Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 January 1943 — Page 10

k-pak pbc lL

PE 0

ES tat nr | | gd aa aaa UA aha

e Indianapolis Times

RALPH” BURKHOLDER “Editor, in" U. 8. Service

WALTER LECKRONE ' (A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER)

others, $1 monthly. NN 4p RILEY 5551 | Give Light ‘and the People Will Find Their Own wey - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1043

r Afliance, NEA ce, and Audit Buof *Circulations. :

~ ’ RE

EISENHOWER THE GOAT? ; don't like these rumors that Gen. Eisenhower is to “be! ousted. We assume they are untrue. But the fact at they are circulated is bad enough. And the fact that 8 criticism of him is foreign and political is worse. /. His record is clear. ‘He was chosen by President sevelt and ‘Gen. Marshall, without pull or self-seeking, ause in a- highly .competitive situation he had demonstrated superior leadership and knowledge of modern arfare. ‘Whether i in the final test of a long and difficult campaign he will live up to his great promise, only the future an tell. His performance in the coming months should stermine whether he has what it takes. But so far "Gen.. Eisenhower's achievements abroad are greater than even his admirers—of whom there are ‘80 many—could have hoped. In England he organized, trained, and inspired a modern American expeditionary army keyed to air and mechanized

He created a practical co-ordination with our naval forces, and with the British services. He planned and carried out the largest single amphibian mn yasion in history, and with Inauiiesimsl Josses,. » HEN French. officials there failed hy rally to Gen. Giraud as. planned, with brilliant decision Gen. Eisenver captured and used Darlan to. win Northwest Africa efully—thus saving: countless thousands of lives, gaina:large French army, and saving weeks or months of

+He'is still ahead of schedule in Tunisia. And when an “was assassinated, he prevented civil war—which v uld have wrecked the entire campaign—by improvising maximum local unity around High Commissioner Giraud, the original allied choice. But because Gen. Eisenhower acted as a great military mmander with a single eye to victory, instead of as a isan politician—because he refused to operate as a onal de:Gaullist—they are now out to get him. “They” e'the left wing of the de Gaullists, a British official

en is 8 8..N : 2 = = BRUM, the highest tribute to Gen Eisenhower in this ~ whole mess is the attitude of the British military. After

1 ymmand major British armies and fleets.’ The eriticism of Gen. Eisenhower is political, not military,” "= We hope that Teports of ¢ an impending settlement of the

Policy are true. But Gen. Eisenhower must not be the “goat. Altogether apart: from individual justice and the dire for commanders of ‘his proved. capacity, it is unthinkhat American generals should rise or fall at the dicof any European political faction.

PARTY ANOINTS EDDIE ; free contemptuousness for public opinion and for the properties which has smuged the whole Ed Flynn epie was doubly evident as the Democratic national committee bowed out Chairman Flynn and rubber stamped Frank “Walker to succeed him. ~The committee adopted without debate—possibly beause so many tongues were in so many cheeks—a resolun thanking. Mr. Flynn and praising his “probity, loyalty | public: service,” etc. Then somebody decided this wasn’t rong enough, so a substitute was adopted, wherein it s proclaimed not only that. ‘Mr. Flynn was whiter than he driven snow but also that ‘his critics were liars and cious’ propagandists 25d--{hat old party wheeze—"‘enemies of the president.” As to that, the proper Suilgdi are the people—and the nate, which must pass on the nomination of this shopworn olitician to a critical war post for which he has no known ining or visible aptitude. > In the same meeting, Mr. Flynn himself announced he uld continue as national committeeman from New York en after (and, we may add, if) he goes to Australia as ninister-ambassador. This dog-in-the-manger insistence of maining the spokesman of New York Democrats while shaying among the atolls of the South Pacific is typical of sism’s attitude toward Democratic processes.

