The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-03-09
NEW DRAFT Law
| TO BE OPPOSED
House Develops AntagoDism to
Bill Providing for Call of
/ Class One Men.
'INJUSTICES AuLEG E D
In Operation of Previous Act
Back of Movement-To
Restore Confidence.
INJUsTIcts A-LLEeE D
(BY David LaWrence.) J


Al Copyright, 1918, by New York Eve.
II ming Po1t.)
n Washington, March 9. - Opposition
a has developed in the house to the bill
4 already passed by the senate which
q would enable the war department. t.
u call into service all men Of draft as'
who have been placed in class I, re-
Il sardless Of the quotas hitherto taker
from the several districts and pre-
cinots.
Although the bill has been ordered
favorably reported. there will be mi
nority report. The measure ought to
pass because serious embarrassment
to military plans already laid would
otherwise result. but the feeling in the
house is nevertheless significant of
dissatisfaction with some of the opera
II tions of the draft system that ought
to be fully recognized.
Members have been receiving letters
of complaint which make it appear
I that the provost marshal generals Of
fine. in its anxiety to get men, has so
thedged about the supposed discretion
ary powers of local and district boards
\ that rather than take the responsible
8ity for exemptions and deferred classi-
!. fications. many case of injustice is
countenanced.
Very little has been said or writ
item about the injustice of the draft op-
Grafton, but smouldering dissatisfac-
tion is neither healthy nor c. lducive
TO confidence. And the fact that the
house military affairs committee was
almost evenly divided on the vote to
report the bill to permit the govern
ment to draft as many men from any
city or state, regardless of population
or previous legislation Is significant
of a lack of confidence in those who
are managing the draft.
Some of the members privately ad-
mitted that they opposed the bill, but
in Difference to the administration they
will vote for Ii. Other representatives
openly say it confers too much power
on the war department: that, instead
of correcting inequalities which
brought about the present classified
tion system, it will tend to increase
them. There will be speeches in op-
position when the bill is formally re-
ported.
No Check on Volunteering.
The truth about the situation is that
many members of the house feel that
they have somehow been duped by the
tactics pursued. Ordinarily those who
favored selective service argued ve-
hemently this point more than any
other and put conscription through
congress. But not only has the draft
dislocated industry, but not piece of
legislation. not a regulation from the
war department has attempted to pre-
vent men in essential industries from |
In fact, for months the |
war department conducted a recruit |
Ing campaign, holding out certain ad- |
yantages to those who would olun
teer.
The position of many members OF !
congress, who expected to square |
themselves with their constituents for
voting for the selective service law,
has been weakened.
No check has been placed on
volunteering, as il was inferred
would be the case from arguments
against that system. And as
consequence Chairman HurIev. of
the shipping board, has endeav-
ored to get back many shipbuiId-
ing employees who w into the
army. Five thousand already
have been reclaimed, and figures
are not available as to the losses
in other industries essential to the
making Of war, but which are now
suffering from a lack Of labor.
On the side of the selective draft an
bureau has been estab-
ished which tends to put drafted men
nto the branch of military service fo5
which they are best fitted, but, judging
rom the temper of farmers organiza-
ions and firms having war contracts,
he war department has not seen fit
O check up on the local and district
,oards to make them classify. with
lew to prevent the dislocation of in
Iustry.
Percentages OF industrial and agri-
ultural claims that are approved by
district boards are small, according to
he numerous complaints received at
he capital.
But, perhaps, 'he worst feature
Of the draft laws operation, which
il was within the power Of the
provost nnarshsIs office to correct,
but which il failed to DO, is the ia
nous question requiring every in.
dividusI. whether he 10 indus /
trially important or whether he !
has a wife and children, to make
= formal plea for exemption. a
This whole matter was threshed out c
.st summer when question IL. DO
ou claim Exemption" was put on the
egistration cards and eliminated at 7
1e specific order OF President Wilson. T
no recognized that II placed many a q
atriotic individual in an embarrass-
" II not humiliating position.
Ia was argued by the provost mar q
hal. ONCE that there was no time to I
ork the matter otherwise, but that n ,
system OF questions were introdL ed
would be easy TO remove that df-
Guilty. But VIII, the questionable
az written and made public the same
question was still re-
lined. y
Want Objections Renewed a
Every individual WAS required 10 =
air, an exemption or deferred elsssi- {
sation or eonnive with some enc else "
DO u fer him. Many members Of =
. hs ne say that they Undsrsteod Sc
awe service to mean selsetivs ssrV- s.