The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-10-29

The presidents brief address,
which preceded the drawing of the
first number by Secretary of War
Henry L. Stiinson, was broadcast ma
tionally by the major networks.
Addressing himself specifically to
the selectees he said:
"You who will enter this peace
time army will be the inheritors of
Ia proud history and an honorable
tradition.
You will be members Of an army
which first came together to achieve
independence and to establish GER
tain fundamental rights for all men.
Ever since that first muster, our
Democratic army has existed for one
purpose only: the defense of our
freedom.
at is for that purpose that one
purpose only that you have been
asked to answer the call to training
"You have answered that call as
Americans always have, and as
Americans always will, until the day
when war is forever bandished from
this earth.
"You have the confidence and the
gratitude, and the love of your
countrymen. We are all with you in
the task which enlists the service
of all Americans-the task of keep
ing the peace in this new world"
Mr.. Roosevelt read messages from
leaders of the Protestant, Roman
Catholic and Jewish faiths, giving
their wholehearted support to the
program. The messages were from
Dr. George A. Buttrick, president Of
the Federal Council of the Churches
of Christ in America: DR.. Edward
l.. Israel, president of the Synagogue
Council of America, and the Most
Rev. Francis j. Spellman, bishop
of the Catholics in the Army and
Navy.
Mr.. Roosevelt told the 1900, 900
selective service registrants that
only S per cent of them actually
would be mustered. The other 95
per cent, he said, would be free to
continue their present occupations,
pursuits and ways of life.
"The young men of America today
have thought this thing through"
he added. '"They have not been slim
ulated by or misled by military pro-
paganda. They fully understand the
necessity for national defense and
are ready, as all citizens of our
country must be, to play their part
in it,"
Seventeen million have registered
for Selective service. The old 1917
fish bowl contains numbered cap
sules up to 5000.
The lottery is part of the hemi-
spheres defensive effort. Sons of
World War veterans, sons of immi-
grants, sons of nations already at
war are numbered in the big, 10
gallon draft bowl. 1t would not
hold all tn, numbers SO they put a
collar on it.
The lottery takes place without
political opposition one week be-
fore presidential election. The
odds against that would have been
1,000-to-1 less than a year ago.
Several thousand men are repre-
sented by single numbers in the
bowl.
Seventeen million men registered,
q to IS, incluSive-equal to the
whole country'S population 100
years ago; more than the total num-
Der of American males in 1860.
Every man is equal In the fish,
bowl. Every precaution has been
taken to make the order of selec-
ton depend upon pure chance. First
number up will be the first number
called in each Of the 6,l77 draft
districts where that number Is list
ed. Low numbers will reach every
district. Some Of the higher num-
berS viii reach only a few. But a
quota system will assure that each
state provides only its proportionate
draft of soldiers.
A year of mans life is at stake
for each of those whose numGer Is
in the bowl. The first 100000 whose
numbers are drawn and are put IN
Glass la win get gun, clothing