Evening star., 1942-10-23
1919 Draft Bill
.Hit by Johnson;
Dry Rider Out
California Senator
Rops Plan as Vote
By Night Is Sought
BY the Associated Press.

Senator Johnson, Republican,
of California told his colleagues
today he was opposed to calling
of children to fight our battles" ;
1t was the first open Senate OPP
position to legislation for draft
ing 18 and 19 year olds.
The Senate, having pigeonholed a
proposed amendment to prohibit
sale or use of liquor in or around
military posts, was driving for =
final roll call on the bill by night
fall.
The white haired Senator john
son, pre-Pearl Harbor opponent
of the administrators foreign pol
icies, declared that passage of the
legislation meant that many chill
dren were going to be sent to death
in foreign parts of the world.
Postwar Problem Seen.
Asserting that no man wanted
more to win the war than he, Sen
ator johnson said he could not
stand idly by and see generation
decimated He had no doubt, he
said, that the 18 and 19 year olds
were ready to fight.
"Of course, they are willing to do
anything" he declared "Of course,
they are Willing to fight at the drop
of the hat. They are adventure
some and dare-devilish.
That Is the very reason we should
throw out protective hands about
them.
IF they are liquidated-these chill
dren-no generation will remain in
this country to build it up after
peace"
Previously, Senator ODaniel,
Democrat, of Texas offered an
amendment to the 'teen-age draft
bill proposing abolition of the 40
hour week and premium pay for
overtime.
Several Changes Proposed.
The O'Daniel proposal was one Of
half dozen amendments proposed.
The Texan said he was convinced
"the rank and file of the good
working people" wanted to work
longer hours during the war emer-
! gency, but were prevented from do
ing so by various Federal and State
laws which he proposed setting aside
for the duration.
The 42,80O,OOO Americans en-
ployed in non-agricultural industries
were working an average of 42.8
hours a week at last report, Senator
O'Daniel said, but if they would
n ~f
4,571 ,667 of them could be released
! for other services. With 72-hour
work week, he declared, 17,114,445
could be released.
Chief among other amendments
was one to keep 18 and 19year-old
men out of combat groups until they
| had six months or year of train
ing.
The wet-dry issue evaporated for
the time being yesterday when the
Senate voted 49 to Is to send back
to its Military Affairs Committee
an amendement by Senator Lee.
Democrat, of Oklahoma which
would have banned the sale of
alcoholic drinks from military areas.
Senator Lee, 50-year-old ordained
Baptist minister once known as
the boy orator" from Oklahoma,
was disappointed but undismayed
by this parliamentary maneuver
which probably will keep his pro-
posal bottled up in committee for
some time.
Lee Sees Issue Growing.
There would have been less dis
turbance over it now" he told re-
porters, than there will be by post.
poning it, because the longer it is
postponed the bigger it will get"
Majority Leader Barkley told re-
porters he hoped all other amend
ments could be beaten and the bill
passed by tonight. The House ap-
proved similar measure, without
any restrictions. last Saturday.
Senator Barkley conceded there
was likely to be much discussion and
probably a close vote on the ques-
ton of requiring specified pre-
combat training period.
Senator Thomas, Republican, Of
Idaho has proposed a years train
ing, despite the appeal of military
leaders that they be left free in
assigning the new men to units.
There was some talk of halving this
proposed time as compromise.
Taft Proposal Offered.
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
away on speaking tour, proposed
through Senator Danaher,. Repub-
lican, of Connecticut that students
in college or professional schools
who fell within the proposed new
1919 age group be deferred while
they completed training for essential
military or civilian activities.
Senator Nye, Republican, of Me-.
vada sought to exempt selectees un-
der 20 from combat service unless
they volunteered for it and Senator
Capper, Republican, OF Kansas
planned an amendment to keep all
of this group in non-combat units
until they reached 20.
Also pending was a proposal by
Senator Wiley, Republican. of Wis
consin memoralizing the States to
(See DRAFT, Page A-l6J