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4 Peacctime conscription, v-nether for military or labor purpo:es, is the itler way of solving unctiiployment. Ominously cnough, this was the road Jeading ‘aight inte war hy which we wiped out unemploy- ont in the United States, after we had found no her way to do it. And now General Hershey, Direc- t of Sclective Service, in speaking about demobiliza- om and unemployment, declares: “We can keep ople in the army about as cheaply as we could cate an agency for them when they are out.” If the United States cannot solve her unemploy- ent problem by a bettcr means than military dole, i we cannol go after the root causes of unemploy- ent and at once begin to make provi-ion for volun- ry employment in peaceful work of national and lernulional service, then it wilk apjear that our untry has nothing better to offer mankind than a eadening and streamlining of Europe’s conscript ad to ruin. © Universal military training is the wrong education for peace, national ealth, the prevention of crime, the trengthening of democracy, and sclf-— iscipline. Years ago HW. G. Wells pointed out thai the fate of viization bung on a race between education and uastrophe. He did not mean military education. hat is allied with catastrophe. We do need better uational health, a wiser use of isure, more effective ways of coping with crime, ore constructive ways of public discussion, more tolt education and, undergirding all, a line of the individual cHizen resulting ni self-dedica- on to the good ef eur country and all mankind, But ris tremendous task cannot be accomplicned by ciii- usury training in the ways of violence. It could not e done in one year by any method; we must begin ich a prograin long before eur youths reach seven- - sclf-disei-. teen. Do we want to ..ject into our civil educational systemt, with its decentralized local sclf-determinsticr, this military camel's nose of a regimented year of goosestepping education directed from Washington? Let us he careful lest we sell our democratic educa- tional birthright for a mess of military pottage. oME 44 wit'sS Compulsory training for war would grant the State the overlordship of personal conscience. The present draft Iaw as interpreted and admin- istered by the national authorities has resulted in the innposition of prison sentences running from six months to five years for more than 4,000 conscientious objec: tors, according to figures given out by the Department of Justice covering the period from October 16, 1940 to July 1, 1944. That this be 9 “Bp Pom ren law which explicitly provided for non-combatant #l- ternative service for any person “who by reasou of religious training and belief is conscientiously op- Posed to participation in war in any form” shows wingassite tf te to reronecile the demande af GPU SoisA ab o's 8 SCT GCAO bot GUInanius GL military systems with the varied and imperative urg- ings of conscience. In 1937 the Oxford Confererce, which was more representative of Protestant Chris- tendem than any conference since the Reformation, declared that the Church “should be opposed to an education which teaches men to subordinate them- selves to any human force as the final authority—lie it the will of the majority, or of a leader, or of on absolute State. That is to violate the sanctity of con- science, which must be kept responsible to God alone.” America should be the last country on earth to violate that principle. Conscription for military training is a test case. Advocates of conscription acknowledge that nailess if is adopted soon, it will be defeated. be veded by wartime en:o- tions into ac copting a policy of permanent pedace- time conscription—a policy that cannot be justi- fied by any process of cool reasoning. Pa PTT hrs refi en ta Tas Shi xeoBs OPeiyeicere fuye SS 40 wil ia Tey . Vrite to your Senators and Representatives now, urging them to oppose peacetime conseriniicn ro For furiner information, addiiional capics of this Nycr, or suggestions for action, writc A al oe BRECON 4 PRs PF is cs LS, fa lie GS Wa cei RB” Te79 Upoo ieway wks Wargo ai. Fe #30 hush Saeed FUG" Gaon Aaa, Ceta. Seas oo. Nosh, beckotuy 2, Gad & POT PRET ee at LPR Bslé Grepe S84 40-5 0; Chheoue FT, PL Raahebee doo denn Le syer, Foose od. Pas hes fageres 25,0 2 copity Woy 212) Vine St, ne