Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 July 1942 — Page 14

eeu. The Indianapolis Times ROY W. HOWARD RALPH BURKHOLDER MARK FERREE

President Editor Business Manager (A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER)

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Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1942

‘MR. MAY HATH SPOKEN ME. MAY announces that the war will end “probably in 7 1942 and unquestionably in 1943,” that the army needs | only five million men and’ therefore youths under 20 ‘will not be drafted, that “the enemy soon will be so busy ‘abroad” coping with our forces that there is no need for invasion worry or a large home army. And who is Mr. May? Not the omniscient almighty, but chairman of the house military affairs committee, to whom are revealed answers of the future hidden from ‘mortal man. ha : Neither Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Chiang Kai-shek, nor Hitler, Mussolini nor the Mikado—not all of them, and all their military commanders and experts together—can ' know when the war will end. Or how large an American army will be needed. Or whether our country can be in- ~ vaded by the enemy, already active along our Atlantic, _ Gulf and Pacific coasts and already invading our Aleutians. But Mr. May knows. How? He isn’t telling, because ‘it is a “military secret.” How modest of the mysterious Mr. May! : : ’2

: » ” #" » ” » ; AND how cruel. Surely he must know that millions of + mothers and fathers and youths are tragically anxious to accept this phony certainty, which he palms off on them with the Olympian gall of a four-bit fortune teller. : We respectfully suggest to Chairman May, and to . . other politicians in congress and in the administration, the “obvious: ; THAT so far the enemy is winning. THAT we cannot win unless and until we go all out— with no limitation of time, 1942 or 1943; and with no . limitation of effort, five million men or 10 million; with no

"limitation except what it takes to win and however long it |

. takes to win. THAT the immemorial privilege of the politician to bunk the people during a campaign is a lethal luxury in wartime.

®

NAVY ENLISTMENTS

\ many months Indiana’s record of enlistments in the : U. S. navy has been one of the best in the nation. Asked ® last month to-do even better, the state responded with 1103 * recruits in June, a substantial increase over the 598 enlisted in May, but still short of the 1500 goal which the "navy recruiting service hopes to attain.

If any state has a chance to meet a comparable quota, |

‘we believe it will be Indiana. Hoosiers have a splendid record in this branch of the armed services, and we feel ~ certain they will respond to the present call just as they have in the past. Yr

GET SYNTHETIC RUBBER ROLLING!

NIGHT ends the scrap-rubber drive (unless the presi- : dent orders another. extension). It probably has - brought in 400,000 to 500,000 tons of highly useful material, and it has pretty well debunked the irresponsible claim " that the country could dig up 10 million tons of old rubber. : Plainly, we can’t safely depend on scrap to end the rub-: * ber shortage. : The best hope—the only real hope for the next two, three or four years—is in-production of snythetic rubber . substitutes. : : Synthetic rubber can be made from various substances, . among them petroleum and grain alcohol. \ The government authorities responsible for the syn"thetic program decided to use chiefly petroleum. They said this was because an abundant supply of petroleum was assured, while an abundant supply of alcohol was not; be- * cause petroleum-rubber processes were in a higher stage of development ; because petroleum-rubber would be cheaper. * They allocated materials to build petroleum-rubber nts and promised that, by the end of 1944, production “Would hit a rate that would take care of military needs and begin to provide new tires for civilians. 5) Vw we a ¢ “ I'ARM congressmen objected. They said synthetic rub- ~ © ber could be made faster and more cheaply from grain © lconol, : : They charged the oil industry with trying to grab a , synthetic monopoly—though if the oil industry is as smart as we think, it is for whatever method will turn out the most, tires in the least time to keep cars rolling and using asoline. And they now propose to create a new inde. * pendent agency with power to allocate materials to build _. alcohol-rubber plants. : 7 There are other controversies, between the backers of arious processes for making alcohol rubber, and between he backers of various processes for making petroleum rubber. : : We don’t pretend to understand the merits of these ‘highly technical disputes. We don’t propose to discuss ‘them and so add to the dismal confusion that is holding i back the whole vital synthetic program. But we are certain: Sow THAT only a limited number of synthetic-rubber plants can be built, because only a limited amount of critical materials can be spared from other urgent war needs. 2 THAT plants already building can’t be scrapped every | + time someone bobs up with a process claimed to be newer or better. : THAT it’s necessary to decide on some certain process "or processes, stick to the decision and get the program rolling in high gear. TH THAT this technical decision HSL Yee bet Ed Fock vi ‘2 ®& = net, ONALD M. NELSON expresses confidence in the fechM7 nicians of his war production board—in their patriotad in the honesty of their judgment. ~~ a full statement on the synthetics pro-

should be made by techEe

/|'east, and death to, many American seamen in our tanker ficets~Leon Henderson. : 3 . - .

