Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 November 1942 — Page 12

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Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way

Service, and Audit Bu- = PE = BROWARD

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1042

ISHEARTENING news on the home front—more serious in its long-haul implications than news from the

war fronts—is found in the election forecasts indicating a

light and disinterested vote today. Gallup, for example, predicts the smallest turnout in 10 years, 20 million less

16 per cent less than the mid-term of 1938 and 10 per cent

less than the one in 194.

Armed enlistments and migrations due to war explain, in part, but only in part. Over all is that apparent apathy. We hope the forecasts prove untrue. For it is inconceivable that the American people in the midst of our nation’s greatest crisis have suddenly gone docile, or failed to realize that this is one of the most important elections in American history. Only one force can do anything about it. That is the voter. If the voter fails to function, then that is the supreme abdication. We pray that today’s turnout will fool the forecasters.

WHISKY TAXES

YA HISKY became a source of federal revenue soon after our government was formed. A tax of only a few cents a gallon touched off the so-called whisky rebellion in western Pennsylvania, and President George Washington had to use federal troops to restore order.

To help finance the Civil war, the tax on whisky was

increased from 20 cents a gallon to $2. That was too high

for that time. Bootlegging was widespread. After the war, the tax was reduced to 50 cents a gallon, and it brought in more revenue than at the $2 level. To help finance the first world war, the whisky tax was raised from $1.10 a gallon to $3.20. Soon thereafter came prohibition and another decade and a half of lush bootlegging. With repeal, the whisky tax in 1933 was fixed at $2 a gallon. In 1938 it was increasedsto $2.25, in 1940 to $3, in 1941 to $4—and now, to help finance the second world war, it has been increased to $6 a gallon. This $6 tax is something to watch with interest. It may be the start of another ‘experiment, noble in purpose.” The actual cost of the manufacture of whisky is only about B50 cents a gallon. High federal taxes, plus state taxes, may make illegal traffic in liquor once more a profitable enterprise.

THE ALCAN ROAD TO VICTORY

OMPLETION of the military road to Alaska is the best news in months. It is more important than some of the publicized battles. |

For this road feeds the Alaskan-Aleutian line. The strategic value of that line cannot be exaggerated. It is our defense barrier on the short, direct line for Jap invasion of Canada and the United States. It is our closest take-off point for-afi offensive against Tokyo. It is the best route to our almost isolated Chinese ally. It is the only direct contact with our Russian ally. Our chief weakness on that northwestern front—as on every other allied front, present and future—is supply. The shipping bottleneck is worse than all others combined, because the war of production cannot be won without deliveries to the front. That has been the problem in Russia, in the Middle East, in China, as it is now the desperate The shipping shortage delays the second front in Europe and leaves us heavily outnumbered at Guadalcanal. And the shipping shortage. prevented us from keeping the enemy out of the Aleutians, as it has since prevented us from recapturing Kiska.

® 8 8 : sn =

E WE should have had a military highway across Canada

' to Alaska years ago. It took a Jap war to move Washington. Even then the Alcan road was not rushed until the enemy took the Western Aleutians. But, since then, the high command has done everything possible to. make up for its costly blindness. In a little more than six months it has completed a construction job, which many engineers thought would require two years, The 1671-mile road from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to Fairbanks, Alaska, crossing mountains and bridging 200 streams, was built at the rate of eight miles a day. More than 10,000 troops and 2000 civilians labored day and night through all kinds ef difficulties. So today trucks and supplies are moving north to our front on a highway safe from enemy submarines and planes, thanks to the miraculous achievement of the U. 8. army engineer corps.

Our troops in Alaska are no longer isolated, their main’

supply line no longer can be eut by the enemy, they are no

longer victims of the shipping bottleneck. May the Alcan

road be our highway to victory.

