Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 February 1943 — Page 10

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Scripps - Howard Newspaper Alliance, NEA Service, and Audit Bu-

Give Light and the People Will Pind Pheir Own Way. y

| TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1043

PROTECT UNION MEMBERS 2 THE national war labor board has laid down a general rule

that “a regularly established union shop or closed shop’

- shall remain regularly established for the duration of the 5 Tr. ” + Another, older general rule of the board is to award e inion security”’—that is, to order that workers who once + join unions must remain members for the duration of the ‘union contracts or lose their jobs. : We do not here challenge the wisdom of either role. It may be necessary to the winning of the war that unions * which have the closed shop should keep it, and that those which do not have the closed or union shop should be able to hold their memberships. But both rules unquestionably mean use of the govern-%.-ment’s power to restrict the freedom of individual workers. A member of a union which has been granted “union se- ~~ curity” cannot withdraw without being fired from his job. .: Now a member of a closed-shop union apparently cannot # change that status even if he and a majority of his fellow : _ workers agree that they would prefer an open shop. ~ ” ” ” ~ » 8 ¢ O we believe it becomes more than ever necessary that individual workers should have -government’s protection against arbitrary, tyrannical or dishonest use of the power government has given unions. And we are glad to find so eminent an authority as William H. Davis, chairman of the =* war labor board, agreeing that this protection should be “provided by congress. Speaking in New York last week, Mr. Davis ‘asserted “that a union recognized by the government as a collective bargaining agent should be required (1) to hold its financial <=statements open to public inspection, and (2) to establish “and follow a constitutional procedure for election of officers, thus providing that officers must be voted upon at least every two years 80 that members may have free opportu-

HOGGING MAN POWER © "THE federal government had just a million civilian employees on its payroll in June, 1940. In November, 42, the number had grown to 2,750,101. By next June,

according to testimony before the house appropriations Loss Tolerance for Communism

committee, it is expected to reach 2,970,000, and by June of 1944 it will grow to 3, 572.000. & That is, of course, unless the. was is won before then, - which case the mushrooming may stop and a trend in the opposite direction may begin, though we don't expect ith present management to trim the federal Payroll back “to 1,000,000 or anywhere near that. In 1918, at the end of the last war, the Zovernment had pnly 917, 760: civilian employees. President Roosevelt feels that comparisons between’ that figure and the present total ‘unfair, This is ‘a bigger war, and a great many more federal employees are now engaged in direct war production, construction and maintenance. The civil service commission gave the appropriations committee some statistics on that. . ; 2 » » ” » # BOUT 1,600,000 civilians are in government shipyards, arsenals and manufacturing plants, in the army services of supply and the repair and maintenance services of the air forces. Not all of them, however, are mechanics and laborers. A large number of them—how large the civil serv- . ice commission did not say—are administrators, engineers, clerks, stenographers and the like. And, beyond that 1,500,000, there are now more than a million ‘and a quarter on the payroll who are not even indirectly éngaged in pro- . duction, and their ranks are increasing. ~~ With all deference to Mr. Roosevelt; we still believe there already are too many federal employees—far more than are actually needed, more than can work effectively in overcrowded Washington and in many other cent rs of government effort. In addition, the state and local gov‘ernments have more than 3, 000, 000 employees—about twice as thany as in 1918. ‘Our various governments, with almbst six million civilian payrollers now and more on the way, are nogging soa vast amount of the precious manpower and womanpower which is ‘said to be so dangerously scarce that labor may have to be drafted. |

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THE TIME TO AGREE |

1 NDERSECRETARY of State Welles has joined the long * list of those who think the allies,. wherever possible, should agree on post-war issues now rather than ‘wait until after the viciory. : Prime Minister Churchill was one of the first to point put the practical consideration that agreement comes easier 1 nder the pressure of a common peril than after the danger past. Secretary of the Navy Knox has just declared that, in ddition to maintaining powerful sea and air forces, “we ust implement these forces with a system of bases around he world.” Senator Tydin. and others propose that we 3 quire in fee simple the British bases now under 99-year ‘This matter of bases is only one—probably the simmany difficult problems which await settlement.

bore war uuity san be aekioved by Dest | of being put downas a whim. rationing

“| architects of the future, and

‘whom themselves aight to employ the mies ary political weapon, . ~The real Communist, the furtive fellow-traveler

“| and the pinks, the urion racketeers and all that ele known early

ment. who were the New Deal. the left-wing ea ave. b without letup’ almost mm the

ment, in both: exemy. salu,

‘Communist,

Nazis First on the List

FOR A BRIEF time at the beginning, he Bad their ; support for he first investigated the Nazis of the A

bund and the few self-important Italian political padrones in this country: who had accepted cheap and silly little badges from the duce and were throwing their weight about the Italian settlements of . New York, Providence and Philadelphia. But, already our government had set its face against the Nazi-Fascists in instinctive preparation for the inevitable war and the department of justice was on the job and the hunt for such vermin was joyously taken up by some of our best reporters, The Bolos in the government joined in, too, for

‘they of course hated the Nazi-Fascist and with all

this talent engaged and backed by a firm government policy, the Hitlerites were efficiently hounded into prison or out of the country or silenced. This is why there has been little for Martin Dies to do in that field and why he dealt more and more and now deals almost exclusively with Communists and those who run with them.