By Westbrook Pegler x :

«

in which my dismal dispost the lack is simply awful and much worse than we have been told and I rather resent all opinions and on the side of optimism. 1 doubt that any layman has read more about it or knows less, for I have waded through pounds of documents, starting ‘way last January, tion and opinion sent out of i which is a great confusion. Never has it been harder for our people to form an intelligent-idea on any subject, but the one safest way for all of us is to decide that we are absolutely up against it, have done with blaming for the time being at least and save and give

up rubber. I have four old tires and tubes and about |. 10 pounds of other Tubber which goes into the pile |

right away and I may be able to discover more. Probably our government which talks, and often prattles, with a thousand tongues, did mislead us and maybe we were deliberately deceived by the hookup of the gas shortage and the rubber shortage, but certainly by this time nobody has an excuse for a cheery view of either problem. Perhaps our rulers should have said frankly in the first place that the gasconservation project, aside from the eastern seaboard, actually was intended to save rubber, but that makes no difference. :

Forget the Blame, Won't You?

1 DON'T CARE whether Jesse Jones or Standard Oil or both failed or sulked during the time when we should have been laying it in. It isn’t worth a g now whether the British neglected to stock up and wasted some of their rubber on hand or whether Russia did more or less the same. 4 We have got to have rubber to fight this war and the enemy is winning the war up to nqw. And if he finally wins it altogether we will do without a lot more than rubber. So when President Rosoevelt says we are hard up for rubber the wise way is to believe that it is probably even worse than he says. ; _ He certainly isn’t saying that to punish the Middle

West or make any section “war conscious” and we|

have got to resist all temptation to sulk because Marshall Field, a hothouse American who never showed much interest in his country before, has sud-

denly gone in for eccentric journalism and proclaimed |.

that this is his war.

It's Not Their War!

IT ISN'T HIS or President Roosevelt's or the New Deal's war, although between them they manage to antagonize most of our people and impugn the patriotism of all who hoped and wanly believed up to Dec. 7 that somehow we might manage to draw a pass. If they lose the war all of us lose it and the President certainly isn’t trying to help Hitler, anyway, in crying up the rubber shortage. .We have every reason to be short, including the

maddening stupidity of some fool in New England ||

who stored a great amount, about one-tenth of our total reserve stock-pile, as I believe I read at the time, in a single concentration where it went up in smoke and fumes in one great factory fire. God only knows what they are driving at, this New Deal, when they insult a patriotic people whose almost every family has one or more men under arms, by granting a special privilege of both rubber and fuel to union agents so that they may fool around from plant to plant and project to project to extort a share of the workers’ wages. It is a disgusting and insulting gesture of contempt for the very people whi make up the nation. “

Frankly Speaking By Norman E. Isaacs

THERE IS SOMETHING strange about the attitude of certain Indiana political leaders in steering clear of the word “democracy” and, indeed, in many cases actually denying that the United States is a democracy! = ¥ ; No, this isn’t a pipe dream. Here, for instance, is a quote from a letter sent by an official of a ‘state political group: “We definitely are not a democracy. .Our country was founded as a-republic. , . . I challenge you to point out any government in the world today which is a democracy and to find any reference to democracy either in the Declaration of Independence, in the constitution of the United States, or the constitution of the state of Indiana.” : Then there is the congressional candidate who pleads this theme ardently and passionately. He never uses the word democracy, except with scorn.

"Strange and Dangerous Channels"

YOU CAN CALL this country a republic, or call it a democracy, or call it what you will, but just so long as it belongs to the people we are free men. Nobody seems to be worrying about this terminology except these politicians. It would seem that their minds are working in strange and dangerous channels. Their technical argument is quite sound, but: it seems obvious that they are not concerned with the spirit of this country in any manner, shape or form. Or, if ‘this isn’t true, what is it they are driving at anyway? a :

So They Say—

.. We will have to share our bread and butter with: every country in the world after the war is over, and not expect any pay for a great deal of it.—Dr. Cloyd Heck Marvin, president’ George Washington university.’ ¢ ; 3 “ . 5 i We should quit boasting about the glorious qualities of our failures amd face the stark realities of the situation —Patrick J. Hurley, U.!8S. minister to. New Zealand. Sb ;

. x

Give our production engineers a chance, cut the red tape, pork barrel strings and the, other fetters that hamper production, and “too little and too late” will become a forgdtten phrase—Dr. D. D.

Ewing, Purdue university School of Electrical Engle ||

neering. p { . . : I hope for German victory because without it bolshevism in the future will be established everywhere. —Pierre Laval, ‘German-sponsored Vichy ‘chief of government, Ho : : : ; . *

Our enemies will not be slow to of anything that they can represent as evidence of divided purpose or uncertain resolution.—Lord Halifax, British minister to.the U.S. ~~ ; Coles srg : The germs of totalitarianism exist within every nation and they must be destroyed physically and then the democratic system can operate successfully. —Robert Nathan, chairman WPB planning committee * - .

