Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 February 1941 — Page 8

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‘The Indianapolis Times

: (A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NUWSPAPER) ROY W. HOWARD RALPH BURKHOLDER .

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«@P> RILEY 5551

Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1941:

RUMORS THAT NEED RUNNING DOWN

HERE has been much rumor, and a corresponding | amount of hush-hush, about the difficulties that are | supposed to have plagued our Army and Navy officers |

charged with the task of selecting sites for American bases on’ British possessions in the Western- Hemisphere. The right to establish such bases on 99-year leaseholds was granted us last September, it will be recalled, in return for 50\destroyers. The exact locations of the bases were to be worked out later by experts of the American and British Governments. We were to compensate the private owners of the land involved.

All sorts of stories have been circulated about these | The British, who already have our destroyers, have been driving a hard bar-

negotiations between the experts.

gain, They are said to have balked at choice sites wanted by our experts, and to have sung the merits of swampy and otherwise unsatisfactory areas. They are said to have steered our experts away from “Crown lands,” and insisted on sites that were entirely owned by private persons—— whom we must accordingly compensate. The sum of these rumors is an ugly blotch on the! cordial relations between Americans and Britons. We are glad to see that a Congressional committee is about to make an investigation of the matter, on the scene. If there has

been sharp dealing, it should be known. If the rumors are

false, or exaggerated, they should be dissipated by th truth.

UNIFORMITY IN THE DRAFT

NEW YORK'’S City Council, disagreeing with Mayor La Guardia, has voted 15 to 2 against asking draft deferment for policemen and firemen. There is much in what was said by Councilman Sharkey of Brooklyn: “A City Council has no business telling Federal officials how to administer the draft law. Congress has decided that every draftee’s case should be considered individually on its merits, and that is the policy of the majority of this council. Every mother’s son should receive equal treat: ment. Once we open the door for a blanket deferment of any particular group there will be demands for deferment of ballplayers, night-club singers and all others whom some may believe to be indispensable.” But the decision of Congress that local draft boards shall consider each individual's case on its merits is pro» ducing some strange, confusing and unfair results. This is because, as Time Magazine points out, the nation’s 6533 local draft boards can and almost do have 6533 different policies toward the merits of claims for deferment. Nf Some boards, in New York City and elsewhere, do defer policemen and firemen. Others don’t. Some boards are exceedingly tough toward claims for occupational deferment. Others are absurdly easy. In short, every mother’s son is not receiving equal treatment. Men in one district may get entirely different treatment from that received by men in the next district. Now that the Army is getting ready for drafted men in much greater numbers, that situation of chaotic injustice will become worse and worse. Until, and unless, National Draft Headquarters lays down some uniform deferment rules for all local boards to follow.

°

ALL OUT AT ALL POINTS 7+

AMONG those who try to read Hitler's mind, there are many who think that when he next strikes he will strike simultaneously in many quarters of the globe. Specifically, they picture a German invasion of Eng- - land (and possibly Ireland); a thrust through the Balkans to the Aegean, with long-range bombing of Suez; a thrust through. Spain against Gibraltar, and a Japanese attack on Hong Kong, the Dutch East Indies and/or Singapore— all at the same zero hour. : It’s all guesswork, but certainly there is nothing in the cable news to throw the theory down. The latest reports, of German Army “relief” units going into Spain, and

mania and Bulgaria, fit into the picture. We will have to wait for “der tag” to find out how much of this is bluff or diversion, and how much is preparation for the real thing.

THE MERRY MEN FROM “DOWN UNDER”

AMERICANS don’t know much about Australians. And that’s too bad, because on the basis of what the world has heard about them in recent weeks, they sound great. Recall the way in which they went up in the early morning for the capture of Bardia, singing “We're Off to See the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of 0z’—and without consulting ASCAP, either. Then when contingents of these effervescent fighting men were landed at Singapore the other day, they shouted down the formal regimental bands “trying to play traditional music to welcome them, demanding “Roll Out the Barrell,” and showering pennies around the dignified British staff officers standing stiffly on the dock. : ; : There are only some 10,000,000 Australians, more’s ‘the pity. They sound like the kind of men the world could use a lot more of ; the kind it would be a pleasure to know better; the kind you'd want on your side if it came to choosing up. :

“OH, SAY—" ; HO says we lack modern patrons of the arts? Rep. . © Compton I. White of Idaho has just printed in The Congressional Record (at a cost of about $75 to the taxpayers) a 37-inch poem by an eminent bard from that fair gtate. The poem, entitled “Reflections on the Third-Term _ Inaugural,” is designed to be sung to the tune of “The $tarSpangled Banner.”

