"Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to require or compel any person to serve in a combatant capacity in any of the public armed forces of the United States, who is found to be a member of any well-recognized religious sect whose creed or principles forbid its members to participate in war in any form, if the conscientious holding of such belief by such person shall be established under such regulations as the President may prescribe; but no person shall be relieved from service in such capacity as the President may declare to be noncombatant."

This is all the Selective Service Act has to say about conscientious objectors. The exemptions allowed by it are apparently much narrower than in World War I, when many individual objectors, not connected with any sect, were respected. But probably the Act will be liberally interpreted, especially if a large number of men declare their bona fide objections. It will have to be, if all objectors are to be given a hearing, because many are not connected with any sect, but are none the less sincere.

Most advisory groups agree that objectors should not refuse to register, because then they will never have a chance to express their views. At registration tomorrow objectors will not have to state their case. They can do so if they insist, but it would be a useless formality, since the questionnaire which the local draft board will send them later on will offer their real chance to present their arguments.

Anyone who is thinking of declaring himself an objector should not fail to consult the Faculty Civil Rights Committee if he is not sure just how and when to make his convictions known. Naturally the main factor in the situation is just what a man's conscience will or will not allow him to do, and on that score, no one can expect outside help. Several pacifist sects set up organizations for relief and reconstruction work in wartime, and then try their best to get them rated as legitimate noncombatant groups under the Selective Service Act. Nearly all these sects feel that the regular noncombatant work under Army direction is so close to actual participation in the war that sincere objectors will find it impossible to perform. Naturally the government makes every effort to persuade an objector to get into the Medical or Quartermaster Corps, bathing and laundry, map-making, forestry, or veterinary services. There he would be in the Army, wear its uniform, and take military orders. Until the President designates some private civilian organizations as true non-combatant services, most objectors will refuse to do this type of noncombatant work, and will suffer punishment.

The first task of the conscientious objector is to fix in his own mind what his conscience will permit him to do. Then he must inform himself exactly as to the type of work involved in the various jobs that will be thrust at him, so that he will not blunder into something that violates his convictions. Having done this, he is prepared to throw his full weight against the war system.