Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-04-18
General Staff Bill Now Pro-
yides for More Than 700,-|
900 Volunteers, Secretary
Baker Points Out,
ADOPTION OF MEASURE
is URGENTLY REQUIRED
Whole Influence of Adminis-
tration Is Being Used to In
duce Congress to Do Work
Quickly,

Washington, April Undermined
efforts to hasten action in congress on
the administrations war army bill,
with its selective draft provisions were
begun today by President Wilson and
Secretary Baker They take the posi-
tion that further delay will endanger
the war plans against Germany.
The president discussed the situa-
tion with Chairman Dent, of the house
military committee, and later sum-
moned Representatives Mann and
Lenroot the republican leaders of the
house. Secretary Baker appeared
twice before the house military COM
mittee, the second time at a night ses-
sion.
Opposition to the draft principle,
particularly among house democrats
was taken up at the cabinet meeting,
and afterward it was indicated that
the full influence of the administra-
ton would be concentrated on tho
passage of the army measure.
President Is Firm.
The president is understood to be
determined upon forcing opponents of
the general staff's plan out into the
open, so that the country will have an
opportunity of judging whether they
are in the right. Arguments of the
opponents of selective draft, based on
the idea that the new army should
be raised by call for volunteers, are
met in official quarters by directing
attention to the fact that the present
plans of the war department allow for
more than 100000 volunteers, enlisted
for the term of the war.
Representative Dent, who is an op-
ponent of conscripton. went to the
White House on his own initiative to
tell of opposition to the staff bill
No Republican Opposition.
Mr.. Mann and Mr.. Lenroot assured
the president that the republicans
would show no partisan spirit in con-
sidering the legislation
The senate committee voted favor
ably today on the selectiVe draft fea-
ture and will report the bill tomorrow
with that feature retained. There was
no roll call, but three senators were
said to have opposed this feature. Two
others opposed to the draft were alb
sent.
An opportunity will be given the
proponents of the volunteer system to
vote on it in committee tomorrow, on
an amendment by Senator Mcclellan
authorizing the president to call for
100000 volunteers. This does not
change the language of the bill nor af-
feet the selective draft feature, but il
adopted it would be In addition to the
bill as it came from the war depart
ment.
To Exclude Farmers.
About the only change of impor-
tance made in the bill by the commit
tee was one which would specifically
include persons engaged In agriculture
with those in other industries who are
to be exempted from the selective
draft
Secretary Baker told the house mill
tary committee flatly tonight that the
war departments plan for the organ
ization of an army by selective con-
scription was the only feasible way
of meeting the emergency with Ger
many.
Another Plan Suggested.
A plan put forward in the commit
te by Representative Lunn, democrat,
of New York, which Secretary Baker
agreed would be acceptable to the war
department, contemplated that instead
of the conscription of men between
the ages of 19 and 25, there should be
four classes, to be successfully reached
in the draft, beginning with 100000
men in the first class. between the
ages of 81 and 81, with authority for
the president to call as many more
of this class as he deems best in his
discretion before going to the next
class. The other three groups, in Sc
quence, would be between ages of %
and 81, 35 and Al, and AZ and As.
Another plan talked over in COM
mittee, proposed that all of the addi-
tional men needed to fill up the resu-
lar army and the national guard
should be produced by the volunteer
plan with the draft scheme operating
at the same time to raise the new war
army.