Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 21 May 1943 — Page 4

THE POST-DEMOCRAT & Demdcra-tic weekly newspaper representing the Democrats of Muncie, Delaware County and the 10th Congressional District. The only Democratic Newspaper in Delaware County. Entered as second class matter January 15, 1921, at the Post Office at Muncie, Indiana, under Act of March 3, 1879.

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MRS. GEO. R. DALE, Publisher 916 West Main Street

Muncie, Indiana, Friday, May 21, 1943

Absenteeism Is Threat

A fact that most Democratic editors and political ‘observers agreed on immediately after the last election—that labor’s “absenteeism” at the polls was largely responsible for Democratic losses—is proved in a recent Gallup poll. And by the same token, the possible recurrence is the major threat facing the party in the next election. While there has been too much criticism of industrial absenteeism, most of it unjustly we are quick to say for lab'or generally, there has been too little said about absenteeism at the polls. And party leaders, from the national chairman down to the precinct committeeman, can begin right now seeking pledges of “I will vote in 1944”. If every eligible voter casts his ballot, then the result will represent a true expression of the wishes of the majority of the people, and the Democratic party has nothing to fear from such an expression. If, however, labor stays away from the polls, as it did in the last election, then the result will not be a true expression of a majority of the pe'ople and we will have a repetition of the 1942 election. In 1940, approximately 50 million persons cast ballots. In 1942, only 28 million ballots were cast. Republicans scored their largest gains in areas where voting was lightest, and in the few areas where the 1942 vote was higher than the 1940 vote, Democrats actually made gains. Thus it is reasonable to believe if the Democratic party can get to the polls in 1944 those 22 million Voters who stayed away in 1942, its chances of victory will be greatly increased. Suporting this statement is the finding of the Gallup survey that among war workers those who stayed away from the polls in 1942 included a much higher percentage of Democrats than those who actually voted. Of those who Voted last November, 63 percent say they plan to vote Democratic next year, while of those who failed ! to vote last November, 74 percent favor the Democratic party for 1944. The absenteeism was responsible for the “misses” in the Gallup poll preceding the last election, for in areas where the Vote was near normal, the poll hit almost “on the nose” just as in areas with the larger vote, Democratic candidates were successful. But all the polls in the world will not decide an election. It takes voters at the polls to win—and seeing that they get there is going to have to be every party worker’s chief responsibility if there is any hope of Democratic victory next election. V Republican Victory Club The new Republican Victory Club, modeled after the Democratic Two Percent Club except with a higher scale for contributions, now is going to have a “women’s auxiliary” to be known as the Women’s Republican Victory Organization. Although women leaders disclaimed any affiliation with the similarly named men’s ‘organization, among those at the organization meeting were William H. Remy, chairman of Mayor Tyndall’s safety board; Police Chief Clifford Beeker, County Recorder Paul Brewer and Works Board Secretary Otto Ashbier, all officers of or closely allied with the new One-Two-Three Percent Club. And in charge of the organization meeting was Mrs. Clarence R. Martin who served as president of the Tyndall Victory Volunteers. Principal purpose of the men’s organization is to raise a war chest to take over the Republican organization in Marion county, the money coming from “voluntary Contributions” of city and county employes. V Blue In a Dither Marion County Prosecutor Sherwood Blue is in a dither because one of his deputies was alleged to have made a bet on a horse race thr'ough an Indianapolis Bookie. The alleged bookies was arrested by city police, who have been feuding with the prosecutor’s office since the first of the year, all because of the Republican factional fight. Most observers said the deputy was tied into the case by the police just to take a crack at the prosecutor. We wonder why the prosecutor doesn’t claim that the deputy went there as his agent to make a bet and get evidence against the place so he (the prosecutor) could raid it and then condemn the city police because the police station is right across the street. The whole thing is peanuts. The bookie isn’t a big operator, and has long been known to take only small bets from city and county officials and employes “as a favor.” The alleged bookie is a member of a professional. bond firm. Incidentally, the horses ‘on which the deputy is alleged to have bet lost.

