Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 September 1941 — Page 8

The Indianapolis Times|

(A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER)

i Metaber of United Brads. Serippe Howe Tes [| ance, == “Bervies, and Audit Bu‘Teau of Cireulations.

in 3 outside of India cents & motith: ,

am RILEY i Give Light and and the People is Fa Era ows wos | saTURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1041

ANOTHER TAX BILL

THE tax bill which the Senate has just passed is certainly 1 not the revenue measure we wish had been approved. 1

What its critics say is true: It is pitifully inadequate, in | view of the current rate of Government spending. It is| grossly inequitable, because such a large proportion of the | new revenue will be obtained by excises which bear no relation to the principle of ability to pay. ~ But the Senate bill is an improvement over the Housé bill. It will raise more money. It is less ‘complex. It add¢ several millions of citizens to the rolls of Federal income taxpayers, and obtains a slightly larger share of the | total revenue by this most direct and fairest of all taxes. The least defensible levy in the bill—and it is in both the House and ‘Senate versions—is the $5 “use tax” on automobiles. The auto owner is the willing tax horse, who is being ridden to death. “There will be another tax bill next year—maybe sooner. There must be, because even after this one becomes law the

Government will still be taking in only about half as much

as it is putting out. There has been at least one piece of | patchwork tax legislation every year since 1982. Is it too much to hope that the next time Congress will do a real job of overhauling the tax structure, and enact a revenue measure strong enough and sound enough to stand up for a longer period than 12 months?

AMERICA KEEPS ITS SHIRT ON

SL demands that we go to war. The London press hopes we will be drawn in by the shot of an unidentified submarine which misled a U. S. destroyer in the Iceland ‘combat zone. Prime Minister Churchill of Britain and Premier MacKenzie King of Canada earlier requested full “United States backing in the battle against Hitler. We respect their sincerity. But we cannot admire their intelligence in persisting in a propaganda which undermines the material aid program so essential to their defense. ‘Hardly a day goes by without a British official assuring ‘us of the dire importance of more American supplies. And every day American officials bemoan the low morale which prevents larger and faster shipments to Britain. ~~ Apparently Mr. Churchill cannot see the connection. Even the one-vote margin by which the Draft Extension Bill squeeked through the House, has failed to convince - him that he is wrong in-thinking that the United States ““is advancing in rising wrath and conviction to the very verge of war.” The popular polls, showing 83 per cent ‘of Americans opposed to an A. E. F., are ignored by him, Now this overwhelming American opposition to a ‘shooting war may be good or bad, wise or insane. But it is

“f+ / a fact. And until our British friends recognize it as a fact,

their propaganda will continue to destroy the pro-British gorale they desire to create. 2 ” » 8 o » [HE British are feeding the. American fear of being tricked into a shooting war. That fear is dampening the enthusiasm for British priorities as reflected by the growing cynicism of businessmen, workers, Army and Navy officers, and even Washington officials. : For the first time the gigantic ledd-lease program is hitting the public where it hurts—rising prices, gasoline ‘and. other consumer shortages, heavier taxes, factories closed and workers unemployed and whole communities threatened by priority strangulation. “hostile public reaction.

American morale still can be steadied and strengthened

to perform the miracle in which Britain herself failed— all-out production in her industries without being prodded ‘by invading bombers. But it cannot be done unless the British lay off the shooting propaganda, and honor the «Churchill bargain.

‘AN ARMY TO BE PROUD OF

“THE summer maneuvers of the various American Army ~~ units give every reason for Americans to be proud of «their Army. Some of the conditions of the problems worked out have come about as close to actual warfare as that can be done in time of peace, and some of the hardships under-

~gone have approximated those of an actual war. War Secretary Stimson is probably right when he said that | troops participating in the maneuvers are far, far ahead of the divisions sent to France during World War I. Yet those divisions, thrown in against crack German divisions with four years of<experience back of them, did very well indeed: They broke the German lines, at a cost greater ‘than they would have had to pay had their experience been greater, but they broke them. ~~ So today. There is no reason to be discouraged. The armies in training today are good soldiers, and, given a little more specialized training for the specialized warfare of today, they will be quite capable of meeting any emergency the country may have to meet. °

OUT OF THE DUST BOWL

THE Dust Bowl, which monopolized headlines a few years ago, needn’t be a permanent feature of the national pic- | the ture. This is one of the things man helped to create, and, with intelligence and will, man can remedy.