‘Smear’ an Old Weapon

THIS ADMINISTRATION has always been more tolerant of Communists than of Nazi-Fascists. Person-

| ages high in the administration who have damned

Lindbergh as a Naziphile if not an outright Nazi, have not hesitated to address the lawyers’ guild and the newspaper guild although any person whe has

done that at a meeting of any group dominated by"

agents of the Nazi bund would have been called a traitor and recorded on the suspect list of the FBI with good reason. The reason for the sustained abuse of Martin Dies has not been that he neglected to conduct dignified hearings and released suspect lists, and charges based on old clippings and declarations of attitude by individuals of doubtful loyalty, nor is the smear resented on ethical grounds, as such, Other congressional bodies have similarly taken advantage of persons who were not in a position to do themselves justice and the smear was the very method of the first New Deal campaign against Herbert Hoover, Moreover, only a few weeks ago, President Roosevelt, himself, took a shocking advantage of his position to present an iron cross to a thoroughly loyal American newspaper writer at a time when the journalist was about to go to trial with a libel action against a New Deal paper which had questioned his Americanism,

THE HATRED of Dies and the long campaign

against him are the defense, of the Communists and

the pro-Communists in and out of the government who know; as congress does, that although he may have been wrong in some individual cases, he has been right most of the time, This i$ not a Communist nor a pro-Communist congress. It has less tolerance for communism and American Communists and those who sympathize and co-operate with them than any other congress since the New Deal began and it is far to the right of the -administration. The other congressmen know what Dies has been through and the vote to continue his committee, which is practically a one-man show now, is both a vote of sympathy for him and an expression of dissent from the administration’s tolerance of .antiAmerican sentiment ranging in degree from the fierce hostility of the avowed party member to the poisonous despair of those who think the American way is outmoded and never was much good.

In Washington

By Peter Edson

WASHINGTON, Feh. 18—Just because shoe rationing was sprung on the unsuspecting public like a _ Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor —in the middle of an otherwise quiet Sunday afternoon—it doesn’t necessarily follow that this will be the tactic in announcing other y rationing programs. This “Surprise! Surprise” method of rationing is now considered the preferred technique, It prevents hoarding, prevents runs and scare buying and insures the build-up of maximum reserve stocks before rationing begins. Furthermore, it is fairer when done that way for it gives every purchaser an equal chance at getting his

| share of what stock there is.

‘But there are some commodities that simply can’t be put under rationing by a quick order, Take canned goods. A lot of preparations had to be made before processed foods could be rationed, thus giving people advance warning of what was coming and making provisions for the housewife to take an inventory of allowable reserves on the shelf. The national distribution ‘system ‘through normal trade channels had to be entirely resurveyed and in some instances supplies had to be allocated so that every area would have its fair share. Doing a job of that kind takes time. Consequently dor the future you find that on some of the new rationing programs you will be given plenty of advance

warning. Others will be sprung at you suddenly, like the shoe job.

A New Announcement Technique

ONE POINT that will probably be a regular patt |

of future rationing programs is that they

be announced from the White House, This was a

que

worked out by Leon Henderson and Economic Sta- |

‘bilization Director Jimmy Byrnes. The theory is that if the people know that an

AAAYBE | BETTER

The Hoosier Forum I wholly disagree with what you say, but will defend to the deuth your right to say i Voltaire.

