Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 February 1942 — Page 10

PAGE 10

The Indianapolis Times

ROY W. HOWARD RALPH BURKHOLDER MARK FERREE President Editor Business Manager

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1942

YOUR 80-CENT POTATOES

HEN -Vic Donahey was state auditor of Ohio he discovered an item on a travel expense account of another Ohio politician. It was 80 cents for a baked potato. Vic took that as an issue, made a name for himself as a super-watchdog of the state treasury, got himself elected three times’ governor, and later to the U. S. Senate. Walter Brown, postmaster general under Hoover, asked for a specially built limousine, tall enough to accommodate a high hat for official occasions. A whole nation of taxpayers laughed a somewhat metallic laugh and Walter never lived the incident down. "Tis such stuff that makes or breaks public character. None of us can visualize a billion. But we all can under-

stand an 80-cent potato.

®» = = O now we have another one of those things. It is 'affaire Mayris—the glide dancer, the protege of the wife of the President; discovered on the public payroll at $4600 a year to do her not as yet well-defined bit in event of bombings, fires, wreckage, dead and wounded. It’s all to the good, we think, that such unintentional dramatizations occur as they do from time to time in America, hauling us back on our heels and making us ask what's going on. The country’s attention is now highly concentrated on the OCD and what it’s up to in public spending—on an occasion when the people are being asked to “give until it hurts,” to use a phrase from World War IL. = 2 2 = = UT let's not confine ourselves to the lightfooted Mayris. Let’s glance down through other items in the OCD, of which Mayris is only a $4600 flyspeck in a caravan of outgo that strains the human eye to follow. We have before us the report of the hearings on the first deficiency appropriation bill for 1942. Emphasis on deficiency. We find about one page, in tabulated agate, dealing with such obvious civilian defense departments as “‘emergency medical,” and “protective construction, camouflage and blackouts,” and “fire defense,” and “civil air patrol.” Then, in addition, we find seven and one-half pages dealing with overhead, speakers’ division, library, “know vour government,” receptionists, management analysis, and the now famous physical fitness division to which the charming Mayris is attached. We observe that, ranging from $8000 a year down, the tabulations literally erawl with titles such as information specialists, racial relations advisers, business specialists, civilian participation advisers, labor problem consultants, associate editor writers, and liaison officers. Each with a helper or two or six; all shored up, surrounded and served with, junior assistants, senior clerks, file clerks, junior file clerks, messengers and assistant messengers, junior civilian participation advisers (youth), under clerks, under file clerks, custodians, guards and janitors. We are getting dizzy, fel-low-taxpayers, but you'll find them ultimately all on your cuffs. Some fire department! So—don’t be too tough on Mayris alone. When you ponder your income tax blank, come the Ides of March, remember not only Pearl Harbor but all the 80-cent potatoes

you are paying for.

RETREAT FROM MOSCOW TT 0 months ago today German generals looked through field glasses at Moscow. In 48 hours they were to march into the Kremlin, while their “yellow Aryan” partners stabbed America in the back. It was to be the decisive Axis victory of the war. But something happened in Moscow. And thereby hangs a tale of which Herr Hitler has not yet heard the last. For that night there gathered from nowhere a vast new army of Red reinforcements. The next day the Nazi “victors” could not believe their eyes, but this Moscow mirage was real. And on the appointed hour the German generals, instead of entering the Kremlin, were running in the opposite direction. Two months later, some have retreated 100 miles, others 200 miles. They are still on the run—except those who have been killed or captured in battle, or purged by their all-high Hitler, Now what? To point the analogy of Napoleon's disastrous winter retreat from Moscow is tempting to Russians, Americans, and all the allies. That, however, would be very dangerous wishful thinking. Hitler's great army, after ali its European and Russian victories, has suffered two months of ceaseless defeats. It is down, but not out. After the winter round, comes spring. Then again Nazi tanks will rumble, and Nazi planes roar, across the long Russian front. Already the retreat is slowing down. Russia has won the biggest winter battle in world history. But Hitler will strike again in many directions. The decisive battles of this war are not over, they are just beginning.

