Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-17
.SELECTIVE SERVICE IS
VIGOROUSLY DEFENDED
by ". SCHLEY HOWARD
Georgia Congressman De-
nOunCeS as UnpatriOtiC
Critics of Legislation De-
maHded by Emergency
BY RALPH SMITH.


ot of feather-legged. cowardly, unps
riotic and selfish men in this worl
who hope to distract attention froi
heir own contemplate conduct towar
heir country by subjecting to vile crit
cism those in authority and who ar
for the legislation necessar
10 meet a great emergency"
The foregoing is an excerpt from
statement given out here this aftel
noon by Congressman William Schle
Howard.
His subject was the selective servio
aw, it's constitutionality, its advocate
Ind it's opponents in Georgia.
He handled the constitutional aspeC
IF the question In a comprehensive
.lean-cut exposition of the law Of tn
and and the decisions of the Unite
States supreme court.
He handled the blatant critics and OF
Donents of the law and the administrs
ion without gloves.
His statement is an interesting cor
.ribution to the political agitation no.
rampant in Georgia. 1t follows in parl
In two instances the good people
of my district have passed resolu-
tions of the most respectful char
acter, requesting me to initiate
legislation for the repeal of the
selective service law recently en-
acted by congress.
These resolutions recite that this
law is an infringement Of the con-
stitutional rights of our citizens;
that il is undemocratic and oppres-
sive.
without entering into a neces-
sarily dry legal discussion of the
constftutionality of the law, L de-
sire to state that in my humble
Judgment no question has been any
more definitely settled by the SUI
preme court of the United States
than the constitutional right of
congress to pass a selective service
law TO create an army.
JUSTICE FIELD QUOTED.
In Tarble's case, so u. s.. page
los, Mr. Justice Field, speaking for
the court in constituting the consti-
tutionality of the federal conscript
act of 1868, said:
Now, among the powers as
signed to the national government
is the power to raise and support
armies. and the power to provide
for the government and regulation
of the land and naval forces The
execution of these powers falls
within the line of it's duties; and it's
control over the subject is plenary
and exclusive. 1t can determine,
without question from any state
authority. how the armies shall be
raised, whether by voluntary enlist
ment or forced draft, the age at
which the soldier shall be received,
and the period for which he shall
I, l,n1
be allowed, and the service to which
he shall be assigned. And 1t can
provide the rules for the govern
ment and regulation of the forces
after they are raised. define what
shall constitute military offenses,
and prescribe their punishment. No
interference with the execution of
this power of the national govern
ment i'm the formation. organization.
and government of it's armies by
any state officials could be per-
mitted without greatly impairing
the efficiency, if it did not utterly
destroy this branch of the public
service"
In the face of the decision it is
simply absurd to contend that the
selective service law is unconstitu-
tional. and it. is nothing less than
an imposition upon the credulity of
good men TO mislead them.
RECOGNIZES NO DISTINCTION.
The selective .ervi,e law that we
have passed.and for which an over
whelming majority of both parties
voted, recognizes no distinction. 1t
respects the standing of no man. 1t
assumes all men to be brave, pa
triotic and willing to make any sac
rifice to defend the honor of our
nation. 1t takes into consideration
the efficiency of the nation on the
battle line as well as behind the
battle line 1t leaves those at home
who have wives and children, old and
dependent parents. and takes those
with few responsibilities and most
able TO stand the strain of war.
1t does not disrupt commerce.
business or agriculture, because
those most needed at home can be
made to remain there.
Ii is free from politics and the
influence of politicians. Rich and
poor, high and low, march off under
the flag shoulder to shoulder; they
fight for a common cause, and they
fight all the better because OF the
consciousness that all have been
treated fairly and no man left at
home has any advantage over those
who have gone before.
The war of the Revolution was
prolonged because of the failure of
the volunteer system. The colonies
paid thousands of dollars to unpa-
triotic men i'm bounties TO obtain the
soldiers necessary to make secure
the liberties Of our country. Gem
eral Washington time after time
recommended the selective service as
the only practical solution of the
question of supplying the man ener-
gy of the revolution.
Thomas jefferson, the father of
democracy, went so far as General
universal military service as an in
surance for the country.
WEBSTER ASHAMED OF SEEECH.
Much has been said of Web
ster's speech against selective ser
vice during the war OF 1S12 1t is
said that IN after years Mr. Web
ster stated that K vas the only
speech he ever. made in his pub
lie career that he was ashamed of
CorrobOrative of this statement, he
never printed 1t in the Compression
al Record. nor did MS son. his bio
grapher, incorporate il among his
many able public addresses. Suf-
fee it TO say, although he made
the speech as now published as a
aprt of the pro-Cierman propaganda
i'm this country to foment strife and
dissenston amongst us, II was the
most illogical SDepch Webster ever