There are signs that progress has been made. The

helter belt, target of the unthinking when it was projected, |

bits modest success. Now from South Dakota comes d that 3100 farms were sold in that state in the first months "of this year; that 87 per cent of the buyers | nned to operate the farms bought, and that 814 were

2 by tosanta aught in the bitter school of the dust bow

hon and publicity are Tels an

Inevitably there is |

already operating them. Many of these

Fair Enough By Westbrook Pegler or _Laber Day, Once Festival of United

Free Workers, Has Become a Day “Of Mockery in the U. S., He Charges

NEF, Jor Sept. 6-Of course; Labot Day ora~

tions ars often low political frauds, uttered in the interests of men, but ‘it would be a shame. to let the perpetrators get awdy with their ure unchallenged. Labor Day is ‘no longer a festival of those who do the work, but a day devotéd to the mocking of the betrayed, to self-approval and

mutual admiration by Sordid con- |

spirators who boss the unions and to the flattery of evil men by , high and low. It is as though Adolf Hitler

were to select some historic day of solemn patriotic meaning to the Czechs and humiliate them by : howling to the silent helplese masses that he and his political agents had freed them from themselves. Last Monday Was a day of indecent sneering at millions of voiceless Americans whose right to work and select their own bargaining agents has been revoked by despicable cunning, whose wages have been chiseled by exorbitant taxes in the guise of dues and permit fees, who have been slugged and stabbed or intimidated by threats of physical and economic terror. So arrogant were some of the speakers, so confident of their power, that not one of them felt any necessity to refer to the crimes perpetrated by unioneers against countless individuals and against the nation itself. 8 ” ” LISTENED to William. Green and heard not one word of apology for his own wilful, knowing collaboration against the workers with the underworld crooks who infest the unions of his greedy mafia, not even a hint of perfidy which has disgraced his organization. I read the remarks of Sidney Hillman as quoted in the papers and found no condemnation of the Muscovites who lately stabbed this nation between the shoulders and then abruptly whooped it up for whr, but in defense of Russia not the U. S. A. Instead, Mr. Green claimed for himself and his associates full credit for every boom -enacted by the sound American conscience of the whole nation from the institution of the public school to the swat-the-fly movement and had fhe gall to boast over a national hookup that this rogue-infested mob of political highbinders had so intimidated the United States Congress as to kill every patriotic bill directed against its vicious activities.

Mr. Hillman, whose own union in New York less than a year ago shook down American employers for political contributions for President Roosevelt's third term and threatened workers with reprisals should they exercise their political right to vote against the Administration, was fetched out as an official of the government to celebrate the subjugation of the masses. : ® 2 ” 3 HE American may not work for his living in his own country or for the defense of his own country ¥. Suoept by the permission of some private ortion enjoying a political subsidy and the Sint to operate a private gallows conferred by the national Government. Though Congress may forbear to tax him lest. his family want bread, Mr. Green's colleagues may extort $35 from the poorest pick-and-shovel worker as the purchase price of the right to work and levy heavily on his earnings thereafter, failing to pay which he and his may starve and he be split with a spade. Labor Day, once the festival of united free workers, has become a day of mockery when the captors howl their own praises and the workers snuffle in their pens like showstock at a fair. I have been guilty of two errors recently which I here acknowledge and correct with apologies to those concerned. First, I said there were two million roes in Puerto Rico. I am informed that the py figures are: Whites, 1,312,496, and Negroes, 038 In the other case I reported that Myron A. Wick,

a vice president of Republic Steel, was a beneficiary

of the officers’ pension or retirement annuity plan of that company. Mr. Wick voted for this plan as a stockholder .and as a member of the proxy committee at the meeting which ratified the same, but he tells me that he did not take advantage of the opportunity to acquire this generous social security at the expense of the stockholders. He was eligible, but he did not accept the benefit.

