The Washington herald., 1917-04-28
House viii Ballot Soon After
Conyenng Substitute
Draft for Volunteer Scheme.
Senate Ballots Tonight. E.

The end OF the long legislative battle
for the enactment Of the adnlinistra ions
seIective draft plan into the Federal
statute books Is In sight.
The senate's agreement for a finsl vote
TO be taken at midnight resolved that
somewhat complex situation. The ter
mination Of general debate. followed by
an agreement to vote in Committee Of
the Whole on the amendment offered
by Representative Julius Kahn. of Cali
fornla, whereby the administration con-
scription bill will be substituted for the
Dent volunteer bill in the House. prac-
ucally assured the passage OF the bill
in the Lower House OF Congress today.
The complete and convincing victory for
the administration is assured in both
Houses.
Debate in the House ended at 1871
o'clock last night. when an adjourn
ment was taken until noon today. with
the agreement that a vote be taken on
the Kahn amendment at that time.
The debate In the Senate continued until
the small hours OF the morning. At mid
night Senator Ia Toilette had the noor
Leses than a dozen Senators were in at
tendance. In the course OF the evening
Chairman Chamberlain addressed The
Senate in refutation Of the charges made
by the volunteer advocates that the con-
scription plsI OF the administration
ignored historical precedent
In the Senate yesterday the trend to-
ward the conscription system was dis
cernep IN the announcement OF Senator
New, Republican. OF Indiana. a member
or the Committee on Military Affairs.
who had voted in committee for the vol
unteer system. that he hsd decided 20
change position. II only bore out the
predictions freely made by the friends Of
the selective draft nhst in the final an
siysis the great force and power OF the
arguments in favor OF conscription would
prevail
Concluding Speeches.
In the House the concluding speeches
OF Chairman Dent, for the volunteer plan.
end Representative Kahn. FOR the admin
tstTstion. were enthusiastically received.
but the noise this time had shifted. To
Representative kRhn's presentation OF
the administration argument went the
rEal clash OF enthusiasm. The voice OF
the House showed how sentiment had
shifted. Chairman Dents speech con-
'eyed an air Of resignation and disap-
pointment
General debate Gang 10 an end in uss
Houss early yesterday. e..
For two hours Representative Kahn
held the attention OF the House. His
speech was one OF the few cenuine ef-
forts OF the long season Of orstory II
took rank with the magnificent effort OF
Representative SherIey. Democrat OF
Kentucky, who on Wednesday Defended
the administrs tons size OF the arru-
ment, and OF Representstie Chandler. Re-
publican. OF New York. in support OF the
volunteers
When Kahn descended 10 the well OF
the House 70 begin his closing argument
II was evident 70 every member that the
leader OF the administration forces WAS
suffering much physical distress. The
srduoUs duties OF the past fortnight have
told upon his none too robust constiru-
ton. He WIS pallid. and q look OF PAIN
was in his eyes. However. with undaunt-
ed Derttnacity he launched into his attack
on the ''obstructionists" fsvorinE the Te-
tention OF the obsolete and discredited''
system OF army organization He vas
cheered vociferously from the tine he
left his seat until the chairman had re-
duced the noisy House U order.
Would Slaughter Youths.
Representative Kahn contended that
under the selective draft system pro-
posed by the administration not All OF.
the flower Of the Young manhood Of the
ma ton would be Permitted 10 dash into
the siaUghter-pen of var to the depIe-
iion OF the stock Of The republics future
leaders in thought and action. but that
forward 70 war would so men from, ever,
class and section. every degree Of pros-
rerity ana adversely. wealth and poverty.
He urged that the army Of The republic
should be composed Of representative men
Of every walk Of life and every deErcs
ct importance. so that the first line and
the lines which arc thereafter drawn 30
CONTINUED ON FACE TWO.