Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 December 1942 — Page 16

he Indianapolis Times

RALPH BURKHOLDER | Editor, in U. 8. Service WALTER LECKRONE Editor

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Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way

a ‘and bliss (except Sunday) by The Indianapolis Times Rulisiing Co, 214 W. Maryland st. ~~ © Member of United Press, Scripps - Howard Newspaper Alliance, NEA ‘Service, and Audit Bureau of Circulations.

vo WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1942

THE 77TH CHECKS OUT

TEE, 77th congress, weary of overtime work, punchdrunk from being pushed around, lamed by the elections, checks out today. It has sat longer than any preceding congress. It has spent more money, laid heavier taxes, declared war against more countries, voted more blanket powers to the president. The 78th congress will be an entirely different type. One hundred and six house members and 13 senate members of the 77th won’t be back in January. The new representatives and senators who will take their seats, and the old ones who managed to get re-elected, will return with what they consider a fresh mandate form the country—a mandate to function otherwise than as rubber stamps. : And in the new congress, for the first time in 12 years, the Republican party will have the numbers to be an effective and challenging minority. ea. 2 8 =» HERE is doubt that some executive officials in downtown Washington have yet fully realized what a change of life they are in for. After more than a decade of legislating by executive decrees and regulations, with casual disregard of the intent and wishes of congress, some of the high-powered bureau- * crats are going to have a hard time adjusting themselves to the reality that the national legislature is becoming again an.equal and co-ordinate branch of our government. They seem not yet to understand, as O. Henry would ‘say, that the grift is running out. 2 sen # 8 = all such, who after all have a tremendous job to do administering the affairs of our government in the most serious war of its history, and who will want to function with minimum friction and for maximum results, we would recommend that they keep always in mind the November election returns, and re-read that ancient charter, the Constitution, especially section 8, which says, in part: “Congress shall have power: “To lay and collect taxes, duties, imports, and excises to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States... “To borrow raoney on the credit of the United States.

“To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states... “To establish a uniform rule of naturalization and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies “es “To coin money, regulate the value thereof “os “To constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme court . . . “To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal... “To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years. - “To provide and maintain a navy. “To make rules for the government and regulation of land and naval forces . .. “To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers and all other powers vested by this constitution in the government ‘of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.”

s » 2 » » » N° congress in 12 years has really acted as though it had all that power and responsibility. But unless we missed the signs of the times, the 78th will not be a congress which just any palace guardsman or - sub-bureau chief can call on ! the phone and say, “Pass a law : quick. » The new congress, like the one now passing into history, should, and probably will, give the president and his ~ subordinates all the money apd powers they need to prosecute the war. 1% But it should not, and probably will not, loosely vote money and powers just because some bureaucrat happens to.want to try out some pet new experiment. Congress can’t run the war. That's the job of the commander-in-chief. But congress should—and come Sor anuary probably will —run the country.

PENS AND PENCILS

THIS country, in 1941, produced 1,205,280,000 wood-cased lead pencils, 60,000,000 mechanical pencils, 50,000,000 fountain pens and 23,760,000 pen holders. In 1943, under orders just issued by the war production ‘board, output must be limited to 1,060,646,400 wood-cased pencils, 24,300,000 mechanical pencils, 18,000,000 fountain pens and 17,280,000 pen holders, while no rubber, either crude or reclaimed, may be used in the manufacture of

‘With a grand total of 1,120,226,400 new writing implements the American people should be able to get through ext year. That is, if their government cuts down, instead continuing to increase, its own output of long, unnecesy and duplicating questionnaires.

N'T TRAVEL

OTWITHSTANDING the praiseworthy effort of Elmer Davis to cut the volume of government publicity, prey the White House has not been removed from the : of defense transportation’s list. In that event, perhaps Mrs. Roosevelt has seen the plea Director Eastman: “I urge you most earnestly to ask : before you purchase a travel ticket or board a bus

_S0 obliging.

