The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-02
LET NO PERSONALITIES DEFEAT LEGISLATION
FOR PROTECTION OF OUR YOUTH.

The senate Of the United States responded the al
peal of the nation and has inserted anti
liquor and antiyice provisions the army BILL These pro
visions sweeping some might desire
hut They tell the president and the secretary of that
gross representing the people Of the United States desires
that the flower Of the nation, which be drafted into mill
ary camps shalt be protected from the saloon and the harot
and the president and the secretary Of authorized to
take any steps which may necessary to accomplish
this greatly desired end
The army Hill containing these provisions is now in the
hands of the conference committee appointed by the senate
and the house and if this conference committee faithfully
represents the of majority Of each house congress
the moral provisions referred above will remain part
Of the bill and will become the law of the land Nothing
defeat this legislation but resort to parliamentary tech
ncates majority of the house conferce should oppose the
legislation and majority Of the senate c0nerce should yield
to such opposition the question would be thrown back again
into the and the senate should the striking
Of these provisions in order the speedy
Of the army bill then this legislation earnestly desired by
fathers mothers of the country would be defeated And
this would he the although large majority Of both
houses of congress would be in favor Of the legislation any
vote taken these moral issues alone
OF course it confidently expected that he conference
committee whatever dsagreemen there may he other
provisions Of the b will agree retain the anti liquor and
anti provisions It do otherwise and represent
properly the bodies by which the members Of the committee
oppoincd say nothing OF the great multitude of
parents who making the sacrifice give their
defend the honor the nation But should members
legislation both houses of should insist that
provisions of the army bin be retained without any weakening
whatever and decline accept TO report which
does not provide for the protection of the of the nation
gathered for training in the military camps No provision
the army bill is vital than these antiquor and
provisions No provision will do to allay the great
anxiety of the mothers and fathers of the country who
much alarmed by the great possibilities Of evil in ht
training camps than they by the possibilities Of woundne
death in battle 1t viii he mmcasurab better delay tho
final passage of the army bill for few hours for day
and by doing protect the army from vicious influences
rather than permit TO be passed without these provisions
because the parliamentary situation made possible for
will majority of both houses congress BE- at naught
This army bill will call to the training camps the very hes
young life of country. Whether the young who 60 tc
those camps the and fight in the trenches
not their lives will he tremendously influenced by their sur
roundngs while training The homes country will b,
affected for by the camp life Of young soldiers
responsibility is congress to determine whether
Hill will egate for the physical and moral welfare mer
Who by its action have been called from the surroundings
home mode Of life which new abnormal confessed,
frangh with possibilities of physical and eternal ruin
N The Nrginan representing ii is the parents of Nr
gnia calls upon the representatives of the Old Dominion il
congress stand uncompromsngy for the retention in
army bill Of the liquor and anti vice provisions because
they the vital provisions in the bill far the lives
nf the who selected for the army concerned