Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 April 1943 — Page 14

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iq RILEY 5551

Give Light and the “People Will Find ho Own Way

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1943

HANDS ACROSS THE BORDER AST night at Monterrey Presidents Roosevelt and Avila Camacho pledged that the good neighbor relationship is real and enduring. Among Mr. Roosevelt's achievements none ranks higher than the cementing of friendship with Mexico and the republics farther south. It is fitting and beneficial for him to visit Mexico—the first such presidential visit in a third f a century—to symbolize that relationship. Our hospitable neighbors received him with open arms. The graceful tributes paid to him by President’ Avila Camacho were something more than the customary diplomatic amenities. But this exchange of compliments would hardly be urgent enough to require the long travel and meeting of two such busy executives in the midst of war. Obviously, the two commanders in chief are discussing ways and means of improving the joint war effort. Part of that problem, as suggested recently by Ambassador Messersmith, is the unfortunate suspicion of a Mexican minority that the United States intends to use victory to impose its will upon the Western Hemisphere. The president of Mexico in his speech last night, and in his actions, is combating this propaganda—much of which appears to be emy-mgpired. : : . J 8 ” NOTHER is of misunderstanding among minority groups south of the border is the inability of the United States to provide all of the industrial products and war ‘weapons which Mexico desires. The fact is that we are sending her a great deal despite the urgent demands of the fighting fronts, all of which is understood and Sppreciated by the Mexico government, : ‘The help is mutual. ' Mexico has sent us strategic materials and farm labor, and given full military and diplomatic co-operation. It is.reasonable to suppose that out

of this conference will come even a more efficient and

complete meshing of the war activities of the two nations. Whether in war or in peace, the future of the Americas is in working together as friends. In the words of President Roosevelt, which reflected a similar exprejsion by the president of Mexico: “It is time that every citizen i in every one of the Amerjcan republics recognizes that the good neighbor policy means that harm to one republic means harm to every republic. We have all of us recognized the principle of independence. It is time that we recognize also the privilege of interdependence—one upon another.”

LABOR’S CREDIT Willian L. HUTCHESON, general president of the brotherhood of nters.and joiners, writing in the union’s official publication “The Carpenter,” published here, views with some alarm the current trend toward federal restriction of installment plan buying. Mr. Hutcheson and all carpenters may very well be

alarmed, since a major source of their income in normal | times is from the building of homes, which are nearly all |

bought on the installment plan. But his primary concern is not so much with income, just now, as with buying power, and especially buying power after the war. ~The story of installment plan buying is, of course, well known, and it is generally accepted that the automobile industry, for instance, could never have grown great without a system under which the ‘ordinary individual could pay for his car over a period of many months. The same holds true for many another industry—radio, furniture, household equipment, and so on. Installment plan buying made possible large manufacturing volume, which in turn made possible lower prices. Mr. Hutcheson stresses still another angle-Installiment Blan buying also has lifted the living standards of millions wage earners who without it never could have bought many of these items. » 5 8 8 8 » may seem academic today to be debating the methods of buying automobiles and refrigerators when virtually ne are for sale. Government agencies concerned with intion. are exerting heavy pressure against installment aying; in fact, to reduce the volume of sales. That their npaign has failed ‘is evident from figures assembled by Retail Credit Institute. In 1942 installment sales pped 60 per cent but total sales went up 4 per cent. In er words, buyers merely laid seven billion dollars more cash on the counter in 1942 than they did jn 1941. Mr. Hutcheson’s point is that installment restrictions y shifted power to buy from wage earners to other ups.. His alarm is not over an immediate curtailment f buying from the group he represents, but in their ability buy after the war. : i 3 i: Current government orders on the subject, of which y cites some 900 issued by WPB and OPA since the war an, are driving out of business stores that sell on long

m credit, he charges. The net effect of the present policy

be to dry up the source of such credit, and shut off the fworking man’s charge account” so that buying power will not be there when post-war industry needs volume outot for its products and American families need large-scale o jent for worn out equipment,

(CHANGE FOR PAUL ho IDENT ROOSEVELT was starring on other grounds, 50 Manpower Commissioner McNutt was chosen to

u the first ball in the American league’s opening game

y between the Washington Senators and the Phila-

thietics. Fans and players, pleased by his earlier | that he saw no a why major league baseball

The name and location camp I cannot mention lest | late hospitality but my. the occasion has said" he. object to a discussion of “the shocking waste fine food ‘which we saw there.

mess, served by waiters who were enlisted men, and the meal consisted of pot roast, string beans, creamed peas, mashed potatoes, cole-slaw, milk, coffee - and coconut custard pudding. There was much more than plenty for all nands. most of whom had high-power appetites, and each man had about a quart of milk. _My young friends at the table said they often had steaks and that they had seen some waste of excellent beef in a section of the country where the civilians found it almost impossible to get any and where the little they could get was scrawny, stringy, Juiceless meat with no more flavor than a botled bathmat.