MARK FERREE

Price in Marion Coun-

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- positive information.

Fair Enough By Westbrook Pegler

Claims We Are Kidding Ourselves If We Think Our Soldiers Are Not Being Trained to Fight in a War

N= YORK, Feb. 22.—This great, hulking, slouchy, emotional nation is doing itself a great disservice in pretending that the soldiers now under arms and the men who are vanishing from civil life day by day are not training to fight a war but just camping out

to create the mock prosperity of a boom in certain lines of building construction and manufacturing. The American Army is training to fight a war against a power= ful and violently aggressive enemy whenever the National Government decides to strike, and it is folly to assume flatly that if and when war comes American soldiers never will fight in foreign lands. American soldiers will fight wherever the enemy can be struck most effectively, and there is no need to identify the enemy. There is a remote possi-

| bility that unforeseen developments will defer, month

by month, the decision to strike and that, taking advaritage of this borrowed time, the nation will develop such strength that the enemy will reform rather than invite defeat. However, that tempting. hope is so unlikely to be fulfilled that it should be eliminated in the interests of national defense and in fairness to the soldiers, who themselves should be given to understand the strong probability of war and deserve the backing of a people thoroughly aware of the danger. ” » ”

S to the politics of the situation there is ample discussion elsewhere, but that discussion continues to obscure the fact that the military preparatior is based on an assumption that the object of all this personal sacrifice by a comparative few citizens, including Park Ave. glamour boys as well as young farmers, miners, students, clerks, factory hands and occupational nondescripts, is to meet the enemy of the United States in war. And comparatively few are making any sacrifice at all. In civil occupations wages and profits probably will rise and will be spent for luxurious ‘living, notwithstanding taxes, and it may become necessary to impose artificial or token sacrifices on the civilian—pos=sibly by the pressure of propaganda and public opinion. For example, Mrs. Roosevelt, who often sends up balloons for the Government, suggested the other day that it might be nice of the civilians to do without nev automobiles and aluminum kitchenware and, I believe, also, that the additional wages of the people be invested in Government bonds. Mrs. Roosevelt

| may speak only her own personal opinion, but it would

be foolish to ignore the fact that they are founded on Her utterances along these lines, therefore, should be interpreted as an alarm. There is much more doubt of the wisdom of participation in this war than of the probability that the United States, sooner or later, will fight. Even those statesmen who most furiously oppose the legislation which would enable the Government to wage war best are convinced that war is coming—if their remarks be read intelligently. They declare that the bill under discussion will put the nation into war, and they know in their hearts and the people know that it is going to pass. i. 2 2 'B the people are guided by the probability, there- . fore, rather than by a wish, they will reconcile themselves to the fact that the way to defeat an enemy is not merely to blockade him but to smash up his cities, make war, hurt his people and destroy his soldiers. As matters stand today, neither soldiers nor civilfans, except some officers, face the probability. This surely means that if war comes the fighting men will be surprised and offended and—in the beginning, at least—will fight badly, while the civilians will behave in some mishapen way until they, too, snap out of their daze. > The civilians see few reminders of the preparation. The soldiers are off on secluded reservations, working hard and enduring hardships, and few of them are seen in the cities and towns. In Washington many oficers go in mufti for fear that the sight of so many men in uniform bustling around the Government centers might somehow antagonize Congress. This is no war story. It is up to Congress, not columnists, to make the decision. But the item which could be called the war bill is going to pass soon, and thie warning of the opposition that it is a war bill has not been denied except in quibbling and unimportant particulars by those who run the Government and policy of the United States.

Business By John T. Flynn

Small Sum Invested During 1940 Key to Our Economic Disorder

EW YORK, Feb. 22.—The Securities and Exchange Commission has given out the figures on new securities. They are eloquent. The total dollar volume of securities registered for issuance in 1940 was $2,124,000,000. This looks like a large sum. In fact, it was $300,000,000 jarger than in 1939. ” But that seeming gain is unimportant. Very little of this represented any investment of new money in business. Out of all this large sum the total amount of securities registered designed to bring in new money was only $259,000,000. The balance was for refunding or paying debts. Even the $259,000,000 for socalled new money does not mean that much new money went into business. That is the face value

of the securities authorized. Actually, the amount of

. . . : | real money raised by these issues is unknown. It may of German engineers bridging the Danube between Ru- | i | securities brought in new money—$259,000,000—that would be a drop in the bucket.

be comparatively small. Even if every dollar of new

This is the most serious problem in our whole business scene. This in fact is “the” problem. Billions of dollars go into savings every year, but only a trivial sum finds its way into investment. It is like putting many gallons into the gasoline tank of the car and having only a few drops trickle into the carburetor of the engine.

