Evening star., 1940-12-29
BY C. A. DYKSTRA,
Director of Selectiye Service.

and the year 1910 has brought 6
significant and radical change ir
our national life.
We approach the new year as
Nation dedicated to the armed de.
fense of our democracy. Americas
natural resources, industrial ma
chine and man power have beer
united in the common defense o1
our common country.
The Inauguration and organiza-
ton of the selective service system
has begun a new phase in our ma
tional life that touches, directly anc
indirectly, every family and every
community in our Nation.
1t is a national enterprise. Its
success depends upon the co-opera.
ton and sympathetic understanding
of people in all sections of oul
country, however remote. And we
are receiving that in magnificent
measure.
BY next July the selective service
process will have inducted 100000
men into the trained reserves Of oul
citizen Army.
What has been accomplished ir
these last two months represents tt
my mind a tremendous and signifi-
cant national effort. That it wa:
possible of accomplishment woulo
indicate that our democratic form
of government has not lost its viril.
ity, as some would have us believe.
Americas Answer.
There are many who like to preach
the doctrine that democracies are
soft and supine, that they cannot by
any chance act with singleness o1
purpose, that they cannot compete
with the mechanical efficiency o1
relationships. To such doctrinaires
the American people have just now
given their answer forcefully, dra-
matically and unequivocally.
The Inauguration of selective serv.
ice and its successful operation tt
date are a convincing demonstration
that a democracy can act, once II
is aroused. that popular government
is not on its way to the scrap heap
but rather that 1t is keenly alive.
Early this year We began what
has since become the greatest ma
Uional defense rearmament program
m our history. 1t will cost some
Sl5,000,0 100000. Even now our great
industrial machine is already pro-
ducing some of the finest military
materiel and equipment this world
has ever seen.
We believe that without any percep-
tible disturbance to the agricultural
or industrial efficiency of our ma
ton, this selective service program
will take nearly 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 equip
ment which can be made.
The Defense Democracy Needs.
Such a program will give this
democracy the kind of defense that
democracy needs in the kind OF
world we now find about us.
While I have stressed the fact
that the primary purpose of selec-
tive service is to train men as mill
tary reserves in our civilian Army
it must be remembered that the
selective service system will ac-
complish many other important OBJ
jectives.
To my mind one of its greatest
accomplishments will be one that is
already apparent
1t has. feel, given the American
people-all of them, men and wom-
en-, young and old-a new concep-
ton 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 some
thing that gives opportunities, bene-
fits and privileges. We had for
gotten the community spirit anc
sense of mutual responsibility that
made the founding of this great
country possible.
Every man had to know how te
use his musket-in those days-fol
the defense of his home, his family
and his community. Each man hao
to be skilled in arms and had tc
stand shoulder to shoulder with MS
nelghbor or perish with him.
These early pioneers knew only
too we'll that the price of life ano
liberty was eternal vigilance. To-
gether they built lew civilization
Together they made the colonies
free-together they broke trails into
the East-and together they wor
the West.
Will Make Us Better Americans.
Growing large, wealthy and pow
erful, and with their democratic in
stitutions seemingly secure, the need
for community endeavor and re-
sponsibility for the common defenss
lost much of its reality-to tn,
American people. AS individuals
out people We'd for their individual
share of the benefits created by 8
democratic government without any
thought or concern for its pro-
lection.
World conditions and circum-
stances beyond our control have
again awakened us to our respon-
sibilities in the common defense OF
our common country. Bearing oul
individual share of the burden ano
making the individual sacrifices and
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 ano
service. I think we will all agree
that in our modern America, with
It's 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 a 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 traditions
They will absorb some of the esprit