Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 May 1942 — Page 22

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year,

FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1942

AND IT CAN HAPPEN HERE

‘THOSE who think the Henderson efforts to prevent inflation are going too far, we commend the following ‘table, being the index of prices in Germany, covering nine

years, from 1914 to 1923. Price index at end of year or month:

1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919

1920:

eos esses esssenscccsesssssnsstcsnrncs e800 0000 8000000 s00s00 000000000 eecerss sae essaesoustateesassesttatres Sse sane ss esas eeEdse suns sects essssscce caress aries ensiceaneree eessenesssssessssessssostsesessrsscne

December .....ccoccicteorccsoncs

+1921: June December 1922: June ... July August

ees estes sper sess hse oe

est aston incineniecnnseecenens

ces sss saRecIreROeIsectRBevetaies saves eesneresd

evs esc sepesenee

eessevsssesedessnsecsnnrsescsncee

September Se e080 0ss000000es000000000 5

October ..

90000080005 00000 0080000000000

November ..c.cccoececscessscssosesssscone December 000000000 000000000000 0000080% 00"

1923: January

000000 000Q0EN 000000000000 INTS

February ....cececscosvaioscoonsarsocnes

March ...cesoeccccecsese April ,...... 00.0 May June ...ecoc00ee July August September October November ..... ves December ........... an,

But Es those

serestoesscsven sesso csensence 0000000000000 00080: 000000000000 serves seco cere sees vesns sess csorene ses se0esssour te @eevstenrescens ee

eess0s seen toe

Statistics are, traditionally, a bore.

are worth going over at least twice; worth as much time, as,

say, a crossword puzzle.

They mean that, if you had lived in Germany during and after the last war, the unit of your purchasing power as of the end of 1913 would, by the end of 1923 (nine years), have shrunk to one trillion, two hundred billion, four hun"dred millionth of its value. Translate your dollar into that, and it would mean that, if one dollar today will buy a shift, it would take one trillion, two hundred billion, four hundred million dollars to

buy a shirt nine years from now.

Then, for good measure, apply the table to the dollar you might receive nine years from now on your social security pay-off, your annuity, your bond income, your life insur-

ance savings, or what have you.

: And then ask yourself whether Leon Henderson is going too far. Some of his methods are subject to argument. But,

=

we say, not his objective.

LET'S NOT WASTE THEM

UMEROUS resort communities, especially in the gasrationed East, are threatened with ruin because of the increasing difficulties of transportation. At the same time military forces continue to spend great sums and consume great quantities of scarce materials on the creation of

training centers.

Of course some of this new construction is inescapable, but it seems that the services would do well to lease idle ! resort facilities—where that is possible at reasonable rentals—and thus save time, money and materials, while incidentally enabling beach and mountain resorts to avert

disaster.

At Miami Beach the army air forces are already using - scores of hotels as an officers training center. built a new centar from scratch they would have had to install barracks or hutments, water lines, sewer systems, electric communications and so on, while fully equipped

hotels stood idle. .

Some military authorities are said tb be cold on the Miami Beach business—to think officers and troops should be trained under canvas, not in fancy hotels. reasonable in days of peace, but it doesn’t seem to make much sense now when time and building materials are so precious.

FUTILITY

THE pressure that Hitler put upon Marshal Petain, to force Pierre Laval back upon “unoccupied” France, may be judged from the quotation attributed to the aged chief of state by an American correspondent to the London “I couldn't bear the man (Laval). ‘Physically, even, he was repulsive. , . , He was selling

Daily Telegraph:

France bit by bit.”

“The French people are behind me and never will I let the Germans make me take Laval back into the governThat is how Petain is said to have felt But Hitler held the whip hand and Laval

ment.

Never!” last January. . came back. To what avail?

France to collaborate.

THOSE 7500 MILES

RROADLY, speaking, it is good news that the average ‘automobile tire on a civilian automobile is good for k It will not, however, prove notably helpful to the individuals whose treads are smooth, or the others whose fabric is peeping through, or the few who

wother 7500 miles.