Gasoline means ite to our transportation in the

¥

- Freedom cannot be defended in

© Our task must be fulfilled without

NEW, YORK, July 10—The| rubber shortage is one situation of

and much of the ififorma- | Washington, the sum of |

Fre one region and | | neglected. in another.—Archbishop' of Canterbury. || p | iy . ie - oR i :

I wholly

The Hoo!

defend to the death y

disagree with what you say,

sier Forum

tr right to say it.—Voltaire.

but will

“WHY NOT THROW THE JAP TRASH AWAY?” By Oscar Graham, Franklin, To a Dime Store Clerk: No loyal American would pause long enough to admire made-in-Japan junk, not to mention standing in line. to throw away good money on it. Why not throw the Jap trash away? We would benefit, certainly not lose, if the money spent on it was spent. for something worth while, for instance war bonds and stamps. 2 8 8 . “IS CIVILIAN DEFENSE JUST PROPAGANDA STUNT?” By Don Quixote he

I see the great to-do in the newspaper about all the civilian de-

big- registration they had here. I followed out the instructions, I went and signed and I haven't heard:-a word since. No sir, not a letter, not a phone call, not a visit, not even a penny posteard., Why do you waste space on a lot of this truck? If they were going to do something, they'd have done it a long time ago. My own guess

to keep the people a war piteh. ®

worked up to a

HARD TO UNDERSTAND” By F. A, Indianapolis. Dear Mrs. Landlord: I read your letter with interest and one need not be a psychologist

fo understand your disposition and your thinking. It can ‘plainly be

yourself and yours. Only the things that are beneficial to you are good, and anything that might’ help the

‘ {other fellow. is bad.

‘I am of the opinion that the government of this country had such people as you in mind when ceiling

|laws were passed because it is such

fense preparations here. Well, I'm one. of the birds who got in on that:

is that it’s just a propaganda stunt’

“ATTITUDE ON WAR WORKERS |

seen that you are thinking only of

aders are invited 4 their ins, religious conMake Is short, so all can

(Times to expre these col

views in

troversies | xcluded. your lette

have a ch

ihce. Letters must be signed. om

people ‘who {ink as you do who bring such laws about, Your attiiiide toward the defense worke: is something that is hard to urderstand. It seems to me that the defense worker whether he be fie Big Weed or Podunk

is a mighty important individual at this time. |i/am not trying to quote Mr. Winsta:i Churchill verbatim but he said sdincthing along this line when the poorer class in London was being combed. He said that a defense yicrker was more important to the war effort and to the country thir any banker or financier in Loiiclon, and I am certain, had he exjjanded on the subject, he would havi included landlords. I have liad the misfortune to be forced to (isten to people talk who condemn: [1s government on every law that |: passed, and every decision that i7 made if that particular law or dei zion does not help them in some #jiccific way. Mrs. Laticlord (if a woman could be a landlord, other than in her own ming! I venture to say you bore youl: friends to distraction with your -ver critical and sarcastic remarks ¢oncerning the efforts of other pedi? in regard to the great 4 of us. On the other

{ime spent a feast. leave you with this in the real scrap, and

iIkly a pressure, you are sure asket. j :

and charity alone can bring peace

|lawyer and, in this time of declining law business revenues, a goodly}:

“DON'T TRY TO LEGISLATE OUR SOLDIERS’ MORALS” By F. E. S., Indianapolis.

Taking the canteen away from the soldier was a mistake. What was really wanted was beer taken out of the commissary canteen which was done later. The liquor laws of World War I were a laugh, even wanted us in France not to drink when liquor was ‘sold every place. ‘A 10-mile liquor limit was put on’ in the United States. . .. SEL ‘ Now the same cry, stop. liquor, put on a five-mile limit and vote out soldiers drinking. _ The soldier of today is the same fellow of yesterday. His morals are not legislated or his fighting is not bought. His home life is his army life. At home is where he learns to obey commands and learns right from wrong. Of course some Will get puffed up like a grouse when promoted but they would of done the same if made foreman in the shop at home. Promotions come fast now and so do demotions. The services of the U. 8. A. and all countries make mistakes and believe me, they are corrected mighty quick so let us all “leave the commander-in-chief and his fighting men alone until it is over, then-do your bellowing. The enemy cannot lick the American soldier of today any more than he could before. . .. : The man in the service will some day be home. Then what are you going to do for him. Action now is what a fighting man wants. Action after the war is also what he wants. Work and more work. Get busy, busy-bodies, and write your congress and senate, you want something like work after the war for the men: that alone is a big order. After the fight we all go home and say what a great fight, but do we do anything about it now? He fought for the right to work and freedom; so give that to them. Give me my health and you will have me back in there with ‘the men of, the service, so don't try to legislate my morals again. . 8 2 8 “GALLING TO ADMIT THIS

