New-York tribune., 1918-03-30
Senate Passes
Bill to Draft
Men Now Il
Measure to Add 100000 to
Registration Wins With
out Record Vote

WASHINGTON, March 29-The reso-
luton extending the selective draft to
men reaching the age of twenty-one
years since June 5, 1917-the first
registration day-was passed tonight
by the Senate without record vote,
after futile attempt had been made
to add to 1t a provision for training
youths from nineteen to twenty-one
years old.
1t is estimated that about 100000
men will be added to the registration
this year by the resolution, which is
one of the pieces of legislation on
which the War Department is waiting
before announcing complete plans for
the next draft. 1t now, goes to the
House for consideration there with the
bill to base draft quotas on the num-
Der Of registrants in Glass 1, instead
of on population, another Of the Az
mInistration measures already passed
by the Senate.
The proposal to require training of
boys over nineteen and under 1egis-
tration age was in the form of an
amendment by Senator New. of Indi-
ana, which the Senate rejected by a
vote of 36 to &c, after debate of sew
eral days. A number of Senators who
favored universal military training as
a peacetime po!;cv voted against the
amendment.
Effect on Labor Feared
AS adopted, the resolution provides
that all male citizens Of the United
States residing in this country, attain
ing their majority since June last,
shall be subject to registration, under
regulations prescribed by the Presl-
dent, shall present themselves for
registration on a day proclaimed by
the President, and thereafter shall be
liable to military service.
There was no opposition to the reso-
luton itself, the only controversy
being over the new amendment. Op-
ponents of the plan argued that train
ing youths would hamper urgent army
enterprises and take labor from farms
and factories, without providing SOL
dlers for Immediate needs at the front.
Strong sentiment for universal, com
pulsory military training was apparent,
however, and to-days vote was not re-
garded as foreshadowing future action
on senator Chamberlain's universal
training bill.
Principal opposition to Senator News
proposal came from the Democratic
side of the Senate, although four Dem
ocratic members, Chamberlain, of Ore
gon; King, of Utah; Gerry, Of Rhode
Island, and Myers. of Montana, voted
TOR its adoption. Five Republicans,
Borah, of Idaho; Gronna, of North
Dakota; Jones. of Washington; Norris,
Of Nebraska, and Townsend, of Michi
Jccting the amendment
Predicts 10000, 1000 in Camps
During the debate, Chairman Cham
berlain, of the Military Committee, de-
clared 100000 men would be in train
ing for the army if he chad his way"
while Senator Kirby, of Arkansas. an
other Military Committee member, pre-
dictcd 5000 900 men would be in tn :
army and 100000 in camps before
the war ended
Opposing the new amendment, Sena-
tor Borah said he did not believe it met
the situation in the right way. and that
it would place power to inaugurate the
system in the hands of one who has
publicly opposed the plan Of universal
military service, Secretary Baker
Agricultural districts are already cx-
periencing labor shortage, he said,
and he opposed any action that would
make that condition moro acute.
Senator Sterling con.ended there arc
three or four months in each year when
men are not engaged in work on the
farms when they could as well be en-
gagged in military training.
In this connection Senator New as
serted he believed there will be time
when this country will find it necessary
to adopt some sort Of draft for men
who refuse TO work.
II believe" nc said, chat some time
soon it wall become necessary for US to
adopt some sort Of draft measure to
take every loafer. and by that mean
those who are not engaged in some
useful occupation, and send them to
the farms"