Evening star., 1951-10-10
| |Pentagon May Seek
Drafting Of Women if
Recruiting Plan Fails
By Dorothy Roe
Associated Press Stoff Writer

ASsocioted Press Stoft Writer
The Washington grapevine has
it that a women's draft may be
considered if the next big recruit
Iment push doesn't entice enough
girls into uniform.
Mrs. Anna M. Rosenberg has
made it clear that the Depart
Iment of Defense must have a large
charge of womanpower to take
over desk jobs now being filled
by men in the armed forces. The
Department has set deadline of
July, 1852, for the enrolment of
10000 women in all branches of
the military forces-a large in
crease over the present total of
I3O 900.
II the recruitment drive. start
ing November II. is not successful,
a request for congressional action
on a women's draft may be the
next step.
| Such a move, however, would be
packed with political dynamite,
especially in an election year.
At least two of Mrs. Rosenberg's
committee of 48 women appointed
to assist in the recruitment drive
believe the American public would
raise a loud. determined howl of
protest at any suggestion of a
compulsory draft Of womanpower
Registration Urged.
Says Sarah Blanding, president
Of Vassar College and a member
Of the committee:
THE majority Of the public
probably would be violently op-
posed to drafting women.
Il feel strongly that a draft is
not the answer, but that what we
need is a national registration of
women. There are many fields in
which women can contribute to
defense. For instance, getting
competent teachers in our schools
is fully as important as enrolling
women in the armed services.
! Such registration would re-
cord the talents and training OF
the women of the country. And
every woman would be asked to
make a contribution in the field
in which she is best qualified"
Former WAVES Head Agrees.
| Mildred McAfee Horton, head
Iof the WAVES during World Wal
II and former president Of Welles.
lley College. also a member of the
Icommittee, says:
Il do not think q women's draft
would be feasible. because Of the
general opposition of the public
THE question of a nationa,
compulsory registration of women
was discussed. however, at a re.
cent meeting OF the American
Council of Education in New York
THE question was considered
by a small committee. which re-
ported favorably on it. with the
specification that it must be made
clear that such a registration
would have no connection witt
the armed forces.
Public Opinion Hostile.
ut was felt that If there were
even a suggestion Of a possibl,
draft Of women. the whole pro.
gram would be repudiated by tn,
people. There is no doubt that
the great preponderance of opin.
ion is definitely against q WON.
ems draft.
There would be no compulsior
as to job assignments, but such {
registration would provide infor.
nation as to the talents and train.
ing of women, and also woule
establish a Capitalization of such
information.
Its object would be principal,
to attract attention-not to fore.
people into any activity agains
their wills.
ANY hint of compulsion, how.
ever. would have to be avoided, a.
the American people instinctivel,
resent interference in their per
sonal lives and interpret 1t as :
step toward totalitarianism."