The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1940-10-10
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II. s. Facing War
BY Harold Knutson

u. s. Facing War
General Robert E. Wood, OF
Sears, Roebuck and Company, last
Friday told a Chicago meeting that
the present policy of the Roosevelt
administration is bound to involve
thee United States in war.
"You cannot play with fire and
not get burned" said General
Wood, who was responsible for sup
plying the entire military establish
ment of the United States during
the World war. you cannot have
your Government - not private
manufacturers-tr its equip
ment to foreign powers, you can
not have your Government in an
unofficial alliance with a foreign
power, you cannot be a meddler in
Indo-China or berate Italy and Ger
many, without eventually involving
the nation in war"
General Wood scoffed at what he
called the fantastic hysteria which
swept the United States following
the Battle of France. He said the
majority of military and naval ex-
perts will assure the United States
that there is absolutely no danger
of invasion by Germany.
Many agree with General Wood.
On Friday of last week I took oc-
casion to make a brief statement
in the House on newspaper inter
view given by the new japanese
-. xr,harn;v r nol1n6
attention to the fact that in this in
terview the foreign minister assert
ed that Japan is ready to fight If
the United States insists on the
status quo in Asia, or if the United
States enters the European war
For over a year I have repeatedly
warned that the meddling policies
of President Roosevelt and Secre-
tary of State Hull gravely endan-
ger the peace of this nation. The
statements of the Japanese foreign
minister are simply added evidence
of the possible disastrous conse-
quences of the war policy of the
Roosevelt administrations policy
which has been marked by undip-
lomatic utterances, denunciation OF
powers with whom we are at peace
inviting war while we are totally
unprepared.
I do not know that there is any.
thing Congress can do about this
unfortunate situation. Certainly in
it's present frame of mind it will
never vote for a declaration of war
but, in common with many of my
colleagues on both sides of the aisle
I am apprehensive that the Presi
dent and his Secretary of State will
by hook or crook, bring about ar
incident that will make America!
entrance into the war inevitable.
Lack Of Facilities
It is rumored that owing to tn,
lack of facilities and supplies les
than one hunded thousand men will
be called for the draft next month
instead of four hundred Thousand
as was first planned. Getting ready
for such a large group is a man:
job and cannot be accomplished ov
err night. incidentally, recent de
velopments strongly support the
contention Of those who advocated
a 60-day trial of voluntary enlist
ment before resorting to peace-time
CONSUMPTION. The enlistment fol
August were the highest in peace
time history and it is my informa
ton that young men are enlistins
in the Navy and Marine Corps fast
err than they can be accommodated
Registering 100000 and hiring
of 100000 young men for army
work constitutes the worlds big
gest peace-time hiring job and will
cost $24,0OO,000. The registration
will cost about $4,000. Their
comes the task of selecting those
who are to serve. This includes
making out all necessary forms
giving written instructions, making
examinations, providing travel al,
lowances. What the soldiers refer
to as paper work" in the army and
which includes forms, instruction
books and that sort Of thing will
cost nearly $1,5O00O0. That's a lot
of bookkeeping. Travel will cost
$1,250,000. 1t is expected that the
average travel for the selectees will
be 100 miles at &c per mile. Pro
vision is made for 1,25O,0O9 tele,
grams. Telephone and telegraph ex
pense is estimated at a little ovei
$1,0O0,0OO. There will be $500 draft
boards and 231 appeal boards fol
which the rent, light and fuel ex
pense will be nearly $1,OOO,O 900
Furniture and equipment will take
another $2,5O0,OOO. Finally, the
clerks and board members who
must handle the job will cost some,
thing over $13,0O0,0O0. Thus this
vast hiring task will take over
$24,O00,0OO.
Gains In Population
In 1880 Minnesota had a popu.
lation Of 2583,953. The 1910 CEN
sus discloses that on April 1st we
had a population of 2,7S5,986, an in
crease Of 81 per cent. Under the
late census the average congress
ional district will contain 302, 092
The Sixth District as now consti.
tuted contains 332,799. Minnesota
will neither gain nor lose represen.
tation in Congress under the new
census. Unfortunately, this is not
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