Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-10
ADOPTION or AMENDMENT
MOLI.D NIME.DN DI.IrIGlENi- 1

WV hfhf.Dt !
This deficiency can bc supplied in
large par, hr adopting tho following
proposed amendment TO tho draft law.
prepared by Tho National Association
for Universal, military Training:
Amendmc III. MI male persons resi-
don't in tn" United states Who are nine =
teen years Of age aud not more than
thiri: one years OF age ON Tho ,da,c
when this ancudm.n, shall 20 into
cffccp. and tho We're not registered
in pursuance az the act OF May Is.
1917, shall hc registered 81 such timc
and place na tn President, may by
proclamation direct: provided that
none Of tho slen affected by tho law
so amended gall lac called for active
military servr" before reaching tho
arc OF iwcul!-onc years
II Congress Shall enact this propos ID
amendment inio Law. an interesting: and
Illuminating "rntraS, with ia" figures
Of the recent registration IS "a, once
presented.
Tho three classes affected juno ).
lals-nalcs. nineteen. twenty ana
twcuty-onc YEARS Of aEc-would total
100000 mcl Gin round numbers.
100000 men arrive at tho age for
military scrv,;e each Year,. aud after
reflections on account 81 physical and
mental unf:n,ss. only sons Of widow cd
mothers, etc. would net approximately
100000 men Ut fer training for mill
tary service: This is proof that tho
nation must depend upon the young.
tho unmarricd men. for defense: for in
these three classes 'hcrc viii he a
much smaller percentage Of cNcmp.s
than in the more advanced classes Of
tho present draft ages y comparativc-
~ small percentage Of mon under
;wcnty-onc have dependents, and their
mental and physical stamina arc not 50
likely to be- impaired by the habits
formed at q more advanced age
In other words. tho three ella sc &
comprehcndci in this proposed amend
ment will produce within per cent
as many men as the ten classes reg
istercd Jun. :. 1917 These three
tonments 70! ;rainnE-by classes ana
districts--as the environments were
evacuated iN tho final incrcmcnts of
tho new National Army produced undo r
the registration OF last juno.
We have expended nearly 5On, 900 600
on the sixteen cantonmcnt.. providing
each with light. heat. water and all
necessary sanitary equipment Each
accommodates $4,000 men, and with
slight outlay from time to time for
paint. repairs. etc. can be made into
permanent quarters suitable for use
throughout the better part Of the year.
These sixteen environments will pro-
vide for tho annual class of Young men
for training purposes each year. and
by SO utilizing them VIC would con-
by tho enormous outlay in labor and
money: also VIC would fit our youth to
discharge the duties Of citizenship. both
civil and military. 1t is the practical,
rational thing To do
LEADS TO CONSIDERATION
or PERMANENT SYSTEM
Al of this leads inevitably 10 the
consideration Of and preparation for Il
permanent system Of universal mill
tary training and equal national ser
vice AS the fundamental principle OF
national military policy. The draft
law was the first definite step toward
this goal; this proposed amendment
may we'll be the second step. and the
final step will have been taken when
the principle embodied in it shall have
become our permanent policy.
Our regular army and National
Guard arc now on foreign soil. or are
on tho way; the National Guard re-
serves have been drafted into the SER
vice Of the United States. and we are
preparing our men Of twcnty-onc to
thirty years Of age to follow after
them. Yet all these forces will return
to civil life under tho law. and We
will have only a skeleton force after
this war is over. Unless the law is
amended or law enacted providing
for Il permanent military system as
above suggested. We will return TO our
ancient condition OF unprcparcdncss.
and the lesson OF this war and its
Enormous cost viii have been wasted
The time is ripe for legislation along
the lines proposed. and the hour Is at
hand when our citizens must unninch-
ingly acknowledge the burden OF re-
sponsihility which is theirs. Congress
must provide ihc means whereby this
country will be prepared at all times