The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-03-23

as we'll have said outright that the
boys were being drafted, and no.
bodys feelings would have been
hurt.
True. It's possible that. IL the
straw polling were confined eXclu-
slvely TO selectees. the pro-con-
scription maiorities wouldn't be so
large. An obvious exemptee natur-
ally doesn't so much mind having
someone else caught as. perhaps,
does the catchee himself.
nevertheless, there's an evident
predominance Of sentiment 10 the
effect that adoption of the con-
scription principle, farther yet, IS
a desirability.
Women. for example, seem 10
consider that they're being down
right Disseminated against for not
having been classed. thus far,
among wartime indLspensibles.
They don't generally demand the
privilege OF being drafted actually
TO carry firearms. but they do show
evidences OF irritation at the gov
ernments delay in at least requir-
ing their registration for wartime
Jobs in factories and at desks and,
Of course. for nursing and certain
amount OF military auto driving,
too. They can drive autos as fast
as men. they say. and maybe even
more devastatingly.
Industrial Consumption
Masculine conscription for indus
trial purposes, though. looks like
a harder problem to tackle.
Women are different.
A woman. told, You're too
darned indispensable in a munitions
plant or typewriting war orders to
be wasted making beds or washing
dishes" is apt to feel fiattered.
Women, too, are numerous as
anybody. The National Industrial
Conference Board, soon to Ia
known, now that it's broken into
print, as the NICB, estimates that
1000, 900 women are available for
wartime activities. With all Of 'em
effectively wished into the indus
tries, they would mean 100000
manpower release for gun-carry-
ing.
The average woman's handicap is
that she isn't trained for industry,
except the household kind Of it,
which Is vital, heaven knows. She
can't be released-the total 7,000,-
900, certainly. And there will be a
bit Of delay in educating the ones
that ARE released. but the women
manifestly, judging from the straw
polls record, are amenable to being
started on.
The male sex, In the Industrial
labor field, is a meaner element to
be dealt with.
It's willing to be militarily con-
scripted.
1t isn't so ready TO have its
wages dictated to il. II doesn't like
to be told that it can't strike when
1t feels like II. And it does sound
like & form OF slavery for a man to
be told that he's COT to stick on
his Job when he elects 10 quit It..
Telling him that he will be militar-
lily conscripted IL he quits indus
trially is all very WE'LL. Hes got a
choice in that case. Denying him
the right TO strike al all, in any
circumstances. il labor board
says ne mustn't, is another propo-
sition.
Few Women UnioniZed
Women aren't unionized TO speak
OF. They won't strike TO any eX-
tent, not having the organizations,
but men have got them. They can
be appealed to and repressed a bit.
but they are harder to keep under
subsection. Perhaps women are
more nearly 100 per eenters than
men are, anyway.
All the same I'm wondering
what our industrial system will be
like when this war is over.
I've always believed in mems la
Dor Understand wonens, too, In
fields where the girls have succeed
ed in establishing them.
But Id suTmise that there will
be considerable competition be-
tween the two kinds, at the present
rate, between the two factions Of
them. at the present wars rate, at
the end OF H. For it's safe bet
that the women will organize. 1t
scares me. Think OF a postwar
economy, with 100000 m ore
workers on hired folks jobs than
we've had hitherto! The extra
1000, 900 won't evaporate in a min
ute. 1t may be a new form Of so
ciety.