Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-09


whereby this resolve was passed to
I be cngrossed.
! On further motion by the same
I gentleman, Senate Amendment "a
was adopted in concurrence, and on
| further motion by the same gentle
man the resolve was passed to be
engrossed as amended by Senate
! Amendment GA"
From the Senate: Majority re-
port of the Committee on Military
Affairs reporting fought not to
pass on bill, An Act to amend
! Chapter 81 of the Public Laws of
j 1919, relating to a draft for the Ma
| tional Guard; minority report of the
same committee reporting fought to
pass" on the same bill.
In the Senate, the minority report
was accepted and the bill passed to
be engrossed.
Mr.. Eastman of Fryeburg moved
that the majority report be accept
ed in non concurrence.
Mr.. Weatherbee of Carroll moved
that the House concur with the
Senate in the acceptance of the mi
nority report.
MY. WEATHERBEE of Carroll:
One of the most important items to
consider before voting upon any ques-
ton is public sentiment, and just
what sTthe general feeling in regard
to our draft law as it now exists I'M
der Chapter SO of the Laws of 1919?
/ The Maine Federation of Women's
Clubs went on record at their last
regular meeting as opposed to this
peace time draft law. This organiza-
! ton represents thousands of women
voters Hundreds of our citizens
who labor in our mills and factories
have voiced their opposition to such
q law Our Governor has taken n de-
cided stand in opposition to the pres
! ent wording or phraseology of the
law and yesterday afternoon the Sen
ate unanimously accepted the minor
/ ty report. Consequently. we can be
quite safe in assuming that there is a
strong public sentiment in favor Of
an amendment.
Let us now consider briefly the
changes made by the proposed amend
ment. Chapter 50 practically changed
/
tom wherein the Governor of Maine
has been the COMMUNICATIVE chief OF
our army while within the borders of
Maine. The law which we are asked
to amend in its condensed form means
that when in time of peace any COM
/ pany or regiment has not been filled
up to. the required strength by other
methods. the Adjutant General will
notify the Governor of Maine and the
Governor shall start draft proceed
ings Under this existing law he has
no alternative, gentlemen. and even if
he and his council considered a dra #
at some particular time unnecessary,
or uncalled for, he would be forced
to perform as dictated to by Adjutant
General
The only important change which
the proposed amendment makes in
the law is the elimination of that
small but powerful word "shall'' and
the substitution therefor the word
may" So that the law with. the
amendment reads as follows: "The
Governor may if in his opinion the
health. peace and prosperity of the
! State are threatened, order a draft"
| In other words we are asked by thou
sands of voters not to repeal but
simply to amend this draft law in or
der to protect the people of Maine
from the uncertain acts of whoever
may be at the head of our military de-
partment They ask that we have no
draft in time of peace unless as the
Governor and Council deem it neces-
sary and l don't believe that there is
a representative within these walls
who cannot see the justice in such a
request.
Mr.. EASTMAN of Fryeburg: Mr..
Speaker, as a member OF the commit
tee on military affairs, I wish to state
that at the hearing before the COM
mittee on this matter there appeared
a strong labor organization in oppo-
sition to this bill. The Adiutant Cen
eral appeared before the committee
in favor of the bill, and for that rea-
son; knowing that he knew all about
the requirements of the bill, it seemed
to the committee that there should
be nothing but a majority report sent
out. If this bill is repealed and if
the Governor would not have the pow
er to draft in time of peace, how are
we going to raise the national guard
up to the standard of 1900 men? 1t
seemed proper to the committee that
this majority report should be ia
vorably received by this House, and
for that reason have made this mo-
ton.
TIL question being on the accept
ance of the majority report,
A viva voce vote being taken,