BY THE OLD MOULMEIN PAGODA—

THE old Moulmein pagoda probably isn’t lookin’ so lazy at the sea these days as it did in the days when Kipling and Speaks were providing the ammunition for three decades of baritones in “The Road to Mandalay.” The road from Rangoon to Mandalay is a bloody road these days. Rangoon has been bombed, and so has Moulmein. But the sun is coming up like thunder out o’ China, ‘cross the bay, and it isn’t the Japanese rising sun, either. There are rays of that sunrise plainly visible now at Changsha. There are rays visible in Chinese reinforcements in

Kipling’'s beloved Burma. Yes, we can hope for a real sunrise in East Asia after

40 years of dark Japanese clouds, and the only bad feature

Fair Enough

By Westbrook Pegler

DETROIT, Feb. 9—The socalled Reuther Plan for the reorganization of the motor industry during the preparatory period of the war program was a political fake so fraudulent on its face that, in rejecting it, the managers merely shrugged it off and neglected to go into the character of its author. The Reuther Plan would have given the United Auto ; Workers of the C. I. O. authority in management equal to that of the legal owners of the property, both collaborating with a third authority, representing the Government. There was not the remotest possibility that the Roosevelt Administration’ would select as the Government’s “neutral” representatives men who were not positively known to be reliable partisans of the union and enemies of private ownership and management. Under the Reuther Plan, with the Government on the union’s side, the owners, outnumbered 2 to 1 on issues of the management and even the disposal of private property committed to their care, would have been asked to serve in a role similar to that of condemned Polish hostages compelled to dig their own graves.

Did He Really Mean It?

REUTHER is an adventurous unioneer, politician and revolutionary field leader who, with his two brothers, Roy and Victor, acquired power through one of the most violent and brutal insurrections, short of civil war, that ever threatened constitutional government in this country. Walter Reuther had worked briefly and in no expert or executive capacity in the automobile industry and had visited Russia to study the political phenomena which include collectivism, dictatorship and the technique of mob warfare. Of plant management he has had no experience so, for expert ability, he wouid have been compelled to rely on the management men. Had these men then deliberately sabotaged his plan or refused to serve under him, it would have failed, surely. So it is not necessary to believe that Reuther, with his knowledge of recent Italian history, had any other purpose than to advertise himself and discredit ownership management in the name of patriotism. He must have realized that failure would bring chaos and fascism and that in that event the public temper would react against the author of the disaster. The scheme was not pressed. It was merely ballyhooed.

Labor Movement in Disguise

THE MICHIGAN insurrection by which Reuther rose to power was an anti-labor movement disguised as a workers’ protest. The motor companies suffered much. But the most painful brutalities and the most hurtful permanent loss were suffered by the majority of the workers, who sensed the character of the union and its leaders and struggled against odds to remain free men after Governor Murphy had abandoned them. The union refused to let them vote for their collective bargaining agents and dragged many of them forcibly to union offices where they were compelled to pay up and sign up or be beaten up. Hundreds of men and women were pummeled by the mobs, one man was dumped into a vat of glue, lunch boxes and clothing lockers were looted and unspeakably befouled, windshields and windows of the parked cars of nonjeiners were smashed while the owners toiled for their families, tires were cut, one woman was mauled by six shrieking furies and her coat was slashed and her galoshes filled with tacks, and a brick tossed through the window of one man’s home at night narrowly missed his sleeping baby. Such were some of the metheds by which the Reuther union obtained the batgaining rights of countless defenseless Americans in whose name now, in time of war for the confirmation of the four freedoms “everywhere in the world,” essayed to obtain total power over the motor industry or, anyway, credit for a noble effort in freedom’s name.