U.S. Aviation By Maj. Al Williams

RETATEDLY I have protested against the nonsense of ordaining that only college men (or men with two years of college or its equivalent) shall be accepted for combat flight training. It seems to me a dangerous, un-American discrimination against the earnest, hard-working, selfsupporting youngster who is determined to learn to-fly. Many a fortunate. youngster who has a college education dumped into his lap treats it as humans treat everything they get without earning. On the face of the Civil Pilot Training Program, stibsidized by tax money, a collegebred kid of that type is invited to walk in and take an examination for training while the ordinary high school graduate is forthright ; excluded, If the college-education restrictions had prevailed in the last war, some of

our greatest aces would never have grasped a control

stick. If this country had been organized on any such discriminatory basis, it would never have become the greatest power in the world. How could there ever been a Henry Ford, a Walter Chrysler, an Edison or a Lincoln, for that matter, if “two years college training or its equivalent” had been written into the Constitution. If I were charged with forming and training a squadron of fighting pilots, I'd much rather have a bunch of young high school graduates—out of school a few years and carrying their own burdens of earning a Bving-—-than run-of-the-mill college Products, 2 = = ROTESTS against this sort of thing are constanly coming to me. Read this typical letter: “I am writing as a private pilot to launch a gripe against what I class as a discrimination of the worst order. This evening I heard news which was well designed to make ‘any airman ‘frothy’ We private pilots, many of whom are attempting to build up hours to qualify for instructor’s rating, are to be kept out of the air in favor of the college boys now on Civil Pilot Training programs. “We who are flying, who have no college education and no flying course handed to us on a silver Plstigs —no rich sucker to give us everything free—are to be held down, while those who enjoy all the above at our expense, since we all pay taxes, are favored. “Only today we were informed by a Government Pre (CAA) “that, “The Government would just as soon have the private pilots stay out of the air, to let those on Civil Pilot, Training Programs enjoy fu priority.’ i

“This is supposed to be a democracy, isn't it? Why, be required for a |

then, should a college education be square deal? I have flown many different types of aircraft, and I have yet to see one in which there

was a special lever, ton, or gadget installed for |

Skpress Purpose of a

So hey Say—

being aphied bya man with

§

WE ARE OEFTING — Production must continue to step u wp —Vice President Wallace, ip’ op

e power of fra- |.

{ignorant or is prejudiced in favor {of thé Axis powers. {can read, and does so, knows that

| IT MAKES HER SAD

to ask what the Government, State,

/ 7 . . The Hoosier Forum I wholly disagree with what you say, dut will dejend to thedeath your right to say it.—Voltaire.

CONDEMNS POSITION TAKEN BY LESTER GAYLOR By John E. Daniels, 15 W. 27th St. = -

A letter appeared in the Sept. 1 issue of The Times signed by Lester | Gaylor. In it he referred to the fighting over there as “Europe’s blood feud” and criticized Winston Churchill, Lord Beaverbrook and the Committee for National De- : fense. : 3 Lester Gaylor is either abysmally| ployer never pays a new employee, who he promptly: dubs apprentice or beginner, a very substantial wage. Da s someone say they smelled a rat? The discharged silk workers can’t live on promisés”and hopes, therefore I believe that it is the duty of the Government official, the lahor leader and the employer to use ga litle altruism in their makeup to stave off the silk worker President Roosevelt is doing|from “battering the main stem.” everything that is humanly pos- yn n. 8 sible to ward off this catastrophe|U. 8S. CAN DO WITHOUT and he should get the loyal sup-|LINDBERGH, HE BELIEVES port of every citizen who calls him-| oo Campbell, 852 W. New York St.

