The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-04-27
"WRITE TO COSGRESSMEN,"
GOVERNOR URGES PEOPLE

Inc STATE.
Solid congressional support of the
administration plan for selective con-
scription in raising an army adequate
to cope with the European situation
was strongly urged by Gov. Manning
yesterday. The chief executive en-
planned that he has written letters to
all members Of the South Carolina
delegation and advised others cogn1-
zant of the situation to write their
representatives. The volunteer sys-
TEN has failed, the governor asserts,
and he urges the importance Of selec-
tive conscription to speed up enlist
ments.
The time has come" said Gov.
Manning yesterday when we must
let our representatives in congress
know that we favor the feature Of Sc
lective conscription as embodied Ia
the staff bill now pending. | have
written letters to our congressman,
urging upon them to support the ao-
ministration. and 1 would suggest that
those who are familiar with the In
tent of the conscriptive feature also
write our representatives. The ques-
ton is one OF immediate Importance
and our representatives are entitled
to an expression OF opinion from their
constituents.
''The intent of selective conscrip-
ton is essentially democratic. The
government realizes that there is 8
duty for every man, woman and child
in this country to perform IN this
crisis, which is the correct view for
a democracy to take. To this end
councils have been appointed to look
after certain features Of national and
State defense; requests have beer
made for skillful artisans in all the
crafts; calls have been issued for men
and women, familiar with one kind OF
work, to continue in that work In CO.
operation with the government so az
to present united front. covering
every feld of human endeavor, to our
common foe. Mechanics, architects
civil engineers, physicians, and mem
bers Of all other vocational trades are
being modified as such, because the
government knows that the service
such a person can perform in his par
ticular field is Of more value than the
service he can perform as an un-
trained soldier.
Then. who are the ones that Will
make the best soldiers? Who are the
ones whose civil training has not
reached that degree of efficiency thai
to leave it. would forever impair MS
chosen profession? Who are the ones
whose muscles and physical vitality
and fitness are in the best condition
to take up arms and fight for our
country. while the older men combine
to support them in the field? The an
swer to all these questions is found
in the selective draft system, ~hlch
picks out first certain Of the young
men between the ages Of 19 and "a
for military. service. We are at war
and we must accustom ourselves 70
the idea of military service, not in It's
brutal sense but in the sense that
there is a service for all to perform
where such service can be rendered
In the most effective fields.
"In 'indorsins the selective draft or
conscription, we accept the conclu-
sions of military experts, who nave
given the problem. long and careful
study. The president, the secretary
of war and general staff officers say
that it is the only just and retlaoie
system and that the selective draft
has been recognized by a world III
arms as the only adequate and effec-
tual method of raising an army
"Nor does the selective draft 90
away entirely with the volunteer sys-
tenn. There are still some 100000 mel
needed in the regular army and the
National Guard, in which the term OF
enlistment now is for the duration
of the war.
"Our country is preparing to wage
war against the greatest military ma
chine and power the world has ever
known. We should, THEREFORE, adopt
the methods that our own experience
in former wars and the experience OF
other nations has shown us IS the
most effective. The volunteer system
failed in the Revolutionary war, Tor
it was the material aid from France
that won our independence; 1t also
failed in the War of 1912; 1t was CIV
en- up as inadequate in the War Be-
tween the Sections; it failed US in the
Spanish-American War, for the num-
ber of volunteers called for was not
reached. ! also call your attention
- ~ e,o tbaf Eno1and had TO dis
card the volunteer system.
81 therefore urge that you, the peo-
pie of South Carolina, let your con-
gressional representatives know tha>
the Palmetto State stands as a unit
behind the president in favorIng the
provision for selectiye draft or con-
scription."
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,