,/ \ POST-DEMOCRAT. FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1943.

A Welcome Visitor By a happy coincidence Washington and the United States are able to welcome, along with Winston Churchill, another outstanding European statesman who played a big role in the future—Eduard Benes, President of the Czechoslovak Government-in-Exile and one of the first victims of Hitler’s craze for world conquest. He comes, technically, on a visit of courtesy to render thanks for American aid extended to his government. But he also comes at a time when momentous decisions are being made in Washington, not only regarding the further conduct of the war in which Czechoslovak troops are fighting as part of the United Nations forces, but also regarding the future organization of Europe in which his country holds a key position. Mr. Churchill and Mr. Ro’osevelt represent nations that must take a global view of war and peace. Dr. Benes represents a small nation in the heart of Europe with limited power and regional interests. Yet this war has shown again that big and small nations are all in the same boat, and that the attempts of big powers to safeguard their own supposed interests by sacrificing the small, as Czechoslovakia was sacrificed at Munich, merely wreck the whole peace structure until all of them are engulfed by war. At a moment when the fate ‘of the small nations has again become a subject of debate among the big powers, the results of Czechoslovakia’s partition loom up as a solemn warning. Dr. Benes is not only a good Czech but a good European and a good citizen of the world. As the aide of T. G. Masaryk, he was one of the architects of modern Czechoslovakia. He was one of the ablest and most diligent representatives of the League of Nations. He was the creator of the Little Entente as a first attempt at regional security. He was a wise and moderate leader of his country until it was thrown t‘o Hitler to appease an inappeasable appetite. Now he is back where he started^ from—trying to liberate his country from bondage as during the last war. In this undertaking he can be assured of the abiding good-will of the American people.—New York Times. V House on R(epublican) Street The Washington mystery of “the big red house on R street” begins to clear up a bit. Purpose of the high-pressured social entertaining was not to “get those war contracts” we are told by John P. (Colonel) Monroe, in a story printed in the St. Lous PostDispatch. It was to “get that man in the White House.” Monroe, the host at the gossip-haunted house, explained that, although he is a manufacturers’ agent, he didn’t invite Washington hot-shots to dinner to get war contracts. He said he was interested in politics. The politics, it developed, is an effort by wealthy Republicans, insurgent Democrats and Roosevelt-hating isolations to block a fourth term. But we wonder whether really bigshot politicians would pick the big house on R street for important political meetings. They usually like smaller and smokier places. They prefer hosts who are smart enough n‘ot to get caught as witnesses before a Congressional committee. Maybe they just went there for cocktails and dinners, all free. Maybe the ghosts of R street aren’t very important. Maybe they’re just spirits of the Harding gang that once haunted “the little green house on K street,” snooping spookily for the gobd old Teapot Dome days.—Philadelphia Record. y Illegal Attempt The height of something or other was disclosed this week when a Marion county circuit court case revealed that Indianapolis’ Republican police chief has been attempting to break up a Democratic organization with his police department. The organization, the Democratic Sbcial Club, filed an action in circuit court to restrain the police chief from further action. The club members said police illegally entered the club rooms seven times in one weekend, lined all patrons up against a wall each time and searched them. The police chief “threatened to break up the club and said he was going to continue sending police officers into the club as many times as necessary,” club members told the court. The judge granted a temporary restraining order against the chief. We have heard of* no such molesting of the Columbia Club, mecca of Indiana Republicans. y Still the Money Party f If anyone ever doubted that the Republican party had strayed away from its lifetime policy as the friend of money and big interests, that doubt must be dispelled by the selection of a new finance chairman by the Republican National Committee. The new chief of the party’s coffers, succeeding Samuel B. Pennengill, “the gentleman from Indiana,” is to be Colby M. Chester of New York City. In case you are unfamiliar with Mr. Chester’s background, he is an executive of General Foods Corp., from which position he will resign, and is a former president of the National Association of Manufacturers. If the new job is to be “full-time,” requiring Mr. Chester to resign from his post with General Foods, the G. O. P. musf be planning an even bigger than ever war chest for the next campaign. V For all its boasted progress and ingenuity mankind has yet to devise a method of getting people to the rear of buses and street cars.—Kansas City Star.

