Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-26

will have fifty votes lead over Repre-
sentative Dent and his followers. who
favor the volunteer plan. The attitude
of the House members seems to be
crystallizing, and the longer a vote is
delayed the stronger appears the
chances of the administrations draft
bill in the lower body.
Opens for Volunteer Plan.
The debate in the House was opened
today by Representative Frear of Wis
consin for the volunteer plan. NO man
from my state can oppose the army
staff BILL" he said. without taking his
political fortunes in his hands. Practi-
cally every newspapers in my state
is for it: practically every telegram 1
have received urges me to vote for a
bill which the senders of the mes
sages have never seen. Suce is the in
agree with Speaker Clark that no man
has the right to sit on this floor who
has not the courage of his convictions
and to vote his conscientious judgment
That is what l purpose to do" Mr..
Frear said that he was opposed to the
conscription plan. but he had every de-
sire to support the President in every
thing needed in money and men.
Representative Crosser, Ohio, said he
feared the conscription plan meant the
sion and he opposed it. Representative
Slayden, Texas. who was for many
years member OF the military COM
mittee, favored the volunteer plan.
Senate to Take Vote Saturday.
The Senate agreed informally today
that. by unanimous consent, If no mem
Der desires to proceed with the army
bill. other business may be brought be-
fore the Senate without objection
Senator Overman secured this gentle
mems understanding" in order that
both houses may dispose of the admin
istration bill permitting the entente
to recruit their citizens in this coun-
try, which Attorney General Gregory
today asked Mr.. Overman to expedite.
Following formal adoption of the
agreement for voting Saturday. Senator
Hale of Maine addressed the Senate in
favor of conscription.
the warning nations. He urged coop
Grafton with the allies and said this
country is not fighting solely because
of wrongs and insults suffered from
Germany. He said the volunteer sys-
tenn will not reach the needs of the ma
ton when it's motives in entering the
war are considered. He declared the
volunteer plan is a proven failure"
while conscription is of certain effect
iyeness The moral effect of even a
small American force opposed to Ger
many. Mr.. Hale said. would be great.
Il hope they will be sent to France"
he said, even though handful. and in
the very near future, as an earnest of
what we propose to do. l found. in a
recent trip abroad. especially in France.
a very strong feeling that the moral
effect of American troops. however few
at first in number, fighting in France
enormous The idea of an American
legion and. they added. Theodore
Roosevelt marching down the Champs
Elysees on their way to the trenches,
created tremendous enthusiasm in
France"
Expect Overwhelming Majority.
Senator Chamberlain, Senator Martin
of Virginia, democratic leader of the
Senate, and other supporters of the Sc
lectiye draft bill are confident that the
bill will pass by an overwhelming ma
jority.
They feel, too, that the proposed vol
unteer amendments will be defeated by
a substantial majority. There are many
of the senators now supporting the VOL
unteer amendments who will vote for
the bill even if the amendments are de-
feated.
vice President Marshall said today
to newspaper men that no matter
which plan Of raising an army was
finally adopted. he had no doubt that
the American people would get behind
it.
I'VE are in this war to win." said the
Vice President. "and the American
people are going to win. We are go
ing to fight this war to a finish, no
matter what separate peace may be
made by any of the other nations now
engaged in the war.
Clark and Sherley in Debate.
A great debate for and against con-
scription was staged in the House yes
terday afternoon. by Champ Clark,
Sneaker, against Swagar Sherley of
Kentucky. The Speaker. espousing
the cause of the volunteer system, had
the floor for over an hour, and. immedi-
ately following him, Representative
Sherley, advocating the administra-
tion's selective draft measure, delivered
a speech of unusual excellence.
Speaker Clark brought the House to
its feet on several occasions, and, at the
end. when he had tears in his own eyes
at the mention of the fact that his own
son is to volunteer in the army in any
capacity wherein he may be useful,
half a dozen members were seen to take
out handkerchiefs and wipe their eyes.
His speech was a direct appeal to
the membership of the House not to be
led astray by War Department ideas.
He referred twice to the general staff
9 "modern carpet knights" and asked