Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 January 1943 — Page 10

dally (except Sunday) by Publishing Co,

PAGE 10

The Indianapolis Times

ROY W. HOWARD RALPH BURKHOLDER President =. Editor, in U. 8. Service MARK | WALTER LECKRONE Béisiness : Shia Editor : (1a SCRIPRE-HOWAKD NEWSPAPER) % bi ‘Owned and published

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_ @ive Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1043

IN FINAL ANALYSIS, MILITARY SERIOUS civilian-versus-military issue is rising over how large our armed forces should be. Manpower Commissioner McNutt is reported favoring a revision downward on the contention that the shipping

outlook is such that less than a third of the proposed 714million army could be transported overseas by the end

of 1943.

‘Senator Edwin Johnson of the military affairs commit-

“tee attacks the expansion program, saying we are stripping

ourselves of help at home, needed to supply the armed

forces. Donald Nelson is likewise described as being. on the cautionary side, to the point of joining with K McNutt to

request reconsideration by the president of the big army

personnel goal. Against the whittling proposal, Secretary of War Stimson warns of interference with “mature decisions” of the nation’s military leaders. It is all right to challenge and to ask questions. But when it comes to the showdown, if the military, having

faced those challenges and those questions, still stands on

its estimate of what it needs, then the military should.

prevail.

For, after all the arguments have been heard, the

‘danger of carrying an attack against the military to the

point of frustration lies in the implication involved. That

‘implication says in effect that the military leaders are

themselves trying to sabotage the war effor of which they are in charge and for which they have the awful responsibility of life and death, not only for the fighting men but for the nation itself.

WE are sure, of course, that no such implication is intended by those who are. promoting the whittlingdown cause. But that is what it would finally boil down

» # 8 s

— : to if the cause could not be sustained.

" WHITE-PINE BLISTER RUST | 2 | A SKED whether his forthcoming budget message would

Warfare being a military business, the last decisions

E as to forces required must necessarily be military, not

civilian. All information as to resources, supplies, transport, production, are available to the military. That being the case, the chiefs of staff certainly would not want to misjudge. Their appraisal is bound to be the very quintessence of mature deliberation. Why shouldn’t it be? In both the personal and patriotic sense their stake is highest. Accordingly, the only conclusion’is that what they call for is what they consider they must have to win. i 2 = = » 0, in absence of proof that they are wrong—proof so convincing as to be absolute—the country must rely, in final analysis, on their judgment. As journalistic civilians we want no part, when the record is written, in a verdict against men like Gen. Marshall

» 2

-—

| and Admiral King on the question of whether the armed i forces should be 100,000, a million or 10 million. © much responsibility for a layman, backseat driving without

It’s too

a road map.

propose cuts in non-war government expenditures,

' | President Roosevelt replied in terms he has often used

| before.

Large cuts, he said, have already been made. Besides,

it is difficult to tell what is a war expenditure and what . is a non-war expenditure. federal agency has sought, and has been permitted, to repre- - sent its activities as essential to the war program.)

(It is, indeed, since almost every

For example, should federal inspection of meat be

classed as war or non-war? -Or should federal control of white-pine blister rust be stopped ? ' That may not be a war . activity, but white-pine blister rust, uncontrolled for a year ior so, probably would destroy many. trees.

We suggest respectfully that the real question is not , whether meat inspection or control of Wiits-ping blister rust should be stopped. s = a % ow TEE real question, we think, is whether meat could be inspected, or white-pine blister rust be controlled, or any other government activity be carried on adequately, by

- fewer federal employees at less expense.

As to the specific activities mentioned by Mr. Roose-

at an irreducable minimum of expense. But we strongly suspect that this is far from true of a great many government activities. And, further, that

rel are quite a few government activities which could be - stopped altogether without serious results.

So, we believe, it is someone’s official duty to find out whether many: government -activities—war and non-war alike—could be carried on adequately by fewer employees at less expense, and whether other government activities

could safely be Giscontinued, and then to act on the findings. |

THE COST OF SHIPPING . a HE difficulty of distributing war contracts is suggested by the wide range in 106 bids submitted to the maritime

commission for constructing 65-foot wood tugs for hauling 3

One Great Lakes yard offered to build six for 331.500} ach, while another, figuratively a rifleshot away, wanted |

160,000. each. Seattle yards would - build one: ‘at prices

en ty, 3 cents a copy; deliv

Feir Enough’

By Westbrook Pogler

mw YORK, Jan. 2--There is an obvious deliberate purpose in the present handling of the industrial war manpower problem to duck the question whether the ~ /shortage is legitimate or artificial and to establish compulsion as the first purpose of the government. " - If and when the available skill, intelligence, energy and hands are used to the best advantage where they are currently employed and the need of compulsion still exists, conscription, either direct or indirect, by means of ‘the squeeze, Will be acceptable as a temporary measure. But that time is not yet for there is enormous

waste of manpower as Paul V. McNutt must know

and as Thurman Arnold, & man of his own political faith, will be glad to tell him if he doesn’t. The members’ of the Truman committee and some other committe¢s of congress can give him further information regarding strikes and slowdowns and the featherbed| rules of various unions which have retarded production. : But this is not an issue of interest to McNutt alone. It is a vital issue to every man and woman in the United States who now is subject to classification as: a nonessential worker, to dismissal from his or her present job by order of a government agency, to compulsory induction into war industry and even to transfer away from home to some remote and strange area.

