Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1945-12-07
WNU Service, 1916 Eye Street, NV.
Washington, d. G..

WNU Service, 1916 Eye Street, NV.
Washington, D. G.
In the days that followed Presi-
dent Humans message to congress
urging universal military training
we, In Washington, waited to see II
there would be an echo to the Presi-
dents words spoken 30 earnestly but
with so little effect on the audience
before him. There was an echo all
right but it was an emphatic rumble
Of negation.
I wasn't surprised II read my
listeners letters.
1t was interesting to see the way
the members Of congress reacted to
the Presidents message as he de-
ivered it. I watched them with one
eye on the text Of his speech as
stood squeezed into the crowd in
the gallery Of the house.
Varied Reaction
To Proposal
Here are some Of the sentences
which I checked as bringing re-
Spouse:
above all else, we are
strong because Of the courage and
vigor and skill Of q Hberty-loving
people who are determined that this
nation shall remain forever Free"
(Applause). Well, that was a gen.
eral, non-compromising sentiment.
Nothing to do with the subject in
hand.
There was the statement that we
didn't lack faith in the United Ma
tons organization, ION the contrary
with all we have, we intend to back
our obligations and commitments
under the United Nations charter"
mild applause, this time.)
Then came the response to the
arst direct appeal for the measure in
hand. The President said: 1.-THE
surest way to guarantee that no ma
ton will attack us is to remain
strong in the only kind of strength
an aggressor can understandable
tary power" Applause again but I
had the feeling it was for the senti-
ment and not the suggested means
Of implementing it.
When he said that "the basic
reason for military training" is to
guarantee safety and freedom from
an aggressor, there was another
demonstration, but not quite as ener-
getic and many members, ! noted,
refrained from any applause at all.
The last note is the most en-
phatic. "Good applause" followed
the Presidents affirmation that "un-
til we are assured that our peace
machinery is functioning adequately,
1--WE must relentlessly preserve our
superiority on land and sea and in
the air." But that is just what the
congress is not willing to do because
1t believes the country is not willing
to have them do it. I am sure of
that because I know they have been
receiving, as I have, far more let
tiers against military training than
In favor of it.
Must Sell
Public Program
Today, a man who keeps his fin
gers on the pulse of congress as
sures me that there will never be a
universal military training act until
q great deal more "selling' has
been done by those who believe in
It, than has been attempted so far.
This man, like the writer, is
convert to the cause, so his express
sion was the reverse of wishful
thinking. Both of US, though men,
bers of the American Legion, never
favored their program for universal
service urged upon congress, be-
ginning shortly after the last war.
"There is too much organized OPP
position" my friend said, "such
powerful influences as the federal
council of churches, some influential
members of the Catholic church,
virtually all of labor so far (and
this includes the CLIO and the ALL
which often nullify each others ef-
forts) the colleges and the morgan
lied group which might be called
simply the mothers
Where do the returned veterans
stand? It is too early to say. If they
follow in their fathers footsteps they
will eventually vote for prepared
ness. It is the tendency of men who
have seen service to place a high
value on thorough preliminary
training. But they will not become
vocal until they join the ranks of the
World War I veteran organizations
or build others of their own.
There is, however, another force
which may change the picture -
change in the international set-up
which will inject the element of