Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-10-02
NEWS
BEHIND
The NEWS
BY Paul
MaIIon

WASHINGTON, oct 1-On
w It's face. the promised APP
pointment OF Gen. Marshall
seems 10 forecast a large new
offensive on the European front.
Even the White House atti-
tude encourages this impress
sion. The President sharply
criticized the recent public con-
troversy over the matter in the
House and the press, and on the
radio. on the grounds that II
was a military matter.
Certainly the existing mill
tary matters in Italy and in the
air bombing campaign are not
such AS 10 require MarShallS
transfer. Consequently tn q
general assumption must be
that a new offensive IS immi-
ncnt.
THE Acknowledgements COM
Il pulSory labor draft bill is
dying on the vine. The only
one who could possibly revive
II and put il through is Mr..
Roosevelt. His persistent ST.
lence has discouraged the back
ers of the legislation. They
now know they cannot get the
measure out Of either the
House, or the Senate military
affairs committee even as far
as the Senate floor for public
discussion. q
The only administration au-
thorlties who forcefully have
advocated the measure are War
Secretary StimSon and his as
Sistant, Patterson. Congress
men have heard rumorS that at
one time the entire Roosevelt
cabinet wanted the bill, but APP
parently not now.
1t is obvious that The strength
of opposition from both labor
and industry has made ii
dangerous measure politically.
Indeed, the Republican au-
thorS of the legislation have
grounds 10 suspect that the adj
miniStration has left them hold
ing that bag too long.
THE rigid labor draft regu-
Il lation which il would I'M
pose upon all men from Is to
g. and women from lS 10 30
would make them legally, if not
practically, slaves Of the state
as far as assignment of work is
concerned. IT follows a totali-
tartan theme which is away
from the latest trend Of Wash
ington events and popu a T
opinion.
The labor assignment system
instituted by Bernard BaruCh on
the Pacific Coast has furnished
a more democratic way OF meet
ing the problem.
1t has some Of the elements
Of compulSion i'm the establish
ment of prioritieS for work and
the restriction OF hiring 10 gov
eminent employment agencies,
but the plan is confined TO A
local emergency basis and the
CompulSiOn has been voluntarily
accepted by those involved.
II is at any rate a tWo-to-one
bet that the national overall
cOmpulSiOn of the AuStin-WadS-
worth bill is dead until after
the next elections, AT least. The
Baruch idea may be extended to
other emergency localities,
THE senate naval affairs COM
L committee killed the pro-
vision permitting WAVES 10 60
overseas, largely on tho private
recommendation of some naval
officers.
The committee members made
some personal Investigations Of
the WAVES organization during
their recent vacation travels.
and brought back splendid re-
ports They found many girls
with unusual education and eX-
ceptional background in that
service.
However, 10 transport them
overseas would involve compile
cations Of housing which prob
ably would cost more than their
transportation would be worth.
The idea Of sending them over
was supposed t0 have had the
endorsement Of Mrs. RoOSe-
welt. but even so. some of the
naAal nlfICerS rcmalnnd sken-