Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 May 1944 — Page 18

_ to the cabinet post of the late Secretary Knox, has a repu-

civilians to these posts, rather than elder officers of the

to try to organize political opinion for or against measures before Congress or proposed by the Administration. It is

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

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Give Light snd the People Will Find Tholr Own Wey

SECRETARY FORRESTAL : JAMES V. FORRESTAL, whom the President has nominated for elevation from undersecretary of the navy

tation for getting things done with a minimum of talk and fanfare. He has been undersecretary since congress created that post in 1940. Thus he not only is familiar with the problems which this war presented to the navy, but has had an important share in solving them. For the navy's swift expansion to its present unprecedented might—after the disaster and humiliation of Pearl Harbor—he is entitled to an important share of the credit. His promotion is logical. One asset of Mr. Forrestal has been his ability to work closely with his opposite number, Undersecretary of War Patterson. The co-operation of these two has helped to set the pace for a general co-operation between the services. The only mote we discern in the eye of the secretary of the navy-designate is his reluctant attitude toward proposals for the unification of the army and navy in a single department of the armed forces—proposals made before a congressional committee by Secretary of War Stimson and various high-ranking generals. Now that Mr. Forrestal is moving into the cabinet— senatorial confirmation appearing certain—he would do well to keep his mind open on this subject, in which the public has showed much interest, and to be thoughtful of the dangers that lie in too much reliance on the traditiontinged views of some admirals on this question. The fact that civilian secretaries of the war and of the navy may be able to counterbalance the dead hand of tradition in the services is the prime reason for appointing

services themselves.

IN APPRECIATION FTENTIMES the true steel of a man may best be gauged by those who are his competitors. In that spirit, we should like to indorse the phrase which headed the leading editorial in the Indianapolis Star yesterday morning. With the Star, we pay tribute to: “Benjamin F. Lawrence, a great publisher.” We do so in all sincerity and with deep affection. The map whose steady hand held the helm of the Star for many years, and who is now retiring to a well-earned rest, was indeed a great publisher. We know, for in our efforts to produce the best newspaper in Indianapolis we were his competitors; in our desire to promote the welfare of the city and the well-being of its people, we were his co-workers. Ben Lawrence, a newspaper man for the love of the game, has forgotten more about this business than most men ever learn—though he does not forget much. Moreover, he is one of those rare men who always has shunned the limelight. Personal glory and distinction meant little or nothing to him; the paper was the thing. And because of his quality of self-effacement, few realized how much he did to build his newspaper into a great institution; few knew how strong was his influence in the state and the community. But he was, and is, a force—a wise, constructive force. We shall miss Ben Lawrence as a shrewd, yet fair and generous competitor. We shall miss him as an able associate in our craft. We admire him and we shall continue to cherish him as a friend for whom we wish the best of all things in the years ahead.

HEWITT H. HOWLAND T was the destiny of Hewitt H. Howland to be born into a period when Indianapolis was, to a considerable extent, the literary capital of the United States. And the fact that his active career here spanned the brightest years of Indiana letters was more than a coincidence. For he, as much as any other, was the guiding genius behind many of the notable authors of Indiana after the turn of the century. He was the cohesive force, the discoverer, the developer, the adviser and friend of the Indiana school of writers, Hewitt Howland had considerable literary gifts of his own—in common with the other members of his distinguished family—but he had that rarer talent for sensing latent promise in the work of others. And like all great editors, he was skilled in the art of heightening and retouching, of winnowing the wheat from the chaff, of judging what was universal and what merely ephemeral. The influence of his good taste and shrewd counsel was not restricted to his home and state; writers from all parts of the nation came here for his friendship and appraisal, and their presence was a further stimulation to the budding of Indiana talent. Hewitt Howland lived a long life, rich with friendships and filled with accomplishment that cannot be measured by material standards. For his. personality is deeply imbedded in Indiana's literary tradition and in the writing of America. He blazed the trail and smoothed the way that others followed to fame and distinction.

