Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1940-08-08
In .Jpne of this


year we had the largest peace time
enlistment in the whole history of
the republic, and, mind you, these
boys enlisted for three years at only
S21 per month. Give the youth or
America the opportunity of enlist
ing for one year at $50 per month
and | am convinced that the repub-
lie will not want for patriotic de-
tenders. We will get them faster
than we can provide adequate shell
ter and certainly we want no tent
army this winter with its resulting
epidemic of influenza and death.
Like the army, the navy has had
all the volunteers it has called for
to date even though every one of
them had to enlist for six years.
When the volunteer system fails,
then, and then only, should congress
conscript and regiment the youth of
this free land. Some may say it
will be too late but that is pure
fallacy The very day the first gun
is made with no one to use it, con-
scription could be placed in opera
ton. If many who now cry for
conscription had prevailed. congress
would have adjourned two months
ago and our threatened nation
would have had neither my bill nor
the conscription bill Those Of US
who demanded that congress remain
in session must be given credit for
the defense steps since as otherwise
they could not have been taken.
There are some who say that con-
sCriptiOn is necessary because other
wise patriotic tool makers and 9TH
ers who are essential for national
defense will volunteer for lesser SER
vice in the army. Let them worry
no further. | have incorporated in
to my bill the exact provision Of the
conscription bill designed to pre-
vent such a result. Under my bill,
the army and navy can reject vol
unteer whose time is needed else
whore for a greater service to his
country.
There are some who say conscrip
ton is the American way, the demo-
cratic way. In the future it may be-
come necessary but God forbid il.
it is the way of every dictator in
the world. The way of a democracy
is a way of free choice not of regi-
mentati0n In democracy we wor-
ship as we please. We go TO bed at
nine O'Clock or we go at twelve. We
go to show or we stay at home.
The blessings of democracy in
clude the right of free choice and
willing service to the government
we have built. Let us give the
youth Of our land chance to de-
fend the nation voluntarily before
We resort to conscription.
Give young men q chance to de-
eide the day they can enlist without
destroying their plans for education
and employment.
That my friends, is the real
American way.
Canada has been at war for near-
~ one year yet no conscription bill
has been placed into effect. They
are now registering under con-
scription law that will become eff
fective October 1st but that law is
for home defense alone. |
Canada is at war yet today there is
a waiting list Of volunteers, Let Us
try to get volunteers in the armed
service by sensible changes in the
present law before We resort to reg
imentation Of every young man IN
America.
In six years. more than two and
one-half million boys enlisted III
the CCC camps OF this country. Att
least that many more were turned
away because of lack of camp fa-
ciities Congress should enact my
bill at once. Give boy chance to
volunteer for one year at the same
pay as that of the CCC and ] feel
certain Of the same response from
youth in every strata of life. Never
in the peace time history of our ma
tion have We had conscription. l do
not contend that it will never come
but | say the volunteer system
should be given fair and reason