Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 December 1942 — Page 10

Editor, in U. 8. Service

WALTER LECKRONE Editor

Price in Marion County, 3 cents a copy; deliv- = ered by carrier, 15 cents a week.

Mail rates ii Indiana, $4 a year; adjoining states, 75 cents a month; ‘others, $1 monthly.

Ae RILEY 5551

ive Lapis ons tha People Will Fina Thou oun Way FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1942

THANK You!

HE Indianapolis‘ Times extends its thanks to the hun- ~ dreds of persons who contributed to the success of the 18th annual Clothe-A-Child campaign. A total of 1934 needy children have been made warm and happy this Christmas by the thoughtfulness and generosity of Indianapolis’ citizens. ~~ One of the largest Christmas-time enterprises in the Urniited States, The Times’ Clothe-A-Child, aided by its sidewalk Santa Claus, Mile-Of-Dimes, does its best to do an ‘honest, sincere and thorough job. HKitis successful, the thanks belong to the citizens of this city. So thank you again— And Merry Christmas.

THE NEAL RESIGNATION OMAS L. NEAL, who has just resigned as Marion :7" county’s director of public welfare, deserves the thanks of this county for a faithfulness and loyalty which has been unique. . .. He has held a thankless post through years of strain and turmoil. He has taken the “heat” of petty politicians and major politicians. It is he who bore the brunt of personal attack for state policy, who took humiliation at the hands of a hostile county board in his stride, and who kept on doing his job as well as he knew how. : Tom Neal has been a faithful public servant, We have had too few of them in this county.

LABOR’S WEAKNESS (ORGANIZED labor was never so strong—on paper—as it is today. Actually, we think, it is suffering from a deadly dangerous weakness. The same weakness that afflicted business in the 1920s. The same that all but ruined the once mighty New York ~ stock exchange. The same that almost invariably develops when human institutions achieve great power. The pride that goeth before a fall. The blindness that will not recognize public opinion. The arrogance that. resents -warnings of peril ahead. In less than two weeks a new and very different congress will be in session. It comes from an election which, in many sections, proved that labor’s vdunted political strength was not a decisive factor. It will be far less amenable to the administration pressure which has “pro- * tected” labor in past sessions. Before it will be proposals for sharp revision of federal labor laws. Facing this prospect, spokesmen for organized labor are sounding their same old defiant cries: Labor will fight with all its strength against attempts to destroy its social gains. Labor will never surrender to changes | that would restrict its freedom. 8 V[EANWHILE, the tactics that Kore cost “aloniem SO much in public sympathy and respect continue. War industry strikes are increasing agajn, in defiance of a solemn pledge, and often for trivial reasons. Philip Murray lays down before the government a C. 1.0. program for manpower mobilization, but completely ignores’ the manpower wastage of an. artificially shortened work week, : William Green demands a voice for labor in the post“war world settlements, but says nothing about the need for unionism to become more responsible here and now. | . The railway unions call for wage increases far out of _ line with the government’s stabilization program, but cling to their labor-wasting “featherbed” rules and practices. John L. Lewis quibbles endlessly over the conditions ‘under which he may permit his miners to work 42 hours a week, instead of 35, to produce more coal for a shivering : country. Perhaps it is useless to appeal to organized labor's leaders to change their ways while they still have time. Perhaps they must learn the same bitter lesson, in the same hard way, that leaders of finance and industry were taught in the Jurbitjent thirties. We hope not.