SOUND POLICY

FROM jhe annual report of the Penn Mutual Life surance Co.:

“Life-insurance management is constantly being urged

In-

to remember, however, that among the policya company such as ours there are all shades of tieal philosophy, and the fact that a person purchases olicy in our compapy gives us no proxy to speak for im on political lines. ‘After attempting to weigh all sides the question, therefore, it seems to us that activities

en: to bring us into the political arena would,

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By Washbrook Pegler

NEW YORK, May 12.—Mark Sullivan, the Washington journalist, has been pointing out the similarity of the cases of Montgomery Ward and John L. Lewis, both of whom refused to sign contracts covering union relations, and the dissimilarity of their treatment by the national government, particularly, by President Roosevelt. Montgomery Ward was seized by the army and Sewell Avery was carried out of ‘his office, but, although Lewis, by his refusal, had tied up war production, as Montgomery Ward had not, nothing was done to him or to his union. This is an interesting comparison but there is a better illustration of privilege and immunity in a recent dispute in Indianapolis between Uncle Daniel Tobin's teamsters’ union, a vigorous political ally of the New Deal administration, and 11 girls employed in the union office to address copies of his monthly magazine called the International Teamster. This magazine is actually Mr. Tobin's own bugle, He uses it to glorify himself to the membership and to ingratiate himself with the White House, from which he has received flattering personal honors for his vanity,

'Teamsters' Union Refused to Negotiate’

THE GIRLS complained that they were not getting overtime pay for hours in excess of 40 a week and that they were required to make up for the time taken off on Labor day and Christmas. So Uncle Dan's mailers joined the mailers’ union and, in good legal order, their business agent asked the teamsters’ union to sign a contract just as the C.I.O. asked Avery to sign. In Avery's case, there was doubt that the union actually did represent the workers, but no such question was raised in regard to Uncle Dan's bevy of mail clerks. The teamsters’ union refused to negotiate at all and the mailers’ union, with the support of the printers, declared the teamsters’ magazine to be unfair to organized labor. Inasmuch as Uncle Dan is the editor, this meant that the president of one of the biggest American unions, a member of the executive council of the

of labor.

Authorized to Suspend Publication

IN THE course of events, last winter, the teamsters’ executive board met as usual in Miami, where a mansion is maintained for their comfort, and, on the pretext of saving white paper, of which the magazine is entitled to its regular quota, authorized Uncle Dan to suspend publication temporarily and use other means of publicity. By suspending, Uncle Dan would be enabled to fire the girls who had joined the union. The mailers, incidentally, were charging that Mr. Tobin was trying to make them join the Stenographers and Typists union. This would have been a serious violation of the Wagner act, which Mr, Tobin has often praised and invoked, in that he would have been interfering with their right to choose their own affiliation. The magazine did not suspend, however. But when the May issue came out the mailers’ union refused to handle it and Mr, Tobin fired the girls. This crisis occurred just at the time of the trouble at Montgomery Ward and, after a little public opinion had been generated in The Indianapolis Times, Uncle Dan began to negotiate, An agreement was reached in two days under which the girls transferred from the employ of the teamsters’ union to that of the printing firm which prints the paper.

‘Board Stalled for-Three Months’

DURING THE dispute the mailers’ union appealed to the national labor relations board but the board stalled for three months, and when the publicity broke, set May 5 as the day of a hearing. This now is obviated, with the girls no longer in Uncle Dan's employ. Uncle Dan gets $30,000 a year and, for his special benefit, an amendment to the teamsters’ constitution was adopted providing that he and his wife may travel continuously at the members’ expense, here and abroad, with “full and complete maintenance” and without limit on the expense account. He also may take all the time off that he desires, on the same terms, accompanied by his wife. He doesn’t have to work at all, A couple of years ago, Uncle Dan was one of President Roosevelt's selfless assistants, a post listed at $10,000 a year, but in the Marsh issue of the Teamster he admonished his subordinates, “If you want to be remembered gratefully by the men you serve, de- | vote all of your energies to the job. Take your finger out of all other employments.”

