Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 May 1942 — Page 7

SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1942

the Indianapolis Times

——

Washington

WASHINGTON, May 30.—The gun went off halfcocked on this plan to freeze war workers to their jobs. It won't happen overnight. The war manpower commission has been subjected during the last day or

two to a deluge of protests and alarms since it became known that some degree of government management of the labor supply would be attempted. The government will work in the direction of controlling labor supply. Eventually it may have to take amost complete control. But that is something we may expect to come about gradually and then only to the extent that an acute shortage of manpower makes necessary. There is to be no sudden pushing of people around, Nazi style. Many tangles must be straightened out before the government can move very far. At the moment the main trouble is the pirating of skilled war workers. Plants needing more help are bidding up the market and drawing workers from existing war jobs. This is interfering with production. Yet some provision must be made so that a worker can progress from one job to a better one. The government must develop machinery so that the priority of jobs will be clear. That still remains to be done and it will take some time.

Seniority Rights One Problem

FURTHERMORE THE hub of the whole operation will be the U. S. employment service. It will have to be staffed up and geared to a far more extensive operation than at present Even with the utmost co-operation of employers and labor unions, the difficulties will not disappear

By Raymond Clapper

automatically. For instance, ultimately it may be necessary to take workers from non-essential jobs and put them on war jobs. But before much of that can be done, the question of seniority rights must be dealt with. Many labor contracts give a senior employee valuable rights which he will not be inclined to sacrifice by changing to another and more essential war job. How far this government will have to go in managing the labor supply will depend upon how acute the shortage becomes. The British, who had a severe shortage from the beginning of the war, put into effect early in 1941 the “essential work order” which gave the government power to limit the right of employers to discharge men and to limit the right of workers to leave their jobs.

“Work or Fight” Control

THE GOVERNMENT listed the essential plants. Workers absent from work without permission or reasonable excuse or habitually late for work are reportable by the employer to the labor exchange. The British scheme was put into effect after agreement as to its details was obtained between employers and labor unions. * Basically the American plan will operate through the U. S. employment service. Employers would agree to hire only from certified rolls of the employment exchange. Men not in good standing on the U. S. employment exchange list could not be hired. Industrial exemptions from military service would be checked in through the employment service which would exercise “work or fight” control. This doesn’t sound much like individual freedom and the traditional American way but neither does conscription nor the government control which it has been necessary to impose over industry and consumers. Total war pinches hard.

Ernie Pyle, in poor health for some time, has been forced to take a rest. However, he is expected to resume his daily column within a short time.

Inside Indianapolis By Lowell Nussbaum

PROFILE OF THE WEEK: Dr. John Willard Ferree, state health director, deacon of the First Presbyterian church, bathtub whistler, amateur chef, accordionist, former banker and mattress factory manager, and one of those doctors who advise physical exercite but personally loathe it. He was the youngest state health director in the country when he was appointed two years ago. And, at 37, he is still the voungest, so far as can be determined. Dr. Ferree (his boyhood friends call him Bill) is a big, husky chap with a pleasant smile and a hearty chuckle. He can get a laugh out of ‘most anything. About 3 feet 11, he tries to watch his weight but has trouble keepDr. Ferree ing under 200. His dark brown, wavy hair always looks combed. He wears glasses, has a rather full face and a fairly well developed double chin. Alert mentally, he has an unhurried way of meving about. He has an easy-going nature, a strong sense of social consciousness and a deep interest in public health and preventive medicine. Dr. Ferree has a weakness for fried chicken and chocolate sundaes. That's what he orders even in the swankiest New York hotels. He loves to eat and frequently raids the icebox for a snack about 10:30 or 11 before going to bed.

