Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 April 1942 — Page 11

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TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1942

Hoosier Vagabond

TUCSON, Ariz, April 7—One of the main questions people all over the country keep asking me is, “Do you khow Pegler personally?” Having just spent an afternoon and evening with the Pegiers, I'll try to answer a few of the principal questions for you. No, Westbrook Pegler is not a sourpuss. He is a pleasant big fellow, tall, well built. He is a good Catholic, but by no means a fanatic. He smokes, drinks and swears, as do almost all newspapermen. He does none of them to excess. And among all my acquaintances, I don’t know of a man who absolutely dotes on his wife as Pegler does. > Many readers figure that if Pegler isn’t mean at heart, his column hating must be just a pose by which he can make a lot of money. That is not true. He is so serious and sincere about his work that it occupies a large portion of his thoughts. Just sitting with him before the fireplace in a pleasant chat, his conversation drifts almost magnet-like to the subject of union racketeering.

He's His Own Researchist

IN PERSON AS well as in print, Pegler is a man of definite opinions. There is no wishy-washiness. Most things to him are either good or bad. He isn't “agin” quite evervthing, either. Right now, for instance, he thinks America is doing marvelously with its production program, and that it would be an indescribable calamity if anything were to hanpen to Mr. Roosevelt. Pegler gets a terrific amount of mail, most of it bad. One reason he decided to take a vacation was that he found that he was getting too worked up and wrote angrily and used words “too strong.” which sounded odd coming from a man noted for the strongest words in America.

Inside Indianapolis By Lowell Nussbaum

VIRGIL MARTIN, director of the Community Fund, thinks it’s about time something is done about the empty seats in autos in these rubber shortage days. He and Mrs. Martin were driving downtown

vesterday morning and between 46th and 30th on Central they saw a lot of cars but none carrying more than one passenger. At the same time, the trackless trolleys and busses were bulging with passengers and were passing up many standing on corners waiting. The car just ahead of vigils stopped to pick up a group of two women and a man standing on one corner. The driver signaled to them. Unaccustomed to such generosity and thoughtfulness by motorists, they just stood and, gaped. The irritated motorist slammed the door and drove on. The answer, Virgil thinks, might be the formation of an official “hitch-hikers’ club,” with motorist members pledged to pick up pedestrians whenever possible. They could be given official “hitch-hikers’ club” stickers for their windshields so pedestrians (especially the feminine variety) would not be afraid to accept a ride. With more and more people leaving their cars at home, the idea seems to have quite a bit of merit.

Season's Greetings

HENRY OSTROM, the mayoralty candidate, received a rabbit for Faster. The only indication of the donor's identity was a card attached to the box. It said simply: “F. D. R.” Henry suspects he's being kidded. . . . A Connersville woman visited the local war production board office the other day, said she'd read where the government wanted someone to hem some sheets, and she would like to help. Someone got busy and looked it up. They found the government wanted someone to furnish-—materials and labor—1,300,000 hemmed sheets. A little dazed. the woman departed. . . . Theres a sign in a window

From China

CHUNGKING, China, April 7.—Government officials here are perturbed over the danger that the Cripps negotiations in India may collapse. China's fragile lifeline depends on keeping India open. The insistence of the All-India cengress party on handling defense does not make sense here, because the Hindus are dependent on the British, Moslems and Sikhs for military protection. Failure of the Cripps negotiations might so demoralize the country as to open the way for easy Jap conquests of eastern India. That is why Japan is now driving so hard in Burma. China is making a magnificent defense. But America hardly realizes how heavy are the odds. . The Chinese have small arms, but too few planes, anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns, and heavy artillery, Japan holds the industrial centers of China. The Chinese moved their arsenals as they retreated, so they are now producing perhaps as much small stuff as before the occupation. But three-quarters of their other industrial production was lost. Twofifths of the population is in occupied China. This leaves free China largely agricultural, and dependent on the outside world for most industrial and war products.

