Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-06
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THE NEW DRAFT LAW

THE NEW DRAFT LAW
was not in. the least surprised to
know that all the able-bodied men in
the United States from eighteen to for
ty-five would be called to fight against
Germany.
1t was a foregone conclusion, when
the authorities declared there must be
more than as many-sent over to
Francois had already gone. There are
said to be more than million and a
half there now, and others are going
as fast as transportation is furnished.
There must be other soldiers trained
during another year. to fill the places
of those who will never return-or who
will return incapable. of army service.
1 expect the draft will extend to sixty
if the war continues a year longer, and
1 see no hope of peace even that early.
And it was just and fair that older
men should be conscripted as the youn-
ger ones had been taken. There are a
great many unmarried men at forty-five
who are needed in the army and they
should certainly take the places of
those much younger, who did leave
wives and children behind them.
of course war means great hardships
but when the authorities are able to
draft free Americans-for soldiers-they
must deal fair, without favoritism.
Otherwise there will be trouble
The men who are seasoned by age and
experience should certainly make more
l'enduring troops than the youths who
are called at eighteen. Anyhow they
should share lots with these boys who
are not even of voting age. In Confed-
crate times they were called from six
teen to sixty. 1t may so happen at this
era of our history. The word now is
to send enough troops to France to gain
a decisive victory. The secretary of
war demanded that boys of eighteen
should go-and they are called by this
draft law-passed recently by congress.
The new draft law will cover many
persons who will be greatly missed at
home and in business, but the thing to
do is to deal fairly and treat all alike.
THE MEXICAN SITUATION
The people of the United States are
facing critical situation with Mexico.
The newspapers were full of it today.
Every, day that passes confirms. the. be-
lief that friction with Mexico will grow
and expand The authorities in Wash
ipgton are keeping what we would have
called once a respectable army on the
border at this time. The capture OF
Vera Cruz in 1914. and occupation for
six months, was Indignantly resented by
all the Mexicans of all factions. They
are now solidly united in hatred FOR
what they call the Americanos. We
spent six millions of dollars during
those six months We took over all the
customs duties at the port of Vera Cruz
which we are assured must be refund
ed to Mexico when a final settlement is
made. We were mistaken as to Car
rama also as to Villa. From all &C
counts one is as good as the other and
both the limit as to faithlessness and
treachery. =
I was sitting in the senate gallery at
Washington on the very day that, Sena-
tor Shively, of Indiana, appeared from
a cloak room with a telegram IN ms
hand which told of the capture of Vera
Cruz and the killing of eighteen marines
of the United States.
That was the time and the place not
onlv to have declared war on Mexico and
TO have announced that this government
was going to conquer Mexico once Tor
all. lust as we declared war on Spain
and took over Cuba Foreign nations
expected it to end that way.
Germany is praying for this outoreaN
with Mexico. There is no doubt lveIy
propaganda at this time, aided oy Ger
man money. 1t is perfectly natural that
Carmanv should do this very thing
II was also to be expected that the Unit
Cd states should be faced with German
influence in Mexico in every possible
way.
SCARCITY or LABOR
The greatest home problem which is
menacing our farmers, not excepting the
war in Europe, lies in and around the
scarcity of labor to gather crops already
grown and waiting to be harvested. II
is a very serious problem indeed. Foo-
der-pulling is on right now, and there
is insufficient labor to pull ana save
fodder now ripe and ready. III WheSt
and other fall grains are to be soWn
the land must be made ready and Wen
prepared also, not scratched over There
are very few hands to be hired Tor this
or any other purpose
need only call attention to what VIII :
happen if all this land is. left unWorked
during the year 1919. The main support
of the soldiers in the field and in train
ing camps lies in the raising or 1901
supplies. II the land fails to yield IT'S
increase then comes famine. 1t is well
IN recoIlect Just here that Russia is COM
pletely dominated by Germany. RUSSIA
Is the greatest wheat-grOwing country
in the world Russia's population Is
largely agricultural and Russia covers
more territory than all the United
States.
Germany can cultivate that country
with the serfs of Russia, and at the
noint of the bayonet. They propose 90
do SO. The Germans can support its .
army on Russian wheat. 1t Is the 2
bounden duty of the authorities IN this !
country to see that the soil brings forth
enough food supplies to feed the amer
and