The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-11

the course Of ihe present war. ana
1 tho reasons whjpa has led France and
Japan, even before the war. to adopt
the seinciive draft sy stem and brought
Great Brit3in to adopt 90 in the course
of the wRr as a measure of national
salvation,
Thereafter the colonel sent for
chairman Chamberlain of the senate
toffliNittee en- military affairs. and
U4sasrsslan Dent of he house commit
tee. He assured both thar they would
flaseghis earnest eo-opera'ton in their
efforts to rush the seiectiye draft bill
thrnfEh
The, the colonel received Repro
sentative Kahn. of California. senior
Republican new Scr Of the house com
mlttes on military affairs. and sena-
Aof SgheRs. -6a IFssa chusetts and told
them that Il Wac their duty as Repub-
lscans 10 stand ~ the administration
In the matter of extending support to
this ''sitail4 necessary legislation"
Scores - prominent members oi
both political parties called on tho
former president in the course of the
evening. All were received and all left
the presence 0f the colonel convinced
tha. I'm the matter ot the CONSUMPTION
bill the colonel's hat WAS again in tho
ring
s tss,cnel Roosevelt discussed with tho
president his own ambition to head an
expeslitionary force of at least the
Strength Of a division in the European
+ war
Following the talk with the pres-
dent Colonel Roosevelt made ii clear
that his plum was not aimed To inter-
If fere in anv way with the admfnistra-
ffonss proposal Of raising AN army on
+ - ,.1,g,s. 1.f. -,
sef.~scc
II He declared that he was heart and
soul in favor nf universal and obtga-
tory military training and service.
Not Afraid 81 Consumption.
HI. gall it conscription If - like
ne snapped You cannot N.ghten
ms by a name"
sss seaonel Roosevelt arranged to con-
Il mr. later today ana tonight with the
hhIrmen and leading minority mem
i NJ al the senate and house military
eommittees and also with members o.
The advisory commission OF the coun-
M hi national defense He pianned
4 ~ 1Nave for New York tomorrow.
q When Colonel Roosevelt left the
White House he waved his hat en-
Enthusiastically TO "a large group OF cor
and shutting off aues-
s4fDhs began 10 dictate the following
1 Ntnfament.
R# n came on. desiring tn see the
& RreNihen personally TO reiterate what
Il j had already said about his message
- congress and to lay before him in
sdAtAif and explain just what | desired
Ito have his direction TO do in con-
a1seetten with my division, and why il
vas my earnest hope and belief thai
MI would be we'll that I should have
eSsfhe authorization To raise such d.
Ntsdnn 10 be sent rs part OF an expedl'
ssfnHafv force to France at an early
moment
80 Rcady 10 Takc Orders.
Tic division and myself, OF
4eourse, would he put under the com
L sfnand of whoever was at the head OF
the expeditionary force As ! have
ia. n wished to lay the plans for
5s&hc division in detail before the presi-
sse64nt:
The president received me with The
Il xfksnust courtesy and consideration, anC
Nonkfiess in his own due time viii
& 2S,n4 to a decision in connection witt
d ~ division.
N .AftEr announcing his intention o.
IN &afnE Daniel Willard, chairman of thu
#%AvfHpry commission of the nationa
d DAfuuxe council, and congressiona
q aders, the former president made &
Not1ef statement 10 explain his position
d Reward universal training.
III Tam heart and soul for the prn'
s5etpln Of universal military training
M&M xa1d. Il would ia~or II If It's ain
n SSXA 10 raise 2 600 ono men. | am foi
MH&sE- nniversai obligatory training and
u sSSryice. Call it consumption aud
8HEnNy yes You cannot brighten mt
q III AHS name.
ssss* So TO f:,'iAt Excepted Men.
The division that ask permission
rmire would be- made up Of men wht
u &NM not be faken under conscrip,
" The would lie over twenty five
E&kxEbf age or Of the excepted elasse,
ytME twenty -flyR who would eagerl,
1sfsc go 20 he front, bat VI no could
ii 80 expected 70 leave those depend
upon them unless they expected
H. xersice"
T. 3nel Roosevelt slapped Secretar,
|% M1ty on the back and remarked M
(6k get HIM. He talked INFORMALLY
N&yerai minutes about his plan,
kE4he readiness OF men to respone
Ntscail for service, but would no
- his dictated statement.
tbs presence Of the
nresident. crowd Of scvcra
<2k &5SS3S &H isss