Evening star., 1940-08-01
Appeal to the Candidates

and selective draft provisions to men
between the ages of twenty-one and
thirty-one narrows the field OF those
potentially available for military
training to approximately $4,000, 900.
1t is entirely probable that the mill
tary services would be able to draw
all the men presently needed from
this number, but there are at least
two major disadvantages associated
with the change.
In the first place, bill containing
the restricted limitation as to ages
would be less democratic than the
original proposal to register all men
between eighteen and sixty-four and
to make those between twenty-one
and forty-five eligible for service.
Assuming that appropriate provision
is made for necessary exemptions,
it may we'll be asked why man of
thirty should be made liable to mill
tary service while another man of
thirty-two should be exempted by
law. The effect of the amendment
is simply to place the burden of
national defense on a smaller ele-
ment of the population without any
accompanying benefit that is readily
discernible.
Nor does there appear to be any
sound reason for refusal to REQUIRE
registration of all men within the
original age limits Compliance with
this provision would make available
to the Government information as
to the occupational qualifications
and the availability for military
service of the Nations man power
which would be essential in time of
war. The age limits within which
men would be made liable to draft
could be narrowed while retaining
the original registration require
ments, and there has been advanced
no plausible reason why this should
not be done
Despite these objections, however,
the national defense program would
be decidedly strengthened if the bill
as amended by the Senate Military
Affairs Committee should be en-
acted, but there is no real assurance
that even this much will be done.
Opponents of the measure evi-
IDENTIFY cling to their belief that there
is no threat to the security of the
Nation which necessitates adoption
OF compulsory military service. De-
spite repeated warnings of imminent
danger from such men as Secretary
OF War Stimson and General George
Marshall, Chief of Staff, certain
members of Congress, whose nu-
merical strength seems to be increas-
ing. have indicated that they will op-
pose any conscription plan until
such a time as the United States
actually has been attacked or until
such an attack becomes virtual
certainty. To their minds the incon-
trovertible argument that the best
insurance against war in a world
ruled by force is the fullest advance
preparation to resist attack prep
aration which cannot be carried out
successfully after war begins
makes no appeal.
In view of this seemingly increas-
ing possibility that Congress may re-
fuse to enact any selective service
law, it becomes imperative that those
who believe such legislation to be a
vitally essential phase of an adequate
defense program should exert every
effort to bring about it's passage.
A maximum effort in behalf of the
Burke Wadsworth bill can come only
through its specific Endorsement by
President Roosevelt and by the Re-
publican presidential nominee, Wen
dell Willkie. Mr. Roosevelt already
has announced in general terms that
he favors some form of conscription,
and Mr.. Willkie, who has substan-
TALLY supported this administrations
foreign policy, has said that he will
make his position known at the
proper time.
That time is now. Nothing is to be
gained and much may be lost by
waiting. If we are indeed confronted
with the emergency and the danger
to our national security which both
men seem to envisage, they could
render no greater service than to
make known without delay their
positions on this matter. Extraor-
dinary conditions call for extraor-
binary action, and if the President
and Mr.. Willkie favor the pending
legislation they should be able to
agree on some method of making
that fact public. At the very least,
such action would remove this vital
issue from the realm of partisan
politics; at best, if the two candidates
are in substantial agreement, it
should provide the impetus necessary
to enactment of the legislation with
out further sacrifice of precious time.
New Controller General
In the selection Of Representative
IindSav C. Warren of North Caroline