The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-09-26
(By Staff Writer)

WdSn1nSCOn.-OI Lne most I'M
mediate importance to almost ev-
cry family in the United States
is the final disposition by Con-
gress of the Selective Training
and Service measure which re-
quires the registration of every
man between the ages of twenty
one and thirty-five for possible
drafting for military or other de-
fensive service under the Govern
ment.
There are about 16,500,000 men
who come within that age limit.
All are to be registered by local
boards, beginning October IS.
The selection of 100000 for the
first draft is to begin November
Is. Choice of the individuals
drafted will be by numbers
drawn by lot, as was done in the
World War.
There are no exemptions pro-
vided by law except that con-
scientious DIRECTORS may claim
exemption and the Department
of Justice will pass on the truth
or falsity of the objector's COM
plant. If it is decided that he is
exempt from fighting service he
is still liable for any kind of non
combatant service.
Students Exempt
Students who entered college
this year, if drafted. may have
} their service deferred until after
the completion of the present col
lege year.
The drafting of men after their
numbers have been called will be
in the hands of local boards, on
which no Army or Navy officer
may serve. If any man whose
number is called attempts to
dodge the draft he will be SUBJ
iect to trial before a civil court
and not by a court martial.
Each man drafted will under
20 a thorough physical examina-
ton at the beginning of his SER
vice and another when he has
finished the one year term OF
training. so that no false claims
NAV later be made against the
Government for injuries or ply
steal deterioration resulting from
the training.
Drafted men will be assigned
to duty either with the Army,
the Navy or the Marines. II a
man is taken out of job his en-
ployer is required to give him
his job back, or another job
equally good, at the end of his
years training. Each drafted
man, if a registered voter, will
be allowed to 60 home to vote
on election day, if that requires
no more than a days journey:
otherwise he may send his ballot
by mail.
Each man drafted for service
will receive, in addition to lodg-
ing. food and clothing, $21 per
month for the first four months
and thereafter minimum of $50
per month with a sliding scale OF
increases as he DEVELOPS special
ability or technical skills, until
he may be drawing as high as $50
per month.
If a previous employer wishes
to continue paying a drafted man
all or part of his salary, all laws
which would forbid that are re-
pealed. Employers are required
to consider all selective men as
on furlough or leave of absence;
and an employer may not I'LL
any drafted mans place with
members of the Communist par
tv or the German-Amerlcan
Bund.
Service Limited
The service of men drafted I'M
der this law is limited to one
wears training, unless Congress
declares the national security re-
ouires an extension Of that per-
iod.
In all, the plan is to make two
drafts of 100000 men each, in the
course of the next six months,
or as soon as proper housing IA
cilities can be provided for them.
These added to approximately
100000 members of the National
Guard already called or about to
be called into service, and about
the same number of soldiers in
the regular army, will give the
nucleus of a military force of l.
100000 men.
It is not expected that anything
like complete military training
can be given in one years time.
The men will learn, however,
how to handle firearms, to obey
orders and will develop sound
and rugged physiques and gain
experience in the diScomfortS OF