No Complaining From Anyone

THE MOST ABUNDANT commodity here is fighting spirit. There is no weakening. But there is a desperate cry for help. Chungking is the most bombed city in the world, far more than London. Scarcely a building remains untouched. Yet the people stay on, and rebuild. They throw up one-story shops and dwellings of bam-

My Day

WASHINGTON, Monday—I reached New York City yesterday afternoon in time to visit a friend, and to have a young friend of mine, who is about to join the R. A. F., come in to say goodby. For his training, he is going to the west coast, where his family live. He taught me a very good lesson. Unthinkingly, when I heard that he had been turned down by our own air force, I remarked that I wished he had tried for another branch of our own service, rather than join up with the English boys. His answer was: “But, Mrs. Roosevelt. this is our war, so I shall be in our service.” That is, of course, perfectly true and shows how unthinking one can be, even when one knows boys are fighting side by side with the Dutch and English boys and those from all the united nations. : After my broadcast and a quiet dinner, I had another rather | i I reached the ‘station to find it, as usuak’

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that our Chinese,

- By Ernie Pyle

Because of his strong words, the public realizes by now that Pegler must do a vast amount of research, and be able to back up every word he writes. Consequently, most people assume he has a large research staff working for him. He does not have. He is his own researchist. He does it by a large amount of telephoning, frequent trips to Washington w look personally into records, and by a man-killing amount of reading and wading through court opinions and legal documents. Right here in the house now, he has a bag of printed matter weighing 50 pounds that he must read.

He Can Join Ernie's Club

THE PEGLERS have built a lovely house out here in the desert, for vacationing and maybe some day retiring—though I doubt that will come very soon. They are right out in the desert, thoroughly surrounded and hidden by cactus and desert growth. But inside, the house is as modern as a Spitfire. There is even a swimming pool in back. Since he is looked upon as a celebrity, Pegler has had to throw up a wall around himself or hed never get anything done. He's very hard to get vo. That's the way it has to be. and should be. True, the public provides his living by reading his column— but on the other hand the same public could destroy him if he'd let it use up all his time, The Peglers have a station wagon, and drive into town frequently. Peg enjoys driving, but drives even more slowly than I do. They go out with friends occasionally, and have friends in to dinner. The other night they had a whole roast pig. Pegier doesn't share my almost spiritual “feel” for the desert, but he does like it well enough to | build out here, so I guess he can join my club. In fact I am now trying to work out some arrangement whereby I can help share his burdens with him—such as letting him continue the columns, while I, acting as his proxy, retire to the desert and do his resting for him, }

on E. New York st, near Sherman drive, reading: “Ping pong for boys and girls. Ice cold coca-cola once in a while.”

Monumental Task

THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS monument is about to submit to its annual spring housecleaning. First will come repairs to the pools, so they can have the fountains running before Memorial day. Next will come the task of cleaning the “boudoir” of a large part of the city’s pigeons and starlings—the thousands that snooze on the monuments statues during the winter months. Also this year they're going to paint the wooden observation platform, or crow’s nest, at the top. By the way, Custodian Albert Henry says the ban on picture taking from the top of the monument hasn't cut down any on visits. Only one man refused to go ahead when he was told he must park his camera before going to the top. The regulation was adopted the secongl day after Pearl Harbor “just as a precaution.”

Around the Town

FIVE-YEAR-OLD Patsy Mulcahy, daughter of Bernard Mulcahy, the gas company's research engineer, had no difficulty finding her Easter eggs Sunday. You see, the four Mulcahy children were permitted to color some eggs for their amusement Saturday. Patsy decided to hide her eggs. She did. The next morning, she knew just where to look. . . . Speaking of the younger generation, Rosemary Reich, §-yearold daughter of the state C. of C. field man, was sitting at home the other night—just thinking. Suddenly she blurted out: “Night and day, night and day. How long does this go on?” Maybe she's going to be a philosopher. . . . Miss Hildred Funk, who lives in the Spink-Arms annex, and who has walked across University park to work several years, was quite unhappy last year when a willow tree which she particularly admired was blown down. One day, we're told, she wrote the park board mentioning how much she missed the tree. The other day she was thrilled vo discover someone had planted two smaller willow trees in its place. Anything's likely to happen in an election year, and often does.

By Raymond Clapper

boo and clay destruction. The town is shaken all day and night by blasting for more rock shelters. There are now enough almost to house the entire population. In the meantime, new construction is going on although the heaviest bombing season is near. There is great privation, especially from the shortage of medicines. X-ray film is practically exhausted, hampering surgical work. Yet one hears no complaining—only determination to hold out.

