The Washington herald., 1917-10-02
AMERICA DUTY
TO PRESS WAR
Representative Harrison
Says Delay viii Cost
More Lives.
BY PAT HARRISON.
Representative in Congress from MIS-
sissippi.

sissippi.
Co-operation. not fault finding. Is
now the duty OF Americans.
The extent Of the opposition in GER
tain parts of the country to the Sc
Iective draft plan of raising an army
is. in my opinion. greatly exaggerated
In my State, Of Mississippi, some OF
the most influential and distinguished
men opposed the draft. They believed
that the voluntary system was the
wisest. best and most patriotic
speeches supporting that view have
been widely circulated in the state.
But Nfississippians are thoroughly
reconciIed to the law and recognize IN
the main its squareness and justice
and its wisdom. Since the measure De-
came a law 1 have received only two
letters either protesting against II OF
seeking exemption from its operauoh'
Whatever may have been ones 1udg-
ment between the relative merits Oh
the voluntary and selectiye draft sys-
tens before the law was passed, every
true American should now stand Tor
q strict and fair and impartial admin
-istration Of the law as it i.
Delay Costs Lives
Every days delay in the immediate
and efficient prosecution OF the war
is costly. to the American people. II
is costing them money and it is go
ing to cost them lives-the lives of
Americans who are to do our fight
ing. The only way to bring victory
10 our armies and the armies Of our
allies Is by united and enthusiastic
co-operation by all Americans with
every branch Of our government. The
sooner we act; the more unitediy we
act; the more effectively we act the
less the cost will be to US in money
and in lives.
The manner Of raising our army is
established by law. Criticism Of the
law now by men high in public life
can do no good. but it may do much
harm. II may dampen the ardor and
enthusiasm of those who must enter
our army finder that law, and the
danpening Of the enthusiasm and
ardor Of our soldier boys is to that
extent a blow against the govern
ment.
Critics Of the selective draft en-
courage defiance of the law in the
face of the present crisis. They have
not the interest of the country at
heart and are unwcrthy to be classed
as American citizens.
The President of the United states
Is. i'm this time of war. charged with
the gravest and most responsible
duties. In the administration of new
and untried laws and the operation
Of the greatly increased military and
naval forces Of the country. together
al "a AZ r1TrTr1hpr of 96d1tl0n-
nj matters rendered necessary by the
war. no doubt mistakes will be made.
1t would be a miracle II they were
not. But the critic, especially II he
he a leader Of men whose duty II is
10 play an important part in mould
ing public opir riOn-the critic and the
fault finder whose only activities are
criticizing and fault finding with
those who are administering the law
ard carrying on the numerous vast
operations incident to war-is not
fruly cOod soldier or a good leader or
a loyal American.
The distintC grafton of Russia, which
has been so costly to the entente al
led cause. and which will materially
delay the successful termination of
the war. should be a striking lesson
to those Americans who are inclined
10 tlAlltlst anu llilu ldNAN WIN AAANS-
whoSe duties and functions are to
carry the war to a successful and
victorious end.
Presidents Power Large.
Great ard large powers necessarily
must lie conferred upon the Executive
OF the nation at this time. The dele
cation would not be drca-,ed Of. But
rr,m-tnCS5 and efficiency are imper-
gtive now and to obtain the highest
efficiency. to strike with the power
ard might OF the nation, We must
delegate for the time unusual author
ity TO the Executive head.
Americas course in this war is of
trcU Ucndous Importance to US. 1t is of
trems ndOus Importance to the peace
and safety and freedom Of the world.
Never in our history was unselfish CO.
operation and patriotic unity and
devotion to duty so much needed. All
true Americans will work together for
the country's good. which means now
al humanity's good. Those who do
frrra Auoarfpaug