Evening star., 1941-06-24

armed forces already. While en-
gagged in the procurement of these
men it has given consideration to
| the deferment of individuals who
owe a responsibility to their de-
pendents. 1t has given considera-
ton to the deferment of men who
are engaged in occupations that are
essential to defense and essential
to the maintenance of the national
health, safety and interest. Selec-
tive service has physically exam
ined we'll over a million individuals.
1t has widely publicized and brought
to the attention of our people the
necessity for positive action in the
prevention of disability and in the
rehabilitation of those who are now
below the standard required for the
military forces.
1t is not alone to procure fit SOL
diers that the selective service has
done this but rather that we may
have in industry, in agriculture and
in every one of the activities of our
national life individuals who are
as near the standard of reasonable
health as we can possibly secure.
The method Of application of Sc
lective service to all classes of So
ciety has been an excellent force
for the solidification and unification
of America.
1t is encouraging to those whose
share of worldly goods is small to
see their more prosperous fellow
citizens accepting their obligations
of military service and giving their
time and their energy in the same
organization. 1t is an example of
real democracy.
Selective service has given an op-
portunlty to have in the same units
a crosS-section of our American
citizens. From this association they
will gain mutual respect which will
remain solidifying influence in our
life in the years that are before us.
Selective service has re-emphasized
the relationship of the citizen to his
duties and to his obligations. For
too long a time the emphasis has
been placed upon our rights and our
privileges.
Practical Democracy.
Selective service is an application
Of practical democracy. 1t Is a de-
centralized process whereby the
neighbors of the individual to be
chosen for service apply to him gen.
eral rules and general principles on
q lived ft,I ;,yiI
basis. OF course, in system of this
kind there will be those who look at
others and believe that they them
selves have been less fortunate be-
cause of an apparent lack of uni
formity. But granting that all
charges of lack of uniformity are
true, yet the fundamental principle
of the community having the right
to say within certain limits what
citizen will serve is the very essence
of democracy. 1t is the very essence
OF community responsibility.
In spite of many faults and in
spite of many shortcomings that it
may have selective service has more
elasticity; it is quicker to keep in
tune with the demands of the local
community than any other system
that can be devised for this parti-
eular purpose.
Lastly, selective service has aided
materially in the formation of a ma
tional Army, an Army that is not the
property of the few but an Army
that belongs to all, an Army that
is made up of sons of the rich, sons
of the poor, sons of all classes and
races united on a common ground
for a common purpose, the defense
of America.
The next major task of the selec-
tive service system is to register
those who have become 81 years of
age since October 16 last. On July
! these young men will report at the
places designated for the registra-
ton. In most localities it will be
the Office of the local board. In
others 1t will be in special regis
tration places
Advises Young Men of Fl.
But wherever it may be the young
men of 81 will come to record their
names for whatever services their
Government sees fit to require of
them. In comparison with the reg
istration of last October this is a
simple process. In the first place
the numbers are very small. not
more than per cent of the number
who registered last year. In the sec
ond place, because of the smallness
of the numbers, it is unnecessary
to mobilize the hundreds of thou
sands of volunteer workers who last
year SO Loyalty came to do their bit.
This year, for the most part, the
registration will be completed by
the members of the selective service
system in each locality or by VOL
unteers experienced in selective
service who will come forth on that
day to assist these young men in
enrolling their names. If possible
each young man who is to register
should report to the local board or
the designated registration place
nearest his home. If he is away
from his home then he should re-
port to the nearest registration
place. If he desires that his regis
tration card be returned to his own
home locality it is most necessary
that he designate his place of resi-
dence on line two.
cannot emphasize too much that