Chickens Come Home, or the Man in the Glass House Remember Rep. William Lambertson, the Kansas Republican? He’s the man who on several occasions has attacked the war record of President Roosevelt’s four sons, one of the original “I want to be a captain, too” boys and spreader of other malicious propaganda against the young Roosevelts. This week Col. Elliott Roosevelt was presented with the Air Medal in addition to the Distinguished Flying Cross, for “meritorious achievement while participating in five operational sorties against the enemy.” He previously had been honored for “heroism and extraordinary achievement” in “flights made voluntarily with complete disregard for his personal safety.” And what was happening in Rep. Lambertson’s family at that time ? * It was disclosed that Rep. Lambertson’s own son, Milan, aged 20, an employe in the United States general accounting office, last February had appealed from his 1-A draft classification as a “conscientious objector,” declaring that he had personal religious convictions against war. When the case was brought to public attention, Rep. Lambertson said he did not know the appeal had been filed, although we thought most fathers kept a pretty close check on the draft status of their sons. But since the situation has come to light, Rep. Lambertson said he has “had a talk” with the son, and that he has “now changed his mind.” We wonder if Rep. Lambertson has not changed his mind about the Roosevelt boys, too? — V Mme. Chiang on Prayer My mother was ... a Spartan. But one of my strongest childhood impressions -is of Mother going to a room she kept for the purpose on the third floor to pray. She spent hours in prayer, often beginning before dawn. When we asked her advice about anything, she would say, “I must ask God first.” And we could not hurry her. Asking God was not a matter of spending five minutes to ask Him to bless her child and grant the request. It meant waiting upon God until she felt His leading. And I must say that whenever Mother prayed and trusted 'God for her decision, the undertaking invariably turned out well. . . . God speaks to me in prayer. Prayer is not self-hypnotism. It is more than meditation. The Buddhist priests spend days in meditation. In meditation the source of strength is one’s self. But when one prays he goes to a source of strength greater than his own. . . . Prayer is our source of guidance and balance. God is able to enlighten the understanding. I am often bewildered, because my mind is only finite. Then I seek guidance, and when I am sure, I go ahead, leaving the results with Him. . . . What I do want to make clear is that whether we get guidance or not, it’s there. It’s like tuning in on the radio. There’s music in the air, whether we tune in or not. By learning to tune in, one can understand. —Mme. Chiang Kai-shek. # V . Launching the Intrepid The Intrepid, sister ship of the aircraft carriers Essex and the new Yorktown, apparently was christened last Monday, after she had already slid down the ways. In naval lore that is usually considered a good sign, that a ship should be so eager for her launching as to beat the formal ceremonial. And that should be the character of a ship named Intrepid. The ship for which she was named was originally a Tripolitan ketch named Mastico, which was captured by* Stephen Decatur and was used Feb. 16, 1804, in burning the frigate Philadelphia, which had fallen into enemy hands after it had run aground. Later the Intrepid was fitted out with powder and combustibles to be blown up in the midst of the Tripoli fleet, but exploded on the way, carrying to death its commander, Lieut. Richard Somers, two other officers and 10 sailors.—Chicago Daily News. V The Pennsylvania legislature has passed a law prohibiting labor organizations from making contributions to political parties. Since the legislature, like Indiana’s was Republican controlled, it isn’t hard to understand why—Republicans never lose an opportunity to slap labor, or the Democratic party. V It has been a wonderful spring for any one who can chuck a baseball. Left handers are being named as starting pitchers who in normal times would have been returned to Wichita unopened.—New Haven, Conn., Register. Still Isolationists Republican statements on renewing the reciprocal trade agreement show clearly that the Republican party is still the party of isolationism. As Rep. John McCormack, Massachusetts, Democratic leader, put it, “As far as the Republican party in the house is concerned, we’re going to have a repetition of isolationism and trade barriers—it’s a policy which leads to war.” V In the Southwest an evangelist says he has been in touch for some time now with hell. But gives us nothing on comparative conditions.—Atlanta Constitution.

