The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-08-01
Compulsory Military
Training Act Debated
National Guard End of II Will Probably quickly Pass;
COnscriptiOn Part Of Bill Has Been Changed


members for training or for con-
tinental and territorial defense.
Administration leaders predicted
quick approval Of the measure, but
there were indications that some
senators may use the opportunity to
begin q Embarrassed discussion Of
New Deal military policies.
Opponents Of the selective co1npul-
sorry military training bill, which
the Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee yesterday modified drastically,
continued their opposition to any
draft despite the committees action.
Committee Chairman Morris
Sheppard, Democrat, Texas, called
the group, for a 1880 q. m. execu-
tive session today to take up the
bill. Committee approval of the
revised measure may come at this
meeting.
Only 12,5oO,oOO
Yesterdays change limited appli-
cation Of the draft to some 12,5O0,-
600 men between the ages OF 81 and
81. Previously, the bill would have
required about 100000 men from
10 to ga to register for some type Of
military duty; with those between
81 and As subject to actual army
service.
The guard-reserve mobilization
bill, urged by the President last
Monday because of "the increasing
seriousness of the international sit
uation," Is drawn to give the army's
civilian reserves intensive instruc-
ton in the methods Of modern war.
Their training would be limited to
on eyear. The Presidents power
would expires June 80, 1912.
Mr.. Roosevelt has announced his
intention to call up Immediately four
divisions of Guardsmen and alli-
tional anti-aircraft units, /. number
ing about $1,000 men, If the bill
passes. Other units would be called
later, he said.
Senator Burton K. Wheeler,
Democrat, Montana, leader of the
successful assault In 1887 against
President Roosevelt's supreme court
reorganization bill. led a new fight
on the draft bill by warning that If
it passes it will do more to defeat
MIR. Roosevelt than anything that
can possibly happen"
Wheeler Says Go Home
Wheeler suggested that Congress
postpone consideration Of the meas
ure and Ego home and find out what
country really thinks about it and
then there will be no peacetime con-
scription for military service"
Senators Alva B. Adams and Ed
win C. Johnson, Colorado Democrats,
George w. Norris, Independent,
Nebraska, and Rush D. Holt, Demo-
crat, West Virginia, also denounced
the bill.
Senator Joseph F. Guffey, Demo-
GRAFT, Pa, said the committees re-
visions induced him to change his
opinion OF the bill Previously, CUT
fey said, he thought 1t far too
severe.
IT can support the 81 to 81 idea"
he explained. 1--WE have to have any
army, you know"
Holt, who is to speak against the
bill tonight with Wheeler, and Sen
ator Gerald p. Nye, Republican,
North Dakota, at mass meeting
of peace societies, charged that its
promoters" are using pressure" to
win votes.
May End Friday
Chairman Andrew j. May Demo-
crat, Kentucky, of the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee hoped that
hearings on the companion house
bill could be ended Friday because
further evidence would merely be
cumulative"
The House group yesterday heard
Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson
plead for passage of the original
version of the CONSUMPTION bill on
the grounds that the United States
is faced with threats to its safety
which make CONSUMPTION vital
necessity.
Stimson said Great Britain might
fall to Germany within 80 days and
that CONSUMPTION lis the only wayl
we can prepare for a great war
emergency"
Further, he argued, the Japanese
fleet in the Pacific is working in
harmony with Germany and Italy,
giving rise to dangers that an enemy
fleet far superior to that of the
United States could menace the
western world.
Meanwhile, no expression OF
opinion on the CONSUMPTION bill came
from President Roosevelt who has
endorsed the general principle OF a
peacetime draft.
Budget Director Harold D. Smith,
however, wrote the Senate Military
group that "the general detectives
of the proposed legislation are in
accord with the program of the
President.