Draft boards create gap in system
(Editor's note: This is the first of two articles on local draft boards. The second will appear in the Wednesday Kansan.)
By MONROE DODD Kansan Staff Writer
Local draft boards, originally conceived as a means of making national conscription more palatable to the individualistic American spirit, today stand as the weakest link in the Selective Service system.
They were intended to provide "little groups of neighbors" which would understand the problems of draftable men in their area. Yet the growth of great urban centers and the increasing mobility of the population have caused gaps between the boards and their registrants.
In many instances, the economic, social and
political composition of a board does not reflect the makeup of its jurisdiction. Board members may remain in their posts up to 25 years, during which time their area can change drastically.
Registrants' cases are subject to different interpretations, depending on the particular board. One board, hard-pressed to fill its draft quotas, may reclassify to I-A a man who would keep his deferment if he lived in the adjacent county.
Board members are sometimes prejudiced by their own values and their knowledge of the technical aspects of Selective Service if often inadequate.
A prevalent belief is that local boards are limited circles of men who decide cases arbitrarily and care little for the individual's feelings or circumstances. The majority of boards do care, but
they are nevertheless insulated from their registrants.
Induction notices formerly read: "Your friends and neighbors have selected you . . ." until too many angry people began to enter draft board offices asking, "Who are these friends and neighbors? I want to see them right now."
However, the boards remain the major administrative bodies of the Selective Service bureaucracy. And the three to five men (or women) who compose each local board hold great power over the lives of their registrants.
Local board members are technically chosen by state governors and approved by the President. Yet the governors cannot know enough men in every county who would be willing to take such a (Continued to page 12)
(Continued to page 12)
UDK News Roundup
By United Press International
Combat troops barred
WASHINGTON — Fearing the United States could be drawn into another Vietnam War, the Senate has voted to bar combat troops from Laos and Thailand.
In strong and precise terms, the Senate adopted an amendment prohibiting use of any funds in the $69.3 billion defense appropriations bill for the introduction of ground troops into either Southeast Asia nation.
Military hearing scheduled
FT. BENNING, Ga.-A military hearing was to open at Ft. Benning, Ga., today to determine if witnesses in the alleged My Lai massacre case violated an order against discussing the affair with the press.
Lt. Col. Ried Kennedy, a military judge for the courtmartial of Lt. William L. Calley Jr. called the hearing to determine if an order he issued last Nov. 25 has been violated
Kennedy ordered witnesses in the case not to discuss the incident because such discussions could prejudice the case against Calley, who has been charged in the deaths of more than 100 Vietnamese civilians.
U.S. air base closes
CAIRO—The United States has yielded to the three-month-old Libyan government and begun withdrawing the 10,000 GIs and dependents from Wheelus Air Base, the largest U.S. base outside the United States.
U. S. Ambassador Joseph Palmer is directing eight U.S. diplomats and military officers in negotiating the shutdown of Wheelus with the Libyan government.
80th Year, No.62
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1969
Nixon to withdraw 50,000 US troops
WASHINGTON (UPI)President Nixon told the American people Monday he would withdraw at least 50,000 additional U.S. combat troops from Vietnam by April 15 to demonstrate his willingness to "take risks for peace."
After announcing the 50,000
In a report to the nation, the President frankly acknowledged that the Paris peace talks with the Communists had made "no progress whatever" and that enemy infiltration into South Vietnam had stepped up substantially in recent weeks.
But he said the program to turn the fighting over to South Vietnamese troops was showing encouraging progress, and on this basis he had ordered a ceiling of 50,000 fewer American combat troops by mid-April.
troop ceiling reduction, the President said:
"There are some who believe that to continue our withdrawals at a time when enemy infiltration is increasing is a risk we should not take. However, I have consistently said that we must take risks for peace."
Nixon then served firm warning to the Communist regime with these words:
"And in that connection, let me remind the leaders in Hanoi that if infiltration and the level of enemy activity increases while we are reducing our forces, they also will be running a risk."
White House officials said this was not a threat but a simple statement of fact; that if the current infiltration rate continued for a matter of months, it would show clearly that the North Vietnamese were building up their forces and thus the United States
would have to take another look at the intentions of Hanoi.
The President said that the new withdrawal would mean that the American military combat commitment in the war would have been reduced by 115,500 men on April 15 compared to the number there on Jan.20 when he took office.
On his inauguration, the authorized troop ceiling under the Johnson administration was 549,000 men and the actual troop strength was 542,500.
Just before Nixon made his television report, the Senate voted after a three hour debate to bar U.S. combat troops being sent into Laos and Thailand. The restriction was adopted at a closed session of the senate which was held in secret for security reasons.
Of Nixon's announcement of a troop ceiling reduction, Senate (Continued to page 12)
Photo by Fred Chan
Looking for an easy rider?
The holiday season increases interest in the travel board located in the Kansas Union as students survey the tickets indicating a possible ride or rider for a holiday trip.
CHICAGO (UPI)—A group of Negro activists Monday declared a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. "curfew" for whites in black neighborhoods in response to the slaying by police of two Black Panther leaders.
Blacks declare curfew after Panther slayings
Mayor Richard J. Daley, saying "no one has the authority to take the law into his own hands," predicted the move would fail.
The Rev. C. T. Vivian, a leader of the Coalition for United Community Action, said the death of Black Panther leaders Fred Hampton and Mark Clark in a Dec. 4 police weapons raid had united the city's black community against what he called "a campaign to oppress, suppress and repress black people."
"Effective immediately a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew is established for all whites in the black community," a statement read by Vivian at a news conference said.
"No whites will be permitted to enter the black community for any reason during those hours and all whites inside the black community must leave by the 6 p.m. deadline."
The statement also said a black tribunal will be "convened to try Negro judges, policemen, politicians and any other individuals who have been and who are presently cooperating with the forces of power in this city to the detriment of black people."
Vivian also announced there would be a black investigation of the "murders" of Hampton and Clark and that policemen operating in black neighborhoods will be watched by community residents.