Gov. Bricker Has Rival Gov. Bricker of Ohio now has a rival as the mid-west’s champion enunciator of profound nonsense. It’s Gov. Dwight Green of Illinois who in a speech the other day advised the Republican party to forget about “global” postwar thinking, and to concentrate on domestic policy instead. The governor of Illinois, like the governor of Ohio, says he wants American cooperation in establishing a durable peace, but he wants n'o commitn^ents.” Just how we are to get that cooperation without any commitments, the governor does not explain. As the Chicago Sun puts it, “The sad truth seems to be that, on the most pressing problem confronting America today, the governor of Illinois has no firm convictions of any sort. He is resolved to sit on that fence until hell freezes over—or until vice-presi-dential lightning ceases to play around the midwestern governor’s heads.” y Meets Every Test President Roosevelt, during his years as President, has proved himself to every true American, regardless of race, color, creed, vocation, business or economic status. Hence, may we hail in this period of world involvement, of crucial struggle, our commander-in-chief, our President, our friend. He has served not one class only but every class, every group and every individual who in any way has had any claim ‘on the high office of the President of the United States.—The Journal of Labor, Atlanta, Ga. V Factional Fight It has now been three months since the mayor of Indiana’s capital city announced a post-war planning commission would be named. But although several civic groups and organizations have plans under study and are seeking a central agency to coordinate them, the factional fight in the Republican party has kept the commission from being formed. V Postwar Problems Postwar problems will be as staggering as those of the present hour, Gov. Henry F. Schricker said in a short talk dedicating a scroll bearing the names of 391 Indiana highway commission employes now in the nation’s armed forces. This scroll reminds us that they will return lobking for the places which they once made vacant, and with their return will come otheV problems. Indiana must be prepared to meet these problems. In this hour of destruction and loss, we must make some substantial gains for the tests that lay ahead and see that nothing happens in America after the war is over. We must make what plans we can now.” GOP Fun The Republican papers are giving quite a play to Mayor Robert Tyndall’s story about the friend in Indiana who could find a lot of elephant statues for gifts, but not a single donkey because it was“ considered the lowest form of animal life.” One of the Democrats killed the gag, however, with the wry comment “a donkey was good en'ough for a fellow who rode into Jerusalem one time.” V Willis Naval Expert Senator Raymond Willis, the naval expert who wanted Uncle Sam to pay him for the rationing news he printed in his newspaper, is back in Washington after two weeks in Indiana. With the tax bills, the reciprocal trade treaties and other such important legislation getting a going over in Congress, it was an ideal time for the senator to be home resting from his strenuous duties in Washington. But missing a few tax bill roll calls is not new for the senator. A check of the record shows he didn’t Vote on the tax bill roll call in 1942 or 1941—nothing like keeping his no-voting record clean. V— Meets Every Test President Roosevelt, during his years as President, has proved himself to every true American, regardless of race, color, creed, vocation, business or economic status. Hence may we call in this period of world involvement, of crucial struggle, our commander-in-chief, our President, our friend. He has served not one class only, but every class, every group and every individual who in any way has had any claim on the high office of the President of the United, States.—The Atlanta Journal of Labor. V One of our neighbors who came downtown limping Monday morning said he was suffering from a week-end Victory Garden lean-over., V Purdue experts say the strawberry crop in Indiana looks very good, considering the weather and should start reaching market June 1st. y Judging from recent developments we are of the opinion that a delegate at the coming peace conference will be about as comfortable as a baseball umpire in Brooklyn. V A New York State woman has a pet goose and a pet duck which follow her to market each day. She had better be careful and not let them follow her into a black market.

