Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 24 September 1943 — Page 4

POST-DEMOCRAT, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1943.

THE POST DEMOCRAT A Pemdcraiic weekly newspaper representing the Democrats of Mnncie, Delaware County arid 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.

PRICE 5 CENTS—$1.50 A YEAR

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

Muncie, Indiana, Friday, September 24, 1943

The Hunter and the Hunted One difference between the Italians and, Hitler’s Germans is shown by what is happening on the extreme southeast coast of France. When the Italians policed this strip of shore Jewish and other refugees were reasonably safe there. Now they are being hunted down by the Gestapo like wild animals. Some tried to get into Italy, hoping to reach an Allied-controlled zone. Many put to sea in rowboats, knowing that there would be more mercy in the worst storm than in any Nazi heart. Others joined the French guerrillas and fought the German searching parties. Two thousand who could not get away—presumably the poorest and weakest, the old, the sick—are said to have been concentrated by the Gestapo at Grenoble for exile to the slaughter house that used to be Poland. All that the .United Nations can do for these unfortunates is, no doubt, being done. Anything less would disgrace our cause. The French underground, which is used to risking death, may help some of them. It is of no avail to appeal to German honor on their behalf, for under the Nazis honor is treason. The spokesmen for the United Nations might indeed repeat that the day w r hen these crimes can be committed is drawing to a close; that the names of those responsible for them are all known or will be known; and that those who now hunt down the innocent will themselves be hunted down. Such an assurance might have results. The Nazis have no pity for others. Some of them, we may be quite certain, are beginning to feel pity for themselves. Where no other impulse will quiet them fear might do so.—New York Times. The OPA Gets Going The Office of Price Administration is finally showing both strength and purpose. Its latest order cutting fruit, vegetable, lard and vegetable oil prices is part of a definite plan to reduce the cost of living to the level of Sept. 15, 1942—exactly one year ago. The OPA was ordered by Congress to use that date as a standard to govern the country’s whole price arid wage level, but Congress has been as much to blame as the OPA for failare to reach it. A year ago the OPA was confused in organization. Last winter it w’as irresolute in policy. In the spring it almost surrendered to food processors and congressional inflationists. But summer the situation was so critical that the price administrators buckled down to their task, pushed the obstructors aside, and really began to fight the rising cost of living. Part of this improvement has been due to the effective teamwork of Justices Byrnes and Vinson, since the latter came into the Office of Economic Stabilization. Part has been due to OPA Administrator Brown’s appointment of Chester Bowles as general manager of that body. Still more results from a growing feeling in Congress and the public that, the OPA must pursue strong policies or the result will be a national calamity. Success of the old and new price rollbacks still depends on Congress. The Commodity Credit Corporation will need at least a billion dollars for transportation subsidies, purchase of food and resale at a loss, and other means of preventing losses to farmers and food handlers under the price reduction program. Congress cannot face the people if this fight against the cost of living is lost.— Chicago Sun. A Million Dollars a Day for Hitler Fire losses in the United States averaged more than $1,000,000 a day for the first six months of this year, according to preliminary reports. Fires are like strikes. Most of them are preventable, and are therefore inexcusable. A fire in a key plant means production interruptions all along the line. Managements and employes should do everything in their power to erase fire hazards. A single pile of waste that would have taken but a moment to remove may, tomorrow, wipe out a million dollar armament concern. The man who failed to remove the danger will suddenly realize that his claims to patriotic citizenship ring a little hollow. Somewhere, thanks to his negligence, a man in uniform will suffer for the lack of a needed bit of equipment. The imagined chain of events as so often pictured in advertisements wherein a soldier dies because of the failure of a worker to produce to capacity, is doubly applicable to those who are careless with fire. Every community has its fire prevention authorities. They work night and day to curb loss of life and property from this menace. Far too often their task is made unduly difficult through want of public cooperation. They repeatedly seek to drive home the truth that fire prevention, to be really effective, must begin with the individual. It is time that we as individuals realized that.

Their Watchword is Fire

Prevention

Beware of Straddlers

In these days when wholesale destruction is the keynote of human existence, it is refreshing to be reminded that at least one field of endeavor is dedicated to preserving instead of destroying life and property. That

A number of political writers have observed that the Republican governors at the Mackinac Island conference were more progressive than the Republican members of

Congress who were present.

