The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-10-27
Observations
Military CONSUMPTION
Advocates
Missed Boat

Missed boat
Regardless OF President Tru.
mans attitude, the administration
and War Department are believed
20 have missed their chance 10 Cd
tain congressional approval OF q
compulsory military training plan
when they called a halt on the leg
islative project months before the
war had ended.
Congress. with the nation at
peace, is expected to have unsur>
mountsblo trouble in mastering the
votes for peace-time CONSUMPTION.
Such military lawmakers as Sen
stor Ed johnson CD OF Colorado,
acting chairman OF the Senate Mill
tary Affairs Committee, declare
fatty that they are opposed TO CON
cription". It's still CONSUMPTION,
even II you call II universal" mill
tary training. the outspoken John
son insists.
Many legislators believe that II
proponents OF the bill had follow
ed through on their plan during
the war. compulsory training had n
good chance OF being written into
law.
Now. Capitol Hill observers say.
Il is too late.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT is
moving slowly In building up the
enlarged force II will take to carry
its heavy responsibility in the post
war world.
So aggravatingly slow is II NOV.
ing that many young servicemen
who would like to enter the de-
partment and seem to have the
necessary qualifications have aban-
doned their ambition after seeking
for several days Just to get their
applications In so that they can
take tie examination.
There hasn't been the slightest
hint that the strict procedure fol
lowed In the past will not be alter
cd. The written examinations are
1ust az difncult. being q combina-
ton OF knowledg and intelligence
test.
The complaint of some critics Is
that even though Q student has
scholastic qualifications, he still
needs to 60 to q tutoring school,
where he Is versed In the tricks
hidden In the exams.
In Q recent examination In which
many Of the wartime. auxiliary"
personnel participated, only 40 Of
500 candidates passed the test,
or Jus. Ave per cent.
The auxiliary" foreign service
personnel to I'LL gaps for which
there were not enough regulars has
met and is meeting difficulties.
Most have had from one to three
years OF service in embassies and
LEGATIONS around the world. After
the written examinations, those
who squeezed through were reduc-
Cd further in the oral exams.
Secretary of State James Byrnes
hopes to reorganize the admission
and training procedure, but there
seems to be some doubt whether he
can make entries any easier.
WHEN THE COAL STRIKE
CONFERENCE ASSEMBLED in
washington, It was like "Old Home
Week" for Labor Secretary Sch
wellenbach and Edward r. Burke.
president of the Southern Coal
Producers Association.
Schwellenbach and Burke served
IN the Senate together a few years
back
They and their wives were the
best Of friends, but on the floor
the two men exhibited antagonistic
views and frequently tore into each
other.
In the coal parley. they were up
20 their old stunts.
FOR THE FIRST TINE in IL
long years the big gray Department
of Labor building in Washington
has become a beehive OF activity.
The faces OF union leaders are seen
again in It's once-deserted CORR.
doris and offices.
The secretary's Office has con-
slant stream Of visitors. Frequent
~ Labor Department switchboard
operators report all outside trunk
telephone lines busy. Lights burn
late along the third-foor executive
offices corridor.
The change was wrought oy
President Truman in naming Sen
wellenbach. an eufederal Judge
from Spokane, Wash. as secretary
replacing Miss Frances Perkins.
The President has delegated full
responsibility on labor matters TO
Schwelelnbach and no longer Is
the governments Labor Depart
ment in the White House.