Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-12
DRAFT OPPOSITION
CHARGED TO KAISER
Senator Chamberlain Says
Trouble Is Due Largely to
German Propagandists.
WARNS LAWYERS OF PERIL

BY the Associated Press.
JACKSONVILLE. August 1l.-Much
being stirred up in the United States is
the work of propagandists of the
kaiser and vigorous means should be
employed to curb the activity of the
enemy within. as well as without. de-
clared United States Senator George Z.
Chamberlain of Oregon. chairman of
the military affairs committee. in an ad-
dress before lawyers of Florida and
citizens of Jacksonville here today
Il do not believe" he declared. that
America has yet been aroused to the
dangers which confront her on account
of enemies within and without. and
hope that if the people Of Florida have
not yet considered this question they
may begin to do SO and discuss them
Senator Chamberlain defended the
right and authority of Congress to en-
act legislation providing for the selec-
tive draft. He pointed out that Wash
ington wrote time after time to the Con-
tinental Congress. urging the neces-
sity of draft and telling of opportuni-
ties lost for victory after victory be-
cause of an inadequate army.
Senator Chamberlain came to jack
sonvlle at the invitation of ex-senator
Bryan, president of the Florida Bar AS
sociation. now in session.
War Powers of Government.
Senator Chamberiain's address was on
Ine W ar Powers OF the
and Their Confinement to the Narrow
Limits of the Constitution
Referring first to the operation of the
selective draft law. he said:
The situation arising out of the spirit
of opposition to the selective draft is
serious and taken in connection with
unrest amongst the civilian population
growing out of commercial and indus
trial conditions, stimulated by pro-Ger-
man sympathizers and propagandists,
r,1a Try in cit q
treme peril at time when all should
be united in common cause.
Another danger confronting u.s." he
continued. "is the narrow view taken
by many distinguished lawyers and pub
licists as to the war power of Congress
under the Constitution. On the one
hand there are those who insist, and
think properly, that under the Consti-
tuition Congress has unlimited power to
legiSlate upon any subject that has to
do with the maintenance and support
of the Army and Navy in time of war.
and that power follows by necessary
implication from those granted in
specific terms In opposition to this
view are those who insist that Congress
has no other or greater power in war
time than it has in times of peace and
that a limitation which would be ef-
fectual to control legislation in time
the power of Congress in time of war.
II this last view is to be the controlling g
one in matters of legislation. then, in
deed, is our country doomed.
Il know the thinking people are not
being deceived by the efforts of German
propagandists who are abroad claiming G
that this is not our war If our rights
upon land and sea are to be preserved.
if the lives of our citizens who dare
eercise those rights and others guar
anteed them by the laws of nations are
to be protected; il treaties are to be
observed: if solemn international obli-
cations are not mere scraps of paper,
then this is Americas war. But if we
care naught for these things; il we
are willing to permit our citizens. men,
women and sucking babies. to be ruth
lessly destroyed by ambush assassins
of the high seas: If we are willing in
this progressive day and generation to
have the avenues of commerce closed
against us without protest: if the spirit
of America has become craven and we
no longer proudly boast of a descent
from patriotic, a valiant and chiv-
alrous ancestry. then indeed. and then
only, my friends. this Is not our war.
Fate of World May Depend on U. S.
THE fate of the world. my friends.
may depend on the part America shall
play in this war. and as an allwise
Providence gave to her the glory of es-
tablishing government bottomed on
the consent of the governed in this new
world of ours, SO it may be, If her sons
play thelr part now, as Ciu ner sons OF
colonial days, that the same beneficent
Providence may make America the
bearer of a message to all the nations
of the earth when this war is over
that the world is and shall be safe for
democracwy until the end of time
There is no closer student of history
today than President Wilson. said Sena-
tor Chamberlain. and the lessons of his
tory have taught him that in the mo-
mentous crisis now confronting Amer
lea there is only one safe, one reliable
one certain way to raise an efficient
army. and that is by some system which
makes military service universal as
well as compulsory. Having reached
that conclusion, he hesitates not a mo-
ment to recommend its adoption dur
ing the war, declared the senator.