The Draft

Wo untlorstand that the enrollment in tliis State under the National Forco or conscription act has been cornpletcd, and that the offieers ouly wait the orders from headquartors to make tho draft. Wo do not know how niany men Michigan wil' bo called upon to furnish, nor upon whal basis the apportionmout to tho States is made. And this Ieads us to retuark that the main fault we have to find with the execution of the eonscription law as al present advised - ia the secresy manifostcd by if not required of all the officers from the Secretary of "War down We think that tho peoplo of Michigan should bo offioially informed how many men the S tate is callcd upon to furnishj and how many are required of other States, that thoy may be satisüed that only their just quota is demanded of them. Other States havo furnished regiments for nine montha, one year, and twoyears ; Michigan has sent nono but three years' men into the field, and our State officers and our citizens should be given tho data to satisfy them that this has been taken into account in orderin" the draft. Again, tho lista as made out by the enrolling omcers should be oponed to tho examinatiou of the public. The enrolling officers may be honcst, but thepeople will not be eatisfied that all is fair, that favoritism bas not been shown, that sorae men's nimea hn.Ve not beeu left out of "the wheel of fortune,'1 if an examination of the lista is deuied to any who seek it. There is at least a chance for honest officers to makc mistakes. and t.lin same chance for tuspieion and fault findiug, if the rolls aro not subjocted to scrutiny. It ia best that the government give the public every opportunity to test the fairaess of the draft, that there may not bo the least excuse for dissatisfaction, and thia can not be by simple assurance, but by an open, public admir.istration of the law. We, therefore, hope that the enrolling officera will bo instructed to invito an examination of the enrolled lists bcfore proceeding with the draft.