It's Easy to Stay Free

THERE IS IN this situation a positive possibility of the wholesale breakup of American homes, of bankruptcy for individuals having financial commitments such ‘as mortgages, insurance premiums and large taxes on last year’s income and of perpetual reduction to the status of the German worker in the war industries of Adolf Hitler. It is easier for people to stay free than to regain their liberty once they have_been compelled or inducted to give it up and assutances that compulsion will be abandoned “after the war” are so vague as to be without value because the “war” may continue long after the fall of Hitler and the military defeat of Japan. If President Roosevelt should be elected for a fourth term, or someone of his choice, such as Henry Wallace, should succeed him after 1944, the emergency doubtless would extend indefinitely into the future while this nation, in collaboration with Russia and, possibly with Britain, undertook to establish an operating brotherhood of man everywhere in the world and to raise the, living standards of other nations and all races at the expense of our own. Just as, it must be expected, the fighting men will be released only gradually, and over a long period, lest there be mass confusion and aimlessness, so it would be necessary also to release conscribed workers only a few at a time.

Sorry Day if People Get Bored

BUT IT MUST be kept in Jmind, too, that there is an intention never to return to the old American way which has been desired as popular serfdom under monopoly, although under that way the American people have the greatest individual freedom, the highest living standards and the most inviting opportunities on earth. That being so, nobody can know what degree of individual freedom will be restored to the people and, if privdte industry becomes a -total and permanent casualty of the war, all of us, including our press and our arts, could become wards of robots of. the state. Such discussions and wainifiigs may grow dull: but it will be a sorry day for the American people when thew grow bored in the contemplation of their freedom and, without proven necessity, accept industrial conscription on a vague and illusory promise that they will get back their independence in the sweett by-and-by.

Facing Facts

By Ludwell Denny

WASHINGTON, Jan, 2.—We are not doing so well in Tunisia. Our advance line is now far back of where it was a month ago. There are good reasons for our failure to take Tunis and Bizerte quickly, when they were almost within our grasp. One reason was the long supply line, which prevented bringing up heavy reinforcements soon enough to support our racing advance columns, Another was the lack of allied air fields. Another was rain and mud. Another was the able defense by the enemy. The net of all this is not that we should complain to our generals and troops. They have done and are doing a heroic: job. Nevertheless, these weeks in Tunisia shake down to the hard fact—which the American public still is not facing-—that the road ahead is Ro only long but very bloody.

Opportunity for Government to Act

PROOF THAT Americans at home do not under. stand what we are up against is that they are still debating the necessity of rationing, still wondering whether Eisenhower should protect his rear by ac.cepting the help of Darlanists, still thinking that Hitler is close to cracking, still talking about the war ending thi¢ spring, still boasting about. the relatively little we have done instead of realizing how much yore we must do quickly in this grim war for surva, Why are Americans not facing the facts? Certainly: part of the explanation is the failure of our government to tell the facts In a way that

: ry : . | they can be understood ty the peop velt, we have no present opinion. For all we know, the in- lS A Lome, It

_ spection of meat and the control of white-pine blister rust . are now conducted by an irreducible minimum of employees

the government shouts about our hits, whispers our strike-outs, refrains from annoyncing our errors, and totals our runs but not the enemies’, how can the public know the score? The setbacks in Tunisia offer an immediate opportunity for the government to explain the facts of war to the American public, so that all of us at home may work harder and produce more and save more for those who are fighting to save us.

Allied Unity

By Nat A. Barrows

LONDON, Jan. +2 ~Add this item to Britain’s ‘official campaign to create closer relations and sympathies with the United States: By thousands and tens of thousands, two attractively colored posters are being displayed in

i al

army and navy. of the United States

Sars Jub, mn, howl lobby and |

a ait wa} markings of the United States | The olher—nothing less than a map |

SATURDAY, JA

. . . > . The Hoosier Forum I wholly disagree with what you say, but w:' defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltai:

“THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN 1931, ’32 AND ’33” By w. Cash, 305 N. Chester st, ' Just a few words about the Old and New Deal as I Interpret it. Part of our Old Deal started away back and got worse as soon as Herbert Hoover took office. We had to work under the old Deal 16 hours for $2 worth of groceries and then take anything they wanted. to give us. And then we elected a New Deal president and as soon as he took charge he got busy and put almost everybody to work at.more money per day than most of us had made in three and one-half years. Now who would want to go back to the Old Deal and work for nothing? Of course most of the men that were glad to go to work for good wages are getting lots more now and they have forgotten 1931-32-33

.{butI do hope they will wake up and

study the conditions before they vote again. 2 2 » “TO A CERTAIN READER, COME OUT IN THE OPEN”

By Ernest Johnson, 2330 N Illinois st.