We do not doubt that. ^But the fact remains that the governors will not have to , pass on «*i' American

field is fire insurance. Hundreds of capital| Uon in lhe affairg of the postwar world,

stock fire insurance companies have for many years carried on effective, far reaching fire prevention measures. There is no way of accurately recording the billions of dollars of property and countless thousands of lives saved by their efforts that they have been tremendous is evident from the steady de-

cline in the cost of fire insurance.

Through its fire prevention program, the fire insurance industry serves all people, whether they are insured or uninsured. It has promoted fire-resistant construction and the correction of fire hazards in home and factory. Innumerable electrical and other common devices of modern living bear the stamp of approval of the Underwriters’ Laboratories, indicating that safety requirements have been met in the process of man-

ufacture.

Recently the National Board of Fire Underwriters celebrated, its 75th anniversary. Said the New York Times editorially, in commemoraitng the occasion: “Prevention of fire is the Board’s watchword. On that subject it is the world’s leading authority . . . By undertaking this beneficent and necessary work the National Board of Fire Underwriters relieves Federal and state government of an immense expense, places fire prevention on a sound basis and, what is more, gives a demonstration of the manner in which a great private enterprise can meet grave social responsibilities in the democratic

wav.”

V Forums for the Army Seldom indeed have Roosevelt-hating tories shown themselves in a worse light than in their attack on the War Department’s program of organized forums giving soldiers the chance to discuss controversial national and, international issues. The desirability of such a program should be apparents to everyone who believes in democratic principles. The process of study and free exchange of ideas is the basis of successful self-government. Soldiers, as well as civilians at home, are citizens who will help decide American policies. The public has the newspapers and the radio but the soldier overseas lives a much more isolated existence. It is partly due to this, as well as the isolationist clamor which preceded Pearl Harbor, that our armies still do not have a very clear idea what they are fighting for. Correspondents in North Africa assert that the soldiers are confused on this issue. The anti-Roosevelt clique darkly suggests that the discussion programs will be fourthterm and internationalist ‘propaganda.” On the contrary, the object is to encourage the soldiers to inform themselves and each other by speaking their minds. Group leaders are being trained to avoid any domination. The choice of subjects will be made by the soldiers. To suggest that American soldiers, given such a system, could be slyly “propagandized” by their superiors, shows that somebody doesn’t understand Americans very

well.

The British system of army discussion forums has been highly successful. The fact that a similar program is being set up for the American Army says much for the intelligence and democracy of its leaders.— Chicago Sun. V

while the members of the United States senate will. All treaties with foreign powers must get a two-thirds vote in the senate. This gives the isolationist senators a good chance to block any participation in postwar co-opera-

tion.

The isolationists know that they have a tremendous advantage. They do not have a majority in order to put over their ideas on the nation. ,They need only to muster the support of a third of the senate. Those who are already taking for granted, that isolationism has been rendered impotent politically are too optimistic. Many senators who now say that they are for world co-op-eration will be found voting against any specific proposal that is submitted. They will say when the times comes to vote: “1 am for world co-operation all right, but I am opposed to this particular plan.” The trick in the whole thing will be that they will never be a specific proposal for which they will vote. That is a slick politician’s method of giving the public “the runaround.” There have been a lot of apparent conversions to the cause of international co-opera-tion within the past few months, but there will be a lot of backsliding as soon as the election of-1944 is over. Congressmen who jump a bandwagon in a hurry often leave it with the same haste, once the ballots are counted. If the Republican party really means to desert its erstwhile isolationist stand, it will nomniate for the presidency a candidate whose views on that subject are known to be sincere beyond question. If it nominates a straddler and he should win, watch for 1920 all over again.—Journal Gazette. V Correct War Perspective It is to be hoped, that President Roosevelt’s latest order empowering the OWI to present a more realistic picture of the war will have the support of the Army and Navy. Facilities for gathering the news and distributing it were never better, yet the impression grows that Americans are getting a distorted view. It looks too easy. Some American soldiers in Australia pointed this out recently in an issue of their newspaper when they complained of the G. I. who appears in the ads, fresh from the barber shop and the tailor’s iron. Even beside a palm tree in Guadalcanal, his shoes are shined and he looks bronzed and husky. He dines only with Powers models, and his jeeps and planes have knee action, hydromatic gear shifts, and air conditioning. The war, insist the boys, is not quite what the strategists in the fox holes of the advertising agencies make it seem. Nor is the war so one-sided as the pictures released by the Army and .Navy would indicate. American men and American ships and material get blasted, too. Among those perturbed by this incomplete picture of the war, and the tendency it has to make people on the home front feel that Americans never get hurt, or that it is “all over but the shouting,” is Elmer Davis, chief of the Office of War Information. Apparently, he has gotten this viewpoint over to the President. The results will be observed with much interest.—Christian Science Mon-

itor.

