The Pittsburgh Press (October 12, 1940)
STATE DRAFT QUOTA TO BE SET SHORTLY
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One Eligible in 20 Likely to Be Conscripted Within a Year
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Washington, Oct. 12 (UP) –
The Selective Service board today planned to announce within 24 hours the number of men each state will be asked to contribute to the first peacetime conscript army.
Officials predicted that the number needed from each state would be far less than generally anticipated. About one man in each 40 who registers next Wednesday will be called within the next few months. Only one of each 20 will be called within the next year.
In arriving at the quotas the board has credited the states for the men they have in the Army, Navy and Marines. Additional credits against the quotas will be given for those who volunteer for one year.
These quotas probably will be greater than final figures since officials have decided to give the maximum in order that no state will be offended by having its final quota – based on actual registration figures – increased later.
Secrecy Promised
State draft boards today received questionnaires which prospective trainees must fill out after registration. These are entirely different from the single form which each man of draft age must fill out next Wednesday. The questionnaires contain some 60 questions. Only those registrants whose numbers are drawn in the draft lottery will receive the questionnaires.
The eight-page questionnaire was made public by Frederick Osborne, head of President Roosevelt’s advisory committee on Selective Service.
Mr. Osborne said he and other officials had rejected a campaign of economic and sociological experts to make the draft a gathering of economic statistics. He also said that outsiders will not have access to any part of the questionnaire.
Boards Approved
Persons claiming dependency deferment must fill out two pages of questions. They must list their property, sources of income, and amount of rent they pay. An affidavit by dependents must also be filed.
Only about 2,400,000 of the 16,404,000 who register will be required to fill out the form within the next year.
Yesterday President Roosevelt approved recommendations for local draft boards in Iowa, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Virginia, Nevada, Maryland and South Dakota, bringing to 16 the number of states whose boards have been approved.
Meanwhile, at Madison, Wisconsin, President Clarence A. Dykstra of the University of Wisconsin said he would “feel free” to accept Mr. Roosevelt’s proffered appointment as national draft director if university regents grant him a leave of absence.
The Board of Regents’ next regular meeting is scheduled for October 26, but Mr. Dykstra indicated the question would be decided prior to that date.