We The People

By Ruth Millett

the war how women were urged to | be “gentlemen” and not to expect this or that courtesy in a wartorn world? They were told they shouldn't expect a man who had been working hard in a war plant to offer his seat on a crowded bus or street car to a woman, And they were told when they ‘took over men's jobs that they mustn't expect any special attention because they were women. They were urged to go easy on the pocketbooks of service men—perhaps even paying their own way into movies, etc.

This Has Gone Too Far

THEN HOTELS in crowded cities came along with the suggestion that men need not take off their hats in elevators because their hats took up less room on their heads. Women riding on trains were asked to let service men have first chance at getting seats. When riding on cross-country busses women were asked to stand aside until all the service men were on. Well, it looks as though maybe women have gone too far in relieving men of the necessity for being chivalrous. In Chicago the other day a young woman was knocked down and badly injured when four men attempted to get on the street car ahead of her. Maybe we women had better quit being gentlemen and go back to baing ladies—before it is too late. Though maybe it is too late already.

So They Say—

I HOPE the American people remember that Joe Goebbels is in business for his own health—not theirs. When it’s really thé works, you can be sure the allied command in London will announce it shortly after it begins.—~QWI Director Elmer Davis. ® * * I THINK most of the Japs lurking around here would like to surrender, but they con't quite know how to go about it.—~Capt, Whitton Arey at Hollandia.

. * .

EDUCATION TOO OFTEN is placed on a production line basis. Textbook learning alone does not

Director

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of modern life.—FBI J. Edgar Hoover. < - -

idea Jas

result in more harm than good.”

A. FP. of L. and one of President Roosevelt's advisers | and confidential agents in labor policy, was an enemy | |

quite equip a boy properly to meet the complications |

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The Hoosier Forum

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

“WE CRITICIZED HITLER FOR THAT”

By A. J. Schneider, 504 West dr., Woodruff Place. Last week a local movie house

showed an OPA propaganda pice ture which in my humble opinion is an affront to the intelligence of our citizenry and I doubt the efficacy for the purpose intended. The purpose of the propaganda was to emphasize the evils of the black market in gasoline, As a back drop for the propaganda, a poker game was in session which in this no mean city is unthinkable, Quite irrespective of how broad-minded we may be and personally, I believe that one's gambling practices are his own private business so long as the big time racketeers are wiped out, certainly the scenarist used little tact in preparing this plot. But in the progress of the story, the assertion was made that we as a nation are producing to the limit of crude oil and that there is no prospect to get more. This is a deliberate and intentional untruth, inasmuch as PAW and OPA officials in Washington, as well as congress, have repeatedly had pointed out to them that hundreds of producing oil} wells in this state have been capped | {because of arbitrary quotas and re{strictions which prevent them from | placing their additional production in the pool to supply both military, and civilian petroleum products. | Moreover, the refineries are not | | producing near 100 per cent capacity | which naturally they are quite] anxious to do. Then what cause for the false statement that there! is no prospect for more production? If, between PAW and OPA, they)

will discard the artificial barriers a jady.

[to 100 per cent production, there (will be an incessant flow of high test gasoline for the military as well as the by-product gas which goes to civilian use. Their determina-

Moreover, such a simple procedure might eliminate the black market activity in gasoline. The gas ‘allctted to the black

REMEMBER at the start of markets, if allotted a trifle more

liberally to legitimate essential users, would perhaps not get to the black markets—or the need for black market gas would evaporate.

determined not to be put out of

are to put them out of business. It is a fine piece of propaganda for the aid we hope to receive from the conquered peoples when this august government has to resort to deliberate untruths and subterfuge even todramatizing the untruths on film. The get-tough boys and those

