Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 June 1944 — Page 6

Give Light end the People Will Find Their Own Way

STRIKE UP THE BAND : IS traditional with American political conventions that the party in power “points with pride” while the opposition “views with alarm.” So it was natural that the Democratic state convention yesterday should hail the accomplishments of President Roosevelt and Governor Schricker and, without any unbecoming modesty, bid for the continuance of “the most beneficial program ever recorded since the Declaration of Independence.” That was to be expected. But it seems to us that, for a party in control of both the governor's office and the White House, the Democrats also did considerable viewing with alarm. This might be due to a defensive state of mind, for until recently even the party stalwarts conceded that their chances of carrying Indiana in November were based more on hope than on certainty. Or it may have been due to the generosity of the Republicans, who made the usual tactical error of holding their convention first, and the further error of leaving sundry items of unwashed linen exposed on the party line. Or it may have been based on the strategy that a strong offense is the best defense, and the political truism that the average citizen votes against rather than for. A smart defense lawyer once advised: “Try the witness, try the prosecutor, try the judge, try the complainant—but never try your client,” and the Democrats apparently are quite willing to try the Republicans, rather than the New Deal, in the coming campaign. Certainly the Republicans were vulnerable, and Indiana Democrats never were known to overlook a heel, Achilles or otherwise. So they made the most of their opportunity. » » . ” BUT THERE is a scriptural admonition about casting the first stone that the Democrats may not have noted, since they dated their claims to “the most beneficial program” only from 1776, thus eliminating any counter-claims on behalf of the Magna Charta, the Sermon on the Mount and the Ten Commandments. And they will have to use some of their campaign grenades with dangeérougly short fuses, lest they find them tossed back into their own foxholes. The convention nominated an excellent ticket, headed by two high grade men, Senator Jackson and Governor Schricker, but the Democratic leaders weakened their cry of “bossism” by themselves steamrollering through a handpicked slate. Who, the Republicans may ask with some point, picked the slate? And if you want to talk about dominated parties, the Republicans may get historical and go back tosthe “take a‘law” days of the McNutt administra: ion—nof to mention some more recent examples on a broader stage. There's Lyons, of course. But there's also McHale. Likewise, the Ku Klux issue is a dandy, but all the Kluxers were not Republicans. The much-maligned Mr. Lyons may even have saved some of the itemized statements on dues and regalia. And didn't Justice Black have a sheeted skeleton in his Democratic closet? On the whole, however, the Democrats did a good job yesterday. They may not have had much suspense nor competition at their clambake, but they had a lot of fun. And no doubt there were Republicans who squirmed meanwhile and wondered how it happened. It still appears that the big show in November will be in the main tent with the national gladiators in the center ring. But there'll be plenty of activity, and entertainment, in the Indiana sound and fury side-show. Amd it won't cost you a cent. , Unless, of course, you're one of the performers.

JOYS OF FATHERHOOD

E should like to take issue, mildly, with a current magazine ad which goes about selling hand lotion in a roundabout way by printing an imaginary, rather _ emotional message from a young mother to her soldier husband. It seems that the husband, because of his military duties, had not been able to see their infant daughter until she was 6 months old. The mother couldn’t bear to have him miss so much of their baby. Our dissenting opinion is that she is wasting sympathy on the father, especially if it is a first child. There are few more shattering experiences than a man's first sight of his first offspring. We will also make the bold statement that any man who can call any hour- or day-old infant beautiful (even his own) is a hypocrite and a slave of convention. Any infant of that tender age looks like the most wrinkled apple in the bottom of the barrel. The whole trouble, of course, is that the most hardboiled new father is romantic, in addition to being conditioned by convention. He knows that he should be a proud papa. (You will be, brother—but not yet, not yet.) He thinks of all the small parcels of pink-and-white loveliness that he has casually glanced at. That is how he imagines his own baby—except that, since it will be his, it will be a super deluxe model. Well now, a 6-months-old baby looks as he imagined a new baby ‘should-look. It really is pink and white, fragrant and decidedly human. In addition, the happy soldierfather has been spared 180 nights of insistent demands for 2 a. m. feedings, etc. . No, the soldier in the ad needs no sympathy. He has experienced one of the undoubted blessings of army life.

