Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 September 1944 — Page 10
PAGE 10 Monday, September 4, 1044 WALTER LECKRONE Editor f
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v
A DAY OF ‘LABOR MILLIONS of American men and women are at work today, fashioning and piecing together weapons "and i supplies, the tools of victory. And because today happens to be Labor day, that is news. It was news last Labor day, and the one before that, when these millions observed their own particular holiday by staying on the job. But the other days of the year we don’t read much about these millions. We read of strikes and walkouts and disputes, since it is the exceptional rather than the usual that makes headlines.” But it is worth remembering today that the disputes and stoppages are exceptional, and | * {hat there are vast numbers of war workers who neither take part in them nor condone them. ’ It is also worth remembering how much a part of the war these millions of war workers are. There is no such thing as a separate “home front,” as President Roosevelt has repeatedly emphasized. Ki : 4 = » ” » IF MOST of America’s workers were not on the job most of the time, our great armed force of 11 millions would be as nothing. Soldiers, not only our own but those ‘of our allies, would be dying for lack of equipment, victory would be impossible. Labor sometimes forgets the importance of its con-. tribution, just as the public does. The enemy is far away, and grievances, real or fancied, are close at hand. There is no military discipline except in rare instances. But there is public indignation and condemnation, as there rightly sifould be. There is no excusing the irreplaceable loss of vital war equipment for causes which in time ‘of war are trifling.
’
y
” - ” . » . BUT WE repeat that losses from such causes are exceptional. Labor is playing its indispensable, interdependent part in victory with skill and diligence. It has earned the country’s gratitude. And it has grown greatly in numbers a and in strength during these war years. These numbers and this strength offer labor a magnificent opportunity and impose a great responsibility in the days ahead. Labor will have then another part to play. as indispensable and interdependent as the present one —a part in the coming battle for security and prosperity. The rank and file of labor and its wisest leaders must certainly see to it that this great group acquits itself as nobly in peace as it has in war.
“THE VERY PERFECT, GENTLE KNIGHT” EORGE NORRIS of Nebraska, a sad-eyed, moody, often pessimistic man, was and will remain, -paradoxically, a pillar of inspiration to those who would be optimistic about the future of democracy. He was a great man, if that abused word retains its meaning. His greatness is writ large not only in America’s politics but in its very geography. Norris dam is an enduring tribute.to the father of TVA, just as the lame duck amendment to the constitution, and Nebraska's one-house legislature, and innumerable major acts of congress, are monuments to his political vision and his parliamentary skill. - F vanklin D. Roosevelt, in a speech at Senator Norris’ home town, said of him: “History asks, ‘Did the man have integrity?’ “Did the man have unselfishness? “ ‘Did the man have courage?’ “ ‘Did the man have consistency?’ “And if the individual under a scrutiny of the historic microscope measured up to an affirmative answer to these questions then history has set hind down as great indeed in the pages of all the years to come. : " “And your senator stands forth—whether we agree with him on all the little details or not—he stands forth
as the very perfect, gentle knight of American progressive a
APPEAL TO SPAIN OSCOW'’S radio appeal to the Spanish people to ust the Franco government ak with Nazi Germany is in violent contrast to Prime Minister Churchill's almost fulsome defense of the Franco regime a few weeks back.. Somehow ‘we think that most Americans will prefer the Russian attitude. : This attitude may violate the letter of the Atlantic Charter. It may be construed as interference in a country’s domestic affairs. Granted that it does both, it may well furn out 16 be the most humanitarian attitude in the end. We cannot build a new and better world until we have eradicated the cancer of fascism from the old. - The past decade should have proved that to us beyond question. If there were reasons of expediency for playing ball with the Franco- regime, they no longer exist. The Nazi threat through Spain is removed. It is time, and it should be
possible by non-military means, to break the last Fascist
hold on Europe.
