Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 March 1943 — Page 18

$4 a year;

Sisers} $1 monthly:

“Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way

FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1943

NHE farm program outlined in this newspaper Wednesday by Louis Bromfield seems so simple one wonders why he question of food shortages ever arose at all. i To. get food from farms it is necessary that farmers ‘have labor, tools, and a reasonable hope of profit.

Yet, all three of those essentials have been taken away

from so many American farmers that today: food must be rationed in the richest gountry in the world. ~~ Labor has been removed from farms to a dangercus degree—but not solely, or even principally, to serve in the army and navy, as some apologists would have us believe. The really dangerous drain of farm labor has been to war-boom industry in town, where short hours and dis‘proportionately high: pay haye been induced by govern-|. mental policy. Tools have been withheld because materials to make them have been diverted into other “uses—necessary uses, true, but no more vital than the feeding of this nation and its armies. ; The reasonable one of profit has been squashed by federal price policies designed to preserve the relative advantages federal manipulation has given, partly under pressure, to workers in city mass industry. 2s . 7 ss 8 = — ODAY, the situation is critical, The time for planting is ‘ here—and once it passes no appropriations in congress or decrees from the White House are going to make the sun linger on through December on Indiana fields and gar“dens. If we are to have crops next: fall, Shey. must be started now. But so far all that i is offered i isa vague e dca of a field army of school boys and society’ matrons to supply labor, and an unworkable scheme for a subsidy out of the United States treasury to take the Place of the. farmer’s hope of _ profit. So we come, finally, t o the inevitable end of the mirage of “planned economy” and “ever- -normal granaries” and regimented agriculture—that mixture of mysticism and " moonshine that has cost us billions ‘and collapsed at the first strain. ‘There is no plan capable of restoring required food production in this country this year because there is no over-all plan even yet to integrate the whole resources of this country into one smashing force for war. In its place there are a dozen, or a hundred, plans for everything, some wise, some silly—none effective because their gears do not mesh and nobody has authority to make them work together. . ~~ But it is high time a plan goes into effect—a simple, sensible plan that will restore to farmers the labor, and the tools, and the reasonable hope of profit that are necessary to feed this nation. Right now. No pep. talks from Washington, however elaguent, are going to grow beans and potatoes in Indiana next October.

CANADA ‘ACCEPTS PAY-AS-YOU-GO. ANADA, already one-third of the way in on a pay-as- ~~ you-go income tax collection system, has now decided to go all the way. It must be some comfort to Beardsley Ruml of New York to know that he is a prophet with honor in a land north of his own country.

* Why is it that the Canadian government can take ac- |

don on this basic tax reform so much more speedily than our own government? (Mr. Ruml submitted his ideas to ~ Washington before he was invited to Ottawa.) sThe answer, we think, is that Canada has a finance ministry which believes that the primary purpose of taxation is to raise revenue, whereas. our treasury departnient still .thinks of taxation largely as an instrument of social reform. In no other way can we explain why Canada has been ger ‘to ‘adopt a plan that will raise more revenue with less wear ‘and tear on taxpayers, while our government— still dominated by the treasury:-in fiscal matters—continues to mix politics with revenue. ~~ Canada is not embracing all of the Rum] plan,. but most of it. Canada has only an eight months’ lag in tax payments. To get on a pay-as-you-go basis, she will write off six months of income earned and spent. We have a one-year lag i in tax payments, therefore a tougher problem. Eventually we will adopt a pay-as-you-go. plan, because e have to. Congress will force it. But it will require more ime, due: to athe treasury 8 political opposition. ir

"RAF ' WAGE AWARD T HE war labor hoards award in the eit. coast aircraft case o seers to Strain at every seam to give the workers

3 increases and PYelzoadive dy if they strike and the paym ent of higher wage scales, the nation’s » against’ price and living costs inflation will likely 2 to a quick and ignominious end. And in the rout will I follow, wage earners wil suffer more than anyone

of A

} VOTE IN THE HOUSE = a ‘house of representatives voted wisely when it

adjoining states, 75 cents a month;

! WORCESTER, Mass., March 5. —On Saturday night, Jan, 16, the Textile . Workers of America of “the C. 1. O. had a banquet here | at which Amos Cote was solemnly installed in the office of president . of the Central Massachusetts board of the union.’ The festivi- - ties were held in the headquarters /of the joint board and were at-

tended by the regional director of

the national war labor board and Emil Rieve of New York, president of the national

| union, : {The name of the regional director of the war |

labor board was given as Saul Wallen and Saul Waller, in the Worcester Sunday Telegram next morning. ‘But, at the office of the board in Boston, in the absence of this official, himself, it was stated that his name is spelled Wallin. At any rate, Mr. Wallen, Waller or Wallin and Mr. Rieve made speeches and Mr. Cote responded. The party seems not to have been a rank and file occasion for there were only gbout 250 persons present.

