Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 March 1944 — Page 18

_. They were chosen to fulfill a promised ten-to-one reprisal |

ana, $5 a year; adjoining states, 75 cents a month; others, $1 monthly. :

Give Light ond the People Will Pind Their Own Way IT’S THE LEAST WE CAN DO is good news that the Red Cross campaign for funds now being conducted by the Indianapolis chapter is running 50 per cent ahead of the record at the same stage of the drive last year. But after almost a full month, Indianapolis still is ‘$509,000 short of its quota. There's a long

‘way yet to go.

If the citizens of Indianapolis fully realized all that the Red Cross is doing for the service men and women of the nation, the city would have subscribed the full amount, and more, the first week of the campaign. The goal of $1,146,000 sounds big, but it is not large in comparison to what we spend each week for things we could easily do without, it is not large in relation to the tremendous contribution the Red Cross is making all over the world. It | is little enough to ask, when so many are giving every- | thing. The Red Cross never is slow in ministering to the health, comfort and happiness of our loved ones in service. Can we be slow in giving freely and generously to the Red Cross? Let's turn in that $509,000 to the Indianapolis chapter before another week passes. No It's the least we can do, it’s little enough to deo.

MANPOWER: TWO QUESTIONS UMEROUS propositions for herding civilians into waressential jobs have been put forward, ranging from broad national service legislation down to various strategems for compelling only 4-F's under 38 to get into im-

portant work. The stepped-up pressure of the draft is bound to cause new personnel difficulties in industry and agriculture, and sooner or later the government may have to resort to some form of compulsion. But in this connection a couple of questions occur to us: 1. Insofar as current talk of applying compulsion only to 4-F's under 38 is concerned, why should compulsion be used only against a particular age class? Granted that the army doesn’t want men past 38 for service in battle, who will argue that men in their 40s are necessarily of no account behind a plow or a lathe? And surely their obligation to serve their country to the best of their ability is not destroyed by baldness or bulging of the beltline. 2. Is there any assurance that the administrative geniuses of the war manpower commission, who sometimes seem to be changing their minds with each morning’s mail; would be adequate for the job of distributing manpower where it was most needed, even if they had the power? The WMC has shown little imagination, for instance, in coping with the costly hoarding of labor in which many cost-plus manufacturers have recklessly indulged. Before congress prescribes forced labor of any kind, it had better take steps first to insure that the controllers of manpower know where men are needed, and how many, and where they can be most advantageously obtained. The principle of work-or-fight is morally sound in wartime, but experience so far has shown greater efficiency in the voluntary co-operation of the people than in administrative direction from Washington.

A NEW CHAPTER

HE Colosseum, no doubt, is classed among the “cultural monuments” of Rome now threatened by approaching battle. It has been preserved to remind the world of the glories of that great pagan city which flourished where the City of Popes now stands. But it took the Nazis to remind the world also of the brutal sport that used to attract howling thousands to the great arena. And there are probably few more barbarous chapters in the Colosseum'’s bloody history than that added in the year 1944 when, according to Swiss dispatches, 300 hostages were murdered there in reprisal for a patriotic uprising against the German conquerors. In fact, the ancient contests of the gladiators seem almost merciful by comparison. These men at least were armed and given a fair chance to defend their lives. Many were criminals already condemned to die. All, when wounded, had the right of appeal to the mercy of the spectators. And surely the mob did not always turn thumbs down. - = . 8 2 » | NO, the Nazi chapter in Colosseum history belongs with those of early Christian martyrdom. Those brave | professors of a new faith were “enemies of the established | order.” That was their crime. That was also the crime of the 300 victims of the Nazis. It was not a matter | of whether they had shot the guns or thrown the bombs | that killed 38 German soldiers and Fascist militiamen. |

because they had fled fascism when Mussolini fell, or because, like stout-hearted old Vittorio Orlando, thew had always resisted it. In their death the Romans may now see and taste the fruit which in two decades has sprung from the seed of fascism, ) The Nazis have turned back the pages of Rome's history to a time of cruelty and oppression which Rome had forgotten. Wild beasts in the second century or machine guns in the 20th, the intent and result were the same, . rz 8 . , = = = . CHURCHMEN plead that Rome may be spared. Their plea is.natural and understandable. 5 ~ But the Nazis are in Rome now. They have shown themselves as they really are, in a splurge of brutality and perverted bravado. They have not spared Rome's people,