LOT OF SHIPS DMIRAL LAND reports the United States built 746 ships, not counting warships or vessels for the armed pS, last year. ... . Standardization made it ‘possible—for 342 of the craft ere Liberty ships, a 10,000-ton cargo carrying type. Liberty ships are named for persons, usually historical. we were eto print each name like this—

Admiral ‘Land says America can more than double 2 year if the steel is forthcoming. ~~ -

“into ‘ser

Fai Enough

By Westbrook Pegler

ury department ‘sends me the Press Service Bulletin No. 34-80; - which purports to put me in error in accusing the -‘départment . of

plain larceny in its plan to collect ||

the 5 per cent withholding Victory income tax on individual income earried in 1942. The authority under which the treasury collects this withholding or Victory tax reads, substantially, as follows: “There shall be collected for each taxable year beginning after Dec. 31, 1942, a Victory tax of b per cent,” and so forth, It does not say that this tax shall be collected on any income occurring before Dec. 31. It says in une mistakable words that the tax shall begin: after Dec. 31, 1942, meaning, at the earliest, Jan. 1, na.

Revenue Workers Have Trouble

ALL TAX LANGUAGE is obscure and even the office workers of the internal revenue have difficulty and accept the meanings and ‘interpretations, handed down to them by the scholars in Washington. If the language of a law says one thing and the treasury says it must be interpreted in the light of some other law, ruling or regulation, and by this process to contradict itself, they bow to the greater wisdom and enforce it so. Literalists and heretics who insist that each law

and each paragraph and word means what it says, |

and nothing else, run a risk of error and damnation. Under the treasury’s interpretation, if your payroil period runs froni the 10th to the 25th of the month, and your payday thus fell on Jan. 10, you had to pay the 5 per cent tax on wages or other income earned on six days, or one whole working week, of 1942. Even if, as an extreme example, the payroll period ran for one year, from Jan. 1, 1942, to Jan. 1 1943, you would have to pay the tax on an entire year’s income, minus one day's pay, although the law says the tax shall be levied for each taxable year "“beginning after Dec. 31, 1942.”

Sent a Copy. of Press Release

AN OFFICIAL of the treasury department has written me in a kind spirit of appeal to my better iature, touched no doubt but not visibly outraged by my use of the words “larceny” and “theft” in this connection. “Knowing that you do not wish to misinterpret the rulings of the treasury,” he writes, “I am inclosing a copy of the press release of Dec. 31. I would call your attention to Example 2 of this release.” But Example 2 says only that the tax shall not be collected on 1942 income if the payroll period ended on the last day of the year, which seems to me to make no change in my interpretation. Of course, it should not be collected. Why should it be, inasmuch as ‘the income was earned before the tax became effective? On the other hand, Examples 1 and 3 of this release plainly reserve for the treasury a right to tax income earned in 1942, contrary to the language of the tax Jaw, and in my -home-brewed logic that means that the treasury has decided to take a lot of money from millions of citizens to which it has no legal right.

Bad Example to People.

ACCORDING TO the same logic and the morality behind it, taking something that belongs to someone else, or some millions of others, is stealing, and in violation of a well-known commandment, and if done by the treasury department of the U. S. A. is a bad example to the people who might reasonably ‘decide to take stealing as a regular line of work ahd get troublé, in all “inmecence. i:“Fhe definition of the starting hour of this tax is one point in our tax law which is remarkably distinct and the dumbest citizen can read and understand it. Yet these scholars who have steeped themselves in the mysteries’ of such writs for years and years as tax accountants have undertaken to say that when you place this page over some other page of the tax laws, its meaning fades out and another meaning shows through, quite to the contrary.