Foods Wantonly Scrapped

of plate-leavings, which is to say that no whole steaks were thrown away untouched, and . possibly this is an unavaidoble loss although civilian authorities have been raising guite a fuss with restaurants

failure to eat everything set before them and demanding smaller portions. There were considerable leavings on the plates of the soldiers in this mess on this occasion which my host said was typical, but that was a trivial waste by comparison with the wanton destruction which

between the two rows of tables after the meal, dumping huge quantities of untouched food from the serve ing bowls into garbage cans which they shoved along before them. ] : On each table there were two or three large bowls at least half full of mashed potatoes above and beyond requirements of the diners, all made with rich milk and first class butter, and all that was thrown into

| the cans along with large quantities of string beans,

creamed peas, slaw and custard and many stacks of a dozen or so slices of fine white bread which, surely, was not contaminated and would not hdve spoiled if returned to the bread box for the next meal. The only meat that I saw thrown away was that which was left on the plates, the surplus on the platters apparently being returned to the kitchen possibly to be made into hash, although I am not sure it was so used, The soldiers, themselves, were conscious of this waste and deplored it although not, of course, to the ‘extent of complaining for, after all, the camp management was none of their business and suggestions might have been resented by their officers.

Civilians Left to Worry

THE NONCOM in command of the preparation and serving of the meals said that all opened but unfinished bottles of milk were emptied into containers. This milk was used for cooking, but that and the surplus beef and the butter seemed to be the only salvage. The rest of the overset food was gathered at a central point with the garbage from other messes on the post and carried away by a contractor to be fed to the pigs on neighboring farms. Great pitchers of coffee were poured away. There may have been a few absentees from this meal but if so they were not enough to justify the army excuse recently heard that waste is caused by the practice of cooking for the full strength of a command rather than for the number actually on hand. It was a flagrant case of reckless mismanagement and in a region where the army’s food comes off the top of the whole regional supply and comes off first, leaving sthe civilians to shop for and worry over a very insufficient remainder.

unit but perphas it will be just as well if each command which is throwing to the swine good food which civilians are doing without will take this description and criticism to itself and act accordingly.

In Washington By Peter Edson

WASHINGTON, April 21.—Office of war information’s report on the food situation has stirred up quite a minor tempest in - Washington’s wastepaper baskets. Fifteen star OWI writers have resigned in a huff because they say ‘the report was doctored. OWI Director Elmer Davis has countered that his organization deals in only one commodity—facts the people need to win the war. You ‘can take your Plo So far, OWI has issued half a

many or more coming up. Already issued are the reports on drinking near army camps, on the first year of the war, on the doctor shortage, on the comparative qualities of U. 8S.

on the food situation.

Yesterday's News Today!

COMING UP are reports on transportation, on: civilian economy, on the quality and quantity of the stocking supply, on the Baltimore plan for handling manpower. and, related ‘problems, on ‘the wartime status of air transport, and others.

theory that these reports should be put in pamphlet form. The pamphlet theory is pretty wéak, for the American people arent tract readers. Presentation through the newspapers and over the radip makes a lot more sense. The cost to the government of 18,000 copies of a mimeographed handout is around $25, and on a nor= mal distribution that will reach every press association, every. Washington correspondent, 3000 country newspapers, 7000. trade journals, 5000 commercial outlets, and 2600 others. Redistribution by these agencies will reach darn near everyone interested. The question still remains, are these reports neces-

newspapers and therefore may not be news.

Papers Still Have Job to Do

TAKE ANY ONE of these

There were, I should say, about 200 soldiers in the |

HOWEVER, SUCH waste of steak consisted ‘mainly :

occurred as the waiters advanced along the aisle |

for over-serving and with the guests themselves for |

I am sorry not to be able to identify the post and’

dozen of these reports to the nation, but there are that

and foreign military aircraft, and this latest report |

Some of the 15 resigning star writers had the |

sary at all? Most of the reports issued so far have |

i 1 LA ® : : The Hoosier Forum I wholly disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.

