Evening star., 1940-07-30
Conscription
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witnesses at the afternoon hearing
on mobilization of the Guard.
Army officials have explained to
the congressional committees that,
for training purposes, they plan to
fit the drafted men into existing
units of the Regular Army and the
National Guard. That in view, they
would like to have the militiamen
in camp a week or two before the
first increment of 100000 drafted
men is called, about october l.
Senator Sheppard said his per-
sonal thought is the Guard mobili-
cation bill will be pushed ahead of
the selective service measure, but
emphasized the committee has not
decided that point.
Senator Austin asked the legisla-
tive drafting experts to consider
what detailed changes would have
to be made in the text of the bill
if the committee decided to limit
registration to men between 81 and
81.
According to the testimony, there
are about 100000 men between 81
and 81, and Army officers believe
there would be out of that number
about 100000 who could be con-
sidered for military training after
allowing for various essential defer
ments.
The existing 18-to-64 provision
would call for the registration Of
AZ O00. 900 men.
In his testimony before the House
Committee, Msgr. Ready said:
That the integrity and the in
stitutions of the United States face
possible dangers today because of
a war ravaging Europe is apparent.
That these dangers justify national
preparedness for defense on the
scale contemplated in the bill under
consideration is not supported by
any evidence.
I'VE believe that the interests Of
our country would have been served
better If this proposed legislation
had originated in Congress. Ger
tainly Congress would have sup
ported, not to say protected, the
basic interests Of religion.
There is at present a high
pressure propaganda for this bill
emanating from the military profess
sionals. - The military profess
sionals would convince us that nee
essary forces of men cannot be OBJ
tanned by voluntary service
Sees Patriotic Response.
On the contrary, the Catholic
leader asserted, a proper, reason
able" appeal to the Nation would be
answered faster than present re-
sources could handle them.
Every loyal American" Msgr.
Ready declared, sis in favor of de-
fense program which will make us
so strong that no other nation or
coalition of nations will dare to at
tack us. In preparing such a de-
tense, We should rely on the fine
traditions which have made and
kept this Nation great.
mo service to the Nation, even in
peacetime, according to this bill, is
comparable to the lowest form OF
military training. All modes of life
even in peacetime, must give way to
a plan which the military profess
sionals deem necessary"
Senator Norris, Independent, Of
Nebraska, who has opposed the
Burke -Wadsworth bill, said he
thought that if the National Guard
was called out for years training
that ought to be an answer to this
proposal to train everybody"
Senator Norris expressed the opin-
ion that if the Senate were allowed
to vote on the National Guard pro-
posal first, it would not be so quick
to pass a conscription bill.
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
another opponent of the Burke
WadsWorth measure, said he would
have no objection to the Presidents
ordering training of the Guard If he
could demonstrate that it was neces-
sary. Senator Wheeler, Democrat,
of Montana, echoed that view.
Senator Wheeler injected q po-