WE hope Sor Jeaders’ will face the ey will recognize the great necessity for wise and moderate legislation to correct abuses that are harming the labor movemerit,

and will get out ahead of congress in advocating essential

reforms. These, we think, should include— Permanent preservation of social gains by voluntary surrender, for the dugation, of special benefits which are needlessly handicapping the war program and increasing its cost; suspension, also for the duration, of all union “make-work” rules: which restrict output; agreements, imented by law so that irresponsible unions cannot evade that union affairs must be conducted by democratic methods, that strikes must not be called by minorities, that union finances must be subject to public audit and report; and strict discipline to enforce labot’s Pledge against strikes war industries. By advocating some such program, by insisting on its adoption, organized labor | can win back lost support and at- + | real strength for the future. By standing stubbornly Iv 1st reasonable reforms now, it will invite the same type ment as that meted out to the once power-irmk

of finnoce and imdustiy.

iN

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} . 3 3

“article in Nation's s Business describes ‘the work of Henry Kaiser's “exit interviewers,” who seek to disorks from. dling, Evidently they are good, 08% of thee against leaving.

efforts, one man out of every

‘leave within a month. It costs |!

-and d bree is i In one month;

and Marlon county's welfare de-|

: : 51 Lae cio aad rived tl most yr . ‘sons... can't what |

goes On. The situation in a nutshell is ' this: This county's welfare

up with it—including the slugging of Wayne Coy, because he wanted a merit system for the department. The legislature tossed the director out on his ear and

punished the county welfare board by taking away its | §

power to appoint its own director and giving that power to the state. The man behind the scenes, the man who appoints the board—Circuit Judge Earl R. Cox-—has heen infuriated by this procedure and we've had years of bickering and stewing over this whole situation. The board has refused to accept the recommendations of the director, and time after time the operations have been stalemated.

Understaffed by at Least 35

THE NET RESULT has been a pretty widespread understaffing. The department is at least 35 under minimum personnel requirements and the state welfare board has held up funds due the county, some $60,000 more or less. With all this flying around, the federal government finally got fed up and ordered the state to clean up the Marion county situation, The social security board told the state, in ‘effect, it had to clean up or lose some $11,000,000 in federal funds. So Tom Neal has decided this has gone far enough and he’s getting out. The general impression may be

that he is the man responsible for all this. That

would be highly unfortunate. It’s been said ‘before and it ought to be said again that the best welfare administrator in the United States would have his hands full with the Situation as it exists,

Legislature Coiild Do a Noble Deed

I'VE TRIED to figure this thing out properly and I can only come {o one conclusion—that the major responsibility rests on Judge Cox. He is actually a consummate politician—one of the very best in the state. The only reason I can figure for his not having gone any further (he’s always wanted to be governor) is that his politics are so obviously directed toward the best interests of Earl Cox, that it has been just a bit too much for the Democrats in Marion county to take. A lot of people call him a bluffer and a braggart, but he’s got a lot more on the ball than just wind.

He has constantly schemed to put Tom Neal, the: .| state welfare board, and the state welfare adminis-

trator, Thurman Gottschalk, into delicate positions. He has succeeded very well indeed. So well that he has come to the verge of wrecking the state's welfare system for the sake of his own spleen. The legislature could do one noble deed. It could deprive Marion county’s circuit court judge of the right to appoint the welfare board and give it to the juvenile court judge. Not only could—it should.

Russian Holiday By David M. Nichol |

MOSCOW, Dec. 25.-—An unusual haze of snow flurries.in the early darkness with the moon somewhere behind contrived to turn the center of Moscow into/an eerie alabaster half-world of mov-’ ing shadows. The dimly-lighted streetcars and trolley busses were crowded with homebound workers, In the weird light, it was almost impossible to distinguish individuals, who were mostly wearing padded coats and fur caps. But one man stood out. as he made his way across the open square. He had a huge Christmas tree over his shoulder destined to bring happiness to some houseful of children. Even more, it was the only evidence to be seen up to that time of anything like a holiday spirit.

