Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-10-22

n upon Congress ana the al
miniStration for not having
included men of Is and 10 wears
of age in the first Selectivc
Service Act of 1910.
There can be no doubt that
the political consideration was
strong in the decision which
eliminated from the new army
of the republic youngsters, so
called, of the natural fighting
ages.
The law was enacted in the
midst of the most important
political campaign in our his
tory. Congress was expert
menting. in time of peace. with
a necessary compulsory service.
Taking boys of rs and 10 into
the army was a delicate issue
with the voters.
But there were other reasons
why the decision was postponed
to this late. date. with disastrous
results, as we know now.
Nobody can question the great
wisdom shown by Representa-
tive WadSworth OF New York.
who introduced the original
draft bill of 1910 That bill
provided for the registration of
men OF q 10 I5 years, while the
Senate proposed that the ages
should be from p TO 81.
On Sept. 4. 1910, speaking on
the bill in the House, Mr..
WadSworth said that in the
first World War. of all the men
drafted into the army from Is
10 IS, IL per cent were between
81 and IS.
STTHE presence Of some
what Older man Steadied
the youngsters" said Mr. WadS-
worth. His presence II also
an evidence, a. demonstration
that he. the voungster. Is not
being required 10 carry the
whole burden. that man
somewhat his senior IL tramp
ing alongside Of him along the
road, carrying "A rife. There are
men between the ages Of 81 and
~ eminently fitted for military
service.
That is true enough, but to-
day. 10 months after the begin
nlng Of the war. we learn that
many Of these older men Will
have 10 be turned back by the
army.
The statement OF General
Marshall that the increasing
average age Of the army is get
ting 10 he serious problem
comes as a rude Jolt.
Among these older men. who
must be turned back. we may
assume are many 10 whom
great and costly training has
been given. which. % consider
able extent, must now be
wasted.
Now the war department IS
clearly not 10 blame. II is not
the foresight of the army which
is AZ fault. but the hIndSight of
the Democratic politicians, in
control OF both branches Of Com
gress. There the possibility
lies for the failure 10 take into
the armed forces the very class
Of American manhood best fitted
for the push Of battle.
WHEN the war department
w made its recommendation
on the Sclective service law. il
strongly recommended taking
men down 10 the age Of Is years.
The politicians rejected this wise
recommendation. and on them
the responsibility must rest
There IS no need for these long
hearings which the Senate pro-
poses on the pending bill TO re-
duce the draft age TO lS All
the facts are available, and long
have been
Nor is there any excuse for
cXcmptlng certain favored youth
of the proposed new draft age. in
order that they may 60 10 col
lego.
Thousands Of IS year olds
went into the ranks of the Union
and the confederacy The Civil
War dipped deeply into the ma
tons resources. and took the
flower of the youth of North and
South.
Many Of these youngsters re-
sumed their educational careers
after the close of the war. and
some of them became leaders in
the very Congress itself.
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