Lifeline Must Be Kept Open

BUT THEY REALIZE that China is now in greater jeopardy than ever, because only an air line provides outer transportation. It will be some months before the new road to the outside world is ready for operation. Hence the cry for transport planes to bring in supplies, so China can continue to strike the Japs. Fighter planes are aiso needed. The American Vounteer group, which has done such heroic and effective sky-fighting, is being worn down somewhat. It needs replacements badly. : Above all. India’s collapse would be the worst blow to China. Then her Near East course for supplies, as well as the route from America, would be gone. China would be surrounded, and left largely to peasant guerrilla resistance. At best this could only harass the Japanese. It could not drive them back. There would no longer be any prospect of allied bomber attacks on Japan from China bases, or of the cutting of enemy supply and shipping lines to the Philippines and East Indies, or of the Chinese offensive that is so important to allied defeat of Japan. - China's lifeline through India must be kept open at all cost.

plaster within a day or two after

By Eleanor Roosevelt

with soldiers, sailors and marines. This crowd was considerably augmented by a number of civilians, who were also traveling. I was, therefore, not surprised to find that there was some confusion about my reservation, and was perfectly delighted when they discovered that the confusion did not mean I would have to sleep in an upper berth, though I was quite prepared to do so. Washington is already experiencing wartime difficulties. There are fewer taxicabs and many people were waiting for them this morning. I discovered two gentlemen, whom I knew, and took them in the car with me. I also offered to pick up two soldiers, who seemed to be waiting an unconscionable time, but they were going in the opposite direction so I was of no help. At 11 o'clock this morning, I had a press conference, followed by a talk with two gentlemen. Then a variety of people came to lunch. Every age was gathered around the table, from one of my nieces, aged 10, to myself.

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The Indianapo

OVER-ALL PAY CONTROL PLAN TO FACE FIGHT

Murray Asks Price Ceilings But Fails to Mention Wage Freezing.

By CHARLES T. LUCEY Times Special Writer WASHINGTON, April T7.—Labor opposition to over-all control of prices, wages and rents—understood to have been tentatively decided on by the administration— was forecast today by spokesmen of both the C I. O and A PF. of L. Administration leaders, including President Roosevelt, have discussed wage-control possibilities with labor leaders, but it was said no definite commitment had been given, C. I. O, President Philip Murray, in a letter to Price Administrator Leon Henderson today, called for immediate action toward an “effective and widespread system of

the goods that people need to buy in order to live,” and to establish the “widespread rationing system that may be necessary to implement price control.” But he did not mention wage control. Opposes Wage “Freezing” Business people are insisting that over-all price control must be backed by wage control, and some officials are said to be hopeful that labor would accept pay-check ceilings if assured that living costs would not rise. . A C I O official said that to freeze wages and prices would mean “freezing inequities.” which he said exist as among different industries and between wages and corporation profits, But there were indications that, if the plan were to include ceilings on profits and all other income, then labor might be more amenable to wage control. Labor May Accept Ceilings

Senator Claude Pepper (D. Fla.), often an administration ball carrier, has announced he will try to suspend the rules to attach a wages-and-prices limitation rider to a 19-billion-dollar military appropriations bill being considered in the senate today. He needs a two-thirds vote to suspend the rules. Some officials are predicting that although labor is now voicing opposition to control of wages, even when coupled with commodity price and rent ceilings, eventually it will go along with the administration. C. I. O. officials have contended that wage increases are inflationary only when reflected in consumer price advances, and they say C. I. O. negotiations have caused such advances only in the coal and clothing industries. Profits have been heavy enough in steel, auto. electrical and other industries to absorbe wage bulges, they say. Says Living Cost Higher In opposing wage controls on the ground that they would freeze inequities, a C. I. O. official pointed cut that living costs have advanced sharply — President Murray estimates 15 to 20 per cent—in the year since the last industry-wide increases were granted. New contract negotiations are now begin. ning. Mr, Murray insisted to Leon Henderson that no effective action has been taken to control living costs and that working people are suffering as a result. “Efforts have been made to camouflage this failure behind the smoke screen of an attack upon labor,” he said, “implying that the increases in the cost of living have been due to the wages of labor. This is false and you well know it to be.”

