Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 October 1942 — Page 22

‘he Indianapolis Times

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Give Light and the People Will Find Their Owh Way

. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1942

: - THE PRESIDENT’S TRIP PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT returned to Washington yes- ~~ terday, completing a two-week railroad journey to the . Pacific coast and back in the course of which he visited many war industries and milithey establishments in 11 states. In these two weeks not one newspaper mentioned the fact that the president was making a trip. Even in cities where he was seen by thousands of people, the local papers did not refer to his presence, The press had been asked by the government not to print a story which, under ordinary circumstances, would have been tremendous news, and voluntary censorship functioned with complete effectiveness. There are differing opinions as to whether this silence was ‘necessary or desirable. Our opinion is that, to a very large extent, it was both necessary and desirable. At times like these the president’s travels, like troop movements and transport sailings, require a degree of secrecy which in other times he would not want and the press would not practice. § 8 an 8 ECRECY, however, begets gossip and rumor. Mr. Roosevelt’s unheralded progress across the country was: at- ~ tended by both. The newspapers heard many wild and unfounded stories which they were powerless to deny. That is not the healthiest possible condition in a country at war. So, it seems to us, such complete silence as was maintained may have been unnecessary and undesirable. We do not see any harm that might have resulted if, for instance, after Mr. Roosevelt had completed his visit to Detroit and gone safely on his way, the fact that he had been there and the news about what he had done there -had been published—without, of course, mention of the other cities where he would go or the routes by which he would travel. : Perhaps ours is a self-interest viewpoint, but newspapers have good reason to know the evils that grow from suppression of news, even when, as in this case, a measure of suppression serves an essential public purpose. ” » » » » ® NYWAY, we are glad that Mr. Roosevelt made this trip, for his sake and for the country’s. It’s a fine thing for anyone who has to spend most of his days in Washington to get away and see what’s going on beyond the Alleghenies, beyond the Mississippi and beyond the Rockies. ' What Mr. Roosevelt saw, and now reports, is just what the. country has been trying to tell Washington. ~The people are all right. Many of them are jittery about the rising cost of living and want it brought firmly under control. But at least 95 per cent of them are wholeheartedly behind the war effort and determined to win. Labor and management, with few exceptions, are working together magnificently. War production is not yet what it must be, but the record to date is good. The public everywhere understands and is willing to make the efforts and sacrifices necessary for victory. The one place where understanding is not so good is Washington, D.C. ®

The faults Mr. Roosevelt found with Washington, as |

he viewed it from out in the country, may not be the same faults’ that many other observers think they see. What he said on that point could—and probably will—provide material for many arguments. We're not going to discuss it today. : We are happy that he’ 8 back in the White House, in good health and high spirits, and we hope what he has seen of America at war will sustain and inspire him in carrying his own great responsibilities.

' THE ARMY AND NAVY ARE STILL AT IT

5 THE Japanese battleship Haruna, or a sister ship, was sunk by bombs dropped from an army flying fortress commanded by the late Capt. Colin Kelly—according to the war department. Now comes the navy—or rather Lieut. Comm. John Smith Thach, U. S. N., a hero of several sea-air battles-in the Pacific, at an officially sponsored navy press conference ~—with the flat statement that no major warship has been sunk by horizontal bombing in this war. (Horizontal bombing, rather than dive or torpedo bombing, is of course the method of the flying fortress.) ~The war department, we are informed, possesses a most detailed report on the Colin Kelly episode, a report which goes into such elaborate particulars that it would convince any layman that the Haruna, or a ship of comparable size, tually was sunk. It strikes us as symptomatic of the persistent jealousy between army and navy—the same hidebound tradition of lon-co-operation that contributed to the Pearl Harbor catastrophe. . The incident emphasizes again “the need for a unified sommand. It is high time that the army and navy be conpinced they are fighting the same war, 1

EETH ~~

‘Baltimore man paid 23 cents for a tube of toothpaste last |

* March. Recently he went to the same store and was arged 25 cents for a same-sized tube of the same brand. brought suit, charging a ceiling price violation, and a rt has ordered the store to pay him $50. This, believed to be the first such verdict in the coun7, 8 reminder that the Price Control Law has teeth, 4

to prove that the law is unconstitutional, but we'd np merchant to gamble that: it ‘will succeed. at the law says is that a merchant who willfully , article for more than its ceiling price (that being,

Fair

| ty, 3 cents a copy; deliv | Spies 15 semis,

Mail ‘rates in Indiatia,’ 3 $4 a year; adjoining

e price charged for the same so a the

Enough

: [By Westbrook Pegler

.. NEW YORK, Oct. 2. — Paul McNutt, Gen. Hershey dnd all

“it through their heads right away that the people of the United States will Tepuse to co-operate 1 any program of compulsory » RY Dot which attempts to force millions of citizens to pay tribute to the political subdivision of the New Deal party known as the la« bor movement. McNutt is a poli= ticlan and can WED himself to the subject. Hershey, being a soldier, must keep out of politics and therefore probably will not address himself on this. There is no point either in urging people to get into war work voluntarily and then sending them to the office of some union to pay graft to some racket as the price of a job. Yet this is being done all over the country and the mere cost in money, painful as it is to most of the victims of this sanctified stickup, isn’t ‘the whole objection. There is still such a thing as principle and the people simply will’ not give up their right to work, whether on government war jobs or in private, nonwar industry, without asking the permission of some private organization.

