The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1918-08-16
DEPENDS ON WHETHER ENOUGH
RECRUITS CAN BE OBTAINED
BY Reconsideration.
LOCAL BOARDS TOLD TO ACT
Many old Line Republicans Want
Roosevelt for Presidential NomInes
In te20-senator Ashurst's Comment
on Street Laborers and Wages.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

most important part of the man power
that must win the wRr. Under his d.
rectiOn more than 100000 men have
been drafted. This Is exclusive of
those who enlisted In the regular army
and the National Guard. These 2,OO0.-
900 men make up the vast force that
is doing such good work for America
and will continue to do 1t until the end.
Class Of the draft is about exhaust.
ed. 1t Is true that under the law re-
Gently passed young men reaching the
age OF twenty-one are subject to the
draft and there are about 100000 Of
these, most of them class / men. But
the draft has rival among these
younger men, in the navy. A large
number Of them prefer the more fasci-
mating sea service and enlist In the
navy or In the marine corps because
they prefer the romance of the ocean
to the solid, substantial work of the
army. This is very good thing for
the navy, for 1t gets all the men 1t
wants, and of course the very best.
Just now General Crowder and his
assistants are making every effort to
induce the local boards to re-examine
aPd If possible re-classify men who are
In the deferred classes. It is not the
policy of the secretary of war to reach
into the second class If he can avoid
1t, but in order to obtain sufficient man
power of the right kind 1t may be nee
essary to go into the deferred classes,
unless class be largely increased by
re-classifcations by the local boards.
1t Is possible that the age limit will
be changed II the supply Of men cam
not be kept up In any other way. There
Is very strong desire on the part of
many Of those in charge of the draft
to have the age limit reduced to 20. In
fact many army officers think that the
very best results In the way of soldiers
would be obtained by taking young
men of nineteen and twenty instead
of waiting until twenty-one, as at pres
ent. If an army Of four or five million
men is raised 1t will be necessary to
reduce the limit below twenty-one
years and raise 1t above thirty-one.
Many Republicans were rather hope
full that Colonel Roosevelt would make
the race for governor of New York,
having no doubt that he would be elect
ed and thnt IL would be a stepping
stone to the Republican presidential
nomination in 1920. 1t is rather amaz-
Ing to observe how many old line Re
publicans, men who fought Roosevelt
so bitterly In 1912, are anxious that
he should be candidate In 1920. IN
less conditions change, according to
what Republicans around Washington
say, Roosevelt's name Is sure to go be-
fore the convention two years hence,
and what is more, he is likely to be
the nominee IL the Democrats hold
their convention first and renolninate
Woodrow Wilson.
Senator Ashurst of Arizona, walking
to the capitol one day, became inter-
ested in a gang Of street laborers who
were taking their time. He was espe-
cially interested In several colored men
who were moving with slow rhythm
that indicated how little they were In
terested In their Jobs.
"How much are these men gettingr
asked Ashurst.
Each gets $50 per day for eight
hours" was the answer.
Gee Whit" exclaimed the Arizona
senator. 81 used to work ten hours
a day for S1.10 day. and I worked
with more speed than those fellows are
showing"
Senator Fletcher of Florida Just be
fore the recess was trying to get
through a bill to which Senator PEN
rose Of Pennsylvania made some OBJ
lection, and after some discussion the
Pennsylvania Senator remarked:
"with great reluctance I withdraw my
objection. I have voted for so many
questionable measures In the last SIX
months, perhaps one more win not
weigh upon my conscience nor require
greater reckoning on the day Of judy
'ment."
That which happened In France
in the third week OF July-by
way Of response to the big German
offensive that was to end In Paris
was all the more gratifying because II
was something that every patristic
American deep down In his heart really
expected would happen when soldiers
Of the United States got into action.
The pride Ia American troops. the con-
fdence that the American soldier was
at least the equal Of any other soldier
on earth. and the belief that American
troops would stand up and hold any
Germany army. has been a deep-set
conviction IN the minds Of the Amerf-
can people from the time we entered
the war.
One reason for the great impotence
manifested BY Americans. or those who
spoke for them. over apparent delays
In getting American troops 10 the front
vas because the people IN this country
believed American soldiers were essen