Fair Trcush

By Westbrook Pegler

’

NEW YORK, Dec. 16.—Those who have often said, and rightly, that the small investor in the soulless ' corporations of big industry had no real voice in the company’s affairs, something which I believe amounts to a parallel on their side of the bargaining table. « The fact is that the rank and file coal miner, under John Lewis, the hod carrier under Joseph Moreschi, or the aircraft worker in the U. A. W, of the C. I. O. is equally helpless and equally remote from those who control his affairs; including his right to earn a livelihood. This is creating a situation in which practical men of big business and big unionism can get together and are getting ‘together to run things as they please, and the possibilities in such collaboration are grave. The time may come when these two groups of practical men will agree on the insistent proposal of the union bosses that they, operating under the title of labor. are entitled to a voice in management,

Biness Could ‘Find It Profitable

ON THE FACE OF IT, that would seem to be a great gain for the workers, but experience has shown that the little working people receive no nicer consideration from those whom they have permitted or suffered to speak for them, than the small stockholders received from industrial executives whom they have never seen. It could be expedient and profitable to business, and some great industrialists have found it so, to

quit fighting the union bosses and do business with |

them. Such understanding, when the unioneer really has firm control of his flock, tends to assure a reliable supply of labor at prices agreed on over the table and the. employer, “knowing where he stands, is able to adjust his prices accordingly. He is relieved of uncertainty, and, if the union boss has a voice and interest in the management, then he, no less than the employer, has an incentive to keep the workers under control and steady at their tasks. In these circumstances, would a John L. Lewis or a Reuther put up with such nonsense as the slow-

‘ down, the sitdown or rioting by masses or pickets?

Or would not such men, with long experience in the management of such activities, find it in their hearts

and in their interests, to employ against rebellious

workers the same violent methods that they used against non-members when they were creating their power?

A Small Price for Practical Men

THE BIG INDUSTRY WHOSE labor relations have brought into the management a strong and ruthless veteran of the free-style brawls around the gates in years gone by, has within its household its own good leader. He knows how to lick disorganized minorities and even disorganized majorities, for he has done it in the past, and when things'have come to this point, the management is a unit and possesses, moreover, the prestige of a wise and generous labor policy. When tough men of industry and of unionism join hands and act as partners in management, industry will have no need to hire the kind of thugs forbidden bv Senator La Follette. They will have their own, and they will be called honest workers, and those whom they slug away from the gates and terrorize on the streets and at home will be disrupters. fifth columnists and the like. The closed shop and the checkoff. piping vast amounts of money and vast power into the hands of the boss unioneers, would be a small price for prac-

tical men of industry to pay for tranquility and docility in labor.

Desert Fox By Ludwell Denny

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15—By his hasty retreat from the EI Agheila line, Marshal Rommel again postpones a final victory for the panting™ British army which has pursued him across 700 miles of desert. With: every mile of retreat, he is making it harder for his pursuers to maintain their lengthening supply line. So he gains 7 time, which is all-important to the a%is, Rommel’s maneuver is in sharp contrast to the face-saving tactics of Hitler in southern Russia and of Tojo in the south Solomons. °* In the Stalingrad death trap, Hitler insists that the slaughter of his troops continue despite Lis commanders, who have been purged for their opposition. There is also a lot of the face-saving motive in the Japs’ repeated attempts to retake the Guadalcanal airfield. As long as the score continues to mount in

our favor, the Japs are playing our game in refusing to retreat.

