Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-05
The Political Mill
Security Of y. S. at Stake !.
IN Decision on Troinind
House Committee Chairman Relies ON
Civilian Backing for Program y
BY Gould Lincoln

{ sSsst 10y oUWfW AbWGOeW
Congress viii be derelict in its duty If ii
does not give early consideration to the rec
Communication of the Presidents Civilian ADJ
visory Commission on Universal Training.
Involved Is the future military security of tho
country and all its people In Its report, the,
commission stated clearly the reasons why we
I'VE IN dangerous and uncertain world, and
why. II America Is to be able to ward on al,
asgressors attack, it must be prepared.
Fortunately. the Armed Services Committees
Of both the Senate and House are headed by
chairmen who look with favor on the adop-
ton OF system Of universal military training.
Senator Quincy of South Dakota and Rep
rcsentatiye Andrews OF New York. IA
Chairman Andrews already is preparing for
hearings before his committee on the subject
OF military training legislation. Presumably
they viii begin about June IL Whether they
can be completed and bill whipped into
shape and passed through the House before
Congress adjourns presumably the last Of
July) depends upon the strength of sentiment
for universal military training and upon the
plans Of the Republican leadership. Certainly.
however. time is of the essence. If we are
going to prepare, now is the time to enact the
needed legislation-not year from now.
Relying on Civilian Backing.
MI. Andrews wisely Is preparing to rely upon
civilian backing, rather than professional Army
and Navy support to speed the military train
ing program through Congress. With that
idea In mind, he plans to have as the first
witnesses before the committee representatives
OF seven national organizations who are famil.
lar with the peacetime needs of the country.
In the past, it has been the practice to can
first the Understanding officers of the Army
and the Navy, to lead off with their arguments
in favor of national defense legislation The
organizations which are expected to back to
the limit universal training system are the
American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the
American Veterans of World War II, the 'Ad-
jutant Generals Association which speaks for
the National Guard and the Reserve ofhcers'
Associations Of both the Army and Navy.
Later the War and Navy Departments and
the officers Of the Army and Navy will be
heard, and other witnesses, both FOR and
against the plan to train the youth of the,
country for military service-should need arise e
It has taken two great wars. involving prac-
tically the entire world, to bring Americans
to an appreciation of the fact that they must be
prepared. Twice this country has been able to
stave of defeat and to bring victory to the
more democratic and freedom loving group Of
Misunderstanding its men and producing
weapons and war material while ether ma
lions were battling. If and when this country
has to fight again, the attack will be made
first on the United States, and unless this coun-
try is prepared to resist to the utmost, 1t will
be too late. Why gamble now?
Report Unanimous.
The civilian commission appointed by Presi-
dent Truman to report on the question Of uni
versal military training included two college
presidents, DR.. Karl T. Compton of the Massa.
chusettes Institute Of Technology and Presi-
dent Harold w. Dodds of Princeton. 1t in
cluded also representatives of the Catholic and
Protestant churches, and recognized friends of
organized labor. It's report was unanimous In
the past churchmen and labor leaders have
been strong opponents of military training.
the report Of the commission lays down Q
detailed plan for universal military training
system. 1t calls for the training of all young
men-physically and mentally fit-when they
complete their high school education or when
they become Is years OF age; basic training
for a six months period and then q half dozen
alternative plans for the equivalent Of six
months further training.
As far as possible the program aims not to
interfere either with the education and work
some sacrifices must be made. It Is estimated
that between 10000 and $4,000 young men
will be called to training each year. At ths
start, the system will cost about 81 $50 600 000
an added governmental expenditure. In the
long run, however. the new system should re.
duce the overall cost of national defense.
The foreign policy of the United States, a.
developed by the Truman administration with
the backing OF manv Republicans, is an agrees
sive policy for peace and against the spread of
a communism which seeks world domination.
Such policy is idle If the United States 10
militarily weak-under present day conditions
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O. Does the robin sing before q rain?-T. T.