The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-09-27
fights ALIEN
STACKER BILL
Secretary Lansing Tells the
House Military Committee
Measure Is Impractical.
BY TRACY HAMMOND LEWIS

| Si hhhhOND LEWIS.
Secretary Lansing yesterday official.
ly discouraged any attempts to enact
the alien Stacker draft resolution dur
Ing this session of Congress, when he
appeared before an executive session
of the House Military Committee and
! declared that it would be extremely
embarrassing TO the government were
any such action taken at the present
time.
For several weeks the question of
enforcing military duty from aliens
In this country under the same con-
ditions as those in force for Ameri-
can citizens has been pending in Con-
gress. In the Senate, the Chamber
lain resolution, authorizing the draft
ing Of foreigners in the United States
of leaving the country. was reported
from the Military Committee and
passed by the Senate.
In the weeks which have since
CAoPStNt Ab"tNNAs hO Ao5 bCCA
made by the House. The impression
was created that word was being
awaited from Secretary Lansing be-
fore any further steps would he
taken.
The Secretary of State said yester-
day that the bill. If passed. might
create an extremely delicate situa-
e. He mint
ed out that Mexico. for instance,
might, by way Of reprisal, take sim
liar action in the case of Americans
residing in their territory, and force
them to take part in the many revo-
Iutions in which the country is con-
stantly embroiled.
wouId Afect Immigration.
Another item which. to the state
Department. assumes large proper
tions, is the probable effect on inn
migration and emigration of such leg
islation. II the flow of workers into
this country remains unaffected un-
der such conditions. all would be well,
but the authorities do not view the
matter from such an optimistic stand
point.
There would be an immediate check |
70 the number of Aliens who would
come into this country and 1t Is
pointed out the labor problem would |
he maguified. The creation of the new
army, with its attendant Dram |
unon the human resources OF the |
land. makes severe enough the prob
lem which confronts the employer OF
labor during war time. secretary i
lansing believes, without adding 10 IL
Nv decreasing the supply of workers.
The agitation in Congress for some
bill similar to the one proposed pE
senator Chamberlain, chairman OF the
Military Committee, has been parucu-
ariy strong because of the injustice
which has resulted in many COM
nunities from the conditions uhueI
which the draft law is now enforced.
some localities, such as New YORK,
IT the New England States, Where
arge numbers of aliens are en-
,loyed in the manufacture OF war
supplies, the percentage OF lorelsn
,orn population to natives OF dtalt
Lse is much greater than II Is IN
,thers. Since no provision has oeeh
made TO include these aliens IN the
raft, the result is that the propor
ion of natives of draft age required
o serve is IMAM NuhhS0 / :
he basis of its population.
Shortly after the passage OF the
ongcripton bill. this state Of affairs
esulted in the charge that the admin
stration was showing favoritism 10
he Southern States since in them
ere few aliens and their quotas were
small.
Lansing Disapproves.
Secretary Lansing was asked u ne
of any OF the bills now
ending relative TO drafting alien
ackcrs. He replied that the least
of them was the one
roposed by Representative Rogers. of
although he disapprov-
of all of them at the present time.
-r. Rogers said later that. in view
the opposition of the admnistra-
on he would not attempt TO force
,tion upon his measure. L
Yesterday was the first time that
ie House committee took any stepi
ward the consideration OF this piece
LEGISLATION, although the Cham {,
rlain resolution has been before II Ii
r some weeks. A large part OF this a
action has been the result OF the "
cifistic inclination of its chairman. n
Dent. who was oppos-
to the passage of the draft bill, b.
d of several of its members. The n
sire expressed by Secretary Lam CT
lg, added to this spirit. makes 1t ii
ore probable that no Congressional d.
cision will be reached upon this m
portant question during this session W
spite of the strong sentiment which st
lists in favor of it. si
The most that is looked for In the be
liter, since Secretary LansinS's to
md, however. is that a resolution
II be reported out authorizing the to
,te Department to enter upon long m
d tedious treaties with other coun- re
es regarding the impressment into ca
vice of their subjects. together with to
Iendments to the draft bill which ar
/ provide for the determination OF at
. district quota on the basis of the la
mber of citizens in that locality wi
,ject to draft, instead of on the lei
ii. of the total population. tth