Arizona republican., 1918-08-13
Eixinu the Blame


 IL has been the fashion of some newspapers and many magazine writers who were really only press agents to attribute Congress the blame for the delay in our war work. The record shows, how ever that Congress has acted with reasonable promp- ttude all administration relating to the war It has at times objected certain features of proposed legislation unnecessary, unwise and, sometimes, positively dangerous and in conse quence delays have resulted But Congress has never hesitated to the government to raise money for the to grant to the administration authority to employ for carrying on the with the utmost dispatch But there has been necessary delay in exercising the authority granted
 Members of Congress surprised and some what disturbed week ago yesterday at the receipt of a letter from Provost Marshal General Crowder urging legislation extending the draft age. This first suggested by the provost marshal general in June and even long before that he had favored it. But at that time Secretary Baker opposed to it he had been from the beginning
 General Crowder cleared his record at that time, June 14 in the following statement to Con gress
 q must first invite your attention to interview given out by the secretary of war, and which published in yesterdays metropolitan dailies It the general effect that needed additional enrolment. After l had received the summons from this committee attend upon this session sought interview with the secretary of and him figures in regard to the depletion of power, which showed a necessity for additional rolment. He authorized me to give these figures to the committee to express my individual views"
 The interview of Mir. Baker to which General Crowder refers the following:
 WASHINGTON. D. C.. June l3.-In view of many reports that the War Department was to ask modified ton of the draft law snd extend the present limit Secretary of War Baker today authorized the state ment that such plan under consideration.
 The present provision for drafting between ages of 31 military requirements and there is need whatever it is explained to look beyond those age limits now or in the near future Mir. Baker would be opposed to any proposition to tend the limit at present for the that he regards this entirely unnecessary.
 It is explained at the War Depar rtment that if raising the draft at this time would hasten the winning of the war. useful military pur- pose there would be hestancy in raising it.
 The available man power between the ages of 21 and 31 has not been exhausted, has the call to the coors of within these age limits reached a point where it to look beyond Each year brings upwards of one million to avail ability for service by the fact that approximately this number becomes of age annually.
 It not until after Congress entered upon period of recess. after the enactment of the law giving the administration control of telegraph and telephone lines that the department proposed the tension of the draft limits, something that Congress ready to take up two months ago. even earlier.
 This sudden change of opinion by Mir. Baker has ocoasioned resentment on the part of the House Military Committee, of both Democrats and Repub- licans and of them last week expressed it as follows:
 We were ready to act then the enlarged draft age limits At NIT. Bakers request, agreed to wait, but only the understanding that the War Depart ment would submit bill in September, not before. Now. few days after Congress goes away a recess Mir. Baker springs this bill making it appear that Congress had been responsible for the delay in changing the age limits"
 Members of the committee say they do not intend silently to accept the buck thus passed to Congress- but that they intend 10 complete the by sum moning Secretary Baker and securing from him explanation of his efforts block this legisla ton which is urgently demanded