Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1907 — CONSCRIPTION IN ARMY OR MORE PAY TO MEN. [ARTICLE]

CONSCRIPTION IN ARMY OR MORE PAY TO MEN.

Enforced Service Faces American - People, Declares Adjutant General Ainsworth. Unless radical measures are enacted to induce men to enlist in the United States army, conscription must be resorted to; declarer Major General F. C. Ainsworth, adjutant general, in his annual report. “Notwithstanding the most strenuous efforts on the part of the War Department and the recruiting officers,” says General Ainsworth, “it has been found Impossible wholly to make good the losses, to say nothing of increasing the enlisted strength to the authorized limit. If present conditions continue there will be nothing for the government to do but meet this competition by materially Increasing the soldiers’ pay or to evade competition altogether by a resort to conscription.” Never before has such a suggestion come from an officer clothed with the, -aulliuilty-to make recommendations. The idea of compulsory ■ enrollment of JtndividnniH for the military service lifts been held abhorrent to republican principles and the absence of such a law is one of the most forceful arguments used In attracting ..desirable immigration from Europe. Officials of the War Department anticipate that the possible necessity for such action outlined by General Ainsworth will prove efficacious in securing consideration by Congress of the inerease of pay bill. It is with the greatest reluctance that afmy officers entertain the thought of conscription, but generally they agree with General Ainsworth that it either must come to that extremity or more money must be provided for the soldier if the standing of the army is to be maintained.