Evening journal., 1918-08-17
The Question of Man Power Even
More Urgent Than That of Money P0weI
from the Now York SUM-

The Senate Committee on Military
Affairs has reported favorably the Ad-
ministration's man power bill, includ-
ing the provision which carries the age
for selective service down to eighteen
years. General March's remarks 10 the
committee on this part OF the general
subject were impressive and ought 10
be conclusive:
My opinion is unqualifedly In favor
OF the young men. The young men be-
tween eighteen and twenty are usually
not married, they have not settled down
In life. they have not any membranes
and they are better of physically"
Since the Sun began to advocate the
inclusion Of young men down to the
age Of eighteen in the scheme Of select
i've service we have received a good
many letters opposing the foregoing
view Of the matter. Some Of them have
been hased on sentimental grounds,
some on theories Of political fitness,
some on a misunderstanding OF the
practical effect OF the measure II en-
acted. IL is proper 10 say that no pro-
test against the registration OF young
men from eighteen to twenty-one has
come TO us from any member Of the
class most Immediately concerned. And
nobody who knows the spirit and the
patriotism OF American youth OF that
age will entertain much doubt that II
the provision could go 10 them on a
referendum. TO be determined by their
own vote, IL would be adopted enthus-
islastically and well nigh unanimously.
From the Objecting letters Just re-
IN nnra tod hoN - In
Charles A. Meister as presenting, per-
haps, In the most concise and cOmpre-
hensiye form, the various arguments
against the plan to reduce the minimum
draft age limit 10 eighteen years. We
here exhibit Mr.. Meister's eight rea-
sons, with brief comment upon each
in turn:
#. In talking 20 men and women OF
my acquaintance / have become con-
vinced that there Is a preponderance
OF opinion unfayOrable to that meas
ure."
This may also have been the expert
enee Of others; and yet It does not
settle the question. The preponderance
Of opinion among those directly re
sponsible for prosecuting the war and
winning the victory which the nation
has resolved to achieve is obviously
favorable 10 the measure. Except for
conclusive reasons to the contrary pub
llc sentiment should defer 10 the pre-
ponderance Of opinion among men like
General March and General Crowder
and Secretary Baker. In a better posi-
ton to Judge OF needs and means; just
as that same patriotic public sentiment
is deferring continually and cheerfully !
10 official and responsible judgment as
20 measures for producing the money /
power required to win the war
-. The experience OF military pow
ers demonstrates that intense military |
training is adverse to the development |
Of men below twenty years of age"
That was not the experience Of the |
United States as a military power dur
ing the period when the youth OF the |
North fought the equally effective youth |
OF the COnfederacy in the tremendous !
struggle Of the Civil war.
"3. 10 seems unfair TO expect mill
tary duty from those not considered
mature enough to vote"
No more unfair, when broadly con-
sidered, than TO expect financial duty,
by the draft process OF war taxation,
from residents and property owners
who are not citizens OF the United
States and for one reason or another