From The Files of The Seminole Producer

WASHINGTON (UPI) – A few hours after the Vietnam cease-fire was signed in Paris, Defense Secretary Melvin R. Laird announced Saturday an immediate halt in the draft – except for doctors and dentists – and future reliance on volunteers to fill the ranks of the armed forces.

“The all-volunteer era – which our commander- in-chief, President Nixon, has promised the American people – is upon us,” Laird said in a message to high Defense Department officials five months before Nixon’s June 30 deadline for zero draft calls.

“With the signing of the peace agreement in Paris today, and after receiving a report from the secretary of the Army that he foresees no need for further inductions, I wish to inform you that the armed forces henceforth will depend exclusively on volunteer soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines,” he said. “Use of the draft has ended.”

Laird’s order cancelled his earlier plan to order draft calls for 5,000 men in the four months of March through June. There were no draft calls for January or February.

The indefinite suspension of the draft, barring a national emergency, means that the last draftees apparently will be the 2,500 who were inducted in December for two years of active duty. They were the last of 51,800 who were drafted last year.

At the height of the Vietnam War buildup in 1966, draft calls reached a peak of 364,000 men. Except for a 13-month lapse after World War II, the draft has affected millions of American young men since 1940.

The President’s conscription authority under the Selective Service Act expires anyway on June 30, his target date for conversion to an all-volunteer armed force. But because the law itself is permanent, local draft boards will continue to operate, and 18-year-olds still will be required to register for the draft and report for pre-induction physical examinations.

Congress presumably will be asked to extend the President’s authority to draft youn men past June 30 as a backup measure in the event volunteer enlistments fall below service manpower needs. The annual draft lottery, held to establish the order of call by birth dates, will continue.

Pentagon officials said there were no plans now to draft medical personnel, but Laird retained that option because of the traditional difficult in attracting highly paid health professionals.

Once regarded as havens for young men seeking to avoid the draft, the National Guard and Reserves now are 56,000 men below their authorized strength, and their long waiting lists for enlistments have vanished. -oOo The House this week passed and sent to the Senate House Concurrent resolution No. 1006 by Rep. David Boren of Seminole County and Senator James Howell of Midwest City.

The Resolution authorizes the establishment of a non-denominational room for prayer and meditation in the State Capitol building. Boren said the Resolution was proposed at the request of Capitol employees. There is a prayer room in the United States Capitol in Washington and in several other State Capitols. Boren explained that when space is found, all the costs of remodeling and furnishing the room would come from private contributions from the public. No state funds will be used and contributions will not be received until the space is set aside.

Boren said that the prayer room would, when established, be open to all of the visitors to the Capitol. The Resolution recited the strong spiritual heritage of Oklahoma and said that it was fitting that such space be set aside at the seat of State Government. -oOo Slants – Eight-year-old Susan Eppley bringing in an excellent report for her Blue Bird group… Blanche Edwards being apologetic when Mrs. Sam Lemley’s name was omitted from a Sunday school class report as one of the hostesses… Mrs. James E. Palmer being helpful to a friend in need… Mrs. Minnie Davis of Shawnee is to be on the TV show The Price Is Right Monday… The program will be aired at 9:30 a.m. on Channel 9… She is the former Minnie Hodgson of Seminole… Judy Morris receiving a bouquet of roses from her husband, Bill who is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

-oOo DUNCAN (UPI) Landing lights began malfunctioning Friday night as Gov. David Hall’s plane approached Duncan airport.

Hall was flying from Tulsa to Duncan to address a Junior Chamber of Commerce awards banquet.

Patrol cars oof the highway patrol, Duncan police and Stephens County sheriff’s office took positions at both ends of the runway and pilot Don Kirk made a standard instrument landing.

Within seconds of the touch down the runway lights came back on.