Sir A. Conan Doyle's Alternative
Sir A. Conan Doyle's Alternative is a letter written by J. M. Bulloch published in The Daily Chronicle on 24 august 1915.
This is a letter in reaction of Arthur Conan Doyle's letter about Compulsory National Service.
Sir A. Conan Doyle's Alternative
To the Editor Daily Chronicle.
Sir, — Sir A. Conan Doyle's alternative for "conscription" is simply a variant on an old friend, the "Comprehending Act" of 1778 (18 Geo. III., cap. 53). Under it, "all able-bodied idle and indifferent persons who cannot upon examination prove themselves to exercise and industriously follow some lawful trade or employment or to have some substance sufficient for their support and maintenance" could be impressed.
The officials charged with enforcing the measure were various: local authorities, churchwardens and specially appointed constables had power to search for and apprehend the victims and bring them before a Justice of the Peace.
But, though squires and churchwardens, and others in authority were much more powerful then than now, the Act soon proved a complete failure and became a dead letter. Indeed, all compulsory measures introduced to help as to raise soldiers against France ultimately had to be abandoned; and in due course the Militia ballot, never popular, had to go.
As for "bribes," of which we hear so much, some people may be astonished to learn that £20 was quite a common bounty for a recruit, and the figure ran up frequently to twice that amount.
What a pity people will not study this problem from the basis of our past experience!
J. M. BULLOCH.
