The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
VICTORY IN 1919
SLOGAN SPEEDS
new DRAFT BILL
Congress Gets Measure,
Which Will Pass House
To-day, Leaders Say.
SENATE ACTS THIS WEEK
Opposition to 18 Year Call
Brushed Aside-LabOr Plans
to Be Adjusted.
SENATE ACTS THIS WEEK
spsciai Despdtch TO THE SrN.


power bill, increasing the draft age to
Is to 45 years. came up 70: considera-
tion in both houses OF Congress to-day.
with every prospect that the measure
will be driven through under the whip
and spur OF national necessity within
the present week. In the House 1t was
admitted by the leaders OF both parties
that II will pass tomorrow. In the
Senate, despite the privilege OF unlim-
tied debate. there were surface indca-
tions that the speeches would not be long
nor debates protracted.
The promise of Gen. March. Chief Of
Staff, to the effect that the enactment
Of this measure spells victory in 1919
is the impellins cause for action. The
words OF the Chief OF Staff were re-
ferred to repeatedly in the course OF to-
days discussion in the two houses.
Crowder's Words Help.
The statements OF Provost Marshal Gen.
eral Crowder that the man power reservoir
created under the original selective draft
act was running low, and that the inva-
sion of the deferred classes would be
forced II speedy action was not taken to
create a new reservoir have multiplied
the effect OF the words OF Gen. March.
There will be some discussion OF the
proposal of the Senate to incorporate In
the bill the amendment adopted by the
Military Committee. under which strikes
In essential industries will be discour-
! aged through the operation OF the work
or fight" order backed by statutory au-
thorization to the Chief Executive to
compel strikers to go back to their Jobs
or into the army.
An amendment TO this proviso was to-
day offered by Senator Cummins Ga.)
under which strikers who refuse to
submit their disputes to arbitration and
thereafter to abide by the decision Of
the arbitrators" will be forced to join
the colors. The Cummins amendment
was we'll received in the Senate, and It Is
believed will be accepted as a substitute
for the form In which the work or
fight idea Is now framed
Opposition Brushed Aside.
The debate in the Senate was opened
by Senator Chamberlain (Ore). chair
man OF the Military Committee. and in
the House by Representative Dent
(Ala), chairman of the Military Com
| mittee. In the upper house Senator
Chamberlaln's argument was warmly
seconded by Senator Reed tMo.) and
by Senator wadsworth IN. ". while
Senator Kirby (Ark) figured as the sole
opponent of the measure in its present
form and denounced the drafting OF
men under 20 for fighting service. Sem
ator Kirby offered an amendment max
ing the draft limit ages 20 to As. but his
arguments received scant attention.
In the House Representative Kahn
(Cal) supported the ID 10 As provisions
| advocated by the General Stan in a tell
ing speech. which was enthusiastically
received on both sides OF the chamber.
The fight then centred around the pro-
posed amendment 10 force calling the
| older men before the boys below 81 ave
called. This amendment will prob, Ably
be defeated tomorrow.
Chamberlain Opens Debate.
Chairman Chamberlain began the
Senate debate with a discussion OF the
programme of incIeasng the draft limit
ages. He pointed out that enlistments
of men OF IS are permissible now and
there are 100000 men in the army be-
tween IS and 81.
The chairman was interrupted by
Senator Reed (Mo), who quoted figures
/, showing the number of voluntary enlist
ments up to June / OF this year. which
numbered S47.45l: in the navy 307,2l0,
the Marine Corps I.o22. a total O,
1.1s6.5s4. He also quoted a statement
from Gen. Harris, acting Adjutant-Gen-
eral.
Senator Reed estimated that under
the average taken by Gen. Harris there
would now be more than 100000 young
men under 81 who had enlisted voiun-
tariIy. Senator Reed said that In the
ciyn war there we're In the Federal army
l,i51,4Ss boys under 1s and 2.lbs,7ss
under 81 years. and that these "consti-
tuted the great bulk Of the Federal army.
which totailed 2.77s.30l"
Senator Chamberlain remarked that
II was well to have gone into figures as
to the enlistment of youths between ls
and IL so that "the objsctors to this bill
may nnd what the traditions Of this
country have been"
"What should like TO sse," said SEN
ator Chamberlain. would be an Ameri-
can army on the front. under an Ameri-
can oficer. snghting under the American
gag. ana not brsEaded with any of our
allies We sent them over 90 slowly at
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