Evening star., 1943-12-10
President Approves
Father Draft Delay;
M'Nutt Role Unc|eor
Monpower Chief
Had Urged Veto
Of Legislation
5000 FATHERS HERE face draft
by end Of June. Page B-1

~
President Roosevelt has ap-
proved the father draft bill, de-
signed to delay induction of pre-
war fathers into the armed
services.
The action was announced by the
White House today. The place at
which the Chief Executive acted was
not disclosed
The President had been urged by
Chairman Paul v. McNutt of the
War ManpoWer Commission to veto
the legislation. The Presidents ap-
proval raised question as to wheth-
er Mr.. McNutt would resign his
position
The legislation removes from Mr..
McNutt authority over administra-
tion of the selective service system.
Hershey Given Authority.
The authority, vested in Maj. Gen.
Lewis B. Hershey, the selectivs
service director, came under Mr..
McNutt's directives previously.
How extensively the act will delay
the induction of pre-Pearl Harbor
fathers remains to be seen, officials
said.
Gen. Hershey is reported to have
told closed meeting OF the National
Association of Manufacturers in
New York Wednesday that about
l 100000 prePearl Harbor fathers
would have to be inducted by June
30, 1914, in order to meet present
schedules.
The expressed intent of the pres
ent legislation is to prevent the in
ductlon of any of this group OF
fathers until all available physically
flt single men and non-fathers have
been put into uniform.
The law provides, however, that
the application of this principle
within the discretion of the Selec-
tive Service chief need not disrupt
| the orderly calling of men for serv-
ice
The bill was approved by the Pres
ident despite Mr.. McNutts S assertion
that it would seriously weaken" the
overall manpower program by divid-
ing control of military and civilian
recruitments.
Disagreed on Results.
Members of Congress disagreed a.
to the practical effects of the legis-
latlon. but Senator johnson, Demo-
crat, Of Colorado. a member of the
conference Drafting Committee, es-
timated it would postpone the in
duction of some fathers for two or
three months"
/ The legislation sets up national
pool plan for selective service. di-
rectlng that fathers of children born
before September Is, 1912, be placed
at the bottom of the draft list and
that none of them be called so long
as nonfathers are available for call
anywhere in the Nation.
An escape" clause written into
the bill at the request of selective
service officials. however. provides
that this induction plan shall not be
allowed to affect the usual regular
and orderly flow of the Nations
manpoWer into the armed forces"
Senator Wheeler, Democrat. Of
Montana, author of rejected bill to
ban outright the drafting of fathers.
contended this clause took the
force out of the amendment and
made it legally possible for selective
service to continue to induct fathers,
Other Provisions.
Through its other main provisions
the measure:
l. Withdraws supervisory powers
over selective service granted to
Mr.. McNutt by an executive order
OF the President on December S,
1912, and directs that full draft au-
thority be placed in the hands Of
the director of selective service.
2. BY canceling occupational in
ductions nullifies the work or fight
orde of the VINO, which designated