Evening star., 1940-08-16

The cat was let out of the bag
with the statement of Gen. Shedd,
assistant chief of staff, that the
Army could not get ready for
large contingent of draftees before
next December. This was described
In some quarters as an utterance
embarrassing to the administration
because it was pushing conscription.
But 1t is much more plausible to
believe that the administration it.
self arranged for the making of the
generals statement so as to spare
embarrassment to the President on
Capitol Hill, where there is deter
mination to give the volunteer sys-
tenn chance before invoking the
Draft Act.
Average Man "Unsold"
Sentiment is growing in favor of
such A course here, especially be-
cause members of Congress up for
election know that conscription Is
very unpopular with the voters. The
real reason for this is that the
administration. despite its general
discussion of war dangers, has not
been able to get across to the aver
age man the reason for a large
army unless war is to be declared.
The administration in this cam
palgn is anxious to remove any
suspicion that it wants the coun-
try to go to war, yet at the same
time it is asking for a huge con-
script army. These positions can
be rationalized. but in the electorate
generally they are confusing and
hence likely to hurt the party in
power.
Conscription will hurt the ad-
mlnlstration among the low income
groups, because the break up of
homes will mean more economic
loss there than anywhere else. The
principle of conscription may be
sound enough, but in a democracy
which has been repeatedly told of
It's safety because of the two oceans
1t is difficult overnight to educate
millions of persons that a sudden
emergency has arisen involving pos
slble invasion.
Wonder at Delay.
What is most difficult of all for
the average man to understand is
why-if the British fleet alone
stands between America and possi-
Bile war-the administration did not
bestlr itself about the size Of the
Army long before this or do some
thing about getting the mechanical
equipment ready for a big Army.
The explanation that the Republi-
cans would have blocked it doesn't
explain away the fact that the
Democrats have had a substantial
majority in both houses for eight
years.
If the Nation were clearly in
danger of attack-and by clearly
one means an overt act invading
American rights or interests-there
would be less Of problem for the
administration. but the press prcpa-
ganda from Berlin ridiculing talk
OF an attack fits in with the view
point expressed by Nazi-hating
Americans that until there is more
evidence of a threat against the
United States it is very hard to
provoke pro-War sentiment.
Ihere are some observers who
think the politics in the issue can
be disposed of merely by having
Wendell Willkie declare for con-
scription-which he probably will
do-and then the matter presum-
ably will be out of the campaign.
Nothing could be farther from real
lty. Conscription penetrates the
Whole political contest. Members of
Congress in particular will feel the
brunt of the voters resentment on
consumption. Hence If the subject
is still somewhat academic by No
Vember and troops have not vet
been called out in large numbers.
the pro-conscription members will
pe talking on the stumj about the
possibility that a full draft NAV not
be necessary. Anyway, they'll be
better off politically than if a huge
registration for war is followed by
a call for some troops in every COM
munity in the land
Big News Everywhere.
No piece of news becomes more
important than local conscription.
Every community and every neigh
borhood talks about it, and the
local press everywhere describes the
process. 1t brings war close to the
home and starts people asking a lot
OF pertinent questions. Why should
there be war? Who wants war?
Are we prepared for war? Why
haven't we a bigger air force and
what are we doing about 1t now?
The politicians are we'll aware
that in a numerical count in a