The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-08-24
By W. C. MeAdoo, Sec. of Treasury


draft law has caused a painful i'm
preston in many quarters, but after
all, does not the fact that no provi-
sion has yet been made by the Cow
eminent for the support Of the wives
and children, mothers or fathers, Of
the men who have been drafted ex-
plain many Of these claims for OK
emption?
Under the draft law the government
has the power TO require every able
bodied man between p and 81 years
of age to perform military duty.
Thousands of the drafted men are
wage earners who married years ago
and are the sole support Of dependent
families. So long as the government
has made no provision for the care Of
these dependents, it is natural that
such drafted men should seek to pro-
tect their loved ones by staying at
home. | am sure that if the Congress
should promptly enact the pending
war insurance bill, which makes defi-
mite allowances for the support Of the
dependent wives and children, fathers
and mothers. of our soldiers and sail
ors, claims for exemptions on that
score will cease. This is an impera-
tive duty Of the government. We
cannot deprive helpless women and
children of the support Of the wage
Garner by forcing him into the mill
tary service Of the country unless
the government substitutes itself as
their support.
Imagine the emotions Of the man
who is called into the military service
of his country. with full knowledge
that his loved ones are left without
means Of support and may be reduced
to want unless the charity Of the COM
munity in which they live comes to
their relief. 1t would be nothing less
than a crime for a rich and just gov
eminent to treat its fighting men so
heartlessly and to subject their de-
pendent wives and children, who are
unable to fight, to greater suffering
than if they could fight.
The morale of an army is as essen
tial to its effective fighting power as
guns, ammunition and other instru-
mentalities of war. OF equal impor-
lance is the morale of the civil popu-
lation which must support the armies
in the field. We cannot have this es-
sential morale unless the nation com
forts the men in the ranks with the
knowledge that everything possible
will be done for them and their fami-
lies, and renders to the civil popula-
ton at home the assistance which will
make it most effective in unfolding
the government and the fighting fore
es.
The purpose of the war Insurance
bill now pending in Congress is to
secure the future of American soldiers
and sailors by insuring their lives and
providing adequate compensations
and indemnities for loss of life and
total or partial permanent disability;
also to protect their families against
poverty and want by providing them
with sufficient means Of support dur
ing the absence of the men at the
front.
The nation, having been forced to
resort to the draft in order to create
quickly an army to save the country,
is under higher obligation to do these
things for its fighting forces than if
a voluntary army only was created.
This great and rich republic cannot af-
ford to do less, and it must do what
is proposed in a spirit of gratitude
and not as charity. Every soldier
and sailor who serves his country in |
this war will earn everything the |
proposed war insurance bill provides;
TO be a beneficiary of the proposed |
law will be badge of honor.
Wbon L. o,,.,o,.
we call not only him but the entire !
family to the flag; the sacrifice en-
tailed is not Invisible. The wife and |.
children, the mother, the father, are
all involved in the sacrifce-they d.
rectly share the burden of defense.
They suffer just as much as a soldier,
but in different way, and the nation |
must generously discharge as a |
proud privilege the duty of maintain |
ing them until the soldiers and sail
ors return from the war and resume
the esponsibility.
We have drawn the sword to vindi- |
cate Americas violated rights, to re-
store peace and justice, and to secure |
the progress of civilization. We can
not permit our soldiers, while they |
hold the front, to be stabbed in the |
back by uncertainty as to what is be-
ing done for their loved ones at |
home. Our tomOrrows are in their |
hands-theirs in ours. The national |
will not permit Americas |
soldiers and their dependents to go |
with everything that a
just, generous and noble people can
do to compensate them for the suf-
ferings and sacrifices they make to
serve their country.
Aside from the care and protection |
of their dependents while the soldier is !
alive, the proposed war insurance act |
provides for definite compensation for
his dependents in case Of death, for
definite and adequate indemnities in
case of total or partial disability, |
and for re-education of the manned
and disabled man, so that he may take
up new occupation and make HIM
self a useful member of society. We |
must restore their efficiency and adj
just their still available faculties and
functions to suitable trades and voca-
ions, which the injuries of the bat
tlefeld have not wholly destroyed.
The heavy depletions in man power