Evening star., 1943-09-23
Spectators Applaud
As Baruch Stands by
Marshall on Draft
Ry ]. A. OIEARY.


BY J. A. O'IaEARY.
Spectators in the Senate Mill
tary Affairs Committee applaud
ed Bernard M. Baruch, adminiS-
tration adviser on manpower,
this afternoon when he told Sem
ator Wheeler, Democrat, of Mon
tana he stood by his testimony
of yesterday that Congress should
follow the advice of Gen. George
c. Marshall on the size of the
Army.
Suppose Gen. Marshall said he
needed 100000 men-would you
still follow him?" Senator Wheeler
asked.
mot to absurdity," Mr.. Baruch
replied. "If he was that kind of
man I wouldn't follow him."
The applause came moment
later when the calm-spoken witness
insisted he thought Gen. Marshall
should be given the men he needs
Il see you have brought your
audience along with you," Senator
Wheeler observed, with a smile.
Letters From Soldiers Read.
Senator Wheeler began the days
session bly, reading letters from SOL
diers to support his claim the Army
is not using efficiently the men 1t
already has in uniform.
ut isn't question of trusting the
Chief of Staff" Senator Wheeler
argued Neither the President nor
the Chief of Staff can possibly know
what goes on in all these camps.
You can go to any camp, and If
you don't find I am correct Ill be
surprised"
Chairman May of the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee told Mr.
Baruch "You and I are in agree
ment on the fact that if it is neces-
sary to win the war, married men
with children should be inducted.' .
The House chairman. asked him
however, whether it would not be
desirable, If it is possible, to get the
required number without calling
fathers.
"I think men should be deferred
on occupational grounds rather
than for dependents" Mr.. Baruch
said, adding that dependency is q
factor to be given consideration.
johnson Sees Merit in Bill.
Senator johnson, Democrat, OF
Colorado, told the Senate Military
Affairs Committee he sees some
merit" in the Wheeler bill to defer
prewar fathers for 80 days to give
them time to find places in essen
tial war industry.
Senator johnson told Mr.. Baruch
he agrees with him that all men
should be either in the armed forces
or in war jobs, but argued that toe
short a notice has been given the
prewar fathers in issuing the Octo-
ber induction order.
what have they been doing al
these months?" Mr.. Baruch asked.
Senate debate on the father draft
meanwhile has been put off unit
Tuesday, to permit printing of the
hearings.
That will be just two days before
the order for induction of pre-wal
fathers is slated to take effect, an6
the House Military affairs Com
mittee already has hid the ques-
ton aside to await Senate aotioffs~
Selective serY1cs ofn
mated $4,000 A1reGwaf
be needed to complete The Army aflo
Navy requirements n the next
three months, but abeht twice thai
number will have to be examined te
allow for the usual rejacftnsf 4xs
perienceo of SO per cent $500 :
Mother Appeals for Father Draft.
A mother, who said she had two
sons already overseas and another
approaching military age, caused 8
furry of excitement at the close oi
yesterdays hearing, when she made
an impassioned appeal to the COM
mittee to draft men who have be-
come fathers since the draft Law
passed In October, 1910.
She had sat quietly behind Mr.
Baruch during three hours of ques.
tioning in which he had insisted the
services of everybody will be needed
either on the fighting front or al
home to carry out "the task we have
undertaken"
In a voice trembling with emotion
the mother broke in to say that she
thought "Mr. Wheeler is evading
the real ISSUE" and went on to de-
clare that thousands of men have
become fathers since the draft law
was passed.
II am not insisting on the drafting
of men who were fathers before that
time" she said, ''but I feel that men
should go when mere babies are go
ing"
She declined to give reporters her
name and address, protesting she
was not seeking publicity. At the
request of Chairman Reynolds, she
had identified herself in the COM
mittee room, but the last name was
not heard clearly. and she would
not repeat it. She told the commit
tee one of her boys was in the South
Pacific and another on a warship.