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But the demand for change is growing. Outright abolition of the draft (as suggested in recent years by, of all people, Adlai Stevenson and Barry Goldwater) seems unrealistic. For. as General Hershey likes to put it: "I don't believe we will ever see the end of the draft in my lifetime or yours. We've never had peace since I started this job, even after the end of wars, and I don't see that kind of peace in the future."
McNamara's U.M.T. The idea of a lottery in which every draft-age male in the country would have an equal chance of being picked has some advocates. In their view, it would be perfectly equitable: no one would get special treatment, the idiosyncrasies of local boards would be bypassed. But to Hershey, such roulette-wheel selection simply would dodge national responsibility. "A lottery says, I don't know enough to make a proper selection, so I'm going to hide my ignorance behind chance.' "
Universal military training, which would put every American youth into some kind of uniform, is probably even less popular now than it was in 1952, when the House killed a U.M.T. bill 236 to 162. The military dislikes the idea anyway, for it would work against a strong, dependable regular military service and put them in the business of rehabilitating a great many swept-up delinquents.
Another suggestion similar to U.M.T. —but softer—was advanced by Defense Secretary Robert McNamara in Montreal two weeks ago. This idea, by no means original with McNamara, calls for a program under which each American youth must spend a year or so in a national organization of his choice —the military, the Peace Corps, the Job Corps, VISTA or some other public service. Last week, before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, General Hershey pooh-poohed the idea as too expansive and too expensive. Since no fewer than 1,800,000 youngsters come of draft age each year, he seemed to be absolutely right about the cost. And the potential waste caused by plucking brilliant scientists or badly needed prospective doctors from college in the midst of their studies would seem likely to outweigh any benefits that might flow from their spending extended time serving the Government—no matter how altruistic their duties may be.
Whatever new schemes are presented by educators or Administration men in order to make the selective-service system fairer and more efficient, the current draft law must be renewed—or rewritten—by July 1, 1967. Already two congressional committees are studying the system, and when the 90th Congress convenes next January, one of the essential orders of legislative business will almost certainly be to present a refined draft bill.
But rewritten, renewed or simply reshuffled, conscription will continue to be conscription—a compulsory enrollment of men in the military service. And like it or not, Americans will continue to face it—grimly. As Cal State's draft-facing Gary Wilson said last week: "I'll go, but without enthusiasm."