“FOOD WE RAISE MORE IMPORTANT THAN DOGS”

By Mrs. R. J., Indianapolis. I think something should by all means be done about so many dogs running loose. On our street you can hardly go out without six to eight dogs, all sizes, knocking you down. One time recently I was almost bitten by one of the dogs and so was my son coming in from school. I reported it and the police ordered them to keep it up. They did for about four or five days. Now I see it is on the loose again. We have our victory garden and so have others around here. After we put in a lot of hard work we don’t feel like we want them destroyed by a lot of dogs. After all, the bit of food we raise will be much more important than dogs. I'm not saying I'm a dog-hater. I like them and have owned several. I have three boys and a girl and they are very fond of dogs. But I do say that people who care anything about their dogs should want. to keep them in. We always did, and in the absence of ‘a fence I've tied my dog to a clothesline rather than have him running everywhere. A good many of the dogs running loose now have been turned out because of taxpaying. I don’t think it’s right at all. dE Can’t something be done. to protect’ our gardens and also ourselves from being perhaps dog bitten as some of these strays are so hungry they become mean. The one that almost bit me wasn't a stray-—the owners are live ing right near me. They are the kind of people who don’t want anyone to tell them what to do—“I do as I please” attitude. . » tf ” “CHILDREN NEED BEST GUIDANCE POSSIBLE”

By. > Lifelong Citizen of Indianapolis, I am a taxpayer in this city, have

had children in the public schools, and have been an ardent parent-

(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.)

teacher worker for about 10 years. My experiences with the school has been very pleasant and satisfactory until this’ year, A During this year my child was among the more unfortunate children who had one substitute teacher after another, When one became tired of the work she quit and another was hired and so on. Of course this was much cheaper than paying a regular teacher, but finally this term a substitute teacher filled the vacancy—one who had had a number of years’ experience, enjoyed the work and was a born teacher, The children in two months time had gained all they had lost last term. Today this teacher has been notified that her services will no longer be needed since she was hired as a substitute and having no degree,

cannot be given a contract in our city. It. seems our new legislature, |

which passed so many worthless bills while in session, passed a bill which permitted teachers only six weeks of substitute work because after that period of time a contract must be granted the teacher. ,8ince our city’s policy is “no degree, no contract,” this fine person with all the qualities of which the profession should be proud is to be turned out and her place will no doubt be filled by some unexperienced, uninterested person who .is fortunate enough to have a degree, or such has been the board’s policy lately, to bring in any kind from out of town. If they hold an A. B. degree, Sey are automatically a fine teacher

Has our school board no thought

Side Glances—By Galbraith

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| “LET’S START

‘IT have. I have two sons inthe U.S.

| we all know who they would. vote

‘excuse, “don’t change horses in the

of the child? Think what changing from one teacher to another does in a few weeks time. I am of the opinion that years of experience should play the big part in hiring teachers during this drastic. period we are going through. Other industries and business places have had to make exceptions to meet the present emergency. Isn't. our school board big enough to do it. . Children more than ever at a time like this need ~ best guidance possible. Think over, fel-

low citizens.

FIGHTING THE ENEMY” By Mrs. Clarence Elrod, 1115 River ave. . I'd like to ask Mr. Edward F.

Maddox, Indianapolis, a few ques-|.

tions. First, I want to ask him if he has sons in the service. Second, I want to ask him if he is giving 10 per cent for war: bonds. . Third, I want to ask him what kind of an American citizen is he to criticize our commander-in-ckief in time of war. He wants to put in a whole force of Republicans. Then he says, “Let’s get on with the war,” rather than use the war as a ‘political weapon. : I have him figured oul as an old dyed-in-the-wool Republican, . and can't see any good the administration has done. I have reason to answer hin as

army. They both: volunteered. One is fighting in North Africa. Fight< ing for such people as Mr. Maddox. My husband is a veteran of the first world war. ' Both my husband and I work in a defense plant, and we gladly give more than 10 per cent for war bonds and we're going to give more.

