Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-13
Wiley Urges Hershey
To Keep Close Watch
On Reds in New Draft

Senator Wiley, Republican, O,
Wisconsin, today urged a closa
screening Of all Communists when
men are indicted into the armed
services under the new draft act
Registration gets under wav on
August 80.
Senator Wiley wrote Mai. Gen
Lewis B. Hershey, Selectiye Service
director, that he was sorry IN nots
that no questions designed to ear.
mark" Communists are on The
questionnaires being PREPARED for
mailing to draft registrants
At Gen. Hershey's Office today I.
was said he had not seen the letter
Voges Continuous Scouting"
Senator Wiley declared Commr.
nists called into the service should
be given the closest and continuous
scrutiny" But he agreed there
should be no blanket exemntion
simply because a man is a Com
munist.
That would only serve to encour-
age some draft evaders to become
Communists" he said.
The Senator remarked there are
indications the Army plans to peg
any Communists among the draft
ees, but added that a year ago there
also were indications the Govern
ment was going to get tough" about
Communists in the executive branch.
Says Reds Were Coddled.
He added that the Investigations
now IN progress have indicated the
Government not only did not get
tough but coddled, encourages and
promoted Reds.
1t seems extremely unwise TO
overlook the fact that some of the
young men who will be entering our
armed forces will be Communists or
fellow travellers in their political be-
liefs," Senator Wiley said.
How to Use Them" Studied.
A defense establishment spoEes.
man said that the armed force,
were quite conscious" of the prob
lem of taking in Communists under
the draft and that an advisory COM
mittee had under consideration "A
plan on how to use them once we
find them"
He admitted that there would be
no special effort to screen Commu-
nlsts at the induction centers-
otherwise you would be placing q
premium on saying you were a Com
munist."
The Army has ruled that men,
bership in or close utilization Wit,
the Communist Party is "inimica!
With National Security" LoyaIty
screening OF Army personnel ha
been hamEcred by a shortage O.
investigators acd an Army spoke.
man indicated it probably would &c
further behind with the influx OF
drafteeS.
Military Subject to Checks.
Officers and enlisted men on &C.
tive duty are subject to LOYALTY
checks and may be removed from
the service If found to be party
members.
Some $4,000 Army and Air Force
ofhcers recently taken into the rer-
ular establishments from the reserve
lists are now serving three-yesr
probationary periods. They are re-
CURED to make detailed LOYALTY
statements and their afidavits are
being checked. If it is found thar
they failed to include any Com
munlst Party connections in these
statements, they may be dismissed
on the grounds OF Justification. En-
hsted men found to have divided
loyalty" may be DISCHARGED At the
convenience of the Government. the
Army said. Wiz
AS the new draft draws near The
Selective Service organization In
the District is working to get all of
lts setup under one roof. The pub
nc Bulldings Administration Is try-
ing to get space for the whole organ
lzation in Temporary Building No. q
Nineteenth and D streets NV.
Records Office There Now.
The ONCE OF Selective Service
records now couples $500 to 3o00
square feet In the structure. An
equal additional amount of space
would be necessary to house the
District headquarters and the IS
draft boards and three appeal board
panels, according to John L. Nagle,
deputy Public Buildings Admins
tration commissioner.
Mr.. Maggie said the plans would
mean the removal of some Federal
Works Agency Offices now In the
building, but If the project can be
carried out the District organiza-
ton should be able to move in next
ueok