It's at F. D. R.'s Door

THE FACT THAT the American Federation of La~ bor, under the appallingly stupid leadership of William Green, has developed into a front for low and brutal criminals cannot be answered out of existence by the cry of labor baiting. The name of labor has become the last refuge of many a dirty scoundrel and Green, far from moving against any of them, has, actually, in certain conspicuous cases, sided with them against the publle and sometimes against the rank and file workers under their control. The final responsibility for this shocking state of affairs traces to the White House. Twice when the house of representatives passed bills which sought to place some public responsibility and accountability on

the unioneers, the legislation was blocked in the sen- |

ate by White House influence. And there you have a partial answer from congress. to the president's recent charge that the legislative branch had failed to perform its function.

New Deal Identified With Them

THE PRESIDENT, by accepting the political support of rascals in the union movement, has identified his party with them and the implication to the people ‘is that the union bosses, even though they be criminals, have received a grant of power over their lives. But even though they be honest union leaders, they deserve—and the people will submit to—no such power. These union officials are only private citizens, with no authority of government and no legitimate right to extort money or to collect income taxes from the people. The Chicago papers tell of a jurisdictional strike on an enormous steel plant in which the Hod Carriers’ union, a notorious racket long infested with vile underworld criminals, and only one of whose national officers, and that one of secondary rank, ‘ever was elected by the workers, is squabbling with the plumbers and steamfitters over the division of the graft.

St. Louis Strike Led by a Criminal!

THE ST. LOUIS papers discover that a recent strike in a cartridge plant was conducted by a criminal with a prison record and a background of bootlegging and divekeeping whose civil rights were restored in 1935 for the very purpose of permitting him to become a professional unioneer. The Hod Carriers’ shaRedown union recently stalled construction of a pipe line to bring fuel to the Middle West and East. This sort of thing continues and the production of man-days lost is beside the point. The point is that no man-days should be lost by strikes and that no man should be placed under labor compulsion as long as any voluntary man-days are wasted by the unions. All concerned had better be warned that if and when the American people submit to compulsion they will not submit to compulsory uhionism and extortion.

Editor’s Note: newspaper are their own. of The Indianapolis Times,

The views expressed by columnists in this They: are not necessarily those

Frankly Speaking

By Norman E. Isaacs

THERE 18 GREAT concern at the moment over the serious man= power shortage facing our police department. The city administra« tion has run into some criticism for asking deferments in all cases, but that kind of harping is to be expected. Police work is an essential civilian function. You would know how essential if you only knew the tremendous amount of responsibility carried by Lone don’s bobbies during the blitz. However, it seems to me a bit ludicrous for Leroy Keach, the president of the safety board, to go around calling new ideas to solve the problem “artistic,” as he did yesterday with Rowland Allen’s suggestions. Certainly, nobody’s ever called Mr. Keach “artistic.” He is very plainly a “practical” man and I have a wholesome respect for him, even though he is a stubborn bird. But, really, one of the troubles with this city administration is that it has been one of seat warming and of refusal to even look at any idea that borders on the original. So, I suppose, the idea that is going to be put down here will be labeled very promptly as “artistic.”

Here's Where We Get Into It

"RIGHT NOW, we have 57 policemen and seven firemen whose job five days a week is to make themselves available for duty at important street corners where school children cross in the mornings, at noon and at the school-out hour, It is an important job and it is certainly essential, what with all the hare-brained motorists we have around this town. But what's wrong with taking some 75 women— between the ages of 32 and 45 and training them in police traffic and police auxiliary work and giving them these jobs of protecting the school children? The cost of a presentable uniform would certainly

be slight compared to the savings’in manpower. And

don’t tell me you can’t get able women! 3 Of course, this has never been done around here and so I'm undoubtedly *awistic,” too. Rignt, Roy?

So They Sev ar,

The only peace I'm interested in is a peace that |

' others concerned had better get |

wo ULDNIT THIS MAKE IT

| Speaking of Operations!

se! | Jugs

KONK. , ha

The Hoosier Forum

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

“218T AND CAPITOL NEEDS A TRAFFIC SIGNAL” By Arthur J. Krause, 256 Buckingham dr.

