple, which. after all. means little
more than the assignment Of citizens
of suitable age to their place in the
country's defense; and the merit OF
the plan suggested lies in the fact
that it recognizes the common obliga-
ton of all citizens of the republic and
inaugurates a plan by which each, In
HIS order, will be called as he 10 need
ed; those needed first, and best adapt
ed, called first into the military serv.
ice; while those most needed on the
farm and In the factory will be
allowed to remain there in the COM
forting assurance that they. too, are
defending their country in the way