al Father's Day committee has anything to say jes are being urged to remember Pop with They are also being urged to urge him to buy

revenues and before the stockholders’ interests can be considered. ‘ ;

Weren't Posing as Friends of ‘Workingman

JUST THAT one little flick aroused the interest of the stockholders in a number of other companies, and in no time at all I had a package of letters and company reports revealing that many other well-paid captains of industry, who should have been able and willing to lay up their own social security, were voting themselves rich for the rest of their days, come what might. I put them away in a folder labeled “executive pension racket” and there it lies because I felt that the men of big business were suspect, anyway, and probably would be denounced by the New Deal and, moreover, that they weren't posing as friends of the workingman and selfless servants of a holy cause. If you tear into their racket they will snarl, to be sure, and point to their invaluable services to their companies and tell you how important their early work has been in the defense of this great land of ours since war came on and the structures they had built were readily turned into arsenals of democracy and all like that. But they will admit that they were well paid for all they did during the doing of it and are well paid still and, in effect, that these pensions are just some extra that they thought up in their greed and ask you what you are going to do about it. And, apparently, you can't do anything about it under the existing laws, for you may be sure they brought their lawyers in on the play and were very surefooted in their generosity to themselves.

"Worker in Union Has No Such Freedom’

NEVERTHELESS, I think this is a very inviting subject and commend it to any colleague who has run out of missioris. I might go down to Washington and prowl the record myself for glaring examples of such smug and defiant larceny as soon as congress gets up the thanhood to pry the unions off our backs. The company stockholder has never been a very sympathetic figure in our country, anyway. He seldom knows what goes on in the big corporation in which he buys a few shares or a few hundred and, if he hollers for his rights, it can always be said, after all, he can sell out whenever he wants to. The worker in a union, on the other hand, has no such freedom. He can't get out, because if he. does he becomes a scab and a disruptionist and an enemy and: betrayer of the working class while old Dan’l Tobin, for example, month after month, drools along in his own monthly journal about his own magnificent virtues and the trials of his young manhood when he got only $25 a week, all in justification of a scale of pay and perquisities and living that are a scandal and a reproach to the priesthood of union leadership.

‘Showering Themselves With Appreciation’,

OF LATE, some of the big company executives have been showering themselves with similar appreciation for the splendid progress their firms have made during the war, when the fact is that they had little: or nething to do with. these big earnings but justrsat still Bnd accepted -§véFfiment contracts and government money. : Nevertheless, they have voted themselves big annuities in sentimental self-appreciation which will continue to be a burden and a lien on the interests of the stockholders, subject to. no revision downward when the war business quits and the profits flop. I don't believe I have ever expressed any admiration for this side of the character of the heavy industrialist and will salute any reporter with the enterprise and tenacity to move into specific cases of such abuse, with ruffles and flourishes added if he can find a flaw in the racket and compel any recipient of such graft or his estate to kick it back with compound interest, J

We The People

By Ruth Millett

A FEW YEARS ago every time a woman went to a lecture or picked up a magazine she was told that being a good mother wasn't enough. That she owed it to herself to be a person. Well, the new doctrine caught on, as it was bound to. In fact it caught on entirely too well. A great many women, in their whole-hearted acceptance of the creed, misinterpreted “not enough to be a good mother” to mean “not important to be a good mother.” So they got busy being other things, at the expense of being good mothers. They ran around in circles being club women. They wasted away their time trying to stay eternally young. They tried to out-do each other at being charming hostesses and making their homes the proper back ground for entertaining, Or they concentrated on careers.