It Will Be a Costly Retreat

UNFORTUNATELY, ROMMEL in Africa is not Rommel has prolonged the battles of Tripolitania and Tunisia, postponed allied control of the Mediterranean, given Hitler more time to buttress Italy and, perhaps, to counter-attack through Spain or the Near East. But it will not be a cheap retreat. Allied planes, vombine and machine-gunning the fleeing Afrika Korps, will see to that,

Jungle Dogfight

By George Weller

WITH U, S. TROOPS IN NEW GUINEA, Dec. 16.—The NewGuinea jungle is so thick you seldom see an air battle overhead. But you hear them often up there somewhere in the rain clouds miles above the interlaced leaves over your water-filled foxhole. Today F saw one such battle. “It's a fight,” cried someone. I crawled to a clearing which seemed to offer the largest patch of blue sky. There was a square wing-tipped zero, yery uy in the sky, diving with an Airacobra upon “Bat-bat-bat,” went the machine guns. The zero zoomed upward as the Cobra fell past him. Then another Cobra fell upon him. The zero came around in another great arc downward. Smoke Sppeared at the lower wingtip, but only a trace.

Perhaps Japs Were Watching, Too THE JAPS, a few yards ahead in the bush, were silent too; their machine guns did not speak. pats haps they were watching also. Just as the zero almost reached the tree-top, level. that usually cheats us of a view, flame burst from his tail. Jap machine guns spoke up again, angrily demanding revenge. I slipped back into cover with the ai aioe

have overlooked |

HITLER APPOINTS

ZEITZLER Ze CHIEF

OF STAFF

The Hoosier Forum

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

1

“ARE WE IN THIS CITY LESS DESERVING?” :

By A. H. Berman, 2841 N. Delaware st. Why is it that while the rest of the country may listen to the entire Shostakovitch’s Seventh Symphony as broadcasted by the Red

network, it pleases the Indianapolis outlet, WIRE, to let us hear only part of it? 2 Why is it that while the other stations of the Columbia broadcast - ing system present the Cleveland Symphony orchestra for a full hour, the Indianapolis outlet, WFBM, feels that half an hour is enough for us? Why is it that the Indianapolis outlet, WIBC, of the Mutual broadcasting system chooses not. to let us hear the concerts conducted by Wallenstein, or only a portion of them? : Are we in Indianapolis less deserving? Or don't we care? a “OUR PEOPLE ARE NOT SILLY AND UNEDUCATED” By George C. Walker, 2363 N. Gale st.

In answer to Mrs. H. O. Neale, Dec. 12, 1942: Your column in The Times was very amusing as it must have been to other readers and since you ask such silly questions, as you say, I would ask you one, and then answer it ‘myself and attempt to answer yours at the same time. If people voted and thought only in terms of the party in power instead of good candidates as you do, we would have the type of government here as Germany and Italy do today, headed by that one party’s head man. We would not be bothered with the Democrat party at all if we look at the party's past and pick out one man that you dislike and condemn the whole party regardless of the good work they have done as you do.. The Republican party could blame the Civil war on the Democratic party because they were mad at the Republican victory, but our people were not of such low intelligence as you say,.and today we are united with a much safer twoparty system in power. The depression of 1929, etc., was not the work of the Republicans. The Democrats were controlling the house but even at that I say it was

(Times readers are invited their these columns, religious con“Make

‘your letters short, so all can

to express views in

troveries excluded.

have a chance. Letters must

be signed)

the people’s short-sightedness during our fat years and this great Te ation was going into a change. We ere changing from handpower into rapid mass production caused by world war I and did not know how to ration our products evenly and we became overstocked. Thus our depression. In closing I say our people are not silly and uneducated as you say for voting a Republican ticket. They were smarter than you because they put our wartime government on a more balanced scale. ® x = : “A FEW WORDS TO A SHOPLIFTER” By A Mother, Indianapolis. I would like a few words in your paper (to the shoplifter. Last Friday I bought two jackets and four ear muffs for my little boys. The jackets were for my boys who were hurt in an explosion on Dec. 4. One has a broken arm; the

other is still in the hospital after an operation for a fractured skull. While in a store on West Washington st. we laid the packages down while looking at other things and they were stolen. Now I have six boys and a girl and with things so high it is hard to clothe all of them as one should. But I wanted to get them a few clothes for Christmas. But the jackets were stolen and I can’t get them more before Christmas. Would the one who took the packag=s home be kind of heart enough to do right this once and either mail or bring the packages to Th Times? No questions will be asked . . . It is bad to be a thief, but to steal from little children is worse still... ... One package had two jackets size 12 and 14 and four ear muffs. The other had a shirt and a pair of pajamas which were bought for my

Side Glances—By Galbraith

¢& |8rmy camp problem.