1913=1 1.25 148 1.51 2.03 2.45 8.03

13.82 14.40

13.66 34.87

7030 100.59 192.00 287.00 566.00 1,154.00 1,475.00

3,286.00 5,257.00 4,827.00 5,138.00 9,034.00 24,618.00 183,510.00 1,695,109.00 36,223,771.00 18,700,000,000.00

1.432.500 000 Yoo 00

Ask Hitler today, as he hesitates whether to kick Laval out and install some more effective ~ quisling—as ‘he wonders whether any traitor could force

If they had

That may be

Fair Enough By Westbrook Pegler

NEW YORK, May 22.—The most * significant remark in the general cry of outraged dignity raised in the senate over the gasoline rationing farce was Robert M. La Follette’s reminder that if the executive branch of the gov- * ernment should ever try to suppress critical comment in print, then ‘the ony ‘place where the press could find adequate defense ; would be in the halls of the national legislature. I believe this although suggestions have occurred in congress that freedom of opinion in the press should be curtailed. And I note that in offering his thought, Senator La Follette said he had defected a deliberate design in certain sections of the press to undermine the people’s faith in congress. He seems to feel that the press should exempt congress from criticism in return for which dishonest forbearance congress would undertake to protect its own silent defender. If that is his idea he simply doesn’t understand the nature of a free press becguse free, honest journalism cannot spare a buyable defender from honest criticism, even to save its lite.

Dependent on Each Other o

THE FACT IS that both the legislative branch of our government and the free American daily press are in great danger from the executive branch. If congress is the last defender of freedom of the press, then the press is the final defender of the integrity of the national legislature. Neither can exist without the other and if either goes all our freedom’ will die. I wonder whether Senator La Follette realizes that in criticizing unworthy actions by individual senators ,and representatives and the surrender of the legislative function to the executive, the press has been fighting for the independence of congress. After all, the mere, passing personnel of these houses are not the institution itself but only momentary custodians of its mission in free government.

Congress Decadent, Not the Press

WE OF THE PRESS have the normal, patriotic motive of all believers in the American form of government in demanding that congress remain inde-

But we have also the special motive which was suggested by Senator La Follette’s reminder. We realize that if congress should become an American reichstag of a party leader then we would have no defender and would go the way of the German and Italian press. I may be prejudiced, but I say with sincerity and alarm that congress has been servile to the executive and politically venal and has yielded to the temptation of petty graft. On the other hand, it is my belief that the American press has never been more vigorous and independent than it is today. Look at the risks it has taken in opposing extension of executive and bureaucratic power over all our people by the national government, Who ratified that extension of power while the press opposed it? Congress did. Time was when we of the press had special privileges, but we don’t have them" any more. Congress, on the other hand, so far forgot honor as to vote itself a pension and loads the payrolls with its cousins and its aunts and now is caught in the act of claiming special exemption from the gasoline shortage,

Compare the Positions

AS THE ‘PENALTY of our honest opposition to some of the tendencies of the government the press ‘has been belittled and sneered down constantly for years by President Roosevelt, Harold Ickes and others. I doubt that congress has given intelligent consideration to the consequences of this persistent, studied campaign, should it succeed, or examined the motive for it. The motive is revenge for intelligent, patriotic opposition, the spirit is intolerance of dissenting opinion and the purpose is to substitute a compliant press and the exciting, emotional voice-appeal of the radio under control of a ruling party. The press, be it noted by Senator La Follette, has never suggested that congress be muzzled or intimidated, but has demanded character and independence in congress. But, in congress, on the other hand, the remarks upon the press have resented character and independence and have conveyed warnings that the freedom of the press is somehow, a gift of the present incumbents and subject to revocation by them, for lese majeste,