Lost Interest in Being Good Mothers

THEN CAME the war and they switched their interests to volunteer war work, or took on war jobs. And their children suffered from neglect, even though they weren't “under-privileged” according to the wel fare worker's use of the word. Their homes had bathrooms, they had enough to eat; and they had proper clothes. But they didn't have mothers who thought the job of motherhood their most important job. Once upon a time you couldn't give a woman higher praise than’ to say she was a “fine mother.” But when women discovered that being a good mother wasn't enough, they lost interest in being considered good mothers. In fact you almost never hear the phrase today, unless it is spoken somewhat condescendingly by a really successful woman, one who excels, say, at the important business of entertaining, or who has an enviable career, or who is a well-known club woman. Could all this have anything to do with today’s juvenile delinquency problem? The time element is just about right, isn't it?

So They Say— THE ARMED forces will be demobilized at a rate

war production will cease. Most of the workers in the munitions industries will be released. Airplane plants and shipyards will operate little. evitably will leave large pools of unemployed in warboon areas.—Senator Walter F. George of Georgja.

lantic Wall has proved to be a bluff. This

The Hoosier Forum

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

of 500,000 to 600,000 per month (after the war). All |:

This in- |.

is to do

“HE LEAVES OUT THE TEN MILLION” By Voice in the Crowd, Indianapolis,

The Forum of June 10 carries.a sad and very distasteful comment, as: “We did not ask for this war inflation, but since it is here and most of us are enjoying the good fruits that have derived from it, let's say O. K.” That writer comments that every one is better off except: the white collar worker “who surely will in due time have consideration from his employer.” (Page the WLB.). He leaves out the 10 million men who will sacrifice everything from an Opportunity to get an education to those who will be dead or suffer worse than death the rest of their lives. He leaves out the people who have no income, the widows and the aged who are depleting their savings and the aged and veterans who are dependent on pensions. He leaves out the fact that the white collar worker, while mostly on 1940 pay, is subject to the 20% withholding tax made necessary by the inflated cost of the war. He leaves out everything but a wordy defense of the New Deal not based on facts. Anyone who can defend chaos and debt or find good fruits in war is self-descriptive as an economist or a commentator,

. = “DANGER AHEAD, MERCHANTS” By N. M.,, Indianapolis,

It took the Stranger in Town, who's writing this, exactly 22 minutes by the clock to get a cup of coffee this morning. At the time—8:30 to 9:52 a. m.— there were less than a dozen customers at the counter behind which there were three waitresses. The restaurant is within a few steps of one of the major transportation celiters of Indianapolis, where travelers are frequently hurried. The Stranger asked each of the three waitresses, in turn, “May I have a cup of coffee, please?” All of them appeared to be deaf or to have their minds wholly absorbed by their private affairs. So the Stranger asked the cashier if there was not some way he could get a cup of coffee. The young lady shrugged resignedly and vouchsafed that she was not waiting on the counter, thus dismissing the question to her own satisfaction. By this time the Stranger was hot under the collar, a fact he dissembled. He went to the nearby executive office 6f the restaurant and calmly explained the situation.

{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-cor-respondence regarding them.)

The young lady in charge of the office phoned the restaurant and, as she hung up, remarked to the Stranger, “You'll get waited on now if you return to the counter.” He was—22 minutes after his original request for coffee. As he drank it, his thoughts ran somewhat as follows: In recent months I've visited Hartford, Conn., Richmond, Va., Detroit and Toledo, all cities whose catering facilities have been more heavily overtaxed by the influx of war workers than have those of Indianapolis, Yet in none of them is the manner and ineptitude of people serving food and drink to transients and residents alike as slipshod and inditferent, if not downright insolent, as in this city. The Indianapolis public is fully aware of the manpower and womanpower shortage and cheerfully makes all reasonable allowances for consequently unavoidable curtailment of retail merchandising servyices, The Stranger knows that from observation and from a hundred casual conversations during the past few weeks. But is that public willing that merchants and their employees should make that shortage an excuse for sheer laziness, indifference to customers’ wishes and deliberate discourtesy from those with whom it spends its earnings? Restaurateurs must know that a time will return when theyll be competing for customers. Their employees must know that competition for jobs is not permanently a thing of thé past. Are both so lacking in foresight as to believe the public which + provides their profits and their livelihoods will forget the resentment they are so shortsightedly piling up against themselves today?

