Evening star., 1940-08-11
Wheeler Urges
Public Vote on
Conscriiption
Military Men Say
Majority Of Recruits
Are Under II
BY ROBERT BRUSKIN.

A challenge for submission of the
conscription issue to popular vote
was made yesterday by Senator
Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana, as
War Department and National
Guard bureau officials disclosed that
the majority of recruits now being
obtained have not yet reached voting
age.
The leader of opposition to the
Burke -Wadsworth compulsory mill
tary training bill told reporters he
believed popular sentiment was
against conscription and that pro-
ponents should be willing to test
their views in the November general
election.
Senator Wheeler declared that If
advocates of the bill "feel that it is
necessary to have the draft to save
democracy, as they have repeatedly
said, they ought to be willing to
submit the question to the people
because that would be the demo-
cratic way to ascertain the public
viewpoint"
Advocates Of the measure immedi-
ately pointed out that it would
merely serve to delay CONSUMPTION
until after the elections, as con-
templated by the substitute bill Of
fered by Senator Maloney, Demo-
crat. of Connecticut. The draft
would become effective January l
If insufficient volunteers were not
obtained under one-year enlist
ments. Senator Wheeler had de-
clared he would support the alter
nate bill if no other method was
found for defeating conscription.
Volunteers Are Is to 2l.
Ignored politically and not even
considered eligible for conscription
under the Burke Wadsworth bill,
youths of Is to 81, meanwhile, have
provided more than rs per cent of
recruits in the regular force. An
Army officer declared the average
age of all volunteers since recruit
ment began for the enlarged force
has been 2l1a years. Enlistments
totaled 81 ,958 in July, largest in the
Army's peacetime history.
A National Guard Bureau official
said more than IS per cent of en-
listed men in the State forces we're
under 81, and many units have a
waiting list ready to fill vacancies
expected when married men with
dependents resign. The House is ex-
pected to give its approval this week
to the measure which would author
ize President Roosevelt to order out
the National Guard and Army Re-
serve components. The bill has
been passed by the Senate.
1900 Expected to Resign.
Youths between 18 and 81 may
enlist in the National Guard with
out consent of parents, except in a
few States where statutes require
consent. Approximately 1900 of
the National Guards 242, ,708 are ex-
pected to resign when their units
are ordered to active duty and, the
officer said, but little trouble is ex-
pected in replacing them. He point
ed out that boys from 18 to 81 are
more apt to find desirable a year Of
duty in the Army, and if necessary,
the National Guard could tap this
backlog of manpower in increasing
its strength to 100000, sufficient to
bring it to full peacetime organiza-
ton.
Should conscription be delayed
and the need for more men become
pressing, he saw no hindrance to re-
cruiting the Guard to its war
strength of approximately 475,00O
and inducing them into Federal
service Immediately. Present plans
are to- induct approximately $1,000
by September 1. The remainder will
follow as facilities become available.
1t is expected that all units will re-
(See CONSCRIPTION, Page A-30