The Root of It

By S. Burton Heath

upon a time, a little wart appeared on the side of the fourth finger on our right hand. Since it was not painful the wart was neglected. Gradually it grew. In time, tiny warts began to appear on other ‘fingers which came into contact with the original excrescence. Disturbed, we attacked the newer growths and kept them under control. But the original tumor—the see wart—thrived on, and bred new offspring. Eventually we were shaken out of the manana attitude, obtained some acetic acid and killed off the seed wart. Thenceforward we had no more trouble. All of which comes to mind whenever we stop to think about the way Washington is trying to control that inflation which the New Deal and Old Deal both dread and say that we must stop at any cost.

stop the Jack's beanstalk climb of the price level. The prices which competitive retail outlets normally charge are fixed generally by the costs of the goods they sell. Those costs are governed largely by raw material and labor charges. But the cost of labor and the price of farm products—two major elements which go to make up the cost of those things still flowing to retailers’ shelves— are. not to be fixed. i The retailer in March was selling commodities which he purchased before March, at prices lower than those for which he could replenish his stock in March.

Can It Be Pollyanaed Away?

WHEN LEON HENDERSON fixed retail prices at March level, he sentenced the retailer to a very substantial cut in the markup from which his expenses and profit have to come. Neither retailer nor wholesaler. has any reason to expect that even this redu markup margin can be maintained, for Washington insists upon permitting read jusimens in wages, which enter into the cost of goods Mr. Henderson has said he is not going to stand

eliminated may sound the death knell of American merchandising except in the case of the biggest, most efficiently operated stores.

sidize those who otherwise would be ruined by politi=

pendent, intelligent, courageous and above temptation. -

CLEVELAND, May 22.—Once

By imposing a ceiling upon prices we are trying to |

for price rises to correct such injustices, which if not

Instead, the administration would prefer to sube |

THE } INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

~The Grim, Reaper!

FRIDAY, MAY

In Washington

By Peter Edson

WASHINGTON, May 22— * What all this rationing, this con- . servation, this price-fixing, this in= creased taxation, this enforced ‘saving and this effort to control inflation amount to is simply that the federal government is taking over the management of your | standard of living for the dura tion. In peace times this would be known as socialism or communism. In Europe it would be known as life under a dictator= ship. The short and ugly name for it under a democracy is war. What it all amounts to, according to some of the government economists who are planning for the management of your wartime standard of living, is that the average family in the next 12 months must be prepared to set aside some 40 per cent of its income

i | for taxes and savings.

The Hoosier Forum

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

“LET US BE KIND TO OUR FELLOWS” By F. D, 8., Indianapolis “Your bravery is only equaled by your . modesty,” - the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates is reported to have said to one far

words, the Father of Our Country, George Washington. In this year of grave peril may our bravery toward the foe be only equaled by our kindness toward our fellows. And kindness is not what we give but what we share. As we all will share in the victory our valor will win. Let us cheerfully share the privations

‘and the sacrifices that that vic-

tory demands. By millions of acts of humble personal kindness let us again show forth to a cruel world that “the bravest are the .tenderest.”

: » ” s HE WOULD LET DRAFTEES CHOOSE ARMY OR NAVY By A. C., Indianapolis The navy is our first line of defense and our only means of offense at present, including, of course, the air power which must fight for the most part over the sea.

The\navy is in desperate need of men. It has depended on volunteers for two reasons. One is that only firdt class men, of high intelligence and initiative, are fit for naval life. The other is that the navy has never before needed a large force. It does now, and it must either accept volunteers from the draftees or take to conscription on its own account. That would be confusion worse confounded. The logical thing for the army to do is to give every aid to the navy to get acceptable volunteers, and there is no better way than to offer every drafted man the choice of services, and if he chooses the hard

more radiant in works than in|.