Danger. ahead, merchants!

Side Glances—By Galbraith

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| {reason the American Scumunist

|| ultimate conclusion it would leave

“WOULD DO WELL TO TEACH COURTESY” By R. E. B, Indianapolis The Indianapolis Railway Company would do well to have lessons in’ courtesy and civility for their employees. We are all aware that they have problems and that the employeés are under a strain and tired, but that does not alter the fact that they are employees and do not own the city, Last night; in the rain, I was waiting to go to

work and an East Washington car pulled up, stopped and would not open the door and, despite repeated knocks, went on. The car was not crowded, but the operator was too busy talking to his girl friend and ignored three or four of us standing in the rain so we were all late for work. This has happened on several occasions, possibly because they were late; and I have been forced to wait and that five or six minutes makes me late on the job in a war plant.

I operate a large machine on production in a war plant, and I don’t like to be late. I have had the door slammed in my face many times and I have heard operators make some very foul and insulting remarks about people . waiting or crowded in trolleys and busses like sardines. One in particular who had 107 people jammed in the trolley, as shown by the fare register, stopped, stood up and declared he was not going to move the trolley until people moved back. There was no place to move. Yet he had to deliver his oration until an inspector came up and told him to move as the trolley was loaded. People working in war plants are under a strain, too, and we want to get home and not be left standing on the corner because some nincompoop who didn't have two nickels to rattle together before the war, and who won't have anything afterwards, decides that he owns the railway and who would rather flirt with his girl friend than be courteous and civil to people on whom he will have to depend for a job when the war is over. The war will be over these kind of people are going to have a hard time because people don’t for. get. There are courteous and decent operators and to those we, as war workers, say thanks with sincere appreciation for their untiring and unselfish efforts to get us to work and home under difficulties and strain; but to the rest who can't see befond the next paycheck, phooey! Sometimes people get enough of a thing and they get mad and teach civility and courtesy in a different manner and in view of some of the things that go on, it might not be a bad idea.

® =a “FILLS IN A LOT OF BLANK SPACES” By J. E. R,, Indianapolis,

So Earl Browder has decided to throw in with the New Dealers in support of a fourth term. Now, isn’t that just dandy? Browder and his mangy gang of nation-wreckers ‘couldn't have picked more appropriate bedfellows. The New Dealers have been doing slowly for years by means of socialistic laws (?) what Browder’s gang have been wanting to do in a hurry via the process of revolution, A But there is more to this than meets the eye. Do you know the

party arty has always been so red-hot or the New Deal? It is simply if the New Deal was carried to its

| ance day—the anniversary of the day when an obe«

iTo The Point— | OUR BOYS have kept their date with D-Dayt

the sand, clamg Two of the refuse ave cigar was issued a started. Today Part of Prophecy Fulfilled soaked and si TODAY PART of his prophecy has been fulfilled. HT Nv Since that dark hour, immense forces have been Always The brought into play—forces which will, in the not too distant future, crush the enemy. Much of the French WRITING P empire has been redeemed. are fighting second. The bo gallantly and well in Italy where they, and their in France. allies, now hold the very spot from which Mussolini Always there launched his treacherous stab in the back that marked is a dog still on their nation's downfall And more important, an ing for his mas expanding segment of the soil of France self has = Se He stays at been liberated, On that ground this week stood the JEL lies twisted and man who spoke those gallant and undying words four | = appealingly to years ago—and his physical presence there had deep. a eagerly along meaning to those whose hearts are filled with the love fe of France, pFor the words, “Our country is in danger of death. i

