Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11 March 1944 — Page 6

The Indianapolis Times! "PAGE 6 Saturday, March 11, 1944

WALTER LECKRONE MARK FERRER Editor, - Busitiess Manager

(A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER)

ROY W. HOWARD President :

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states, 75 cents a month; others, $1 monthly.

EP RILEY 5551 Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way

_— -

HE HELPED US LAUGH . AUGHTER comes easily to Americans, even in time of stress. Witness the humor that marks many of the famous battle quotations of this war: “Sighted sub, sank same.” “Scratch one flat-top.” “One of our cities is missing,” etc. To a nation so devoted to the ‘wise-crack and the anecdote, the death of Irvin S. Cobb is a real loss, He strove for many years to keep us amused, and he succeeded enormously—in the newspapers, the magazines, books, the theaters, the movies, and from the speakers’ table at the innumerable banquets. But Irvin Cobb was more than just “a funny man,’ In the old days he was a great reporter, and some of his fiction seems sure to be passed down to other generations. Above all, he was a human being of warmth and depth.

OPPORTUNITY, OR DISASTER HE political pot has been bubbling busily for some time, and it will come to a full boil today, as the Indiana Republican Editorial association assembles for its annual mid-winter meeting. Hoosier editors take their politics seriously and this meeting, along with a similar gathering of the Democrats on April 15, will go a long way toward determining the shape of things to come in June and November. The Republicans are in tow, full of beans and hope. After long, dry years in the wilderness nationally, the G. 0. P. caravan is marching with quicker steps. Can that be the waving palms of an oasis ahead? Or is it just another mirage? " “ The scent of victory is in the air, and the Republicans are sniffing it headily. That they are feeling their oats is indicated by the rush of candidates to get on the ticket —and the candidates will be out-in full force today, spreading charm and promises. The few who aren't candidates will listen to those who are, and to Senator Robert Taft, the main speaker of the day. It's great to be'a Republican in the merry, merry month of March. : But it’s a long time until November, and many things can happen. Republicans traditionally are their own worst enemies, unless it be “that man” in Washington, and pride has gone before a fall before. And whether the Republicans will still be feeling good after the first week in November will depend to a large extent on what goes on at the meeting here today and at like assemblages of the faithful throughout the length and breadth of the country. Opportunity lies ahead—opportunity, or disaster.

CRACK DOWN ON THE BLACK MARKET

R some time, it has been well known that there was an active black market in gasoline ration coupons in Indianapolis and the OPA, co-operating with the Indiana state police, this-week cracked down on that illegal racket. As a result of an investigation conducted by Robert M. Dodd and Paul Earl of the OPA enforcement staff and Fred Morley and M. K. Stewart of the state police force, four persons are under arrest and affidavits are being prepared charging the theft of more than 250,000 gallons worth of used gas ration tickets from downtown bank vaults for subsequent resale. Those arrested will have their day in court. It is not for us to judge the charges that have been made against them. But if they are guilty they should be prosecuted and punished to the limit of the law. For this is no petty crime.

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erty of the nation. Every gallon thus sold is taken away from the armed forces, from war workers, from essential transportation of all kinds. It is diverted largely to frivolous purposes, and it represents a double loss, since its use also depletes the nation’s precious and dwindling on-the-rim rubber supply. The OPA is to be congratulated on its aggressive action to stamp out the black market in gasoline, and it deserves the full support and co-operation of every citizen as it continues tortrack down and crack down on the illegal coupon racket. Everyone concerned should be caught and _ punished. - For those who peddle black market coupons sabotage the nation’s war effort. They are traitors to their fellow citizens and betrayers of the men who are fighting for them.

And that applies, as well, to those who buy and use slack market gasoline. -

QUADS ACROSS THE SEA PHENOMENALLY tangible example of the problems ‘eted on the soil of an ally is provided by the quadruplets orn in England to a British girl and an American sergeant, . who has a wife in Pittsburgh. There have been many less spectacular incidents. Ill feeling has flared occasionally because of the high pay of American troops in comparison with that of other armies—a situation which enables the Yanks to show the girls “a better time” than their own lads can provide. Just last week the Australian- Chamber of Commerce federa“tion proposed that part of the pay of American troops quartéred in Australia be impounded, pending their return to the States, in order “to prevent inflation and to promote ‘he best interests of the allied war so in the Pacific,”

BUT IT IS in Great Britain that the 2 routers is biggest.