BAD PRACTICE

VV ASHINGTON'S growing habit of thinking of the Su- '¥ preme Court as just another job is deplorable, If detracts from the dignity and usefulness of what every lawyer used to consider a supreme honor. The newest rumor is that Justice Douglas may become secretary of either war or navy. This follows the drafting of Justice Byrnes as economic administrator, and the temporary absence of Justice Murphy on Army maneuvers, which came not long after Chief Justice Stone declined to head the rubber inquiry, Appointment to the Supreme Court used to mean more

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Fair Enough

By Westbrook Pegler ;

NEW YORK, Nov. 3, — The stupid prohibition amendment to the 18-19-year-old draft bill has " been put out of the way but the pill, as passed by both houses of

congress and sent to conference, |

is still cluttered with provisos which would make it absolutely useless. If these: amendments stand the whole enterprise will prove to have héen nothing but a waste of time and public money,

‘but the probability. is that politics is at werk and that

a sensible version will be enacted. into law after election. = oF The amendments that must be done away with if the law is to serve any purpose at all provide for

the deferment until next July of all students in the

farm workers of these ages and worst of all from the standpoint of the war department in the performance of a colossal job, for the restriction of the service of all such new draftees to noncombatant duties until they have had a year’s training. Their is another and rather complicated proviso, which would defer all married men in any state until the single men had been called up. Together they constitute a mess and the catch of new soldiers would be negilgible and more trouble than they would be worth. The army would have to segregate the new men of these ages in special categories and create new organizations for them and meanwhile it would be necessary to grab enough older men, including men with established responsibilities and families, to fill the ranks. -

The Need Has Been Recognized

THERE IS NO intention to throw the youngsters into any front untrained, because the untrained soldier is at a discount. But the army’s plan is to ignore ages, as always heretofore, train men along on regular schedules to make proficient soldiers of them, and keep raw hands away from situations in

only to them, personally, but to battle. However, it is obvious that any man who already knows how to drive a truck doesn't need a whole year's schooling to learn the army's driving customs, which are quite different from those of civilian traffic, and that a mechanic or radio man with civilian experience will have time on his hands waiting out & year for assignment to practical duties. The sentimental and emotional objections to the draft of 18- and 19-year-old men have been met and disposed of already. It is tragic that they are needed but the need has been recognized and these emendments represent a desire to hedge and convert the new draft into an ineffective and meaningless fake.

Army Doesn't Dare Be Frank

BUT ROBERT PATTERSON, the undersecretary of war, told a gathering of factory evorkers and executives in Boston last Thursday that in the war between the states 90 per cent of the soldiers in the union army were under 22 and that 50 per cent of them were not more than 18, figures which apparently nobody else present had ever heard before and heard now with astonishment. If they could be frank, as they don’t dare, the army men who want this draft in its original ferm for its original purpose, namely to raise a big force of tough, limber, daring and durable young fighters, probably would admit that they are figuring on not more than nine to 10 months of training. oo But they want freedom te make their own decisions as to the fitness and proficiency of the soldiers and to organize without regard for age.

Light of Truth

By Stephen Ellis

CECIL BROWN, the war correspondent who aroused such a furore in these parts not so long ago with his point-blank challenge te the Middle West to wake up to the fact that there is a war on, is back in print, this time with a point-blank book, “Suez to Singapore.” ' Mr. Brown is actually a erusader. It becomes crystal-clear in the reading of his book. He was ordered out of Italy by the fascists when he attempted to tell the truth about II Duce’s government. And when he went to tell the story of

Cecil Brown

the allied nations, he ran inte British censorship.

There is little doubt that he ran into the prize collection of Col. Blimps. British offieialdom, of British colonial officials, of British censers, and of the British civilians in the colonies is a masterpiece of burning, angry contempt, And there ean be no doubt about Ceeil Brown’s aceuracy. The results bore out his forecasts with dreadful accuraey.

