Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 June 1943 — Page 12

RALPH BURKHOLDER | Editor, in U. 8 Service |

~ Price in ‘Marton Coun |

H. 1 vents 3 sony: deliv-

a week.

Es " Mail rates in Indians, "$4 a year; adjoining - states, 75 cents a month; others, $l monthly.

ql RILEY #881

Give Light and the People. Will Find Their own Way

WEDNESDAY, ONE 2 2, 1043

THREE STRIKES WHO'S out?

(CONFIDENTIALLY, we aren't. certain, : John L. Lewis has ordered the coal miners back to work, this time until midnight of Oct. 31. If that insures maximum and uninterrupted production for four, months, it will mean at least that much of a respite from 2 a: ‘deadly obstruction to victory in the war. Present wages are to continue during the new “arrangement. The miners have won no wage increases except ~ the small ones ordered by the war labor board, which they could have hdd without the three coal strikes. Mr. Lewis has postponed, if not averted, a final show: down with President Roosevelt. Or vice versa. Which probably is a: relief to one or both of them. : - Mr. Roosevelt, perhaps, will now feel that it is safe to veto the Smith-Connally bill. If so, he will gladden the hearts of Philip Murray, William Green and his other pet labor leaders. ~~ Mr. Lewis has not obeyed the war labor bonid’s order to sign a new contract with the mine operators. Instead, he has announced that until Oct. 31 the miners will work only for the government, under direction of Secretary Ickes as custodian of the mines, and that mining will stop ~ again if the operators’ property is returned to them before - that date. Maybe that can be called something else than another ultimatum to the government. o » » » : » » HE Lewis union has not—as the war labor board said it must—agreed to ‘abide by the same rules and the same laws which are applicable to all other unions.” . Mr. Lewis, through’ Secretary Ickes, has made a special ‘arrangement for his union, and can continue to ignore the war labor board. It remains to be seen whether other labor leaders will be. satisfied without special arrangements for their unions, Mr. Lewis htimates that he may file lawsuits to protect the miners’ equity in the matter of portal-to-portal pay. Which, of course, is what he should have done long ago, and could have done without any strikes if he believes he has a legal claim. iL ‘As we've said, we're not certain who's out, or who's in, or how much, as result of these developments. Except that the country is out some 12,000,000 tons of badly needed coal, not ined ‘because there were three strikes. 1 And the war thdustrics are out a considerable amount’ of steel, tht couldn’t be made because furnaces had to close, for lack of” ‘coke, that couldn’t be made because the coal “wasn’t mined—which may mean that American boys, fight- | ing for their country, will find themselves out of weapons _at some critical moment. . And the government is further than ever out of : anything resembling a firm, fair, consistent labor policy.

BEWARE—ANOTHER GRAB!

‘TNLESS the American people as well as the American ~. press awake to the danger, a vast new subsidy may Shortly be saddled on the taxpayers—one which threatens the freedom of an important part of the nation’s newspapers. : “Printer’s Ink,” trade publication of the advertising industry, warns that every possible effort will be made to jam through congress the Bankhead bill providing for paid government advertising of war bonds. The purpose of this bill—to subsidize small town ‘and ‘rural papers—is clearly revealed by the provision that at ‘least half of the annual appropriation, $25,000,000 to $30,000,000, “shall be expended for the purchase of such advertising space in weekly, semi-weekly, tri-weekly and monthly newspapers.” . If this were a legitimate effort to purchase advertising along sound business lines for sound business the firms to receive the business would not be selected in advance of the appropriation. The government doesn’t do that when it buys other things. s = = s = =» : “PRINTER'S | INK” points out that a companion measure ~~ has been introduced in the house by Rep. Clarence Cannon (D. Mo.), ¢hairman of the powerful hose appropriations committee. Say “The proposed legislation thus has every appearance being on the ‘must’ list,” it says. “It seems to be tre-

mendously important to somebody. - Strong influence is i

being put behind this bill. « .

“At first it was thought that the bill could sot : possibly be - passed—that it was intended as a pleasant : ttle gesture to small town newspaper ‘publishers. How- |§ ever, those publishers who are opposed to it should not. 1 fool themselves. On its face, ‘the scheme is so innocent. 3

that it is dangerously clever.”