Orthodox Churchgoers Celebrate

ACTUALLY THE TREE will be used for the New Year's celebration, for the Russian people never have made Christmas a holiday in the sense that Americans do. On the Soviet calendar the only thing distinguishing Dec. 25 is the founding of the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic. Orthodox churchgoers celebrate Christmas eve in Moscow’s 25 churches according to the old-style calendar, Jan. 6, the Russian new year, will be devoted largely to children. School holidays begin then and

continue for 10 days. Gifts will be exchanged that

day while labor units in orphanages and other institu»

tions will install evergreens loaded with presents,

Chinese Ju-Jitsu

By William Philip Simms

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.—Japan is in for some terrific surprises befor she is through with China. Chungking has \reported that Gen. Chang Shing-hui, puppet premier of Manchukuo, had killed a Japanese adviser and five high- } ranking officials, then poisoned his entire family and committed suicide. I believe the great majority of Chinese, even among the hate the Japanese with a patient, slow-burning bitterness which Occidentals can’t fully comprehend. We think in terms of the present. Orientals, especially the: Chinese, think in terms of generations and centuries. The Japanese think they originated ju-jitsu, which is the art of appearing to yield in order to overpower an opponent. But they gat the idea. from the Chinese, who have been ‘masters at it in statecratt, since long before the first Christmas.

What Japs Really Are Doing

IN HSINKING, the Jap capital of Manchukuo, I had a curious experience which indicates what may be going on within the heart of China. . It was in 1934. 1 called on a certain cabinet official. He took me to a tea house. “This,” he whispered,

it is a hop joint, an opium den. It is one of many, run by what you would call local gangsters, but under official Japanese protection. “You'll find others like it all over occupied China. It )

“You may. wonder why Chinese, like myself, work

with the Japanese. Well, I've asked myself i

is going to do it and some of us, at least, | | ban sme well

hope and believe that by fo go along Tr a Position to help China, mote.

Manchuria sud || 9} typifies. Japanese criti: | ih

a \“ ® . x The Hoosier Forum Il : I wholly disagree with what you say, but will ~~ defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.

“RIGHT TO CRITICIZE IS WHAT MADE AMERICA” By George R. Prentice, 660 E. 15th st. *

The Times recently published a letter from the Employment Service and Employment Security Division of Indiana. The local union of ‘Employment Service men heartily disapprove of

the idea that everyone should go

nothing of what transpires in Washington. Senator Willis and Rep. Ludlow were named as ration opposers. To the men of the Employment Service, I say. “The right to criticize both ‘the government and the individual is what made America a democracy and not even war should exile that right.”

® 2, 2 | “EDITORIAL UNFAIR TO RAILROAD LABOR”

By A. 8. Uphaus, past president local 511. International Association of Machinists 2233 Station st.

Your editorial of the 15th (The Railroaders’ Demand) was grossly unfair to railroad labor, it was very

misleading for those unfamiliar with railroad wages; the conclusion they would draw is that railroad labor is about the highest paid of all’ labor in industry, the opposite being the truth. We are the lowest paid. The federated shop crafts, com-posed-of the machinists, boilermakers, blacksmiths, sheet metal workers, electricians. and carmen, which are comparable to outside industry,

that pay time and one-half for Sundays and holidays; on roads that pay straight time for Sundays and holidays to these crafts the rate is 96 cents per hour, the carmen receive 7 cents less per hour. (Yes, these rates also apply to tool and die makers.) In outside industry and defense plants these same - crafts receive from $1.15 to $1.75 per hour; in the Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis area some rates run as high as $2.25 per hour. The great majority of these craftsmen have more than 20 years experience. The same applies to our helpers; very few of them have less than 10 years experience. Their rate is 73 cents per hour, which is

all ration critics. They expressed]

about their own business and say

receive 95 cents per hour on roads|

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns, religious controveries - excluded. Make yours. Jetters short, so all can have a chance. Letters must

be signed.)

