The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-30
DRAFT INEQUALITIES
ATTACKED IN SENATE
CONSUMPTION Of Men Rejected
as Volunteers Criticised by
South Dakotan.
JOHNSON ALSO PROTESTS
Suggests That Levy Alone Be
Provided For Under Pro-
posed New Act.
specid, Despafch TO The suy.

cpcCI0t DcSpufCN 10 Ahh otN'
WASHINGTON, July 2s.-The coming
storm in the Senate over the move to
extend the limits Of the draft ages was
presaged by violent squall there to-
day when inequalities Of the draft law
were roundly denounced and the law
Just as firmly defended. The principal
attack was based on the fact that under
present conditions men have tried to
enlist in the army. navy and Marine
Corps only to be rejected but later &C
copied without question in the draft.
The spark was applied when Senator
Sterling IS. d. introduced q resolution
setting forth In the preamble that a
number of such cases had occurred and
asking that the Secretary Of War be
asked to inform the Senate whether In
his opinion permission given to men
subject to draft under such or similar
circumstances to volunteer or permits
sion for their assignment to volunteer
regiments would materially affect or i'm
pair the service. whether or not the Wal
Department contemplates any action
looking to a transfer of such men to
the volunteer service and whether in the
opinion OF the Secretary Of War such
transfers are permissible under existing
Laws
johnson Admits Inequalities.
Senator Sterling discussed this reso-
luton a short time. Senator johnson
tCaL), who followed him, promised that
the subject matter of the resolution
would be one of the main factors In the
atraty IN M Araf
'As is suggested by the Senator from
South Dakota" said Senator Johnson
lone OF the problems now confronting
the Provost Marshal General and In
deed think the War Department Is as
to the adoption of a new draft law
changing the age limits In the prep
aration OF that particular law unques-
tionably the matter Of whether Volun-
teer enlistments Of any sort shall be
permitted will be one of the subjects OF
investigation.
For instance, the Senator is quite
right in suggesting certain inequalities
with respect to the last draft. such in
stances as where the physical require.
ments at one time are of one sort and
then overnight are changed 70 another
sort. and where men under the Original
physical requirements were rejected and
went on with their usual business and
vocations. married perhaps, then sud
denly without notice or warning were
jerked in by a particular draft board.
Criticises Recruiting Posters.
you will recall that when the draf
law was before US one OF the argument.
| made in its behalf was that II was equa
and impartial in its operation; that vol
unteering. on the contrary, was uneaua
and partial and took the best without
indeed making all comply: but imme
dately after the draft law was adopte-
| some authority Gent its posters all cvel
the land, to which I called attention NO
long ago. in which invidiously II com
pared, substantially volunteering ant
the execution of the draft law itself
These posters that observed in this cit,
were couched in language calling on meI
to volunteer after the arguments tina
were made concerning the magnificenc,
and the equal operation and impartiaiit!
OF the draft.
Now some of the authorities desr,
that all volunteering shall be prohibtet
when we next come-and we are goinl