Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-06
ADOPTS UNIVERSAL SERVICE
Administration In Draft Law Accepts
Part of Plan of National Associn-
tIon for Military Training.
tcopyrish,. 1918. by Wheeler Syndicate.


Part of Plan of National Associn-
tion for Military Training.
The following statement has been
issued Ok Lieu,cnantC s. B. 81
Young:
WASHINGTON, February 5.-When
Senator Cham berla;n introduced In the
Senate OF the United States, January
IL. the Joint resolution Is. j. Res. l24.
the same bci.g amendment to tho
draft Law. proposed b. the administra-
ton through the observation-disclosures
erai OF the army. providing for the
registration for service OF all men who
had arrived a: the age Of twenty-one
since registration day. Juno 5. 1917.
! and tsect!ou - providing for the
further registration under p.oc!ama-
lion hy the president OF all male per-
sons, citizens cf the United States or
residing in the United States, who
have attained the age OF twenty-one
ycara since the las, preceding date of
registration, and on or before tho next
day set for registration b. proclama-
zion by the President" the principle
or universal service was acknowledged
The draft law was an Acknowledgement
% the constitutional liability to SER
vice. but the anne nd,ncnt proposed by
the administration goes q step farther
and acknowledges the principle Of uni
vcrsal service.
The National Association for Uuive.-
sal Military Training prepared and
proposed. through NE. Last August. the
following amendment 10 the draft Law:
That in addition. TO the persons sub
Jet TO registration and selective draft
under the act entitled AN act to
authorize tho President to increase
temporarily tho military Establishment
OF the United States" approved May Is
a al hit
OF nineteen and thirty. both inclusive.
shall be subject to registration and
draft IN accordance with the provisions
OF said act; provided, tina, all registered
male persons who have attained the
age OF nineteen years shall be subject
TO military training III accordance with
regulations to be prescribed by the
President but shall not be called for
active service until they have attained
tho age OF twenty-cne years.
The Army and Navy Journal. in an
exhaustive ed!tor!a! on Universal Mill
tary Training, January ), 1918 after
quoting many expert journals and much
expert opinion on this subject. makes
the significant statement In support
of the proposed amendment prepared
b. the National Association, OF which
I am president:
The reform that all this expert opin-
!osl Ia d!Hleu al CouiO Be brought ABOUT
in the simplest way in the world and
without any drastic change in our laws
u could be accomplished by the adop-
ton OF the amendment 10 the seiective-
service act proposed by the National
Association for Universal Military
Training. which would call up for mil
!tary training, but not for service. all
youths In this country between the
ages OF nineteen and twenty-one No
such admirable and complete solution
OF cur present military problem has
evor been proposed nor has any one
fought a campaign for II so steadfast-
- or with so much !ntclligence as
has this association.
II will be seen that the administra-
ton has adopted part Of the amend
ment proposed by this association, but
only a part. The amendment proposed
by this association has received the
Endorsement Of some OF the greatest
,nte!!ectuals and most influential news
papers throughout the country, and if
We are TO secure men for service who
shall I've adcquatei trained for the
great task they are destined to perform
in this war. il is obvious that the men
nineteen and twenty years old should
be trained as soon as practicable, in
order that they may be ready for SER
vice upon arriving AT the age Of twenty
one, instead OF waiting until they have
arrived al tho service age before maxi
ing any attempt 10 register them for
service, and, Of course. after regis
terng for service an indefinite period
viii elapse before they arc ready for
servicc-'the length of this period do
pending entirely upon the available
training personnel and equipment
The draft law establishes a military
policy for this country based squarely
upon the constitutional provision of the
citizens liability TO service. Universal
military training viii not increase this
liability. If this amendment is adopted
IN its entirety and made continuing, It
viii! enable the government to carry
out its policy. The obligati is both
OIL the administrative trustees Of the
nation and the nation itself. The ma
ton must serve!