In Washington

By Peter Edson

WASHINGTON, : Jan. 20.—A surprising array of new, post-war industries may be a-bornin’ in— of all places—the war plants that are now devoted to turning out tons of poison gas, incendiary bombs and the non-toxic smokes which will: play an increasingly important part in this global ruckus. Take the gas masks. themselves. At least 10 million of them will have - to 9 fads for ‘the armed services, to say nothing of the millions made for. civilians. The important part of the gas mask is the filter that absorbs the poison gas. The important element of the filter—the stuff that goes in the can that hangs below the mask—is activated carbon. In the last war, that filtering element had to be Kors charcoal and it was a considerable. problem to produce this gas-absorbing material in sufficient quantities. Today this activated carbon can be. made from almost anything, including coal or sawdust, and there is no shortage. When the war is over the plants making this. activated carbon may be kept right on going, say the chemists,” in a new peacetime industry. The

thought is not to provide every cook with a gas mask |

to protect her from the fumes of her own sauerkraut, kidney stew or fried onions, but it's along that linie.

Sweet-Smelling Gymnasiums

SINCE THIS ACTIVATED charcoal will absorb || @

gas, chemists say it is entirely possible to make a

handy little kitchen dingus that will absorb. kitchen | odors, make a musty cellar smell as sweet and clean | as a mountain top, or even be able to kill those fatal |

post-party nightclub fumes concocted of face powder, stale perfume, la conga sweat, cigar smoke, cigaret butts and spilled Bourbon. Yea and moreover, the chemists say this activated carbon stuff will even take the stink out of a gymnasium locker room, than which there is nothing huskier. :

New smoke- -producing units designed to throw

| smoke screens: ‘over war plants or whole cities to

|g.

The Hoosier Forum

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

“FLYNN APPOINTMENT AN INSOLENT GESTURE” ‘By Lillian Dinehart, Indianapolis I wish to compliment the editor of The Times on the editorial, “Something Good for Ed.” Mr. Roosevelt knows the sentiment of the people on this matter. Evidently he feels so secure in his present position that he can thumb his nose at us. Personally I resent the fact that “our president” should be on 2a “Dear Eddie” footing with a man of Flynn's type. It is a deliberately insolent gesture, coming at this time, and I think every voter in the country should resent it and make it: his business ° to, do. something ‘about it. = I'm writing my sentiments fo several senators and congressmen. a Shee? : “EVERYONE HAS RIGHT TO SPEAK HIS MIND” . By R. 8S. Walsh, N. Pennsylvania st. In reference to the letter by Mary B. Cochran, 4629 Washington bivd,, I disapprove of this lady trying to stop other people expressing their views in the Hoosier Forum simply because they do not think as she

"jdoes.

Every human being has the right to speak his mind; even Voltaire said so. It is good for one’s. soul and a safety valve:-generally. So, lady, you needn’t think you can stop it. And, thanks to our kind editor, the Hoosier Forum is the juiciest bit of reading in town. Now, I happen to remember the particular article you refer to, entitled “Not in Favor of Sending Food to the English,” and as ers are two sides to every question, I beg leave to state a few facts that I know to be true. I know the. English well, know their psychology, for my firm sent me to England every year for 14 years before the war broke out. I know, also, that they have never cared much for us. They are extremely class conscious. If you have money, they|W are sycophantie, if not, they. are insolent. But rich or poor they think of us all as morons. One would think that it would be a bitter pill for them to swallow to have to come to us begging: Buf,

i roast beef.

(Times readers are invited to express their these columns, religious controveries Make your letters short, so all can" Letters must

views .in excluded.

have a chance. be signed)

no, they react in an entirely different way. They are happy in the thought that we will soon be as bad off as they -are. Of course we want to win this war and our supplies must go where there is the greatest need, but the

‘English people are not hungry and I have lettérs from .over. there. 407

prove it. Of course they miss their rich puddings and tarts, roast ducks and | But there is no use go: ing off the deep end and wallowing in sentiment or becoming hypno-

.|tized by such “sob stuff” as you,

Mary B. Cochran, city, and Tiny Turner of Anderson College, Anderson, turn out. Eating in England amounts to a religion. To begin with they eat

four meals a day, For breakfast

alone, before the' war, they had kidney pie, various kinds of potted meats, besides enough other stuff to make an American dizzy. So they could easily afford to cut their {rations in half and still have enough. Many Americans know these things and that is why they ‘feel resentful. If isn’t because they are not generous to the core but they don’t like to be the goat. Of course none of us need get hot under the collar for it is out of our hands. But I like to see both sides get a fair chance even'in an argument, hence this letter. 88 “LEFT ouUT IN THE COLD AND STORMS” By Lela West Jesse, 47 W. 30th st. .