GAS Is an economical servant in the home. It is also serving as a vital part in war production. Be patriotic. Help conserve gas by keeping your present equipment in good repair for higher efficiency. Central Ind. Gas Co.

COLORS ARE REVERSED

Casablanca, May 21. — Someone thought it would be a nice gesture to paint the French tri-color on the American tanks, jeeps and trucks being delivered to French forces in North Africa. But the American^ pulled a wrong-way Corrigan. ‘ Instead of getting the tri-color on in its proper order of blue, white and red, the Yanks followed the American pattern of red, white and blue. o Urges Spraying of Apple Trees Now Lafayette, Indiana, May 21.- t -Apple growers of Indianr- are urged to spray their orchards immediately to prevent further apple scab development. Purdue university horticulturists recommend specific spray mixtures for each section of the state. Growers in the central and north central areas of Indiana where the apples are in petal fall or calyx development stages, should use this combination: one and one-half to two gallons of liquid lime sulphur with three pounds of arsenate of lead and three pounds of lime in 100 gallons df spray. That solution is designed to combat scab already established. Northern Indiana orchard operators are urged to spray apple trees still blossoming with a liquid consisting of eight pounds of wettable sulphur -in 100 gallons of water. That should, be followed with the climax spray as soon as possible. Growers in the southern part of the state are advised by the Purdue experts that a calyx top-off spray, using the same materials as the calyx solution, is especially necessary now. o BRANDY IN SCHOOL?

Berkeley, Cal.—A new problem in psychology has just been posed to psychological experts at the University of California. It is the problem of why a man should steal a textbook on psychology and a bottle of brandy at the same time. As the experts admit they have not had much experience with brandy, little progress is being made towards finding the reason. The theft occured recently at the university.

Will Ask Farmers To Produce Wheat Washington, May 21.—War Food Administrator Davis is expected to ask farmers soon to increase their 1944 wheat acreage—perhaps by as much as 10-million acres. The increase will be requested in the hope of building up a large wheat reserve with which to feed Europe in addition to meeting our own needs. Officials have not yet agreed upon the size of the wheat stockpile which will be needed. But some men believe that the demand in countries occupied by the Allies and the rest of Europe may exceed 500-million bushels after the war. One thing is certain—all complacency resulting from large wheat surpluses in recent years has disappeared among food officials. These officials say that, in order to obtain the needed increase in 1944 acreage, it may again be necessary to plow up portions of the Great Plains area—the same regions which figured in the wheat boom of the first World War and the dust storm era of the early thirties. Other government plans for building up the stockpile are expected to include a slackening off in the use of wheat as livestock feed. That was one of the objectives back of recent requests for a leveling off in the rate of hog production. The 1943 wheat acreage is ap proximately 50-million acres. Farmers were told this year that they could exceed their planned spring wheat acreage without penalty. A similar policy will be adopted, it is understood, when individual farm goals for 1944 are announced within a few weeks. The United States now has a record supply of wheat on hand. But consumption is running about 500-million bushels a year above the forecast crop of 690-million bushels this year. The department of agriculture estimates expected wheat disappearance — for feed, seed and food—at around one-bil-lion 200-million bushels between July 1, 1943, and July 1, 1944. That would reduce the Carryover on July 1, 1944, to less than 200-mil-lion bushels. *

From where I sit. ^ Joe Marsh

Pete Swanson fancies himself as an armchair strategist. Sometimes he gets so tangled up, I just can’t resist tryin’ to straighten him out. For instance, the other day he was waxing indignant about our soldiers being allowed to buy beer right in camp. Said that was just coddling the troops and would ruin discipline. I told him the actual facts had already been established by a study the Government made. " Their report said chaplains and

the military police agree that instead of ruining discipline, 3.2 beer sold in Army camps provides our soldiers with a mild form of relaxation without impairing their efficiency. Well, Pete allowed that the chaplains and military police are a pretty good authority on what’s right for soldiers. I’ve noticed lately he’s been confining his remarks to the broader phases of strategy.

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