The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-11-02
FLIGHT
Boys IN the Army
Still ~ issue
Rural Labor Exemption
Bringing Repereussions
May Crset Down on
Useless voyseine
~ RAY TUCKER
n RAY TUCKER

r1fuf REPRESENTATIVES, nav ~
launched an intensive hsckstsge
drive for eventual repeal Of the
O'Dzniel amendment requiring AZ
least II months training Of the
1918 age groups before they can
be sent overseas They have adj
vanced several compromises which
they hope the post-election session
Of the house VIII accept and force
upon the senate
While Chief Of Staff Marshall
wants no rigid restriction On drill |
ing methods or periods. he may
agree to = proposal providing for
only nine month"; preparation
General Marnhali's testimony on
the subject deeply impressed men,
hers Of the senate and undoubted-
iy affected at least a score Of
votes IN the face Of sentimental
appeals from millions Of mothers-
He explained that whereas q re-
piacement marching beside veter-
ans IN . unit can be fitted for the
front In four months. II takes at
least . year 20 perfect a division
for activs service. A telephone or
radio expert obviously needs only
q brushing-up schooling to make
him eligible for duty with the
Signal Corps. In other words.
there are all kinds Of standards
and there II no fixed standard for
readying them for the theater OF
war.
The senatorial stampede TO APP
prove the Tydings amendment
providing blanket exemption OF
rural help from the draft reflects
wildly congressional fears - and
expectations-of . political revolt
In the wide open spaces next week.
Although sprung hurriedly by the
Narylander. 1t whooped through
BY q 62-to-6 majority.
The panic on Capitol hin was
emphasized even more dramatic
ally by the defeat Of the Burton
proposal to permit college stu
dents to finish the year in which
they come Of legal military age.
Although this was shouted down
on the theory that 1t was "class
ieeislation.- the same men cried
AYE" fbr the scheme designed to
keep 'em down on the farm. II is
true that hard economic facts ac-
counted for the favorit.sm toward
agriculturists. Every senator ex-
cept those from cities has bcsn
flooded with reports that herds
were being sold for want Of work.
err and that the nation would face
. severe food shortage unless the
exodus 10 the factories and the
armed forces was checked.
With one exception = Quincy |
fR.) Of South Dakota--the sd-
verse ballots were cast by elder |
statesmen from industrial areas.
Key Democrats facing the voters
next Tuesday have bcsieged Presi-
dent Roosevelt with requests that
he issue q prediction appeal in
their behalf. The demand has
been voiced most plaintively by
members who supported his for
eign policy before Pearl Harbor.
The candidates would appreciate
. specific endorsement. but they |
are not anxious for him to repeat
the mistake Woodrow Wilson COM |
mitted when he made his 1918
plea What worries them most In
increasing evidence Of apathy on
the part Of the electorate. especial |
" the younger elements supposed
70 favor Roosevelt ideologies.
The Rayburn-Barkley boys also
note that Herbert Hoover has
urged folks to perform their po-
litical duties. Although he did not
restrict his suggestion TO Republic
can voters. 1t il expected the for
mer presidents bugie call viii af-
feet them more impressively than
supporters OF the ina"
The army air forces and trans
port command are grousing pri-
vately about the number of dig
nitaries not directly connected
with the war effort who are COM
mutinx between Washington and
London these days. While they
recognize the value Of Mrs. Roose-
velt's trip. II has focused attention
on the problem
When q cabinet member or
White House representative makes
Q flight Of this kind. II naturally
upsets routine AT several import
ant centers- Besides his occupy
ing space that might have accom-
modated supplies. officers lay
themselves out 70 make elaborate
preparations for the comfort and
protection Of their distinguished
passengers They cannot permit
accidents" to happen 20 the big
shots" With coffee and other
items scheduled for rationing for
lack Of transportation. the COM
planning aviators think that super
duper travel should be curtailed-
Nobody. Of course. applies this
criticism TO the First Ladys jour
ney. In . sense she went to Eng |
land a. proxy for the president. |
who would like TO duplicate her
feat IL the pressure Of work per-
miffed- But there are other voy-