The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-10-14

them from military service until they
have reached their majority, is now
being INDUCED in over the nation.
The hope. according to national
leaders, Is to call this to the atten-
ton of Congress in such a way that
the people will join with the propa-
gandists In urging that this legisla-
ton be passed at the forthcoming
regular session.
It Is a combination OF the "early
age" draft proponents and the back
ers of the universal military train
ing system. The combination Is ex-
pected to muster a good vote in
Congress because all the arguments
that formerly applied to each pro-
posal can be consolidated in behalf
Of the modified proposal And the
leaders believe, as well. that all the
objections to either plan before are
now dissipated largely. and that.the
way Is thus made the. easier for the
early passage of this legislation
The only objection that would de-
feat the plan. II is admitted, would
be that of Secretary Baker. II he
wants the legislation enough to re-
quest the administration leaders to
call for 1t as a part of the war pro-
gram at the next session 1t will be
passed. it is thought-while If he
doesn't want it it will be sat upon
summarily. So far he has not been
heard to express himself upon the
modification.
How Long, Oh. How Loagf
The one outstanding question
that returned members of Congress
are asked times without number.
daily, Is How long will this war
last?"
Not a member but what wishes
he could answer it-and not a mem
Der but what wishes he could say
with assurance that 1t will be over
within a few months, at worst.
Home folks who are the propounders
of this question think the members
have some secret information on the
subject, something that enables
them to tell Just about when the
Kaiser will give in. But the mem
bers haven't. pity It's! They are
just ordinary mortals, some Of them
good at predicting weather and
some of them good at financial fore
casts and as crops seers, but none
of them are able to tell at what
moment the Hohenzollerns will be
compelled to admit their defeat.
One member who went to his
Middle Western home early last
week wrote back to a prominent
departmental man here: Il wish
could give the folks here just a
rough>guess. But / cannot. The
best I can do is to tell them that 1t
may be over next spring and it may
last four or five years. Without
exception they are disappointed in
me. They think I ought to know
more about the war than that. For
the life of me I can't see how they
expect me to possess such extrava-
giant powers of prediction"
This case is not an exceptional
one. Every member OF Congress
has been asked the question many
times already, and he will be asked
it many more times before he re-
turns here for the December ses-
sion. And many Of the people who
have asked the question and received
the indefinite replies that must neces-
sarily be given. have been disappoint-
ed in their members.
For their benefit we say, DO not ex-
pect 100 Hiucu from your representa-
tives in Congress II they were able
to make forecasts of the nature you
want them to, they would be able to
make money appear out Of the air
and that they have positively shown
they cannot do. 1t must come from
where money is, Just as predictions
must be based upon something tan
gible.". THE OBSERVER.
"Jud" the Pessimist.
Judson Welliver was in the city
recently, and his visit here as q num-
Der of the members of Congress said.
did not cheert up those who talked
with him. He felt that this war is
the virtual end Of civilization and
that unless he is badly mistaken is
due to run for four or five years,
or until humanity has out>fought
itself down to the merest shreds.
There are many Of the members
who do not agree with hudson, but
there are many of them say that his
expression should call to Americans
mind the seriousness Of the job which
we have undertaken. Moreover. 90
these members think, there should
be unified recognition of our duty
now. and the only thought In Ameri-
cans. minds should be to carry the
war on with more determination and
mora a than ayar