‘and they will not spare it§ antiquities if they are challenged. ' providing something approaching full employment

Perhaps they have demonstrated to Rome that, if | during the years that follow the war, the state will | : !‘again be called upon to care for the needy and to undertake activities that will make work.—Eric A. = Fant | Johnston, president U. 8.

bombs Are necessary of liberation.

aA Cs

to drive them out, they are bombs |

By Thomas L, Stokes

MADISON, Wis.

|

Beyond its lack of a major economic time afterward, the party is now, sharply issues growing from the war. One faction clings to the isolationist tradition handed down by the“ LaFollette to his two sons, Robert M. Jr. and the other is breaking away. toward a program of international co-operation. The schism nurtures some bitterness.

Loses Control of Legislature

THE PARTY reached its heyday when Phil sat in the governor's chair here a few years back. It controlled the legislature and had an effective machine down through state offices. Bob then a senator as now, had a national forum for the party's objectives in Washington and a close working alliance with the New Deal that supplied patronage ‘and prestige. Today it has only 13 out of 100 members of the assembly and six out of 33 members of the senate. Two of its leading members in the legislature switched to the Republican party two years ago, and more are expected to join the exodus this year. Phil is on Gen. MacArthur's staff in the Pacific. Bob is not so cozy with the administration. What is happening to the Progressive party has occurred in other third party and independent political movements in what was formerly known as “the radical frontier,” including Minnesota with its once powerful Farmer-Labor party and North Dakota with its Non-Partisan league. The Farmer-Labor party, at its peak, revolved about a personality—the dynamic Governor Floyd Olsen. With his death it began to fall part, Republicans swept back into power six years ago.

Dual Leadership Holds Party Together

THE TWIN personalities, Phil and his older brother Bob, have held the Progressive party together

branch out with a national Progressive party, but it failed. He was defeated for governor and ‘went into law practice. In the tense days of debate before Pearl Harbor he spoke all over the country under the auspices of America First, trying to stem the surge toward war. Then he went into the army. He had served overseas in world war I The Progressive party is keeping hands off officially in the presidential primary which culminates in next Tuesday's election of convention delegates. Very likely the Progressives will split their votes among the four candidates, the others being Governor Dewey, Gen, MacArthur and Lieut. Cmdr. Stassen. Some may vote for the Roosevelt slate of delegates in the Democratic primary.

No Formal Alliance With Democrats

WHAT ABOUT the Progressive party in the November election, and what about its future? One thing is certain. There will be no formal alliance with the Democrats behind President Roosevelt as in the past. One authority told the writer that more Progressives would vote Republican than Democratic this fall. Bob LaFollette is not up for re-election this year. The Progressive party may be in only a temporary slump. It is not wise, one is warned, to count -it out. Two years ago the Progressives elected a governor who died, however, before he took office. Furthermore, it is pointed out that4n the post-war-period there are likely to be pressing economic issues which the party can capitalize to draw a clear line between itself and Democrats and Republicans. The Democratic party is a third party in this state, and perhaps will continue to be.

(Westbrook Pegler Is on vacation. His column will be resumed when he returns.)

We The People

which it flourished in the depression years and some |

The Hoosier Forum

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

“THEY ARE FOOLING ONLY THEMSELVES” By A Tank Guaner, Camp Cooke, Cal.

