Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-10-20
-Leaders.Minds
Made Up Fast
On 1879 Draft.
Emphatic No Changed
to Yes in W Hours
BY ROBERT HUMPHREYS

navy launched two new de-
stroyers, the government limited
car owners 10 five tires, and the
JapS suffered a setback in New
Guinea, but an event far more
basic TO the American way of
life occurred within those 90
minutes that has not yet been
recorded.
To evaluate just what hap
pened, the clock first has TO be
turned back a few hours.
On the morning of that day,
Senate Republican Leader Nc
Nary approached Senate Demo-
cratic Leader Barley, pointed
out that on the previous evening
President Roosevelt had said that
draft of 18 and 19-year-old
youths would be necessary, and
asked if this would come before
the election. Barley answered
no"
Later that morning. a ranking
House Democrat visited the Of
flee of Speaker Rayburn, put the
same question to him and re-
ceived the same anSWer-"no."
Shortly before noon, the men,
bers of the House military az
fairs committee, which was in
session. put the identical ques-
ton TO Rep. Andrew May of
Kentucky, committee chairman,
and got an identical answer
no"
VET it is a matter OF record
l. that at 100 that afternoon,
Speaker Rayburn suddenly sum-
moned reporters 10 his office
and, with May joining in the
statement, announced that lead
ership had decided to start hear
ings on an 1919 draft bill the
following day. and pass it by
Saturday.
What happened to make Ray
burn and May change their
minds in 90 minutes?
If there are two men in WASH
ington who have been irked by
criticism of Congress, it has been
Rayburn and House Democratic
Leader Mccormack. What has
particularly got under their skins
has been the complaint that
Congress never does anything"
When the House met at noon
last Tuesday. Rayburn and Nc
Cormack compared notes on the
draft question. Both discovered
that the other had talked TO sew
eral members who were willing
TO face this issue before the cleo
tons.
Committee Chairman May was
summoned and told that there
was no reason TO wait for a
direct request on Congress from
President Roosevelt to lower
the draft age-Congress should
take the initiative and take
it before election day, not
after it.
pY lis all key members OF
- the committee had been
queried, with only a few dis
senting to the plan. MAY moved
over on the side of Rayburn
and Mccormack.
Speaker Rayburn personally
hunted down House Republican
Leader Joseph Martin Jr., and
told him the strategy. Martin
agreed. Rayburn directed
secretary 10 summon the press.
Truth is that this draft ques-
tion had been one of the most
tickliSh subjects in Washington
for months. Until Mr.. Roose-
welt broke the ice with his
broadcast TO the nation, there
had been a parade Of callers
to the White House arguing
furiously both pro and con.
AS far back as last March,
Gen. George G. Marshall, army
chief of staff, had urged the
draft Of 18 and 19-year-old
boys. BY June he was demand
ing it.
At the same time, Secretary
of War Stimson was taking
every opportunity at his press
conferences to make statements
supporting such a step
AS late as the Thursday pre-
ceding Mr.. Roosevelt's broad
cast on Monday, the President
had heard a prominent congress
sional leader insist that the
subject be left dormant for at
least another month.
AS A matter of fact, Mr..
"a Roosevelt's decision TO tell
the nation that draft Of 1S and
19-year-old boys would be neces-
sary came as complete sur
prise to Congress. and without
consultation with members OF
that body.
The feeling among congress
men that the President had
thrown them a curve" arose
out of the fact that since early
September the White House had
blocked a letter from Secretary
Of War Stimson endorsing the
Gurney-Wadsworth 1919 draft
bill.
However, for the past four
years IL has been an ironclad
rule that a department head
must Clear recommendation
on legislation with the budget
bureau, which is another way of
saying the White House.
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