Start Reading Books Like This

ONE OF THE dramatic spots in this beek is the story of the sinking of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse by the Japanese torpedo bombers and bombers in the South Ching sea, Brown was on the Repulse. He was just eutside the suction of the 32,000ton battleship as it went down. He gulped down huge quantities of oil, he was more nearly dead than alive, but he lived to get bagk to a Singapore still dancing and dining and feeding .stupid lies to the civilian population. Reading this book, one cannot help but think of Wendell Willkie's recent speech and his references to the Asiatic peoples. Brown and Willkie saw something in common. And beth of them see what hag to be done, . It is true that Ceeil Brown may generate a little more heat than light, but you cannot take away the fact that the heat comes from truth. It was so ef Leland Stowe’s “No Other Road to Freedom.” A lot of people said “tish,” but Stowe came true—horribly true. It's time to quit dueking under the bed and te start reading hooks like this,

SUEZ TO SINGAPORE, by Ceell wn, 545 y . dom House. = $3.50. y¢ Bre 45 pages, Ran

So They Say—

The American fighter and bomber crews go out’

on every mission with determinatien to find and destroy the enemy—and they're doing an exeellent

middle east air force 2ommander. : es ¥ ® : We all had to stay as quiet as possible. It was necessary that we conserve our strength, We prayed. We were never afraid. When I saw the rescue ship I knew that our prayers had been answered —Woman survivor of merchant ship torpedoed in Atlantic.

* 8 = 3

Hundreds of planes have attacked Russia-bound conveys at ene time. We are working day and night to keep that dreadful reute epen.—Navy Capt. Leland P. Levette.

The world must be free, economically and peliti-

| eally, for nations and for men that peace may exist

in it. America must play an aetive, econstruetive

| part in freeing it and making peace. Wendel] Willkie

new and lower age bracket, for the deferment of all |.

which their inexperience would be dangerous not |

His indictment. of the-

job of it—Maj. Gen, Lewis H. Bereton, American:

7 © MAN POW

7 CoNSCRIFL

PLAN. TO REGISTER WOMAN POWER

-¥

: 3 | | The Hoosier Forum 1 wholly disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.

“WHY NOT A SELECTIVE BLOOD DONOR BUREAU” By Lieut. A. J. VanDern, MA-AUS, 1653 W. 35th st. o Oct. 28 I read with interest your front page note on getting down to the blood center. I believe it would be a good policy to have a selective blood donor bureau in which people would be examined and given a number. Thus the people's blood would flow inte the effort and have a living part in keeping men living and by life that might net otherwise exist be one of the weights on the victory side of the balance. If you print this idea I don’t necessarily want credit for it as personalities don’t matter. It’s an idea I thought of and believe that it will be accepted in patriotism. I wrote to Rep. Ludlow about it. I sent this idea to you for what it’s worth. Do what you will with it. Maybe you can turn it over to the Red Cross or anywhere it may get some support.

8 » 8 «“pET STEALING IS MORE THAN A HIDEOUS CRIME”

By Harry Maginity, 2536 E. 10th st. Pet stealing is going on rampant in Indianapelis. This is more than just a hideous crime as many of these pets are the obedient and loving pals of shut-ins and eripples and thus are irreplacable. For instance, a dog was taken at Temple and 10th sts. that was the lifelong and inseparable companion of a crippled boy. Seven years was the age of each. Now Darky and his master are separated by a friend te whom the dog will never be faithful and therefore valueless. I wonder if this felon has a conseienee. Probably not, This is just one of the many cases brought to my attention. The lost columns are full of lest dog items. These dogs were not lost, they were in most cases stolen.

If any individual has just come

-|into possession of a cocker spaniel,

black, with brown feet, they may be partly. responsible for the heart-

(Times readers are invited their these columns, religious controveries Make your letters short, so all can

to = express views in

excluded.

have a chance. Letters must

be signed)

breaking throbs ef an unfortunate boy and could he of assistance in restoring it to its .grieving owner.

8 #2 =» “AUTO HORNS COULD BE BANNED COMPLETELY , , ,” By W. A. M., Indianapolis.

