The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1918-07-03
BAKER WILL NOT
oppose CONGRESS.

Washing on, June 2o.-Secre-
,ary OF War Baker in response to in.
curry, explained to the newspaper
/. men that ne would not oppose any
action by Congress looking to ex-
tead the draft age limit.
The news that Mr.. Baker has
~odined his position somewhat with
respect to the draft age limit is high
" important because of its possible
future effect on so many thousands
if not hundreds of thousands-of
able bodied American fighting men
ever 81.
1t appears that after Secretary
Bakers statement to the newspaper
correspondents last week that the
question OF extending the age limit
had no: teel considered by him at
all. Provost Marshal General Crow
der came to him to say that he had
been asked to appear before the Sen
ate Military Affairs Committee on
tie matter of the draft age limit.
! General Crowder's views were not
IN harmony with those of Mr.. Ba-
ker, and he former told the Secre-
tary he Ind no desire to embarrass
the War Departments policy and
feared perhaps that his testimony
might tend to do so. General Crow
der is known to favor in principle
an extension of the draft age limit
after Glass 1 is exhausted, but he
las not stated that he favors eX
tending it from IS To As. Proba-
bly, 10 to sc would be more in line
with General Crowder's judgment.
Would Take Older Men.
This means that after Class 1 is
exhausted General Crowder favors !
getting men physically fit and with
out dependents over 81 before TAX
ing men with dependents, & c.,
from Clas 2, 3 and A. General ,
Crowder expects that all the 2,420,-
OO0 OF Glass 1 will be exhausted by
the end of the present year. So /
far 1,347, 900 have already been
called into service.
Secretary Baker told General
Crowder not to feel in any way re-
stricted in giving the Senate Military
Affairs Committee his frank judg-
ment, together with facts and fig
ures upon which that judgment was
based. 1t is not the custom to re-
strict army officers any way in their
testimony before congressional
committees, but in the interest of
governmental team work it is some
times advisable for an officer to
know in advance whether his tesu-
mony is going to go counter to poll
cies already determined or decided
upon.
The effect of Mr.. Bakers an
nOuncement that he would not op-
pose the judgment of Congress on
the draft age question at once re-
moves the prospect of opposition by
the Administration and permits this
question 10 be thrashed out openly
and decided by the consensus of the
nations opinion, as reflected at the
Capitol. There is plenty of time
for consideration. as Glass will
not be exhausted this year, and the
Gow Of man power to Europe will\
continue Tor months before this
matter has to be definitely decided.
Extension Is Indicated.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Bakers state
mont will be taken in many quar-
ters as an indication that the draft
age limits will be extended either
during the present session of Con-
Gress or Immediately after Con-
gress reassembles in December.
representative Kahn, ranking RE-
publican member of the House Com
mittee, favors raising the age limit
no to As at once, and Chairman
Chamberlain, of the Senate Military
Affairs Committee. is inclined to
rgree with him.