IS WAY WE PICK JUDGES.” By E. B. C., Indianapoiis I see in Mr. Richert’s political column the cold, realistic statement that if Judge. McNelis is elected criminal court judge: :: “This would make a $5000-a-year judgeship available to a Democratic

share of the Democratic bar members in the. county undoubtedly!

would go after it, A similar scramble}

{In Washington:

ii

By Peter Edson

WASHINGTON, July 10.—The . soft pedal, the muzzle, the gag and the muffler have all been clamped on uninhibited discussion by government officials of what's -. ‘going to happen after war. From ( state department on through all the new war agencies, the line is to quit being starry-eyed ‘and worrying about the future; and stick to the hard reality of win- : : + ning the war. The first few soundings off on building a beautiful post-war world Haven't been well received, so the economic planners are cautioned against leading with the neck, lest they be beheaded in the process. Cra . But it doesn’t take a government theorist to see some of the issues coming up, and every recent survey of public opinion has indicated tremendous popular interest in what post-war life will be like. Maybe it is fatuous to assume that the united nations will win the war and will therefore have the dictating of the peace.. But people have always speculated about. Heaven. So what's the harm?

Just Look What's Coming Up YOU DON'T HAVE to be cosmic-conscious to take

‘in some of the post-war struggles forming right here

at home. In building vast new sources of raw mae terials supply for war production, this country is Jetting itself in for economic revolutions of first magnitude. To start naming names, think over these: with the production: of nylon, rayon and other synthetic fibers stepped up, will this country go back .-~ to a Japanese or Chinese-dominated raw silk industry? ' With a synthetic rubber industry capable of producing 800,000 tons a year, shall it be scrapped to go back to native rubber from the Netherlands: EastS. Indies and Malaya? . Or with new sources for up to 100,000 tons of nae tive rubber developed in Latin America, shall this new hemisphere industry be permitted to die just to revive Dutch and British plantations?

And Just Keep on Going!

WITH PRODUCTION OF the light metals,” alum= inum and magnesium, stepped up tremendously, shall it be allowed to lapse to pre-war proportions, or shall there be a structural revolution in which these metals will compete with the also-expanded steel production capacity of the country? - With new sources of fats and oils developed through increased plantings of soybeans and peanuts and increased prolificacy of pigs, shall the acres go unplanted and the hogs be slaughtered to revive the foreign producers from which this country imported fats and oils before the war? . With beet sugar production stepped up, shall it be wiped out to save the cane sugar men of Hawaii, Cuba, the Philippines? With presfabricated housing a necessity for the war, shall this new industry be further held back to preserve old, slow, costly methods of custom building? And so on down: the line. Yes sir, fighting really begins after it’s over. 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

IN THE LITTLE town of Miami, Okla, young boys fresh from England are learning to fly. “When we found we were to come to the United States,” one, of them said, “we were excited because we had heard so much about New York City. We never imagined anything of this kind, and felt terribly let down at first, * But what a big country this is— and how we like it now!” Looking over the Oklahoma landscape, scarred by piles of gray slag from the zine smelters, it was easy to understand his feelings. My heart melted for his youth and danger until I thought of the value of this experience to him. ; aE The war is shaking millions of people out of ruts. In our own country, young men are discovering the vastness and variety of their homeland. These discoveries are certain to influence all their future behdvior and thought. : $ Southwest of Miami is Tulsa, where an air school has a student body including boys from all over the country. A hundred miles farther is Oklahoma City with a similar center. South and westward where horizons are limitless, is the great state of Texas, literally humming with war activity.

What Americanism Really Means

. OUR FIRST TEXAS stop, Amarillo, has a training camp and an enormous school for airplane mechanics. The school covers acres and looks as if 1t ‘had grown out of the prairie soil. There is no lack of space for aerial maneuvers here. We saw some of Uncle Sam's newest; fastest bombers. % Moving onward, we came to Albuquerque, N. M, which has doubled its population in less than sevep years. ’ ‘The commercial airport and the school for bombardiers have changed the character of the city. A sort of vibration can be felt; it is like the neverceasing sound of some high and mighty wind. I was told that most of the boys stationed there come from the deep south. No doubt New Mexico is as

alien to some -of them as Europe would be. i

So our youth learns many things these days besides the arts of war. Perhaps, in the general shakeup, it will gain a deeper knowledge of “the splendor. of this land-and a new conception of what American~

ism should mean. Questions and Answers i! ndian pol Times Service Burean will answer. any of fact information, not: involving extensive re-

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