Evening star., 1940-08-11
Peculiar REASONING

Peculiar Reasoning
In the Senate debate on the Burke
Wadsworth selective service bill last
week, Senator Wheeler, a leading op-
ponent of the measure, made a
rather curious statement in explana-
ton Of what has been described as
the inconsistent attitude OF senator's
who voted for billions of dollars In
defense appropriations, but who op-
pose conscription on the ground,
with others, that there Is no danger
OF an attack on the United States.
1nterrupting a colloquy between
two other members of the Senate,
Senator Wheeler said: Let me say
that I am one of those who voted for
these billions Of dollars of appropria-
tions I voted for them because Of the
fact that the President Of the United
States said it was necessary that we
should have these defenses and be-
cause Of the fact that I am not in
position to know specifically just
what Is needed as a defense. But I
wish to say that did not vote for
them because Of the fact that I was
afraid that Mr.. Hitler or MIR. Musso-
lini or the Japanese Government
were going to come over here and
take over the United States of
America" In the next breath, the
Senator switched his attack and was
demanding to know why those men,
bers who are afraid Hitler is going
to attack US were not insisting upon
declaration Of war against Ger
many.
II Senator Wheeler is not in a po-
sition to know specifically Just what
is needed as a defense, and therefore
was guided in making up his mind as
to our defense needs in guns, planes,
tanks, etc, by the recommendation
OF the President and Army and Navy
experts, he is to be commended for
his reasonableness on that score. But
If his lack of information as to our
defense requirements in the materiel
Of war led him to vote more or less
blindly for billions of dollars in ap-
propriations, 1t must be a rather
curious line OF reasoning which
prompts him to insist with such
marked assurance that no danger
confronts us which makes 1t neces-
sary as speedily as possible to raise
and train an army In the use of
the new weapons. The uncertainty
which was in Senator Wheeler's mind
when he voted for NE appropriations
does not seem to exist when he SCOTS
at the fears OF those who advocate
conscription, and 1t is pertinent to
ask what has brought about this
change. Certainly, nothing that the
Senator said on the floor yesterday
clears up the point.
II there was danger when the SEN
ate passed the huge appropriation
bills to acquire machines OF war,
that danger still exists. If world con-
ditions Justify the assembling OF
huge quantity of combat equipment,
they justify the raising and training
with the least possible delay OF an
army qualified to use it should
need arise. Nor is the inconsistency
of senators who would supply ma
chimes but who balk at the only ef-
fective means of supplying the COM
Elementary man power explained
away by assertions that those who
fear Hitler should demand a declara-
ton of war against him.
In our present circumstances, we
could not possibly wage war against
Germany, and, it may be added, we
will be unable even to defend our
selves against attack if we are to
pursue the extraordinary policy OF
building up vast supply of military
equipment for an army which does
not exist and which will not come
into being if the opponents of the
Burke-Wadsworth measure should
prevail.