The Omaha guide., 1939-09-16

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become involved in a European
war. Not so strong, judging by
standard public opinion polls, is
the faith that we will be able To
keep neutral. A very considerable
segment of the population be-
lieves that we would eventually
go to the aid Of the European
! de mocracies if they were forced
to wage war agains. the dictator
ships-at least, if the war went
on for some length of time and
the dic~tatorships seemed to have
! the advantage.
And so the United States Is
preparing for war-and this pro
paredness does not only involve
the largest military expenditures
in our peace time history. Also
involved is a plan for IN DAT"
Mobilization Day, prepared
largely by military officials.
which, on the outbreak of hosti-
lities, would have an immediate
and drastic effect on every indi-
vidual and every business in he
land.
Heart of the plan, of course, is
a detailed procedure for con-
scripting manpower-Th War
and Navy Department heads re-
member the confusion that follow
ed our entry into the last war.
and are determined that it shall
not be repeated. 1t is believed that
the current plan will make it pos
sible to organize a very large
| army, for either foreign or ter
~ritorial use, in a very short time.
Every mar within the age limits
must be ready to enter govern
ment service, in a military or
other capacity, on call-the Sc
lection will be made by a sort of
lottery system. Unmarried young
men, in good health, will natur-
ally be conscripted first.
And industry will be modified
with equal completeness. A War
Resources Administration, staff
ed by important business men
working with military chiefs, will
be given gigantic authority in
such matters as regulating prices
labor, trade and the procurement
of supplies. Industries which are
believed essential to the war will
be encouraged and helped to ex-
pand. Industries believed not es-
sential will be discouraged and
perhaps forced out of business.
Some industries will be taken
over anil operated by govern
ment, and severe penalties will be
in store for those who protest
tor much.
But this isn't all there is to the
problem = some officials have
long believed that official warfare
demands giving. the executive
branch of the government un-
dreamed of dictatorial power. The
President, if they have their way
would be given rigid control over
the radio and the press. Free
speech, and free press, if he s.
desired, could be virtually abol-
ished-Rll in the name of the
national interest. Any indivi-
dual right which those in com
mand thought inimical to the
successful prosecution of war
could be abrogated by Presi-
Dental decree.
The point of view to those who
plan such ~unprecented legislation
is clear enough. They r. princi.
pally military men. They are
greatly concerned with the best
means of fighting. a war, and
they are little concerned with
democratic theories. Any war
we might become involved in
will be against relationships
where one : mar government
makes possible a high degree
of mechanical efficiently and
speed of action. Therefore, they
argue, we must operate on the
same basis-we must fight die
tatorship with the methods of
dictators. AS some cynics have
observed, this would amount to
giving up democracy in order to
save it.
OF course, "government-tIT
decree" would last, theoretically
only as long as the emergency.
But, as many point out, an
emergency is what the man at
the top makes tit could be