ay, James B. Reston spoke of “an unprecedented test of Anglo-American relations and, in many ways, a revolution in the life of this country. . : “Even if the morals bt Britain and the United States were thesame, the human effect of throwing $0 many new men into a country where so many wives are separated from

ana, $5 a year; adjoining

The gasoline sold through illegal coupons is the prop-

“that &fise when armies from another country are bil-

In a London dispatch to the New York Times the other

G.O.P. Strategy By Thomas L Stokes ~*~

WASHINGTON, March I11.~—

ber election prospects shows itself in the current disagreement among them in the Senate over election of a successor to the late

in that body. Aside from the question of who it should be-—and the rivalry is lively — the Republican senators are divided over whether they should choose a leader now or wait until after the election. Each side is bearing in mind the possibility that Republicans may return to power this fall, _ One group, which includes the nine “freshmen” members swept into office in 1942, wants to elect a vigorous leader, carry the fight aggressively on every issue to the Democrats from now until election, and perfect a smooth-working party organization that would function eftectively if the party Sapte the White House.

Second Group Prefers to Wait

THE OTHER group, which includes some, but not all of the older members, prefers to wait until after election to see if their optimism about victory is borne out, meanwhile retaining their temporary or ganization with Senator White (Me.) as acting leader. In event they capture the White House, they might want to choose a different type of leader than if the party was still a minority party. They would want as leader a man who would work well with their President and no one-knows who this might be, or what the party situation might be, it is pointed out. They want no repetition of their last experience with Senate Republican leadership when they were in power. The Senate Republican leader, Jim Wat son, who had little regard for President Hoaver, was constantly crossing up the President, and making light cracks about him. One of his favorite quips about the President was: “How're you going to follow a man who has St, Vitus dance?” Senator McNary, rather than “Sunny Jim,” bee came the liaison with the White House when the depression began to pile trouble high.”

Leader Would Have Great Influence -

-——- SHOULD - THE Republicans - capture the Senate, which looks now to be a long-shot bet, the Senate leader would assume commanding influence in the party councils. Even should Republicans fail to get control of the Senate, they are certain to make gains and narrow the margin between the parties. There are now 58 Democrats, 37 Republicans and one Progressive. With a Republican President and a Senate nominally under control of the Democrats, a skillful leader would be needed who could work’ with the Democrats as far as possible to the best interests of the administration, particularly with the country at war. The group which wants to wait leans toward caution. Among them are some who would not go too strong in opposition now, depending. rather upon the present trend picking up momentum of its own weight, without any continuous running fight that might produce tactical errors. of which President

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.| Roosevelt could take advantage.

Four Mentioned for Party Post

REPUBLICANS WILL decide on their course at a party conference next Wednesday, with the advantage on the wait-and-see side. Mentioned for the leadership are Senators Taft (0.), Vandenburg (Mich.), Danaher (Conn.) and Bridges (N, H.). Senator Taft takes the position among his friends that he would step aside if Senator Vandenburg

"wants the post. The Michigan senator, it is re-

ported, would like the job as long as the party is in the minority, but if it won control of the Senate, he would prefer to be president pro tem and chairman of the foreign relations committee, on which he is now ranking Republican member. Senators Danaher and Bridges are younger men who have taken an active role in the Senate. Each has a following, *

Westbrook Pegler is on vacation. His column will be resumed when he returns.

We The People

By Ruth Millett

A YEAR-OLD baby, born after her father was killed in action, has been awarded a scholarship to Boston university. - Under a new plan, Boston university is giving - scholarships, which take care of college tuition costs, to the children of graduates killed in the present war. The plan should be adopted by all colleges. And it ,should be carried a step further. It's splendid to give scholarships to the

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children of- college graduates who have been killed

in action. But what of the men who never went to college—men who are killed while they dream of giving their children a better education than they had?

Shouldn't Children Be Considered?

SHOULDN'T THEIR children be considered, too? One of the finest .things about a democracy is the fact that its citizens can dare to dream of helping their children to climb higher than they were able to climb: - Why couldn't the state colleges and universities offer a scholarship to the children of all men in their states who died or were killed in the service of their country? ¥ And then, if the men’s and women's clubs and organizations of the country want to do something worth while, why don't they contribute to a national fund to pay the college living expenses of the young people who haven't a father to foot the bills—because their fathers gave their Lives in He defense of their ‘country? - <= Such a fund ould . 4 ‘started “TOW, while the war is still benig fought, and the money invested in war bonds, It is a project we might do well to think about, ah