Automobile horns are my pet peeve, too. I read in the Forum of Oct. 24th Mrs. J. H. Kennedy's lambasting of Mabel Taylor personally, and her letter to the Forum of Oct. 15th, and would like to add my “two cents worth.” In her (Mabel Taylor's) defense, whether she is married or not is unimportant, as too much unnecessary noise is nerve wracking for both married and single people. As for automobile horns I think that they could be banned completely for the civil population, for everyone would profit by it beeause it would make all automobile drivers instantly more theughtful and eareful and accidents would immediately decrease, for the great majority of drivers only use their horns to summon curb service at some drug store or eating place or they double park and henk and honk in front of some home or apartment house for the occupant to come out; and at all hours awakening people as early as 4 a. m, on through the day and night disturbing others, especially defense workers that have enough trouble getting enough sleep and proper rest. (Three such honking drivers regularly awaken and disturb my immediate neighborhood every morning beginning shortly after 4 a. m. and between them keep us all awake until time to get up.) . . And, toe, since the advent of the

Side Glances—By Galbraith

35 m. p. h. law, is it not more argument why all horns could not be entirely dispensed with fer the eivilian population? . . . Let these newly married couples celebrate their joyous oecasion with their attendant loud celebrations, that seem so necessary, in their ewn or friend’s homes where they will be more appyeciated by all eoncerned. » ” » “LADY VISITORS’ SALARIES pO THE PUBLIC NO GOOD” By Bryan Logsdon, R. R, 1, Freetown I have heard so fnuch praise for the New Deal and still hear it but not as much as in bygone days, of course. Well, my experience with the New Deal was that I got laid out of a job at Indianapolis. The officials of Brown country, all Democrats and of course New Dealers, were crowing about the New Deal doing so much for Brown county's citizens. I went to Brown county, bought me a farm so I might enjoy the New Deal. Well, I found conditions in Brown county

dianapolis—unemployment everywhere and when a Door man eut

and given a jail sentence. Now I

Deal. Another fake that is burdensome to taxpayers is Indiana's old age pension law. When a needy old age applicant applies for assistance, as they now call it, here comes a high salaried so-called expert investigator working on the merit system and a fancy salary and holds a costly

here comes a high salaried lady visitor supposed to give consolation in time of need. Now some of those poor old aged people's neighbors could give consolation but, of course, they are not on the merit system and their advice is of no avail now. Uncle Sam pays better than 50 per cent of the millions of dollars the welfare department is spending. Now what we the people need is this money that is paid eut in fancy salaries for experts and lady visitors

little mite they are paying out for assistance, as they now call it, falls far ‘short of giving aged peeple the security they. told these peaple they would. Now do away with the welfare gang, use the money for aged pensions and winning the war. Lady vicitors’ salaries do the public no good. ’ 8 2 = “LET'S STQP SMOKING ON THE STREET CARS" By I Smoke Too, Indianapolis. Calling all street car cigaret, cigar and pipe smokers: Let’s all be good sports and stop smoking on the street cars, now that the cars are so crowded and soon will be more crowded, Af best, the ventilation is net too good on the cars—the smell of eur cigar-

and besides, there have al smoking, “as & coutteey to others. ar for a

signs asking us fo re:

similar to what they were in In-|g

of employment failed to pay his| dog tax he was politely turned in|

suppose this is a part of the New

investigation. After he is through

be used to win the war. That small|

In Was! ingfor

By Peter Edson

WASHINGTON, Nov. comes back from the front avidly taken up for rep some circles that when this 8 over and soldiers return they're going te see tO things are different. To anyene whose memory back te the last war that has a familiar ring. In | > war, too, soldiers sat areu TR battles of vin rouge and freely. of how, when they got back heme, would be different. : Things were different, too, just as things will different after this war is over. But what part of the difference can be attributed directly to the fluence of returned and demobilized soldiers is 2 a moment's notice. If the constructive eont ) of our ex-soldiers to the state of the nation after the last war is any criterion, it may give a clue as to what the veterans of this war will be able to offer, and what they'll be able tp get. : This statement may be challenged, but when you add everything up, the principal contribution of the veterans of the last war to bettering their country has amounted to seeing that the veterans of the last war are well taken care of. A i Sore you start throwing things at that, stop and nk. : we