(Times readers 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.)

and dangerous life of the sea he deserves our gratitude. If the navy is strong enough the army will not be needed. Let us help make it strong. . ” ” 2 “ALL I'VE EVER HEARD IS A LOT OF TALK” By a 60th St. Resident, Indianapolis Is it any wonder that the City Hall officials of this city are looked upon as a bunch of parasites? Just drive over some of the streets in this neighborhéod some time and you'll see how tires and automobiles can be ruined by rotten streets. All we've ever had is a bunch of empty promises. Why, over on Primrose the people who live there have to fix up their own street. The mayor of this city ought to go to work sometime and clean up his administration. All I've ever heard from this man Johnson who is the big wind over there is a lot of talk. Talk, talk, talk—and never any action. , ..

2 x on “WHY NOT -AN EXPRESS PLAN FOR TROLLEYS?”

By Ex-Motorist, Broad Ripple

I've heard some comment lately that the street railway trolley cars and busses ought to use a skipstreet plan and I think it is a good idea. Why not_ express systems? For example, a trolley car could stop to load every fourth block. This would

Side Glances—By Galbraith

give a quarter of a mile of good running time before loading and the way traffic is, the trolley would be Toaded to the doors before it was half way downtown. Then the next trolley could be hitting another four streets. This system, it seems to me, would give quicker service to evervbody and distribute the load more evenly. As it is now, a car stoos at every corner and half the time there is another car right behind it, coasting with half a load. ® 8 = “NEWSPAPERS MUST LEARN A SET OF MORALS” By H. H. McClean, Indianapolis It seems to me almost subversive for the newspapers to be parroting the inane remarks of a man like Court Asher. When the newspapers get around to quoting what a man like this has to say, you are giving him a springboard that the U. S. government won’t allow him. I noticed the same thing was true when Pelley was put in jail. The newspapermen flocked around him and the papers came out with a lot of tripe that no self-respecting person could read without disgust. In other words, Pelley spreads his hate and filth into the homes of many more thousands than his dirty little sheet could ever do. If the newspapers are going to stand for something in this country, they've got to learn a set of morals. Just parroting about “freedom of the press” is no excuse. What do newspapers have editors for if not to edit?

® = = “WHY NOT GIVE THIS MONEY TO GOVERNMENT?” By $30-A-Week, Indianapolis.

money spent in the primary political campaign. I see where Mr. Ostrom’s campaign cost move than $5000 and I suppose ‘his was not considered very much.

I would guess that the politicians maybe spent about $50,000 in the campaign and I wonder why a lot of this money wouldn't have been

ernment in some way or another. , . : "on. “BURIALS IN TOWN WOULD SAVE MUCH RUBBER”

‘| By C. O. Wilson, 814 Ingomar ave.

I have been reading the death notices and couldn’t help but notice how many were to be buried out of town. Why couldn't the

|government subsidize the under-

takers so that they could take burial lots out of town as trade-ins on 13ts in town and bury the deceased at the nearest cemetery?

With a person being buried in the U. S. A. about every five minutes and one out of every five to be buried on the average of 20

| miles away this would save enough

rubber to a-rolling.

DAILY THOUGHT

keep several tanks

I see in your paper the lists of.

better spent by going to the gov-|

That is an unprecedented amount. Before the war, any suggestion that the American people could set aside 40 cents out of every gotiar would have been considered preposterous.

How It Works Out. . .

THE WAY THIS works out for the average person now is something like this: With total national income for the coming year estimated at 117 billion dollars, to be divided among about 130 million people, that makes the gross per capita income around $900 a year. Put 40 per cent of that—$360 in savings and taxes, and it leaves $540 a year for the per capita spending money which will be left for the necessities on this government-mane aged standard of living. Bear in mind that these are average figures. Some people will be considerably above those averages. A lot more people will be way below them. Also bear in mind that these are averages per person, man, woman or child. To fit them to a family, multiply those per capita figures by the number of people in your family. For an average family of three—mama, papa and the baby—it would work out as an income of $2700 a year, with $1080 of it going into savings and taxes and $1620 of it left for the family to squander,

