Imperial Valley press., 1944-01-11
0Continl,ad from PAGE II


ness-that we, 1875, ,000,0 900 Americans,
are on the march to Rome, Berlin
and Tokyo"
Arguments had been advanced
against making American men and
women workers subject to a labor
draft. the president said. But heads
of the war and navy departments
and the maritime commission who
bear responsibility for the procure
ment of the necessary arms ana
eoui9ment, and for the successful
prosecution of the war in the tield
urgently recommended the labor
draft.
Mr. Roosevelt will explain the
reasons for his recommendation
directly to the people Tuesday night
in a fireside chat from 6 to $50
pm. tPWT). His message at noon
was read by clerks III the senate
and house.
EXPLAINS VIEWS
National service" he said, is
the most democratic way to wage
war-all-out war. 1t does not mean
reduction in wages. 1t does not
mean loss of seniority rights and
benefits. 1t does not mean that
any substantial numbers of war
workers will be disturbed in their
present jobs.
Il would not recommend a ma
tional 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 pre-
vent undue profits.
The federal government already
has the basic power TO draft capital
and property of all h-lGs for war
purposes on a just basis of COM
pensaCi0n.
Il hope that congress will recog-
nize that, although this is political
year, national service is an issue
which transcends politics. Great
power must be used for great pur
poses"
Ridiculing ostrich isolationism,
Mr.. Roosevelt said that in the post
war world all freedom loving ma
tions shall join together in a just
and durable system of peace" He
proposed "unquestioned postwar
military control" over disturbers of
the peace-Germany, ITALY and jap
an. For the benefit of suspicious
souls" the president said he had
made no unconstitutional commit
ment at his Cairo or Tehran con-
ferences although he had commit
ted the United States to specific
military plans.
But he added, there were NO
secret treaties or political or finan-
cial commitments" or pledges which
might cast the United States in
the role of Santa Claus"
RAPS MINORITIES
He confessed to a let down"
when he returned from his confer
enceS and was confronted with
the situation on the home front.
Scornfully, the president cited the
noisy minority" which demands
special favors from congress.
There are pests who swarm
through the lobbies Of congress and
the cocktail bars of Washington, he
continued, representing these Spe-
cial groups as opposed to the basic
interests of the nation as y whole
II there ever was a time to sub
bordinate individual or group self
iShneSs to the national good, that
time is now.
"Disunity at home-bickering
self-seeking partisanship, stoppageS
OF work, initiation, business as usual.
politics as usual luxury as usual
these are the influences which can
undermine the morale of brave men
ready to die on the front for us
here"
TIE time has come, he said, to
prepare for lasting peace and he
added fourth category to the evils
against which over the years he
said he would protect the people
the ''ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed
and insecure"
WARNS ON "RIGHTISTS"
In an economic bill of rights he
stated the right Of every individ-
ual or family to jobs, adequate food,
clothing and recreation, fair mark
cts, fai.' competition, decent homes,
adequate medical care, social secur-
ity and a good education. And he
warned against 'rightist reac-
ton"
IF such reaction should de-
Velop," he said, then it is certain
that even though we shall have
conquered our enemies on the bat
tlefiel1s, we shall have yielded to
tie spirit Of Fascism here at home
On the subject of "a realistic tax
law the president called for legis-
lation to tax all unreasonable prof
it's, both individual and corporate
and reduce the ultimate cost of
the war TO our sons and daughters.