The Donaldsonville chief., 1917-09-22
DRAFT LAW CONSTITUTIONAL.

1
Once in while a citizen is en-
countered who claims to be just as
loval and patriotic as any OF his fel-
lows, but who holds to the contention
that the selective draft law is uncon-
stitutional and unjust-ttat congress
and the federal government are with
out power under the organic law OF
the nation to impress American cltl-
zens into the army for service beyond
the limits of this country and upon
foreign soil,
This claim was recently advanced
by the more Or less famous Thomas
E. Watson Of Georgia in his capacity
as counsel for a couple Of residents OF
Richmond county, that state, who
were arrested and committed to jail
for resisting or evading the draft law.
The learned attorney also alleged that
the act contravenes the thirteenth
amendment of the federal constitution
by seeking to subject the drafted cltl-
zen to Involuntary servltude.
The habeas corpus cases IN Whlcn
these objections were offered came to
trial last month before Federal Judge
Speer, one. of the country's ablest
jurists, who demolished and over
ruled both of the defendants pleas
AS to the allegation that the law is
in conflict with the thirteenth amend
ment, the judge declared that agree
ment with this contention would be
tantamount to classifying the soldier
as slave. Nothing could be more
abhorrent to the TRUTH said Judge
Speer, nothing more degrading to
that indispensable and gallant body
Of citizens trained in arms, to whose
manhood, skill and courage IS and
must be committed the task of main
tanning the very existence OF the ma
: ton and all that it's people hold dear. "
Referring to the other claim OF the
petitioners that it was their right to
''remain within the realm" and thus
| to be absolved from obligation to per-
form military service beyond the
borders of the United States, Judge
Speer held that the common law under
| which this contention was urged can
not prevail against an explicit
provision of an act of congress, winch
lbody is empowered by the constitution
to raise and support armies. This
authority is not restricted and 1t IN
aludes the right to summon every
citizen Of the United States to army
service Conceding that no. express
lpower to send armies beyond the seas
was given by the constitution, it may
! be said that there was likewise no ex-
press power given to purchase Alaska
i or build the Panama canal. This
has all been DONE" said the learned
Judge, under the great power to
promote the general welfare, just as
the selective army will be created I'M
der the law here assailed ito provide
for the common defense and beyond
and above all, is the inherent power
| Of every nation however organized to
utilize it's every man and its every
energy to defend its liberty and to de-
feat the migration to its soil OF
mighty nations of ferocious warriors
whose barbarous inhumanity for three
years has surpassed all others since
the death of Attila, the Scourge OF
God"
| HI LHe Lace VI LillS SouilQ dAu lOSi-
cal decision-this wise Interpretation
of the organic law framed by our
revolutionary forefathers for the
maintenance and defense of the re-
public to whose establishment they
pledged their lives, their fortunes and
! their sacred honor-the feeble and
/ fallacious objection Chat the seleetive
draft law is unconstitutional and in.
.vasive of the rights and privileges OF
the citizen should subside and be
lheard no more. "self-preservation is
I the first law of nature" for the nation
as we'll as the individual, and the mino
must be wilfully blind or strangely
ibeelouded that fails to perceive that
the present struggle against the
world d-domination sought by the
Teutonic oligarchy involves the ex
listenee and preservation Of democratic
forms Of government in all parts OF
the earth.