1939.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19,

.
TILE CONSCRIPTION ISSUE
many communi -
This paper is receiving
introduction of
cations urging the prompt method to be brought into play it must be basec'-on-
equitable
conscription as the only a- united national conviction . There is no r
manpower for
country's doubt about the ardent feeling in a Proviuce
of organizing the young I
are from like Ontario with racial roots in British tra-
the war. A large number c
who take a prac- ditions and where thousands of heirs of t
men, married and single, United Empire Loyalist sentiment reside,
expect to be called r
tical view of the situation, shared, but perhaps not recognized, by our t.
of the prospective
upon to serve because Winnipeg correspondent . A multitude of
duration of the conflict E
magnitude and long citizens can be found throughout the country
effec tive effort re-
and who believe a fully with a similar attitude toward the Mother
of all the country' s re-
quires concentration ' Country .
Defeat is not contem-
sources to one end . On the other hand we have the French-
plated as an eventuality- becomes acute Canadians, equally concerned for the free-
Interest in the subject dom assured by` British institutions but with-
are considered .
when previous experiences in' 1914-18 in re- out the same background . We have also a
Canada adopted co ascription from the front, large percentage of population which came
sponse to an urgent demand volunteers were to this country since the last war from non-
million
but only after half a British countries and lacking the urge to go
held opinion then was
in uniform . A widely back to Europe to fight for a cause spon-
introduced in the
that it should have been States began with sored by a nation to which allegiance has
early stages . The United no direct appeal . These things have to be
to forego the
conscription. Britain, slow taken into account in,seeking an undivided
commenced this time
voluntary system, has national effort.
enlistment .
with mandatory has been Voluntary enlistment is proceeding in-On-
The argument for conscription tario at a pace testing present equipment.
a young man of 28 writing
expressed thus by Reports from Ottawa state: that recruiting in
from Winnipeg :
to The Globe and Mail Quebec goes ahead on no half-hearted scale
opinion of all the
The unanimous . spoken, both The spirit behind freedom of action makes
I have
young men to whom is that immediate snge amends for the weaknesses of the
single and married, essential . voluntary plan . Considering the situation,
conscription in Canadathisis is the only
that
They, as I do, feel basis of- carrying on
fair and equitable immediate conscrip-
those becoming impatient with the apparent
`slowness of the process .might advisedly re- VN H EA1
a war . By effecting strain their feelings for the time being in the
Canada to maintain a
tion it will enable men in the event common interests .
steady flow of trainedto send an expedi- Undoubtedly there is an impression that
that Canada decides
assuming that
tionary force overseas, immediately would the loyal sons who offer themselves unre-
called up
those not training. servedly at pay which is a mere pittance.
be receiving military conscription my idea is should not have to look back at others, stay-
In advocating
classify every able-bodied at-homes, and even aliens, receiving high
to record andthe 60.
man between ages of 18 and, say, wages such as were paid in the last war
means- Would all these see active
By no without assuming any of the war risks . If
the older men, partic-"
service. Rather; previous military experi there is to,be equality of sacrifice it will not
ularly those with
be valuable in many clerical be obtained in this way. The voluntary re-
ence, would
posts . All men, say, cruit wants to know that while he is endur-
and administrative of 18 and 41, fit for
the ages ing hardships and-risking life the man who
be divided into
between classes,
active ;service, toinstruction in-spare time would not offer is not able to make the war
receive military
pay, and be pre- a bed of roses for himself.
or evenings, ---without call as needed . In
pared to answer the We are convinced that the Government,'
would be available as
this manner men fortified by a unanimous Parliament, intends
necessary key men to industry
required, and the adminis- to prosecute the war with all its vigor, and
would be weeded out, and commercial that nothing essential to a successful con-
tration of our industrial
efficient than by
life would be far more clusion will be neglected; not even conscrip-
sponsoring volunteering- tion. It is to be remembered that' the
force of argu-
Without questioning the struggle has only started and we have yet
overlooking the prob- j
ments like this or war is pro- t
to get into it properly . The administrative
if the machinery will need many amendments and
ability of conscription the Canadian
aspects of changes, which will be forthcoming.
longed, there are
. We know that if r
picture to be considered Changes in the situation abroad may mean
the country's manpower is changes here. The active part taken by the
the full force of
Communists may indeed have a vital bear-
iniz on recruiting. As -jw~ec~s padlock law