Evening star., 1940-07-29
President Asks
Power 10 Order
Guard Training
Security Demonds'
ColIme 1t, Officers
Reserves, He Says
F.y the Associated Press.

WV CollFAACCd IIldU LIE SSCuTlly
of the Nation" demanded Is, asked
Congress toda.a to let him ltler
the Nahooal Guard and the officers
Reserve Corps into Intensive Main
ing"
Il cannot, with clear conscience.
longer postpone this vitally essen
tial step" the President said in a
letter read to the Senate.
This group of men who of neces-
sity must be among the first to fight
in the Nations defense have right
to the best preparation that time
and circumstance permit" he added
after noting that I'VE know too
we'll the tragedy that ensues when
inadequately trained men are as
sailed by a more skillful adversary"
While the President did not mer-
ton in his letter any specific period
of active training for the Guard.
the draft OF accompanying legisla-
ton would specifically limit such
training to one year.
Power Would End in 1912.
The extraordinary authority which
would be given the President
would expire June 30 1912, under
terms of the proposed measure
Service of the Guardsmen would be
restricted to the Western Hemis-
phere except for possessions of the
United States and the Philippine
Islands.
Democratic Leader Barley said
the bill, as submitted by the Presi-
dent, probably would be introduced
by Chairman Sheppard of the Mill
tary Affairs Committee. He said
speedy enactment would be sought
in line with the Presidents request
for immediate action.
Senator Austin of Vermont. as
sistant Republican leader. said it
was his understanding that if the
President were given the authority
he requested. the Guard would be
used to aid in training conscripts
who might be called to the colors
under pending legislation for COM
pulsory military training.
Requires Personal Sacrifice"
The President noted that it would
require personal sacrifice" for those
called out to leave their homes and
jobs but, he said, their service was
"vitally essential to the country.
Senator Capper, Republican, of
Kansas took the floor to declare
that the compulsory military train
ing bill prepared by the Military
Affairs Committee will lead us
closer all the time to the European
war"
A voluntary system of obtaining
enlistment for the Army should be
tried for one year, he said, before
Congress attempts to adopt a con-
scription program.
Il am for an adequate Army and
Navy to fight off any aggressive ma
tions, but I do not believe we want
the Hitler system of organizing for
war" Senator Capper continued.
In another development Senator
Lee. Democrat, of Oklahoma an
nounced he would offer an amend
ment to draft capital as we'll as men
as title of the compulsory training
bill"
Vandenberg Predicts Defeat.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican
OF Michigan predicting that public
sentiment would cause Congress to
defeat proposals for compulsory
military training reported deluge
OF mail supporting his opposition to
the measure.
I've never seen anything like it,
Senator Vandenberg told reporters.
Noting that he had asked Con-
gress to give him authority to order
out the Guard when he thought it
was necessary, the President said
he did not consider this power suf-
ficient.
The President said if the legisla-
ton he suggested were approved
by Congress, he would be able to
order successive sections of the Ma
tional Guard and the Officers Re-
serve Corps into active training
When these units receive sufficient
training to enable them to handle
the most modern equipment, their
members would be returned to civil
ian life, he said.
Delay in Debate Seen.
A delay in congressional debate
on peacetime conscription. sched-
uled to start Wednesday, appeared
likely, meanwhile, in view of COM
promise" talk designed to avert a
stiff floor fight.
While John L. Lewis, c. I. O.
president, and Senator Taft, Re
publican, of Ohio joined the opposi-
ton to compulsory military train
ing, Senator Barkley said he fa-
vored giving members time to study
the issue.
In the House, influential Demo-
Gratis said they wanted to make
haste slowly" with the manpower
phases of the defense program. The
House Military Affairs Committee
will resume hearings tomorrow on
the conscription legislation, with
Secretary of War Stimson as wit
ness some time this week.
Mr.. Lewis voiced his opposition
to conscription yesterday after con-
ferring with Senator Wheeler,
Democrat. of Montana, one of the
leading foes of the program. The
G. I. o. chief said he was "in full
agreement with Senator Wheeler on
this thing"
Senator Taft, like Senator VAN
denberg, Republican, of Michigan.
suggested trying voluntary sys-
tenn" of Army enlistment before
adopting conscription.