The amount to be spent by the ovement: under’ :

is measure would constitute one-fifth to one-third of he total annual revenue of the average small riewspaper, proportion of income so large as to threaten the indedence of the small town press. We 'symphathize with the difficulties of small newspers—but the way out of them'is not to put themselves the payroll of the, Politicians. That is the first step ard a kept press As for Pgrens taxpayers, 30 million dollars will ‘be only . Small radio stations and small magazines will their share of the handout—and are equally entitled This is just the start of another: ‘great grab. -

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political contributions, big. business corporations would be allowed to do so. ch And it cannot be represented on her behalf’ that she was misinformed or incompletely informed, either, because she preceded her misrepresentation with the

statement, “I read the anti-strike | ‘bill ‘through yes-| -

terday,” and that bill contains in plain language a provision which forbids such contributions. by any corporation whatever. That isn’t all, either. For the corrupt practices law already forbids. Corporations to contribute "to

political funds and, as the New York Times quickly |.

pointed out to: Mr. Roosevelt, that law remains on

the books after the war, whereas the forbiddance |

against union contributions Is: Himited, to the Period of the emergency,

Hedged Away: From: Position LIT WAS<ONLY after the Times caught this

t thats Mrs. Roosevelt hedged away from |

her original pasition wilh thie. remark that.ehé “did | ‘3

not” make it ‘lear “that there: is a Jestriction on

corporations algo.”

She makes: no fronton of Mh Seorguph practices vo

act,: but it ‘is fair ‘to’ assume that: anyone who has been ‘8s active in politics as this lady. has, knows: of | the existence: of this 1aw and knows: ‘what it means. The first. story ‘was the ore in which Mrs, Roosevelt tossed out a proposal that political campaigns be financed out of the public treasury and that candidates be limited equally in their radia time and their advertising space. This is a scheme that would enable her husband to swamp any rival through the operations of the political machine of which she is a very aggressive member, a machine composed of countless jobholders drawing their compensation from the public taxes.’ It would permit him to make unlimited use of the radio on unrationed time by the device of styling his overtime ' campaign speeches “fireside chats” and “reports to the people” and establish the cherished Communist principle of limitation of newspaper advertising. The Communist-New Deal element has been pushing this proposal from one direction or another for years for the purpose of starving to death the free, independent, competitive press of the United States, which is the best press in the world, and its reappearance in this guise is a ruse, because the fact is that candidates for offices of any importance are given plenty of space in the news coverage and do not want to buy it from the advertising department.

A Communist-New Deal Trick

BUT REGARDLESS of whether they ‘do buy much or little space, the trick in this proposal is to give the Communist-New Deal element a beachhead, so to speak, in the. campaign to demolish the American free press and substitute for it the corrupt’ propaganda press which. lives on subsidies wrung. fromthe faceless; masses: by union bosSes and lives only: to extol them and promote their evil careers and vilify all ‘who oppose them. It is a grievous mistake to laugh off the proposals which appear from time to time in Mrs. Roosevelt's column as though they were the mere, unconsidered prattle of a naive. person. :Mrs. Roosevelt is a thorough politician whose political methods and ethics are those of the New Deal and she offers her suggestions to test public opinion in preparation for their introduction as New Deal measures of government. To return to.the-subject of campaign contributions by unions, it must be understood, although Mrs. Roosevelt would not go out of her way to tell you as much, that her political party and the European political schemes and governmental methods which it is: constantly pressing on the American people are the chief . and almost the sole beneficiaries of such contributions.

Other ‘Indian Givers’

PEOPLE SEEM to think that John IL. Lewis Indian gift of $500,000 in 1936- was the only one and that, with Lewis disgruntled, the situation dissolves, But that is not so. Old Dan Tobin, the Tammany-type Hdlyidos of the teamsters’ union, ambitious for power and honors, gave liberally out of his union’s treasury and, although he was shouldered out of the cabinet by Frances Perkins, Mrs. Roosevelt's appointee, he finally did sun his vanity for a spell in the role of assistant to the president at $10,000 a year on top of his union income of about $40,000. There are many more instances, including a vote of Sidney Hillman’s clothing workers in Boston to compel members to “donate” to the Roosevelt party funds in 1940 at the rate of $1 from each man and 50 cents from each woman.

We the People

By Ruth Millett

4

ls THE AXIS may stat the tales

immorality among our wémen in military ‘service, as. Mrs. Roosevelt recently suggested, but Mrs.

Smith, American, passes them on.

credit the girls in uniform,

life herself and is irked by the glamour that attaches itself to women in ‘uniform, They are doing something new

and exciting, Dr Sing Ayes Song. ust |

she has always done, and so- she is just. plain Or perhaps Mrs. Smith's husband is

is: spends her life wondering what is. ‘almost, sure. to be suspicious. of

Worry About Home Front

NO ONE is naive enough to suppose girl in military service has high many from too many typ t to make such thing. possible; 5 & superior lot, And as. well-behaved as any g

|. Pvt. Joe,

about the high percentage. ‘of | :

Maybe she leads & dull, boring |

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

“WAACs WORKING HARD TO WIN THIS WAR”