The crossing at Capitol ave. and 21st st. presents a hazard to both pedestrians and auto drivers. This crossing has no traffic signal. A pedestrian on 21st st. is often forced to wait three to four minutes before he can.venture across Capitol ave. Often he is forced to stop in the center of the street because of cars approaching from the opposite direction. Being caught between two rows of cars in the center of the street is quite a sensation. If one reaches the opposite side of the street in safety, he can consider himself fortunate. The same hazard presi itself when driving a car on 2lst st. One must use his own judgment when to cross Capitol ave, and hope a car does not suddenly appear when he is half way across. Certainly a traffic signal should be installed at this crossing before a terrible accident occurs. Such a crossing is a death trap and there are other crossings in need of traffic signals in the city. A thorough checkup should be made of these existing hazards. Action should be taken ,at once in order that accidents may be reduced.

= =» “WILLKIE 18 SAYING WHAT STOWE HAS FOR so LONG”

By Natalie G. Altman, 8643 N. Pennsylvania ot. I think you are unnecessarily harsh on Mr. Willkie in your leading editorial of Sept. 28. Most of the facts are, unfortunately, not plain and so it is difficult to refute you on a concrete basis. But you are, after all, as we all are, an armchair strategist, and Mr.

to see for himself. He is saying what Leland Stowe has been saying for months. Do you remember Mr. Stowe’s book: “No Other Road to Freedom?” What is the use of such # book unless we can learn something from it? From the thick of. events Mr. Stowe was urging us to stop talking about lend lease and send real help to the threatened nations of that time-—~Norway, Greece, Finland. A

Willkie is popping about the world

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these - columns, religious conMake

your letters short, so, all can

troversies excluded.

have a chance. Letters must

be signed.)

comparable editorial of yours at that time might have pointed out the inexpediency of involving ourselves so irrevocably in the conflict: “think of the risk . . . surely the president knows what is best . . . ete.” ‘Those nations have since been ploughed under and we are involved

anyway. : Your implication is that the Russians can hold out until we are ready—whenever that will be. (I am reminded, fleetingly of McClellan in the Civil War who never had enough men and materials to start an offensive, but he was a general and he should know.) But that be a bit of wishful thinking (remember, facts are scarce) and if they don’t hold out, consider what your policy would mean in losses of men and material. I am also reminded of “War and Peace” wherein Kutuzov was scolded roundly by the emperor because he allowed Napoleon to take Moscow. Alexander was far away in Petersburg but he had detailed reports of what was ,going on and so surely he had a better perspective and knew what was best! But Kutuzov was on the scene of action and he proved to be right in his strategy. Our “on the spot” correspondents spent over five years irying to wake us up to the real situation abroad and we refused to listen until it was far too late. We still view their dispatches as the ramblings of so many hysterical “infants. Am I naive or are you?

By Frank J. Wright, 0061 W. Washingfon st. ;

In your editorial of the 28th, under the heading “Loose Talk by Mr. Willkie” you quote first what Mr. Willkie gave to the press while in Moscow recently, w reads, “Personally, I am convinced we can best help by Satins a real second

Side Glances—By Galbraith

[a8 {

Will assure the complete annihilation of the German | | #8 Th

and Japanese ideals of government.—Col. Roane War= | Ing, Tew national omamander of tive Amarigun Legion :

* . *

It experience tails us anything 1t shouts that the | [| reaction of sound channels of international commerce | |

in which private enterprise can trade in a free world

Ie melo Wl 3 lenavhy pesce—~Getige Sule 1

editor of New Republic.

that our democracy can be saved

’ dictatorship as it is essential. 0

‘| person should be subject to ifistant

front in Europe, with Britain, at the earliest possible moment which our military leaders will approve. And perhaps some of them will need some public prodding.” Great men, including those high in the army, have said as much, with the exception of the last 10 words. I am hopeful that you too realize a second front is necessary “just as soon as our military leaders approve.” This seems to be the universal opinion of our people, doubtless it is yours. * You probably base your betlittling ‘criticism on the last 10 words, gut are you in any way or manner justified in doing what you tried to do to. Mr, Willkie? We prod our congress and we prod Mr. Nelson and hundreds of officials. Why do we prod them-to get them to hure ry—do the: job they are hired to do. Of course wé know that they alone know best, but men, especially the English are slow, awfully slow, waiting, waiting for God or some miracle to save them and us. You are weak, in _ that you criticize the man whom our president chose to represent him in vital matters ‘with other nations; you attempt to belittle the one man who, by reason of having opposed Mr. Roosevelt. for the presidency, now goes forth to show that the United States is solidly bdck of our president. You have yourself been guilty of loose talk, I believe.

- » “WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS\, IS A DICTATOR NOW!” By Clyde P. Miller, BR. R. 17, Box 23L What this country needs immediately is a di€tator. What every country needs in time of war is supreme and absolute authority vested in one man, The surest way to preserve our democracy for peace« time enjoyment is to abrogate it in time of war. The most patriotic act that congress could perform would be to commit suicide at once and to stay dead for the duration.

