South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-29
CONSUMPTION Law
Series to ReUiUe
Parks Farmland

! greSS upon the close or this week
| session has created considerable in
! terest on the subject of the draft
I generally in Mishawaka. Gov. Good
rich has appointed two members OF
/ the board Of conscriptiOn in st. Jo-
seph county, a phase of our war
with Germany that bids citizens
pause 10 consider the grim reali-
/ ties confronting the country. South
Bend is entitled to a CONSUMPTION
board; likewise St. Joseph county.
St Joseph county, being democratic.
| two democrats ard one republican
will comprise each board. All men
within the prescribed military draft
age will be required TO register in
| their precinct. Failure 10 do so will
invoke a severe penalty. The whole
prospect caused added interest in
the proposed CONSUMPTION plan
which former City Atty. Isaac Kane
Parks evolved early this month.
This plan has been favorably COM
mented upon by Gov. Goodrich and
Prof. Christie, the latter chairman
of the food conservation committee
of Indiana. Also by Congressman
Barnhart Of the thirteenth congress
sional district, who sent details Of
the plan to the war department and
10 the president In discussing the
plan proposed by Mr.. Parks, a num-
Der of questions have been pro-
pounded, in the shape Of friendly
criticism and for the purpose of in
quiry relating to what he had in
mind.
The favorite question, sometimes
in earnest, other times in derision,
was. Does Parks himself propose %
come under the CONSUMPTION ?" This
seems a futile inquiry for those who
know him, on account Of his known
belligerency along many lines.
A representative of The News
Times waited upon Mr.. Parks and
asked him some of the questions
that have been raised regarding his
plan. The first question was the
one above mentioned. Propose 90
go?" said Mr.. Parks. why, L
would have to go; so would every
one else in a like position who have
had farm experience
The attorney was asked what
commission he expects in case of
the adoption of the plan, as re-
ward for originating same. His re-
ply was: Of 1 should be permitted
TO ask any favor whatsoever under
the Consumption plan, it would be
that / be permitted TO go as pri-
vate upon my fathers farm, located
in eastern Kansas, there to do the
work prescribed under the general
CONSUMPTION plan. Ny fathers
farm in Kansas could utilize the la
Dor of two additional men and
eight boys TO bring it TO a high
grade of productivity. There is just
one other attorney in the city that
l think would come in the same
class as myself and that is Charles
l.. Metzger. Raised on farm In
Harris township until he arrived at
manhood's estate, at which time he
engaged at other work, he comes
into the classification with those
who have had farm experience, and
would return 10 the farm. l would
eliminate from maneuveurs all men
between 45 and 65, and, of course
those with extra weak heart action,
although under that age. Maneuy-
ers would do them no good, while
the same amount of exertion would
raise potatoes and turnips and do a
thousand and one chores about the
average farm"
you stated that you would re-
turn all town schoolboys to their
studies November 1, keeping the
rest of the army in the country at
work: what about letting the voters
come home TO vote in the city cleo
ton? " We'll, the harvesting Of
crops will be of infinitely greater
importance this year than the cast
! ing Of ballots in the cities. In In
diana. and other progressive states,
we could let the women carry on
/ the election. Or, arrangements
could be made for maneuvers on
election day, and all persons over
p years of age might be permitted
/ TO vote by registered mail"
you mention a plan Of compen-
| satiOn for your industrial soldiers.
| Would it not be a pretty big under
| taking for the government to pay
wages to such a vast army such as
YOU outline?'' Not at ALL" said Mr..
] Parks. The wages would be paid
/ to those dependent upon the SOL
diers. The soldiers would be sup
ported in the field, under army reg
| ulations. In order to make the in
| dustrial army distinctly democratic, >
I he continued, Il would establish the
\ same rate Of pay fer officers in the
| industrial army as is received by
I the privates. The assumption that
/ the payment of $11 or $1S per
month would embarrass the govern
/ ment, carries with it the assump-
! ton that a man is not worth S1l
/ or S13 per month; while everyone
/ knows that the producing power Of
/ the American laboring man is from
| $40 to SIS per day. This producing
\ power has been demonstrated in in
/ dustrial establishments and in the
/ creation of wealth in organized
! groups And il is my contention
\ that an intelligent workman with
| proper mechanical equipment filling
! the soil can produce more real
wealth than any other artisan in the
/ world. There is nothing so pro-