To a certain reader of The Times: A few days ago I wrote an open letter to Mrs. Roosevelt asking her to do her bit to relieve our burdened transportation system during the holiday rush for the sake of our service men. Mrs. Roosevelt was'in New York City on the 23d and in Washington the 24th. She was traveling when the loads were probably the heaviest. Many service men had to hitch-hike. Civilians occupied the ‘trains. Because of this opposition directed at Mrs. Roosevelt, I have reeeived a retaliatory letter, author unknown. It was probably written by an ardent Democrat who is blinded by his or her super-natural patriotism to the Democratic party. I neither wrote the letter for Republican or Democratic satisfaction. I disapprove of Mrs. Roosevelt's unbecoming examples, In this letter which is too vulgar and childish to make public I was called some very amusing names. For instance, skunk, such originality and initiative, The writer must have

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

be signed.)

labored exerting their mental powers tec choose such a word. Name calling is merely a trick of propaganda or a lack of sufficient vocabulary or a Tack of a justifiable argument. ». . Said writer also opposes the constitution by denying me freedom of speech. Why remain incognito, come. out in the open with us Americans and state your grievances. ” % 8 . “y. S. NEEDS OVER-ALL BRATIONING SYSTEM” organizer, Be ie pares, FOr Box 185. In times as these it is certainly alarming to listen to the outcry of certain newspapers and defeatists who shout in pain about gasoline rationing. - Certainly it has been true that the whole problem of rationing could be better handled than is now the case. But the trouble is not that the government is rationing too many articles, the mistake is that it is not rationing everything at once and thus makes unwise concessions to the calamity howlers by taking only half-way measures. The result is that the very same group which: has opposed government planning of our war economy as well as every solution of our economic dislocations—this group now attacks the government the loudest for rationing difficulties. It is time to answer these com-forts-as-usual group that America is ready to make any sacrifice for victory. Imagine calling the curbing of pleasure driving a sacrifice in the face of what our allies in Europe, and in the Soviet Union go through

every day. Contrast this *sacrifice”|

to the peril our boys face in the

Side Glances—By Galbraith

' battlefiel:

. {now come {ir

{be ‘crushed,

4 |the citizens ~.f |making every cilort to insure this [time a lastin; race.

‘wi Africa and the Pacific. Americ: needs an over-all rationing : stem now. This would guarantee :1at there would be adequate sup les equitably distributed, that thee will be no grabbing, hoarding :.)d general chaos. Rationing revents price rises and profiteeri: The peo 11: must support the president anc urge the establishment by execui ve order of an immediate system cl nation-wide rationing from whi a nothing would be exempt. Se i=1 should greet the antiration _p onagandists. Let's stop phi “he anti-rationing 'obstructioni: ts. 2 = = “PROUD 0.7 SLACKS, NO MATTER HOW CLEAN” By Bessie .a21e, Indianapolis

This is 1 answer to Orval Pests

decency a: going a bit too far, | Since yc: stick to tl ¢ male type of dress and leave us 3 naa, If We a1: required to wear slacks dn our Jol ¢, we wear them. Since we are doi 2 2 man’s job, I think we should dress like one regardless of the opinio 1: of you “decency keeping” peop e especially you. . . . When we 20 back to the johs we women dic before the war, then we will put o' «dresses back on. Who we. © 70 take about 30 minutes after su work 10 hours a day to primp : 1d dress up so we will look decent: I guess we aren’t supposed to oe tired, are we, Peats? We woulc look just ducky wearing fur coats al silk stockings orn the street and having people turn and look at us saying, “What is she doing to heln to win the war? She looks like <i never did a day's work in he: life, she should be in there pitch nz?” Personall 1'm proud of my slacks, no matter ..ow clean, on the street or in the { cory. I know at least I'm trying t> 16 my part in winning this war, evn if it is doing a man’s work. When we 10 something more drastic to injuri :¢ our children’s teachings in corarion decency, then I think we si. ld be fold about it. When you 3 shorts on women on the street cu ¢ or somrething more vulgar, then ynii have my support. In the me :r time we women have our job to ¢> and we are frying to do it in th: right way with our slacks on. 1 you insist on publicly denouncing 1s, go right ahead. I'm sure other slack-wearing defense workers are )sckirig me up. wm» 3 “IT'S TIME TO START WINNING "iF PEACE” By E. G. N,, I «liznapolis.

