New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-10
President Warns Military
Committee to Drop Vol.
unteer Plan
Draft Is Opposed
BY Large Majority
Chairman Dent, Called to
White House, Offers
Compromise

lFfom The Tribune Bureau.
Washington, April 9.-President
Wilson to-day began his campaign to
drive the pacifsts, little army men and
opponents Of universal service into limo
behind his plan for conscripton in the
present war. He called Chairman Dent
OF the House Military Affairs Commit
tee, protege of ex-Chairman Hay, TO
the White House. and insisted on the
passage Of the Administration army
bill.
Mr.. Dent told the President it would
be almost impossible TO obtain IA.
vorable report from the Military Com-
mittee on any plan OF conscription.
even the mild application of the "uni-
versal liability to service" plan laid
down by the President. He talked
vaguely of a compromise" under
which the draft would be deferred until
the volunteer plan had failed.
House Might Kill Bill
The President warned Mr.. Dent OF
the serious consequences which would
attend the refusal OF the House to
grant the President this war measure.
whereat Mr.. Dent retorted by pointing
out that if he and the majority Of the
members of the committee, who are
opposed to conscription, should suoor-
dinate their own views and support the
Presidents bill, vote killing that bill
by the House might have even more
serious consequences in its effect
abroad.
willing to give the President as many
men as he asks for?" Mr.. Dent was
asked on returning from the White
House.
"Oh. there is no question as TO that
ho replied quickly. 1--WE are ready to
give him all the men he wants, and all
the money. The only difference Is as to
how the men shall be raised. think
they should be raised by the volunteer
system. II is on that point that | am
torn. | hope that some compromise
may be worked out, but cannot dis
cuss details as to that now"
Wilson Can Force Approval
II vote were taken to-day and every
man in the House were TO vote the way
he is talking. the majority against the
Presidents conscription plan would bs
tremendous.
However. the vote will not be taken
for at least TWO weeks. II President
Wilson makes anything like as strong
fight as he has on Panama Canal
tolls, on the McLemore resolution anil
on the war resolution itself he will get
conscription.
The House Military Committee Is al
ready restive under the pressure. II is
resorting to two methods of checking
publicity for the Administrations bill.
One of these is 10 hold hearings in
executive sessions, so that the srgu-
ments of Secretary OF War baker. Major
General Scott and others for the bill
cannot be given to the country.
No strategic or other reasons exist
for this secrecy, and as matter Of
fact the committee members are devot-
ing their attention in the sessions, not
to making an earnest, bona fide inves-
tigation, but to building up material
for their speeches in the House later
on.
No Copies Available
Another remarkable thing is that, al
though the bill was given to the press
on the night the war resolution passed
the House. II has not yet been intro
duced, and therefore printed copies Of
it are unobtalnable.
In the Senate to-day Chairman
Chamberlain of the Military Commit
tee, declared that it would be impossi-
Bile 20 raise an army anything as large
as desired oy any plan but conscription.
Senator Stone propose that the en-
listed men of the army be paid 500 q
month instead of SIS. Senator Hughes,
Of New Jersey, introduced an amend
ment TO the army appropriation bill
raising the pay of privates from SIS TO
$50 a month, and that of non-commis-
stoned officers IN proportion.
Opposition came from Senator Cham
berlain. at the one extreme, who pointed
out that the United States now pays
its soldiers more than any other ma
ton in the world. and Senator Vsrda-
man, an ultra -psclhst. who said he
would object TO making the pay high
enough 70 attract men 20 tho business