This and That

By Peter Edson

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9. —American Youth Commission, the nongovernmental organization headed by Owen D. Young has been studying tbe problems of the young folk for six years. ... . Making its report at this war time, when there is a demand for youth, many of its recommendations may not apply till the post-war depression, but some of its findings offer good sidelights on the youth problem of the depression. In 1920 there were 3.7 million youths from 15 to 19 years of age. In 1930 there were 5.7 million. . Each year, 1.75 million young men and women offer their services as beginning workers. . Half are rural and half urban. . About 40 per cent quit school at the end of the second year. The number of farm boys reaching maturity each year is double the number of farms falling vacant annually through retirement or death of older farmers. . . . More than 300,000 farm boys and girls must find work in the cities every year. . . CCC aid costs $100 a month per boy. . At ages 12 to 14, the average girl is taller, heavier and more developed physicaily, mentally and socially than the average boy of the same age. . . High school costs the public from $30 to $200 per pupil per year. . . Forty per cent of all the youth come from families of five or more children. . . , The Federal school lunch program reacnes five million out of 28 million children.

Washington Shrapnel

BUREAU OF STANDARDS has perfected a device to measure the slipperiness of floor coverings. . American Automobile Association figures over 36 million car breakdowns in 1941, a third requiring towing. . . Army ordnance for this war has already cost five billion dollars more than for all of the last war. . .. Negroes outnumber foreign-born in the U. S,, 12 million to 11 million. . . . Half of the year’s lumber production, estimated at 1.2 billion board feet, will go into war channels. . A WPA survey shows rents up in 114 out of 115 defense areas, Boise, Idaho, showing no mcrease. . . . England has recovered 250,000 tons of scrap metal from bombed buildings, but with the blitzkrieg checked, this source is now cut off,

So They Say—

Cuba is a small country without resources, but the little we have we cheerfully place on the altar of

| liberty of men who are dying for liberty.—President

Fulgencia Batista of Cuba. * * * 1t is very hard to see how democracy can survive if there is discrimination among people because of their economic interest—Arthur Garfield Hays, defending newspaper ownership of radio stations.

» * *

The League of Nations, which seemed so bold a step after the last war, will be paled indeed by what will be necessary after this war.—Arthur Sweetser, secretariat of the League of Nations.

* * -

We shall have to cherish the values of religion and of liberal culture in a population trained to war

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES Sherman Was Right!

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The Hoosier Forum

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

“LET'S CLOSE NEWSPAPER OFFICES FOR THE DURATION” By Etta Aue, 204 S. Harris Ave. Who wrote Raymond Clapper’s column for him in Wednesday's edition? Surely he did not write such drivel himself. So the Army and Navy could be run better by a newspaper editor, could it? So a “newspaper office always goes on the assumption that the worst is about to happen the next minute,” does it? Then why didn't some smart newspaper editor get out an extra announcing that the Japs were coming to Pearl Harbor? It was certainly the biggest scoop of 1941. Let’s just close up the newspaper offices for the duration. It would save paper, save a lot of wear and tear on readers’ nerves, and give all those efficient newsmen a chance to show us how to run the Army and Navy so we can end this war—but quick.

2 » o “MR. MEITZLER HAS THE FACTS AND FIGURES” By Voice In The Crowd, Indianapolis Of the contributors to the Forum who stick to facts free from wishful thinking none is more consistent than Mr. Meitzler of Attica. He has the facts and figures and understands the landmarks that must remain if America is to have any resemblance to the great structure that was built by hard-headed men who knew the bounds of good government, and the dangers of an all powerful state. Meitzler’s fear of a labor monopoly is genuine and if you do not believe it has foundation, watch the utter disregard for small business and independent labor. In 10 years from now if we continue the trend a very few labor leaders, a few large corporations, and a few politicians will control the lives of us all, and men of merit will cease to rise from the ranks.

wish but we will have embraced the two class system of the old world and the middle ages and what we call it will not matter. The only hope that this trend will be broken lies with American public opinion,

We might call it Socialism if we]

