Milford chronicle., 1955-01-21
1T WON'T GET LOST

President Eisenhower has sent to the
Congress military manpOWer program that
he hopes will enable Americans hencefOrth
to avoid the traditional penalties Of our
unreadiness in treasure, in blood, in the
heartbreak of a mighty nation buying time
with the lives Of men"
In the accompanying message, the Pres
ident referred to Korea and lndO-China as
"bitter reminders" and to the masses Of
armed men and the vast array of war-mak-
ING machines maintained by the SOViets and
their satellites along the frontiers of the
free world" And in spite of his assurances
that our first defense objective is to main
tain peace, the Presidents message grimly
warned: eff, however, unWanted war should
come, it should find us ready to repel and
defeat the enemy. And, at home, we must
have forces trained for every emergency,
should an aggressor be so criminally unwise
as to attempt an atomic attack"
Recognizing that "we can not possibly
keep armed and in uniform the total forces
that might ultimately be required in all-Out
war" the President asked for:
"A four year extension of the draft, two
year extension of induction of doctors and
dentists.
A national reserve program that cOulC
affect apparently all physically fit young
Americans. A six-mOnths period Of basi
training, followed by nine-and-a-haH year
of reserve status. Those from IL to 19 VIII
fail to volunteer will be subject to draf
later.
Strengthening the National Guard bot
in numbers and training, and an additiOns
militia in the states to take over Guard dU
ties when the Guard is modified into tn
Army.
1t can be confidently expected that thi
message will touch off long, and often fever
ish debate on Capitol Hill. Opponents WI
call the Presidents program universal mi
itary training which has always had a n
pulsive sound-and perhaps worse. Bl
sooner or later, it will dawn on our Coz
Gressmen, as it must on all Of us, that tt
cold, hard facts of life can not be ignore
much longer-and that this plan in its gel
eral outline win provide, as the Presidel
has said, "a more equitable sharing Of Il
military obligations.
When the sound and fury of POLITICAL
inspired discussion subside, the gentlemt
win turn to consideration of Operational d
tails such as proper length Of active and I
serve service, methods of induction and so 0
Such matters, on which wealth of eXpe
testimony is available to them, constitu
the real job at hand on which they shou
start now.
NO SUBSTITUTE FOR GOOD NONE
A study made by the National Assoc
ti0n of Manufacturers of the cost Of livi
and the purchasing power of the dollar cC
tains food for serious thought.
Between the first Of 1858 and July, 19j
the consumers price index increased only
per cent and the purchasing power Of
dollar declined only IL cents. In the t
prior years, by contrast, the cost Of livi
rose 10.A per cent and the dollars va
shrank by go cents The study states, 81
leVeling off of prices occurred after the {
continuation of price controls, while duri
price control, the cost Of living kept clir
ing"
in Short when producers and retail
got back on an open competitive basis,
of governmental dictation, prices virtus
stabilized after years Of steady infati
What viii the advocates of the controls
to that fact?