“PEGLER WHINES OVER LOVE FOR LABOR” By Arthur W, Smith, 505 N. Delaware st. Brave, honest Pegler—today he is whining over the amount of love and good wishes he has for labor. Yesterday we were all damn bums, Nutts or crooks. In the midst of his tirade, Pegler took occasion to infer there was something sinful or criminal in the fact that a printer who has accumulated overtime to the extent of one day's pay must lay off for a day and allow some unfortunate brother who happens to be unemployed to work in his stead. Owing to’ the loss of advertising and stationery caused by the shutdown of the automobile and other businesses, employment in printing trades has been badly hit and we are faced with a 20 per cent cut in the amount of paper which can be used, so this will necessitate another 20 per cent of the printers joining the ranks of the unemployed. . Yet Mr. Pegler infers it is a crime for the over-employed man to share a little of his prosperity with the one who is idle through no fault of his own. ; “Peg’s” final crack about the carpenter requiring the assistance of

just another insinuation. ; Carpenters are skilled craftsmen and are paid higher wages than laborers and the contractor hires these laborers to do work that does not require the skill of the. artisan, at a lower rate of wages. 2-8 = “WHAT PO BOYS ON GUADALCANAL DRINK?” By lone Colligan, 1148 Fletcher ave. In answer to Mrs, L. A. Allen, 634 N. Hamilton: Why make 35 cups of coffee from one pound? Water is plentiful, nonharmful; milk and fruit juices, beneficial. What do you suppose the boys on Guadalcanal drink? Would you like to have two cars in every garage, two chickens in

a laborer to move his stepladder is

(Times readers are invited to ‘express their views in ‘these columns, religious controversies excluded. Because of the volume received, letters must.be limited to 250 words. Letters must be signed.)

every pot—and Hitler on his way over for dinner? That campaign ‘promise is slightly dated. If ‘American men now out of work have been seeking jobs since 1929, they must be too lazy to work. Why should loyal Japanese be treated as enemy aliens? This is no way to keep them loyal. Should not we as well as our boys sacrifice comfort and freedom now so we may enjoy them later? If we expect the boys to make all the sacrifices now, we shall be forced to make the supreme sacrifice: when we are defeated. Why should we suffer inflation because some people can see no reason for a lower standard of living or for learning a lesson from England? When you can no longer buy canned goods you will no longer be asked to save cans. The trouble is that too many people have hoarded canned goods and are not releasing available tin. If the shoe fits, wear it. You could recognize a real air alarm, Mrs. Allen, by the signal that has started every practice alarm. The difference would be that it would not have been previously announced. The shortage in this country is not, as you say, of honest man, but of discerning, tolerant, thinking citizens.

. » ” “RESULTS BEGIN TO SHOW ON OLD-AGE PENSIONS” By Lents W. Heagy, 216 E. 9th st.

Many of the 400 men and women in Indiana who voted for the prin-

ciples of a third party in 1932 are

Side Glances—By Galbraith

‘order for Fationing comes from the commander-in- 1 5

chief it will be ‘recognized as a war necessity, instead

‘was kept secret: ell - | pon Ro Ra

ae ag nell 4 haptued. X

: | tailers, no wholesalers »| established

still ‘standing fast for one of them, “old-age pensions.” They were the prime cause of a pension bill passed at the 1933 session of our legislature. Disregarding the stark Iinadequacy of that first pension law, they have continued the struggle for 11 years to obtain a more competent law—something that will define the status of the aged when compared to all other pension recipients of Indiana. Partial success has resulted from these efforts. During the past eight or nine years these men and women have supported a national movement, presumably to obtain something for the aged. Lack of brains at the head, incompetent subordinates without business ability or political acumen dissipated millons of dollars donated by its followers and produced no pensions, Recent happenings in Indiana show the ability of the early mentioned citizens. They set a goal, they outlined sensible policies to pursue and as results began to show during the past five years, the aged citizens: gained confidence in these leaders and now are supporting them in ‘the clarifying of the 1941 pension legislation. These citizens are also nationally minded as to pensions. They would much prefer that Uncle Sam should mail them a check, than to be the football of a county welfare board. To all these tireless workers for 11 years, future generations may well give acclaim. ” ” » “SAD COMMENTARY ON

REPRESENTATIVES’ INTELLIGENCE”

By Henry K. Newton, Sullivan

A headline in an Indianapolis paper read: “Congress Considers Dies Appropriation--Seven Hoosiers Sign Protest Petition.” Until I read the article, I had high hopes that seven Indiana congressmen had awakened to the fact that Dies and his committee have been aiding Hitler, Goebbels and Goering by maliciously branding as Communists or fellow-travelers all liberal Americans who believe that the unequal distribution of wealth in this country must be corrected. But upon reading the article, I learned that seven Hoosiers, none of them congressmen, had joined 1250 other prominent Americans, all of them advocates of social justice, in signing a petition to congress, protesting ‘against further appro-

| priations for the Dies committee.

While courageous Russia is sace rificing millions of lives in the fight against fascism: and while Hitler continues to raise his false cry of communism, it is a sad commentary on the intelligence of our representatives in congress that they will vote money to ald Dies in creating disunity in this republic. When the parents of our boys, who have given and are giving their lives in the struggle against fascism, learn, as they undoubtedly will, that Dies and his committee ‘have been most often quoted ‘on ‘the Hitler radio, they ‘will demand that the Dies committee be forthwith

supported its un-American activities be branded as untrue to the tenets

Hl of our constitution and bill of rights.