A Photograph Published

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAM published a photograph of these distinguished persons and several Worcester policemen now or formerly on the local vice squad today put their fingers on the likeness of Mr. Cote and said ‘he was the same Amos Cote who h-4 been arrested on July 25, 1932, in a small teneme: apartment in the company of two women and co: victed in the central district court of Worcester ¢ charges of operating a house of prostitution, posses: ing gambling implements, to wit, two five-cent slo. machines, and possessing liquor. This was in prohibition days. One of the women

| was let go and the other was convicted of vagrancy. Cote was sentenced to two terms-of six months |

each, one for running a brothel, the other for possessing the slot machines and fined $100 on the liquor charge. He paid the fine but was released on probation until June 20, 1934 when against he was arrested on g liquor charge. This caused the revocation of his parole and he was sent to the house of correction to serve his six months.” While thus engaged Cote was taken to court on the mew liquor charge and given one month additional,

—1 Out -of Circulation 7 Months

HE APPEALED this sentence and was given a new trial before a jury which took a more serious view and hiked the one-month sentence to three months and added a fine of $100 which was paid. Thus his total time out of circulation was nine months. The police data in the files at headquarters in Worcester say the young woman who was convicted of vagrancy told the policemen of the vice squad that she shared her earnings 50-50 with Cote. Cote is 40 years old. and is known to the Worcester police ‘as a drunkard, a drunken driver and a brawler and, to their knowledge, never has been identified with work. In his pedigree he describes himself as an organizer and he is. at present, notwithstanding the rubber and gasoline shortage, under another recent. charge of driving while drunk, his fifth involvement as a driver,

Text of Remarks Unavailable SL

BY JUST WHAT process Brother Cote became the leader or boss of not merely one local but a whole council, or’ joint board, of locals of the fextile workers, none of the policemen who have been having official dealings with him as an offender for 13 years has the slightest idea except that he is a fast, persuasive talker with an invincible aversion to work. The tex-.

‘tile industry is, of course; & vital war industry.

Unfortunately, the text of Brother Cote’s own remarks on his installation at the recent banquet and the thoughts expressed by Brother Rieve, the general president of the union, and Mr, Wallen, Waller or Wallin, regional director of the national war labor board, a government official, are not available at this writing.

In Washington

|By Peter Edson

WASHINGTON, March 5. — “There is no limit to the need for ships in a total, global war,” says Rear’ Admiral: Emory S. Land, chairman of the maritime commission, and that explains why plans have been made to continue the huge American shipbuilding program well into 1944 and 1945, , with some interesting changes in “the existing schedule. Prize object of the new program wil be the new, bigger, faster, better Liberty ship, which it is proposed to call the Victory ship. This Victory ship is still in the design stage and no keels have been laid. A number of experimental huils are being run through the navy’s model testing basin here in Washington to determine the perfect

| shape, and the first full-size model of a new Lentz-

type engine is undergoing tests. * This Lentz engine is really something. It operates on the poppet-valve principle, like your automobile, instead of on the sleeve-valve or turbine principle used in most steam engines.

Flexibility of Propulsion

BEAUTY OF the new Victory ship model is that its design will permit the use of any propulsion unit available—the old-fashioned reciprocafing engines of

the Liberty ships, turbines, Diesels, or turbo-electric |

drive. In this flexibility, the maritime commission will remove one of the greatest causes of slowups in ship deliveries. Heretofore, every ship has had to be designed for a particular engine installation. Hulls can now be turned out on an assembled production basis, but if

1 & hull was ready and the engine wasn’t the hull had ‘to wait. Now, with this new, adaptable Victory ship

that permits the installation of any type engine, ships can be completed and delivered on a much better

schedule, the ways and the fitting docks cleared for |

other hulls. f At the present time, about two-thirds of the ship~ building capacity is devoted to construction of the

10,500-ton Libertys. They are good ships, for their |

purpose. But the Liberty ship is slow—making around 10 knots—and is limited to a cargo-carrying capacity of 8000 to 8500 tons. The new Vietorys will be able or make 15 or 16 knots and carry around 10,000 tons cargo.

For Post-War Trade

THE NEW VICTORY ships, in: other words, will be ships that can be used in post-war competitive world trade, whereas the Libertys could not. As to

what can be done with the Libertys in the post-war |

t is I Washington’ Th Ya ding is > prolong the war and endanger | 2 4 lives of American 1 2. “Why do“you say that is President. Roosevelt's obligation to. stop the muddling, rather than the obligation of the men who are administering the various war programs,

<2? | or of congress?”

