Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-05-29
Clerks i'm stores, Walters, Bartends
ers, Gamblers, Fortune Tellers
and Many Others Must Find
Useful Employment.
NEW ORDER FAR
REACHING in SCOPE
With the Law Changed as Presf-
dent Desires Man Power of
Country Will be Drawn
Upon for Whatever is
Needed to Win
War.

Washington, May 27.-Two inn
portant steps were taken Thursday
toward perfecting the task of put
ting the nation on war basis.
Soon after Provost Marshall
General Crowder had promulgated
a drastic amendment to the select
i've service regulations requiring
every man of draft age to work
or fight, Secretary Baker appeared
before the house military committee
and asked that President Wilson
be authorized to call to the colors
all men of draft age who can be
equipped and trained. The COM
mittee promptly and unanimously
voted the authority into the army
appropriation bill about to be re-
ported to the house.
Under existing law, power is
given to draft one million fighting
men, in addition to special units.
This limit soon will be reached with
man constantly going into camp
to replace those sailing for France
as fast as ships can be provided to
take them. With the law changed
as the president desires, the man
power of the country will be drawn
upon for whatever force may be
necessary to win the war.
Scope Far Reaching
General Crowder's .rew ragu-
lation is far reaching in scope and
touches not only habitual idlers
but also requires that draft regis
trants now in occupations held to be
non-useful seek new jobs or take
their places in the army. Clerks
in stores, walters, bartenders, en-
ployes in places of amusement, pas
senger elevator men, and other en-
,ployes around hotels, clubs and
business buildings, as we'll as gam
blers. fortune tellers and race track
and bucketshop attendants all fall
among those classed as non-usefully
engaged. Enforcement of the rule
is expected to add some men to the
army and to do more important
service in improving the labor situa-
tion in essential industries.
Basis Four MILLION.
The house military committees
action after hearing Secretary
Baker, completed III; army bill
with provision for the pay Of 3,oO0,-
900 men and with ordnance ap-
propriations on the basis of an army
of four million. The measure will
be laid before the house carrying
a total Of $9,569,129,000 Of actual
appropriations and authorizing for
contracts amounting to $2,464,-
416,OO0 more. .,
Mr.. Baker told the committee
in executive session the presidents
reasons for asking that no limit
De placed upon the number of draft
men to be called. Members said
later it was estimated that an army
of 100000 could be raised with
out changing the draft ages.
The Amendment.
This amendment to the existing
law was adopted by the committee:
Provided. that the authority
conferred upon the president by
the act approved May is. 1917,
entitled an act to authorize the
president to increase temporarily
the military establishment of the
United States, is hereby extended so
as to authorize him during each
fiscal year to raise by draft pro-
vided in said act and acts amenda-
tory thereof the maximum number
of men which may be organized,
equipped, trained and used during
such year for the prosecution Of the
present war until the same shall
have been brought to success
full conclusion"