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which seems always to awaken to close the switch before disaster. A gentleman questions Meitzler’s statement that “labor” gets twothirds of the national income, and queries why does it net get it all? The simple truth to that query is that when the figures quoted by Meitzler were computed the national income was about 68 billion dollars. The cost of all divisions of government in that period was about 17 billion dollars. Therefore, one-fourth of the national income went into taxes almost unbeknown to “labor.” Another angle to it is that the national income is a figure considerably higher than the value of the wealth produced. The earnings of all of the higher professions, and entertainers, bartenders, baseball players, and on down to the lower paid service trades, all non-producers, form a part of the national income—production wages spent and thus counted twice, might fool you if you don’t stop to think it over. If you think it over carefully and consider the cost of Government, and the support of the non-pro-ducers you will realize that 66 per cent of the national income is a very high wage for “labor.” ” 2 ” “LET SUPER-CONTROL BOARD RUN WAR” By George O. Davis, R. R. 4, Brasil. I wonder what kind of names I would be called or what would be said about me, or if it's possible that anyone would agree with me, if I said the majority of our citizens could be kept from being tax slaves after the war is over if the nation would be operated for the duration of the war by a supercontrol board. The sale of everything to cease. Everyone be given

Side Glances=By Galbraith

"There | was up North perfectly I. running my own Te store, : uni my childrek persuaded me to retire and come down

a book of ration cards to obtain the necessities of life. All property, money and personal service be at the disposal of the control board. At the beginning of the system everyone take an inventory of their possessions, at the end of the war the plan would only continue until the people regained all they had at the start of the war. All people to carry on their jobs as at present unless the control board says their service was needed for something else to carry the war on properly. I am not advocating slavery because all people need a reasonable amount of wholesome entertainment and luxuries, also a chance to have a home and opportunity to support . it, if they are willing to work. ” ” ”

“NEW CASTLE ALL-OUT FOR CAMP BUNDY”

By Mr. and Mrs.

Cicero M. Bailey, New Castle

New Castle is going all-out for the honor of giving to Indiana's new military camp the name of the late Maj. General Omar Bundy, a hero of World War I. He was a graduate of West Point Military Academy, made a fine record throughout his Army service, culminating in the feat of stopping the German advance on Paris in June 1918, when his division repulsed the enemy at Chateau Thierry and held Belleau Wood. Letters and petitions are being sent to the War Department by individuals and organizations in New Castle, including the Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs. They invite all counties, cities, towns and citizens of Indiana or interested persons wherever they may be, to join the New Castle crusade to make the name of the new camp a memorial to Maj. General Omar Bundy, an outstanding military celebrity and native son of Indiana. ” ” ”

“NOW, ALONG COMES MELVIN HESSELBERG—"

By Life Buoy, Indianapolis Speaking of the “Bundles for Congress” movement, I notice under the heading, ‘‘Congress Mum,” that the author of the Pension for Congressmen Bill, Rep. Robert Ramspeck, said— “I have no objection to their having all the fun they want to, but I don’t think it serves a good purpose to make sport of Congress at a time when people ought to have confidence in their Government.” Does that Congressman feel that sneaking through such a bill would inspire the people? They resent sneak acts as much as they resent the “Sneak Attack.” Now, along comes Melvyn Hesselberg’s appointment head of the Art Council of the OCD. It seems to me that besides “Bundles for Congress,” we ought to start another “March of Dimes.” Dimes to buy certain people and groups in Washington a bar or bars of that scap we hear help remove the “0.”

SONG OF HOPE

Children of yesterday, Heirs of tomorrow, What are you weaving? Labor and sorrow? Look to your looms again, Faster and faster Fly the great shuttles Prepared by the Master. Life’s in the loom, Room for it—room! —Mary Artemisia Lathbury (1841-1913).

DAILY THOUGHT

In the days of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider.—Ecclesiastee.

HE MUST gather his faith to-

Johan. §

Gen. Johnsen Says—

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9% “And midst the dead and dyin® were some grown old in wars, “The death-wound on their gale lant breast, the last of many scars. “But some were young, and sude denly beheld life's morn decline “And one had come from Binge gen, fair Bingen on the Rhine.”

Every year, for some time, it has been my fortune to be invited to taik before the West Point cadets by the current chairman of the lecture society. The lecture course is financed by the cadets out of their very meager spending allowance. It is rather unusual at the academy where the course isn’t exactly liberal. But more distinguished and dignified educators, scientists and publicists will find it an, unalloyed pleasure, just as I do—but for a different reason.