The Hoosier Forum

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

“DO WE FIGHT JAPS OR BITE THEM?” By Disgusted, Indianapolis My husband signed up for the coast guard the first of February

and took his examination the 27th. His physical condition is rfect but he didn’t pass for tke branch of service he enlisted in because of his teeth. He has a slight over-bite, but otherwise his teeth are normal. What I want to know is this—are our men supposed to fight tke Japs or bite them? I understand you have to eat in the army the same as in the navy. If my husband's téethr afe good enough to get him in the army, why weren’t they considered good enough for the navy? He won't fight with his teeth, Or will he? Can anyone explain this regulation? ® » »

“BUREAUCRATS HAVE NOTHING ON ASSEMBLY By George I Paince, 4401 W. Washington

For injustice and inconsistency, the New Deal bureaucrats have nothing on our Indiana assembly in

adjustments. We didn’t realize that the pendulum had swung quite so far toward emphasis on the physical until ‘we noticed that two bills, one just passed, fixes the minimum pay of Indiana teachers at $125 per month, while another sets a minimum of $200 per month for Indianapolis policemen. The minimum even for police of fourth class cities is set at $150. ¢ True, the war has slightly increased the responsibility. of men in police service, but no more at least than the curriculum changes and rationing duties with which teachers are burdened. Training requirements for teachers anywhere in the state are higher than for city policemen, and if the former are mot at least the equal mentally of policemen, then the public and taxpayers are being badly fooled and cheated’ (or are they, at present teachers’ salaries?) The only way in which policemen

jas a class are superior to teachers

is in physique, and’ we didn’t know

the matter of legislation for salary|

-(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.)

that brawn came that high outside the prize ring, even in these days of beef shortage and emphasis on

physical prowess...

Police on traffic duty are often) exposed to inclerient weather, buf no more so than many outdoor la-

borers, and the shifts on such duty

are much shorter. Policemen. are shot at on rare occasions, but so also are our soldiers, who are paid $50 per month and take this same risk. On the whole, the hazards to life and ‘health of those in police serv ice are probably no greater than those of teachers, who must face a battery of germ-laden- coughs in crowded and oft:n poorly heated! and ventilated - classroom for approximately six hourly class periods each day. War industry weges Have no doubt forced some pay increases in public service, but frankly, there can bg little sympathy for Indianapolis ir its effort to balance the budget andl reduce excessive faxes by increasing the area of its tax base, setting traffic .violation traps for motorists and trying to secure. more state revenue, while at the same time it has for years paid the people.in its public service including teachers almost twice the salary that is pail to persons of equel training and in the same kind of service in other parts of the state.

” 8 “HOW DOES THIS HELP WIN THE WAR?” By Mrs. H. M. W., Indianapolis I think it's time all the good peace-loving people get together and demand an end to this booze business. Killing the local option: bill was too dirty a trick for words. Now the restaurants have to share their

Side Glances—By Galbraith

| spectable eating places. How does

- | point ‘out one way in which our be-

{ing about it.

1 will make not. one move to hinder | £1 him, no matter what we send him = 1 {inthe meantime in the way of gifts.

| HAVE SUCH PROELEM?” | By Clara Cheadle, 630 Division st.

{| the teachers to dictate the style of

if || vs. skirts? Why permit the tesching staff fo]

| food with taverns. (That’s just what iit amounts. to.) : Thousands of working people depend on restaurants, . but taverns are mostly for ones who drink and buy extra eats. Sure is a slick law, calling them eating places, serving drinks as a side line. -All that extra delivering of milk, bread and meat which should be going to re-

that help win this war? No alcohol for after-shaving lotions (which is important), but plenty to put in wesk-mincded people’s stomachs. | The government

can’t it' do something about liquor? Stop the manufacture of beer and wine, and take over all liquor supplies for our many boys in the cold ‘countries, where just a swallow might mean the diference between life and death, ... If we had more men like. L. E York, we might get some results. He sure tries hard enough, and I'm with him 100 per cent plus.

” ” & “HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY ‘GAMBOL IN SPAIN"?”

By Nathalie Altman, 3543 N. Pennsylvania st.

Read your recent editorial “We Gamble in Spain,” which might better have been titled “Gambol in

Spain. ” After carefully and accurately describing the Franco regime, you proceed to justify the latest antics of our state department. How you can do so is beyond this reader. If I thought our present policy of sending large amounts of oil, chemicals, etc., to that “neutral” country would prevent a stab in the back in Morocco, I wouldn't bother to write this letter. Buf if you can

havior in this instance differs from} our pre-Pearl Harbor behavior toward Japan, I'd appreciate hear-

We are trying to buy off-a man who is completely at Hitler's mercy (to put it most charitably) as you well pointed out. I was interested to note how you dramatically worked your way up fo the use of the word “blackmail.” Hard to avoid using that nasty word “appeasement,” isn’t it? I am willing to wager odds five to one that if or when Hitler decides to send troopté across Spain and to even use Sparish troops in addition, to attack our rear, Franco

