I am taking the liberty of enclosing herewith copy of a telegram I have just sent the New York American in reply to an inquiry from it in regard to my views upon the bill to raise an army by selective draft.

In my opinion for Congress to refuse to enact this bill will be a collossal blunder. I incline to the opinion, however, that the minimum age for selection should be twenty-one years, and the maximum thirty. A great many young men are taking courses in College, the age of nineteen years finds them in their Sophomore year, and to take them away from college at that time means that their education will never be completed.