(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. . Lettars 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 responsibility for the return of manuscripts and cannot enter correspondence regarding them.)

who think there is no one quite so patriotic as themselves should take great pride in their work of spreading eae upon a time we criticized Hitler and his gang for that sort of practice. What do you think those people who are looking to us for liberation according to our promises think of a nation whose high officials cannot adhere to truth? - o “WHY SHOULD I BOW MY HEAD?” By T. A. Casey, 2832 E. New York st. I wonder if you recall a letter ublished recently in your grand paper entitled: “The Wolves Are Howling.” Thanks to you, editor, and editorial staff. i An anonymous letter was sent to my home address in response to my| letter and I presume the writer was| Will you kindly publish |

| ican citizen, born and raised in the

are married and have children. One was killed in action. Another nephew has seen plenty of action and is the son of a widowed mother. My son-in-law is a pilot in the air corps. Perhaps you would be interested in knowing something of my own life and background. I am an Amer-

United States of America, and I thank God for that. I am married and the father of three lovely daughters, Twenty-five of my fiftytwo years have been lived in the same neighborhood. I have worked for the same company for fifteen years, and, if I do say so myself, it is one of the leading and best defense plants in this or any other city. I think this record speaks for itself and proves I am a fair eitizen; also that I have a right as such a citizen to discuss the pro and con of things that go against my beliefs and opinions. In closing I wish to say to you, Mrs. John Doe, that it is well for you to send your letters to The Indianapolis Times, care the Editor. In that way your letters will be published and more people can read them and get a big bang out of them than if you send them to me personally.

» » = “LET'S BRING BACK THE BOYS OVER 26” By Mrs. May Sheets, 338 N. Walcott ot. Now that the draft age is set for under 26 years let's bring back all the boys over 26 and put them back on war jobs where they were and get these mothers home taking care of their children where they

ment under a political monopoly. to conceive of a free enterprise economy under a

| my answer as follows: | belong in the first place, and per- | Dear Mrs. John Doe (Since this haps this will stop this home-

Side Glances—By Galbraith

lis the only name I know): Many | thanks for your nice letter. No, my| {friend, I am not a high-salaried '

tion to. be tough prevents this sim-| man, but thanks for the compli-| UP their minds and let's get the ple sensible and advisable action.|ment. I am just an ordinary person | war over with and stop changing

| working for my living like many] lof my fellow Americans. Nor am| | I a politician or Old Dealer. When| vou read those letters in the Hoosier! Forum, just read between the lines) and you will know the story as it is! told. This administration did not bring about the present turmoil and Istrife in the world. It has been

Essential users of gasoline are as| caused by the German skunks and °'er 26 years. Put every man who

the rats of Japan, I think you got

business as the OPA get-tough boys me all wrong—why should I bow

|my head in shame for saying what| I thought was and is the truth? | | You are not the only person in| [this country of America who has (sons and very dear relatives fightling in this global war. I have seven nephews and a son-in-law in the air corps. Three of these young men

Jretwrn home as I know.

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breaking to some extent. Let Hershey and all the rest make

every few days. Surely the boys would like for him to make up his mind. . The draft was right in the first place but some of these big shots want to win from a desk at our boys’ expense and not go in themselves. Bring our family men back, all

strikes in the army, This is a good place for him. After he takes out Insurance, bonds and laundry and the privilege of being a free man, he would wish he had taken his good wages and kept his mouth shut and worked, let alone giving his life like our boys are doing so he can make what he is making. Remember, our boys are dying for about $14 a month. After all they are compelled to pay out, this is their pile. Stop complaining! Let's win! » » “LET'S BE FAIR WITH OUR BOYS” By H. L. Cannon, Fortville I have been reading in the paper and listening on the radio to what they are going to de for the boys who get crippled up—leg off, arm injured and such things. There will be no jobs for those boys when they 1 have been crippled for 18 years, I have

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foot into it.

