The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-11-28

NJ RAY ruckER
WASHINGTON The first en-
pertinent IN enrolling federal con-
vfctH in the armed forces was
made recently at the Northeastern
penitentiary In Lswisburg. Penn
nyivania. and confidential reports
On the tryout have just reached
TIE capital Regardless OF letters
Of protest from . few worried par
ents Of soldiers. the system even
tuaIly win BE- extended to other
national and state institutions.
Army and selective service rep
rseentAtives spent five weeks at
TIE penal colony. They established
there the same sort OF draft board
which functions In free communi-
ties- II was made up Of q high
school principal. q conservative
banker and . prison official. with
men from Warrington cooperat-
Ing. The inmates were classified
according TO their offenses. condi-
ton Il servdtude. skiils. mental
and physical qualifications. In per-
sonal interviews they were ques-
toned about their attitude toward
the war and their prospective par
ticipation-
Eliminating those disqualified
BY age or defects. by their anti
social tendencies or by lack Of pa
tr1otism. government authorities
figure they can muster approxi-
mately 800 fighters from . total
population Of 1900 men. About 20
already have been shifted from
stripes 10 khaki.
Prisoner reaction 10 the do you
want 70 fight ?" questionnaire was
no different from that OF free per-
sons. Youngsters and long -termers
were eager TO Join UP. Oddly.
moonshiners from southern and
border states hung back. even
though they had lived violent lives
before John Law caught up with
them.
A 21-year-old boy sentenced for
five automobile thefts was typi-
cal case. He told the examiners
he had stolen the cars simply TO
have 10Y rides" He was sent TO
Chklliccthe rsformatory. where he
Soceived an additional five years
for hitting . guard. Asked why
~ struck the keeper. he replied.
why does any fellow sock . guy
NE thaty wanted to get out"
Next they inquired about his
reasons for wishing to enlist. He
Rave this answer: when ] leave
here and look for = Job. ! win have
to tell : prospective employer that
came from Lewisburg. ! win be
cut of luck. But II can say that
came from Uncle Sans army, II
Wzu b different. They win put
Ne on the pay roll. That would
drip = curtain over my past and
en- start lifs over again"
In . report TO Washington.
Warden w. H. Hiatt described the
men's attitude toward the move
ment: The grapevine OF the in
sfitution never was 20 taxed ~ It
VS. In the last week. he wrote
I'VE never had Z more enthusiastic
response among inmates to any
program inaugurated here. There
q nttlo feeling that the project ID
one which win effect . Wholesale
delivery ana put men out into the
world Who otherwise would serve
EXTRA time- There 10 . pretty deep
o1ated and genuine desire among
- men 70 take their place with
~ others and therby participate
a the var effort"
National Republican leaders sus-
nect that Wendell Willl<ie 10 aim
lng to Jockey himself into a pole
position for the 1914 presidential
domination. They place no other
Interpretation on his repeated at
lacks on BritAin's postwar pro-
Eram - foreshadowcd In Prime
Minister ChurchilI's recent pro-
aouncements.
The Hoosier. who always has
nsen regarded ~ an opportunist
~ his political stepfathers. appsr-
ontly wants TO climb over the
Rooosveltian hand wagon. His
moro bitter critics maintain he Ii
responding to November srd vot-
mE and getting in step with public
sentiment. They also believe he ID
fryinx 70 strengthen himself for
fho Ghowdown on December 9TH.
~hsn his crowd win clash with
1hs REGULARS" over the choice of
= national committee chairman to
encossd Joseph W. Martin Of
lGansuchetts-
r = doubtful whether any fig
uro has . more powerful collec-
don of COP enemies than the 1910
etnndard bearer. For reasons
vhfch require no elaboration he
hnn incurred the antagonism Of
rron1nenf men like Herbert Hoos-
q. A1kred Landun. Frank Knox.
1hcuas = Dewey and other lead
IN q importAnce In party coun-
oi1a Ihey win Be shooting at him
WIN ths gang assemblies next
unonfh and his fate may be sealed
cnco and for al on the anniversary
e Rsazl Harbor-
n n imprisoned outburst be-