The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1918-08-23
DEBATE ON III.
MAN-POWER BILL.
In Both Houses of Congress.
Amendment Proposed to
Draft Youths
AND EDUCATE THEM
AND EDUCATE THEM

the Man-Power bill, changing the
army draft age limits to IS and 45
years, both branches of Congress
yesterday debated the measure, with
the leaders planning its passage by
the ouse today and by the Senate
Saturday.
ESpirited speeches urging that
the needed man power for the army,
counted upon to crush the enemy
next year, were made with crowded
galleries. Discussion in both Sen
ate and House centered upon oppo-
sition from some members to call
ing youths of Is to the colors. The
bill was piloted in the Senate ana
ouse by chairmen of the respective
military committees, Senator Cham
berlain, of Oregon, and Represen-
tative Dent, of Alabama. The for
mer declared traditional the policy
of subjecting boys as young as IL
to military service and also cham
pioned the work or fight" amenf
ment of his committee.
Representative Dent frankly adi
hitting opposition to compulsory
service as a policy, defended the
House committees amendment to-
defer until last calls of boys of IL
and 10, while Representative Kahn,
of California, ranking Republican
member of the committee, urged
adoption of the bill as originally
presented, without tying the hanGs
of the War Department. He said all
men between the proposed ages
would be needed.
An amendment proposing to make
the minimum draft age 20 instead
of IS was introduced by Senator
Kirby, of Arkansas. Senator Wads-
worth, of New York, offered an
amendment extending the draft
to the navy.
Senator CEummins, of Iowa, Of
fered provisions to postpone calling
youths and older men and also to
modify the work or fight" plan.
Senator France, of Maryland,
sponsored an amendment prohibit
ing military service abroad for
youths under q, but providing for
their draft for military or other
training.
A vigrous speech in behalf of the
bill was made by Senator Reed, q
Missouri, who urged an army 3i
100000 Americans in Russia 6
once and predicted this country ul.
timately must furnish 100000 G
100000 and undergo severe hard
ships of long war.
General debate closed on the bill
in the House last night and proba-
bly, will conclude today in the Sem
ate. Action on amendments begin
today n THE House.
During the debate Senator Smoot
OF Utah, declared he did not believe
the necessity exists warranting the
taking of man A years of age for
military service when he has TIVE
sons already in the army. That sit7
uation will exist in many Western
States, he said.
If | had my way, | would make
the maximum age 55 years." ejac-
ulated Senator Wadsworth, of
New York. THE time will come
when we will need every man we
can get"
Representative Olney, of Massa-
chusetts, told the ouse that Provost
Marshal General erowder advised
him yesterday the draft would pro-
duce only 10000 in the qsalified
for military service class between
the ages of Al and As.
Representative Anthony, of Kan
sas, suggested that all controversy
yt@t specifying classes to be called
al o.Ug.' is useless, as the War De-
partment, if it chose, could call out
one class after another few min
utes apart.
Arguments against calling boz
of Is and 10 were made by Repre-
sentatives Fields, Kentucky; MeeA
er, Missouri, and others. Represen
tative Madden, of Illinois, suggest.
ed that it was more important t.
win the war than to quibble oyes
who should 60 first. .aas.