V

Unfinished Chapter More than twenty million troops and more than eighty million tons of freight and express were moved by the railroads for the Army during the first eighteen months of the war. In handling these troop movements, the railroads performed a total of 17,105,000,000 passenger miles of transportation service. Ninety thousand separate troop movements orders were issued to the railroads alone. These orders called for the special handling of more than 12,000,000 troops and involved the us of 72,368 coaches, 214,881 sleeping cars, 49,987 baggage and kitchen cars, and 101,881 refrigerator, box, flat and gondola cars. It is doubtful if any person of this generation who has actually lived to see a transportation miracle can ever appreciate what the railroads have done. It is a mortal certainty that if the ‘advisers of the dictators could have been a preview of this miracle, they would have revised their estimates of the decadent democracies. The big question now in the minds of railroad men is how will the next chapter read in the history of rail transportation? The miracle of the past eighteen months was accomplished at great cost to plant and equipment. There was no sleight of hand about it. Under expert management, trains have moved without rest, and ceaseless operation has exacted its toll of rails and rolling stock. As the next eighteen months of transportation roll into history, it can become another miracle or a debacle, depending on what the railroads are allowed to buy in the shape of new equipment. The railroads have asked for material based on minimum needs, which government authorities who control the nation’s resources have not seen fit to give them. The authorities undoubtedly know they are risking a transportation disaster.

Lt. Gov. Dawson Says: We like to quote things Republicans are saying about other Republicans. Here’s one we picked up the other day, credited to Lt. Gov. Charles Dawson; “It would look bad for them to raise the pay of their employes now that a little work lay ahead when they had had nothing to do for two years.” He was talking about action of the state fair board in proposing retroactive salary increases for the fair manager and the other employes. The board had wanted to raise the salary of Republican Guy Cantwell, manager, from $300 a month to $350 a month, and of two Republican women employes, Mrs. Minnie Fisher and Mrs. Hilda Nowlin, from $150 to $165 a month, retroactive to last Jan. 1. When Gov. Schricker and Lt. Gov. Schricker and Lt. Gov. Dawson, an appointee of the governor in this case, balked, the retraoctive idea was dropped and the raises were made effective for the current month. Few women employes in the state house draw as much as $150 a month and Gov. Schricker’s top secretary receives only $165. V Mrs. Roosevelt Abroad Of course Mrs. Roosevelt is welcomed wherever she goes in the Pacific. Wounded and sick men in the hospitals have given her heartfelt ovations and American service men have welcomed her not only as the wife of the President but as First Lady of the Land in her own right. We say in her “own right” because she has not been content to remain in the White House as a mere hostess. She has gone out among the people on “her own hook.” No matter whether you are with her, or not, you would be a pretty toughskinned individual to refuse to say a word in her praise for having taken up the work of the American Red Cross in the danger spots of the world—thereby helping to build up the morale of American service men abroad.