. Much . sickness is caused from weathering the storms on street corners. | Conditions should alter cases and if necessary. abolish petty laws for the duration. We try to catch a bus or streetcar.

If the traffic signal light is green

Side Glances—By Galbraith

i | | year.

and we are not near the curbing or ready to hop on, we are left out in the cold and storms, If the busses or streetcars run 10, 15, 20 or 30 minutes apart, we are late for work. We citizens are entitled to the same privileges as people with cars. We resolve: That the busses, streetcars and automobiles wait at the traffic signal points until the signals change at least once. . Abolish this law: All vehicles loading or unloading passengers at curbings when not. busy must go on green light, ete. Then we will survive the cold and storms and we will-have a dashing chance to make connections and arrive at our Various places of work on time. » ” » “PEGLER A BELIEVER IN TRUTH AND JUSTICE” By Margaret Johnston, 4800 Michigan rd. A Mr, Drach, in your issue of Jan. 11, suggests you drop “the insane outbursts” of Westbrook Pegler in the interest of space economy. Well, welll Has Mr. Drach ever read “My Day”? Now, if we want to enter a lively discussion of inanities— My dictionary defines “inane” as “without contents; empty; especially void of ‘sense or intelligence.” My humble opinion is that there is only one column in The Times to which those terms may be applied. However, as far as I am concerned, “My ‘Day” may be omitted, retained, or the space merely left a pleasant blank. A Mr. McKee, in the issue of the 12th, asks “where do Mr. Pegler’s sympathies lie?” The answer to that is simple: Mr. Pegler is an ardent believer in truth and justice. And Mr. Pegler hasn’t yet been convicted of libel. : May I suggest that all these Forum letters be constructive, rather than petty and destructive? And

one does not enjoy, can he not just skip it? Some of us aré not interested in Mrs. Roosevelt's column,

have it. And for the love of all that is vigorous, lusty American, let the rest of us have and keep tMfe goad|

lof Mr. Pegler’s column.

= # »

|| “00D THING TO HAVE

PAY-AS-YOU-GO TAX”

; By Mrs. Nellie Rogers, Indianapolis

. 1 believe it would be a good: thing

go tax, then we would have it all taken out when we get paid and not have the big mess of straightening it all out at the end of the

“Some folks do not save anything and at the end of the year are in the hole and bave nothing to pay|,

| with, this causes s hardship on

them and why not the people who

|| are for this plan write ta our con-

gressmen and senators and tell them

« || Bow we fee] about this plan and| _

{J | degres of intelligence, and that

if there be a column in The Times|’

but let those who dearly love it >

to have the new plan of pay-as-you-|’

he Rationing R

By Walter Leckrone

tion of Prentiss M. lirown for ' Leon Henderson will not make very much difference tc the people of Indianapolis.

So will sugar, and fuel ofl, and coffee, and pres:ntly a good many other things, riaybe niore ‘San we realize now. - But there is one te damental change Mr. Brown might make that would materially aid the war effort, and at the same time make Mr. Brown's life in office more pleasant. He might start from the premis: that the people of America are individually ossessed of a fair he Is nct dealing with a nation of morons whose thir king mut be done for them in detail. Mr. Henderson never seemed t¢ undersiand that, which was the cause of quite a 1st of hi: troubles, and finally contributed to his downfall. ‘here was at all times evidence of a strong feeling in his office that all of us should be guided by carefully’ detailed regulations to protect us from the penalties for our own minor follies.

The Simple Way lowered:

GAS RATIONING is a fair example. As everyone knows, gasoline is rationed to reduce driving and save tires, which cannot yet be rep aced. Careful studies by the Baruch commissicn showed that the average car .could be driven an average of about 60 miles a week on what tires it had on it and .

