Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-31
THE DRAFT MUST BE
SELECTIVE

NEITHER the Congress nor the peo-
= pie of the United States indorsed or
voted for a draft. In those great April
days, when this aspersed nation rose in
the majesty Of its might and unselfishness
to thwart the overthrow OF liberal ideals,
Il was apparent that our own righteous.
ness of purpose bad induced a reliance on
the honorable intent of other nations
Ia reliance which had served 20 keep us
IN a state of military unpreparedness. We
presented vast organism, potentially
more mighty than any other organism
on the face of the earth. but we were
not organized for warfare. and there was
required from us facility and prompt.
ness in getting ready such as to test to
the uttermost the virility of our popula-
tion and the genius of our industries. 1t
became clear that unprecedented methods
must be used. We must abandon some
Of our ancient traditions.
In these circumstances, the press with
amazing unanimity urged the draft, but
Il must be a particular kind of draft.
h We wanted not only to organize the ma
TONS resources promptly. but we wanted
to avoid the costly blunders of Great
Britain. We did not want industrial
experts skilled machinists and ammu-
milton makers to abandon their tasks and
go into the trenches. We wanted to
keep them at home. The very men most
needed at home would be the ones most
likely to volunteer. Red blood comes to
the top in war as well as peace. The
natural leaders of men, those who had
made our industrial supremacy, were the
ones most likely to press forward in
direct defense of the nation. If we were
to wage an intelligent war we had per-
force to keep such men at home. There
fore, argued the people. let US have a
selective draft, a draft which will give
the Government the right to keep at
home the men who ought to be kept at
home, thus enabling US to wage war In.
telligently, with due regard for the
enormous, II not decisive, effect of in
dustrial organization in securing victory.
Congress did not vote for the draft; It
voted for the selective draft.
When William Penn came to Phila.
delphia he brought with him skilled
artisans. Those artisans were the fore
bears. in blood and industry. of the man.
ufacturing population Of America There
is no other city. we believe. of CORE
proportion of skilled workmen among
its people as Philadelphia. There are
Agricultural sections where not one man
In q thousand knows anything about
machinery. It is an easy task to meet
4 anywhere in Philadelphia q man who is
an expert in some trade. This is recog.
nized by the Government. which has
turned to this territory for a very great
share of its war supplies. Not only is
the Delaware to build the new merchant
marine, but the pilings for the new land
ing piers in France cannot be driven
until a Philadelphia factory furnishes the
shoes for them.
A number of our great Industries have
begun to ask for the exemption of their
skilled workmen. A failure by them to
do SO would be rank treason. One great
purpose Of the selective draft is to keep
certain types of men at home. 1t is not
patriotism to seek to avoid that law.
Neither is It patriotism for the skilled
machinist to leave his machine to serve
in trench. II that machine is making
necessary war supplies. We trust. there
fore. that no industries in this territory,
under mistaken sense of duty, will let
men go to camp who ought not to go.
Z We hope that employers win have the
courage to play fair with the nation by
1nsisting that the Government be given
the proper Information on which to make
q selections.
a. A draft that il not an actual. bona-fide
4 honest reflective draft viii be draft not
{ = the beat interests of the nation.
KNOCKING OUT GOLIATH