The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1917-05-24

of over thirty thousand population i,
which numerous applications from
the sick and from non-residents ar
expected, are authorized to establish
such sub-agencies and to employ an.
deputize such clerical force as ma,
be necessary to accommodate thes,
applications.
The power against which we are
arrayed has sought to impose its will
upon the world by force. To this
end it has increased armament until
it has changed the face of war In
the sense in which we have been
wont to think of armies. there are no
armies in this struggle. There are
entire nations armed. Thus, the men
who remain to till the soil and man
the factories are no less part OF
the army that is in France than the
men beneath battle flags. 1t must
be so with us. 1t is not an army
that we must shape and train for war;
it is a nation. To this end our peo-
pie must draw close in one compact
front against a common foe. But
this cannot be ii each man pursues
private purpose. All must pursue
one purpose. The nation needs all
men: but it needs each man not in
the field that will most please him
but in the endeavor that will best
serve the common good. Thus,
though slarpshooter pleases to op-
crate a tripFammer for the forging of
great guns, and an expert machinist
desires to march with the flag, the
nation is being served only when the
sharpshooter marches and the ma
chiniSt remains at his levers. The
whole nation, must be team in
which each man shall play the part
for which he is best fitted To this
end, congress has provided that the
nation shall be organized for war by
selection and that each man shall be
classified for service in the place to
which it shall best serve the general
good to call him.
The significance of this cannot be
ovcrestimated. 1t is new thing in
our history and landmark in our
progress 1t is new manner of ac-
cepting and vitalizing our duty to
give ourselves with thoughtful devo-
ton to the common purpose of us
ALL 1t is in no sense a conscription
Of the unwilling; it is rather selec-
ton from a nation which has volun- :
ecred in mass. 1t is no more
of those who shall march
With the colors than it is selection
If those who shall serve an equally {
necessary and devoted purpose in the I
Industries that lie behind the battle I
inc. !
The day here named is the time t
pom which all shall present them
elves for assignment to their tasks. II
t is for that reason destined to be re- 8
rendered as one of the most con- I
picuous moments in our history. 1t II
nothing less than the day upon
yhich the manhood of the country S
hall step forward in one solid rank "
defense of the ideals to which this a
alton is consecrated. 1t is impor- p
mt to those ideals no less than to p
,e pride OF this generation in mani
sting its devotion to them that there al
2 no gaps in the ranks. II
1t is essential that the day be APP ~
coached in thoughtful apprehension III
it's significance and that we ac-
,rd to it the honor and the meaning al
lat it deserves. Our industrial need et
.escribes that it be not made a spe- III
al holiday. but the stern sacrifice W
at is before us urges that it be car 'l
ed in all our hearts as great day :.
patriotic devotion and obligation nc
hen the duty shall lie upon every al
an whether he himself is to be reg ST
tered or not to see to it that the ST
lme of every male person of the III
ages is written on these
its of honor. a
In witness whereof have hereunto y
NV hand ,rd caused the sea, Of fir
G United States to be affixed. an
Done at the city OF Washington tr'
is 18th day of May in the year of All
If Lord, one thousand, nine hundred tn
ID seventeen. and of the independ-
ce of the United States of America tn
c one hundred and forty-first. at
BY the president. to
ROBERT LANSING. IN
Secretary of State.
,lTe
CHI