The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-13
HOUSE IS AFTER
ALIEN SLACKERS
Is Expected to Pass the Bur-
nett Bill in an Amended
Form in Present Week
INJUSTICE NOW TO
AMERICAN YOUTH
one Reglstrant in Nine in Vermont Is
an Alien, One in Four in New Hamp-
shire and One in Six in Maine-Ar-
guments Made for Bill.

WASHINGTON, Feb 13.-The so
called alien Stacker is without a friend
in the house of representatives Despite
objections voiced by Secretary of the
state Lansing, that branch of the con
gress may be expected this week to
which provides that any alien who
claims exemption from the selective
draft on the ground of alienage shall
forever be denied the right of becom-
ing a citizen Of the United States, and,
as soon as practicable, shall be de-
ported to the country of which he is
a subject or citizen. 1t is plain that
an overwhelming majority of the house
il determined to impose maximum mill
tary obligations on all aliens who are
Subjects of the allied nations. But it
is plain also that there is a majority,
not so large as the first, anxious to do
the right thing as nation. This ma
jority is determined that no precedent
shall be established to rise up and curse
us as a nation in years to come Con-
sequentlv, it may be anticipated that
the Burnett bill will be so amended
that if finally enacted into law it can
not be construed 10 superSede provi-
sions of any existing treaty with re-
spect to compulsory military service
An effort IS being made by certain
members to strike out this provision.
which is incorporated in the amendment
offered by Congressman Rogers and
adopted b. the house, but there is rea-
son TO believe the far seeing members
Of the house will be victorious. Even
if the amendment should be killed by
the house, the senate would see to it
that it is replaced in the measure, for
no real leader in either branch wants to
put the United States in the position
Of regarding a solemn treaty a. "a
ScIap Of paper, which would be the
ease If the bin were passed without
amendment.
Practically every member is agreed
that gross injustice has been done the
American youth by calling upon him
10 perform military service while cx-
Guiding his alien brother. Several NOM
bcrs elected since last fall won their
seats in the house by declaring they
would do their utmost to draft aliens
Others are convinced that their success
or defeat iii the coming fall elections
depends on the issue now before the
house. More important than this per
s0nal consideration, however. is the gen
eral agreement among national legisla
tors that great wrong has been done
and that II should be corrected at the
earliest opportunity. MAN. have tired
of the slow diplomatic procedure and
are ready to face the expressed opposi-
tiou of the White House and the de
paEtment of state by enacting compul-
sorry legislation. What surprises stu
dents of national affairs is that so many
legislators even consider the advisable
lty Of deporting aliens. 1t is quite
possible that this provision will be
stricken out by tho house, and if not
by the house, by the senate. Indeed.
deportation would be next to impossible
Of accomplishment. cit is clearly APP
parent, says one member, THAT the
hySterlcal have given no consideration
whatsoever to the tremendous shortage
IN overseas tonnage. What do they in
tend to do? 1t appears that their only
solution Is to march the recalcitrant
aliens to the seaboard, there supply
them with waterwings and command
them to swim a few thousand miles to
their native lands
Members who have studied the bin
carefully are agreed that il has a good
purpose but is crudelv drawn. In tbe
first place, it has mixed up deportation
and naturalization, which are based ON
lie
natlohai courtesy, deportation should
Dr done only by treaty, especially with
LrIeholy countries; but even on depor-
.ation TINS bill has been so drawn that
II would deport only men who are sub