Evening star., 1951-03-10
The Political Mill
UNIT to Give Nation
A Real Reserve System
Vote in Senute Predicuted
On q Series of Reasons
By Gould Lincoln

Dy SOuIO LWCOtH
The Senate by a huge majority
68 to 20-is on record as favoring the
adoption of system of universal mill
tary training (The bill as a whole, in
cluding draft setup lowering the induc-
tion age to 18. has been passed by a
vote of 79 to S. The UNIT action came
on proposal by Senators johnson,
Democrat, of Colorado and Bricker, Re-
publican. of Ohio to eliminate from the
new universal military training service
bill the training provisions This measure
extends the draft and provides for the
inauguration of training system after
the need for taking men for actual serv-
ice has passed.
The vote in the Senate for UNIT was
predicated on series of reasons. Among
them was the belief that world condi-
tions and the possibility of long period
of cold war" made the buildup of
strong military reserves imperative. An
other reason was that UNIT makes
it possible to be prepared at far less
expense than the retention of a large
standing army. And third reason was
the belief of some Senators that UNIT
is good thing for the youth of America,
making it capable of caring for itself
on the battlefield if necessary and of
improving itself in peace. But whatever
the reason of individual Senators for
voting in support of UNIT, 1t was o
heartening demonstration.
For years the plea for a system OF
universal military training has been
made, and made many times, in the
halls of Congress. This, however, is the
first time it was ever even permitted
to come to a vote, after recommended
ton by a committee of Congress. The
favorable action in the Senate, where
all but two of the Democratic votes cast
were for UNIT, and a majority of the
Republicans supported the system, too,
would seem to foreshadow similar vic
tory for UNIT in the House. President
Truman, ever since he entered the White
House, has fought resolutely for UNIT
legislation, and to him and his recon-
mendations, supported by the advice Of
the highest military men. must go credit
for the legislation, if and when the bill
becomes law.
Real Reserve Program.
If the UNIT system is retained perma-
nently, for the first time in its history
the United States will have real re-
serve program, capable of giving this
country at all times the military. trained,
reserves which it will need If attacked.
It will, indeed be the first time such
is the case since the days OF George
Washington, who strongly recommended
the building up of trained reserves. But
since the days of the first President,
Americans have been willing to ride
along at ease. and take their chances.
Their attitude was never better ex-
pressed than when the late William
Jennings Bryan declared that if America
was attacked "a million men would
spring to arms overnight" million
men might, of course, Spring" but
there would be no arms and they would
not be trained to use them even If the
arms existed.
Opponents of the plan for universal
training (Which would place on every
young American an equal obligation to
go to the defense of his country have
insisted that such system would breed
a military nation and military dicta-
torship. They have shouted this to the
housetops. There are many millions OF
veterans of the last two wars-some
13 to IA million from the Second World
War alone But their military train,
ing leave them potential supporters OF
a military dictatorship? It did not.
today, and in other official capacities.
and many more are engaged in the
ordinary businesses of the country.
What Plan Contemplates.
The present plan contemplates only
four months of basic military training.
and then years in the reserves, where
training will be continued periodically.
Those who oppose the plan would have
the country believe that in a period Of
four months American youth can be
molded-against all their previous train
ing-into a gang of military totali-
tarians. 1t makes no sense.
Over the heads of members of Con-
gress has been held, in the past and
even today, the threat that if they
dared to vote for universal military
training, the voters would rise up and
smite them at the first opportunity
Well. the truth or falsity of this asser-
ton may be demonstrated in the elec-
tions next year, when one-third OF the
members of the Senate must stand for
reelection, together with the entire
membership of the House.