The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1940-10-03
OUR CONGRESSMAN
News Letter Written Ely Miner by
A.. PITTENGER
Member of Congress, Eighth Minnesota District

This will probably be the last of my
reports from the Nations Capital. AS
these lines are written, there is every
reason to believe that the administra-
ton wishes for adjournmnt of Con-
egreSs as soon as possible This does
not have my personal approval. Dur
ing the emergency believe that Con-
greSS should remain in session. How
ever, the leaders usually have their way,
even though a filibuster may OCCASION
ally delay procedure.
The Consumption Act.
The Burke-WadSworth bill is now
history and it is known as the Selec-
tive Training and Service Act of 1910.
without question the most important
event during the Seventy-sixth Con-
gresS 1939-1940) Was the signing of the
draft legislation by President Roosevelt
on September 10th, 1910, 1903 P. M,
Eastern Standard Time. In the one
hundred and fifty-one years of Con-
gresS, this is the first time that Con-
gress has passed and the President
signed a peace time consumption law
Directly or indirectly, this law affects
every person in America Under its
terms over 16, 100000 Americans between
the ages of 81 and 35 years will regis
ter for military service. The President
has set october 16 as the date of
registration, and 100000 of these men
will be in the Army by January 1st
Men selected will serve one year, ana
may be sent anywhere in the Western
hemisphere.
National Defense Council
When America awakened to the fact
that it was totally unprepared for
modern warfare some weeks ago. the
President appointed National Defense
Council on the oath day of June for
the purpose of co-ordinating the plans
for National Defense. Congress APP
prOpriated funds, and passed necessary
legislation with all possible speed
Plans are under way for the building
of battleshipS, a two ocean Navy, air.
planes, tanks, rifles, powder, shells, and
other military and naval equipment
81 new war vessels, 94OO airplaneS, 5000
tanks, are among the items in the con-
tracts that will total over seven billions
of dollars.
Midwest Part of National Defense
In connection with the defense pro-
gram, in its very beginning. the writer
hereof received a letter from one of |
our prominent citizens in the district |
He pointed out to me the danger OF |
having all war contracts filled in the
Eeastern seaboard. We Immediately |
contacted the National Defense Coun-
Gil and asked that the Midwest be
given chance to share in National |
Defense orders and that the Eastern
interests not be permitted to discrimin-
ate against the Midwest. Many others
shared our viewpoint, and the Mid
western states became active. Definite
promises have now been made 70 the
belt of states that they
will share in the new defense con-
tracts, and that the Atlantic seaboard
will not be permitted to fatten on war
orders at the expense of the rest of
the country.
Trade Schools
Part of the National Defense pro-
gram calls for the training of mechanics
in our local schools and colleges. Over
a year ago advocated such a program,
and again called attention to the need
of such training when the National
Defense program was put under way.
Every young person in the community
ought to have an opportunity to take
mechanical training, and now is the
time to do it. The warfare Of the
future, as well as the present, requires
the best mechanics and skilled work
men that can be developed, because air
planes, tanks, etc., can be handled only
by eXeprts.
Airplane Defense Essential
Sometime ago we recall the headlines
in the newspapers when the French
armies were being crushed by tanks on
land and airplane bombers from the