Oh, I know all the.silly answers |

to the above statements. I see the shocked expressions and hear the horrified exclamations. I still say

and saved quickly if we will select a dictator to save it. Since our national economy must be geared to our war effort it is as essential to have all of our economic forces rigidly controlled by a

distribution of both products. Every activity of every

| 1

In Washington

By Peter Edson

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2.—

percen for largely hy the and more industries are converting war production. . 2. The number of strikes in war to an all-time low in December, 194 seven days of December there were Sven) reported. Then came Pearl Harbor, days of the month there were only seven n reported. Everybody got mad after Pearl

Harbor,

strikes in that month, . The trouble is, the no-strike fever wore off. January the number of war industry strikes near doubled over December and nearly doubled again in. February over January.‘ The number of new strikes in war plants has been going up every month all through the first seven months of 1942 and was Shecked only in August, when it dropped three—from 198 195.

Here If Is in Figures

REDUCING IT TO a table, which doesn't tell the whole story, it looks Yeeul! this for the past. 12 monthss

Man Wor or Plant Days Strikes

Lost 82,200 370,853 96,472 650,863 23,087 - 312,979 6265 100,844 11,605

46,107" 24,587 118,700" 34,957

166,680 26286 173,513 44891 137330 78621 254,653 T4812 3233614 70,352

523,110

Month

September, 1941.. 470 October ..,..... 432 November ...... 271 December ...,.. 143 January, 1942 ... 158 February ........ 190 March cscececess 240 April eccsscsesees 310 May essssssssses 278 JUNG seesesceses 350 July cieessccecee 400 August sesscsenee 350

Totals «seee...3686 1075

The Planes We've Lost

THE TOTAL OF man days lost in August through strikes thus represents the equivalent of 136 combat’ planes or 68 bombers. For the past 12 months the loss was 1500 combat planes or 750 bombers. From July to August of this year there has been:

a slight tendency to level off on strikes, All you can do is hope for the best. The only figure which shows the real trend of strikes is the percentage of time lost through strikes to the percentage of time worked. That figure is not: shown in the table and cannot be shown because it has been computed only in the last few months, For war production industries alone, in May it was 6-100" of 1 per cent, in June it was 9-100 of 1 per cent, in’ July it was 8-100 of 1 per cent and in August it was 9-100 of 1 per.cent. It ‘has never reached -one-tenth of 1 per cent; or:

Sirine eo Hy A 46 69 23 14 1 50 66 21 125 mn 198 195

~ 3,832,500

A Woman's Viewpoint By Mrs. Walter Ferguson.

OUR FORUM GUEST today ish R. K. B, a Texas gentleman whe. boldly states his age and inten . tions. : |

birthday. When I lost my -wife: five ‘years ago, I said goodby to: married life—for good, I' thoughts: Time has.changed my , hows ever. ‘When I read in my Bible that it is not good for man t6 be alone, I understand the truth of the words. A home without a woman is no home at all. But here's my grouch, It takes a hell of a lot of scouting to find the right sort of a woman. for a man of my years and experience. “I don’t want a wife 20 years my junior, because

old man. I've got sense enough to. know that she wouldn't be marrying me for love. A man outgrows his romantic illusions, but hs doesn't get over the desire to be liked and admired for what he is, ne matter how tough and ornery he may be.”

Appeal to Mind=But Not to. Heart

looking around, I've a A oy bill, sud she’s just sbatlt te. he niarried 10. another man. “When I ask myself what sets her part from the crowd I find only one answer. She hasn't lost her feminine graces. Single, in her Iate 40s, and an office worker, she has kept a home and ‘divided her ine terests between domesticity and her: job without lete ting one dominate the other. She’s a woman: in the business world intsad of, 8 Bustos. Wan, 1 YOO get what I mean.”

S——

Questions and Answers

i mami I an question of fact or information, Seb — search. Write your question. clearly; sign name a “incloss s three-cent postage stamp. Medical or legal ad ~eannot. be given: Aatr T Sme Whee rs tuen, JIA Tuirmath Shy: Sughtigtin. 9: G3

‘Q—-What was the number of British casualties met fn, pon Cd

the various types of airplane engines

in use. Ln ¥ tiage ; & AM Rs a REN ¢ 0 % opposed; inverted-in-line; inverted.

~ A—Horizontal

i 3 V-type; radial, and V-type-60-degrees.

explain the Kinds of amy food called

tr 2 Q—Pléase {ovo sac sei cuts it ses ssn. = ‘

Only 46,000 man days of labor were lost through -. :

one day lost for every 1000 days—three years—worked, ,

41 be 58 years old my next

I figure she would soon get tired of living with an