By Aux. Goldie Berlin, WAAC Det., Carlsbad, New Mexico

I am a WAAC, the mother of two sons in the service and also have a son-in-law in the service. At the present we are all home

on furlough. A few days ago I read in The Times a story about the WAACs. I'd like to tell the public that

‘|there are a few WAACs that are

a disgrace to the uniform -they are wearing, but the majority are nice girls and are working hard to help win the war, and it is not fair to those girls and the officers over them to publish such stories. It is like the army—it has its good and also some bad. These girls are not there to help win the war, but only for a good time and should not be in: the WAACs:. I am a pastry baker for the WAACS, and I enjoy my work. It is not easy, but we want to win this war ... I hope the public will not judge all the WAACs by the stories they read . . . These girls have given up good homes and some good jobs to help to win this war and they are proud to be a member of the WAAC. So why judge all by what a few do? : # ” ” “CITIZENS GOBBLE UP ‘TRAIN RESERVATIONS” By Sgt. Tom, Ft. F. E. Warren, Wyoming of Ft. Harrison, has coined & very apropos expression in placing those travel-silly civilians, seat robbers . ., and otherwise unbearable -occupants of all the toocrowded transportation facilities avaliable to service men in that category which he terms “the legion of the inconsiderate.” Having just returned to duty via several types of carriers, my information is quite up to date and equally as unsatisfactory as Joe’s. Not only does this morale-breaking legion gobble up any reservations which might have been canceled at the last moment, although there are soldiers waiting in line with crossed fingers for such, but even if you are lucky enough to obtain a seat, you are constantly attempting to retain same. ; Going back East very recently, five

(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.)

of us stood for eight hours and then were fortunate in getting a cramped, poorly ventilated space in the men’s washroom for five hours. The swell

tained us seats finally and at the next stop we left the train to take on a little food. ’ Our seats were distinctly marked by ticket stiibs and our blouses were thrown over the arm rests. Yet, when we returned to our car, we found a civilian stretched out asleep across two of the seats with his children not only occupying the others but going through our small bags as well.

Why can’t every railroad use the same system as the Chicago & Northwestern, wherehy any reservaAions on its fine streamliner, the

| City of Denver,” canceled at the last

moment are thrown open to the servicemen traveling the farthest. I take The Times here, as my Indianapolis informer and am quite an avid Forum reader. I know that anything the Forum can do for us will be appreciated in this transportation matter. The government has set up reservation bureaus at most depots, but they, of course, do all they can in view of the fact that we never know until eight hours before our furloughs are effective that same have been approved. Funny thing—you can always determine those who are doing necessary traveling by their interest in the welfare of the soldiers’ trips.

in the interest of the war effort are always the civilians who offer their seats to service men. <I am very definite In stating that half of the United States doesn’t

know that there is a war Seing on.

Side. Glances—By Galbraith

‘| kept. prices down, that they have

old conductor by hook or crook ob-

The boys who have to move around

police? Can ‘we expect anything

-| wondering if these women who | pleaded with him to stop. this er | rible gambling (as their husbands spent all their money on gambling) ;

“PRICES MIGHT HAVE RISEN HIGHER” By Lillian Whicker, 4193 N. Davidson st. The Indianapolis Times (issue June 8) says that the OPA has not

risen 20 per cent since the beginning ‘of the war. So what? There is no way of knowing how much higher they might have risen if we had not had-price regulation. During world war I lard reached a high of 30 cents a pound, It can now be purchased in ‘some stores as low as 18 cents a pound.

A splendid grade of coffee can|.

now be had for. 29 cents a pound but during world war I a poorer grade sold for 50 cents a pound, and clothing was way out of reason. The ultimate consumer will never realize what the OPA and its hard working personnel has done for him unless this agency is abolished, and then it will be too late. - It is small wonder that some laymen are confused when I see that men like Herbert Hoover advise the removal of the price ceiling and letting nature take its course. But let us remember that Mr. Hoover had his chance with our finances once upon a time. A wise president has said that in times like these when purchasing power is greater than the consumer goods it is necessary to‘ regulate both wages and prices to: prevent the vicious spiral that ends in collapse. But we, the people, can help. Housewives of America, again I appeal to you to fight inflation by refusing to buy articles ‘that are priced too high unless they are an absolute necessity. It may require sacrifice and self-denial but let us

remember that “to have what we|

want is riches; to be able to do without is power.” ® ». =» “WHY CAN'T POLICE PATROL STREETS ON FOOT?” By I. Perry, Indianapolis Want to thank Mr. T. M., whose article appeared in The Times of June 11 in regard to the protection of our citizens and taxpayers who are slugged and. robbed while our pblice watch gambling dens. People are not safe to walk .at night. Some are employed who work late at night and have’ no other choice and when "holdups occur, the thugs usually get away. Why can’t we have police patrolling the streets on foot in ‘place of two or three in a car?, Our postmen walk many miles a day, why not the

else? Is the gambling more important than the safety of our citizens? Our mayor is a fine man and Iam |

