The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-05
Registration if New <Army
Measure Passes.
Those p to 81 Already Listed
Are Excepted, of Course.
100000 WILL SIGN UP
House and Senate May Recon-
vene for Quick Action.
Baker Wanted 10 to 40, but
CrOwder Convinced Him.

Washington, Aug. 5.-September 5
next will be registration day for more
than 13, 1000, 900 Americans between 1S
and 21, 80 and AS, if congress needs
the urgent plea of Provost Marchal
General Crowder. Leaders are getting
plans under way for speedy passage
of the new man power bills introduced
today in house and senate. Crowder's
warning that registration should not
be delayed beyond September if the
calls for October, November and De-
cember are to be met out of class i.
caused house and senate leaders to
consider reconvening both houses next
Monday to begin work on the bill.
Weekly Registration.
Weekly registration of all men be-
coming 21 years old may be necessary
after September /, Crowder declared
in letter to Baker which Chamber
lain submitted to the senate. Crowder
said he sees no other way to provide
the necessary men for the September
call of 200. 900. He declared there will
be not more than 100000 men left in
class l by the first of September. He
urged immediate action by congress
on the new man power bill to provide
for later calls. Crowder's letter also
revealed the fact thet the war depart
menC was 1lSur1nS on Or9It age limits
of Q to 10 and changed its mind when
Crowder showed Baker that these
ages would not produce the necessary
men.
Washington, Aug. 5.-The first step
in the enlarged war program of the
war department was taken today
with the introduction of bill In both
houses of congress extending he Graft
age limits to Is and As. Only the res
ent recess Of congress will operate to
delay the legislation Reference If the
bill to. the military committees If fhss
two houses was expected following its
Introduction.
Hearings will be held on The bill by
the house military affairs committee,
it has been stated by Chairman Dent.
While opposition to the program will
be met, administration leaders said tc-
day that it was expected the bin would
be passed by both houses essentially
as introduced.
Senator Chamberlain, chairman OF
the senate military committee, an
nounced that his committee wouid be-
gin work on the bill at once. He add
ed that in all probability it could be
reported out to the senate after few
days deliberation.
An effort may be made by the SEN
ate to resume its regular business be-
fore August "a. when the upper
Dent said that Secretary Paker
probably would be the first witness
before the house committee when it
takes up the bill General March.
chief of staff, and Provost Marshal
General Crowder will follow Baker
Tho opposition will develop against
the measure, particularly in the sem
ate, as to lowering ages below 21,
there is a general feeling that there
will be far less fight than was general
ly believed.
After carrying out the program for
July and August General Crowder
pointed out that only 100000 of the
F91S registrants would be left on Sep
tember l for subsequent calls
1.-The second and more difficult
question" General Crowder's state
mcnt added, lis how we can supply on
time the 10000 men required for
each of the succeeding months of Oc-
tober, November and December. The
Brittsh-Canadian treaty would help
out to the extent-it is estimated-of
about $4,000 men, which is not even
the conventional drop in the bucket
If We could assume that the law
would be enacted in the remaining
days of August we would have a basis
! OF calculating the results to be OBJ
| tanned under it. AS stated to the
! senate iniltar-- committee a minimum
period of ninety days is necessary to
| tered i he additional classes sug-
| gested. We cannot therefore wait for
! the completion of class l but must
/ take men Irrespective of their order
number as fa-t as they find their way
/ into cla.3 /.
| "Perha.-s we could receive assur-
ances that the legislation could be
enacted in the house in the period fol-
| lowing its -econvening so that it could
i be taken p tromptly by. the senate
on August 26. and passed there. This
would ena le us to contemplate Sep
! tember as a national registration
| day."
Baker at Kansas City.
Kansas City, Mo, Aug. 5.-Secre.
tary of War Newton D. Baker arrived
in Kansas City this morning en- route
to Leavenworth, Kan, ION officia
| business" He intends to return tC
| Washington tomorrow.
Will Not Draft Labor.
In discussing the new draft ages
IS to 45-which were presented to
! congress today, the secretary said it i:
not the Intention of the war depart
ment to disturb the democratic life q
the country, nor to go into deferred
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