I've been reading the Hoosier Forum for quite some time. Women

in a dual leadership. . Phil tried a few years ago to |arguing about the way they dress,

pocketbooks and things that seem foolish—that’s what brought about the article which I'm writing. I was home on furlough the first of February.- I came home to see my folks and have what little enjoyment I could find before returning to army life back in camp. As most service men do, I made the rounds of a few taverns, I was very disappointed in what I saw in these taverns. I saw young married women with men I knew weren't their husbands, but these young wives were having the time of their life while their soldier or sailor husband risks all overseas. There wasn’t one case but many. I know because I personally knew some of these girls. Is this what some of the fellows are going to come back to? Who do these women think they are fooling? My opinion is that they are fooling only themselves. Some are working in war plants making good money and getting an allotment check. But are they making any attempt to save any of this money? I can’t see how they possibly can be saving any and be-in taverns every night spending money as if it meant nothing; and still they cry of hard rationing. These people haven't yet come to realize that men and boys are dying every day in a world war. Something should be done to wake these people up. It's gotten to where young women have lost all self-re-spect and it is getting worse as the war goes on. There's a case where the soldier came home expecting to find his wife as he had left her a year before. Instead he finds her out hav-

By Ruth Millett

IN SOME CITIES, judges give |

ing a date with a fellow who is unfit for military service, but still thjs 4-F can take a service man's wife

the neglectful parents of juvenile out knowing she is a married delinquents a jail sentence, or woman. I don't blame the fellow.

| or by giving them a public “bawling out.”

make them pay a fine. But in San Francisco, the ju- -” venile court puts delinquent para ents on probation and sentences bY them to attend a “Parent School” | : tor eight sessions, one night a E week. \ There a judge tells parents of os A their legal responsibility. A member of the city playground department tells the parents their children’s recreational needs. ‘A representative of the United States employment, service discusses after-school jobs for children. A Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, and a Protestant minister talk about the place of religion in family life. Someone from the Community Chest tells the parents what organizations such as Camp Pire Girls, Boy Scouts-and Girl Scouts have to offer young folks. A psychologist discusses family problems. And a physician talks about nutrition, general .health, and communicable diseases.

System Seems to Work

THE SCHOOL has “graduated” 200. parents—and so far hasnt had a single pupil sent back to repeat the course. . This- school hasn't cost San Francisco anything. The course is held in a public high school—and the lecturers don't charge for their services. Every town and city jn the United States that is alarmed over its juvenile delinquency problem ought to set up its own Parental School. / A judge can’t make delinquent’ parents better by making them pay. a fine or spend two weeks in jajl—

The only way you can make good parents out of poor parents is by educating them.

So They Say—

IF EVERY ONE of the 36 million homes in America avoided wastes of food, fuel, paper, metal, rubber and gasoline, the needed workers, materials and production facilities would become available automatically.—Air Forces Gen. Henry H. Arnold. - * ° *» . WE CAN KEEP the millions now in industry and agriculture employed and we can absorb the men now in the armed forces into our working economy, but we must be willing to produce and produce on a basis that will permit greater consumption.—Eugene Casey, presidential assistant. : :

- IF THE JAPANESE fleet presently should attempt a toe-to-toe battle with the American naval forces, the enemy would stand a good chance—a very good chance—of losing the bulk of his naval power.—Ma-~

riné Commandant Alexander A. Vandegrift.

IF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE does not succeed In

It's the way some of these so-called

deals and still expect to find happiness after the war. I certainly wouldn't want to be in some of their shoes when the husbands do get home. ; Lawyers will make fortunes handling divorce cases. Some of these women will be wondering why. Well, I tell them now to have fun while Johnnie is away, but some day all these good times will be paid for, but costly. I'm sure after the war they will all get the reward they rightly deserve. ” o os “SHOULD BE:ABLE Nu TO FIND A JOB” By Forget-Me-Not, Indianapolis

In support of Leonard Carpenter: Your article on Shylock, “I Am the

women can carry on their shady

-(Times readers ‘are invited to express their views in these columns, religious controversies 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 manuscripts and cannot enter core respondence regarding them.)