He Tries Out Recipes

SEVERAL YEARS AGO he became interested in cooking, and now he frequently takes over the preparation of the Sunday evening meal, trying out recipes he has clipped from newspapers. He also likes to experiment, mixing various ingredients and seeing what he gets. Sometimes the results are surprising. He's nuts about nuts, enjoys sitting in front of a lighted fireplace with a basket of mixed nuts and someone to talk to. In fact, talking is his idea of relaxation. Rather careful about his clothing, he enjoys matching up tie, sox and handkerchief; prefers them on the loud side. He goes bareheaded about half the vear,

The Commies

LONDON, May 30—On the theory that even the devil must be given his due under the democratic form of government, the British Labor party at its conference day before yesterday decided in almost the same breath to continue its quarantine of the British Communist party—and to assist that party in lifting the ban on its official organ, the Daily Worker. The delegates gave the party executive a slap in the face by voting 1244000 to 1.231000 in favor of instructing the executive, against its avowed will, to support the lifting of the ban on the Communist organ. Yet, when the same delegates considered a resolution calling for the removal of the ban on cooperation between members of the Labor and Communist parties on specific issues, ‘hey turned around and slapped the Communists in the face to the tune of 1.899.000 to 132,000. The net result of the Daily Worker decision has been to place Herbert Morrison, a member of the party executive and home secretary in the national government, in an almost impossible situation.

[t's a Pretty Kettle of Fish

MORRISON IS NOW in the pretty position of having to order himself to lift a ban which he himself imposed and which he has insistently maintained ever since last June when Britain and Russia became allies,

My Day

ARTHURSDALE, W. Va. Friday —T was not able vesterday to tell you that I ended my day on Wednesday in New York City by going over to the Wanamaker auditorium to speak with two other people at a youth rally under the auspices of the Friends of Democracy, Inc, and the Greenwich Village Center. A great many young people were these. The subject discussed by all the speakers was our attitude toward axis propaganda. I think the most effective speaker was Miss Lisa Sergio, because she ectually had been a Fascist and could speak from experience on the effect of propaganda on youth. Miss Naomi Block and three of her friends from Hunter college walked back with me to my apartment afterward. They are tremendously proud of the way in which Hunter college has met ay war demand. I think in the book campaign alone they have more books than any other college in

ue

Chucked His Career

BILL FERREE is one of those men who never hesitate to take a step once they decide it should be taken. He started out to be a businessman, gradu-

war for almost two years.

high cost.

the western desert is just about where it was when Italy entered the war, with the difference that the British are now on the Italian side of the frontier and hold Gazala and Tobruk.

ated from Marion (Ind) high school at 16, spent a vear at Wabash and got his A. B. degree from the University of Pennsylvania. After working a year at the Chase Naticnal bank in New York and another vear managing a mattress factory at Marion, he became interested in medicine and decided to chuck his business career, So he spent another five years at I. U. studying medicine, served three years as an interne, and had just built up a nice practice at Bluffton when he became interested in public health work. That called for chucking the practice and getting a job with the state health board, which in turn called for another year’s schooling at Johns Hopkins. He works long hours and likes to take work home with him over the week-end. He makes notes of everything, has his pockets and pigeonholes full of them. He even dictates notes to himself in the dietating machine with instructions to his secretary to hand them to him at a certain time. On his desk he keeps a pad of paper, about 3 by 1% feet, on which he writes memos while phoning. Likes te Drive Slowly HE PREFERS talking over the radio to addressing an audience, srobably because he’s still a little shy. Reading is his chief avocation. He scans the newspapers from stem to stern, reads a lot of medical and public health literature, and enjoys historical novels and poetry. He reads until 2 a. m. Fond of symphonies, his particular favorite is Wagner. While studying at Johns Hopkins, he gave in to a long suppressed desire and lesrnen to play the accordion. He doesn’t smoke; decided cigarets were bad for him and up and quit a couple of years ago. He doesn’t play poker: will play bridge only under compulsion. In fact, he dislikes games of all kinds, active or inactive, but sometimes golfs or bowls. He takes in an occasional movie and enjoys driving his car. Although fascinated by aviation, he has taken only one flight. He manages to satisfy his interest by buying and reading pulp paper aviation magazines.

By Wm. H. Stoneman

The region from Alexandria to Cairo and the Suez canal.