FT. WAYNE IS HOST T0 400 PHYSICIANS

FT. WAYNE, Ind, April 7 (U. P.).—Four hundred physicians from Indiana, Chio and Michigan gathered in Ft. Wayne today for the 69th annual meeting of the Northern TriState Medical association. The assembled doctors were to hear 10 papers delivered by outstanding medical authorities. Heading the list of speakers was Lieut.-Col. William Keller, senior surgeon of the reserve U, S. public health service and regional medical officer of the fifth corps area, who will be the principal speaker at the convention banquet, discussing

civilian defense.”

day conclave was a business session and election of officers. Dr. Lyman T. Rawles of Ft. Wayne is president of the association.

VOTING POPULATION RISES 18.7 PER CENT

WASHINGTON, April 7 (U. P).— The census bureau today verified something most elected officials probably had suspected already— that candidates each year are required to kiss more babies and hand out more cigars than during the previous campaign. The census bureau reported that the eligible-to-vote population — citizens 21 and .older—numbered 79,863,451 in 1940, an increase of 187 per cent over the 1930 total. Approximately 49,500,000—less than two-thirds of the potential number —voted in the 1940 presidential election. The foreign-born white population was placed at 11,419,138 in 1940, a decrease of 183 per cent from 1930. Natives of Italy, totaling 1,623,580, were the most numerous

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classification. Germans to-

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price control upon the prices of!

WILL SPEAK IN CITY

“medical aspects of the office of

Also scheduled during the one-|

REJECT 20-YEAR AIRPORT LEASE

City Councilmen Oppose It, 6 to 2, Suggest New Contract Be Drawn.

The controversial lease of Municipal airport to three airlines for 20 years has been voted down by the city council after several weeks of bickering. | The council, by a vote of six to two, last night ordered the lease proposal stricken from the files and suggested steps be taken to draw up a hew contract. The lease contract had been approved by the board of works and officials of all three airlines.

Shorter Lease Favored

Councilmen who opposed the lease contended that 20 years was too long and that it should be for a term of 10 years with a recapture clause in it to provide for amendments after five years. The council instructed the board of works to negotiate with the airlines for another lease. Io F. Welch, works board vice president, said the airlines—Amerjcan, T. W. A. and Eastern—probably would not agree to a shorter term lease. He said the airlines would continue on their present month-to-month rental basis until the end of the year when another attempt will be made to sign a lease. Housing Project Delayed

Under terms of the 20-year lease proposal, the airlines would have advanced $30,000 in rentals to help finance construction of an additional administration building at the airport. Councilmen who voted against the lease were Joseph G. Wood, Ollie A. Bach, Ernest C. Ropkey, Dr. walter Hemphill, Harmon A. Campbell and Ralph S. Moore. The only

lis Times

When Mrs. Arthur F. Burgm » St. Francis hospital yesterday

TRIPLET

for a baby brother for her daughter, Judith Louise. But brought two brothers and a sister. The triplets, shown W mother and Nurse Sophia Tarczueski, are (left to right) a boy, a girl and a boy. Judith Louise waits for them at 3231 S. Keystone

ave. Mrs. Burgmann's husband works for

Home Defense Bulletin

OT Reet of hein Detenst: es 0 y Borla OWar® Memorial, 431 North Meridian street,

Flom,

What is the FIRST and most important thing for YOU to do in case of an air raid warning?

At home—on the street—at your work—get under cover and keep quiet!

You should have ample warning.

A general alarm and all clear signal for you is now being arranged.

The first objectives of air attacks on civilian communities are to start panics and fires—CD air raid wardens work with your police to control panic and traffiic jams. Fire watchers deal with fires.

Co-operate with your CD officers to avoid fire and panic in your neighborhood.

SPEED FOOLISH, TESTS REVEAL

45-Mile Car Goes 100 Miles In Only 23 Minutes More Than 60-Mile Car.