# #

NE of the most amazing phenomenon in our whole public life is that no one seems to be the slightest degree interested in this. Congress never discusses it. The President never mentions it. The crusaders and the reformers and the New Dealers and the worldmoulders never get around to talking about it. Yet this is the central disease in our economic system. When this is solved the depression will be solved. The depression will never be solved until this is solved. At the moment, instead of investing our savings in productive enterprises, we are: investing Government money in all sorts of defense enterprises. In the case of these defense enterprises the Government is the investor and the customer. While this lasts we will have the illusion of brisk business. But while it lasts this other disease will stage of such acuteness*that the most terrible disaster that could happen to us would be peace. There is a remedy for this condition. But no one is interested in it now. We are off on another adventure in Government-created prosperity.

So They Say—

I HAVE OFTEN heard Newton D. Baker say that he despaired of our ever solving the complicated economic, social and political problems of our day as long as our citizens after they are 21 years of age cease all systematic study of everything but their private business or profession.—A. Caswell Ellis, director, Cleveland College. . * * The SLOGANS AND symbols of democracy are good only to the extent that the people understand why they are good and what they mean —J, W. Studebaker, U. S. commissioner of education.

THE KEYNOTE of Nicaragua's foreign policy is an all-out co-operation with the United States.—President Anastasio Somoza of that country.

»

for the good of their health and’

ow worse and finally reach a

URGES EXAMINATION OF MOTORISTS, NOT CARS By R. M. Haddock I think it is_the worst thing in the world to have automobile inspection. What I think should be done is to have about 80 per cent of the motorists’ heads examined; then you would be getting some-

where. ” ” n

REVEALS WHY SOME GIRLS DISLIKE HOUSEWORK By Jill Peters One of the main reasons why girls refuse to do housework is that employers lack consideration.

For instance, you are expscted to interrupt the laundry, dash up the stairs and answer door and telephone bells, even though the lady of the house is sitting less than twa feet away. And as everyone knows, door bells, telephones and crying chil--dren sometimes need a lot of attention at the busiest moments, making them more than a job in themselves. o n ”

HOPES FOR CHANGE IN STATE HEALTH BOARD

By Rose Gordon Levan

It seems there's no situation so bad but what there is some little good in it. Though it looks like governmental wreckage will follow in the wake of the GOP course through the Legislature, yet the merit bill (if it passes) will be a distinct gain. And if the Board of Health is converted into a Department of Public Health with laymen and representatives of other health agencies on the board of directors, we'll be taking a great step forward. For years I've been figuratively gnashing my teeth because the doctors on the Board of Health have regarded their agency as a closed corporation. They apparently have carried over into public office their private ethic of keeping secret a patient’s business. The result as I have noted repeatedly is that the docs regard the public's business as none of its business. Being deeply interested in consumer matters I have naturally gone far beyond the information available in books and printed matter— often by asking questions directly of officials in other states and of agencies of the Federal Government—in order to make a com-

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns, religious controversies excluded. Make your letters shori, so all can have a chance. Letters must be signed, but names will be withheld on request.)

parison between Indiana's consumer protection and that elsewhere. Frankness and courtesy have been accorded me in every other state and the Federal Government, and one official even sent me a copy of his agency’s budget requests when I asked about appropriations. The picture in Indiana is altogether different. Here getting a reply to questions is like pulling teeth. They simply ignore the inquiries if they call for more than a copy of this or that publication. When finally I did get a reply from the board, they inferred that I was not asking questions in the public interest and that furthermore such information as I wanted could not be divulged to the public, by policy of the board. And as for the reports in food, drugs, and milk control, I've never seen reports that gave less information; they're of absolutely no value to any consumer interested in getting such material. Consequently I'm greatly pleased to learn that the present setup is to be improved. Now if we could get a division of the consumer, I'll think we're getting somewhere.

” ” » A STRONG DISSENT TO ADJOURNING CONGRESS By Voice in the Crowd G. Tegeler is surely not in earnest when he states that “Congress should adjourn ard let the President run the country after the Lease Lend Bill becomes law.” If there ever was a time when the three branches of the Federal Government, (Legislative, Administrative and Judiciary), should remain in Washington and earn their annual salary by working a full year, that time is now. Never was this three-way check and balance more necessary and never was the job of running America so immeasurably too great for one man’s ability. The centralized Federal Government is

serious enough now, but when we

Side Glances=By Galbraith

JL COPR. 1941 BY NEA SERVICE, INC. T. M. REC. U. 8. PAT. A

"She claims she wears a size 14 dress, but everybody knows she has to have it steamed bigger!"

