Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-13
SeLectipe Conservation.

Selective CONSUMPTION is the only efficient plan
and the only fair plan for raising the armies of
which nation Is in vital need. Select1ve con-
scription does not mean that every man between
certain ages who measures up TO certain physical
standards is to be clapped into uniform and sent
away to fight. II does not that patriotic zeal
is to be supplanted by cold compulsion Ii does not
mean that any American will be forced to any
ice other than that which every loyal American
stands ready to render with wholehearted devotion
1t simply assumes that entire citizenry is
patriotic and proceeds TO organize this patriotism
on a systematic and thoughtful basis instead of
trusting to mere impulse and rushing forward
helter-skelter
The task now confronting the United States in
wolves vast deal than recruiting three million
men for service with the coIors. II involves the
mobilization OF the countrys total resources indus
trial and agricultural well as military with a
view to making them all count their utmost for de-
Tense and for victory. Promiscuous volunteering
would hamper rather than help that purpose For
one thing. it would divert to the drilling camps
much energy and skill which would be needed in
shops and on farms England learned through sore
experience the cost of this mistake During the pc
riod Of voluntary enlistment she took no thought
of the heavy and indiscreet withdrawal of men from
her farms The consequence, as described by a
keen student of her problems. was that as late as
last years harvesttide:
Her farmers complained that they were
not able to gather such crops as they had
raised. The Government then offered to re-
lease the men from the front on a thirty-day
furiough But the farmers insisted that whar
they needed was not simply men, but erpe-
rienced farm labor"
Selective CONSUMPTION applied from the outset would
have prevented that situation together with fits seri
Gus reactions upon the country's whole industrial
and economic life. Selective conscrfptfon works
prudently and produces weIl-balanced results Pro-
miscuous volunteering works recklessIy and pro
duces confusion and waste.
IL We were lighting purely sentimental war wa
could AFFORD TO leave the task of recruiting an army
TO sentimental methods; could AFFORD the DELAYS
and uncertainties and lost motion that are imam
arabic from the volunteer system. But we are fight
ing the grimmest foreign the nation has known
since the winning of fits independence, a war which
Involves security and freedom generations tn
come and which involves the hope of democracy
throughout the world. Who can foresee the end NJ
this gigantic struggle? Who measure the bounds
OF Americas responsibility We dare not take
chances. We dare not do less than our utmost and
our best. IL is the Judgment OF President Wilson
as OF the War Department and of all authorfties
who have given the question thorough study that
s-lecve CONSUMPTION is the only plan that can be
depended upon to meet the nations needs with
prompt and efficient results Surely then Congress-
VIII not hesitate to support the President at this
crucial juncJure.
Selective CONSUMPTION is the fairest as we'll as
the most efficient plan for raising the necessary
armies IL is fair, first of all. to our common in