Evening star., 1940-10-28
Defense Production
Will Be Safeguarded
In Draft, Dykstra Says
Industry to Have Priority
Over Army for Men
AT This Stage
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.

manpower and should have the
right of way in determining which
men should serve with the colors
and which should be left in indus
try, Selective Service Director Clar-
ence A. Dykstra declared today on
the eve Of the draft lottery.
ut is q basic principle of selec-
tive service at this stage of the
national defense preparation, said
DR.. Dykstra, that material pro-
curement is paramount. Therefore
where two requirements - military
man power versus production-con-
flict, production should have prior
ity."
The director pointed out, how
ever, that the Selective Service law
leaves it to the local draft boards
to decide whether men should be
deferred for occupational reasons.
And this must be determined indi-
vidually, since the law provides for
no blanket deferment by industries
or occupations, he recalled.
Selective service headquarters Is
NlldllN Ill hCSDlllS hCy
men in essential jobs. he added, but
it cannot interfere with the right
of local boards to make the decision.
Employer Requests.
DR.. DykStra estimated that the
queStionnaires which will form the
basis of classification will not begin
to reach registrants before Novem-
Der 7, and he suggested that en-
ployers withhold requests for occu-
pational deferment Of their workers
until after the boards begin this
individual study. In asking that en-
ployes be deferred from military
service employers should set out
concisely the type of work they do
and why they could not be replaced
readily.
The questionnaires will be sent
out gradually in the order in which
the serial numbers assigned the
men on their registration cards are
oraWn at the big lottery tomorrow.
The Opaque blue capsules con-
tanning the $500 numbers to be
drawn rested in vault at the Treas
ury today, not to be disturbed until,
shortly before the hour of the lot
terry, they are taken under guard
10 the Departmental Auditorium.
Plans have been made to give the
lottery the same historic significance
that the World War draft lotteries
took on. President Roosevelt will
open the event at noon before a
crowd of high officials and others
VINO have received written invita-
tlons from Director Dykstra.
President to Talk.
The President will deliver a brief
address, expected to last less than
10 minutes. Secretary of War Stim-
son then will draw the first num-
per. Other cabinet officers and
other officials will draw the sue
ceeding numbers.
With the completion of the cere-
monlal phase of the lottery. trained
teams will take over the long lob
OF drawing the rest of the numbers,
Each team will be relieved every
TWO hours for four-hour rest.
Officers in charge estimate that
the drawing will take at least IL
hours, perhaps longer.
More than 500 uniformed veterans
OF Americas wars will form a guard
OF honor outside the auditorium.
Several hundred flags will be held
at salute as the dignitaries assemble.
The Army Band will play. Military
planes will roar over the building
The President is scheduled to ar
rive at 11:45.
1t. Col Charles R. Morris, inactive
Reserves, had arrived today from his
home in Elizabeth, N. j., to officiate
at his fourth selective service lot
terry. He took part in the three
World War lotteries. He will place
over the eyes of Secretary Stimson
the same bandage taken from the
upholstery of a chair that stood in
independence Hall when the Con-
stitution was signed-with which he
blindfolded Secretary of War New
ton D. Baker in 1917.
Old Ladle to Be Used.
The ladle used to stir World War
numbers made from a rafter of
Independence Hall, will be held by
Col. Morris to stir the capsules for
this peacetime conscription in the
same glass bowl which held the
numbers that sent men to France
in 1917.
The goldfish" bowl, which Col.
Morris gave to Independence Hall
at the close of the war was brought
over by an honor guard of Philadel-
phia policemen last week. 1t was
used in the first and third lotteries
during the world War, when 10,5o0
and 1900 numbers, respectively,
were drawn. A small bowl was
used at the second lottery, in which
only 1,200 numbers were drawn.
Even the mahogany table on
which the bowl will rest tomorrow
performed the same Office in 1917
and 1918, when numbers sent men
into battle.
The bowl, the ladle, the bandage
and the tables are guarded in the
Office Of DR.. Dykstra at selective
service headquarters. They will be
tokpr fo tLo Doport,,,a a~+aI A,,J.