2-22

The Hoosier Forum

I wholly disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.

turn the whole thing over to one man it will be too late to save democracy in America. There is no more reason for Congress to cease to function than there is" to close the postoffice and pay your postmaster and his staff for loafing instead of working. And besides, is costs a quarter of a million

‘dollars in travel allowance to send

Congress home and bring them back into session. We pay them to work, there is work for them to do, so let’s let them work. Keep them hard at it so that their legs will again get strong enough for them to stand on. Let them do the job that they are supposed to do as representatives of the people from 48 localities, each with vastly different problems. It is strange indeed when a supposedly great people—advocates of the liberty of private judgment and government by consent of the governed—are so willing to abdicate their rights and expect one man to save 130 million people. Are we truly great?

» ” ” RESENTS CRITICISM OF MRS. ROOSEVELT By Sylvia G. Ringler, New York After reading Westbrook Pegler’s column for a number of years one comes to the conclusion that he does not possess the keen insight and fine analytical mind of Raymond Clapper, who approaches any given situation with a sense of fairness and openmindedness given to few columnists. Nevertheless, one must admit, in justice to Pegler, that what he has accomplished in the field of labor unions is considerable. However, his column is not “fair enough” when he becomes so boldas to accuse our beloved First Lady of having an ulterior motive in her many worthwhile causes. Eleanor Roosevelt is the essence and symbol of that restless energy which in less than two centuries wrought the world’s No. 1 nation out of the wilderness. Now more than ever the women of this country look to our First Lady for leadership, inspiration and guidance to help preserve our precious way of life and aid humanity.

2 2 ”

GETS A LAUGH OUT OF G. 0. P. ANTICS By Claude Braddick, Kokomo, Ind. The Democrats of Indiana must be getting a big kick out of the antics of the present Republican Legislature in its frantic efforts to balance the budget and its consternation in learning that every attempt to allay the squawking of taxpayers in one direction gives rise to a much louder squawk in another direction. : And now, apparently’ in despair of relieving the squawking altogether, they propose a 3 per cent sales tax —a measure which at least would assure that the squawking came from all quarters at once and in equal volume! ; The impression is growing in Indiana that the McNutt-Townsend Administrations couldn’t have been so bad after all, at least from a practical standpoint, else all attempts to improve them wouldn't result in such ridiculous fiascos.

WASHINGTON By JANE SIGLER

Unfurl the. flags and roll the drums. Place wreaths upon his shrine today, And let a mighty nation pause, Amid its grimmer tasks, to pay A tribute to his memory.

Unfurl the flags and roll the drums. And as he gave, so let us give. What is required, lest we be named With nations that have ceased to live Outside the tomes of history.

DAILY THOUGHT

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in Heaven forgive your trespasses.— Mark 11:26.

I PARDON him, as God shall pardon me.—Shakespeare. ¥ . . :

Gen. Johnson : Says of

Fear of Scarcity and Soaring Prices One of the Very Things That Bring About Such Conditions in Industry

N= YORK, Feb. 22.—One of the principal causes of war time shortages and sky-rocketing prices is the fear of them. The manager of any company making finished goods out of raw materials is re sponsible for continuous supply. If he sees ahead :, what seems to be a period of scant material and rising prices, he not only “covers” by buying for his usual output for six months or maybe a year, but he goes as far beyond that as his resources will permit.

This is “good business” from every angle. It is a good speculative risk from the angle of probe able rising prices. It is good ine surance against possible future shut-downs or delays due to inability to get materials ‘later, ; Finally, there is a temptation ever to borrow money to increase stock piles and inventories to abnormal size. A period of price inflation is a good time to owe money and to own things.