Law, Blue,” bears out the feeling that I and many of my friends have on this character. Re I'd like to call your attention to the fact that elections are coming up and let us not forget that he has wilfully, and beyond the authority of his office, blocked and attempted to block the functioning of that noble body of law enforcing officers, the Indianapolis police department. This, in itself, should call to the attention of every man and woman of voting age that we have a score to settle; and, it will be settled only by asking your friends and having them ask their friends not to overlook the silliness he has forced upon law and order. Protecting the rights of citizens of Indianapolis is one thing; preventing suspects of misdemeanors from being apprehended is quite another thing. To my knowledge, very, very rarely have I read historical data of the Indianapolis courts where people were arrested on suspicion or for suspicious actions or were punished or fined for crimes they did not commit; but, “I Am the Law, Blue” has a different version. Of course, there is a manpower shortage, he should be able to find a job somewhere, I hope! » - nw | “DO THEY THINK WE ARE THAT DUMB?” By Hal Wilson, Indianapolis

One authority tells us that our

who should know, says we have enough to last for 2000 years. We

age and Eleanor goes around the world in a mighty bomber taking hundreds of thousands of gallons of gas, perhaps millions; yet we are compelled to forego our week-end trip that takes a measly few gallons, Then we take a cut in ration from four to three gallons per coupon. Then Kaltenborn goes to the South Pacific and to South America, and Eleanor goes to the Caribbean. We are then told again there is a

U. “You're a new neighbor, so let

C.of C. i

over fo give him gardenin x it you'll be

Side Glances—By Galbraith

a

shan't have it because some others can't have it? ” » ®

“EIRE PREFERS NOT TO FIGHT” By James R. Meitsler, Attica In this Irish-American dispute there are some who put Eire first.

was ‘| publican ticket with a total vote : 2 1D P._ senator fell short of the Willkie total by

they go on to add that individualx ly they polled more votes in their district than Mr. Willkie did. Mr. Willkie carried the state by 899 President Roosevelt's 874,083 and elected on the Reof 888,070. So the

here for his first term and joined

He then came at once with

Rep. La Folltte ls Only Wilkieite

THOSE RE-ELECTED on that record in 1940 in.

|

with only 18 per cent.

Willkie Still Has Indiana Following

MR. WILLKIE still has a great following among Indiana women, however, and some of them write their congressmen and lecture them for not coming

out for him.

One Indiana woman who worked for him fn Massachusetts in 1940 has left here to join Mrs. Grace Reynolds, Indiana Republican national committee woman, head of the women's division at the Willkie headquarters in New York City. She is Mrs. Charles McKenna, who is the daughter of Joseph Everson of and Indianapolis. She

Ladoga had been on the staff of the late Senator Frederick VanNuys, Indiana Democrat, the

ber husband being in

army. ‘Until leaving for the Willkie assignment Mrs. McKenna worked for Senator Samuel D. Jackson (D,

McKenna surprise ‘at the failure of Hoosier Ree

expressed : publicans to support Mr. Willkie as & favorite son.

In Washington

By Peter Edson

March 31

FROM DISASTER” By W. Scolt Tayler, 756 Middie Drive,

Woodruff Place

The “stop - Willkie” movement

her food, oil * and WASHINGTON, eis ont cal an py First Industry to be mobilized for things whose use here is regulated conversely, it Is the first to by rationing, these things our fight- demobilized. tendency has ing forces need, these things our been to sing the blues over the inallies and their starving children dustry’s future, on the broad as need, these things are vital to. our sumption that during the war it war effort; and they refuse to help has produced enough machine in return. tools to last for the next 10 or 15 Since Eire refuses to co-operate, years and has so manufactured let her furnish her own oil, gas, itself out of a job. food, clothes and the ships to haul : This line of reasoning has been them, Since she prefers to go it followed frequently in dickering with army and navy alone; let her go it alone, price adjustment boards on renegotiation of excess 2 m-» profits. Individual machine toolmakers argue that . since they have already supplied their post-war THEY PROFIT market for a decade or more, they ghould be al.

