Evening star., 1942-10-26

Britain and other democratic coun-
tries.
"The object OF a universal service
system is to answer the question
which every patriotic person is now
asking himself: Where do I best
fit into the total national effort?
Counsel Needed Chiefly.
"The individual receives conflict
ing advice from different sources,
he does not know the total man
power picture and he is confused as
to the best use of his talents.
HE needs counsel rather than
compulsion and this in general is
what he would receive under a sys-
tenn of national service.
In British experience the great
value of having compulsory powers
has been shown to arise from their
mere existence. The fact that the
powers are in the background ma
terially assists the work of volun-
tary transfer and resort to the ex-
ercise of power has been made in
only limited number of cases. Up
to date only a handful of people
have been prosecuted for failing to
obey directions to go to new en-
ployment or stay in their present
jobs.
1T is also important to remember
that under the British system any
worker or employer injuriously af-
fected by an administrative decision
may present his case to an appeal
board on which management and
labor are represented. 1t is obvious
that similar safeguards should be
contained in any legislation which
we may decide to adopt"
Mr.. McNutt holds that national
service is imperative" to meet the
manpoWer problems and has brand
ed the four measures before the
Military Affairs Committee as "in-
adequate"
The Senate farm amendment to
the teen age draft bill provides that
every man, without age restriction,
regularly engaged in agricultural
occupation or endeavor Essential to
the war effort shall be deferred I" -
so long as he remains so engaged
and until such time as a satisfactory
replacement can be obtained"
1t also provides that if such man
leaves the farm, he shall be re-
classified "in a class Immediately
available for military service" unless
his local draft board determines
that it is in the best interest of the
war effort" for him to shift to other
work.
Supporters of this amendment in
cluded the three Democratic men,
bers of the Senate Conference Com
mittee appointed to adjust the diff
ferences with the House-Chairman
Reynolds and Senators Thomas of
Utah, and Hill of Alabama. The
other two conferees, Senator Austin,
Republican, of Vermont and Quincy,
Republican, South Dakota, voted
against it.
Stimson Opposes Proposal.
Secretary of War Stimson unques-
tionably froWns on the farm labor
amendment since he has rejected
appeals that some soldiers be fur
loughed to aid in harvesting, though
his opposition was directed specifi-
cally at the training amendment.
President Roosevelt, however, spoke
out against all restrictive amend
mentS.
Some fresh appeal by the Presi-
dent of his military chiefs conceiv-
ably could diminish the congress
sional support behind the farm labor
amendment. The House, which has
the next move, probably will not act
for a couple of weeks since most
members have gone home for the
elections. The House leadership
however, is expected shortly to name
its representatives on the Confer
ence Committee.
A Senate Labor Subcommittee,
headed by Senator Pepper, Demo-
crat, of Florida which has been
studying other phases of the prob
lem, was expected to recommend
creation Of occupational deferment
boards to make certain that essential
workers were not drafted into the
armed forces. The group also was
reported favoring action to excuse
physicians from the draft because of
a growing shortage of medical men
In many communities.