{ that these tires would thus last until more could De

provided, and an allowance of gascline enoiigh to" do that driving was made. Obviously it makes no difference at all whether any given driver goe: 60 miles this week and 60 miles next week Jr none this week and 120 miles next week, so far is the life of his tires is concerned—which is .the only point to be considered. But nothing so simple was applied. Most motors ists got “A” cards which allowed tiem 32 jjallons of gasoline for eight weeks—fair .eriough so far—but compelled them to use it all in ‘that eight weeks, or lose. their right to get it at all. Tc protect the occa~ sional improvident driver who might use Nis whole allowance too quickly and find himnself with no gas left—which would be strictly his cwn faull. and his own problem—all drivers are prohi hited from saving their ration against a possible eriergency, or from using it as they individually decide.

Why Henderson Was Driven Out

THE BAN on sliced ‘bread is another example. Ostensibly sliced bread is prohibited to keep the price of bread. from going higher—although we have so far encountered no baker who wis able. to calculate the infinitesimal sum it may cost to slice a loaf of bread. Apparently it never occurred to Mr. E ‘enderson that some people might prefer to pay a trifle more for sliced bread, or that both sliced and unsliced bread could be available, and the cistomer permitted to decide for himself what he wanted to pay for what he got. No question of machinery or equipment is involved, because the equipment slready exists and will merely stand idle hereafter. The probability that home slicing of bread will result in waste equiva- . lent to a higher price per loaf seem: not to lave been considered. These are little things, no ore »f them very important in itself, But it was a multiplicity of little things just like them that drove Leon Hendirson out, of office, and that today prevents American ration-" ing systems and price: control from being completely successful: And. nearly all of thera grew 1ight out of Mr. Hendezson's Bitrning desire to take care of everybody, . iu 5

Little Annoyances: Resented

but virtually: -gyeryone: recognizes that there is no alternative; “The tremendous resen:ment wiich bu-

against full: participation in the war aciually is largely resentment ‘against a lot of little, end generally completely unnecessary annoyances. Maybe Mr. Brown will understand that his neighbors in the Middle West don’t really want so much protection, or so much solicitude. ; What they want is to get on with the war.

We the Women

By Ruth Millett PLEASURE DRIVING, accord. ‘ing to Paul O'Leary of tae OPA, is using a car tc go to places. of L amusement, recrration o: _enterE tainment, to pay social. calls,” ‘to go sightseeing, to iring or for yacation travel. Officially that may be pleasure ‘driving, but actially—w:ll, let's put mamma anil papa on the witness stand. QUESTION: llamma, did you , get any pleasure out of driving horie from a party With papa after he had taken a few drinks? . ANSWER: Well, I should say not. QUESTION: Papa, did you ever enjoy driving the family car to call on friends of your wi;'e—especially when she gave you the direciions for getting ‘there? ANSWER: That's one good thing abouf gas rationing. - We've had to cut out callin; and, even better, nobody calls on us. QUESTION: Mamma, did you really enjoy those long trips you and papa used to take by car? . ANSWER: Well, to tell you the truth, I didn't. We used to get up at daylight and cirive urtil dark, so papa could brag to the boys at the offize about how many miles he made a day. Aad every time I said, “Don’t you think you're drivirg too ast?” it ‘would start an argument.

Not Exactly Fun

‘ure out of those family vacations in which you packed the kids, like sardines, in the back scat, and went to spend a few days with grandma or :t a lake where the fish weren't biting? ANSWER: Don’t tell mamma, but they weren't

you don’t believe me, try traveling with a vife who has tendencies toward back seat driving snd four ME who’ Sheng on most of their ae quahbling. It's = P a = >i at * 5

reaucrats profess to. believe is a I!fidwestein revolt

QUESTION: Papa, did you really get any. pleas

Tf

NO ONE. particularly likes ratioring in any form, K

Gasoline wil! still be rationed. yr

iL

‘vacations at all. I used to come back worn ‘out. x