Auditor James a Little Late The Indiana state board of finance has adopted Gov. Henry F. Schricker’s recommendation that the state tax levy be reduced from 12 cents to 11 cents and the general fund levy be eliminated entirely. The action will give the state the lowest rate in its history and it will mark the first time that general fund obligations have been met without a property tax. Republican State Auditor Richard T. James, the day before the state board met, came out with a proposal to eliminate the general fund levy and even got headlines in some of the newspapers—but the governor’s proposal had been made six weeks earlier. The total state rate has been reduced from 15 cents to 11 cents under Gov. Schricker’s administration and any further reductions will require action by the legislature since the only levies remaining are those fixed by statute. It is most ridiculous for any Republican officials to attempt to claim any credit for tax reduction in Indiana—the Republican party has fought the gross income tax, basis of the state’s present sound tax structure, since it was adopted by a Democratic administration 10 years ago. It was a Democratic administration which gave the state its present sound tax structure, since it was adopted by a Democratic administration 10 years ago. It was a Democratic administration which gave the state its present stable tax program, and Democratic administrations have guarded it. If Republicans, now seeking credit for tax reduction, had had their way, the gross income tax law would have been repealed long ago and the total burden thrown back on property owners, leaving millions of intangibles untaxed. y Our Invisible Men Using Dr. Forest Ray Moulton’s equation that one kilowatt-hour of electricity is equal to 10 man-hours of labor, the report of electrict generation for 1942 just released by the Edison Institute shows that wartime America had last year the services of about 800,000,000 invisible “men”—not subject to the direct orders of Paul McNutt, John L. Lewis or other overlords of two-legged men. This compares to 150,000,000 invisible “m e n” available in World War I. The annual report on physical performance of the electric power industry certainly reads in agreeable contrast to the lugubrious talk we have been hearing from some quarters since the New Deal took out after the “Power Trust”, and enacted the holding company law and set up the SEC. The much-touted “Power Trust” — or rather, the privately owned utility companies—is doing the bulk of the war job. Despite the hundreds of millions spent since TVA was established on government power plants and districts, the private outfits have five times the generating capacity of the governmental power districts, and last year generated 157,680,800,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity compared to 19,732,900,000 generated by TVA, Bonneville, Grand Coulee and the other government power outfits, big and little.—Chicago Daily News, June 24,

1943.

Debt ThatCan’t Be Paid A characteristic of the jungle fighting in the Southwest Pacific is the high proportion of nonfatal wounds. Japanese snipers fortunately are poor shots. Equally fortunately for our men in that area, there are plenty of highly trained medical men to care for wounds immediately. If it were not for this on-the-spot medical service, the horror of infection and death would become almost unbearable. Reporting on the heroism of the Army doctors, a news dispatch from Munda states: “It is a heart-warming experience to watch the young surgeons working night and day, ministering to the wounded Americans in the gloomy depths of the New Georgia jungle. The main responsibility for saving lives rests with them ... It has been the time of the medical corps in this campaign to give every wounded man preliminary treatment within a few minutes after he has been hit . . . The Corps does its job with the bullets and shrapnel still flying.” These are the same doctors that a year or so ago were striving to build careers for themselves at home. Most of them have families and all of them spent long years of study and privation preparing to practice medicine. They carry with them into battle a wealth of knowledge and the best traditions of the American medical profession. The parents, wives and sweethearts of the men in service owe the military doctors a debt of gratitude they can never hope to re-

pay.

y America’s Fastest Train The Congressional Limited between Washington and New York was said to be the fastest train in the world. But one day recently, an old-type coach was put in the middle of the train because of the tremendous burdens of war transportation imposed upon the carrier. The train on that day did not finish its trip because of a “hot box” that burned out its bearings—and that great train was wrecked with a terrible loss of life. The best thing about Government control of rubber and gas has been the conviction impressed upon the American public that a speed limit of 35 miles an hour is the safer and most satisfactory way to drive an automobile. Two fearful wrecks on Eastern railroads on the same day furnish rather conclusive evidence that it would be better not to run the trains so fast.

G A

Is an economical servant in the home. It is x 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.

IN EVER A LESSOJS FOR THIS SINGER

Bea Wain, lovely young songstress on “Your All Time Hit Parade,” (WLW, Fridays, 8:30 p. m., EWT), has been singing on radio programs since she was six years old. Later, Bea’s singing won her a scholarship from the National Stage Children’s Association, hut she took dancing lessons instead. She’s yet to have a

Capt. Clark Gable In Fifth Mission American Bomber Base In England, Sept. 24. — Captain Clark Gable, ex-movie star, took part in his fifth and final mission in this 'theater today when he went on the Nantes raid aboardyA Flying Fortress which came home peppered with antiaircraft fire. Gable fired a machine gun from the nose of the leading; fortress in one formation. He had been scheduled to make five missions before directing some technical films for aerial gunners. Heavy formatione of Fortresses struck at German U-boat and aviation facilities. Besides the Nantes naval base, they raided two air fields in western France, the Vannes-Meucon and Kerlin-Bas* tard bases from which the Germans fly against allied shipping in the Bay of Biscay. The Naiites rgiders ran into swarms of German fighters and some of the most accurate anti- , aircraft fire the Americans have encountered yet. Crewmen were unable to see t)ae detailed results of their bombing, ' but generally agreed that the attack was very

successful.

