The midland journal., 1945-12-07

fined spending pol Truman
icy.
This is merely the latest develop
ment in Mr.. Truman's battle with
congress and an expression Of his
firmness and insis-
tence in a rather Roosevelt style
upon the top two points of his pro-
gram which are so unpopular in con-
gress that they have been allowed to
lie dormant without arousing a pub
lie clamor.
At the same time Mr.. Barkley
announced the President would al
low the youth draft act, officially
known as compulsory military
training" and the army-navy uni
fication bill to modernize the armed
services into one force, to be permit
ted to 60 over until after the Christ
mas holidays.
The youth draft plan of the
war department is observedly
unpopular - by 0bservedly 1
mean a considerable genuine
public sentiment has been ex-
pressed against it in letters to
congressman from unorganized
individuals i'm their home dis
tricts as well as the most for
midable array of organized
groups yet presented this ses-
sion against a measure-educa-
tional, religious and even labor,
including CIO.
The army-navy unifcation bill
does not seem to be either popular
or unpopular as far as l have been
able to penetrate the normal sources
of public opinion. My guess is the
people do not understand it as it
involves largely technical training
problems, although most of the
young people in both services with
whom I have come in contact seem
to be militantly in favor of it.
FIGHT ON ARMY
NAVY UNIFICATION
Strange things began to happen to
this proposed modernization pro-
gram several weeks ago. You may
recall when the George lieutenant
general, head of air transport COM
MANDY report first appeared in this
spot setting forth the modernization
program which had been bottled by
the shiniest and biggest brass hats
of the combined chiefs of staff of
both services, I reported that Ad-
mirals Halsey and Nimitz, the fight
ing admirals, were in favor of it.
Since then both have indicat-
ed their intention to leave the
navy and likewise have made
known their opposition. You
might guess offhand that I made
a mistake. did not.
Both Nimitz and Halsey were
for the measure, and so in
formed the George committee
when 1t was travelling around
the world accumulating evil
dence from the fighting men in
the field. What happened to
change their minds 1 do not
know.
Equally and similarly strange has
been the lack of developments in in
vestigating the responsibility for
Pearl Harbor. The committee Of in
quiry planned at first to take jaunt
by air out to see Pearl Harbor, al
though half hours trip to the navy
department would have permitted
them to- inspect bas-relief as well
as Typographical surveys Of the
whole islands. What they could find
otherwise at Pearl Harbor now that
the sunken ships have been raised,
cannot learn.
The committee investigation
itself got involved in what re-
porters cali q political fight with
the Democrats obviously trying
to hold back matters in one way
or another, then loosening up
little here and there, and the
Republicans outraged but con-
fused and unable to penetrate
the administration tactics sue
cessfully. The sum total Of it
has been nothing-an absolute
uObnuHSs
This vacuumized condition can be
rather plainly seen but my authori
tative informants hereabouts have
wondered if there were any connec
ton between these events.
In congress you hear aside whis
pers that what is facetiously callet
"top BRASS" meaning the invisible
military authorities of both services
have to considerable extent, cap
tured the Truman administration fol
precisely what they want-namel,
no unification, youth draft act, ans
no Pearl Harbor expose. # so, wha
Mr.. Truman win get out of it ma,
be difficult to find.
My information would not encour
age him to believe that congress il
SO eager for q Christmas recess tha