Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-05-25
PRESIDENT SIGNS
DRAFT MEASURE:
BARS I. R. ARMY
Wilson Sets June 8 for Registra-
ton of Men.
CALL TO COLORs ON SEPT. |
Executive Explains in Statement That
Military Experts of Country and
Allies Oppose Sending VoIun-
teers Under ColoneI-ls-
sues Too Great to
Risk Mistakes.

would permit Colonel Roosevelt to or
ganize volunteer divisions, President
Wilson signed the conscriptiOn bill.
The bill was signed despite opposition
which manifested itself at the eleventh
hour in many quarters.
The president issued the following
statement at the White House:
81 shall not avail myself, at any
rate, at the present stage of the war,
of the authorization conferred by the
act to organize volunteer divisions.
"To do so would seriously interfere
with the carrying out of the chief and
most Immediately important purpose
contemplated by this legislation:
1.-THE prompt creation and early use
of an effective army would contribute
practically nothing to the effective
strength of the armies now engaged
against Germany.
"No Time for Compliments"
81 understand that the section of
this act which authorizes the creation
of volunteer divisions in addition to
the draft was added with a view to
providing an Independent command for
Mr.. Roosevelt and giving the military
authorities an opportunity to use his
fine vigor and enthusiasm recruiting
the forces now at the western front.
''It would be very agreeable to me to
pay Mr.. Roosevelt this compliment and
the allies the compliment of sending
to their aid one of our most distin-
guished public men, an ex-president,
who has rendered many conspicuous
public services and proved his gallan-
try in many striking ways.
Politically too, it would no doubt
have a very fine effect and make a
profound impression. But this is not
the time or the occasion for compli-
ments, or for any action not calculated
to contribute to the immediate success
of the war.
Seeks Advice From Both Sides.
''The business now in hand is un
dramatic, practical and of scientific
| definiteness and precision.
81 shall act with regard to it al
every step and in every particular un
der expert and professional advice
from both sides Of the water.
''That advice is that the men mos
needed are men of the ages contem
plated in the draft provision of thu
present bill, not men of the age ant
sort contemplated in the section whicl
authorizes the formation of voluptee
| nd hot tIn INT, r,.,
training of the men who are to b.
drafted we Shall need all of our eX
perienced officers. Mr.. Roosevelt toll
me, when l had the pleasure of seein
him a few weeks ago, that he woul
wish to have associated with him som
of the most effective officers of tn
regular army.
Says He Is Responsible.
'He named many of those whom h
desired to have designated for tn
service and they We're men who came
possibly be spared from the too sma
force of officers at our command fC
the much more pressing and necessar
duties of training regular troops to b
put into the field in France and Be
gium as fast as they can be got read,
''The first troops sent to France wi
be taken from the present force of til
regular army and will be under til
command of trained soldiers only.
1.-THE responsibility for the success
full conduct of our part in this gres
war rests upon me. | could not escaI
it if l would l am too much inte
ested in the cause we are fighting fl
to be interested in anything but su
cess.
Seeks Only Expert Advice.
"The issues involved are too il
mense for me to take into consider
ton anything whatever except Il
best, most effective, most immedia
means of military action. What the
. means are I know from the mouths
men who have seen war as it is co
, Quoted, who have no illusions and
, whom the whole grim matter is ms
ter of business. [ shall center n
, attention upon those means and |
everything else wait. l should be dee
, ly to blame should 1 do otherwis
Y whatever the argument of policy or
: personal qualification of advantage.
: Begin Registration June 5.
The presidents signature set in N
p ton Immediately machinery design
$ to produce within a years time
:. tiOnal army of more than 10000
q trained and equipped men, backed
;. adequate reserves of men and suppl
e and by an additional 100000 soldie
e under training.
e The war bill was carefully gone on
n during the day by Brigadier Genel
f Crowder, judge advocate general a
provost marshal general.
s 1t remained but to prepare the pr
i lamation for the presidents signatu
h summoning approximately 10,000,(
er men from twenty-one to thirty ye;