Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-03
BY RUTH DEAN

that Secretary of Defense
Charles E. Wilson's now
famous draft lodging" remark
about the National Guard two
months ago is the best recruit
ing poster the Guard ever had.
At least that's the opinion
expressed last night, with
variations, by several States
adjutant generals here for the
annual meeting OF the Ad-
Jutant Generals Association.
The AGA members and their
wives were the guests of the
National Guard Association at
a reception and cocktail party
given in their honor in the
grand ballroom of the May
flower Hotel. More than 600
persons attended, including
Defense Department officials
and their wives, and members
Of the Senate and House
Armed Services Committees.
Wilson Regrets
Secretary Wilson incidentally
was among those invited to
the function but could not at
tend. A National Guard Assoc
citation official said the Secre-
tary sent "a personal letter
expressing his regrets. saying
he would be out of town
Heading the receiving line
were Maj. Gen. Ellard Walsh.
president of the National
Guard Association, and Mai.
Gen. Rudolph Esmay, AGA
president. and Mrs. Esmay.
Now that the Army-Guard
controversy has to all appear
ances healed and a congress
sional compromise has post
poned a six-month training
requirement for the Guard
until January /, some of last
nights guests. particularly top
officials of both associations.
were reluctant to say anything
at all about why Guard enlist
mentS have gone up.
But expressions from the
grass roots were franker.
This Wilson fellow really
helped U.S." said one adjutant
general. also a Guardsman.
He didn't intend to but he
did"
Boosted Recruiting
without knowing it, he
gave us a recruiting boost"
commented Maj. Gen. Frank
Fraser. adjutant general of
Arizona, which State will
be host to next years con-
vention of the AGA. Enlist
ments actually went up be-
cause people resented having
their husbands and sons and
relatives being called draft
dodgers. because they aren't"
One adjutant general from
the Southwest said he received
newspaper clippings from
friends in Texas which carried
full-page ads such as this:
you too can be a draft
dodger; join the National
Guard"
When queried. Mai. Gen.
Karl Phinney, commander OF
the Texas Seth National Guard
Infantry Division. admitted
that publicity resulting from
Secretary Wilson's January
18th remark that the National
Guard was a draft dodgers
haven during the Korean war,
actually upped enlistments.
We've had nearly 1000 since
the remark came out" he
commented. adding Were
very enthusiastic about the
six-months training program.
We think it establishes a floor
for National Guard strength"
A more cautious reason for
the boost in enlistments was
given by Brig. Gen. Theodore
Arndt. adjutant general Of
South Dakota. He didn't think
1t was so much Secretary VIII
sons remarks as newspaper
publicity focusing attention on
the National Guard.
Brig. Gen. William H.
Kelley. vice chief Of staff Of
the division Of military affairs
Of New York's National Guard,
largest unit in the country,
declined comment on whether
the recent Guard controversy
had affected enlistments. THE
slx-months training program
is the law, we've adopted 1t
and we're going TO make It
work." he declared.
No Comment
rSo..a..4 mt,