Evening star., 1943-06-13

tOo oOIto W 1CcPi cocfttutLOe
service. They are, from left to 7
1t. J. HILLARY Kelley, Robert V.
Artillery, North Africa.
lective Service Act-thev we're sending
their own sons and daughter and grand
sons into that war.
The Congress of the United States
Is not-and never has been--a rubber
stamp Congress. 1t has been a Congress
of men of steel and eXplosiveness, many
chosen because of their military records,
ready 10 fight for their convictions and
American principles of government, and
the self-governing law they enacted on
every battlefield from Concord and Lex
ington to North Africa, the South Pa
cific. Alaska Iceland Wake Island, Attu,
Corregidor, Bataan and the impending
invasion of Continental Europe.
The Congress today is fighting toward
4 "plobal' government of the people,
by the people and for the people"-for all
time
From George washington, delegate
from Virginia. first commander in chief
of the American forces and the first
President CT the United States-'First in
war, first in peace and first in the hearts
of his countIymen"-do down through the
Continental Congress and the Constitu-
tional Convention down to this Seventy
eighth Congress, the Congress has in
cluded wholesome Heaven" of warriors,
who have given supreme and distin-
euished service on all the historic battle
flelds.
Closeup Experience.
They have closeup experience OF the
wreckage of var in American homes.
Exactly one-hslf the membership of the
Senate-S-and more than Is per cent
Of the House-l18-haye sons, daughters,
srandsons, stepsOnS and sons-ln-laW IN
the armed services to q total of IS from
Senators families and ITO from the
families of House members; grand total
of 235. Some Of these have already made
the supreme sacrifice" Members of
Congress have first-hand, personal,
heart-wrenching knowledge of the toll
Of var.
Congress has also encouraged not only
their own children, but congressional
secretaries, committee clerks-right down
the line in congressional service-stenog-
raphers, bookkeepers, doorkeepers, ele-
vator men, guards, custodians, mechanics,
messengers-to a total of more than l,5o0
legislative employees, to do their Bit
in the war and essential industries, not
only in buying bonds and subscribing for
ambulances, but in enlistments.
The best information available shows
that at least 400 employees Of the Senate
since the beginning of war preparations
are now in the armed services. On the
House side upward of 100 have felt the
patriotic urge and been inducted The
boy pages of Congress have their own
honor roll on which are % who have
gone into service.
From the Speakers own ONCE six
have gone into service within lS months:
William Cantrill. captain in the marines;
First Its Dan English and Ted Wright,
in the Air Corps, and Billy Wilcox. Ray
Roberts and John Holton, ensigns in the
Navy.
Congress has sedulously refrained from
asking any defelments from military
service. Both House and Senate have
set up committees to pass upon requests
for defermenr. These committees are
cooperating. They have an agreement
to pass Jointly OH any recommendation
for deferment.
, The Senate committee is composed OF
Senators Thomas, Utah; Maybank, South
Carolina-both Democrats-and Lodge,
Republican, of Massachusetts. The
House committee is composed OF Chair
man May of the House Military Affairs
Committee; Representative Robert E.,
Thomason, Texas both Democrats -
and Representative Walter G. CHAMP
Andrews, Republican, OF New York
While no requests for deferment have
been approved-and many have been re-
iected by both Senate and House COM
n,ittees-three requests have been sub
nnitted by the House committee to local
draft boards, without recommendation.
One of these vas made by the Speaker
for a 6O-day deferment in the case OF
reading clerk Of the House and two by
the architect of the Capitol for employees
Of his office-for a matter Of 80 days
(Which time has already EXPIRED. The
Speakers request was submitted, With
out recommendation, to the Arlington
.(Vao County Draft Board, merely stating
the facts as cited by the official In charge
These Senate and House committees
have no intention OF requesting any de-
ferment except in cases of absolutely
Essential employees. and have adopted
. policy that none is irreplaceable."