The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1918-08-22
MAN POWER BILLS


prepared today TO enact quickly the
new man power legislation extend
ing the draft age limits to 2 and as
years for the American military pro-
gram which General March. chief
of staff told the house military COM
mitee should win the war in 1919.
While the house committee began
work on the bill by hearing Gener-
al March Secretary Baker and Provost
Marshal General Crowder, the senate
set aside it's summer vacation agree
ment in order to take up the measure
Thursday. 1t appeared probably the
bill would be debated simultaneously
in the senate and house the last Of
this week and passed soon thereafter.
Senate prohibition advocates agreed
to temporarily lay aside the national
prohibition bill and give the man pow
Before the house committee Sccre-
tary Baker and his aides again urged
action on the bill discussing various
phases of the enlarged program which
calls for an army of nearly four mil
lion Americans in France by June 30
1919, with another in training IN this
country.
Predicting that the war VII he won
or lost on the western front. regard
less Of what happens elsewhere, Gen
eral March told the committee that
with 80 trained American divisions
of about $4,000 men each, in France
under an American commander vic
tory ought to rest on American arms
next year. Reiterating his belief that
such force could go through the
German lines at will General March
went further and electrified the COM
mittecmen by declaring such force
by declaring such force should
clusion in 1919"
Many Men Needed
To exert this American man power
in securing victory, General March,
said, every single man" between l8
and 45 in Class l would be needed by
next spring. Shipping facilities are
assured he added, and maintenance
problems have been considered in the
program.
Suggestion that the five million
army program would exhaust Amer
ica's man lower were laughingly
denied by General March but he join
ed Secretary Baker in explaining that
it represents Americas maximum ef-
fort for the present."
Plans for calling new registrants
under the proposal explained by Sec
retary Baker provide for three classes
probably to be called in order, those
between l9 and 81 years of age, those
between 81 and As and those between
18 and 10. Mr.. Baker did not object
to separate classification, of Is years
old youths, but he and General March
said all eligibles probablcy would be
called out not later than next spring.
The secretary told the committee
his previous statement of the depart
ment's intention to liberaliZe the
draft regulation in dealing with the
older men to be made subject to call,
had been misconstrucd. He said
there was no intention to exempt mar
ricd men as a class and that married
men who do not support their wives
or are not engaged in useful occu-
pations will be called as they are now.
work or Fight"
Discussing the "work or fight"
amendment of Senator Thomas of
Colorado, to the senate bill, Secretary
Baker said it 'scems entirely con-
sistent" with the present regulations
and is unobjcctionabe. He said it
does not provide for conscription of
labor, as contended by the representa-
tives of organized labor, but merely
would be declaration by congress
of the ''work or fight principle al
ready put into effect by draft regula-
tions.
Secretary Morrison Of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor, appeared in
opposition to the amendment and it
was arranged to hear him and other
labor Representatives tomorrow
Chairman Dent said tonight he hoped
to report the measure Wednesday, or
Thursday, probably with amendments.
If sentiment in the committee for
provisions specifying the order of
classes to be called and to specifically
defer calls for 18 year old boys, is re-
flected in the reported bill, Repre-
sentative Khan Of California, rank
ing Republican member, plans min
ority report in favor of the admins
tration plan.