Evening star., 1918-08-23
.|LLUSTRATESHLEA
FOR 19-yEARL LIMIT
Mr.. Johnson Exhibits Pages
of Eighteen, Small in Com
parison to Equipment.
HITS AT Mr.. FORD'S SON

Exhibiting two Of the pages in the
House who are eighteen years old
loaded down with the impedimenta of
a soldier. Representative Albert John
son Of Washington today appealed
to the House during debate on the
man-power bill not to order such
boys sent into service until the de-
ferred classiications have been
combed over.
Representative johnson referred to
Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, wto
asked for deferred classification be-
cause he was needed in the Forl busi-
ness and because he has a wife and
child. This new bill sends the
eighteen year old Of the United States
to war ahead of all the Edsel Fords
in the country" said Representative
johnson.
Shorter Than His Rifle.
The pages whom he exhibited are
Charles Mainhall of the District Of
Columbia. weighing 102 pounds. 5 feet
6 inches tall, whom Representative
johnson said was carrying more
than twice his weight in equipment
and Joe Doyle of Missouri. 110 pounds,
4 feet inches. who. he said. was only
about two-thirds the length of his
rife.
standing beside me are two eight
een-year-old pages employed by the
House." said Representative Johnson
They are part of the man-power of
the United States, but I submit that
they are hardly dt for life in the
trenches. That boy there is half as
high as this gun l have asked him to
carry. and that other manly little
fo1l within 6ffv
pounds of the equipment I asked him
to shoulder"
Representative johnson offered an
amendment to limit the draft from
nineteen instead Of eighteen years.
Vigorous Appeal by Mr.. Mckenzie.
Vigorous appeal to the House as a
matter Of justice and Of military policy
not to authorize the government to put
eighteen and nineteen year old youths
into the trenches until after the
sapped was made by Representative
Mckenzie of Illinois, a member of
the military affairs committee and
author Of the amendment to call these
men last.
Representative Mckenzie lauded the
cen and nineteen and their willingness to
be sacrificed when the nation needs
them He assailed the older men who
are using their influence to be re-
tanned at home attending to business
while they are sending immature
youths to fight the world battle.
Representative Mckenzie said he
was n6 fighting the War Department
or SecRtary Baker or the President
and would uphold them in all war
work as far as he thinks 1t is right. but
that as a member of the military af-
fairs committee he is serving the
American people and doing honestly
terests of the country, and in this
work he recognizes no dictator.
During his speech for more than
twenty minutes he emphasized that
he believes the United States military
machinery would be strengthened by
ing upon those of eighteen and nine
teen. He was frequently interrupted
by applause from both sides of the
House, which continued for several
minutes after the close Of his speech.
Debated in Senate.
Debate on the man-power bill was
continued today in the Senate. The
supporters of the measure hoped it
debate and begin voting on amend
ments late today, and that the bill
might be passed before adjournment
tomorrow.
Senator Pomerene of Ohio. opposed
drafting Of eighteen-year-old boys.
declaring it unnecessary, and analyz-
ing man power statistics OF Gen.
March and Provost Marshal General
Crowder. II necessary, however.
Senator Pomerene said he was will
ing. to take boys of seventeen and
above.
Lowering of the proposed maximum
draft age to forty was urged by
Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts,. He
said military necessity demanded the
calling of youths over eighteen, but
that he could not see the wisdom Of
taking men over forty years old
when the number secured this way
would be SO small.
Hope to Complete Bill This Week.
Debate in the Senate yesterday pro-
ceeded rapidly and the hope of COM
pleting the bill before the end of the