1 accommodate defense workers but

| Just look them up.

boy who will soon fight for our country. In the name of those boys I ask you to do what will give your mind ease. » " ”

“WHAT KIND OF NOSE SHALL WE MAKE IT?”

By Norman Glenn, Clinton county. i

"Recently one Forum writer heaped . abuse on another because of his |

ideas, whereupon The Times in a postscript remarked that each person is entitled to his opinion and should be free to express himself; without unfair criticism from others. | A fine principle but upon one topic The Times is inconsistent, All people are not champions of

liquor. Josh Lee and thousands of other people may not see as The Times and they are entitled to do so without unfair criticism. Considering the landslide in the recent election, it is stretching a point to say liquor defeated Senator Lee. The fact that the 18th amendment was repealed does not prove the American public shoulc receive back John Barleycorn in open arms, or that they wished to do so. They were just groping for a better method for handling a perplexing social evil. They have not found it. National prohibition was not the sought for remedy. Most people know that now. But the liquor problem still exists greater than ever and in light of everyday facts, can it be denied? . . Whisky bottles now decorate sidewalks, lawns, alleys and public restrooms, drunken driving is a menace, tavern brawls a common occurrence, and to top it all, little teen age children now consider a whisky bottle essential to an evening social function. Records prove that most crime is done by youth under 22 years of age, the daredevil age before real reasoning begins. It is to be expected that liquor and youth would be an With due respect to the army, the wearing of a uniform does not grant to the wearer a license to debauch his own body. or that of womanh@Qod, or to violate the accepted laws of society. Opposed to any move to effectively control liquor are ‘the millions of the brewers, distillers and kjndred interests making profits fro its sales. When anyone speaks of really controlling this evil, he is berated, condemned and called a blue nose. Is it not true that a so-called blue nose does act for the intended good of humanity, while a red nose is affiliated with vice, crime, poverty, disease, profits and human degradation? What kind of nose shall we make it? ” o s

“BETTER GET KAISER INTO RAILROAD GAME” By a Times Reader, Indianapolis The railway shuttle system between the city and Speedway—the management of the railroad and the ODT can’t see how they can

they could put extra trains from New York, Chicago to Miami for the sun hunters. They better get Henry J. Kaiser into the railroad game and he will show them how to handle railroads the way he did shipbuilding. The railroads are handling business the way they did 50 years ago. You don’t need to believe the writer,

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/ DAILY THOUGHT “The same came for a witness, ‘to bear witness of the , that all ‘men Shrough him

Our Hoosiers

By Daniel M. Kidney

A

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16. — b

Maj. Ben Stern, former secretary to Senator Frederick VanNuys and one-time Indianapolis and Evansville newspaperman, is back from the wars. ‘He's going to spend Christmas here “with his vie and daughter. ; A long-time reserve officer in” the U. 8. mafines, Maj. Stern has spent six months visiting most of . the war’s hot spots in the Orient’ and Near East. He traveled by boat, rail and airplane and came hurtling home from Cairo in a big bomber converted to transport service and carrying 28 other passengers. “I've been in as many or more countries “than, Wendell Willkie and spent a good deal of time in some of them,” Maj. Stern declared. “Nothing can give. you a better appreciation of the U. 8 A. “When you see the poverty-stricken masses of India, you don’t waste much sympathy over people who are crying about gasoline rationing in Indiana." We are far better off here than anywhere on earth and that is why we are fighting—we want to keep B that way.”

