Julius Kaplan Letter re Transportation Project as a Volunteer Urban Self-Supporting Project *

5 Weehauken St.,
N.Y. City,
December 25, 1942

Dear Friend Regal:―

                The urban type of projects advertised by us in the December number of Conscientious Objector is intended to start with a special system of city guides centering around transit facilities (rather than around streets or points of interest, as has been the case with all hitherto published city guide-books). The work is intended to divide itself into several classes, including (1) seeking out proper transit and street information (2) selling advertising space in the guide-books to be published, and helping to plan the distribution of the finished guides. The sales type of work―classification 2 above―is intended to be on a commission basis; the rest of the work will be put on a paid basis as soon as the proceeds from guides somewhere start coming in (this is to be attempted in all large cities of this country, if possible)

                We are still hoping for ultimate recognition of these "General Projects" as "work of national importance"―within the meaning of the Selective Service Law, so that volunteering would, in case of recognition, be accepted instead of the camps to which so many have been sent. This, however, is something that will need to come up as the work goes on. In the meantime, we are, for the present, taking in those who―regardless of age or draft status―are conscientiously opposed to war work as such, with the expectation that, after the war, the work can be continued without such restrictions.

                For Greater New York, a separate guide volume is planned for each borough, and some work is being done on the Manhattan volume at present. There would be considerable opportunity for a C.O. to get into this "on the ground floor" on either the information end or the sales end―maybe both―starting by help on his home borough or with Manhattan information, as he may find easiest. A rough outline is being prepared for the other boroughs of the city, as well as for some neighboring districts, so that there is much to be done, and some interesting work can be found in this field.

                If you are further interested, I should be glad to get in contact with you for further explanations.

Yours for liberty and peace,

__________