The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-04-20
House Military Committee In
sisfs on Call for Volunteers.
Woodrow Wilson at Capitol
Says That Draft is Necessary
For the Safety of the United
States.


Washington, April 18.-The lines
we're drawn today for a great fight
between the administration and oppo-
neats in the house of the plan to raise
the war army by selective draft.
While President Wilson was at the
capital telling senators and represent
tatives that no compromise between
the volunteer and draft system could
be accepted with safety to the nation
the house military committee by a
vote of IL to 8 adopted the amend
ments to the administration bill au-
thorizing calls for volunteers in incre-
ments of 100000 and providing that
the draft shall be applied only in the
event the president decides that the
force needed can not be raised and
maintained under the volunteer plan.
Chairman Dent headed the anti
draft force and will introduce the
amended bill in the house tomorrow
with view to pressing it for passage
Monday. Representative Kahn of CAL
ifornia, ranking Republican member
of the committee, is preparing a re-
port to be signed by the minority and
will join in leading the fight on the
floor for the administration. The SEN
ate committee formally voted 10 to 7
today to report virtually without
change the bill as originally drafted
by the general staff and approved by
the president and will present it to-
morrow. The measure may be passed
by the senate without waiting for
action in the house.
Appeal to Country.
The president made plain to those
with whom he talked his determina-
tion to have the staff bill enacted.
There seems no doubt that he will
appeal directly to the country, if
necessary, and tell the people that in
thA opinion, of the military advisers
OF the government as we'll as admins
istration officials national safety de-
mands that the army be provided un-
der the plans prepared by the army
expertc after long study and consid-
Grafton of lessons learned from the
war in Europe. The war department.
holds that every weakness of the vel
unteer system would lie perpetuated
under the house committees scheme.
A feature of the amendments provid-
ing for the selection of officers from
local units is regarded by officials rs
particularly obnoxious to sound mill
tary principles. They say the task of
providing competent officers under this
restriction would be rendered ten
times more difficult and the efficiency
of the army to be built greatly re-
duced from the very start. The pres
ident thinks that full opportunity for
volunteers is offered under the staff
bill, since there will be room for 724,-
900 voluntary enlistments in the reg
ular army and National Guard for the
duration of the war. In addition, the
door is thrown wide open to men who
are qualified to become officers.
The chief amendment of the house
committee follows:
That the president be and he is
hereby authorized to call for 500, 900
volunteers under and in accordance
with the act of congress, approved
April 25, 1914 (the army reorganiza-
tion act) go.
"That in the event it becomes neces-
sary to raise an additional force of
NNtoNo iiiSii IiiS pIcSluellC De, ana
he is hereby, authorized to call such
additional force by volunteers in the
same manner. Such volunteer army
shall be apportioned among the vari-
Gus States and territories and the
District of Columbia according to pop
ulation, raised in regimental units or
parts thereof. j..
provided, That such volunteer
forces shall be recruited in local units
as far as practicable and company of
ficers may be appointed from such
units upon passing such reasonable
and practicable examinations to fitness
a sL1e president may direct.
"And provided further, That upon
the completion or the enrollmeno as
provided in this act, and in the event
tie president decides that such ad,li-
tional force or forces can not be ef
fectuaily raised and maintained under
tho cal for volunteers as herein pro
tided. the president be, and he is
hereby, authorized to raise and or.
Sanize the same by the selective draft,
as herein provided"