‘The day will surely come when the names of those seven courage-

{ous Hoosiers who publicly protested | against the Dies committee will be | acclaimed a loyal, patriotic Ameri

“| abolished and that all who have |

- quiet about Th

po WASHINGTON, Feb. 16~The perambulating James Aloysius Farley is exciting much curiosity among the politically minded Be

with his business as he goes about the country. :

The pleasure concerns po! politics, for that is Mr. Farley's hobby. He

{i alr i i a +o, M. Pasies hobs. He

the political program he espoused some time ago— in fact, soon after President Roosevelt was nominated

for a third term.

This is to prevent nomination of Mr, Roosevelt for a fourth term, or selection of a New Dealer hands picked by Mr. Roosevelt as the 1944 candidate.

May Be Bitten by Bug

THERE IS also a suspicion among those here who know Jim well that when he begins to think about a nominee for 1944 he is on to look into the mirror and ask: “Why won't he do?” He apparently has been bitten by the bug. Jim's missionary work. is among the party regu= lars, the local organization leaders, and the conserva tives who would like to recapture the party from the New: Dealers. Mast recently he has been in the south, the strongs hold of party conservatism. In Texas he called on the sage of Uvalde, former Vice President John N. Garner, who, like Mr. Farley, was dumped in 1940 when the New Dealers took over the convention and, after some embarrassing prode ding, jammed “through Henry A. Wallace as vice presidential candidate.

1940 Situation Similar to 1944

THERE IS a fellow feeling between the two men. It is worth recalling that the situation within the Democratic party today, the upsurge of souservatism

¢

and the schism between conservatives and New Deal ¥

ers, was matched back about the same time before the 1940 convention. The 1938 congressional elections had gone against the Democrats, but not to the extent of last Novem» ber, conservatives were revivified, and for a time the conservative bloc in congress had some minor sues cesses, Mr. Garner rode that upheaval, and directed 8 from behind the scenes, only to see it smashed at Chis cago. The war intervened, and Mr. Roosevelt again took the helm.

Fight Will Be Within Party

IT IS the consensus that if the war is still | on when the convention meets in 1944, or if it be over only shortly before that occasion, Mr. Roose» velt can be renominated easily if that is his desire— and it is certainly his desire to carry the war through to its conclusion and to be in on the peace. So Mr. Farley is up against something.

But he is a skillful operator, and strong in his con=

victions about the turn the New Deal has taken, and if there is a break his way he might at least drum up a show that would enliven the next convention. Mr. Farley is too smart to have any illusions about third parties. He will do his fighting within the Democratic party.

We the Women

By Ruth Millett

ONE QUESTION. that troubles \.

a great many women today is whether the wife who's left alone while her husband has gone to war is better off with or without a child. : Two factors have a great deal to do with the answer fo that problem, One is the financial condition of the family. If it is absolutely necessary for the wife to work a child is sure to be a complication—and one that is not easily worked out to the advantage of the child, Two is the maturity—not in years but in attitude— of the wife, If she isn’t ready to be tied down to the constant care of a child, if she isn’t happy unless ° she is free to run around as much as she likes, if she is likely to resent being solely responsible for a child—then she would be happier going through the war as a lone woman, But if she is thoroughly grown up in her attitude toward life, a child is sure to make these war years better for her.

Something Worthwhile

TRE v I

FOR SHE WILL have the satisfaction of knowing =~

that she is doing something worthwhile with hee life, And she certainly won't have time taking care of a baby, to make a career of worrying over her husband. So there is no correct answer on the question ot whether to go ahead and have children now or. until the war is over to start a family. It all depends on the individual. The only way a woman can find the answer is to understand her . own situation and her own traits of character. It's a tough question. Yet it is one that has to be answered by more and more young wives as the army takes their husbands.

To the Pole IT MAY BE common this summer for the stocks

ingless woman to meet the _shoeless man, » . * *

let themselves get run down wind up. * ® . e r GIRL BABIES learn to speak before boy babies, says a speech expert, Meaning shey; wet the Arh word, toe, Si . ® . It is expected that the air will be full of pleas planes after the war. With traffic directed by; : copters? )

- % * t

THERE'LL BE no more brass bittions for Am soldiers—but theyll still have: plenty oA, brass,

2 »

ACK. FROST as hat so many nie. ths inte all the rest of us are staggering, . Sock

. .

It ALL the laws were -