Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 312, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1918 — Draft Act Held Valid; Counter Claims Swept Aside [ARTICLE]

Draft Act Held Valid; Counter Claims Swept Aside

Washington, Jan. 7.—Every contention raised against the selective draft act was swept aside by the supreme court today in an unanimous opinion delivered by Chief Justice White, upholding the law 'as constitutional. Authority to enact the statutes to send forces to fight an enemy wherever he may be found, the court held, lies in the clauses of the constitution giving congress the power to declare war and to raise and support armies “As the mind cannot conceive an army without the men to compos* it,” said the chief justice, “on the face of the constitution the objection that it does not give power to provide for such men would seem to be too frivolous for further notice.” The opinion then proceeded to take up and definitely dispose of each of the many questions raisedP'by counsel for the convicted persons whose appeals brought the law before the court. No motion was taken today by the court in the several pending eases involving .charges of conspiracy to prevent the carrying out of the purposes of the law. It is understood that these cases, which include the appeals of Alexander Berkman, Emma Goldman, Louis Kramer and, ! Morris Becker, convicted in New York, later may be made the subject of a separate opinon.