The Washington herald., 1917-10-18
UNIVERSAL DRILL
FACING DEFEAT
Little Hope that Congress
Will Make 1t Policy
of Nation.

Strong probabilities exist that uni
versal military training will not be
Endorsed as a national policy at the
forthcoming regular session of Con-
gress
This, too, in the face of the fact
that a vigorous fight for its adoption
Is likely to be made within and with
out the Congressional halls.
Members who declare they have
made a careful study OF the situation
say this action will come for two
reasons. first, that with peace i'm
pending the nation should not take
any action which might become an
issue in peace negotiations and.
second, that inherent American
policies OF the past at least, have
been opposed to such step.
Combination To Oppose.
A combination of the pacifists and
ace-preparationists, therefore, Is ex-
ected to prevent this step. The latter
element which includes many of the
war members. those who have been
out-spokenly and insistently for
sturdy prosecution of the war, take
the ground that to commit the nation
to the universal training policy would
endanser the success of peace negotia-
tions. They declare there is no need
of hurry in the matter just now
inasmuch as We have millions of men
under arms. and millions more giving
greater attention to military affairs
than ever before.
The pacifists, Of course, will fight
the proposal because they think it is
the essence of the dread Prussian
rlNf1 toll, avh fWrr f,
this war. They say that its indorse-
ment by Congress would not hasten
the coming OF world democracy. but
lar policy by all other nations and
eventual militarism
Predict Hard Battle.
The battle for the passage of some
kind of a universal training bill will
be a hard one, it is conceded. Many
public men have Endorsed the move
ment and an extensive propaganda in
its favor has not been devoid of re-
suits by any means. The effort has
been carried straight to the people,
and a list of rank and file support
ers OF the plan has been prepared in
many States. 1t is an impressive
list. so reports have it, and calculat-
ed to bring into line any members
who may hold out against the bill
on the ground that the country's
position on it is not clear.
AS with other measures which have
come before Congress from time to
time II Is believed that the Presi-
dents wishes on this legislation Will
be followed. Members who feel that
they could defeat the bill. if the
President does not take sides on II,
admit that IL he comes into the equa-
ton as a devout adherent of the idea
he could bring about its passage.
They are hopeful, therefore. that If
he doesn't come out against the
measure he will refrain from ex-
pressing himself on it.
Influences Delayed Fight.
Tie campaign for this measure
would have come to a head long ago,
it is claimed. If influences from the
administration had not urged a de-
lay. This was done by taking the
position that it is not a war ques-
ton but a peace question-something
which leads the tionists
TO believe that their efforts to pre-
vent the legislation at the regular
session will be successful. They may
not have help from the administra-
ton. but they are confident that II
there is no intervention from that
quarter they will be able TO handle