So’ They Say— OUR CRAVING for greens became so great that we ate the leaves from the two tre€s.in the camp; which became entirely bare within a-few-weeks...Soon our boys began dying, first the city boys, then the

country boys.—Netherlands, soldier who survived Nazi prison camp for those who refused forced labor, . A -

+ *THE QUESTION now is whether the human race has sufficient capacity to impose upon itself conditions which will assure that the future will be relieved ‘of mass murder, fratricide and suicide—that which we call war.—Joseph E. Davies, former ambassador ‘to Russia. ‘

* - *

IT HAS been said war does not settle anything.

| War does settle one thing: it determines who is going

to have the responsibility of drawing the peace that follows. Germany and Japan cannot be trusted with dangerous woys—Briush Ambassador Lord Halifax.

husbands and Wiiere the normal restraints of: family

; | WE, MUST never forget that the’ greatest. attssh to inflation prod : 1

Senator McNary as party leader |.

HE GOES~ . COUNTING EM. "AGAIN BEFORE, THEY'RE | HATCHED!

~The: Hoosier Forum

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

Our Hoosiers g

By Darfel M. Kidney

| Will Confer With Other Senators

“KEEP UP THE SMOKE CRUSADE” - By E. A. B, Indianapolis As one of the smoke-eating citizens of Indianapolis, I am grateful to The Times for supporting the smoke abatement committee in its effort to get some action at the city hall. * You are dead right when you say that Indianapolis has reached the limit of its patience with present smoke conditions. I know I am, and I'm only one of many. ; I agree, too, that the trouble is “too much politics” and I wonder how much will come of the safety board's promise that the anti-smoke ordinance will be enforced. The mayor himself revealed a defeatist attitude when he said, “Indianapolis has been plagued by the smoke nuisance for 30 years. No administration (and presumably he includes his own, which is a significant confession) ever has done anything about it”—a statement with which, as an admirer of ex-Mayor Sullivan, I certainly don’t agree. Be that as it may, the ' fact remains that during his campaign for office, Gen. Tyndall thought something “could be done about it” and promised to do it. Is the mayor trying to welsh on his campaign promise now? He blames the war, but wasn’t the war going on during the campaign? So how can he say, “Wartime needs have made impossible a crusade against smoke”? As you pointed out in your editorial, the chairman of the smoke committee answered that excuse when he said, “Smoke is waste, and waste in wartime is criminal.” That is true. Smoke is waste— not only a direct waste of unburned fuel, but a waste of health, a waste of efficiency, a waste of lives and man-hours. The working time lost through colds and other illnesses which can be traced to our smokeclogged air is enough alone to justify every possible effort to correct the evil. And indirectly, smoke and soot consumes even more fuel than the original loss, through laundering and washing. It takes lots of hot water to keep clean in Indianapolis. Ask any housewife how much it takes, not to mention soap. So I say. that a crusade against smoke is possible, and necessary, even in wartime. Especial® in wartime. Keep up the good work:

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns, religious con. troversies excluded. Because of the volume received, letters should be limited to 250 words, Letters must be signed. Opinions set forth here are those of the writers, and publication in no way implies agreement with those opinions by The Times. The Times assumes no responsi bility for the return of manu. scripts and. cannot enter core respondence regarding them.)

“ARE YOU BEING FAIR?” By A Mother, Indianapolis In answer to the Civilian of the issue of Feb. 29, really I think it is a shame, you and the other folks that have forgotten you were ever a child and act as you do about the children of today. You sit back and grumble about the delinquency of today, yet you want to deny them every privilege even to riding a bus in a group one day out of 365. Did you stop to think their money is as good as yours and they paid for a seat the same as you did? If you and some of the other gray-haired ladies don't care to ride on a crowded bus with children, why don’t you ride a taxi? I've always taught my children to respect their elders, but how anyone could respect a person of your attitude is far beyond me? You act as though your shopping is more important than an educational trip for school children. (Maybe it was a pleasure trip, but I still say you have no kick coming. Give the children of today a few privileges and don’t gripe about it.) Do you realize these aren't normal times and children are going

through a great strain? Many homes

are being broken up because of fathers being drafted and children are being forced to live with relatives, friends or even strangers. My husband has to go soon, leaving me with five children to care for, two of whom will be in high school next year. These two aren't so young but what they could “be called into service for their country if this turns out to be a long war, I'm sure you have no objections to my husband giving his life blood or

