Evening star., 1954-12-18
The Political Min
New Reserve Proposal
Would Cut Army Cost
Eisenhower Plan Certoin
To Meet Stiff Opposition
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
President Eisenhower his Secretary
of Defense, Charles E. Wilson, and
other officials concerned with national
defense are going all out in the coming
session of Congress to obtain (a) an
extension of the Selective Service Act
and (b) the adoption of military
training system which will insure an
adequate reserve at all times.
1t probably would be easier to get
Congress to extend the present act,
uncomplicated by an additional train
ing system. But the President and his
aides are convinced steps should be
taken which will make possible a real
and efficient reserve. Such reserve
will make it possible to reduce the
standing armed forceS-and so reduce
materially the costs to the American
taxpayers.
Universal military training-so long
advocated and recommended-haS been
violently resisted by various groups in
this country, among them labor unions,
peace organizations, etc. An old familiar
argument of the opponents of UNIT is
that such system would "militarize"
the United States. Another is that tax
ing the young men will interfere with
their education and preparation for
civilian life. Even though most of these
groups have had the facts of life thrust
upon them-so far as the need for
national defense and trained men is
concerned-there are those who con-
tinue to hope that if the world
situation clears up. it will be possible to
60 back to a small standing Army, Air
Force and Navy. If that should happen.
they do not wish the young men Of
the country taken for military training
or for service.
Long Struggle.
The President has warned again and
again that the struggle between the
free world and the Communist world
may go on indefinitely; that we must
be strong at all times, and that we
must have a program that will not
eventually break the back of Americas
economy. His arguments have had their
effect, and there seems better chance
for legislation during 1855 than ever
before. In the first place. the Selective
Service Act. although it does not expire
June 80, becomes imperative except SO
far as the men who have previously
been deferred. Even the most strenuous
opponents of UNIT are not, in view Of
the present cold war, demanding that
the draft be done away with completely.
Then, too, there is no election Just
around the corner Members of Con-
greSS may feel freer to vote their own
convictions and to disregard the pres
sure groups.
The administration program for ex-
tension of the selective draft and mill
tary training has been made public
f1nally-and the congressional leaders,
Republican and Democratic. have been
thoroughly briefed in regard to it.
Senator Saltonstall of Massachusetts,,
chairman of the Armed Services Com
mittee, has said he considered the de-
velopment of the program "construc-
tive step" which should be considered
carefully by the committee. Representa-
tive Dewey Short of Missouri, Repub-
lican, chairman of the House Armed
Services Committee, who in the past
has been an enemy of UNIT. has said
that the program deserves study
which is a concession. though not
very large one. ea
New Lineup.
When the Democrats take over the
congressional committees in the new
Congress, Senator Russell of Georgia
will become chairman of the Senate
committee and Representative Vinson,
also of Georgia, chairman of the House
committee. Both are intensely interested
in national defense. The administration
should have at least as good chance
for legislation in the new Congress. with
Senator Russell and Mr.. Vinson at the
helm, as it would have had with Senator
Saltonstall and Mr.. Short as the COM
mittee chairmen-perhaps a better
chance.
The selective service has been essen
tial. Without it, the armed forces would
not have been filled up. 1t is true that
many thousands Of young men volun-
teer for service-but they know that,
If they do not, they will be subject to
the draft. Also, If they volunteer. they
are better able to select the service and
prancn Cney prefer. 80 the Qra1t has
worked well. In the last year, the
selective service has drafted about
240. 900 men-and the number of volun-
teers has been around 100000. The
draft remains an essential. 1t must be
extended.
The great objective. however, is the
development of trained reserve. The
present proposal to take approximately
100000 young men this year for train
ing-not service but training-is for
the purpose Of getting them into the
reserve subject to call. 1t is an opening
step toward real reserve system 1t is
3 move toward saving Uncle Sans
pocket-and the pocketbooks of all the
people.