In almost two years of desert warfare much has happened and casualties in men and material have been heavy. Yet on the map there is little to show for all this. According to Americans freshly arrived here from the United States, this state of affairs in the Middle East is causing a good deal ot criticism and outbursts of dis-

EVIDENCE LACK ACQUITS DILLON

Officers Fail to They Actually Saw Any Gambling.

tion. He was convicted of the gambling charge in Municipal court 3 last oe

Being a man of conviction and a tanch opponent of the Communists, he will find it difficult to back water but he will probably have to do so. The government's difficulty is that if it does now decide to lift the ban on the Daily Worker, it will be difficult to impose it again under any conditions. Nobody doubts that the paper would be violently pro-war if it were allowed to publish again but it is equally certain that it would be vitriolically critical of a good many people in the government and of the manner in which the war effort is being organized. It would also be certain to embarrass the government on the question of a second front.

Of No Interest to Stalin

THE MAINTENANCE of the ban on co-operation with the Communist party may send some left wing members of the labor party right over into the Comsmunist ranks but it will not really affect relations

between the Soviet government and the British. It has been the rule, ever since Josef V. Stalin came into power in the mid-20s, for the Soviet gov ernment to govern its foreign relations according to national interests, a fact which has caused much quiet peeping and wailing among party ranks in Ger many, France, Britain and the United States itself. Stalin is certainly far more interested in having the sincere and loyal co-operation of the bourgeois governments in Washington and London than he is in anything local Communist parties may do and this week's decision—like the recent decision Jin the United States to release Bar] Browder—can mean very little to him.

By Eleanor Roosevelt

After giving the girls milk and cookies, I shooed them out and made ready to take the night train back to Washington. I arrived there at 7 o'clock this morning and walked through a erowd of khaki-clad soldiers in the station, and was glad to see both the U. 8S. O. canteen and lounge being used. At noon, a group of people who own a building in Washington which they have used as a hotel, came in to talk to me about the possibilities of its present use. Several people came to lunch. Appointments dure ing the afternoon which lasted until nearly 6 o'clock, made the day a fairly busy one. I tried to catch up on my mail in between times before I left Washington again last night to give the commencement address today at the high school in Arthurdale, W. Va. There are always a great many people I should like to see when I come to Arthursdale, but I am particularly anxious this afternoon, before taking the| train back to Washington, to visit the community in pk Run. It happens to be very near

tober and was fined $300 and so tenced to 90 deys by Judge Pro Tem |

George Rinier. He appealed the verdict to Criminal court but for several weeks after his conviction in Municipal court there was no record of the conviction. Following an investi gation of the record, Dillon immediately filed an appeal. In Criminal court yesterday, Judge Pro Tem Charles W. Holder sus tained a defense motion to dismiss the case on the ground that state’s witnesses had failed to testify that they actually saw gambling in Dillon’s place or that they saw any money change hands. Dillon’s attorney, James A. Watson, filed the dismissal motion at the close of the testimony of police oflicers who raided the Budweiser club last June and confiscated a large amount of equipment. Mr. Watson contended that evidence was insufficient for conviction and Judge Holder sustained it without comment, and ordered

Testify |

Thomas Dillon, proprietor of the! ] i well-known Budweiser club at 105 d Gus exsiily to specifipations. W. Maryland st., has been acquitted the army, Konapachr was a pro of keeping a gambling establish-| fessional gravedigger at Flushing,

ment after seven months of litiga- |

Suez—Key to

More American Help Needed to Hold Vital

Mediterranean Area

By RICHARD MOWRER Copyright, 1942, by The Indianapolis Times and The Chicago Daily News, Ine.

CAIRO, May 30.—Fighting on the middle eastern front has been a disappointment. Twice the British have made a spectacular advance into Libya, capturing all of Cyrenaica and the valuable port and airfields at Benghazi. The first time the British, under Gen. Sir Archibald P. Wavell, destroyed Marshal Rudolfo Graziani’s Italian army, and the second time, under Maj. Gen. Neil Methuen Ritchie, they mauled Nazi commander Marshal Erwin Rommel’'s combined German-Italian army, although at