Side Galbraith"

my children dying for your kind if the war lasts that long, so you can sit back and enjoy the freedom of the good old U. 8. A. And so you can see the time again when you can enjoy the convenience of a aice chopping trip on busses that arent crowded. But still you have the brass to begrudge their riding a bus now, Think this over now and decide. Are you being fair? For your information, if you want to know when to ride a bus that isn’t crowded find out when the war will end and you'll have the answer. Your guess is as. good as ours. » " » “WE CAN'T ALL

OWN OUR HOMES” By A Reader For Over Thirty Years, Indianapolis

I have been a reader of The Indiariapolis Times for 30 .years and have never written to the Forum - before, but this, I think, needs more attention than most things people write about in the Forum, It is "the rental conditions in Indianapolis. It is simply awful since the war. One person wrote

I know they tell the truth, for when you try to rent rooms, or a house either, if you have children, they look at you as though you had a bunch of tigers or lions or something awful. What are we going to do with the children? We cant all own our homes. Is it any wonder the children are the way they are nowadays? They know they are not wanted and are in the way, can't live in the decent houses, have to be stuck some place that rats would soon all get sick and die in if they lived there that long. The hospitals are full of children with diseases contracted by living in the awful places they have to live in. And the soldiers who are fighting for freedom, how do you think they feel about their children having to

thing be done about it? Looks like there could be if enough people would stick togetther and fight it. I, for one, would do all I can. I have a son in the service and another one to go soon, and I know how they feel about their little sisters having to be stuck in dirty rat holes. Come on, people, and let's have your views on this subjecbt. I would like to run all the landlords out of business and make a general cltanup of these dirty, germbreeding rooming houses scattered all over Indianapolis. Looks like the people are going to have to do something as we can't get the board of health to do anything, and the people that have decent rooms won't rent to anyone with children. If the children did destroy their old furniture they stick in housekeeping rooms, they make enough money to replace it with new furniture, the rent we

‘|have to pay for: one room should {pay the rent on a six or eight-

room house. Let's see how many are interested in this subject. o » “ “LONG LINES WAIT IN THE COLD” By A Worker, Indianapolis The loading of the Ft. Harrison bus lines is the most appalling example of inefficient, inconsiderate and dangerous procedure one can imagine in these wartime days. The long: “are compelled to wait in the “cold and often stand 20 to 30 minutes while empty busses

‘remain in the rear, This is danger-

ous to health, an accident hazard and unnecessary. Utilization of the company supervisors’ time and opening of these busses for loading would eliminate these hazards and speed service for which the customers are paying. We save gas. We pay to ride. Is thd public entitled to consideration? This problem is serious to workers

| for victory.

DAILY THOUGHTS

| By John W. Hillman-

a piece in the Forum the 28th, and |

be kicked around while they can’t{: be at home with them? Can't some--|

WASHINGTON, March 1L—Ape A pointment of Senator Raymond B. willis (R. Ind.) to the on agriculture of the Republican post-war advisory council is a sort of official party approval on the Indianian as a farm bloc leader. When Senator Willis arrived here in 1941, he sought a ¢ assignm

=

committee ent was agriculture, It was gi him. Subse ena he has

Subeommiifes of the senate siricutu's co . es on the committee. Sef : A ior ‘Ellison D. (Cotton Ed) smith 2 > | (D, 8. C) the agriculture committee is one of the ously, and I ki most anti-administration of all. It has repea world’s worst o fought off food subsidy payments, under the half the mission ship of another southerner, Senator John H. - to death, and t heed (D. Alp), bu thug far has had 10 surrendhe ot of Mis tect Roose’ } u td the vetoes of Presiden a Je, di Takes Anti-Administration Side that he ok on IN ALL of these fights, as in most others, Senator plane from the ¢ Willis is on the anti-administration side. His view. into Hooch.

and less progressive also, than the northem ‘G. O. P, | Underlying the whole anti-subsidy sttack is the | fact that all but one of the major farm organizations want to puncture the price ceilings and let everyone more for wartime food. Pe his, however, is not pointed out in the appeals’ of the farm bloc heads. They paint the picture 8s 4 though the Farm Bureau and other farm organiza- | tions, except the Farmers Union, are trying to fight | off the government checks. The facts are that these “checks originated through pressure from the same farm groups who now want inflationary prices for farm products, rather than present price ceilings "lo OPA control.