from a slzcl:-wearing defense worker who th nks his ideas on common | &

£re a man, suppose you

Our Hoosiers By Daniel M. Kidney

WASHINGTON, Jan. Indiana Democratic O: Fallen—All Will Be Sadly That is the tear-jerk Rep. Ludlow chose for a the appendix of the posts Congressional Record in pays tribute to his DD colleagues who failed to come-back for the 78th The “fallen oaks” incl William T. Schulte, Ham “William Larrabee, New Palestine, and Jo Boehne Jr., Evansville. The latter two were in the Republican riptide in November. Rep. lost in the primary and will be succeeded by F Madden, Gary, first district Democrat. Mr. Madden and Mr. Ludlow will be the Hoosier Democrats in the House.

Tribute to a Former Rival

IN ‘HIS TRIBUTE to Mr. Schulte, Mr. pointed out that everyone here called him “Bill added: “Long ago he became nationally known as the most colorful and capable members co Before the redistricting by the 1941 state legisigw ture, Dr. Larrabee shared the Indianapolis district with Mr. Ludlow and there was considerable unidere

‘| cover rivalry between the two Democrats. Now

entire Marion county is back in Mr. Ludlow’s baill« wick and the sole surviving sitting Democrat paid high tribute to his departing colleague: “It. has been well said of Df. Larrabbee that $ know him is to love him.’ Until the last Indiana islature passed the congressional reapportio!

bill he and I were associated jointly in repregenty the city of Indianapolis. : “In all of our dealings I found him fo be kind, and gracious. Because of our long and frien: association and because I esteem him so h ly shall miss him very much.” £

Boehne to Be Tax Consultant

JOINING IN the tribute to Mr. Boehne, in same edition of the Record, was Chairman :

Mr. Ludlow pointed out that this ctperients ; be available to clients by closing his praise of My, Boehne with the following paragraphs: 3 “Long service on the ways and means committee, i which under the operation of the constitution has the sole responsibility of framing all revenue measures, has given Mr. Boehne a knowledge of tax Togislae tion second to none.

“It will be interesting to his friends in congress te know that we are net to lose sight and track of him entirely as he already has arranged to open offices in the National Press building as a consultant on tam matters.” ;

Army Air Magic os By Walker Stone

O., Jan. 2—This is mostly of things I can’t write about. Newspapermen, who couple of days had been 1 over the magic of the la of the army air forces e center here, were herded into room around which armed di had been standing watch for 24 hours. ; In this room were designers’ drawings and models of planes which are being buily on an experimental basis, or which ‘are to be built when and as their various parts are fabricated

and tested. They are visions that resemble no planes that o.-

have been built. They look like those fantastic, futuristic: pictures you see in popular science magazines. : B They are designed to fly higher and taster, shood ae straighter with more fire-power, drop larger and i deadly bombs, and return with more safety from er missions.

'Screwballs' Try to Realize Dreams

“WE HAVE ONE section out here,” said B Carrell, experimental design chief, “where the : told never to do anything that is practical, and 1 to overlook anything that is screwball” ; In this section, are scientists of great ima and exactitude. This is the scientific center for milie tary aeronautics. To these headquarters visionaries from private business ‘labs,’ to consult, and test their ideas: : And the “screwballs” from here go country into factories to gee if their dreams made to come true. 3 It is not permissible to publish, where | might read, the details of the new Plates the boosted-up horsepower of the new. will fly those planes, the caliber of the ©

will mount, the mechanics of the firing crusing range and speed—yet it would hardly breach of confidence to say that Hitler little comfort from such knowledge were it to him,

We the Woren 5

By Ruth Millett

It seems i me that the time has the citizens of the to realize that there ‘0 tackle equally as

United State: is another jb

|important as winning the war, and

that is winn 12 the peace. To those 1 :cple who still believe that the opp sing armies must first wr ck the arms of the world laid dc 11 before peace plans] can or shoul! be discussed, let me point out tha = our armed forces wiil fight no less v:.liantly, and operate no less efficii nly if they feel that f their country are

DAlL { THOUGHT

] } There is no C od. They @are cor-

rupt, they hy works, Shere good. ;

done abominable

j . none that .doeth :

-_ SOME OF ; UNCLE nieces as well” as nep! get a chance at a _ financed college educa a policy is under dis lon cording to Paul V.-McN: power commissioner, It will be too bad’ i doesn’t go through, bx country needs doctors, - and engineers. It’ also greater part of its actual combat service, So training girls for the professional jobs that need to be done would seem to be a sensible plan.

Women Proving Their Ability