Evening star., 1944-02-01
Draft Aid Center
Kept Busy on
|tsFirstDdy
More Than 800
Attend Opening
Of New Service

VI new Service
The Draft Aid Center opened
today at the U. S. Information
Center, Fourteenth street and Penn
sylvania avenue NV. and did e
brisk business by telephone and
personal appearances.
Opening of the center was preced-
ed last night by mass meeting
attended by more than 800 pros
pective servicemen and their wives.
Today not as many persons appeared
personally to seek solutions to their
problems as called on the telephone,
but Harry P. Somerville, Civilian
War Services executive secretary
said the response clearly showed the
center would be popular.
Questions dropped into question
box at last nights meeting offered
a cross-section of the problems wor-
rying the wives and dependents of
men soon to be called into the armed
forces.
One woman wanted to know how
she could tide over between the time
her husband was inducted and the
time she received her first Army
check. She was i'll and unable to
work.
The Draft Aid Center, free ad-
vlsory service to families affected
by the draft, will be open week.
days from II a. m. to 9 pm.
Pattern for Nation.
Speakers at the mass meeting en-
phasized that the Washington eX-
pertinent in caring for the families
might become a pattern for the
country as the father draft splits
up families in every community.
Representing National Selective
Service Director Lewis B Hershey
at the meeting, 1t. Col. Robert H
Owens told the men there were two
things they should do-resolve to do
the best job they can when they get
In the service and take advantage
OF this center and obtain the as
slstance due you as an American
citizen"
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee disclosing that
the draft had affected two members
OF his own family within the past
few weeks, declared that "if any
one factor has set us apart from
the rest of the world, it is that into
the making of our Government has
gone the human element"
The Draft Aid Center, he said.
offered one more channel through
which the American people could be
made more clearly aware of the part
they play in winning the war.
Ready to Aid, Says Leahy.
District Selective Service Director
William E. Leahy, after explaining
how the District gets its call for
men for the armed forces. empha-
sized that every member of every
draft board is just as anxious to
help the mems families as they were
interested in filling the calls for the
armed forces"
"Selective service he told the
prospective selectees and their wives.
stands ready to help, aid and assist
IN every way to make a success of
this experiment which your presence
here tonight proves will be success
full"
In the effort to help the families
ne said. 1t was found that there is
In Washington "a vast store of aid
II the people only knew how to get
It," This idea, he explained, crys-
talllzed into center where any one
who needed aid and advice might
go and "confldentially make known"
the problems which might result
from father being taken away
from his home.
AL that is needed" he told the
group, lis your willingness to accept
this service and to continue on in
your lives a little bit of that old
American tradition for solving prob
lens and helping yourselves"
Urges Wives to Seek Aid.
Urging the wives in the audience
to use the center, he said, Lets
send our men away with our chins
up and with heartful of courage
to inspire them with the knowledge
that alls we'll at home
Harry P. Somerville, Civilian War
Services executive officer, explained
how his group had compiled the
information so that the volunteer
consultants would be able to answer
all questions.
LAS far as the volunteers are con-
cerned," he said, we're ready to 60.
All we need now are the customers.
We urge you not to wait until the
last minute to go to work on your
problems. Bring them to the CEN
ter now"
Commissioner Guy Mason COM
mented that when fathers are
drafted it becomes the obligation of
those at home to look after the well
fare of the families of those at the
fighting fronts. D. j. kaufman of
Civilian War Services also spoke
briefly at the meeting and the Met
ropolitan Police Band, under the di-
rection of Capt Charles Benter, pro-
vided the music.
Measure your sacrifice. Are your
burdens really heavier than those
l. l.