The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-08-02

uents should have and viii be glad TO
get:
Mr.. E. B, Hager.
Ashland. Kentucky.
Dear SIR
received your letter Of July LIST.
which was also published in the Ash
land Daily Independent OF July 3rd.
which, when analysed, contains two
thoughts; first that my mental quail
ficatfons do not compare with yours,
and. Second. that opposed the policy
Of the President by my opposition to
the CONSUMPTION OF boys ander q
years OF age for military service.
shall decline TO discuss with you
the comparative mental qualifications
of you and myself as 4. would be con-
trary TO my sense Of propriety to do
So The dignity Of my office, my po-
sition as the nominee Of my party for
reelection to that office, as well as my
self respect. forbid that engage in
nasty or childish quarrel through the
newspapers. shall. therefore. con-
fine what / have to say to an ans
wer TO your complaint that ! opposed
the policy Of the President
l did object to placing the burdens
Of the fighting Of this war upon the
immature youths OF the nation under
tewenty-one years of age, which was
the plan OF the General Staff OF the
Military Establishment when we were
enacting the army bill OF 1917, and l
Initiated and conducted 1.-The fight
against that position in which / was
sustained by vote of 277 against s
in the House Of Representatives and
by a substantial majority in the SEN
ate.
l secured the adoption OF several
other amendments TO the plan present
ed by the General Staff, one OF which
was &c prevent the punishment by inn
prisonment of men for failure TO reg
iseer when prevented from doing so
by circumstances beyond their con-
troll. and another which permits reg
istration by mail when the registrant
is away from his legal residence or
registration day. which has saved and
will continue TO save thousands Of pa
triotic men the burden and expense
of journeying TO and from their local
domiciles for the purpose OF register
ing. All these amendments. howev
er. were mere matters OF detail and
y
character.
Your statement that opposed the
policy Of the President Is not support
ed by facts. I enthusiastically sup
ported the War resolution have
INCREASINGLY advocated the raising of
the largest and most efficient and best
equipped Army OF which we are ca
pable and by the most expeditions
A. - Il n, a
yocated the subordination OF all in
terests. both public and private. to the
one supreme interest OF the Govern
ment. the winning Of the war. have
voted both In Committee and In the
House TO appropriate every dollar ask
ed for by the Administration for the
equipment and support OF the army
and the prosecution of the war.
With patriotism. not alone OF the |
heart. but OF both the head and the |
heart. which is the only character OF |
patriotism that will support the war. |
i have enthusiastically supported the
war policy OF the President In its en-
tirety. reserving to myself, as the prin
ciple of Representative Government
both warrants and requires the right |
TO express my opinion on matters OF
detail. and the very fact that my opin.
ion on the detail in question was sup
ported by the Congress is at least an
argument that my position was cor
rect. your opinion to the contrary not
withstanding. 1 will ada in this con-
nection that your complaint that
opposed the policy OF the President
lies in your failure to distinguish be-
tween . policy and a detail incident
thereto.
/. by virtue OF my position. as rank
ing member OF the House Military
Committee. was member OF theSub-
Committee on army organization.
whose function IL was TO write the
Army bill referred to. and was also
member OF the Conference Committee
which completed the bill in conference
after II had raised both Inc uoIse and
Senate. and the bill. as signed by the
President. did not contain a single pro-
vision. excepting n few minor amend
ments which were added by the SEN Il
ate, that had not supported both in
the Committee and the House. and no
one worked harder than 1 to expidife
It's passage AS proof that my coursei
in the framing and enactment OF the
law did not embarrass the President.
or his policy. quote a letter which he
wrote Mr.. Dent. the Chairman Of the
House Board Of Conferees. OF which
was one. which is recorded in the Con-
gressional Record of May IL. 1917.
which reads as follows:
The White House.
Washington. May IL. 1917
Hon. Hubert S. Dent. Jr..
House of Representatives.
Ny Dear Mr. Dent:
Now that the Army bill has been
successfully brought out of conference.
want to express to you my sincere
OF the service you and
-FOUR colleagues have rendered in help
ng bring the bill to final consideration
lree from any feature that would en-
1arrass the system of draft upon which
( is based.
/ trust that the Conference report
nay be very promptly adopted Every
hour counts in these critical times, and
ielay might have very serious eonse-
luences-
Sincerely yours.
(Signed) Woodrow Wilson.
with regard to my future course.
vim say that II the man-power OF the
Nation should become so exhausted
IS to render the lowering OF the age