Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-04-28
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The SaltrIaksYTEibpne got. Thurs
day has thN following editorial on yol
unteer and ths JcPAferhhi@ $slsps
Of raising an army:
WE iAsEnf6FiiSd ffat itAe English
meth pA St gSAAgs ';Jofpniesrs' for
thelrksukili Be-! adsStsdj an Utah.
,Repqipg, the decision of, congress on
I'M Army ibil. fsIhekefs" will be
AAt4 fh{d service % the country.
TIE people OF Utah. We believe. will
look upon such proceedings with SEN
,HnAatshpf disgqst and dismay; The
white feather Of cowardice," which.
webEe aAAutea Ertbs pinaed ppon
the apathetic young men of the state.
is like the hbh OF TIE taisers Officers
or the knout OF the car. 1t is a
sort of demodatic whipping. Z z A.
But II such methods have no other
SnsSt they shouTd liayl bare the ignor-
ance or hypocrisy OF those who de-
dlSef RoaAiaR gati6us anilthe yclun-
teering system of obtaining recruits.
IL Eso,. fiSi b bateI the debSsement and
dishonesty Of the system.
II 1t is aimRn's duty to serve his
country in, war-and few will deny
the duty-then there can be no
valid objection to law requiring the
performance OF the duty. A con-
scrfpted army is a noble and elevat-
ing organization compared with an
army OF so-called volunteers" dashed
into the service. The English army
was obtained by means of the white
feather OF cowardice" and other de-
vices of the kind. The men who Of
fered their services under such COM
pulsion would feel more like freemen
and less like driven slaves had they
been required to fulfill their duty to
the state by some fair method of con-
scription.
We believe that the "shaming"
method. II 1t is adopted, will do more
to reveal the hollowness of the vol
unteering system than all the argu-
ments that could be employed. Vol
unteering is satisfactory when it is
merely question of policing the
border, but when the nation is face
to face with a world war 1t cannot
commit It's cause to the slow and gen,
orally ineffective methods of volun.
tary enlistment.
The United States Is in this war to
win. And 1t is in the war because the
people plainly told the president and
congress to make war upon Germany
In such circumstances the men OF
the country should volunteer. They
should, but they do not, or IL they dc
it is only after their duty has been
impressed upon them by offensive
methods.
II the young men Of the country
were convinced that they would see
actual service they would volunteer
smore eagerly. Most of them rebel
at the idea of spending months on
patrol duty. This has been forcibly
demonstrated by the rush to the navy
With spirit which is genuinely In
spring the young men of the country
are crowding into the navy. Why,
Because they believe that they will
see actual fighting.
The country should commit itsel
at once to an expeditionary force t.
France. We may not be able to EN-
bark an expedition Immediately, bu
congress should proclaim the nations
purpose OF sending an army into tn,
hght. When that has been done 4
will not be necessary to shame
young men into the ranks. But a!
long as we are under the necessity
of convincing the prospective volun
teer that II is his duty to enlist fol
mere patrol duty as sort of HON,
guard" volunteering will lack tn,
patriotic urge.
Congress, however, should not rel!
upon discredited system. 1t shoulC
pass the selective conscription bill
with a volunteer feature. At thu
same time 1t should make 1t clear tC
the country that this is to be no mere
dollar war;" but that Americans ar,
In the conflict to fight as did tn,
heroes Of the revolution and the wal
for the Union. If the country is no
animated by that spirit 1t is no
worthy to be in tho war and shoult
not have warned the president. tim,
after time. that cringing to German.
would not be tolerated. The presi
dent and congress took the American
people at their word and 1t is UP I,
the people to make good.