The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-10-29

11OSt 1I1POA Id14t 1SSlS1dI1Ou VI Ll1S
year taken care of-the law to
draft boys of Is and 10, and the
new tax bill-congressmen are
now leaving Washington in droves
to go home and report to their
constituents on what they have
been doing during the past two
years and why they should be
reelected.
Their action on these two i'm
portant pieces of legislation be-
fore election came as surprise to
most political analysts here. It
was presumed until recently that
the politically minded members
of congress would insist that the
vote be postponed until after they
were safely reelected. But re-
cent criticism of congress for be-
ing more interested in politics
than in the welfare of their coun-
try struck homeland congress
men began to realize that they
might fare better in the election
if they showed the people that
they were willing to face these is
sues and have their vote on them
considered in determining their
eligibility for reelection.
Congressional leaders have "a
greed that congressman are now
entitled to short prediction
visit to their home states and that
they are to be commended for
their quick action on legislation
which is of such vital concern to
the people of the country.
Although many members of
both the house and senate show
ed intense personal dislike for the
drafting of boys in their teens,
they were swung over to voting
for the measure by the military
necessity of this draft, as made
clear by leaders of our armed
forces.
Amendments to the 1919 draft
measure have also clarified the
status of married men, so far as
the draft is concerned. These a.
mendments make it necessary for
all eligible unmarried men in
each state to be taken before any
more married men are drafted
from that state. They also pro-
vide that no married man with
children shall be drafted from a
state until the supply of married
men without children is exhaust
ed. These amendments carry out
the wishes of many congressman
who have been opposed to the
breaking up of families until it is
absolutely necessary.
It is impossible to say just when
the time will come for each
group to be drafted, but the pres
ent indications are that married
men with children will probably
not be taken until 1914.
This, however, does not mean
that family heads will be permit,
ted to continue to live as they
please. Although they will not
be drafted into the army fol
some time, it seems likely thai
early next year many of them
will be drafted into war indus.
tries and farm work-particul.
arly those who are now employ.
ed non-essentially. Immediately
following election congress will
be asked to pass legislation fol
the drafting of man power for in
dustry and farm groups are al
ready bringing pressure on the
government to make sure that, as
part of such a plan, provisions be
made to supply farmers with suf-
ficient help to feed the people of
this country and of other nations.
Either legislation, or strong
pressure for volunteers, will also
be started to get more women in
to war work. Women will be ex-
pected to take the place of men
in industry as we'll as in offices
and plans will probably be work.
ed out soon to make it possible
for millions of housewives to go
to work. Although this plan is
still in the discussion stage, it
seems likely that nurseries and
play arrangements for children
will be set up, probably in con-
nection with schools, whereby
children will be cared for while
their mothers go to work.
Despite the poor start in the
collection of scrap metal, reports
here indicate that metal is now
being turned in in unexpected
large amounts as one town after
another reports tonnage collect
ions of more than 100 pounds per
capita. The scrap drive is now be-
ing concentrated on industrial
scrap, SINCE indications are that
millions of tons can be collected
from factories and office build
ings. 1t is pointed out, however,
that although special drives may