Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-01-19
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WASHINGTON I Ian 10 A
" week. attcJ President RooSe-
volts demand for a civilian
draft bill. his floor leader, SEN
atOr BarklCN, had not emitted a
word OF approval His leaders
on the House side went further
and assured ncWsmen. off the
record the bill would not be
passed,
Indeed, the prevailing congress
Slonal opinion seems TO be that
the President possibly had en-
tered upon promotion of the bill
an ms message, Al lcaSt 10 re-
move The curse from his record
on the strike situation
The printed reaction out in
the country was ON g W h {
amazing Endorsements came
from conservative commentators
largely-but also from the
Bridges Communist controlled
longShoremens union on the Pa
Ciiic Coast When YOU get Com
mun~iN and conservatives
together. You may be sure some
OTTO rs beng footed
The reaction of Tho u44n-+a- ll.e-
street a. gct II con> cr,ation-
ally was Likewise surprisingly
approving People generally
hate strikes and Sympathilc
with the unequal positions of
the soldier and war worker.
ROT IN their righteous wrath
they are apt 10 be miSled
INTO eSpouSlng a remedy far
more unjust than the lniustices
they want 10 cure.
Theoretically, IT would prac-
tlcally declare national martial
law on all the people in order to
make a few work and tins In a
nation whose production (Workl
IS already So good that Mr..
Roosevelt Justly bragS il is the
best in the world
You can sec this clearly bV
detailed study Of the bill en-
pOWcrng the President bV
proclamation Ia move any one
supplementary tronf-fr ms horne
INTO any other Job al any rate
OF pay chat Is, any one except
federal, state, county and local
officials, including burcaucratS
VINO arc exempt along with
pregnant mothers and those
with minor children. and the
other established military OK
emptecs. although | do not see
Clcrgymen exempt.
One phrase promises cNomp-
non 10 those necessary 10 the
maintenance of national health,
safely and interest . and an
T7TfTfEf' WdTnS ne bOaTde against
helnC unfair arbitrary areati---
me personal hardShlp> But
obviously the door is left wide
open for local boards to differ
IN their interpretations Ca> they
already havct and 70 enter now
fields Of politics. graft and cor
ruption
I'VE urge for this thing is tho
Injustice of drafting the
soldier. Not even there do The
proponents propose Justice IN
lieu thereof \ drafted soldier
has -his whole lJfC provided for
by the federal government and
all are treated alike a. 10 pay
and special privileges, including
insurance. allowance or depend
cntS, medical care, etc.
Nothing comparable is prom
iSed the civilian draftec He
can he uprootcd from hi, home
sent across the country 10 work
in field az half the salary or
less and al the government
would give him Is transportation
and polite invitation 10 tho
vi o. IOnI u w AOllNlil'f ilpl4NllE
conditions IN The area 10 which
he is sent II would only equal.
ile present rnluStices by Great
INC more.
II proposes final abandonment
NJ civilian democratic indepcnd-
cncc. It's theory Is that of both
faSclsm and communism, hut
hears no Slight resemblance 10
10 I hat of democracy which
ospouScS voluntary contributions
of effort and individual freedom
OF patriotic conscience.
II would leave the deepest
scar Of this war on democracy.
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