Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-08-23
Going After Bailey


Life insurance underwriters in
Durham have been sounding out the
North Carolina delegation IN Con-
greSS on the conScripti'l I'LL, and.
after hearing from Senator Bailey
that he was opposed 10 it. adopted re-
solves which threatened his tenure
OF office. so far as their influence
could be made effective.
The senator informed the group he
would "be in favor of the general
plan Of militarizing our country and
drafting our young men when 1 am
convinced that the national defense
demands nothing less" He added
that he had been greatly troubled by
"recent evidences that the war spirit
can be 50 easily aroused in our
country"
In their reply. the underwriters
quoted Senator Glass as saying: Any
one in the United States Senate
who cannot see what this country is
facing. and is not in favor Of COM
pulSory military training at the pres.
ent time is too simple to represent
the people Of the United States
Said the resolution. We pass this
on to you as voicing our senti-
ments. Regardless of what you may
consider your duties as senator. we
consider il YOUR duty to do what the
people who elected you want you
to do-and a nationwide poll shows
this country overwhelmingly in favor
of immediate compulsory training.
We are not advocating that this coun-
try get into war. but we are most
positively advocating the re!ision Of
your attitude toward compulsory
military training"
Surprising the senator were to
disregard his OWN convictions in
favor of those of his constituents.
who is there 20 say just what those
constituents wish? There has been
no referendum on the matter in this
State. While undoubtedly there are
many who favor the draft bill, there
are many who just as certainly do
not.
This brings up the question as to
how much liberty a congressman is
supposed to have in the exercise of
his own judgment. Most Of them.
for political if for no other reasons.
feel impellcG to do what ,n,y be-
lieve tneir constituents wish !, *
conce-i led that representative a. N
position to have more facts per-
tanning 10 an issue pending in Con-
gress, though in this particular case
the people themselves are and
should be the final arbiter. through
constituted channels, of an issue 50
vitality important as compulsory mil
itary training in peace time. And
they know their minds and many arc
about DIS conversant with the issue
and its consequences as men in the
national capital
1t is a fact, however, that there
is wide divergence of opinion about
the draft The best determining ms
dunn 50 far of the mind Of tie coun-
try is the Gallup poll. which has
shown Americans de, ini,vly favor
able to the measure
Constituents do not demand the
right to cast the vote of their con-
gressmen on every issue before the
national legislature. 1t would be i'm
practical and impossible. Were there
method Of aScertaining the &C
tual sentiment Of North Carolinians
in a reliable manner, there might 70
reason to expect legislator to fol
low that course. Otherwise, he
might be accorded some semblance
of freedom of action.
A great many people have been
interested in knowing the origin of
the draft bill now on its way through
Congress. It is we'll known that it
hears the rome of Democratic sen
ator who has been defeated for re-