Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-06-01

of which owed the same obligation
as to length of service and was
entitled to the same benefits as
every other member; that there
should be no question of possible
preference for the regular army
over the national guard or the
national guard over the volun-
teer forces; but that throughout
the entire force there should run
the one idea of it's being a ma
tional force for national pur-
pose, with all local and partial
motives excluded.
The traditional policy of the United
States has been to rely upon volun-
teers for military service. In the
Civil war both the Union and Confed-
crate armies were so made up at the
outset; but when the conflict had be-
come very grim and desperate both
sides were compelled to resort to con.
scription to fill up their ranks.
The effect of this, both in the North
and the South, was to make of con-
script, or drafted man. a sort Of pris-
oner taken against his will into the
service which, for one reason or an.
other, he was unwilling to perform
The conscript resented the power
which drew and held him, while the
volunteer soldiers despised the con-
script. The prejudice of the country
therefore, continued in favor of its
traditional policy Of volunteers.
Cites EurOpe's Experience.
The European experience with the
volunteer system had. however, de-
veloped obvious objections to it of a
very serious if not fatal character. In
the first place, it was found made.
quate to the raising of armies neces-
sary under the conditions of modern
war; in the second place, 1t was found
that the volunteer system disorgan-
lied the industries of the country,
and, unless controlled by arbitrary
exemptions, that it would deprive the
army it created Of the support in the
factory and workshop, upon the con-
tinued efficiency of which its success
rested; and, in the third place, 1t was
shown that the volunteer system rest
ed for whatever success 1t attained
upon a system Of compulsions almost
as coercive as q draft, and far more
cruel to the individuals taken, and
far more destructive of the moral
tone of the nation.
Campaigns for the recruiting of
volunteers were necessary -
feverish and excited appeals to
the emotional nature Of men,
placards intoxicating hatred and
melting to revenge, and finally
such personal social pressure as
could be brought to bear upon
the reluctant by focusing upon
them the derision of their friends
and neishbors, the taunts and
gibes of their sweethearts and
acquaintances. and tho pei s6nal
indignity OF the brand Of cow
ardice from every passer-by. But.
even when so supported, the vol
unteer system failed in Great
Britain.
Three Central Ideas.
The war department at Washing
ton, therefore, prepared bill based
upon three central ideas.
First-The universal obligation OF
the citizens in a free country to serve
the common welfare of that country
in an hour of danger in the manner
best adapted to the common defense.
Second-The preservation of the
industrial and social life of the nation
in the fullest and most efficient form
during the progress Of the war.
Third-The right of the nation
itself to mobilize its strength by the
distribution Of the burden In the fair