Evening star., 1940-09-24
Army Urged 10 Treat
Draftees So as 10 Win
Backing Of Public
High Morale Of Men
Held important by Head
Of Advisory Group
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.

Men called into the Army under
the Selective Service Act should be
treated in such a way that they
and their communities will support
the defense conscription program
whole e-heartedly. Frederick Osborne
Of New York, chairman Of the Con-
scription Advisory Committee ap-
pointed few days ago by President
Roosevelt. told a group Of high
ranking Army officers representing
all the Corps areas at Selective Serv-
ice headquarters today.
While the conference was execu-
tive. it was made known afterwards
by spokesman for the Selective
Service Committee that Mr. Osborne
had emphasized in a brief talk the
necessity of so conducting the train
ing camps that a high morale will
prevail
Regimen Need Not Be Harsh.
Mr. Osborne pointed out, it was
explained, that the country was not
at war and this was a peacertime
preparedness measure. He indi-
Gated that. although of course the
men would be under military dis
cipline, the training regimen need
not be harsh and could be con-
Quoted in such a way that the
youths themselves would be for it
100 per cent.
The officers agreed heartily with
this suggestion and promised to
cooperate in carrying out such a
policy. Further details along this
line were expected to be brought
out later in the series of confer
ences under a discussion of mo-
rale'
1t was agreed by Mr.. Osborne and
the Army officers present, the
spokesman said, that if the training
camps were conducted properly the
general public would be solidly be-
hind this conscription OF neces-
sary man power.
1t also was agreed at the morn
ing session that National Guard
units now modified might as well
weed out men who eventually would
be exempt from the years service
such as those with dependents or
those engaged in work essential to
the national defense-instead of
waiting until the provisions of the
selective service law are carried
out.
Hatch Act Brought Up.
Another phase of the many prob
lens surrounding conscription caused
a flareup on Capitol Hlll-the ques-
ton of whether the Hatch Act would
restrain conscripted troops in the
field from taking any part in pol
itics
The ban which the Hatch law
places on political activities of any
one paid with Federal funds had been
interpreted by the Civil Service
Commission as applying to National
Guardsmen on active service. and
Senator Gibson, Republican, of Ver-
mont, told the Senate he regarded
this ruling as dangerous since it
might be extended to men placed in
service under the Selective Service
Act.
Senator Gibson declared it would
be "a very dangerous process" If
men indicted into the Army against
their will were practically threat
ened with Jail II they forgot they
were no longer free men" and took
some part in politics. He said he
hoped the commissions ruling was
a mistake or. if it were upheld. Con-
gress would see that this situation
is corrected"
Vandenberg Questions Right.
The right of the Civil Service
Commission to fix regulations bind
ing military personnel was QueS-
toned by Senators Vandenberg, Re
publican. of Michigan, and Connally,
Democrat. of Texas Senator Con-
nally conceded it might have this
right with respect to civil service
employees who planned to return to
their Jobs after military service.
Senator Hatch, Democrat, of New
Mexico, author of the act, indicated
he was not much worried over the
National Guard ruling, though he
admitted he was troubled" about
whether the statute should apply to
conscripts.
1t was pointed out in the Senate
that the difference was Guardsmen
had chosen military service volun-
tarily. while drafted men had no
choice.
The commissions ruling was to
the effect that Guardsmen called
into active service-or on nights
they attended weekly drills-could
not discuss candidates publicly or
take part in political campaign.
Draft Officials Confer.
Conferences between the staff Of
the Selective Service Committee and
corps area officers continued at COM
mittee headquarters in the Potomac
Park apartments.
Topics of the day included dis
cussions of induction and reception
certers, morale. transportation Of
men. National Guard program and
men and liaison between corps areas
and the Selective Service. The
conferences will continue through
Friday.
Location of 13 reception centers
for conscripted men was announced
by the War Department. At these
centers soldiers of the new Army
will receive uniforms and equipment
and preliminary instructions. They
will remain only few days before
being assigned to permanent units
of the Regular divisions.
Headquarters Listed.
A list of these headquarters, with
the men they can accommodate at
one time, follows:
Second Corps Area-New Jersey,
Delaware and New York, Fort Dix
New Jersey, $500.
Third Corps Area-Pennsylvania
Maryland, Virginia and the District