Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-28
WANTED TO SEND
T. r. TO RUSSIA
But Baker Said "No"-The Three
Graces-Propa-
ganda

To the EdUOr Of ne ErCHiHG PRbIic Lcdgcy.
Sir-Therc is II Grand Army post in this
city which, about thirty years ago had upon
its roster the names of 800 comrades Every
one OF them was the proud pOsSeSsor of an
honorable discharge from service in the Civil
War, otherwise they could not have become
members Of Colonel William l.. Curry Post
Death having taken heavy toll of its menu
bership, that post now numbers only nfty-
four comrades, every one of whom Is past
seventy years Of age, but not too old to see
as everybody saw-eNccpting the Administra-
tion-that Russia was falterng in her war
upon Germany and the comrades of Curry
Post believed that nothing would do MS lnuch
to prevent HuSSia'S detection than for tho
President to commission Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt TO raise a volunteer army of 500
ooo men Tor military service on the fighting
line of Russia, that army to be enrolled from
the States bordering both sides of the
Rocky Mountains, an army that would be
made mp largely of hardy cowboys virtually
ready for action Immediately they were nut
upon the firing line, and every man shooting
to kill.
The veterans of Curry Post, believing that
nothing could do more to hasten the end of
the great war than by placing such a body
of American soldiers between Pctrograd and
Berlin, in July last wrote TO the President
making such IA recommendation, We had not
taken into consideration how such a force
could he most quickly put upon the firing
Hne--that was for the Government to de-
tcHnine: we did however, believe that the
ships of Brazil and Japan could be secured
for such purpose if no better method could
be devised. 1t was the great moral. political
and military effect such action would have
that led the comrades of Curry Post to con-
slider the matter and to submit their conclu-
sions to President Wilson.
But the Government had not then. and has
not now, any idea of having Colonel Roose-
Welt take any part whatever in this war.
which greatly needs his comprehensive
oil itf1atf t.t1G .lft.,g
effective services, and we We're 1abbergasted,
dumfounded, humbled to the dust upon re-
ceipt of the following letter from the War
Department, TO which our communication
had been referred w the President:
Washington, August ], 1917
Dear Sir--I am directed by the Secretary
of War to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter Of the twenty ninth uitimo, in which
you make certain suggestions regarding
military operations against Germany, to
thank you for your interest and to inform
you that your suggestions have been care.
fully noted.
with regard to sending volunteer army
TO Russia ! am further directed by the
Secretary of War to inform you that AT
the present time the formation of anv vol
unteer unit or organization or the ac-
ceptance of such unit or organization for
service in the army is not contemplated
No volunteer enlistments are now made
except for the regular army and the Ma
tional Guard. The general question of oh
tanning men for service with the armies
of the United States was settled by the
selective-service act approved May 1G 1917.
Very respectfully.
III. II. McCLAIN,
The Adjutant General
When anything stands in the way of pro
noting the best interest of Colonel William
l.. Curry Post we scotch il, and as Congress
was in session all of last summer until late
In the fall President Wilson could have
scotched the act of May IS, 1917, between
sunrise and sunset of the day he recom-
mended the act be changed for such a purpose
worldwide in its benefit TO humanity
IL any person. no matter what his political
faith predictions for war may be, asserts
that am playing politics by the publication
OF this article, ] will call his hand by show
ing how the Washington Administrators
publicity agents are trying, very clumsly
TO lay foundation stone for third term for
Mr. Wilson by publishing a sugar-coated re-
quest 10 me--in writing--to take a SUPER
visng part In that heather Chinet" game.
JOHN w. FRAZIER
Philadelphia January &c.