It's a Fair Standard

WHAT KIND OF a standard of living do you get for this money? In general, the idea is to give you about the same quantity of food, fuel and shelter that you enjoyed in the past, with certain obvious exceptions and certain local shortages in various areas. Sugar and probably most of the imported foodstuffs like coffee and tea and bananas will be down in consumption generally. And in defense areas and war production ‘centers where there have been big and sudden increases in population, shelter accommodations will be reduced. Where you will be hit hardest will be in the shorte ages in services like deliveries, the shortages of consumer goods such as house furnishings and clothing, Interpreting that in terms of stuff you can buy in the stores, it means that you will pay more for food, whether you get it at the grocery or in a restaurant, for the reason that only from 60 to 75 per cent of the food items are covered by price freezing orders, What you can buy in clothing stores, furniture stores, hardware stores, drug stores, filling stations and gene eral merchandise emporiums will be a darned sight less. 8 Editor's Note: The views expressed by columnists in this newspaper are their own. They sre not necessarily those of The Indianapolis Times.

A Woman s Viewpoint

By Mrs. Walter Ferguson

WHEN I WAS in New York, the best play I saw was. John Steinbeck’s “The Moon Is Down.” To individuals with imagination, reading the novel of the same name gives almost as much sate isfaction, since one follows the other so closely. The dialog is identical and every incident of the book is included in the play. The theater only confrives to 3 make the scenes more realistic. Words spoken by persons who can be seen are more potent than words written. Because Mr, Steinbeck endows his German colonel with humane qualities, the" critics say the play pulls its punches. In my opinion, the opposite is true. The very fact that Otto Kruger, as the German commander of the occupied city, is a relic of the war of 1914 and therefore is not wholly indoctrinated with Nazi beliefs, makes the high point of the story, ant adds to its plausibility. He remembers when the German heart and mind were not brutalized. Yet, obeying orders like an autom= aton, he proves that Hitler's new order is capable of debasing the best of men, that his soldiers are conditioned to victory but not to defeat, and that sometimes necessity is also the mother of cruelty.

Steinbeck Is Right

DISQUIETING AS play and book may be, they leave you with a MNft of heart. Even though the

mayor goes to his death and the foe holds the city, the endings are happy, for one great truth is evident, Before a people can be conquered its spirit must be subdued. Men and women can fight without weapons in a nation of free souls. ’ The critics also disagree with that notion. Thus they advance the deadliest of all doctrines. For if, in the future, civilization must depend for existe ence on the number and size of its guns, then I think it may as well be destroyed in this war. History proves John Steinbeck right and the critics wrong. For uncounted generations men who desired freedom have risen to destroy their oppressors. The struggle against tyranny is as old as humanity; we can expect it to continue, in certain phases, as long as humanity endures. But surely it is clear that it cannot be gained save by those who place the right value upon it, and who regard it as a spiritual as well as an economia asset."

Questions and Answers

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

mina

Q—Please name the first superintendent and teachers at the West Point Military Academy. oe A—Jonathan Williams, major of engineers, became superintendent in April, 1802; William A. Barron, captain of engineers, was appointed teacher of mathematics in April, 1802; and Jared Mansfield, captain of engineers, teacher of philosophy in May, 1802. Fran-

GD, Masen was appointed. techer of Preneh 4nd

drawing in July, 1803.

Q—Which was the first cat to construct ronds ~ { of cotton?

A—South Carolina began experimenting with hte ton) fabric as a road-building material in 1926. nd

@—What kind of ink is used to put the uU | mea

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother.—Zachariah 7:9.

cians’ refusal to offend “Labor” by fixing wage levels. As the situation now stands, we are going to permit the seed warts of inflation to flourish, but by proclamation forbid them to be communicable. As new tumors defy Mr. Henderson and do appear, we shall cover them with bits of adhesive tape in the form of

erally are running on the rims. ¥ou can take the appropriations for synthetic pro- , the experiments with guayule and the stories about bie South 4 Americati Wild rubber, pat £ hem all into a

CE id