The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-24
MEN NEEDED NOW.
IMMEDIATE ENACTMENT OF
MAN POWER BILL URGED.
Last of Week Will Find Proposed
Measure Under Debate in Both
Ends Of Capitol With Passage to
Follow Shortly Thereafter.


Follow Shortly Thereafter.
Washington, Aug. 19.-Congress
prepared today to enact quickly the
new man power legislation, extend
ing the draft age limits to 1S and 40
wears for the American military pro-
gram which General March, chief of
staff. told the house military commit
tee should win the war in 1919.
While the house committee began
work on he bill by hearing General
March, Secretary Baker and Provost
Marshal General Crowder, the senate
set aside it's summer vacation agree
ment in order to take up the measure
Thursday It appeared probable the
bill would be debated simultaneously
in the senate and house the last OF
this week and passed soon thereafter
Senate prohibition advocates agreed
to temporarily lay aside the national
prohibition bill and give the man
power program the right of way.
Before the house committee Secre-
tary Baker and his aides again urged
action on the bill, discussing various
phases of the enlarged program which
calls for an army Of nearly 100000
Americans in France by June 80. 1919.
with another million in training In
this country.
Predicting that the war will be won
or lost on the western 'front.': regard
less of what happens elsewhere. Gen
eral March told the committee that
with so trained American divisions OF
about $4,000 men each, III France. un-
der an American commander victory
ought to rest on American arms next
wear. Reiterating his belief that such
a force could go through the German
lines at will, General March went fur
ther and electrified the committee
men by declaring such a, force Should
bring the war to a successful conclu-
sion in 1919"
To exert this American man pow
er in securing victory, General March
said, "every single man" between lS
and As in Class 1 would be needed
by next spring. Shipping facilities
are assured, he added ID mainten-
ance problems have been considered
in the program.
! Suggestions that the five million
army program would exhaust Ameri-
cas- man power were 1aughingly de-
MED by General March but he joined
Secretary Baker in explaining that
represents Americas maximum effort
J! for the present"
Plans for calling new registrants
under the proposal explained pY.Sec-
retary Baker provide for three class,
es-probably to be called in order:
those between 19 and 81 years ofsage
| those between 81 and 45, and those
between 18 and 10. Mr.. Baker die
] not object to separate classification OF
Is years old youths, but he and Gen
eral March said all eli gibles proba b.
| ~ would be called out mot later thar
next spring. -
The. secretary told the eoEfs9sttee
4 his previous statement Of the depart
ment's intention to Eberalize the draft
regulation in dealing with the older
men to be made subject to call, hao
/ been misconstrued. He said there
was no intention to exempt married
men as class and that married mer
who do not support their wives or are
not engaged in useful occupations
will be called as they now are.
/! Discussing the work or fight
amendment of Senator Thomas OF
Colorado, to the senate bill, Secretary
Baker said it seems entirely consist
ent'' with the present regulations ane
is unobjectionable. He said it doe;
not provide for CONSUMPTION Of labor
as contended by the representatives OF
organized labor, but merely would be
a declaration by congress Of the
work or fight" principle already pu;
into effect by draft regulations.
Secretary Morrison Of the American
Federation OF Labor, appeared in op-
position to the amendment and il
was arranged to hear him and other
labor representatives tomorrow
Chairman Dent said tonight he hoped
/ to report the measure Wednesday or
! Thursday, probably with amend
ments. If sentiment in the commit
tee for provisions specifying the Or
der of classes to be called and te
specifically defer calls for Is year old
boys, is reflected in the reported bill
Representative Kahn of California.
ranking Republican member, plans a
minority report in favor of the ad-
ministration plan.
General Crowder told the commit
tee that men now in Class l will be
exhausted after the September call
and urged speedy action on the bill
to provide sufficient men for future
calls, although General March said he
thought there would be enough men
to last until November without the
new legislation.
By January /, General Crowder
said he hoped to complete classify
ing the nation"