3 cents more than the starting rate in practically all defense plants. In the majority of defense plants a man with no experience, those who have never seen a machine shop before, after three months experience receive 90 cents per hour and up. Your statement that our demands for 20 cents per hqur increase would put us far above the WLB standard, based on the 15 per cent raise in the cost of living sihce January, 1941—it probably would, if we got the 20 cents. But the fact still remains that a 20-cent increase would not bring our standards of living up to the plane of the same crafts employed in outside and defense in-

dustry. * 8 8

“THINK OF BOYS WHO

NEVER COME HOME” By Wanda Crockett, R. R. 1, Box 838 In answer to Mrs. Dorothy Reidy’s letter: In my estimation . . . Mrs. Reidy: thinks of no one but- herself and herself only. Has she ever tried to realize that millions of mothers like hers haven't seen their sons; husbands or brothers for more than 17 months, let alone six? _Has she ever tried to think of the many other mbthers who are grieving and sick because of their|. sons being away from home? I have two brothers myself who are serving in the U. S. army. They have never had furloughs, only two or three-day leaves. My mother grieves only to herself and holds her chin up, like we all should do. . Don’t give President Roosevelt the blame) Mrs. Reidy. He can’t personally ° chauffeur your brother Rroner for if it wasn’t for him, you probably wouldn't be able to have a Christmas, even without your brother. Don’t feel sorry for the boys in our country’s service either; after all, they're the ones who are

plugging, not you.

Learn fo

|Side Glances—By Galbraith : i

Asa A RA pod Tt.

read more than the| :

|By BH. J. wilson, 263 :

funny papers, : 1's, Reidy. Learn to think of th: Dboys who never come home agai 1. : ® : =» “PUBLIC CONE (1)ENCE MUST BE REF ( BED” By Edward F. Mad dcx, 959 W, 28th st. Public confide «= in public officials must be res ored before we can ever have whole -1 carted unity and co-operation in : 2 loning and other

| regulatory meas rcs.

As. one of the tion I would say tat the last election was a vote o ‘no confidence” in New Dealism : nd radicals in high authority, like o instance, Leon Henderson. . . There are plenty more like him. It is now het d that ‘Senator Brown of | Mich 2 ‘a repudiated. lame duck. New lis may get Henderson’s job. ‘Vell, a man who has lost the conf d nee and support of the people of ! ic own state surely cannot and will not have the confidence of the : ation. We voted against him, dich t we? We, the peop ¢ of the United States, don’t lik: nor. trust New Deal social expe: n.cnters. Give us honest leaders w t!. common sense. oo» ” “WHY DO WOD tN BUY SUCH FANCY :IL.ACKS?” By Orval Peats, 2859 S.utheastern ave.

I wish to show nv resentment to the statements na ic by W. H. M. defending women ° ho wear slacks. Again we find | cople who wish to use the war as ©

ople of this na-

buy such fancy o ics’ . This idea of bei 12 required to wear slacks makes me [augh because I am sure if it iz absolutely necessary to wear otlk r than dresses to work in, it wouli oe much more ladylike to wea overalls while working and cha! 3- to dresses before going upon tc street. ... The future of cur country depends. Upon ‘OUT | hing our children to live righ , and I am sure most of us are it crested in keeping our children ii line with the principles of coir mon decency. This is one of tic very reasons we are fighting = "var today. We are trying to exter ninate such common people as are ruling Europe. ®- a & “ARE WE NOT 5°: NDING ~ TOO RECKLESS! 1°” utheastern ave. ur government the amount of {he end of this

Is this in adowned by the

We are told th2 will be indebted, - $300,000,000,000 a’ war. ke Indebted to who: n dition to the bon s public? And if ii is the. complete bonded indebtedns s who holds the dollars that bough ° ‘us debt? Someone bas al Has not been bur ic

| to the bottom of ti: things it bought

IOREY is. We Jn 1 eta ten A few who can keep u. paying interest for generations = ‘come.’ It is true we are { ghting for the

