The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-09
81 cHARLGC 6Ro0KS 6MTTN.

that be were fastened more on ile No
vember elections than on the needs 81
the army at home and particularly N
the French front.
Now comes the hurry" aud. as
usual. Secretary Baker reyerses him
self and finally gets in on the right
side Glass is about exhausted, II
will be all OF that after August calls
are answered However. expeditions
" this bill may be passed. precious
time has been lost II a record is
made for speed in this matter. II will
be close 10 October LIST before regis
tration can be had under the new Law,
and then will follow more precious
time in which the usual classiiications
must be made
This bill affords another vindiCatiOn
Of the incalculable benefit that Sena-
tor Chamberlain and other "construc-
tive critics" bestowed upon the Ma
ton when they showed up the true
conditions then existing in the War
department II has also offered an
other opportunity TO the innumcrable
critics OF Baker 20 go after him.
and they haven't overlooked this
chance. They charge him right and
left with putting on the brakes in
line with his "deep.seated paCifism %
The win the war and win 10 now Gle
ment in Congress is growing strong IN
numbers and in courage. and they are
expected TO speak out in fOrciable
terms when Congress reconyeHeS on
the 18th inst; speak out in such a
way as the Republican Senator'S have
in the past. and that little group Of
fearless patriots Of the majority par.
" headed bv Senator Chamberlain.
40 single member Of Congress has
been more tr.umph2ntiy yindicated in
his course during the war than he has
been.
Much Of a fight against the bill as
a whole is not expected. One phase
Of il. however, will be cOntended over.
That is that il is a measure 10 con
script labor under the military branch
Of the government. Those who voice
objection % that argue that II labor
is 10 be conscripted Congress should
do il. and not the War department un-
der the guise OF the regular army con
scription form. and that Il should be
dealt with BY Congress frankly under
its right name.
According to the estimates submit.
ted 10 Congress by the provost mar
shall general. 3.171,67l registrants will
he added to the rolls by reducing the
age limit 10 is years and l0,02S,e73
will be added by advancing the limh
10 g. years. This will make total Of
l3.o00.6A men who will register un.
der the new draft age limits But the
provost marshal general estimates
that only 1,7976o0 effoctives will he
secured by reducing the limit to IS
years and col. 236 electives by raising
the limits TO A. BY substracting the
total number Of electives l0.S0l 100
registrants are left in the deferred
classes. Out Of the 9,5S6,5OS men who
registered under the present law, g.
2229l2 are now in deferred classes,
thus making a total in the deferred
classes. If the present new bill is
adopted, 17l24.7ll.
over that number OF men The "worl,
or fight order could be male 10 ap
ply. What kind OF work they cOul0
not do could be stipulated The con.
scription Of labor under this bill. and
, under the military department, Is
3 clearly apparent as a most vital fac
tor imbedded in the measure. and only
poorly disguised.