In- Washington By Peter Edson

“WASHINGTON, June Ke Good American corn—the not the stuff in the botties—is' { the most politically dangerous issue and ‘the most economically : dangerous. farm product. on the : scene today, and it's in rn “of & mess. Loss of the battle ‘corn in the ‘next. few : months could be as disastrous as loss of the Aleutians. ix k The problem is com 2 the fact that corn is not just corn. It opissied bl dairy products, it is poultry, it is food for h , cons" sumption, it is industrial starch, it is industrial alcohol, synthetic. rubber, textiles, paper all of them articles of war. : Corn is therefore Public Cereal No. 1, and of. majos' interest to the best minds both in and out of ‘Wash«* ington, including larly the war food wh of price administration who are’ in fact sitting up nights Worrying what to do o abo in: The situation 1sbfie :

Actually, it is closer to $14, as $16.50. The price has been to increase pork production.

| Hogs Hog the Corn

THE EFFECT of this ceiling on corn prices ang” floor under hog prices has been to increase the hog population of the United States from around 104‘ million head as of a year ago to nearly 120 million * head as of today, and this tremendous hog popula= * tion is threatening to eat up all the corn in sight —nat only all of the holdover from last year, but all * of this year’s crop as well, plus a certain amount of * wheat and other feed grains to boot. Eventually,” that might even affect the production of wheat flour and the supply of bread.

Sooner than that it might Toree a auldown of corn products plants making industrial alcohol and - starch and such"things, because they can pay only - $1 a bushel,” while: the hogs, in competition, can ° pay $1.35. 3

A large part of the poultry and dairy products are raised in areas which don’t produce feed. Corn isn't coming into these areas because the price is frozen ab $1 to the farmer. The dairymen and poultry raisers: must therefore buy other feeds at higher prices, and » up goes the cost of butter and eggs. There is one relatively bright spot here inh that as : of July, '1943, there’ will’ be an’ estimated carryover’ of some 650 million bushels of wheat. But if that ig drawn on freely for livestock feed, it can be reduced to 350 million bushe ele in the next year, and could. easily become a deficit. br

Dynamite in Husks

INDUSTRIAL ALCOHOL will take 190 million } bushels of corn, other corn products like starches will take 130 million, corn milling and cereals 100; million. That adds up to only: 480 million b or about 15 per cent of the total supply of three a quarter billion bushels available up to Oct, 1, but" it is important 15 per cent and to cut off even, a. part - of it to feed these hungry hogs would seriously impair the war effort. for So what?

* The’ alternatives which the price fixers and’ tn government manipulators faced were: vig

1. Increase the ceiling price on corn. 2. Lower the price on hogs, nr 3. Or both,

4. Or figure out a subsidy tHat in some mysterious way would keep corn down and hogs up, at the same time giving the farmers more money for their corn ¢ while making porkchops cheaper for consumers, still ¥ providing enough corn which isn’t Here for ‘the hogs which are here to eat.

Anything decided on was bound to make sbmeae- + body mad. No, 1 would please the farmers, but raise '» the cost of living, making the consumer's mad. No, 2 would please consumers, but anger farmers. No. 4. might hit the taxpayers an awful joit in the long TYR, ; J That's why corn, 148. such B politica) dynamite.

.

‘Primer’ For America® : By Richard Lewis

& THE PLACES from whith,. American poetry springs ‘are... many. Here's one. Robert P. Tristram Coffin, i. poet, was visiting James Hos president - of the University o Tennessee. President Hoskins ree | . called he once knew a man in east Tennessee who named his son ! after a Tennesseean drew Jo ¥,

By x

the United States, Andrew Ji . son. Then he, and all of east. Ti nessee up and soured on Johnson. So he licked the” stuffing out of the boy on account of the name ‘he, himself, had given him. Mr. Coffin figured there was a ballad here. . Sa’ he went back to Indiana, which is his spiritual honie * always, he says, and was his physical home at sie, time, and wrote the ballad, He sent a copy to dent ‘Hoskins. ! “I heard tell,” relates the poet, “that the nk saved him frem coming down with te. flu. So.. there's some power «in this book.” Li The book is “Primer for America,” a ecliection’ of Mr. Coffin’s poems. - It has the power, all righty. the power to have the reader see Mr. Coflin's Amerts, 4 cana. ; It's the America of the Mississippi catfish vs. thy Qhio river catfish; baseball; the swimming hole; Lincoln; the Saturday night bath; the circus; Paul Bunyan; Dwight Moody; Harriet Beecher Stowe and.’ ‘Qarrie Nation. :

A Feeling For Pople