Nothing Like a Veterans Party

THE FORMATION of a veterans’ party as a pelit= ical organization could never be realized because an

army and navy are made up of men from both the J

major parties and the issues they have to back are’ ride the platforms of Republicans or Demogrsts. The vets of the last war could net even unite in one big organization to promote veterans’ affairs. There is the American Legion with a membership of a million, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars with a membership of a quarter million, and several minor outfits besides. But no ene big union, he mere, the membership of all these organizations take

in less than one man out of three who wore the uni=

form from 1917 to 1919. In the present congress there are 133 world war vets in the house and 25 in the senate. That ‘humber has grown from nothing in 1918. It has increased in every congress, and it will continue to increase. ° But even in congress the ex-soldiers do not form a bloc of any power or influence and do not aet together. Even on veterans’ legislation, the nen-vets are apt to be found pitching just as hard as the old soldiers to gain whatever there is to be gained from catering to the ex-soldier vote. :

They'll Have Their Troubles, Too

ON THIS MATTER of legislation to benefit the

ex-soldiers, particularly the wounded and disabled, the veterans’ organizations have done a tremendous

job for which all credit is due. On ether legislation, the record of the veterans’ organizations has not been notable, though the intent was good. Ever since 1921, for instance, the legion has been trying to put over a universal service law

not of such transcendent importance that they overs

[Rn

to draft agriculture, industry, capital and labor as

well as man power for the armed forces. Ever since 1921 the legion has battled for national defense. Those ideas are just now beginning to catch on. Ine

directly, too, some of the other things for which the legion has battled are being adopted. The government 1

now doés take over war plants, and the tax bills do take most of the profit out of war. But the veterans themselves were not able to put over these reforms as pre-war legislation. ; : But in remaking the world, after the armistice of 1918, the soldiers of world war I have been pretty generally stymied, and if history repeats, the veterans of world war II will have their troubles, teo, even though they come back 10 million strong. BG

Editor's Note: The views expressed by columnists in this

newspaper sre their own. They are mei mecessarily these of The Indianapelis Times. SE

A Woman's Viewpoint By Mrs. Walter Ferguson

WOMEN HAVE THE repute :

tion of being loose talkers, ‘but Franees Perkins, only feminine member of the president's cabinet, seldom speaks out unless she has something important te say, ? Her disapproval of the mevement Which would induet the mothers of young ehildren into industry earries the weight not only of the labor department but also that of a person whe doesn't proadeast random epinions. . Either we must assume that she knows what she is saying er we should dee mend further facts from those who eppose her are guments. : : According to Mrs, Perkins, there are now in this

An additional 3,500,000 have childre: over 10 years of age. She believes feminine labor should come from these groups, thus relieving the mothers of younger children from werk outside their homes.

No Substitute for a Mother HER REASONS for the attitude are sensible

no children,

eountry 16,000,000 women hetween 16 and 65 eniio

applied to the problems of the American home, ahd 2

intelligent when applied to the problems of industry. They are: Employment of women with small chil= dren threatens a return to “baby farms” and the high percentage of absenteeism among them reduces fac tory efficiency. i a I presume Franees Perkins knows the fasis about industry, and 1 am eertain that every mother whose instinets are truly maternal agrees with her shout the baby farm danger, er pl i We are not in this war to ruin the. children, and every woman should be prepa the hysteria and inefficiency which call for ment of mothers away from little children Ww then be turned ever to war nurseries: 5 At least we must fight this trend until ew less woman and every woman With older ec holding down a job. For even from Engla warn us. Miss Anna Freud, daughter of Sigmund, now in charge ef three war nurseries says, “The child who goes back and forth bi the home and the war nursery may, in i a stranger in both places.” ge "There is ne substitute for a mother and eur experts is smart ensugh te invent ene. of America should be grateful te Secre for speaking in their behalf, !

smn

ets is offensive to a lot of we Questions and An . frain. from|

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