The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-02-10
Observations
Labor Draft Bill
Faces Tough Going
in Senate
~ HELEN FssARY

Washington-Seldom has any
piece Of legislation stirred up a
more thorough criss-cross OF forces
for and against It than the May
labor draft bin for men IL to 40.
Opposing the bill, which has
passed the House but faces rough
going In the Senate Is such a for
midable coalition OF groups that un
der ordinary circumstances IL
would not have chance.
In the ranks Of the opposition
are The railroad brotherhoods, the
American Federation Of Labor, the
Congress Of Industrial Organi1a
tons. the National Association Of
Manufacturer and other employer
groups, together with a sprinkling
OF farm organizations
Meanwhile. the Soviet forces,
driving Nazi armies back on the
eastern front are helping the op
position 10y causing members %
Congress 10 wonder whether the bill
viii be necessary after all.
The reason the bill has a chance,
however, is that seryicemen are for
j. and General Marshall and Al
miral King say they need il. The
servicemcu write letters 10 their
families and family members write
10 their representatives and sena-
tors And then there il Marshall.
Probably no man in America car
ries the weight with Congress that
Marshall does
Washington is looking TO Gen.
Douglas MaCArthur's capture ~
Luzon to provide one Of the really
high spots Of the Pacific war
In a grand sense. an American
victory viii mean a draStically ser
ious loss of face TO the japanese
and an enormous amount Of pres
tige for the United states Aside
from the inherent drama in Mac
Arthur'S fortuitous message, Il
shall return" it will mean a win
dicatlou Of Americas intentions to
ward the PHILIPPINES, Some quarters
see in il double hope for the
Chinese and other beleaguercd
peoples
In more tangible SENSE. the
fan Of L1zou will give the United
States firSt-rate harbor at Cavite,
a forward base for ground opera
tions against the coast Of China
and several large air fields for B-2o
and other aerial attacks against
japanese bases in lndo-China and
FormoSa
Cigaret rationing tobacco
dealers plan TO work out a cigar
O. rationing scheme on their own
hook will run into many snags.
Chances are. according to Washing
ton observers. that it will not work
for the following reasons:
Lack Of metal punches 10
stamp each customers card when
pack Of smokes is purchased.
Count M the tremendous number
Of tobacco retailers in the country
and then figure out where they II
get metal punches. The punch idea
a. a part Of the plan. But there
%just amt any punches 10 be had
On great quantities.
2-Unscrupulous citizens could
get cigaret card from any mum
Der OF dealers. This would not
create equitable distribution. Oppo-
nents Of the scheme point out that.
although each customer is expect
ed to sign his card signifying he
will carry no more than one, he
would be violating no law II be
picked up five, six. or 10
3-Cigaret rationing is not logi-
esl In view Of the tremendous scope
Of the problem II it were an easy
matter. the OPA void have done
It long ago OPA, however. saws
frankly, it, too big job for them
to tackle and might create more
black markets
4-While OPA spOkeSmen will
not say forthrizhtly that the plan
won't work. they intimate it'll be
tough going for the tobacconists.
"But we wish EN- luck, one OPA
official said.
The approaching C0ai-waEe urgo-
Nations are weighing heavily on
the minds OF many government o.
ficials. including Fuel Boss Ickcs,
War Labor Board Chairman Davis
aud War Mobilizer Byrnes
John l.. Lewis has not yet re
Vealed the wage demands Of his
United Mine Workers and official
Washington is apprehensive Of an
other long bitter fight such as oc-
CURED in 1913 70 the accompani-
ment Of series OF paralyzing coal
strikes
There are some observers IN the
capital who believe Byrnes' brown
out" order was aimed at Lewis
sort Of psychological attempt 70
emphasize a serious coal shortage
and build mp public opinion against
any work stoppage by the miners.
The work-Ur. Jailed legisla.
ton also is viewed as another
weapon which could be used 10
smash any mine disturbance grow
ing out Of the wage battle
WASHINGTON AP-The Veter-
ans Administration awarded S.
1A- 000 contract Erfday for 81