We are proud to be citizens of |

these grand United States. And thankful we have such a wonderful leader, Franklin D. Roosevelt. 2 8 8 “NEW DEAL HAS RUN PEOPLE LONG ENOUGH” By Old Subscriber, Bridgeport Only once before have I taken up space in your fine column, but I feel I should express my opinion on the following: If boys are old enough at 18 to fight, they are old enough to vee. Just think, they were mere children when the new deal fook over and this next election would 80 just like the last one with the president in for four terms. These boys don’t remember any other president and

for. Why should’ we fall for that old

middle of the stream?” The same

policies would have to continue in| effect,

let's use our heads to think wi It is about time. The new deal has had long enough to run the people, I think. How about It, voters? I have a son in the navy and a daughter and son-in-law in service, go 1 think 1 should put tla aption before the people. 3

DAILY THOUGHT And yet if I judge, my jucigment is true; for I am not alone, but I am the Father ‘that sent meemdohn 8:16. we

Pally

Handouts *

|By Thomas L. Stokes

ATLANTA, April 21. — The South, original and once stanche .. est - defender of states’ rights, shows little inclination to join & movement, apparent in states else where to exhibit more independence and recover some of the lost state powers. “oa To the contrary, the South ; ; shows a disposition to lean more ° heavily on the federal government, to demand more federal money, if its sentiments were correctly expressed at

the southern regional conference of governors ahd state officials just concluded here.

The conference adopted a resolution urging sialbiid tion of the present system whereby federal contribu= tions to states are matched dollar for dollar by

states. The South, under this system, is able to'| *

less federal money than the richer states, becsuse of “~ the impoverished and pinched conditions of state treasuries.

Seek More Federal Funds rio

INSTEAD, THE conference recommended that’ federal contributions be “on the basis of need and. « necessity,” which would mean that southern states’ L could dip more heavily into the treasury. Nor was the conference willing to go on record for distribution and administration of a funds * in the states by the states themselves rather than by the federal government, as was proposed with the *

objective of recovering some semblance of independ- °

ence for the states. This was debated, but the conference: finally agreed it was too big and broad &

subject for quick decision and took no action.

Furthermore, states’ rights was described as . dead issue by young Governor Ellis G. Arnall of Georgia, * who was the spark-plug and dominating influence * at the meeting, and as “worn threadbare” by John ° W. Cruse, a state ottiglal from South Carolina, Mets, ) the civil war started, Mr. Cruse said his family lived in South Carolina for more than 200 years. There was some dissent, but the dissenters seemed a minority, “I don’t subscribe to this moth-eaten issue of states’ oy rights,” said Governor Arnall. ’ 2 The governor, who is 35, said the issue was decided’ “a good many years before I came into being and probably before any of the rest of us here came into being. We, can talk about it. I do myself. But it doesn’t mean anything.”

Threaten Political Pressure

ALL THIS sort of talk, the proposals for the South to get more money from the federal treasury—and , thus, in a sense, to relinquish independence—bubbled - right along with threats that the South would use its political power to force the national administra-

‘tion to remove discriminations of various sorts about

which it complains—high freight rates on its ° processed and finished goods shipped to the Hast and North, and fallure to get its share of war * industries. “In short, the left hand out for & handout, the right”; ‘hand clutching a shillelagh." Nobody spoke up to point out what appeared to the onlooker to be somewhat of an inconsistency, These folks here see no: inconsistency. It is a prae~ tical matter with them. The South is still poor, or so speaker after speaker emphasized. It needs money for education, for pubw~ lic welfare of all sorts. It cannot get the necessary. money of itself because of the shortage of industry; 3 both peacetime and ‘war; on which’ business prosperity and hence state revenue is based. - Until the federal government gives the South what it considers justice, in the matter of lower . freight rates to attract normal industry, and in the matter of war industry during this emergency, then : the South thinks the federal government must furnish it money to give its people what. they 2 in the way of education, public-health and the That's the way the argument runs,

Urge Post-War Planning

THE SOUTHERN states: represented at this ree gional conference revealed, however, that they are just as awake to the necessity of the state and local & governments sharing in handling the big. problems x of the post-war period as are states elsewhere. The conference was so impressed by a recommended to the state of Alabama by its post-was * planning committee, which was discussed at the con=: ference, that it adopted a ‘résohition recommending 7 its adoption elsewhere. ; - This ‘is for creation of a war finance corporation by the state, with a revolving. fund, which would buy bonds issued by municipalities for building sewers, water systems and the like, and resell them to private J security holders to help meet the post-war unemployment problem. . Guy Webb, of Knoxville, Yecommended that states : undertake. a grade-school expansion program after | the war, with more emphasis on: education rather » than public works, and urgéd that states: ‘practice rigid economies now to set up reserves’ for. . purpose.

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‘We the Women

By Ruth Millett

“IF THEY knew how they looked in overalls they wouldn't be parading around town in them” —the carefully dressed woman said.

o'clock and still beat their husbands home. It is too bad the overalled women to speak up for themselves. But they w

their machines.

Have No Time to Argue