Let us fight to save it,” made Gen. de Gaulle a symbol to his countrymen of the will to resist, the spirit to © endure, the determination to conquer, When others ® despaired, he caught up the fallen banner and

kindled hope anew with the flaming phrase, “Nothing | ; THIS DIDN is lost.” . f's a wonder t else happens he

De Gaulle Still Remains a Symbol

GEN. DE GAULLE still, to an overwhelming ma« Jority of Frenchmen, remains a symbol, the embodies ment of a France that would not die nor surrender, Whether he will be as wise in victory as he was inconquerable in defeat, he yet must prove. But nothe ing can take from him the glory of his great hour when he rallied the broken forces of a lost cause with fighting words, 5 It was that symbol that the men and women of Normandy cheered this week, for his presence was | living testimony of the rightness of his challenge thas “France has lost a battle, but France has not lost the war!” 3 It is that symbol, and the courage of the French who in arms and in spirit joined de Gaulle, that the free world will acclaim tomorrow on French Resiste

2 the other * Rhodius park { k- over at the St © party for the It’s to be a “br in the Riley roc safe bet that th employee of th recent school fo

scure tall man stepped to a microphone and rekindled the great heart of France. On this day, four years after, we saying: “Long Live France.” Today there is new hope and new meaning in that historic toast.

Join De Gaulle in

For France lives. It fell, but it shall rise anew, a Te le " | It suffered, but it has endured. It was enslaved, but as atten: it shall again be free. given and three polic was the recipier Coal Conifoversy Canine Em bi THE SHOR’ ercises at the By James Thrasher night by the a of one of the WASHINGTON, June 17.—Se¢- graduates from retary Ickes is a man of many ascended the st moods as well as many jobs. In Occasionally, hs fact, he occasionally lavishes more the situation Ul than one mood on a single job, as school board ha in his recent utterances on the need much enc coal situation. needed was pre When he was turning back girls. We men

most of the government-operated mines to the owners, national mine boss Ickes gave a proud ace count of his stewardship, though there were overtones of doubt as to whether management and labor would be able to carry on without him, TT Fn “Last year, most of which was spent under government control, the nation's bituminous mines produced 580 million tons, the greatest output in history,” he said. “This accomplishment was made with ware depletéd mine forces, older, less vigorous men, and worn, patched-up machinery. . . . Management and labor are now on trial, to prove to the nation that they can fulfill their wartime responsibilities under their own power.” But all pride exists with Mine Boss Ickes.

Enter Solid Fuels Administrator Ickes

ENTER NOW Solid Fuels Administrator Ickes, and with him, gloom. One of Mr. Ickes’ selling points in negotiating the contract with John L. Lewis was that it would increase production 14 per cent. But production last year—*“most of which was. spent. under government control”—was only about 1.5 per cent above 1942. Our coal stocks are now at the lowest point since war started, Mr. Ickes says, Estimated 1944 production, he predicts, will fall 30 million tons short of requirements. 3 Dr. Charles Potter, deputy solid fuels administrator, © is even more doleful. “The ability to mine coal is decreasing daily,” he says, finding no joy in the fact that essential draft-age miners are now pretty well stabilized. He says that the government-esti« mated 1944 production of 596 million tons is less than 4 per cent more than last year's consumption. But he doesn’t figure it out that despite equally gloomy’ talk of a coal shortage last year, the consumption | was about 573 million, as against a production of 580 ¢ million tons. : #

Operators Think They Can Deliver

THIS YEAR'S coal needs are estimated at betwee: § 620 and 626 million tons. And the éoal operators! oddly enough, think they can deliver—“if there ar not further heavy drains on manpower, and if som new machinery can be obtained.” They have idea that they can go it better alone, pushing pro duction with the miners’ willing co-operation, "4 Maybe the operators are wrong. But if they the error is obviously honest, for there is no point their trying to kid anybody. If there is a they will get full blame for it now that Mr, Icke has stepped out. ER ‘But there is one point on which the operators Mr. Ickes agree: Both urge you to fill your bin this

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ow ‘can you give the run-around to B-Day? , Buy