South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-03
WOULD GIVE
HIGH POWER
TO PRESIDENT
SeC'y Baker Says Wilson Must
Have Unlimited Authority
to Call Men to Army
to Win War.

WASHINGTON. May 3.-Blanket
authority for the president to in
crease the army 20 whatever size
may be necessary 10 win the war was
proposed 20 the house military com
mittee in executive session today by
Sec'y Baker. Mai Gen. March. act
ing chief Of staff and Provost Mar
shall Gen. CrOwder. An admins
tratiOn measure amending the Sc
lective draft act 10 provide for this
grant Of power Will be prepared inn
mediately and prompt action on it is
asked
Sec'y Baker told the committee il
would be unwise 20 set any limit on
the number OF men who could be
called 10 the colors and that the
granting OF complete discretionary
authority 10 the president 10 in
crease the size OF the army as rap
idly as transportation and equip
ment facilities may warrant. would
have a great psychological effect on
the enemy by showing how thor
Oughly the nation is throwing all it's
resources into the conflict
The army appropriation bill this
year. Mr.. Baker said. should provide
for approximately 100000 men.
including the nearly 2,00O.0 600 now
under arms, but this should not be
accepted as any fixed limit to the
number OF men TO be called within
the year. Supplemental appropria-
tions. he said, will be submitted as
the army is increased.
Defer Action on Bill
Action on the army appropriation
~ had been deferred by the com
uaittee pending the return OF the
war secretary from Europe. when it
could secure from him information
SIS to the army needs based on the
knowledge he gained during his in
spection Of the American expedi-
tiOnary forces and his conferences
with British. French and Italian Of
dcials.
Sae'y Baker also outlined to the
committee today the reasons why
ne opposes house amendments 10
the senate resolution to change the
basis Of draft quota from state
population 10 the number Of men
"a class one. under which states
would be given credit for men who
have volunteered for service in the
army and navy He said such
credits would be fair if the basis
Wa to be the state populations, but
that they would not be fair with the
basis the number Of men in class
one, because then some states would
have 10 furnish no draft men. while
others would have to furnish very
high percentage
President Changes Mind.
When the resolution TO change
tha draft quota basis was before the
nc use. Pres't Wilson wrote Chair
man Dent OF the military commit
tee supporting the volunteer credits
plan but he was represented today
as having changed his mind IL view
OF the inequity that would result. II
is understood that he will write
Chairman Dent asking the house to
recede from its insistence on its
amendments.
There were indications TODAY
that an administration bill TO grant
unlimited power to the president 10
increase the size OF the army will
meet with opposition. Chairman
Dent has not abandoned the bill he
prepared without consultation with
the war department which would
limit "the total number of men now
drafted or 10 he hereafter drafted. a"
10 100000 and he intimated to-
day that he might seek its incor-
poration in the army appropriation
bill