Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 222, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1918 — THE GASOLINE QUESTION. [ARTICLE]

THE GASOLINE QUESTION.

It would possibly 'be in the public interest for the Washington administration either to announce the early end of gasolineless Sunday or to proceed at once to the adoption of the consumption quota system. Certainly the dissatisfaction with the present arrangement is great and is growing greater. Those who can use their cars only on Sunday feel that they are being-discriminated against, and while they are patriotically obeying Washington’s “request,” they are doing so with ever increasing ill-nature. The following letter received yesterday by this paper is typical of a feeling that is more general, perhaps, than many realize: “A patriotic citizen is one who drives his car all week for business, pleasure or liquor supplies, and who goes to some lake Saturday night, re-., turning early Monday morning. He doesn’t use his car on Sunday at all and so is a patriot. “A slacker is a man who works in the shops or elsewhere six days in the week and around home in the even- . ing, but who slips out his automobile for a little trip on Sunday. He uses for pleasure just about a tenth -as much gasoline as the patriotic citizen; he buys bonds, gives to the Red Cross, has a boy in the army, yet he is a slacker,** *’ Possibly that is coming it a little strong and is citing extreme instances to. make a striking point, yet the elements of truth are there and they are hurting. The American people are pretty tractable until they get to feeling that they are the victims of discrimination. Then they become decidedly obstreperous. If the administration intends to continue its plea for gasoline saving during the month of October, it should drop gasolineless Sunday and put the entire

country on the allowance plan. Of course, the present plan can be continued and it will be lived up to by the great majority of our citizens, but they will not honor it or respect it.in their hearts. On the contrary, its continuance will militate seriously against our national morale and tend to create dissatisfaction and distrust. —Fort Wayne News.