THE FARM BUREAU, National Grange, National Council of Farmers Co-operatives and the National Co-opérative Milk Producers federation, as well a8 Farmers Union representatives, have been invited to meet with the Republican agriculture committee in Chi April 3-4. A anelli Wherry (R. Neb.) and Senator’ Willis will attend. They were appointed by Harrison E. Spangler, Republican national chairman. Repub lican members of the house on the committee are Reps. Clifford R. Hope of Kansas and August Andree sen of Minnesota. Before the meeting, Senator Willis expects to confer with other Republican senators and get all of their vie ts, he said. “We vp want the farmer to be liquidated after : this war as he was after the last one,” hie commentad. He does not think that the subsidy question will be gone into much, because the purpose of the conference is to draft a post-war agriculture plan for the party's convention.

Reflections = ©

oo»

YOUR TRUE humorist 1s one our recollection who can laugh at anything, even author of the death, o% . He sald, as ne Of such was the eminent service men ha Methodist who lay in a coma on as he is—that his deathbed. As he sank lower -days as civilia and lower, one of the {friends antics would b clustered about him said sadly, Or would they! “He's gone." ' Quickly 8 nurse stepped up and | A Hat for slipped her hand under the covers © REMEMBER at the foot of the bed. tomato editor? " “No,” she said, “he's not dead, service, statione His feet are warm. No one ever died with warm feet.” amusing sccour With a spark of consciousness, the stricken man hat. It seems | fluttered his eyes and flashed: window and sa “John Huss did.” hats instead of And then, with a faint smile on his face, We orders bishop died. lates it: “I imu That is the way Irvin Cobb would have liked to die, with a quip on his lips. But man cannot control ® the ways of death, and this was not to be, 3 Paci But even the failing of the flesh could not deny Irvin Cobb his chuckle from the darker side of the threshold. Not even death, or the imminence of the NEW YORK grave, could quench the humor that bubbled from his drive on Rabau great frame, the United Stal : to the fore the Bright, Unconquerable Humor Sparkles of the Pacific,

IF THERE be any doubt that Irvin Cobb could laugh in the night, that doubt was dispelled by the remarkable testament which the famed humorist left” with the Paducah library board, containing instruc tions for the disposition of his remains. The bright, unconquerable humor of Irvin Cobb sparkles in every line of that-letter—as doés his wizardry with words; his love of humanity, his hatred of sham and dogma and the courage and candor of his beliefs, . You no doubt have read the letter elsewhere In the paper today, of will (I hope) soon after finishing these lines. So you know whereof I speak. Some will be outraged, for Cobb never was one to follow the

outward forms, nor to care how many sacred corns he artis Re trod upon. And as.he points out: vw forces (particul “One advantage of dying is that it affords a fellow their allies). ar opportunity to say a lot of things that have been pattern of secu curdling in his system all these years, Frankly, I'm enjoying myself.” ’ . You may not agree with all Cobb says—few wills American but you have to admire the courage of a man who ALL THAT could speak out as he does against the accepted it is undefined amenities; You must concede ‘that hypocrisy was “the Middle Ea not in the man. His was largely a pagan philosophy, Stalin, the Arm but if you take his irreverence with a smile, as it was United States v intended, you must admit that down underneath mandated islan Cobb knew and respected some pretty sound fundae had gone to Ji mentals. a between Britalr He loved life—~he enjoyed life and made others over the vigoro enjoy life. Though he said, in giving instructions assistant secret ‘that a dogwood tree be planted where his ashes are in Japanese h “buried, “Should: the tree live, that will be monument - Bataan and-Co enough -for me,” he leaves another enduring monu= Silwire i ment a surprise in the bright pages of his books and Sores Ne vw 'l| Want No Long Faces’ ; “ABOVE ALL, I want no long faces,” Cobb wicks 3 in his instructions for the services. And that well sums up the life and contribution of Irvin 8, Cobb, y He wanted no long faces, and there were none when he was about. There should be none, either, when SAN JUAN, he returns to his beloved Kentucky earth to be cove. in Jamaica Ww ered with soil and leaves—“Christmas berries from’ i the flat-lands ang cedar from:tH®-friendly low Me= Governor and 1 Cracken county ridges if it be winter, and leafy ‘island officials boughs from native hickories or hackberries or wild of the U. 8. ar

crab-apples if it be in other season.” For Irvin Cobb will be coming homie, home to the Kentucky he knew and loved, surrounded by the Sxlends Whom Le also lovedesihe sends who Yeni cuddle to their bosoms three of -a kind in a | limit game”; the colored folks to sing the deep, bing spirituals; the cronies from the Elks club ones ment, breathing unaccustomed fresh air; “welcome with or without escorts.”