The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-06-25
INTRODUCES ACT
TO DRAFT LABOR.
Another Bill Before the Sem
ate Proposes Universal
Military Training
CHANGE PLANNED
IN THE AGE LIMIT

Senator frances Bill Provides for the
Enrolment and classification Of All
Males Between the Ages of 10 and As
Years
| WASHINGTON, June 25.-Two pro-
posals to change the draft age were
submitted to the senate yesterday dur
| ing debate on the $12, GOO, 100000 bill.
Both came from Republican senators,
Fall of New Mexico and France of
| Maryland. Both would make the en-
rollment ages Is to 40 years. But this
is the only respect in which the pro-
posals resembled each other.
Senator Fall IS amendment is purely
military service proposal, while Sem
ator France 3 is bill providing that
every male in the country between the
ages specified shall be enrolled and clas-
sified, and then may be called for any
sort of service the President deems nee
lessary.
The Fall amendment provides: "The
age limit fixed in said act (the draft
act), is hereby changed and shall be
and is hereby fixed at Is and IS years
in lien of 81 and 81; provided further,
that those registered under the age of
81 shall not be drafted nor used for
service upon the firing line till they
shall have reached the age of 81"
| Senator Fall explained that his pur-
pose in lowering the age limit to IS
years is to provide large force for
training under regulations to be pre-
tscribed. This force would be available
for service in the front ranks the very
moment its members became 81 years
old. This would give the country a
great reservoir of trained and equipped
men to draw from and would not entail
long delay while the men were being
trained after having been called for
active service, the senator pointed out
1t would also remove the danger to in
dhstry and agriculture which now ex-
lists, Senator Fall contended. and would
show the whole country the value of
universal military training as pre-
, paredness and health measure.
Senator Frances bill is that which
, Provost Marshal General Crowder re.
Gently discussed with the Senate mill.
tdiN CoiiiIHitttc anu 10 the DFlu
ciple of which he gave his heartiest ap
: proval. 1t is in effect work or fight
{ order carried out in terms of the draft
1t would require every male between
IS and 45 years to register. All would
: then be classified just as at present, ex
e cept that instead of being limited I,
availability for military service, tn,
? classification would extend to industry
agriculture and every form of war &C
. tivity. Gen. Crowder has assured TIL
. military affairs committee that passag
= of bill like this would not disarrang
the draft machinery in the slightest
and would be exceedingly easy of ad
;, ministration. If such measure become
. law, Gen. Crowder said there will be n
= difficulty in getting labor for any sor
; Of war work for which it is needed
since all that will be necessary will b
to impress a certain number of me
into that particular sort of work.
Strikes on war work would then b
impossible, Gen. Crowder argued, bt
p cause a strike would lay every strike
! open to a military court-martiaI il
stantly, and the penalty would be deaf
ID or long imprisonment
Though the two amendments submii
ted today did not come from administr:
!, ton sources, they opened the who
20 question of changing age limits. Con
- gress realizes that this must be don
inasmucl as class one will be exhauste
: soon after the first of the coming yea
h and, according to Gen. Crowder, seriol
a disarrangement of the war work pr,
r. gram will follow invasion of deferre
:, al sspo IN any dara bio
q. Secretary Baker has said he will n,
oppose such legislation Whether he wi
nt accept the France or Fall amendment,
ID will now be moved to permit Gen. Croy
Mt der to submit to congress his idea as
RS how the ages should be changed, is NJ
a known.