The Wilmington morning star., 1940-07-25

Planned
Men With Dependents As.
sured They Will Not Be
Drafted For Training
GEN. SHEDD 'TESTIFIES
Men Essential To Industry
Ia Be Put In Deferred
Classification

w Wv July Z MI
Men with dependents were assured
today that they would not be drafted
for military training in time of
program, while the senate military
committee virtually decided to ex.
empt conscientious DIRECTORS" from
combat rtaining.
The assurance to men with de-
pendents was given by Brig. Gen
William E. Shedd, assistant chief of
staff, while he was testifying before
the house military committee in sup
port of the Burke-Wadsworth com,
pulsory training bill. This measure
was approved with revisions by the
senate committee yesterday.
Deferred" Classification
Gen. Shedd also said that provision
had been made to place in a "de'
ferred" classification all men essen
tial to industry"
Chairman Sheppard (D-Tex) OF
the senate committee, in talking to
reporters, defined a conscientious
objector' as one who could prove
that he was opposed to war on re-
ligious grounds. Such exemptions
during the World war, he said, were
based upon memberships in churches
whose creeds forbade military serv-
ice rather than upon individual re-
ligious views.
Sheppard explained, however, that
while conscientious ob%jectors'
would not be required to take COM
bat training, they would be subject
to other forms of defense service.
Selection of draftees, Sheppard
said, would be made on the basis of
those who could "best afford to go"
When a reporter asked if this might
not result in obtaining most of the
trainees from the ranks of the poor
and jobless, Sheppard replied that
some of the "wll-to-do" also were I'M
employed.
Answers Question
Gen. Shedd's observation on men
with dependents was in reply to a
question on how the War depart
ment proposed to protect a married
man, subject to a year of military
training, if he were making pay
ments on 2. home or life insurance.
After saying that "never in peace
time" would such persons be re
to serve, Shedd proposed that
the legislation contain a declaration
that employees drafted for the serv-
ice be given their jobs back at the
of training. This prompt
ed Rep. Wadsworth R-NY to offer
amendment providing that draf-
lees be issued certificates upon COM
of service and declaring that
men with such certificates Ought to
be re-employed' unless the "employ-
ers' circumstances" had changed so
that unemployment was impossible.
May Move Workers
Secretary of the Navy Knox, in
discussing defense preparations, told
. press conference that a plan was
under consideration to move skilled
workers from the interior to ship
building centers. This, he said,
would be preferable to attending to
train workers near the shipyards.
Knox said that he and Sidney
Hillman, a national defense commits
sioner, believed there would be a
shortage of certain types of ship
workers.
The senate committee, Sheppard
said, also agreed to excuse from
training, while they held office, such
policy making" public officials as
the vice president, cabinet officers,
of federal and state courts,
and members of federal and state
legislatures. Deferment would not
De granted to purely administrative
officials, he said.
The committee approved a section
authorizing the President to defer
raining and service of those men
whose employment in industry,
agriculture or other occupations is
.ound to be necessary to the main
enance of the national health, safe
y or interest,"" and also regularly Or
luly ordained ministers.