The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-07-24
(By Staff Writer)

1A0S 4110OC 111OSC VI O4A1NAoA WASH
ington extremely conscious of the
temporary, make-shift nature OF
legislation which is passed with
the defense" tag on it. Whereas
legislation has previously been
considered a statement of perma-
nent government policy, even the
public is now we'll aware Of the
fact that a law passed today may
be revised tomorrow as our posi-
ton in the world situation
changes.
Conservative congressman, par
ticularly among the non-interven-
zionist group, are showing more
and more opposition to altering
legislation to fit the immediate
situation. Although they realize
that the times call for emergen-
cy policies, they show through
their statements and votes that
they want: more or less perma-
nent policy and object to con-
slant remodeling which always
draws us closer to war.
In response to the administra-
ton request for the passage Of
resolutions to keep selectees in
training for more than a year,
Senator: George, chairman of the
foreign relations committee thus
suggested that the law be left
alone and that the men in camps
be asked to volunteer for longer
service instead of making it COM
pulsory. He indicated his belief
that enough would stay in the ar
my through that method to make
the passage of compulsory law
unnecessary.
The greatest opposition, how
ever, is to the resolution which
would give the President the
right to use the services of selec-
tees anywhere in the world. Sen
ator Reynolds, chairman of the
senate military affairs commit
tee. said passage of such leg1s-
lation would virtually give the
President the right to declare war
and because of this he called for
full public hearings and COM
plete investigation on the floor OF
the senate.
Congress continues to be
strongly divided in the stand OF
its members on our involvement
in the war but is almost unanl-
nous in its willingness to take
every step possible for our de-
Tense. Thus, while legislation re-
garding the service Of selectees in
foreign lands is bitterly debated,
the Presidents request for an adj
ditional S4,77O,055,588 for the ar
nv and S3,323.OOO,OOO for the ma
w is expected to be granted with
out discussion. The Presidents
request indicates that during the
new fiscal year, which began
July l. requests for funds will be
on a larger scale than in 1910
and that there is no limit yet
in view on the cost Of our de-
tense program.
Following defeat by the house
of legislation to give the Presl-
dent formal authority to use
troops to take over defense plants,
defeated primarily because of a
sharp decline in the number OF
strikes, new strikes Immediately
took place in number Of key
plants. Claiming that the unions
took defeat of strike-curbing leg
islation as their okay to 60 ahead
with new strikes, supporters of
the legislation are continuing to
demand that strikes be halted by
law.
Congressmen who have been
demanding anti-strike legislation,
are using the strike at the Sealed
Power corporation of Muskegon,
- Mich, as an II told you so" ex-
ample of the need for legislation.
They are pointing out that the
national defense mediation board
was unable to prevent that strike
which affected other plants, such
as Allis-C Chalmers and WHY'S
Overland, which have millions in
defense contracts.
Discussion continues over Sec
rotary Knox's revelation that an
American naval vessel dropped a
depth bomb as a warning to a
submarine which was approaching
a rescue operation. Although the
isolationists have been bitter in
their criticism of this action, the
majority of officials here have
philosophically accepted such &C
ton as not being an act of war
but merely one of enforcing our
right of freedom of the seas and
our right to fight PIRACY" on the
high seas.
Informed circles point out that
the President, in several speeches,
has referred to German actions
m +he seas as "piracv" and point