You're wrong if you think you can’t get anywhere driving 45 miles per hour, says the state highway commission. The commission last week conducted an extensive test, driving two automobiles at 60 and 45 mile-per-hour speeds over a 1273-mile

two councilmen present who favored the lease were F. B. Ransom and Guy A. Ross. The council withheld until next Monday noon action on an ordinance to annex land at Riverside drive and Lafayette road to the city for a large defense housing project. The housing project is being sponsored by the Indianapolis Co-oper-ative Housing association which plans to erect 200 houses at about $4500 each.

NEW YORK PASTOR

Dr. Adam Clayton Powell Jr, pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist church in New York and counecilman of the borough of Manhattan, will speak in Indianapolis Friday, April 17. He will come here under auspices of the Second Baptist church. His topic will be “Making America Safe for Democracy.” The Rev. John Hal: is pastor of the Second Baptist church and William R. Meriwether is chairman of the committee sponsoring Dr. Powell's

route in the same weather and traf[fic conditions and all traffic regu- | lations were obeyed.

It was found that the 60-mile per hour driver drove 100 miles only 23 minutes faster than the 45-mile per hour driver. Some actual differences noted between the traveling time of the two cars were: All from Indianapolis— to Terre Haute, 16 minutes; to Hammond, 40 minutes; to South Bend, 35 minutes; to Ft. Wayne, 28 minutes; to Richmond, 11 minutes; to Jeffersonville, 28 minutes and to Evansville, 43 minutes. “The results prove that the time difference to the average motorist using the economy 45-mile speed limit is a small matter,” commented S. C. Hadden, highway commission chairman. “The economy speed not only will save gasoline and tires, as originally intended by Governor Schricker when he asked Hoosiers to voluntary set a 45-mile per hour limit for themselves, but it will result in a saving in lives,” the chairman added. “The time loss in the 46mile per hour speed is negligible and greatly cvershadowed by the

appearance.

advantages.”

HOLD EVERYTHING

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a cold storage company.

JOURNALISTS’ MEETING SET

Pupils’ Annual Field Day to Be Held at Butler on April 18.

The ninth annual journalism field day for Indiana high school jour< nalism pupils will be held at Butler university April 18. Leaders in the field of the newspaper, radio and the press associations will address the pupils at the morning sessions, which will get underway at 9:10 o'clock. Afternoon sessions will feature discussion groups on topics of importance to pupil and teacher delegations.

Study Year Books

Scheduled this year for the first time will be a section devoted to year book problems. Other sections will include “Working with the City Newspaper”; “Radio Newscasting and the War"; “Tricks of the Trade in Sports Writing and Columning”; “Pictorial Reporting”; “Reporting—An Art and a Profession”; “Censorship in War Time,” and “How War Gives Women New Opportunities in Journalism.” Speakers for the morning session will be Norman E. Isaacs. managing editor, The Indianapolis Times; Miss Rosemary Redding, women’s editor, The Times; Miles Tiernan, assistant managing editor, the Star; Ralph Brooks, editorial staff, the Star; William Frost, news editor, Station WISH; Paul G. Grimes, advertising staff, the Indianapolis News; Robert Hoover, photographic staff, the News, and Harold Harrison, sports editor, the Associated Press.

Plaques to Be Given

Specially designed plaques will be awarded to the winner in the various events of two types of contests. Off-campus contests wili include: News story, feature story, editorial, sports story, news picture and advertisement. Contests will be held in the morning in writing news stories, sports stories and reading copy. Prof. Charles V. Kinter is head of the Butler journalism department and Prof. Dorald D. Buchard is director of the contests.

BOEHNE DOUBTFUL OF SALES TAX NOW

Times Special WASHINGTON, April 7.—Rep. John W. Boehne Jr. (D. Ind.), member of the house ways and means committee, does not agree with a committee colleague who was quoted as saying that a majority in the house favors a sales tax at this time. The statement was made by Rep. Wesley Disney (D. Okla.), member of the ways and means committee, who is seeking to obtain a sales tax measure. The committee is holding daily sessions on the new tax bill, which is to raise an additional $7,000,000,000 next year. ‘“We undoubtedly will have to come to a sales tax anc several other types of taxes we do not like before this war is over,” Rep. Boehne declared. “But I do not agree with Rep. Disney that the house would poll a majority for such a measure at this time. So I do not want the Ways and Means Committee to report out some bill that cannot pass.” Reps. Boehne and Louis Ludlow, Democrats, and Rep. Robert A. Grant, Republican, are the only Indiana congressmen who remained here for the Easter holiday.

