Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-05-03
FULL AUTHORITY is ASKED
President Wants Power for
Raising Troops as Fast
as Possible.
NEW DRAFT BASIS OPPOSED
Class One Plan to Credits
Not Thought to Be
Fair Method.

WASHINGTON. May e-Blanket
authority for the president to IN
crease ire army to whatever size
may be necessary to win the war
was proposed to the house military
committee In executive session today
by Secretary Baker. Major General
March. acting chief OF staff. and
Provost Marshal General Crowder.
An administration MEASURE amend %
ing the s1ect1ve draft act to pro
vide for this grant OF power Will he
prepared Immediately and prompt
action on It ask cd
Secretary Baker told the commit
tee t would be unwise TO set any
limit on the number OF men who
could be called 10 the colors and
that the granting OF complete dis
oretionary authority 10 the presi %
dent to increase the size of the army
as rapidly 1as transportation ana
equipment facilities may warrant
would have great psychological
effect on the enemy by showing how
thoroughly the nation Is throwing all
Ats resources into the conflict
5000, 900 This Year.
The army appropriation bill this
year. Mr. Baker said, should pro
vide for approximately three million
men, including the nearly two mil
lion now under arms but this should
not he accepted as any fixed limit
10 tho number OF men To be called
within the year. Supplemental ap-
propriations, he said, will be sub
mitted as the army Is increased.
Action on the army appropriation
biz had been deferred by the com %
mittee. pending the return OF the
war secretary from Europe when IL
could secure from him information
as to the army'n needs based upon
tho knowledge ne gained during his
innpectlon of the American expe-
ditionary forces and his conferences
with British. French and Italian Of
ficials.
Secretary Baker also outlined TO
the committee today tho reasons
why he opposed house amendments
" the senate resolution to change
the basis OF draft quota from state
population 60 the number OF men In
class |. under (Which states would
DE given credit for men who have
volunteered for service IN the army
and navy He said such credits
would be fair II the basis was To be
nNhAV HNpulhAlpnh, Nul tnAt tneN
would not be fair with the basis the
number OF men In class | because
then some states would have TO fur
+ nish no draft men. while others
would have to furnish a very high
percentage,
Wilson Changes Mind.
when the resolution 10 change
the draft quota basis was before the
house, President Wilson wrote Chair
man Dent OF the military commit
tee supporting the volunteer credits
"plan but he was represented today
az having changed his mind In view
OF the inequity that would result. II
~ understood that he win write
Chairman Dent asking the house TO
recede from its insistence on its
amendments y
There we're indications today that
an administration bill to grant un
limited power to the president 20
Increase the size OF tho army will
meet with opposition. Chairman
Dent has not abandoned the bill he
prepared without consultation with
the war department which would
unit the total number OF men now
nraited or 10 be hereafter drafted"
70 tcur mihion and he intimAted to-
gay that he might seek its Incorpor-
nuon IN the army appropriation bill