Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-15
FRIDAY. MARCH I5. 1918
Scope Of the Defence Bill.

Very forcihlv the Morning News takes
exception 10 the wide scope and extent
of the Defence bill now pending before
the special session Of the Legislature,
especially in respect of the enormous
mowers that would be conferred upon the
state Council IL Defence in the matter
~ COMPULSORY labor Should the hii
pass IN its present shape, the conncIl
vn,,ld have authority 10 draft cvHrN male
citizen between II and 90 years .! age
rtnt m the national army. who would be
r-nured 10 perform such military ser
,,c,, duty as shall hc assigned " hnn
bv the SAIL council under 'h'~ act
.NIilItarv service in this connection,
j. vel undc, stood would comprise
l;.bor AZ III branches engaged in any kind
II praiuction necessary or essential 7"
,ing On tic war. and not {" the purely
military serve. n. aggressive fighting
nr nome defence
II i trnc this grant If power l. extra
ordinary. hur these arc extraordinary
times w sav this not because We favor
tho drastic extent of tho pending mca-
surc. but IL help LAY thr matter fairly
before the people. IN order that they
may know what They arc confronted With.
Ii thcv do not lk, thc p"p,>ltnn. 'ct
them voice their opposition directly 70
the members 81 the Icgl>latur l>"-
elallv are parents hkcly g object - "
measure which would deprive thor ~ nii
control Of their minor children .nd place
The latter entirely II n" command 4
an agency Of the State
Ii msv bc said that surA trrlarni"n~
authority would w. exercised with care
and cauuon say, * Morning \'"~,
but why the aUthont, ha' l"N-
sill, emergency confrout~ fho >tatc wllcf'
demand, that such altocraur power over
the citizens 81 thi~ state ,hould !, vested
in any body that nay hc appointed by
thc Legislature or tic governor The
Federal government i surely ahl, % De-
fond The country and y COPE with 2
GERMAN INVASION wfich onc might inn
aclnc wa, imminent iror 'hc wovl-
>ions oi thi, till
Very forcrful j. :h,~ arCusncn', aHd II
g. night H. Il. boltoIn 81 'hc mann
oue,,ior Tn, necessity ipr thi, or aur
other hr,d :. VAR legislation alter the
.r,,Ic i,over~ conferred upau he gov
e-n.r III tic Legislature 1T n regular
session ar aga Ii iac. th, question
i, rte..a~,It, for 4 >iss1.. session The
Morning Nm should hale gwen con
,,ie-,tio. - fbe matter bcioro th, >p,-
>..,-.., va- 4lIc ami protested
,..or,a~i, t..di-t To governor taking
'nI- Sep ircr l.veuug pointed ou',
m .Ipit tinl, 'ilr aFi~oiutr Lack Of sound
-,a-,,i Tor any Legislative action a tins
INN. and p"~>ibly matted opposition ou
.bc part 81 tic state press might have
induced tie governor 20 withhold his
hand aud thus spar, the people the affllc-
tion nov bearing Upon them. and the
threat Of evil Ia CONT
Bui the main purpose of the spc-
ccil session was 10 ratify he Prohibition
Amendment 10 the Federal Constitution.
mattered not 10 the advocates Of this
action what might happen IN consequence,
A. long a. tins much could be- accom-
pl-he,i. They disregardcd all night d
the people to pass upon this very i'm
Iortant measure, one affecting their
nights and interests more profoundly
than anv other national measure that ha-
como before the country Tor a century
aud by thclr insistent import unit le-
persuaded the governor to take the step
which. VIC have no doubt he did with
reluctance and grave doubts as % il.
proprict>
Tho step ha- been taken, ana nov
the people see what they arc confronted
vIth The Legislature IS iii session anc
various special interests are clamorins
for recognition Members wish 70 opeI
the doors to general legislation, and a
present We have 2 special session a.
threatening in its possibilities as an!
regular session, even more SO There i
DO telling what may be imposed upor
the people IN the way Of legislation unde
the deceptive plea Of war measures.
The Legislature could confer no bette
service upon the people than to al
journ at the earliest possible moment
But unfortunately the indication
point 70 o rush Of business and a ful
session The "Pandoras box" OF troubl
bus been opened