Evening star., 1944-05-05

this Is the sad state OF the natlona
service proposal. Recent announce.
ment that the President will pro.
long his vacation in the South an
other week or so (Which means that
he will have been away month";
still further depresses those who re-
gard this as the most important
measure that has been presented te
Congress in long time and know
there is no chance for its enactment
unless the full weight of the Presi-
dent is exerted for it.
Prospects that this will be done
are not good. The only way III
which the bill can be passed is by
centering public sentiment behind
1t and that cannot be done effec-
lively except with the earnest and
full cooperation of the President
There is no other way by which the
facts can be driven home to the
people and the opposition that has
developed be dissipated by popu-
lar patriotic outcry. Under the cir
cumstances it seems worth while to
review the record on this proposal
Action Urged Months Ago.
It was on January 11-nearly
four months ago-that Mr.. Roose-
velt urged Congress to pass such an
act, asserting that it was requested
by Army, Navy and Maritime Com
mission heads, who agreed that 1t
was essential to win the war.
Unfortunately, the President linked
the proposal with four others, say
ing that he would not recommend
national service without these. 1t
was so clear at the time that all MIR.
Roosevelt's conditions could not be
met that his Recommendation lacked
the force it otherwise might have
had and gave rise to some feeling
that he was not Fundamentally for
it-certainly not as strongly as were
the combined chiefs of staff.
On January II, the Messrs. Green
and Murray, labor leaders, con-
ferred with Mr.. Roosevelt for sc
minutes and left the White House
denouncing the plan and proclaim
ing their opposition to the bill. On
January 81, the National Negro
Council, through its director, Ed
ward Brown, took stand against it
But Secretary of War Stimson
Undersecretary Patterson, Secre-
tary of the Navy Knox, Undersec-
retary Forrestal, Maritime Commits
sion Chief Emory Land, General
Marshall and Admiral King made
earnest pleas for the passage OF
the bill. However, Manpower Com
missioner McNutt declared first for
and then against national service
reversed himself twice more and
finally wound up advising Congress
it is unnecessary ut this time"
There later. developed some oppo-
sition from business organizations,
but the main hostility came from
the labor organizations and the main
fight has been made by them.
Chances for Law Are Low.
For weeks before he went away
strong efforts were made to get the
President to make another recon-
mendation. rnequivocal and without
strings. But, these were not sue
cessful and the national service
chances are low, indeed. It is q
distressing state of affairs.
The boast Of Congress has beer
that while it has rejected Roose.
velt recommendations on domestic
affairs, 1T has given him everything
he asked for the conduct of the war
And, the President Is now being put
forth for a fourth term on the
ground that military authorities
have his complete support, are ir
complete accord with him and his
reelection is essential to the con.
duct Of the war.
Yet here is a case in which Con-
gress is refusing an unanimous rec.