It has been a see-saw

But twice the axis has succeeded in retaking the ground lost to the British so that, at present, the frapt i in

gust on the part of a good many people back home. Apparently, they feel that it is a waste of time and of valuable shipping equipment to send American planes and American war material out here, They say, it seems, that we ought to quit bothering with the Middle East and let the British take care of the place, These people apparently {feel that we ought to concentrate our war effort and our material against the Japs in Asia and quit scattering them over various distant fronts—such as the Middle East. The trouble with these ideas is that this is a total world war, all fronts are interrelated and developments on some influence others, for better or worse. Of these fronts the Middle East, at present dull, disappointing and unspectacular, is one of the most important. This perhaps is best illustrated by listing the advantages that the axis would gain by sweeping the allies out of this part of the world and eliminating the Mediterranean front,

' The Navy

The capture of the Suez by the axis would clear the allies out of the Mediterranean, probably lead to the fall of Gibraltar, and thus release great numbers of axis submarines and the Italian fleet to

“The capture of the Suez by the axis would clear the allies out of the Mediterranean, probably lead to the fall of Gibraltar and thus release great numbers of axis submarines and the axis fleet to operate

in other seas.”

operate in other seas — in the Black sea against the Russians, but more probably in the Atlantic or even the Indian ocean against the British and ourselves.

Communications

Complete control of the Mediterranean by the axis would tremendously relieve its communications problem, Shipping could

use a sea highway the length of southern Europe unopposed and relieve the terrific strain at present existing on the axis’ overland communications system.

Aviation

The bulk of the axis air forces would be able to operate on other fronts,

The Army

The bulk of the axis armies would be released for action elsewhere,

Allies

The elimination of the British from the Mediterranean front likely would bring Turkey into the axis camp and perhaps bring Vichy France, with its fleet, plus French North and West Africa, into war against the United States.

Wealth

The axis would obtain oil from Iraq, Iran and Arabia, chrome from Turkey and grain and cotton from Egypt.

War

In conjunction with the Japs the axis might win India and connect up with the Japs, thus perhaps making it impossible for the allies to win the war. This being a total war which has to be fought on all fronts, any of the points listed above, taken separately or together, would have a disastrous effect on the United States, if they came about. Of the above possibilities favoring the axis, the naval angle is obvious, As regards communications, army, and aviation, axis supremacy here would mean increased pressure on the Russian front, to say the least, and the chances of Russia's fighting Japan, thus helping us in the Far East, would be diminished. The Middle East's wealth, in the hands of the axis, would mean greater strength to the axis, greater insurance against axis defeat, a longer war—thus, a more terrific hangover afterward. For these reasons, holding the Middle East against the axis is vital. For this, continued and more American aid is necessary. Aside from holding the Middle East to keep the axis from getting it, the Middle East has become of great value to us to get planes to our Far Eastern front. Likewise, much American and British equipment reaches Russia -through the Middle East. Also, anything contributing to improv-

ing the situation of Russia’s European front makes the threat te the Japs from Russian Siberia greater and the outlook for China and ourselves in the Par East brighter. The Middle East has a big po-~ tential value for the allies as a place from which to start the ine vasion of Europe. Meantime, some

observers feel it could become an .

offensive air front if the American bomber command, flying Boe= ing fortresses, would operate from here. Flying fortresses could bomb the axis in Italy and the Balkans as the R. A. F. from Britain is wage ing an offensive over Germany, Fortresses operating from here, by persistent bombing of Rumanian oil fields, could greatly help the Russians, worry the Germans, and favorably impress the neutral Turks. Meantime, while the Middle East may be criticized as pretty much of a flop, as far as results of the bitter desert war are concerned, one good thing about it is that it is still held by the allies. Gen. Wavell prevented Graziani from taking it at a time when the British were woefully

weak in the Middle East, and

smashed the Italian army in the process. By attacking Russia in June of last year Hitler gave the Middle East another year in which to get stronger—which is not enough as yet. That is where American aid and American men, air squadrons and material come in.

| That'll Hole Ya Awhile, Sarge!

FT. DEVENS, Mass, May 30 (U. P.)—The sergeant who or- | dered Pvt. Arthur Konapachr to dig a hole four feet square and

| four feet deep for punishment

|

Dillon freed.

WAGE EQUALIZATION URGED BY REUTHE

Equalization of wage rates precede freezing of war workers in their present jobs, Walter P. Reuther, C. I. O. labor leader, declared here last night in two addresses to Allison war workers,

Mr. Reuther, director of the General Motors department of the United Automobile Workers, spoke in connection with an NLRB election which will be held at Allison's Tuesday. He predicted the C. I. O. union would overwhelmingly win the vote.