'Flying Tigers’ Lose Net Game

CHUNGKING, April 7 (U. P.) — Ten thousand Chinese sport fans decided today that America’s “Flying Tigers” are better sharpshooters in aerial dogfights with the Japanese than on ‘the basketball court. The American volunteer group's team dropped a 57 to 20 decision yesterday to an all-star Chinese team from Kumming in a charity game for the relief of Chinese

returning from Japanese-occupied He was the head of the Dutch

territory. It was the first basketball game played by the Americans since

to

they arrived in southwestern Asia

FOR TRUCKERS S KNOTTY JO

Plans to Double Up on Duplicate Routes Fought By Unions, ICC.

By CHARLES T, LUCEY AND E. A, EVANS Times Special Writers WASHINGTON, April 7,—Busie ness practices, union rules and government regulations are still enforcing unnecessary waste of rubber tires. This though there is no present prospect of enough new rubber from any source within the next three or four years to replace the tires now being worn out too fast on millions of passenger cars, trucks and busses. The office of defense transportastion has urged merchants to cone solidate their retail deliveries and eliminate the condition under which trucks from several stores serve the same areas daily. The department of justice has made it plain that this can be done without violation of the anti-trust laws, provided merchants Joining in a consolidated delivery plan do not exclude competitors from it or otherwise attempt to take unfair advantage. Fear Loss of Jobs

’ Bub in pany cities teamsters’ nions refuse to permit store dairies, bakeries and other pin nesses to decrease delivery schedules or consolidate hauls. They ob Ject that this would mean fewer jobs for their members. The justice department appears powerless to aid merchants in overcoming union opposition, even when union rules compel the employment, of unnecessary drivers and. as at present, also compel waste of precious rubber. Supreme court decisions have put union restraints on business beyond reach of the antitrust laws, and congress has not acted to amend these laws. On the other hand, reports reaching Washington are that in numerous cases dairies and other business firms are opposing consolidation of their deliveries with those of their competitors, despite widespread duplication of routes,

I. C. C. Rules Are Handicap Regulations of the interstate coms merce commission and of various states license thousands of trucks to carry only one type of freight, or to carry loads in only one direction. As a result, these trucks travel half their mileage empty, burning gaso= line and wearing out tires, The office of defense transportation is seeking means by which such trucks, having delivered their loads, can pick up return cargoes. But again there is union opposition to be overcome, while much greater effort will be required to get I. C. C. and state regulations modified and to organize effective return-load syse tems. These are only a few of the probe lems confronting Arthur B. New hall, who was appointed a week ago as “dictator” for rubber and whose task is to co-ordinate the work of 15 or more federal agencies which have been attempting to deal separ« ately with as many different phases of the question. More Scrap Rubber Needed Others include: More effective efforts to discours age fast driving and non-essential driving by civilians, and to encoure age inspection and proper maine tenance of tires. More steam bee hind the campaign to collect rube ber scrap for retreads and other uses. More help in promoting the share-a-car movement and in plane ning substitute transportation syse tems for war workers and other civilians when present tires wear out. And more speed in the builde ing of artificial-rubber plants. The country has not yet been jolted out of its optimistic and une founded belief that somehow the rubber shortage will solve itself. And every ounce of rubber wasted now speeds the day when rubber famine will deprive war workers of transe portation and tremendously increase the difficulties of civilian life.

© WAR QUIZ

1. Occasionally you see a soldier proudly wearing this purple and gold medal attached to a purple ribbon. Do you know what it is and why it is bestowed ? 2. Anton Mussert recently broadcast over the Dutch radio system regarding the future fate of the Dutch East Indies. Is he a German official, soft-soaping the conquered Dutch, or a Dutch stooge? 3. Is the selfgoverning dominion of New Zealand, Which also fears possible Jap attacks, one or more islands?

Answers 1. The medal is the Order of the Purple Heart and is bestowed for any act of singularly meritorious service, or an act of extraordinary fidelity, or for wounds received in battle. 2. Mussert is a Dutch Quisling, therefore,

and, a Hitler