When I was a cadet the inmates knew about as little of what was going on outside those grey . and cloistered walls as the inhabitants of other detention institutions up and down the Hudson, monasteries and penitentiaries—and cared less.

My first U. S. M. A. appearance happened to be a kind of question and answer forum on the news, I have conducted many—some in other colleges. Buf this one was what Lincoln called “an astonisher,” He Gets a Razzing REGARDLESS OF ITS hoary old curriculum, West Point had liberalized itself. It was such restless, bright and inquisitive young minds as these “chairmen of the lecture society” who had pioneered the going against the handicaps of a century of tradition.

The first time I went there they. broke another rule—which they would not think of doing with s stranger. I had begged for informality and forgetful ness of rank. Encouraged by that, the chairman turned loose his wolf. I never got such a razzing in my life. It turned out to be a riot. After that the big gymnasium was always full and that was the standard ritual for the kid chairman. Last academic year that slight, slender young official struck me as almost too gentle and modest for the job. He had a beautiful skinning prepared for me—and then fumbled it with too much gentle= ness. consideration and praise. But I suspected after talking with him, and learned later that he was one of the most cultured and at the same time the most shy and retiring man in the corps—at the same time being well loved and respected by everybody. It seems uncanny that the quotation at the head of his cadet biography, written a year ago, should read: “Tis not what man does which exalts him but what men would do.”

Heroism Beyond Belief

ON GRADUATION last June, Nininger chose service with the infantry in the Philippines. Last week the War Department announced the award to him of the Congressional Medal of Honor (after he was dead) “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action , . . above and beyond the call of duty.” That decoration is the hardest in the world to get. In all our wars only a few have been awarded. The act must not be merely brave—it must be brave beyond belief. Gen. MacArthur's terribly punished left flank in Bataan was being pushed back and was disintegrating under greatly superior force. No reserves remained. Our little Nininger literally made himself a reserve-— a one-man army. With a sack of hand grenades and a rifle, he charged alone, outflanked the enemy, and, although three times wounded, drove them intn a retreat which saved the line. He was found dead surrounded by the dead and wounded of the enemy. Perhaps there is a story of surpassing heroism but I haven't read it.

Cadet Alexander

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

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THE THINGS CONGRESSMEN can think up! As if there were not enough important business on hand, Rep. Earl Wilson (R, Ind.) proposes a 10 o'clock curfew for all women Government workers. “They ought to get to bed so they can come to work with their makeup already on,” he proclaims, Strangely enough, nothing was said about men getting to bed at a reasonable hour, although we must presume their nocturnal gadding doesn't add to their next morning’s efficiency either. And if it is efficiency we have in mind, representa= tives of both parties could concern themselves with something else in the interest of national defense. According to many Washingtonians, some of them employed by Uncle Sam, there are about 10 times too many workers in Federal offices. “One hundred girls employed where six could da the work,” is the way one woman puts it. Under such conditions, it's easy to see that girls have nothing to do part of the time but put on makeup.

Passing on a Suggestion

Wherever you sit these days, it is obvious that toa . many people want to work for the Government and too many are hired. A stampede to Washington has been on for several years, and the war accelerated it. Thousands upon thousands of young women, equipped to fry pancakes, are boning up on regulations, bege ging their Congressmen for jobs, and getting them, too, Instead of bothering with curfew laws for girls, our lawmakers should curtail some of this enthusiasm for snap positions, which seldom turn out to ke snaps, except in the youthful imaginations of the applicants. Of course, this is good business for girls and Cone gressmen. For the latter it's a form of political fence building. If there isn’t a Government job for a cone stituent, the next best thing is to get one for the cone stituent’s son or daughter. Perhaps it would be a good move to declare a gen« eral 10 o'clock curfew for Washington. Anyway, the boys won't want to stay out if all the girls are in. I often have the feeling that the war effort would be aided if everybody in the capital got more sleep.

Questions and Answers

(The Indianapolis Times Service Bureau will answer any question of fact or information, mot involving extensive research. Write your question 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. ©.)

Q—What was the construction cost of the Singae pore naval base?

A—About $80,000,000. It is capable of accommodating the entire British fleet,

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