Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1917 — Some Reasons Why a Greater Number Have Not Volunteered. [ARTICLE]

Some Reasons Why a Greater Number Have Not Volunteered.

Why so few volunteers? Is there a reason for the volunteer movement in this country failing? Why has it been necessary for congress to pass laws for conscription ? This paper and a great many other papers of the country have favored selective conscription because it was felt that it was necessary that action should be had at once. We (favored selective conscription because the army staff and the president asked for it, and we feel that they should be supported. Under normal conditions we believe the number of men volunteering to uphold th honor and dignity of this country would be greater than the number needed. We believe that the (attitude of the regular army officers towards the national guard is one of the reasons that more volunteers have not been forthcoming. The boys who went to the Mexican border last summer were patriots and they went because they felt that they were answering the call of their country. They could not .Have been as efficient as the soldiers of the. regular army, but they were as efficient as it was possible to be under the advantages they had 'had. They deserved the commendation of the nation and not the sneers of tire regular army officers. And had they received this thy would 'have returned to their homes full of enthusiasm and by that interest would have aided very much in recruiting. As a second point we would suggest that the pay of the private soldiers should be increased very materially. A private in the Canadian army receives sl.lO a day and if he is a married man his wife and family are el'lowed as much as forty dollars a month beside the regular pay. This is a rich people and the man who goes to war should have his sacrifice shared by receiving a reasonable compensation. A third point we would suggest is that one of the greatest factors that might have been used in raising volunteers has been denied the opportunity. Theodore Roosevelt could have raised an army of thousands, yes, we believe millions of men. Already 123,000 'Have asked to serve under Mm, yet congress 'has denied him tills opportunity. We cannot understand this action. We believe for the above and many other reasons there .Should be no complaint that we do not have more volunteers. Everything passible has been done to discourage this action. Let us hope that there may nothing be done in tlie racing and equiping an army that is not in accord with the great spirit of true patriotism. Effectiveness and efficiency should be the sole aim. Any kind of favoritism whether political or what not, 'should not be tolerated. We have a tremendous task (before us. To win we must all be patriots and love of country must be supreme.