supply of oil will be exhausted in 15 years. Another, an oil official O'Daniel musical campaign, would

among the machine politicians is going strong. If a person could have listened in during the arguments of the President-makers in | the smoke-filled rooms, the reasons {why Mr. Willkie wouldn't do, if put 'in nursery rhymes for a Pappy

probably sound something like this: | “First: never run the same man

are told that there is a gas short- twice, like Hoover, Willkie, Landon,

{because when views become well-

h\ than on the Wall Street ticker. For

known, all hopes we must abandon. | Instead, we need a mystery-man, | who's silent, vague or silkie—a man well versed in double-talk, not one like Wendell Willkie, We need & smooth high-tariff man, an expert trade-obstructer, conducting foreign commerce like a perfect non-con-ductor. With him, well build our| wall as high, as ever did our Hoover; for, what care we if barriers be a customer-remover, Behind that wall monopolies enjoy some relaxation, exerting all the power they please of sovereign taxation Thus home fronts give the huge reserves against. the sure depression, with profits big in global wars, whichever is in session. In war or peace they want a man like Dewey, Taft or Bricker, whose thoughts are less on jobless men,

they can talk of lasting peace. They can so well indorse it, that law and order seem secure, with nothing to enforce it. They'll get the votes of profiteers whom price-control enrages and lift the ceilings off of goods and hold them firm on wages. Along with that, they'll get the votes of all the wartime yawpers who can’t remember busted banks and 40 million paupers, Then when the Hoover plan blows up, theyll quiet all alarmers with Hoover's | words: ‘It might be worse’ and dispossess the farmers. No war $0 long, no times so bad, but they can always bear it; there's businesses and customers they're certain to inherit. That's why they want a mystery-man—(no Willkie for their. master)—they gain from each catastrophe, they profit from disaster.”

DAILY THOUGHTS

1 beseech Thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight—II ‘ Kings 20:3. : a

heard, like the first robin of spring on the grass plots

is basic to general American well-being, it's worth listening to.

"At the end of 1939, U. 8. industry had about a

million machine tools in operation. Sixty per cent of these tools are over 10 years old and could stand replacement. As of today, approximately 700,000 new tools will have been built for war industries. About 200,000 of these have been built for private industry, leaving 500,000 government owned.

Privately-Owned Tools No Worry

THE 200,000 privately-owned tools are no particu. lar worry. They're going to be put to use, replacing older and less efficient tools, for in the competition for post-war markets, with higher labor production costs, manufacturers with the most efficient tools will have the advantage. Concerning the 500,000 government-owned tools, estimates vary. From 5 per cent to perhaps 20 per cent or approximately from 25,000 to 100,000 are special purpose tools for war industries and manufacture of munitions. These tools offer no post-war competition to civilian industry. x How many government war plants the army and navy will want to keep in a “stand-by”. condition, ready for any possible emergency resumption of hostilities, is an unknown factor. One thing that is counted on is the desire of army and navy to retool all their navy yards and arsenals, replacing older ma. chinery with newer and more efficient models which they already own. Estimateg of the number of new tools that will go “in grease” for stand-by plants and to retool government shops range from 70,000 to 150,000 units. .

Export Market Is Unknown Quantity

POST-WAR DOMESTIC demand is another indeterminate market, but it is pointed out that many old machine tools have been worked during the war far beyond normal life. Also, these tools have been worked on a two- or three-shift basis. Gefting all American industry back to a one-shift basis and replacing obsolete tools might dispose of 100,000. A minor market to be developed is retooling: of thé 125,000 machine shops in technical and vocational schools, which might take 8000 to 10,000 of the newer model, simpler machine tools, \ :

There remains the export market as the greatest

imponderable of all. Soviet Russia has shown a great liking for American machinery and has her entire western industrial plant to rebuild. How many machines it will take to retool bombed factories in Germany, France and Italy is anybody's guess. How much of an industrial nation China, Australia, India” or any of the Latin American republics will become is pure speculation. 2 : For all these markets, the U. S. will of course be competing with Great Britain. But from the above point of view the machine ‘tool glut does not look