AT ASHEVILLE PARLEY

Governor Henry F. Schricker will he one of the principal speakers at the annual governors’ conference at Ashville, N, ©, June 21 to 24,

i

theught the job would keep him

busy most of the afternoon. In an hour, the astonished ser= geant found Konapachr sound asleep at the bottom of a pit—

It developed before he joined

N. V.

COMBAT VEHICLES CONSERVE ON GAS

NEW YORK, May 30 (U. P.)~ Arnty officials disclosed today that combat vehicles have carried out training maneuvers throughout the country for more than a month on less than a gallon of gasoline each day. Col. John P, Welch, quartemaster of the second corps area, said army vehicles, from 60-ton tanks to motorcycles, operated on an average of a gallon a day for normal training purposes, with a combat unit of 100 assorted vehicles being allotted 100 gallons daily. Some army posts are considering replacing administrative vehicles, which number several hundred thousand, with “animal drawn transportation,” he said. Gasoline rations for army trucks-—the largest truck fleet in the world—have been reduced to 50 per cent of the average monthly consumption for January, February and March.

ATTEND SAFETY COURSE Lieut. Walter V. Mentzer of the

Indiana state police and Capt. Leo | Troutman, head of the Indianapolis | traffic force, are attending the ‘re-

fresher course” for safety experts at the Northwestern university traffic institute this week.

HOLD EVERYTHING

SCHRICKER TO SPEAK

Governor Schricker will speak on |

‘Agriculjure’s Contribution to Vie-/

tory.”

Osage, where they had the mine tragedy only a few weeks

The general theme of the confer ence will be co-operation between

100 TO RECEIVE K. OF C. DEGREE

Initiation Will Take Place Sunday at Claypool;

Banquet to Follow.

The fourth degree of Knights of Columbus will be conferred on nearly 100 candidates at 2 p. m, Sunday in the Claypool hotel. The initiation will follow the biennial meeting of the Fourth De-

gree Assemblies of Indiana at 10 a. m. O. D. Dorsey, fourth degree master of Indiana, will preside, Mr. Dorsey will be in charge of the Indiana fourth degree team and members of the class will be from Indianapolis, Logansport, Michigan City, La Porte, Hammond, Gary, Elwood, Connersville, Huntington, New Albany, Bloomington and Richmond.

Banquet After Initiation.

After the initiation, a banquet will be served in the Riley room with musie furnished by the Montani ensemble, The toastmaster will be John P. O'Donnell of Bloomington. Speakers will include Joseph M. Nurre, former state deputy and master; Timothy P. Galvin, supreme master of the fourth degree for North America; George M. Kinzel of Gury, state deputy, and Henry Hasley of Ft. Wayne, deputyelect, A committee of local women to entertain the visiting women at 2:30 p. m, in the Florentine room will be headed by Mrs. Joseph L. Conley. Members include: Mesdames V. V, Hennessy, Harry H. Wissel, H. P. Pagani, William F, Krieg, Joseph P. McNamara, William J. Greener, O. C. Litzelman, George Usher, Walter Maloney, Edward F. Miller, James F, Lynch, Thomas E. Maley, George A. Bischoff and John T. Rocap. The following from Indianapolis will receive the degree: The Rev. Edward C. Bauer, Ralph F., Betz,

William J. Betz, Edward J. Dowd,

Dr. C. 8S. Filiatreau, Murice J. Fitz-

gerald, Thomas M. Fitzgerald,

| Charles P. Forche, Dr. Gerald G.

Kiley, Louis W. Krieg Jr., James B.

' |Lanagan, the Rev. Richard J. Lan-

gen, Frank 8. Langsenkamp Jr., A. Joseph Maloof, Patrick J. Mangan, George H. Michaelis, Cecil M. MecConahay, Raymond J. McManus,

George A. Neville, George J. Putts, | | Trueman V. Rembusch, George L. Richey, W. Lawrence Sexton, Emil J. Schmoll, Claude L. Sifferlen, Ro-

bert L. St. Pierre, Edward J. Troy, Frank J. Viehmann, J. Emmett Mc-

| (Manmon, Frank E. McKinney and

Francis A, Wilhelm.