self an American. 4 5 In 1927 an unknown National hE. ; Guard made aviator history with American people made an idol of him.... Then he became bored with

all the people making a hero out of him. Does he remember when he smashed canteras and knocked down reporters who were only doing a job that was required of them? He married into a rich family and became worse than ever, A child was born and gifts came from these hero worshippers from all over the world. Gifts that _|eouldn’t possibly be used because there were so many. Then his trouble came and the United States wasn’t good enough to live in. Of all places to,go, he had to choose, England, the nation that he is now deriding. He went to Russia, Germany and France. He received medals from Adolf Hitler. . -He denounced the Russians saying that their machines were no good. The machines must be better than he thought.,., He must have thought that President Roosevelt wouldn't accept his resignation and would beg him to keep his commission. The utterance he made at: Oklahoma City was

(Times reaglers are invited to express their views in these columns, religious controversies excluded. Make your letters short, so all can have a chance. Letters must be signed.)

Any one ‘who

Hitler has sworn to conquer the world, and has made vast preparations to accomplish ‘his aim. The encirclement of our Continent would cut off a number of our vital war materials which we have to import, and then it would be only a matter of time until the Axis gang closed in on us.

By Ruth Taggart, 4140 8. Emerson Ave.

Now that golf is just about over for this season, we will soon have our old standard time back and the weather more pleasant for the big poker games around the club tables and the playing of slot machines, of course, it would not be a “Bingo” game, for that would be gambling and going against the law. 2 8 = > REPORTS SILK WORKERS ARE IN NEED OF HELP By J. E. Bowman, Indianapolis

May I as an American citizen and taxpayer be audacious enough

or your so-called Indianapolis Silk Workers’ Union intends doing for the hundreds of Indianapolis silk workers they have discharged because of ‘lack of work? It is & known fact that one supposedly co-operative union is employing new girls to fill vacancies in different departments. Why? . The answer to: the last question is simple, meaning this. The em-

Side Glances—By Galbraith

just like the people he represents. “The only way to defeat Germany is for Germany to attack the United States.” Who wants our cities and our people. bombed .by a degenerate? We should keep Lindbergh and his kind from speaking the kind of propaganda that smells of Naziism. America, doesn’t need his kind. : ” 2 ” . PLEADS FOR CHANGE ‘ACCORDING TO HOYLE’ By Voice in’ the Crowd, Indianapolis This is to assure N. G. of Frankfort that I will not be disappointed nor fooled by a “changing world.” No generation has ever seen: nor perhaps ever again will see the|, kaleidescopic changes that my generation has seen. They have been the natural changes of progress wrought by hard work and thrift of a free people and free enterprise. | I have witnessed the major mechanization of industry, of the farm |and the home. I have watched the introduction of talking

seen the telephone and lights and the general use of electricity, gas and water from a centralized pumping station come into everyday use ‘in most private homes. | I have seen the mule cars replaced by successive steps transportation. .I have seen the cobblestone streets disappear and have witnessed ‘the building of sewers and sanitation and garbage disposal plants to improve . the health of our community. I know| that-the bustle and wool ‘petticoats and wool stocking and high topped shoes are gone, Slo why do you speak to me of a changing world? I am for change if it ‘is in the line of progression and I say to you that for several years we have not been progressive. We have been a weak and defeated people willing to follow any

without work - and that is not progressive, Nearly half of our peolamenting ause they are sure thet the thet is not progressive. I say to you that if we are ever to have health and plenty we are going to have to work harder, more

| and figures on requirements.

machines, motion pictures, radio,|: automobiles and practically all of} the modern conveniences. I have|} electric|

pied piper who promised us security|

ple are standing on their heads). g sun is setting and|

Gen. Johnson: Says—

rr

What Is Needed Is Lets Rhetoric, Fewer Promises, and More Records ~ Of What We Actually Have Done

r ASHINGTON, Sept. 6.—The ringing opening statement of Vice President Wallace's superduper defense board—the belated 1941 model % the 1918 War Industries Board—was good oratory. But it leaves room for a little questioning, In the first place, what is most needed now is less rhetoric and more action, fewer promises of what we're “gonna” do and more records of what we actually have done. In the second place, the announcements, almost as new discoveries, of policies effectively and successfully applied in 1918 (such as conservation, standardization, reclamation, plant-conversion and intelligent priorities) raise some doubt’ about whether these hoys yet know or even suspect what it is all about. In the third place, all the emphasis here is how “less essential” uses ‘are to be absolutely subordinated to military Ra ments. But, when Mr, Wallace was asked a few timid questions about what the total requirements are, he didn’t have any answers. There is an old proverb about “cutting the coat

