Evening star., 1940-09-28


his superior in the Government to
testify that he is necessary" and
then be able to convince the local
board that he should get deferment
on that basis. If an employe is
Of the right age and is not dis
qualified from service for some other
reason, he will have a hard time
proving he is necessary to the
civilian" service of Uncle Sam
Maj. Battley explained. The local
boards will have wide authority.
Political pull will not be allowed
under the plan to influence local
boards in exempting or giving pre-
ferred status. officials emphasized.
Most potent danger to the pro-
gram of conscription and occupa-
tional deferment, Maj. Battley said,
would be the erroneous conception
that "deferments will be favor
granted to favoriteS, whether sons
OF the rich or those with political
pull"
Maj. Battleys swing around the
United States will take him to Bos-
ton, New Orleans, Sacramento,
Calf: Lansing, Mich, and Bal
timore.
To Time Farm Labor Call.
Although the Government will
provide deferment for no specific
class or group of people. Maj Battley
explained that it is the desire of
the Government to disrupt as little
as possible the peacetime economic
status of the country. For this
reason, he said, plans are under way
to register men in the agricultural
sections of the country, but for them
not to be called to service during
the plowing, planting or harvest
season. Maps Of the harvesting
seasons and requirements of the
various crops Of the country are
being developed at selective service
headquarters by%Dayid Meeker, an
expert from the Agriculture De-
partment. These workers would be
called later.
OF the occupational deferment
classes. it was explained, the prin-
cipal ones probably will be known
as IA, 2-B and &c.
The first one, IA, will include
students in school who can be de-
ferred until June, 1941.
Glass 2-B will include those men
considered as necessary" to the
national health, safety or inter-
ests" of the country in those enter
prises not considered connected with
defense activities.
U-,I,,l> E;rnvnnr
In this group might come key
men, such as motion picture stars
or baseball players. if they are con-
sidered necessary to the peace
time econon}y of the Nation. Since
the professional baseball season will
be over, however. by the draft regis
tration day, October 16, 1t was thought
likely that professional football
players would stand better chance
OF obtaining deferment. One eX-
treme example was pointed out as
perfume blender," or powder
mixer" in cosmetic factory, who
might be considered such a key
man that his employment would
be necessary in that capacity in
order to keep many other persons
employed. Policemen and fremen
also may come under this classi-
fication. 1t was said. but like every
one else, they will have to come up
individually and prove their cases
before their local boards.
In class &c will come those men
who could not be replaced imme-
diately in jobs connected directly
with the national defense. Unless
q man is in such key post that
his absence would throw many 9TH
tense operation, he still would have
to stand his chance of being re-
placed. Every six months. however,
his case would come up to the local
board, to find out if he had been
replaced by some one outside the
draft qualifications. If his status
changes as to employment. the draft
board will be notified in five days.
No Plant Exemption List.
But I want to emphasize
strongly" declared Maj. Battley.
that there is no list of essential
industries, no list of essential plants.
Only men individually are consid-
cred as necessary and that has to
be proven to the satisfaction of the
local board"
Meantime, an important series OF
conferences lasting week at Ma
tonal Selective Service headquarters
came to a close yesterday, when
Army officers from the nine corps
areas finished their studies of the
entire defense picture and plans for
operating the entire military ma
chine of the Army, including
draftees, National Guard, Reserves
and Regulars.
The 18 men from the nine corps
areas spent long hours in confer
ences daily during the week anc
yesterday afternoon concluded thell
program with visits to various parts
of the War Department to clear ur
further questions with experts
These men included one Regular
Army officer in charge of personnel
from each of the nine corps areas
and one liaison officer between the
corps headquarters and the con-
scription boards.
Details of how the sslectees will
Be called up for service by the Army
were outlined and machinery de-
vised for putting such plans into
operation These experts are er