EXTEND WPB OFFICE HOURS

All war production board agencies in the Circle tower will be open Saturday afternoons. Heretofore, the closing time was 12:15 p. m,, but because of the national emer-

LI SencY, shin ules Will.nus close until

Light From Sea Foils Torpedoes

LONDON, May 30 (U. P.).— Thick, luminous marine life, through which torpedoes cut a bright, phosphorescent path, enabled a major British naval force

to evade a night attack by Italian torpedo planes, an Exchange Telegraph correspondent with the western Mediterranean fleet reported yesterday. Six planes, apparently making one of the Italian air arm’s longest sorties from Sardinia bases, swept out of a clear, moonlit sky to launch their torpedoes at the British force, which included an aircraft carrier. The fleet, taken by surprise, was further handicapped by inability to see the attackers in the darkness. The ships, silhouetted against the moon, made a perfect target for the planes. But the luminous marine life, thick in the Mediterranean, plus extreme alertness of the British crews, saved the fleet. The churning propellors of the torpedoes caused a phosphorescent wake which clearly outlined the path of the deadly torpedoes, and the ships maneuvered safely out of range.

SEEK RIGHT TO DRAFT TREASURY'S SILVER

WASHINGTON, May 30 (U, P.).— Treasury experts will meet a special senate silver subcommittee next

week to write a bill to permit the war production board to “draft” all of the treasury’s 100,000 ton silver bullion stock into war industries. Coincident with this move, the senate will act Monday on a resolution by Senator Pat McCarran, (D. Nev.), silver committee chairman, which would authorize the group to investigate federal taxes affecting silver mining and production of strategic metals which are silver by-products. WPB chairman Donald M. Nelson explained that the treasury’s idle silver was necessary as a substitute for copper, of which there is an acute shortage. The special silver committee, which was formed in 1935 as a sounding board for the silver bloc, gave the plan its informal blessing when Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr., assured the group that the plan would not impair monetary silver legislation. Congressional action is necessary, Mr, Morgenthau added, because 53,000 tons of the silver is collateral for green backs. The treasury has already lent between 40,000 and 42,000 tons of “free silver’—silver not backing certificates—he said.

POSTPONE MEMORIAL RITES Memorial services for the late Mrs. Lavinia Dixon Lewis at Crown Hill cemetery have been

postponed re Judge I.|

DOOLITTLE PAYS |

CITY BRIEF VISIT

Famed Flier Lauds Allison Workers, Hurries Back To ‘Shangri-La.’

Brig. Gen. James H, (Jimmy) Doolittle, flight leader of the Tokye bombing squadron of the American air force, dropped in for a brief visit at Allison’s for a renewal of old acquaintances late yesterday. He talked briefly with F. C, Kroeger, general manager, and ree ported that “the war department is highly pleased at the job being done by Allison workers.” The remainder of his visit was spent in looking up friends he made in the factory during his six months as army air corps resident inspector at Allison’s. He had nothing to say about his immediate plans, except that “I pulled in from Shangri-La, and I'm going right back.” And he did.

ALUMNI TO DANCE

Washington high school alumni will hold their annual dance at the school gymnasium Saturday, June 6. The dance will begin at 9:30 p. m. In charge of arrangements are the association officers: Stanley Lawton, president; Mary Leeper, vice president; Marjorie Kattere henry, secretary, and Morton Sare tor, treasurer.

What You Buy With WAR BONDS

Ships of the destroyer type comprise the bulk of our fighting ships in the American navy. Their average displacement is abous 1800 toms, and they are fast, pow= erful, and hard hitting. They hava been particularly effective in cone voy duty and gave a good account of themselves in the Coral sea engagement. They cost approxie mately $3,600,000 each. 3

oe had -— -—

Every navy shipyard is turning out destroyers in record time. They are essential for. our two= ocean navy. Purchase of more and more war bonds will assure all-out production of these vital units. Buy every pay day. If everybody invests at least 10 pee

cent of his income in war bonds