a / Legal Notice

Proposes Highest Possible Taxes Chicago, Sept. 24.—The Associated State Chambers of Commerce proposed today that the “highest possible taxes’’ be levied on business, industry and individuals. Concluding a two-day national tax conference here last night, the delegate from 20 state chambers of commerce voted unanimously to support elimination of unnecessary governmental expense and “elimination from every tax bill all prohibitions aimed . . . (at) control of business and individuals.” The resolution, drafted by Basil Brewer of New Bedford, Mass., recommended that “the highest possible taxation for revenue only, under intelligent tax policies ... is the only hope now and in postwar years ... of a solvent America.” o Urges Support Of Marshall’s Plea Washington, Sept. 24 —Bernard M. Baruch, special adviser to War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes, today urged the Senate Military Affairs committee to support the plea of Gen. George Marshall, army chief of staff, for adequate armed service manpower or to remove Marshall from his post. Testifying on the Wheele.r bill to defer fathers until Jan. 1, Baruch

said:

“My own attitude is simple: Support those we have entrusted with responsibility, perhaps the gravest that our beloved country has ever known. The armed forces, speaking through the commander-in-chief, are entitled to fulfillment of every Avar demand. That obligation becomes greater when it is made at the insistence of our chief of staff. Gen. George Marshall, who has had my respect and admiration for 25 years, and Admiral (Ernest J.) King, whom I regard, also, as an exceptional man. “If George Marshall says a specified force is required by our strategical planning, give him AVhat he wants. If you don’t, then throw him out. No cheese-paring. No trading down. Gfve him what he needs.”

CITY AOVKHTISKAfENTS department Of TuMic Works Office of the Hoard City Hall Mancie, Tnd, NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS AND TO THE PUBLIC Notice is hereby given, to the public and to all contractors, that the Board of Public Works of the City of Muncie, in the State of Indiana, invites sealed proposals for the construction, in said City, according to the respective improvement resolutions below mentioned, and according to the plans, profiles, drawing and specification therefor on file in the office of said Board of each of the public improvements herein below described, to-wit: Improvement Resolution No. S69— - 194?. For the construction of side walk on the North side of Eighth Street from Brotherton Street extending Westward to the alley dividing Shipley Street and Macedonia Avenue. Each bidder is also to file with the Board an affidavit that there has been no collusion in any way affecting said bid, according to the terms of Sec. 95. of the Act of M'arch Cth, 1905. (Acts 1905, p. 219). All such proposals should l>e sealed, and must be deposited with said Board before the hour of 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon of the 29th day of September, 1943 and each such proposal mxist be accompanied by a certified check payable to said City, for the sum equal to one hundred dollars (|m0.00) or five percent (5?i.) of City Civil Engineer’s estimate, which ever is greater, which shall be forfeited to said City as liquidated damages,, if the bidder depositing the same shall fail duly and promptly to execute the required contract arid bond, in case a contract shall be awarded him on such accompanying proposal. Said Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. By Order of the Board of Public Works W. M. BP.OCK, Clerk 'Sept. IS.25, 1942 O Legal Notice

NOTICE TO NON-RESIDENTS State of Indiana, Delaware County, as: George Hutchens vs. . Dortha I.. Hutchens In the Delaware Circuit Court September Term, 1943 Complaint: Divorce No. 17C78 Notice is hereby given the said defendant Dorotha L. Hutchens that the plaintiff has filed hie complaint herein, together with an affidavit that the said defendant Dorotha L. Hutchens, is not a resident of the State of Indiana, and that tinless she be and apjtear on Thursday the 18th day of November, 1943, the 64th day the next term of said Court, to be holden on the 1st Monday in September, A. D., 1943, at. the Court House in the City of, Muncie, in said County and State, the said cause will be heard and determined in her absence. WITNESS, the Clerk aqd the Seal of Said Court, affixed at the' City of Muncie, this 20th day of Sept. A.- D., 1943. .TES8E E. GREENR, Clerk John Dodd, Plaintiff’s Attorney Sept. 17-24, Oct. 1

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