South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-17
VOLUNTEER PLAN
FINDING FAVOR
Majority of Members OF the
Military Committee Would
Give 1t a Trial.

WASHINGTON. April 17.-Ten-
tative votes in the house military
committee Monday disclosed a ma
Jority in favor of making some
provision for volunteers in the army
( plans which. as drawn by the gen
eral staff and approved by Pres't
Wilson, are based entirely upon the
selective draft system. Two members
of the committee were absent and
the question of preparing a sub
stitute for the administration plan
VIII De passed upon finally Tues
day
Various methods OF raising and
organizing the great fighting force
for which the president asks have
been advanced by members oppos-
ing immediate application of the
draft, ranging from a proposal to
eliminate the draft provision en-
urely to Chairman Dents scheme
TO authorize a call for 100000 vol
unteers and authorize the president
TO resort to the draft if the volun-
teers do not come forward in a rea-
sonable time.
Firm for Draft Bill.
The administration Is standing
squarely upon the general staffs
unanimous opinion that the volun-
teer system can have no place. be-
yond the enlistments in the regulars
or national guard, in the raising and
training Of the army needed. Ap-
parently confidence still prevails that
eventually both houses will accept
the staff bill.
The senate military committee
spent Monday hearing an explana-
ton Of the staff measure from Sec'y
Baker and AdJt. Gen. Crowder.
Chairman Chamberlain said Monday
night he hoped to conclude work in
committee on the bill Tuesday, and
despite opposition shown to the
draft feature he was hopeful il
would be approved and reported to
the senate in time to follow on the
floor the $1,000. 100000 revenue bill
which probably will be passed Tues
day night.
There were no vntes taken in the
senate committee during the day,
but some members thought the Of
fetal explanations given and the ar,
guments advanced in support of the
draft provision had made a deep
impression upon those anxious to
have the volunteer system tried
again. Several senators. however.
showed Enthusiastically that they were
vigorously opposed to CONSUMPTION, |
although they favored the principle |
of universal service.
Republican members of the senate
will be in conference tomorrow TO
discuss legislative questions and al
though no war measure now before |
congress is likely TO be treated in |
partisan fashion, the conference may !
have some effect on the chances of |
the army bill. Senators from all sec J
lions are receiving many kilograms /
and letters on the subject and most |
of them are said to be against con-
scription. The senate leaders say |
that when the bill reaches the floor |
ii will be passed, although the ma
jority in it's favor may not be large. !
The house judiciary committee to-
day approved Chairman Webb's bill |
which would permit :he allies to re-
cruit their citizens in the United |
States.
'It is quite evident" said the re-
port accompanying the bill. that !
the allies who are fighting a country |
against whom we have also declar-
ed war should be permitted TO re-
cruit from their citizens and sub
jects in the United States for the
purpose of fighting that country's
battles. In view of the fact that our
country is contemplating the con-
scription Of our boys 10 wage war
a gainst Germany. certainly the allies
should he permitted to at least per
suade their citizens in the United
States to go and do likewise"