The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-08
JOB SELECTION
BILL In SENATE
CONTINUED from Page u

S~@NNSN--NO~-N
Substantially the same elements
came forward in 1910 the first Selec-
tive Service Act and without adj
Yninistration endorsement until the
battle was half over promoted It
so effectively that 1t became q law.
Active In that campaign was
Grenville Clark, member Of the New
York law firm Of Root, Clark,
Buckner and Balentine, in whose
chambers much Of the 1910 Selective
Service Act strategy was planned.
Clark conceived the "Plattsburgh
idea" from which developed the
officers training camps Of World
War and the Infinitely superior
officer candidates schools Of World
War II.
Associated with Clark now is q
growing organization calling itself
the citizens committee for o Nation-
al War Service Act. It's chairman
is Douglas Arant, Birmingham, Ala,
former president Of the Alamaba
Bar Association.
Legion Backs Bin
The American Legion announced
that 1t would join forces with the
citizens committee In advocating the
bill. Maurice r. Devine, chairman
Of the Legion's National Legislative
committee, said:
universal service in war has been
advocated by the American Legion
for more than 20 years. This policy
contemplates war Is the business OF
every citizen and that those who
are unable to serve In the armed
forces have an equal obligation to
the soldiers, an obligation to serve
behind the lines"
It Is unusual for so important a
measure to come before q Democra-
tic Congress under Republican aus
pieces, but that strategy worked well
on the Selective Service Act in 1910.
Wadsworth sponsored that bill the
house and in the senate 1t was Of
fered by a notable anti-new dealer,
Former Sen. Edward r. Burke, D.,
Neb. The urke-Wadsworth COM
bination may have been q factor In
causing the administration to hest
tate before endorsing a peace-time
draft.
The first and most notable en-
dorsement Of registration Of all men
and women for war work was by
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt in her
column, MY Day." On March TO-
she wrote:
UT,yo coroA to AVA ,,ay-, olaov daoI
sion, namely that all Of us-men in
the services, and men and women
at home-should be drafted and told
what is the job we are to do"
Volunteers First
The sponsors Of today's measure
explain that much Of the objective
probably would be accomplished on
a volunteer basis by calling for vol
unteers before resorting to compul-
sion. They emphasize that no dis
tant official would select civilians
for war work but that the Job would
be done by the local boards Of
neighborS who now pick men fol
the armed services.
1.-THE bill provides that it shall mo-
affect collective bargaining, the law:
relating to maximum hours, mini.
mum wages, settlement Of disputes
and the like" the committee adds
"and thus carefully safeguards leg
itimate rights and privileges Of or
gained labor.
at contains, however, no expires!
provision to safeguard the rights o.
the individual assigned TO war worl
to join a labor union If he or sit
desires. Nor, on the other hand, doe
it expressly state that the individual
shall not be forced to join Iinior
II he or she does not choose to do so
It may have been thought that thesI
American rights are as fundamental
that 1t was unnecessary to mention
them. The committee believes. how
ever, that to prevent misunderstood.
ing, a provision expressly covering
these points should be included BY
amendment"
There will be considerable dis.
pute over the latter provision enah-
ling q draft war worker TO make his
own decision on joining a union.
War Manpower Chief Paul v. Nc.
Mutt told @ congressional COMMITTEES
last fall that the studies OF his COM
mission showed that q national
service act was necessary, but since
his powers were bFoadened by exec.
utiye order In December he has
carefully sldestepped any discus
sion OF the issue.
Mind "unehamged"
Sources close TO McNutt have said
that his mind Is unchanged" cor.
corning the need OF such legislation
II the manpoWer problem 10 10 be
solved. They said reluctance Oli his
part 70 discuss II " fear that nd.
vance notice Of the possibility Of
such q law would break down the
voluntary measures taken To solve
TIE pgehlsm.