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¶Clergymen of nearly all faiths (but by no means all clergymen) put themselves in opposition by sermons, letters, testimony before Congressional committees. Typical Catholic: Monsignor Michael J. Ready of the National Catholic Welfare Conference who pleaded for volunteer recruiting. Typical Methodist: prime, bespectacled Dr. Charles F. Boss Jr. (conscription would "junk the American system"). Dr. Boss presided at an anti-conscription rally in Washington, where posters ("We're using our ballots so we won't stop bullets") indicated that his audience would not furnish many volunteers.
¶Much in evidence were "peace societies." The Citizens' Keep America Out of War Committee sloganed: "Why the Rush?"
¶Many were the hybrids which defied precise definition. Example: the Trade Unions' Committee for Peace, which sent a phalanx of determined young women to Capitol Hill. Whatever else these pacific Amazons accomplished, they pungently reported on their interviews with politicos in travail: On Speaker Bankhead ("I said, 'Well, what about the conscription bill?' He said, 'I don't know anything about it. I haven't even read it'"); Henry Wallace ("He was very uneasy and begged us to excuse him"); G. O. P.'s Vice-Presidential Nominee Charles L. McNary ("He said young men in uniform to solve the unemployment problem is Hitler's method").
"A Year of Their Lives." Thousands of good, individual voters confided their fears in letters to Congressmen. A natural target for this barrage was the man who stood head & shoulders above other Congressional oppositionists: Montana's distinguished chameleon, Senator BURTON KENDALL WHEELER. Changeable on many things, but long against war, armaments and intervention. Burt Wheeler last week had drawn 3,935 wires, letters, postcards against conscription, 32 for it.
About 70% of his correspondence was from women. Typical protests: "We don't want Hitlerism in this country. Has everybody in Washington gone hysterical?" "Just think how many young boys' careers will be ruined. This means a year out of their lives." Socialite Mrs. Richard Newton, of Water Mill, L. I., informed the Senator that conscription was camouflage to conceal the Third Term issue. Dr. C. F. Aked (D.D., LL.D., Litt.D.), of Los Angeles, telegraphed: "I thank God for your noble fight against . . death dealing systems of continental Europe where conscription means both syphilis and slavery." Banker John M. Johnston Jr. of Wayne, Pa. objected to having the normal course of his life interrupted. Said Burt Wheeler, duly impressed: "Democrats who vote for [conscription] before the coming election . . . will be driving nails in their coffins."
Burt Wheeler was one of less than 60 U. S. Senators and Representatives who up to week's end had had the courage to declare themselves on conscription. While the rest of the 531 fried, the bill burned. This was possible because last week's battle to arm or not arm the U. S. with trained man power was fought not on the floors but in two committees (Military Affairs-of Senate and House.