900 claims of war frauds come mitted against the government are now in various stages of ine vestigation, indictment and prose« cution by the department of justice. There have already been several convictions, several pleas of guilty, and the end -result can . be only the: saving of hundreds of millions of dollars of . the taxpayers’ money with the conviction of many crooked individuals and corporations who can't resist the temptation to make a dishonest dollar by cheating and chiseling on war contracts. The nature of these war frauds complaints runs a She way way frm petty chiseling up to multi-million stuff. An explosives manufacturer in Maryland put his

charge it to the ‘government which had given him a war contract. A’ little clique of petty officers in charge of making food purchases for a navy mess in the Norfolk, Va., area, entered into a conspiracy with the merchants | from whom they bought supplies to kick back with a commission. A Texas merchant, faced ‘with an indictment on §

1 similar charge, committed suicide.

Few Cases Involve Army Supphies

ONE SHIPYARD OFFICIAL had his house painted and remodeled with labor which was being paid for by the maritime commission to build ships. . A couple of ex-war, production bogrd officials were indicted for illegally diverting and selling used mae chine tools. : Those are typical cases of petty personal graft.

tracts have been charged with various shady practices, An Jowa firm caught supplying defective shells was

the simple device of switching government inspectors’ o. k. tags to shop trucks carrying shells that had not been inspected. ‘An- eastern clothing confractor was found ta be selling salvaged uniforms as new equipment. ~

volving the supplying to the armed services of defece tive materials has been small It is when you get into the big war fraud cases that the really sensational stuff appears. Indictment of the Anaconda Wire & Cable Co, of Marion, Ind., and five of its officials for conspiracy to defraud the United States is the most recent of the big cases. By faking tests and by-passing inspections, it is charged that this company delivered to the army signal corps, the navy and the Soviet government through lend-lease, defective wire and cable intended for combat communications use, ships’ Degaussing cables for anti-mine protective equipment, and sub‘marine wire.

How U. S. Gets Tipofts

LEADS ON ALL THESE war fraud ¢ cases have had their sources in many unusual places. In one case, an honest secretary didn’t like the crooked work her boss was pulling off against the government and reported him. A lot of. the tips come from anonymous letters. Some tipsters sign their names: and tell all, even though it means certain loss of a job for the infor mants," The war frauds unit of the department of justice was set up last February. A staff’ of some 40 lawyers from the criminal and anti-trust divisions of justice

nected with the war effort. That staff is now headed by Tom C. Clark, with John Darsey as his assistant chief. Under Clark’s direction, the emphasis is now placed on cleaning up these war fraud cases while thy're’hot. FBI, army and navy intelligence units and the legal and investigative staff of other government agencies all get in on the play.

were delayed until it was all over. Witnesses and evidence .were scattered and concealed by that time and few of the war grafters got what was coming to them,

Italian Morale

|By Paul Ghali

of some sections of the allied press about their country’s ine ternal situation as a means to re« inforce their own shaky morale, according to a Milan dispatch to the Neue Zuercher Zeitung. ; important Italian newss. now publish daily lists of ey describe as the “abe surdities” contained iff allied radio and press statements. Typical items on these lists are reports of anti-German manifestations in various Italian towns, including the smashing of window panes in the German consulate at Naples.

Try to Discredit Newscasts

THIS NEW DEVICE of Italian propaganda clearly aims at two results: 3. To brace up Italian morale by letting the ignoe rant public feel that its: own internal situation is infinitely better than the allies say it is. 2: To throw discredit on British and American newcasts to which countless Italians faithtully listen, despite Fascist prohibitions. : Seige

We the Women

By Ruth Millett -

®

EVERY TIME a kid who managed to stretch his age and

WASHINGTON, De. . etre :

mistress on the payroll at $30,000 a year, trying to

Small business firms with relatively small war cone

found to he getting by with its crooked work through

Fortunately, the number of war fraud cases ine ° :

was assembled to handle all complaints of fraud con- :

In the last war, investigations and indictments

BERN, Dec. 255-The Ifaliang are now using the “extravagances”

Raa a ra

EL ET IT