Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-15
PLAN
IS UP TO WILSON
FOR FINAL SAY-SO
President Can Send Him at
Head of Volunteer Divi-
siOnSr or Not Send Him,
Just as He Sees Fit

l
army to fight in France will be up to
President Wilson next week.
The house today overwhelmingly
voted to refer back to conference the
conferees' report on the army bill.
which eliminated the coloners pet
scheme.
At the same time the house by a
vote Of 215 to 17S instructed its con-
ferees to write into the measure a pro-
vision authorizing the president to raise
four divisions of troops,y who shall be
picked men above the age of twenty
five years.
While there is nothing IN the measure
directing or even suggesting that Colo
mel Roosevelt snail be placed in COM
mand of the force, it Is assumed thar
he would be given place at the head
Of at least a portion of them.
The senate without objection late to-
day allowed it's original conferees TO re-
sumo their work in conference, and an
agreement on the selective service
measure. including the so-called Roose-
Welt amendment is expected Monday.
What the president will do about
naming Roosevelt to head one of the
i'm the measure is the big question to-
night. Today while the Roosevelt divi-
sion was receiving Endorsement at the
hands of the house the president in a
speech here declared fatty that this is
no war for spontaneous impulse" that
this is no war for amateurs" and that
Observation-Disclosures at hand should now
be employed in fighting work"
This also is the judgment of the gen.
eral stan of the army. As a result the
opinion prevails tonight that while the
ex-president later. may be given an OPP
portunity to lead troops into the Eu-
ropean batlehelds. the first American
fighting forces to go abroad will be led
by regularly appointed army officers
now in active service
The house and senate conferees will
meet at 1880 o'clock Monday morning
to begin work on the army bill again.
BY that time, the legislation for rails
ing an army will have been mulled
around congress and in committee for
more than three weeks.
This fact may hasten disposal of the
bill, but there are also opportunities for
further delay. Some of the adjustments
agreed upon by the conferees early this
week were based on trades" Senate
conferees yielded on the Roosevelt
division amendment, and on the Fan
amendment providing for a volunteer
cavalry for border patrol duty while the
house conferees agreed to a compromise
on the age fixed for draft.
Senator Chamberlain said tonight that
many of the differences might be re-
opened as result of the return of the
bill to conference.
1t is pointed out tonight that there
is nothing in the so-called Roosevelt
amendment which stipulstes that the
colonel himself shall lead any part of
the forces. 1t is assumed the president
may later name him to some post, how
ever, owing to the popular demand from
the country. The Republicans were
jubilant at their INTERPRETATIONS
assured yesterday when it developed
that a bipartisan combination of Re-
publican and Democratic leaders were
working to accomplish the end desired
TEXT OF AMENDMENT.
The language of the house amend
ment follows:
The president is further authorized to
raise and maintain by voluntary enlist
ment, TO organize and equip not to ex-
coed four infantry divisions, the officers
of which shall be selected in the manner
provided by paragraph three of section
one Of this act provided that the or
ganization of the force shall be the same
that of the corresponding organiza-
ton of the regular army; and provided
further that there shall be no enlist
ments in said force of men under 25
years of age at the time OF enlisting;
and. provided further. that no such vol
unteer force shall be accepted in any unit
smaller than a division"
The vote came at the end of two
hours debate.
Chairman Dent, of the military com.
mittee. objected to any change in the
conference report. although he originally
sponsored volunteer amendments.
In eliminating the Roosevelt amend
ment the conferees. he said. had carried
out the expressed declaration of both
houses of congress.
Representative Anthony declared that
IL would be impossible to meet imme-
diately the request for troops he believ-
ed Marshal Joffre had made OF the war
department. unless resort was had ITO
services Of 100000 patriotic Americans
who stand ready to enlist under the
banner Of the one great American COM
petent to lead such an army"
THEREBY QUOTES JOFFRE.
Representative Sherley. interrupting
declared that Marshal Joffre had told
him trained troops should be sent.
us the general star in favor OF the
Roosevelt Amendment. uenanueu Nep-
resentative Britten. of Illinois.
IT do not know as to that, but ! do
know the American people favor it," re-
piled Mr.. Anthony. He added that Colo
mel Roosevelt was the one man for the
command OF such a division and drew
laughter and jeers from the Democratic
side.
Amid applause from both sides Rep
resentative Gallivan. Democrat OF Mas
sachusetts. chided his colleagues for
failure 10 show the same patriotism as
he said Colonel Roosevelt had.
Not as a patriotic Democrat. but
as a patriotic American" he said, 81
am proud TO support this amendment"
Representa- tive Fitzgerald declared
that any one who knew Colonel Roose-
velt's personality knows that were he
sent abroad as hrIgadier general he
would demoraiize the whole force I'm
two weeks"
Neither party was sOlidly aligned IN
the vote. but most of the strength came
from the Republicans. Speaker Clark
directed that his vote he recorded
against the amendment. Democra tic
Leader Kitchin and Republican Leader
Mann voted against II. Representative
Rankin. Of Montana, was among those
voting for II.