Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-26

tiona1 defense rearmament program
in our history. 1t will cost some $15,-
000,000,000 Even now our great in
dustrial machine is already produc-
ing some of the finest military ma
terrell and equipment this world has
ever seen.
We believe that without any per-
ceptible disturbance to the agricul-
tural or industrial efficiency of our
Nation, this selective service pro-
gram will take nearly a million men
each year out of civilian life and
train them as military reserves and
that we can put into their hands
the finest military materiel and
equipment which can be made.
Such a program will give this
democracy the kind Of defense that
democracy needs in the kind Of
world we now find about us.
To Accomplish Other Detectives.
While have stressed the fact that
the primary purpose of selective
service is to train men as military
reserves in our civilian army, it must
be remembered that the selective
service system will accomplish many
other important detectives.
To my mind one of its greatest &C
complishments will be one that is
already apparent.
1t has, I feel, given the American
people-all of them-men and wom-
en-, young and old, new conception
of democracy.
For many generations we enjoyed
security and the rights of democracy
without being called upon for any
great sacrifice or duty. We had
come to regard our democracy as
something that gives opportunities,
benefits and privileges. We had for
gotten the community spirit and
sense of mutual responsibility that
made the founding of this great
country possible.
At this time of the year it is par
ticularly fitting for us to bring to
mind those familiar pictures of the
early settlers who set aside a day of
Thanksgiving for the like and liberty
they had won in hostile surround
ings.
AS they trudged along to the
meeting house or to the Thanks
giving banquet, each man carried
his musket. Every man had to know
how TO use his musket-in those
days-for the defense of his home,
his family and his community. Each
man had to be skilled in arms and
had to stand shoulder to shoulder
with his neighbor or perish with
him.
These early pioneers knew only too
well that the price of life and
liberty was eternal vigilance. To-
gether they built new civilization
Together they made the Colonies
free-together they broke trails into
the West-and together they won
the West.
Reality of Situation Fades.
Growing large, wealthy and
powerful and with their demo-
cratic institutions seemingly secure
the need for community endeavor
and responsibility for the common
defense lost much of It's reality
to the American people. AS in
dividuals, our people Wed for their
individual share of the benefits
created by democratic government
without any thought or concern fol-
its protection.
World conditions and circum-
stances beyond our control have
again awakened us to our RESPONSE
bilities in the common defense oil
our common country. Bearing our
individual share of the burden ano
making the individual sacrifices ano
adjustments that are necessary will
make us better Americans.
To the youth of our Nation there
are many benefits that will accrue
from this program of training and
service. I think we will all agree
that IN our modern America, with
its freedom of self-expression that
extends even into the family rela-
tionship, we have neglected self
discipline. During the year that
our young men will be in training,
they will come to know discipline
not in harsh or brutal sense, but
in way that will develop character
and citizenship. During the year
of training, our young men will
learn respect for American tradi-
lions. They will absorb some of the
esprit that has always been a factor