The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-09-15

Continued from Page -
Thus, without once mentioning the
draft Of fathers In his 15-page pre-
pared statement, McNarney IN ef-
feet served notice on Congress that
1t should not pass the bill sponsored
by Senator Burton K. Wheeler, D.,
Montana, which would prevent the
drafting Of pre-Pearl Harbor faith
ers before January /.
Selective Service officials have
said that they have reached the
bottom of the barrel Of single men
and married men without children
and new manpower (Boys turning
49, becomes available at rate OF
about 10000 month.
FDR Message
Meanwhile, President Roosevelt
was reported to be preparing a mes
sage to Congress recommending en-
actment Of legislation empowering
the government to draft men ana
women for wartime jobs. The Pres
ident was represented as feeling that
1t would be necessary to draft pre-
Pearl Harbor fathers who are no in
essential jobs.
washington, Sept. IS. (UP)-
President Roosevelt was reported
drafting a message today which
may take the initiative away from
Congress on the entire manpower
controversy as high military ON
cials were summoned to tell q spe.
cial congressional committee meet
ing why the drafting Of fathers is
q military necessity. s \.
Authoritative sources in Congress
said that the outcome would be:
1. Drafting Of pre-Pearl Harbor
fathers as scheduled on october l.
2. Some form of national service
legislation empowering the govern
ment to draft men and women for
wartime jobs.
That, 1t was reported, was Mr..
Roosevelt's answer to the first post.
recess day Of furore at the capitol
over the plan to draft fathers, and
was given by him to group OF
congressional leaders in 45-minute
conference at the White House late
yesterday.
Mr.. Roosevelt announced at his
press and radio conference that he
would send a message to Congress
on Friday dealing chiefly with the
progress Of the war, but into which
he is expected to incorporate his
ideas on the long befuddled man
power question.
Special Meeting
Today's special meeting Of the
senate military affairs committee
merely will set the stage for the
Presidents message. 1t was ar
ranged after Sen. Burton K. Wheel
er, D., Mont, appeared to be win
ming considerable support for his
bill to ban induction of pre-Pearl
Harbor fathers until January !. The
witnesses will be Undersecretary OF
War Robert P. Patterson, just from
tour of Pacific War theaters;
Lieut.. Gen. Joseph B. McNarney,
deputy chief of staff; Admiral
Ernest J. King, ccmmaner-in-chief
of the U. S. feet, and Maj. Gen.
Lewis B. Hershey, director Of selec-
tive service.
The President was said not to
have decided whether to ask for
national service legislation, but was
reported to be adamant on the
question of drafting fathers. If ma
tional service legislation Is proposed,
it is expected to be patterned after
the Austin Wadsworth bill but with
many changes as to details.
Attending the White House con-
ference were Senate Democratic
Leader Alben w. Barley of Ken
lucky, Vice-President Henry A.
Wallace, Speaker Sam Rayburn and
House Democratic Leader John w.
Mccormack of Massachusetts,.
A hint of the Presidents leaning
toward national service legislation
was seen yesterday In his press and
radio conference remarks after the
congressional conference. He de-
clined a direct answer on his atti-
tude toward the drafting Of fathers,
but indicated that he felt any per-
son Of draft age should be indicted
II they were not performing an es-
sential war service. He said he knew
Of a great many in this category.
Two-thirds OF the total area Of