Evening journal., 1918-07-30
PREDICTSDRAFT-AGE
fight W|TH|NM0
johnson Tells the Senate
All Volunteering May
be Stopped
NELSON CITES WORK
OF THE MARINES

WASHINGTON, July 30-Congress
Will be asked within the next thirty
days, to enlarge the draft ages. Sena-
tor Hiram johnson, Of California.
warned the Senate yesterday He said
he was speaking with authority
during lively debate that followed the
Introduction of resolution by Sena-
tor Sterling. Of South Dakota, to per
NIT drafted men who previously had
been rejected as volunteers to be
classed as volunteers
Some OF the authorities" Mr.. John
son said, desire that all volunteering
shall be prohibited, and some Of us are
endeavoring to arrive at Just conclu-
sion whether volunteering shall be per-
mitted at all or whether il shall be
permitted concurrently with the draft,
or whether il shall be permitted in the
navy and marine corps alone"'
Senator Sterling's resolution follows
Resolved. That the Secretary OF War
be requested to inform the Senate
whether in his opinion. permission
given TO men subjected to draft under
such or similar circumstances TO their
assignment to volunteer regiments
would materially affect or impair the
service, whether or not the Department
of War contemplates any action look
ing to a transfer Of such men to the
volunteer service, and whether in the
opinion OF the Secretary OF War, such
transfer is permissible under existing
law"
Senator Johnson said:
In the preparation Of a new draft
law, unquestionably the matter Of
h0f al
sort shall be permitted would be one |
OF the subject matters of investiga- /
tion. The Senator is quite right in
suggesting certain inequalities with
respect to the last draft, such instances
as where the physical requirements at
one time are Of one sort and then over
night changed 10 another sort, and
where men, for instance, under the
original physical requirements, were
rejected and went on with their usual
and the usual vacations, mar
ried perhaps, then suddenly, without ,
notice or warning. were jerked in by
particular local board.
'When the draft law was before us ,
one Of the arguments made in its be- !
half was that it was equal and impair ,
tial in its operation, that Volunteering /,
on the contrary, was unequal and par
tial, and took the bestiwithout, indeed,
making all comply; but Immediately
after the draft law was adopted, some
authority sent its posters all over the
land to which I called attention and
not long ago, in which invidiously II
compaEed substantially volunteering
and the execution OF the draft law
itself.
These posters that observed in this
city were couched in language calling
upon men to volunteer. after the argu-
,nents that were made concerning the
and the equal operation
Ind impartiality OF the draft
Senator Nelson, of Minnesota, said
he blame was not due to the rules laid
loYn by the provost marshal general
VT to the administration by certain
ocal boards. He added:
MY experience with a good many OF
hese men seeking TO enlist these days
3 that they are looking for some soft
nap. They are anxious to escape the
raft so that they can run automobiles
or officers or do some other work
way from the lighting line"
Senator Nelson read from a state
tent showing that a large proportion
the marines engaged in the recent
eavy fighting around Chateau Thierry
ere below twenty-one years. Mr..
elson said:
Il read this report 10 show that the
oung men under tTenty-ons make the
sst soldiers and 10 endesvor 70 quiet
Ie nerves of people who think we
lOuld not 60 below twenty-One years
the draft. II you want 70 get q good
Ildier. take boys between eighteen and
ssntY-ons. cannot understand g
.0ugh- TIE sentiment that Il Is q harm IE
. thing 70 iei bows Voluuiser Don't II
'rk " t1sir- patriotism
IL rs bs fair 70 The men who have
Se1sicr klr1y. o. Arkansas, rejoined-l n
, F1ics in the GoVernmentr