Evening star., 1943-03-05
Farm Deferment Plan
Is Called Invitation
To Draft Evasion
Six Senators Sign
Minority Report on
Bonkheod Measure
BY J. A. O'LEARY,

Ny ilaJollVy VI llle Oelld Ic
Military Affairs Committee,
would invite any who desire to
evade military service to go to a
farm, minority members of the
committee predicted today.
The mandatory deferment of farm
workers as a group until next Jan
uary was reported out, to 7, and six
Senators signed the minority report.
urging instead that each mans case
be decided on its merits. according to
the Importance of the crop and the
individuals standard of production
Senator Johnson, Democrat, of
Colorado filed the majority report,
in which he declared
1T is generally agreed that the
prospect for a crop this year as large
as was produced last year is almost
hopeless of realization. Secretary of
Agriculture Wickard has recently
stated that he is increasingly
alarmed about the inability to get
enough farm labor to reach the
goals established for farm produc-
ton this year, and that he gets more
alarmed day by day as a result of
additional information and Develop
ments IN the matter of farm labor" :"
Clark Assails Hoover
Meanwhile, Grenville Clark, pro-
ponent of national service legislation.
testified before the committee that
I'VE ought to repudiate the substance
~ v,t,o Nv
is on our side Tin the war; and we
can take it easy"
His reference to the former Presi-
dent was made before the military
Affairs group, which is considering
the Austin-W Wadsworth service bill,
Mr.. Clark contended that Mr..
Hoover's views. given a Senate Ap-
propriations Subcommittee. were an
invitation for Americans to take it
easy"
The way may be quite long" said
Mr.. Clark, New York lawyer who
helped to draft the World War draft
law. but hope not as long as Mr.
Herbert Hoover thinks it may be-"
Contending that Mr.. Hoover had
been wrong repeatedly in his military
predictions, Mr.. Clark quoted a
newspaper story of october IA, 1899,
which he said showed that Mr..
Hoover believed British seapower
could protect both Britain and
France, that the two nations man.
power could defend France unless
tll-advised adventures were begun
and that air power would be con-
elusive factor in the war.
Mr.. Clark said he realized there
would be some opposition to the
service bill he also helped to draft,
including some from labor Leaders,
In addition, he warned, "a very
subtle and powerful Axis propa-
ganda is still going on in this
country" (The bill would author
1ze the drafting of men and women
for farm and factory If voluntary
means fail)
Lodge Agrees With Clark.
Senator Lodge. Republican, of
Massachusetts,, said he belongs in
the category of those who believe
the war should be won as quickly
as possible, 80 the only question
in my mind is what system is going
to work best"
DO you think the voluntary sys-
tenn has had a fair trial?" Senator
Lodge asked. adding. Il don't think
what Mr.. McNutt (war manpower
chieftain is doing is the voluntary
system"
Mr.. Clark said he thought the
voluntary system of mobilizing
manpower has been given "a big
trial"
While Senator Quincy, Repub-
Ncan, OF South Dakota was inquir-
ing whether war plants are getting
the maximum of production with
the manpower they now have, Mr.
Clark said the consumption of liquor
In 1912 was the highest in the his
tory OF the country. He suggested
1t may have been due to high wages,
which could not be spent on auto
mobiles or similar commodities.
Hearing Recessed
After the hearing had recessed
until Monday morning, Mr. Clark
said he believed the solution of the
liquor problem. in relation to alb
senteeism. would be to ration it, as
England and Canada have done.
Replying TO the claim that assign
ment of workers at home is invol-
untary servitude, Mr.. Clark said:
We don't say it is involuntary
servitude when a man is called by
his draft board to go to New Guinea
10 save his country. Why should we
apply this catch phrase to the call
Ing OF man TO an essential lob at
home?"
With the debate on the Bank
head farm deferment bill slated to
start on the floor Monday. the ma
Jorlty pointed out that 40 of the
96 members of the Senate have in
dorsed the proposal
Despite this apparent advantage
Tor the majority, Senator OMa
money, Democrat, of Wyoming, is
expected TO lead fight for adoption
OF a substitute more in line with the
views OF Selective service officials
Those who joined with Senator
OMahoney in signing the minority
report are Chairman REYNOLDS anc
Senator'S Truman, Democrat. of Mis-
souri,, and Austin of Vermont. Cur.
ney Of South Dakota and Lodge. al
Republicans
After asserting that class defer.
ment OF one occupational groul
would undermine military morale
the minority reached this conclu.
sion:
The deferment of workers neces
sarlly engaged in the production O
essential agricultural commoditie
can and should be brought about i,
accordance with the fundamental
principle of the Selectiye Trsinin|
and Service Act. To do this ii j
only necessary for Congress to defn
the agricultural commodities which
are essential to maintain the armet
forces and make effective the ma
tional war effort, while, at the sam