Evening journal., 1918-06-26
NEW DRAFT MAY
Get 2O-4O MEN
Compromise Proposal Vir.
tually Certain to be Voted
After Ahort Debate
HITCHCOCK OFFERS
HIS NEW PLAN

WASHINGTON, June 26-Adyocates
Of a change in the draft age limits de-
clared In the Senate yesterday that
under the present law It soon would
be necessary to go into the deferred
classes TO provide men needed for the
army. Senators Wadsworih, Of New
York, said Glass 4 would be exhausted
by November 4, and Senator FAN, OF
New Mexico, insisted that another half
million men could not be called with
out touching the deferred classes.
In behalf OF his amendment to make
the army draft ages is to as years. Sem
ator Fall told the Senate that person.
ally he opposed It's limitation that boys
under q should not be sent TO the fir
ing line. In the Civil War, he said, a
majority OF the soldiers had not reach
ed their majority, and now or later the
government will come TO drafting men
between is and as years.
Senator PenrOse, OF Pennsylvania,
asked II the War Department had given
its views regarding the amendment and
Senator Fall said he had received no
suggestion.
Senator Williams, OF Mississippi, pro-
posed that the Fall amendment be
modified so as to include all men be
tween the ages OF 20 and 40 years. This
was opposed by Senator Nardaman, or
Mississippi, who said he favored an in
crease in age TO 80, but would never
vote for a lowering Of the limit below
the present age Of 2i.
BY increasing the age limit but leav-
ing q years as the minimum, Senator
Nelson, Of Minnesota. said Congress
would provide for an old age asylum
for home guards"
Senator Chamberlain said the war
could not be waged without the sup
port OF the people and he did not be-
iieve the country would stand for
drafting men under 2i," although he
favored the proposal.
1T Is estimated there are between
the ages OF q and 81 about ti,OOOOOO
men" continued Senator Pomerene.
"Of that number 100000 have been
called to the colOrs. What need is
there for reducing the age?'
Senator Chamberlain said an exami-
nation OF General Crowder's testimony
before the military committee would
reveal the reason, but he did not be-
lleve Il wise 10 state that reason now.
"If we don't make a change" the
Oregon Senator continued, I'VE Will
find ourselves drawing upon other
classes. and It is better 10 step over
40 and take the man without depend
ents who losfs around barrooms. ht
might as well be made to fght as the
man under 81"
"The enemy knows our military stu
alton" he added, "as well as we do
and I believe better than some OF u'
do"
Explaining that he favored raising
the age limit, Senator Shields, OF Ten
nessee, suggested that by lowering the
axe 10 IS, youths would be taken from
the farms and still further cripple fooc
production. Senator Chamberlain saic
older men not qualified for military
service could be substituted on the
farms.
Opposing the Fall amendment sen
ator Kirby, OF Arkansas, a military
committee member who opposed the
original draft law, said IL is unneces-
sary at this time, and has not been ap-
proved either by President Wilson OF
The War Department. Senator Fall OBJ
served that the department had not
dlsapprOved the plan and that General
Crowder has indorsed its principle.