"Monopoly Behind Every Fence Post' “WE HAVE heard much about monopolies in the

past,” Mr. Halleck said, “and the New Deal admin. istration professed to find a monopoly behind

post and in every dark corner. {

the judicial and legislative government. “It seeks to invest all power in the executive

“It has constantly resented, and has constantly sought to break down the checks and balances erected

by the founding fathers to guard against precisely

the kind of political monopoly which has grown up

in this nation within the last decade.

“It is impossible to conceive of a free governe It is impossible

political monopoly. The reason is, as once has been well said, that ‘power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ ”

'Over-Swollen Political Bureaucracy’

REFERRING TO the Montgomery Ward seizure, Mr. Halleck asserted: “It was a spectacle to make all decent Americans hang their heads in shame that their government

wauld. pursue such a wanton course.”

Bureaucracy and planned economy also came in for some belaboring. “Under the misguidance of this over-swollen political bureaucracy, the government has ceased to

be an umpire in business and has become a come petitor in business,” Mr, Halleck concluded.

“Many of those roots are invisible and unknown to the American people, “We have known all these years that a planned economy was the very antithesis of a ‘free economy,

We have known, too, that a very large proportion

of the New Deal administration advisers believe that private industry ought to be suffocated and destroyed and replaced by governmental business—the corporate

state, called fascism in some places.”

Good Neighbor By William Philip Simms

LONDON; May 12.--Due large. ly to Prime Minister MacKenzie King of Canada who is attending the gathering of empire premiers. here the chances for a genuin post-war understanding be the British commonwealth and the United States are brighte than ever. Lo Steadfast though Canada is to the principle of commonwealth unity Premier King has made it pa plain that Canadians dislike the idea of it becoming too exclusive. They strongly dis approve of anything smacking of power politics whether as a commonwealth objective or as the aim of the still larger group called the Big Four. Like Americans they stand on the Moscow declaration call ing for an effective international system of security inside which the co-operation of all peace-loving nations would be sought and welcomed, .

Liaison Between U. S. and Empire

THUS CANADA is living up to her role as the natural liaison between the United States and the rest of the English-speaking world in one of the most crucial periods of history, Bound by ties of spiritual and racial kinship to- the other dominions; similar bonds plus the accident of geography make it necessary for her to relate her aims to those of her neighbor. ; Premier King therefore not only finds himself in a position to make a vital contribution to the empire conference here but he is doing so most ably.

One of the greatest obstacles in the road of pere

fect understanding between Britain and the United States has been the sensitive touchiness which has persisted—and still persists—-on both sides of the Atlantic. There has been too little of the spirit of give and take which is so imperative between friends. They have depended too much on sentimentality—the blood-is-thicker-than-water and hands-across-the-sea stuff—and too little on mutual and legitimate self. interest. The result admittedly has never been satise factory.

Canada Shows the Way to Understanding

TODAY CANADA is showing the way it should be done, Canada and the United States can and do disagree sharply sometimes. But year by year they are coming to understand each other better because they rely less on sentimentality and more on mutue ality of interests. Canada at the same time has probably never been so well understood in Britain and throughout the rest of the commonwealth as she is today. That is because her relations with the other dominions are being conducted on frank and similarly realistic lines. Mr. King makes no secret of his share of sentiment when it comes to the British family of nations, but neither does he conceal the fact that Canada also has other vital ties. - : Not only is he making Canada’s position better understood, but America’s as well. As a result commonwealth relations with the United States if not the whole post-war world, will likely profit enormously.

To The-Poini—

A FIDGETY man can wait for his wife on the street corner two hours in five minutes,

TWO MEN broke out of a Florida jail. How can

Florida boosters kick against their not wanting to stay inside? . . oF

A BOGUS, nylon stocking went on sale via. the black market. And hundreds of women put their

ADM. SOEMU

Koga, killed in action, as of the Jap

| navy. Toyoda's first mave will be to find the navy. | 2 5 : He . -. . Yolo : x Sp

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