Evening star., 1944-01-11

The right to adequate medical
care and the opportunity to
achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protec-
ton from the economic fears of
old age, sickness accident and
unemployment;
The right to good education"
or for any other essential services
every able bodied adult in this Ma
ton.
These five measures together
form a just and equitable whole. I
would not recommend a national
service law unless the other laws
were passed to keep down the cost
OF living, to share equitably the
burdens of taxation, to hold the
stabilization line, and to prevent
undue profits.
The Federal Government already
has the basic power to draft capi-
tai and property of all kinds for
war purposes on basis of Just
compensation.
Total Mobilization Needed.
AS you know. I have for three years
heSitated to recommend a national
service act. Today, however. l am
convinced of its necessity. Although
l believe that we and our Allies can
win the war without such a measure.
I am certain that nothing less than
total mobilization of all our re-
sources OF manypower and capital
will guarantee an earlier victory
and reduce the toll of suffering and
sorrow and blood.
/ have received joint recommen-
dation for this law from the heads
of the War Department. the Navy
Department and the Maritime Com
mission. These are the men who
bear responsibility for the procure
ment Of the necessary arms and
equipment and for the successful
prosecution of the war in the field.
They say:
When the very life of the Ma
ton is in peril the responsibility for
service is common to all men and
women. In such a time there can
be no discrimination between the
men and women who are assigned by
the Government to its defense at the
battlefront and the men and women
assigned to producing the vital ma
terials essential to successful mill
tary operations. A prompt enact
ment of national service law would
be merely an expression of the uni
versatility of this responsibility.
I believe the country will agree
that those statements are the SOL
emn truth.
Each Citizen Should Serve.
National service is the most demo-
cratic way to wage war. Like
selectiye service for the armed
forces, it rests on the obligation of
each citizen to serve his Nation to
his utmost where he is best quail
fed.
1t does not mean reduction in
wages. 1t does not mean loss of
retirement and seniority rights and
benefits. 1t does not mean that any
numbers of war workers
will be disturbed in their present
jobs. Let these facts be wholly
clear.
Experience in other democratic
nations at war-Britain, Canada
Australia and New Zealand-has
shown that the very existence of ma
tional service makes unnecessary
the widespread use OF compulsory
power. National service has proven
to be unifying moral force-based
on an equal and comprehensive
legal obliga ton of all people in a
nation at war.
There are millions Of American
men and women who are not in this
war at all. 1t is not because they
do not want to be in it. But they
want to know where they can best
do their share. National service
provides that direction. 1t will be a
means by which every man and
woman can find that inner satisfac-
tlon which comes from making the
FULLEST possible contribution to vic
tory.
Last Miles Are Hardest.
I know that all civilian war
workers will be glad to be able to saw
many years hence to their grand
children: Yes. 1, too. was in service
IN the great war. l was on duty in
an airplane factory, and I helped
make hundreds of fighting planes
The Government told me that in
doing that was performing my most
useful work in the service of nv
country
1t is argued that we have passed
the stage in the war where national
service is necessary. But our soldiers
and sailors know that this is not
true. We are going forward on a
long, rough road-and, in all
journeys, the last miles are the
hardest. And it is for that final
ef1ort-for the total defeat of our
enemies-that we must mobilize our
total resources. The national wal
program calls for the employment OF
more people in 1914 than in 1943.
1t is my conviction that the
American people will welcome this
win -the-war measure, which is basec
on the eternally just principle ol
fair for one, fair for ALL"
1t will give our people at home the
assurance that they are standing
iour-square behind our soldiers anc
sailors. And it will give our enemies
demoralizing assurance that We
mean business-that we, 1875 900 OO(
Americans, are on the march tc
Rome. Berlin and Toxic.
National Service Transcends Politics
1 hope that the Congress will
recognize that, although this is a
political year, national service is an
issue which transcends politics
Great power must be used for great
purposes.
As to the machinery for this
measure. the Congress itself should
determine its nature-but it should
be wholly nonpartisan in its make
up.