Evening star., 1942-10-22
Gurney Urges
Draft Passage
.Unamended
Asks Quick Senate
Action to Lower
Age Limit to l8
(Tert OF Stimson Letter on
Page A-6.

With a prohibition battle i'm
pending over establishment Of
dry zones around military camps,
Senator Gurney, Republican, Of
South Dakota today appealed to-
the Senate to pass without.
amendment the bill lowering the
draft age from 20 to 18. J.
AS he opened the debate at II am,
Senator Gurney did not refer direct
ly to the dry zone proposal of Sem
ator Lee, Democrat, of Oklahoma.
but made this general plea:
Il sincerely hope, because of the
imperative need for quick passage of
this bill and the necessity of keeping
away from any controversial ques-
tlons that will delay immediate pas
sage, that my colleagues will sin
cerely consider the inadvisability OF
offering any amendment which will,
In any way, delay the passage and,
therefore, delay final victory for
which we are all hoping, praying
and striving"
Meanwhile, Chairman Walsh OF,
the Naval Affairs Committee said
Secretary of the Navy Knox agreed,
with the stand taken last night by
Secretary of War Stimson against
the dry zone amendment. Secretary
Knox, he said, would send a letter
to the Senate during the day out
lining his opposition.
Before the Senate convened SEN
ator Lee reiterated his intention Of
attempting to force record vote
on the amendment, and said he
would reply on the floor to Secre-
tary Stimson's criticism that the
proposal was destructive rather
than constructive.
Majority Leader Barkley had not
announced when the Senate met
whether he would oppose or support
the Lee amendment, but a group of
other Senators were preparing to
fight it, and at least two moves were
planned to sidetrack the controver-
sial issue
Declaring the American people
are ready to make any sacrifices to
win the war, Senator Gurney said
II there is "complacency anywhere
In the United States it is and has
been here in Washington"
The present average age of our
troops is far too high for an aegres-
1 slVe force" Senator Quincy contin-
ued, "and with the increase in num-
bers it is paramount that the ls
and 10 year olds come in.
Mild Substitute Drawn.
He contended that if 18 and 10
year olds were not inducted the
average age of the Army soon would
reach the point where it would be
effective only as a defensive and
not an offensive force, adding:
| L am convinced the American
people do not fight wars that way"
One OF the moves being considered
to sldetrack the Lee proposal was re-
ported to be substitute to leave the
creation of the dry zones to the dis
cretlon of camp commanders, where
they believe conditions warrant it.
Another alternative being con-
sldered to avoid tying the draft
bill up in long drawn out prohi-
bltlon fight is to ask the Senate to
refer the Lee amendment to the
Military Affairs Committee, with
an understanding that it be re-,
ported back within two weeks. It
could then be called up as a sepa-
rate proposition
If substitute should be offered
it would give the opposition the ad-
vantage of having that proposal
voted on ahead of the Lee amend
ment itself.
La Toilette Opposes Lee Plan.
Meanwhile, Senator La Toilette.
Progressive, of Wisconsin declared
today he would oppose the Lee
amendment, 'or any version of it,"
on the ground there is no necessity
for such action. He contended COM
manding officers have ample author
ity to deal with the problem, and
expressed his belief they are doing
a good job.
The Senate met at an hour earlier,
(See DRAFT, Page A-4)