Evening star., 1950-12-23
They're Paul Reveres of the Atom Aqe
By George Beveridge

By George Beveridge
THE COMMITTEE on the Present
J. Danger, which grew from a casual
after-dinner conversation last summer,
at the very least is assured that its
= counsel will be heard. both on Capitol
Hill and in high Government circles
The reasons for this are simple: First,
many members of the new organization
have access to the people who make
American policy. Secondly. most of
them wrestled, in some capacity, with
similar policy problems in Washington
during World War II.
1t was in the hope of making use Of
this experience, on a unified front, that
the committee was formed.
1t all began at the New Hampshire
home of Tracy S. Voorhees,. former
Undersecretary of the Army. The talk
turned to the threat of Communist ag-
gression, and what must be done about
it. Among the dinner-table quarter
backs was DIR. James B. Conant, presi-
dent of Harvard University, who-as Mr..
Voorhees, recalls-first suggested that
well-informed citizens committee might
be formed to try to come up with some
answers.
The idea grew quickly from there.
Mr.. Voorhees, did most OF the spade
work. He came to Washington to learn
from Defense Secretary Marshall and
other officials whether such a commit
tee could expect reception Of its views.
The answer being favorable, members
were invited to join. With non-parti-
sanship basic premise, no one current
ly in politics was asked to join. The
aim was wide representation, both by
speciality and geographic location, Of
men completely disinterested" in
personal sense. Those enrolled included
DR.. Vannevar Bush, who headed the
World War II scientific program: for
mer Secretary Of War Robert P. Patter-
son; Julius Ochs Adler, general manager
of the New York Times Lewis H. Brown.
board chairman of the Johns Manville
Corp, one of the top World War II in
dustrial consultantS, and no less than
seven presidents or other officials of
large universities
The committee, with a membership OF
Is, announced its formation December
IL. In statement of principles. it re-
fused to accept the inevitability Of
World War III, submitting that the best
insurance against it is a strong force
in Europe and the Far East as well as
in America. Specifically, it called for
universal military service. less monde
fense spending. tighter economic con-
trolls. and development Of equipment
and assets overseas to narrow the mar
gin of superior Soviet manpower sources.
Steadfastly opposed to Herbert
Hoovers call for withdrawal from
abroad and reliance on the impregna-
bility of the North American continent.
the committee said in advance that
such policy would be "a counsel Of
despair and defeat"
The heavy accent on manpower mo-
bilization is in line with the commit
tees decision to devote itself primarily
to what we feel Is military in nature"
Industrial mobilization, economic con-
trolls and other procurement problems
interest the group mainly insofar as
these things are concerned with military
need. -
Early conferences Of the committee
apparently were reflected in a recent
statement by DIR. Conant, calling for
military service for all youths reaching
the. age of 18, or upon their graduation
from high school. In this statement.
which stirred lively comment in educa-
tional circles, Dr. Conant said the Nation
cannot afford the luxury Of selective
draft-deferment plan for college stu
dents. Tapping youths at the period
between high school and college Is best
both for the Nation and for them, he
said.
Specific manpower recommendations
are being drawn up by a sub-group
headed by Dr. James Phinney Baxter III,
president of Williams College. DR.. Bax-
ter's wartime posts here included serv-
ice as deputy director of the Office Of
Strategic Services and as historian of
the Office of Scientific Research and
Development.
Whether the committee will try to take
its case to the public on a grass roots
level is a question still to be decided. AS
Of now, two paths are open:
The first would be for the committee
to continue as it has started-conferring
with leaders and expressing itself
through congressional testimony. The
second would be to set up larger
organization in order to gather support
from as wide public group as pos
sible. With such members as Stanley
Resor. board chairman of the J.. Walter
Thompson Co., and Playwright Robert
Sherwood, wartime chief of overseas
owl activities, there is no dearth Of
public relations talent.
At any rate, the committees poten-
tial force in directing both public and
official opinion seems tremendous. Sell
dom, If ever, have citizens of such
prestige and brain power-without per-
sonal axes to grind-banded for such
a purpose. And, in the face of fear.
uncertainty and high-level national con-
flict, it is hard to imagine time when
the Nation would be more willing to
listen.
Present plans call for a moderate
expansion" of membership. The COM
mittee also plans to register under the