Joined in the Desert Fighting

WORKING BOTH with the marines and the OWT, Maj. Stern had entree everywhere in political as well as military circles. He joined the British fighting in the desert and at one time manned a machine gun in the tail of a bomber over Tobruk. - In Ankara he reported the surprise of his life when a Turk came up and asked in American—not just English—“How is the University of © Michigan football team doing this year?” Michigan was the Turk's alma mater, it turned out. Maj. Stern spent considerable time in Cairo work- . ing directly for Robert E. Sherwood, the American : playwright, who has charge of the OowWI foreign information service under Hoosier Elmer Davis.

He Didn't Like the Election

HE CALLED on President Smuts of South Africa, visited Capetown, Trinidad, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Istanbul, Ankara, et al. : A one-time Indiana political writer, Maj. Stern didn't think so much of the last election results in the state, He expressed the fear that the Republicans “may return to isol Seipiionism and the war will be fought and’ won in vain He was in the party of Americans to greet Wendell » L. Willkie at Cairo—likes the Willkie and Wallace viewpoints regarding peace plans, he said. “There seems to be an erroneous impression here ° that we are on the last lap of this war,” Maj. Stern said. “The fact is that we are only in the beginning of it. We haven't made anything like the sacrifices necessary to win.”

‘Fiddler's Folly’ By Richard Lewis 7D

ROBERT HAVEN SCHAUF--FLER is one of these rare artists who takes his art not seriously, _but affectionately. He is a ‘cellist, a well-known musicologist and a“raconteur. of exceptional insight and humor. That becomes apparent in his newest book, “Fiddler’s Folly and Encbdres,” which. is a literary gem. “Fiddler's Folly” contains a group of personalized anecdotes, told in a somewhat florid, but highly entertaining, light essay style. Mr. Schauffler has had his shape of the adventures which befall musicians and he Is able to tell about them. One of the most famous anecdotes in American music is the story of his acquisition of the Gasparo ‘cello 40 years ago in Venice. Repeatedly he spurned the black monstrosity which Venetian dealers offered up to satisfy his question’ for a thoroughbred, Italian ‘cello. It had a flat back. : Mr. Schauffler didn’t believe good ‘cellos had flat backs.

A Natural for the Musician

BUT ACCIDENTALLY he wiped the monstrosity with a piece ‘of tallow and a golden glow began to show through the grime, so he bought the instrument for better or for worse. How a blind musician and a dying craftsman revealed the “doghouse” as the 400-year-old Gasparo ‘cello is eminently worth reading. One follows Mr. Schauffler and his doghouse, “Gasper,” through a series of minute, musical adventures throughout America and Europe. In Greenwich village, he discovers a quartet by listening at his window on a summer evening and hastens to join it.. In the Alps, he digs up another quartet with a great. psychologist who plays the violin abominably, but

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listens intently for the imperfections of other players. ¥

A gifted musician as well as a writer, Mr. Schauffler has been an international tennis player, editor, corre spondent, infantry officer, amateur sculptor and poei. He is the author of “The Unknown Brahms,” “Beethoven, the Man Who Freed Music” and several’ other works. Here's a natural for the musician who is notably’ difficult to provide for around Christmas time. It's the kind of volume, not large, not small, that would hit the right key with almost anyone who finds’ music interesting. :

Robert Haven

LER'S FOLLY AND ENCORES."” Price, $3.

Henry Holt & Co., N. Y. 152

by *

“FIDD! Sera PP.

We the Women

By Ruth Millett

MOTHERS, WIVES and awost- | hearts of men in service. don't. think it’s so funny whens radio” comedian, to get &" laugh, shows . Johnny Doughboy as- either ny crazy or a big, awkward, yokel. They have written to. the’ department in protest, and war department's radio branch, has warned radio comedians that. “what was funny soldier humor

before is not so funny now.” The letter of/warning goes on to: point. out that"

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the American soldier today is a "preuty serious young 3

He's Showing World What He Is

IT WONT MAKE any resi diffrence. how comedians make soldiers look if Americans will

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