Any takers? 8.8»

“IS IT ANY WONDER WE

Is it any wonder that we have: al problem of youth vs. school fogies? ‘our young women and then permit their clothing to the degree of shacks discriminate against the girl whol’

is overweight in matiers of sensible! ‘clothing? Surely slacks are ore

tells ds how: much we can eat, why!

|| Why teach self-reliance, resource-|. I fulness and independent. thinking to

Here is an offlal definition of muddling by three wise men who dug deeply into one of the worst muddles: “Errors growing out of procrastinations, indecisions, conflicts of authori:-. clashes of persone ality, lack of understanding and delays” That was

1 said by the Baruch committee about the rubber situa-

tion a few months " Senator Maloney'’s committee put it another way when it reported, only a few days ago, that “the present intolerable division of authority” in the fuel oil and gasoline program had “intensified shortages and increased suffering.”

Unable to Do 'Perfect Jobs'

WHAT WAS SAID of rubber, fuel oil and gasoline’ can be said with equal truth about many—indeed, most—of the home-front war programs. I know, per= sonally, that many of the men responsible for these programs want to do perfect jobs. I assume that lk of them do. But the fact is that they can't. They. have an organization system—or lack of system—that actually" compels indecisions, prolonged conflicts and delays. Let’s consider the food program. More Americans probably are giving food more worried thought Just: now than ever before. We must feed our fighting men well. We must. help to feed our allies’ fighting men, or it will take longer to win the war. We must be ready to feed |

the hungry millions we will rescue’ from the axis, or XE <

we may lose the peace. So we, need 10 produce fap more food than ever. before. = . There is. a food administrator—a “food czar,” some mistakenly call him. Secretary Wickard is a good man, a farmer himself, who sincerely wants to help the farmers solve their problem. 2

| A "Terrible Responsibility’

BUT MANY FARMERS say they Just can’t, grow even the normal amounts of food unless they are allowed more experienced labor, more nh Mo and more fertilizer. There are warnings that severe food shortages may be coming, and-—seeing what is already here—it is hard to doubt them. 0 Food Administrator Wickard has a terrible responsibility, but he does not have authority to,match it. ‘There are many other so-called “czars,” afid some of them have more say than Mr. Wickard has about matters that affect the ‘farmers’ ability to grow more food. The president, the army and navy-not Mr. Wickard—decided to put 11,000,000 men into uniform. this year. It was their duty to make that decision and I, for one, accept it willingly. They. know the grand °

military strategy, and most congressmen, and most of -

the rest of us, don’t know it, and shouldn’t know it yet. Bui putting 11,000,000 men into uniform is said to

mean that more ‘skilled workers must be taken off gi

the farms. Unless-congress interferes, they will be taken under rules made and interpreted by Manpower Commissioner McNutt, Gen. Hershey and he draft boards—not by Mr, Wickard, Wages paid by war plants have lured away’ more skilled farm hands than have gone into the army and navy. But industrial wage and labor policies are shaped by the president, Economic Director Byrnes,

the war labor board, the labor department and oer, x

agencies. Mr. Wickard has no i about them.

Spiral of Inflation Theaters

THE SUPPLY OF farm Hiachinery and fertilize ns. I determined by the war production board~not by Mr.

‘| Wickard. :

There are many. complaints that price: policies ate causing meat shortages -and black markets, creating milk famines and leading farmers to sell their dairy cows to buichers.. Mr. Wickard ‘doesn’t make or en. force these policies. Mr. Brown of the office of price administration does that. If food prices go higher, millions living on fixed. small incomes will find it hard to buy enough 'food, even if it is in the stores. But food prices seem likely to be raised by congress, although Mr. Wickard ope poses it. Let f prices go higher, and industrial labor will. get still higher wages, and we'll be off on a dizzler whirl.up the spiral to inflation disaster.

'Czars' Running Into Each Other

: THE SAME STORY ‘runs through most of the’ other home-front war programs—war- production, manpower, economic stabilization and the rest. Each so-called “czar” fights for his own program, as he should. But, in the effort to stretch limited amounts of manpower and materials over many unl te needs, the “czars” are always running into each oth The conflicts go on and on, wasting on 2 over priorities, jurisdictions and rights-of-way the time of men and agencies that should be working at top speed. If that waste is allowed to continue, 1 - believe, the results are certain to be greater 1sion: among the people, less willing acceptance of the necessary hardships and sacrifices of war, 8 Ton war, the unnecessary loss of many American 1 and an endangered. peace. ;

We the Women

By Ruth Millett

would lks_to join, Wists wong 1b that great many women don’t realize that provi ership an recreation for young folks is