Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-08-09
NEW DRAFT AGES TO
Be IS TO as YEARS
ARMY'S MAN POWER PROGRAM
Is PRESENTED TO CONGRESS-
THIS WEEK.

The new man power bill prepared
by Secretary Baker and the army
general staff and introduced in con-
gress this week, fixes the age limits
OF the draft at IS to As years. This
will provide an additional 10000 900
draft regstrants, it is estimated.
In explaining the measure. Secre-
tary Baker said all the possible com
binations of age limits were carefully
studied and it was found that in or
der to get the men into class l for
the program proposed Is to As was
necessary.
The bill. as recommended to
congress. contains provision author
izing the president to call men out
of class 1 by classes according to
ages, so that if it is found possible
the men between Is and 19 will be
called out later than the older men
who are found eligible to class l.
The war department program, the
secretary said, is purely military
one and cannot be called conscrip-
tion of labor, although it will have
the effect of putting at useful labor
or in the army all able-bodied men
within the age limits.
In recommending this extension of
the age limits. Mr.. Baker said, the de-
partment had in mind simply to get
for the army the number of men
which 1t believed necessary to defeat
Germany.
In making up the list and classes,
the same rules will be followed that
have governed the first draft, with
the same exceptions from the first
call of married men with dependents
and those engaged in essential indus
tries.
''The bill, of course, will give the
president authority to summon all
men between 18 and As in case of
great emergency" Senator Chamber
lain. chairman of the senate military
committee. explained. But l under
stand 1t will not be the purpose of
the administration to call men above
81 unless they are absolutely neces-
sary. The younger men make the
best soldiers.
THE bill will remove all danger
that 1t will be necessary to invade
classes two. three and four for the
present draft. We can get enough
men from the IS to As class without
going into these classes.
I'm setting 18 to As as the ages for
the draft, the government will be
only following policy that began
almost with the revolution" he
added.
There has been considerable oppo-
sition in congress to lowering the
minimum age, many members being
reluctant to draft youths before they
attain their majority and come into
full citizenship.
Senator Chamberlain said that he
expected opposition on that score. but
expressed the opinion that there
ing the bill.
Senator Chamberlain explained that
under the provisions Of the bill men
between 18 and 21 years OF age
would be divided into three classes
subject to call in such sequence OF
years as prescribed. The senator add
ed that the calling Of men between
the ages of 81 and As would be made
by similar plan.
Within 10 days after the passage
OF the new draft legislation by con
gress the provost marshal generals
Office will be ready for "registratior
day" The machinery is ready and
primed for action.
Provost Marshal General Crowdel
urged the immediate enactment o.
the measure and suggested Septem
Der as registration day for the 13,
100000 men between the ages of IL
and As whose names are not alread!
on the nations selective service list
Unless immediate steps are taker
10 provide additional men, Genera
crowder said, the weekly registration
oi men as they attain 21 years OF ag'
VIII be necessary to fill the dral
quotas after September l, when ohl.
10000 of the 1918 registrants vii
De available.