HE combination of all these reasons is almost irresistible. Apply them to all the thousands of business concerns, big and little, and you have a tremendous national force working evérywhere to

“|create the very condition of fear which has caused it,

Part of these reasons work in the same direction for all individuals and for the great war purchasing government departments. All people like to buy while they “can get the stuff and before the price rises.” An officer in charge of an arsenal or a navy yard turning out munitions has a realiy dreadful responsibility for producing on or ahead of time and in quantity. He, too, fears the delays that future shortages may cause and to the extent of his powers, will overstate his requirements and build up his ine ventories. Of course, this is a form of “hoarding”—which is a war time word of evil omen. It is truly evil because the certain result of these practices is soaring prices, to the detriment of the whole nation and sometimes with a result of complete economic collapse and

disaster. ” ” ”

T is impossible to believe that just this process is net getting under way at this moment. There are indications that the reported or feared shortages in aluminum are partly due to these causes. This fear on the part of some people (but not this writer) of our capacity to produce our requirements of steel stems from the unusually heavy orders on the mills, These, in turn, are not to be completely accounted for by any increase yet,experienced in the reported output of finished steel products. It is probable that the stock pile of every fabricator of steel products is rapidly increasing. In all ordinary prudence this is a tendency that must be controlled, and controlled at its beginning before the harm is done. There is only one authority that can do it and that is the Federal Government. This column has continuously argued againsh centralization of Federal power, but in a war economy some centralization is necessary in the public interest. In the haste to get the defense program through the Legislature, not enough attention has been given to this phase. We need simpler and more direct emergency statutory authority to control price, prior ity and increasing inventories. This is a subject that should have the immediate attention of Congress— even before tax legislation, We could lose more through price inflation in a year than increased taxes could recover in 10 years.

A Woman's Viewpoint

By Mrs. Walter Ferguson

| you happen to know your city police commissioner, make it a point to have a chat with him, Men who hold that office know as much about respectable citizens as they do about the irresponsible elements in our society and, if the truth comes out, sometimes honor them less. For experience proves that the rich and prominent often expect special police privileges. They not only expect, they demand them, Whether they are accommodated depends upon the integrity of the commissioner himself. The wife of some big shot will stop in a no parking zone and then expect her name to save her a fine. The big shot himself gets mad as a hornet when he is given a red ticket. People of this type = believe they can park overtime, run stop signs, speed and break innumerable little laws with impunity, Because they have money or high position, officers are expected to blink at their sins. But what g howl they make when the little fel= low commits a wisdemeanar. This deplorable custom in our country does far more real damage to democracy than any foreign propaganda. By destroying the confidence of the poor it undermines the very foundation of America, and leaves the insignifican$ man wondering where all this tall talk of equality gets him. When will the rich awake to their responsibility as defenders of their country’s faith? When will they be willing to assume some of the ethical as well as the financial burdens of citizenship? It would be unfair, of course, to make blanket charges against any particular class, since all ‘rich and prominent people are not unaware of their duties. But certainly there are too many in that category who are culpable. Yet their foolish, vulgar and often immoral conduct is considered sufficiently important for daily newspaper space in every major publication in the land. Hardworking young people are kept goggle-eyed by tales of teir wasteful ways, their champagne sup= pers, their wld escapades. Worse still, they are gen< erally approached by p:2ss and public ag if they were little tin gods. How about approaching national defense from this angle? For the duration of the emergency, at least, can’t something be done to keep the didoes of the rich irresponsibles out of circulation? It would do more to restore national confidence in the common people than a fleet of destroyers.

Editor's Note: The views expressed by columnists in this ~ newspaper are their own. They are not necessarily those of The Indianapolis Times,

Questions and Answers

(The Indianapolis Times Service Bureau will answer any question of fact or information, not involving extensive ee search, Write your questions clearly, sign name and address, inclose a three-cent postage stamp. Medical or legal advice cannot be given. Address The Times Washington Service Bureau, 1013 Thirteenth St., Washington, D. C.):

Q—What was the Christian name of Pocahontas? he was the daughter of Powhatan, celebrated Indian chief of the Chickahominy tribe. She married the Englishman, John Rolfe, and was often called Lady Rebecca, from the name she received in Christian baptism. Q—How much territory did Finland cede to the U. 8. S. R. at the close of the Finnish-Soviet war? A—The territory comprised 16,173 square miles. Q—How many nations were involved in the war of 1914-1918? A—Twenty-eight. Q—What causes Mexican jumping beans to jump? A—A worm inside the bean striking its head against the shell. Q—Who first crossed Death Valley in California? A—The Indians were the first to look upon Death Valley, and possibly the Spaniards were next, but in 1849 the Jayhawkers and Manly party, a shorter route to the gold fields of California, made the first recorded crossing. The name is derived from the remark, made by the mea Lof these patios upon leaving the region w em was onymous with tragedy and suffering, “Good-by, Death Valley." Q—Are roads and streets in the Hawalian Islands constructed of coral and lava? + A—The Hawaiian Islands are volcanic, and some of the bordering reefs are coral; hence city streets are macadamized with coral and lava, the

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providing good surface drainage. LL

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