. to suit the cloth.” We are embarked on an industrial

military program of between 50 and 60 billion dollars. That is more than ‘the total national industrial output (excluffing agriculture and transportation) in some of the depression years. Of course, any such measure of production in dollars is tricky and unreliable, because of fluctuating prices. But, it is the best yard-stick we have.

F military production for ourselves, Britain, the Russian Communists and the Chinese whatchamaycallems is to take absolute precedence, and if the total equals a bad year’s entire American industrial production, what* is going to be left for the American people? The mathematical answer is unity divided by infinity or, in plain words, ,zero. I can’t® recall the 1918 war board making any

‘ringing announcement whatever at its first ty

It first made a kind of collection of itself and took a look around to see what were the controlling facts It was especially charged with the duty of conserving civilian supply. That it did, and, while it demanded great sacrifices where they were necessary, it first made absolutely sure that they were necessary and used every ine genuity to temper or avoid their most painful bears ing instead of proceeding to them almost as a primary aim and advertising them as a virie of its administration. 2 = 8

N some kind of a-publicity build-up it is now being frequently said that our present defensive effort exceeds in production anything attained in 1918. In the first place, on the available fragmentary comparable figures, I don’t believe it is true. Considéring the tremendous increase in American industrial capacity it is a reproach if it is not true. It is a further reproach, because the methods that obtained that 1918 production and the lessons therefrom were all written in the books and have mostly been neglected until just now. Finally, the World War problem was entirely different. The Allies had passed the peak of their man-power, which was declining. They had built up the curve of their production of munitions, which was advancing beyond their needs. It would have been folly for us not to have utilized it—which we did. By mutual agreement, we let them build for us guns, planes, shells, for which we furnished them the raw materials. For these and other reasons we purchased our half of our supplies for our A. E. F. abroad. This condition is today reversed. No dust. 1 comparison can be made. v ' This board would do well to get busy, stop make ringing statements, and hunting alibis, learn the. true job and produce results.

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

A Woman's Viewpoint

By Mrs. Walter Ferguson

OE said, “I'll try anything once.” Ruth and:Adele have noses always tilted to sniff excitement, and I just wanted to see Charles Lindbergh again. ‘J had seen him before in Oklahoma City. In 1927, that was, and the town then was in a frenzy of welcome—jubilant and delirious. : Remembering that day it seemed queer that tho: four of us should be starting out to hunt for a ball park beyond the city limits to hear the erstwhile hero. Yet the public auditorium, built by WPA funds, could not abide his presence within. The City Council Jad s0 decreed.

‘After a devious journey, we finally arrived in the middle of an @ncient weed patch, far from the , spotlighted park. The intervening : ‘space was filled with cars, insects and leaping humans. We were soon leaping, too, over hillocks, cockleburrs, cotton stacks and cow tracks. Recently cut weed stumps gouged our leds and slit our precious stockings. Then—Biff!|—we landed head-on in a barbed wire fence. Joe tore his pants getting Pugh, but. we were too near our destination to er Inside we found aproximately 14,999 other people who had endured the same rigors. They sat low seats, hastily constructed from odd bits of lumber, or they stood near the speaker’s stand. a a pi There was no rh ec, no name-calling, no tricky p , NO eritl of a city whose door had been slammed in his face. He

INDBERGH rose.

intelligently and with better under-| speech

standing than we have ever known before. | If we are going to improve socially as only free men can im-

e are -going fo have to go}

a government of laws in-| reasons. N

stead of a ‘government of emer-| gencies, and we are going to have|

to go back to elected officials de-

sired by the majority and away],

from ©

blocs ‘and _ap-| p°

pressure - pointed’ bureaucrats -who are hog: gate,