The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-06-27
M!!'N|'''!!!!M!!!::;!!t
zDy~.'.. '..;,
Eleanor Roosevelt

uIIlu. 1ney aTe eVlueuJly DdSeu Oh
an article / wrote for the Ladies
Home Journal.
First: "How do you visualize the
Organization and registration Of the
service of girls on compulsory
basis?" I see it done exactly as
done for young men, perhaps with
certain notifications.
Two: what would be the relation
OF this plan to women already en-
ployed, especially in industry" It
would have no relation whatsoever,
because ! visualize it only as con-
tinuation of practical training for
one year. This will benefit the COM
munity and, at the same time, be of
value to young women in their fu-
ture lives.
Three: "What ages would be in
cluded?" surmise the ages would
be from the end of high school, if
girls were going no further; to the
end of college training, if they had
planned on taking a college course.
I suppose it would be between the
ages of IS to "a.
Four: "How would existing organ
izations be used?" They would be
used to give opportunities for train
ing.
Five: "Why do you feel compul-
sorry service necessary" Only be-
cause it is obvious that the better
the training people have today,
the better are the opportunities they
have in life. This training should
develop a broader knowledge of the
whole community and should, there
fore, be entered into by all girls in
the community, physically able to
participate and not exempted for
special reasons, such as prepare
ton in specialized fields Of work.
Six: 'Is this plan an integral part
of military defense?" It has nothing
whatsoever to do with military de-
tense, but it is an important part of
civilian defense. I believe raising
the standard of living has a good
effect on our civilian defense.
I should like to point out that this
plan has no official backing and has
not been considered by anyone in
the government. It was suggested
by me purely to bring about discus
sion, so that there would be wider
appreciation of the situation of young
people, especially girls, in all the
communities in our country. It
should also bring about considera-
ton of what would be wise proce-
dures for the benefit of individuals
and community life.
I am very glad that I have
achieved so much interest on the
part of different groups, even those
such as the American Youth Con-
gress and certain political groups
which are violently opposed to the
word Compulsory"
I think we should ponder this
statement very eminent man, DR..
Edmund Ezra Day, president of Cor
nell university, made the other day:
''It is high time for America to
face squarely the problems of indi-
vidual and social discipline in de-
mocracy."
GOVERNORS ISLAND
In New York one day managed
to do a few errands between defense
bond broadcasts. At 200 o'clock,
General Drum and Miss Fannie
Hurst called for me. We ferried
over to Governors island together
on the special barge and found Mrs.
Drum waiting on the other side. She
has been laid up for long time
with an ankle broken in three
places. but at last she is able to
get about again.
The little booklet, published by
the Governors Island club, was CIV
en- me. It tells the history of the
island and is very interesting. The
old forts are purely ornamental to-
day, but the building which McKim,
Meade and White designed, is not
only dignified and charming, but
filled with activity.
paid short visit to the hospital.
While I doubt if it is ever pleasant
to be i'll, still I think these officers
and men are in pleasant quarters.
never saw anything more eff
cient and orderly than the cafeteria,
the kitchen and the supply rooms.
The sergeant in charge seemed to
me remarkably able and efficient.
When he showed me the field kitch-
ems, each one of which can pro-
duce a meal for so men, I was lost
in admiration. He told me it takes
two hours to prepare meal, though
he has produced satisfactory din
ner in As minutes, and it can be done
with the trucks in motion.
thought of an old army kitchen,
my one real contact with army feed
ing. The Red Cross used it in the
last war to make coffee for train
loads of troops coming through the
| Washington railroad yards. still
remember our difficulty in keeping
| it clean. 1t did not remotely re-
semble this modern and eff
| cient equipment.
After tea with General and Mrs.
Drum, came home to keep an APP
| pointnent with DR.. John Eliot and