Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-04
Disapproves Of Drafting
'Teen-Age Recruits.
W. ~ ES,-er - Tia c,.r.

To the Editor Of The Star:
I read in The Star of October Is an
article entitled: General Hershey OPP
poses Compulsory Measures in Man.
power Problem
In these days of trouble when the best
of our manhood is being trained for the
field of battle, we sometimes hesitate to
express our feelings. However, the time
comes at last when we must give vent
to our thoughts in the hope we are not
all wrong and may do some good.
have reared seven children, four OF
whom are married, and was shocked to
learn recently that the youngest will be
called for military service when he is ID.
I was more shocked when read further
that two leading members of the VINO
had agreed on one thing: THE closing
down of voluntary enlistments."
We have a son in the service, and I
shall say nothing about drafting men.
1t may be necessary. But can 1t be pos
sible that we have used up our man.
power of the present draft age to the
point where it is necessary to draft boys
of 10? read that when Henry j. Kaiser
was recruiting men i'm New York there
were a surprising number Of unemployed
there. Is it not fact that In our own
Capital City there are still numbers Of
men of the draft age who could be
spared? Are we going to send our boys
to fight while grown young men stay at
home?
If Congress passes bill to draft boys,
I shall accept 1t regardless of what I
think, but is it possible that in this battle
for the four freedoms the youth of our
country must sacrifice their freedom Of
choice? God forbid! World War I
was fought to make the world safe for
democracy. Our heroes fought and died
for that purpose and are today buried
democracy for which they gave their
lives?
The selective service director tells us
we should not have recruiting anywhere.
Yet, if I understand him correctly, he
does not want the VINO to have
national service law. He also says indi-
viduals should not be obliged to decide
what they must do for their country, but
should have some one decide for them.
AS an American citizen born of American
parents and grandparents, have en-
deavored to raise my children to think
for themselves. This, it seems to me, Is
a principle we inherited from our fore
fathers. Is 1t possible that we are going
to forget that principle in our struggle
for the four freedoms?
It occurs to me that If we think we
are going to have the equipment and
supplies for our soldiers We should read
and analyze the final parts Of the Toland
Committees report wherein they say:
ITO bring order in to the chaos created
by individual. competing and unplanned
drafts upon manpower resources by all
war users, military and civilian, the
War Manpower Commission was estab-
Nshed.
The executive order creating the COM
mission instructed the chairman, after
consultation with members Of the COM
mission, to formulate plans and pro-
grams and establish basic national poll
icies to assure the most effective mobih-
zation and maximum. utilization Of the
Nations manpower in the prosecution
Of the war
AFTER six months OF existence the War
Manpower Commission has hardly begun
to assess its responsibilities. Existing
agencies were rejuggled and particular
programs transferred from one agency
- annfhnr N,,vxaax<a,s A3rArf{vaa Warn
issued to agencies. 4nstructing some to
do what they were already doing. In
structing others to undertake activities