The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-29
'ER, 8. c., SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1918
SENATE DISCUSSES DRAFT.
OF AGE LIMIT TO 4a
PROPOSED,
Fall Amendment Before Body With
Substitute offered by Hitchcock Up
Again Today.

washington, June 25.-EXtension |
OF the draft ages above and below the
iexisting limits-21 to 81 years-was
discussed at length in the senate to-
day during consideration Of an amend
ment by Senator Fall Of New Mexico
to the $4,000, 100000 army appro-
priation bill to substitute IS years as
the minimum and As years as the
maximum. The senator revised the
amendment making the ages 20 to 40
and eliminating provision that
youths under Fl should not be called
into active military service. Disposal
of the amendment and a substitute
by Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska,
went over until tomorrow with senti-
fnent in the senate apparently evenly
divided. Some senators regarded it as
probable some expression might come
from the administration, particularly
lin view Of report circulated at the
capital today that President Wilson
opposes for the present at least any
change in the age limits and deplores
agitation for their extension at thi.
time.
The Fall amendment was vigorous
ly supported by Senator Reed of Mis-
souri, and others. Opposition was voic-
ed by Senator'S McKellar of Tennessee
and Kirby of Arkansas Democratic
members Of the military committee.
while several other senators declared
they favored raising the maximum
draft age but opposed lowering tn:
minimum.
Senator Hitchcock's substitute
amendment fixes the age limit at %
and 40 respectively, and provides citi-
zens of the allied countries resident in
the United States shall be subject to
draft and that nationals Of neutral
countries who claim exemption shall
be barred from American citizenship
Imperative and immediate necessity
/ Tor an increase of Americas man pow
er in the war was the principal ar
gument of those favoring the amend
fhent, while opponents based their OBJ.
jections principally upon the conten
tion that there are sufficient men nov
available to meet the war departments
program.
| 1t was fully predicted that Glass ]
would soon be exhausted and that un
less the age limits are raised there
will be disruption of industry with
consequent effect upon the war pro-
gram.
In behalf of his amendment tr
make the army draft ages Is to 45
years Senator Fall told the senate
that personally he opposed it's limita-
ton that boys under 21 should not be
sent to the firing line.
Senator Williams of Mississippi pro-
posed that the Fall amendment be
modified SO as to include all men be-
tween 20 and 40. This was opposed
by Senator Vardaman of Mississippi
who said he favored an increase to As
but would never vote for a lowerinr
Of the limit below Fl.
Senator Chamberlain said he did nc
believe the country would stand fo,
drafting men under 81" although h
favored the proposal. Instead O.
drawing on deferred classes he said
1t would be better "to step over 80
and take the man without dependents
who loafs around bar rooms He Nigh,
as we'll be made to fight as the man
under 81
Explaining that he favored raisin
the age limit, Senator Shields of Ten
nessee suggested that by lowering the
age to Is youths would be taken from
the farms and still further cripple food
production.