The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1917-04-20

PEMBINA,
ever does occur 10 any country it is true
that conscr,ption would not be necessary.
1t would mean that all able bodied men
must join the army Probably Ger.
many is at least very close to that situa.
tion now while several others Of the war
ring nations are not far fromsit.
But in these United States there are
about ten millions Of men who might be
subject to army service. But IA every
one knows such body Of mon at this
time would be worse than useless be.
cause OF lack of training as we'll as other
complications. Hence as 1t is probable
that for the present not over one million
at the most will be wanted. Now of
whom shall that million be composed?
Here are two Pembina boys of say
nineteen years Of age. Both are patri-
otic, both are willing to enlist-if need
ed by the country. But Uncle Sam
does not need both at this time, he only
asks for one. How shall it be decided
which of those boys shall enlist? The
answer is plain to every one. There is
only one fair method. let each take their
chance by lot.
There is another phase to this drawing
by lot that has come to this writer. A
few years ago one saw in the lapel Of
men of mature age little bronze button
signifying that the wearer was member
of the Grand Army of the Republic and
had therefore served at least ninety
days during the Civil War. In these
later days the little button is rarely seen
because most of those eligible have died
from advancing years. A man who
wears such a button must now be over
seventy years of age and probably nearer
seventy five or more.
Connected with this little bronze but.
ton is this fact, that it is evidence that
the wearer "did his bit" whether it was
a very little bit like this writer or
whether it meant years of hard and
dangerous service. Thus in these years
since the Civil War was fought, as we
said, many veterans we're wearing the
badge. But there were other men OF
the corresponding ages whose lapel was
vacant and bore no distinguishing badge,
But the vacant button hole bore an un-
spoken but significant sign, it was a
question mark, an interrogation point.
The unspoken question was "Why no
button.
1t was quite probable in very many
cases that the question could have been
answered satisfactorily if spoken and
answered aloud. Possibly it was case
where two brothers had used conscrip.
ton, both willing to 60 but clrcumstan-
ces made it necessary for one to remain
at home to care for the mother and fam.
lily. They had drawn lots so to speak,
but as a result the world in after years
knew only that this man had no button,
was able but had not enlisted. That is,
| it placed that man inferentially as a
"slacker" when he was equally patriotic
as was his brother.
Now, if the armies of the Civil War
had been raised by general conscription
then every man would have been entitled
to equal honor, because every man could
say that he had taken his chance, and IN
dong that be had done his full duty.
When taking men by force is consid-
cred if that is what we consider con-
sription. we still think it better and
falrer sort of force that exerted under
the volunteer system. Some months
ago, though we understand it has been
stopped to great extent now because
so Objectionable, women we're at street
corners in Manitoba cities accosting
every man who appeared able to enlist,
asking him to join the colors, etc. Any
young man who had not enlisted was
boycotted by the young women, and he
was made to teel while at his business
in many ways that he was coward and
Stacker. Thousands of young men lie
dead on the fields of France or are help
lessly crippled, literally driven to enlist
by this sort of consription.
Volunteering leaves all towards home.
transcription will compel some of them
to 60.