Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-06-26
Proposal to Make the
Ages From 20 to 40
Years
REPORT THAT
PRES. WILSON
OPPOSES CHANGE
Immediate Necessity for In
crease of U. S. Man Power is
Argument for Change-Op-
position Says Enough Men
Now Available to Meet War
Dept. Program


Washington, June 25.-Extension of
the draft ages above and below the ex-
listing limits-I to 81 years-was dis
cussed at length in the Senate today
during consideration Of an amendment
by Senator Fall of New Mexico to the
ST., coz, G100eo army appropriation bill to
substitute IS years as the minimum and
4J as the maximum. During the discus
sion the senator revised the amend
ment, making the ages 20 TO 10 and
eliminating provision that youths un-
der p should not be called into active
military service.
Disposal of the amendment and sub
stitute by Senator Hitchcock of Eebras-
ka went over until tomorrow with sem
timent in the Senate apparently evenly
divided. In the meantime some sena-
tors regarded it as probable that some
expression might come from the admin
istration, partic, .arly in view of re-
port circulated at the capital today that
President Wilson opposes, for the pres
ent at Ieast. any change in the age
limits and deplored agitation fer their
extension at this time.
Tt. FAN amendment was vigorously
supported by Senator Chamberlain of
Oregon, chairman Of the military COM
mittee, and Senators Falls, Wadsworta
Of New York. Cummins of Iowa, Reed
Of Missouri and others. Opposition was
voiced by Senators Thomas OF Colora-
do, Mex ellar of Tennessee and Kirby
of Arkansas. all Democratic members
of the military committee. while several
other senators declared that they IA
vored raising the maximum draft age
/ but opposed lowering the minimum.
j Senator Hitchcocks substitute amend
ment fixes the age limits at q and 40 re-
! spectvely, and provides that citizens
/ of the allied countries resident in the
: United States shall be subject to draft
/ and that nationals of neutral countries
! who claim exemption shall be disbarrei
from American citizenship.
I Imperative and immediate necessity
! for an increase of Americas man
power in the war was the principal ar
gument of those favoring the amend
ment, while opponents based their OBJ
! jections principally on the contention
that there are sufficient men now avail
able to meet the war departments pro-
gram. and that neither the President
nor the department has asked or ap-
proved the proposed extension of the
law.
During the debate 1t was freely pre-
dicted that class one would soon be
exhausted and that unless the age linn
its are raised there will be disruption
Of industry, with consequent effect on
the war program.
The extension of the Iron ring"
around Germany by sending American
soldiers to Russia. Italy. the Balkans
and Egypt and declaration of war on
Bulgaria and Turkey also was urged.
Before taking up the Fall amend
ment the Senate adopted numerous i'm
portant legislative riders recommended
by the military committee. including
one for organization In this country OF
a Slavic legion. 4 provision for for1na :
ton Of Polish unit was stricken out
upon explanation by Chairman Hitch
cock OF the foreign relations committee
that the French government feared an
American organiza ton might interfere
with the Polish army recently organ
lied and fighting In France.
Another amendment for training OF
foreign units In this country. designed
especially for securing man-power from
| Latin America, also was written into
the bill without discussion. while new
amendments offered included one bv
Senator France OF MARYLAND providing
for comnnleorv military training for
Youths of 10 and 81 years of age.