The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1941-07-31
The Draft Extension

Gulfport, has this to say regarding the ex-
tension of draftees:
1t was to be expected there would be a
congressional stew when the original draft year
limit came up for extensions. To a bystander,
it looks like just another broken covenant. The
boys were promised their training would be for
one year only and that none Of them would be
sent to Europe
The boys have lived up to their part of the
program-they had to or be sent to Jail. Their
government has WEIGHED on them, and it is
but natural that they should feel they have been
rocked.
1t may be argued that the emergency is now
more acute As a matter Of fact the probability
of disaster abroad looked worse a year ago
than now. When the President as a candi-
date for reelection for a third term was in the
midst Of his campaign, France, Holland. Nor
way and Belgium were conquered and it looked
pretty black for England. He assured the boys
that the training for a year would be bene-
ficial and that under no circumstances would
they be sent TO Europe to fight.
Our boys viii have to get accustomed to
deception. They will have to learn that their
government doesn't always shoot straight.
CongressmaH Ross Collins, military affairs
authority, says we don't need a big army. He
says we need machines. Others say we haven't
the materials needed for training the men now
in uniform.
Anyway wal is in the air. We are al
ready in Europe al Iceland. We are in Asia.
Nothing one says OF writes is Of much effect
unless he waves q bloody shirt or has a good
war cry. We are a people of emotions, and war
grows in popularity. Men must fight! We should,
however, at least have frankness from our lea
~dership-soldiers and civilians are entitled to the
truth, and so far they haven't had it.
lr ever there is a time when the President
of this country should deal in straight, honest
talk about his intentions, regarding our en-
try into a shooting war, it is time to start
straight now.
Every bit of power the President has asked
Congress for has taken US one step further
along the road to war. The epassage of the
lend-lease bill was the first step and that
legislation was written at the specific request
of the President. 1t is his baby.
Now the President asks for extension OF
the draftees term in the interest of prepare
dness for this country. If that request could
be taken on its face value there would be
little protest even on the part of the draftees.
But If keeping the boys in the army means
giving the President another big stick to
wave so as to continue to pursue his belli-
gerent course, then that is something else
again, and such powers should not be grant
ed in view of the known objection of the
vast majority of American people to ex-
pedltlonary forces being sent anywhere a.
broad.
1t is a lamentable fact that frequently our
says one thing and means another.
That more than any one factor is respon-
sible for the lack of unity in America. You
don't like to play follow the leader when
there is very indication that what started
out to be a friendly helpful game is going
to turn out by having a gun stuck in your
face when maybe you don't even have
a gun yourself much less know how to shoot
it.