F. D. R. ON THE “INDISPENSABLE MAN” E read Harry Truman's speech accepting the vice presidential nomination, hoping to find some new argument of the Democrats. ‘But it was the same old refrain—that only Franklin Roosevelt has the experience, that only one man can handle the big job. A very good answer to the indispensable-man argument is a statement made by Mr. Roosevelt himself before ‘he entered the White Hquse. Speaking at Madison Square ~ Garden, Nov. 5,1932, Md. Roosevelt said:
Be my sense of humor or my sense of proportion:
“| an essential one.
de]
“The genius of America is stronger than any candidate or any party. This campaign, hard as it has been, has not |
hat the fate of America cannot depend on greatness of America is grounded in single p 1 :
Coes ret Sapte LR mi ram aioe: As oni ag
he Indianapolis Times
C 1 oes Job
|By Fred W. Perkins
WASHINGTON, Soph.” 4—0On | Labor day, it is appropriate to note that more than a million of world war II already
That information was released by © gelective service headquarters k here this week-end. - And there has been no notable trouble yet from an official inter pretation of the selective service law with which heads of the C. I. O. and A. F. of L. do not agree. This interpretation, as stated by Col. Paul H. Griffith, chief of the veterans’ personnel division of selective service, is that “a man who goes “into the armed services and serves honorably, completing such service, is entitled to his old job back if it was
and if he reports for that job within 0 days from the date of his discharge.”
Supersedes ‘Union_Contracts
~ THERE IS another qualification ‘jn the law— whether the former employer is still in business and reasonably able-to furnish (employment, The law now covers women serving in ‘the armed forces, and it gives this preference to every person who has entered the military or naval service since May 1, 1940—whether by induction, enlistment, commissioning or the calling into federal service of the state national guard organizations “When all the emergency forces are demobilized, it is figured, 15,000,000 veterans will be entitled to get their old jobs back, if they had a permanent civilian job when they put on the uniform. This right, according to the selective service interpretation of the law, is absolute. It even supersedes union contracts. Some unions are offering to take in veterans without payment of initiation fees, and others make the’ offer on payment of the normal fees—but
eran must get his job back without reference to what any labor union says about it, including the question of seniorities. >
Question Raised When Bill Was Passed .
“CONGRESS, in passing the selective service act, made it specific that the veteran would get his old job back,” said Col. Griffith in a recent speech. “I intend to carry it out unless some court decides that I am wrong in the operating procedure which selec» tive “service has adopted or unless someone has congress change the law. I have so told. the organizations that take exceptions to these rulings. “I would welcome someone taking a case into court which would give a permanent legal interpretation of the act... . . When the selective service bill was being considered, the National Association of Manufacturers wrote to the joint senate-house conference and called attention to the fact that if the bill was passed as it was then written it would require that a returning veteran would get his job back even though he displaced one with greater seniority. The answer was that the bill was passed.”
Conflict Comes Over Displacement
THE CONFLICT with the labor organizations comes over the displacement of non-veteran union members ‘by returning veterans of less seniority or length of service in the industry concerned. National leaders of organized labor have been credited wi adjusting a number of cases in which there was question as to the reinstatement of veterans. Up to now the problem has been minor, partly because of the need for manpower in most industries and partly because only about one-fourth of the veterans have requested reinstatement. It has been easy to find jobs for veterans and not distarb the nonveterans who had accumulated more union seniority. The pinch is expected when veterans begin coming home in much greater numbers. Until then, the individual problems will be handled by the present policy of adjustment through compromise, The unions have not given up their seniority claims for civilian workers, and the selective service stand remains as stated by Col. Griffith. . The official interpretation is backed by several court actions which have resulted in restoration of veterans to their old jobs, orders for back pay, and rulings on constitutionality of the law.
We The People By Ruth Millett
SHE IS a middle-aged woman who has never before worked outside her home—and doesn’t have to now. : But she lives in a town filled these days with service men and their wives and when she. saw how the young couples with children were tied, down, and no help to be had, she said, “Why, T could “just as well spend part of my afternoons and evenings letting these young folks get out.” And so she became a “baby sitter” -And as-such she is doing a job that is important in her community. For she keeps Jimmy, between the hours when he gets out of school and when, his mother comes home from her part-time job, which happens to be
And by staying with the children of service men who may be separated at any time to have a little
junior is getting proper care.
She Has a Good Time, Too
her age, whose children are grown, she misses having children about her house. And taking care of other people's for a few hours at a stretch somehow fills that lack. Ay
the young couples of her community than she otherwise would have, That is in itself a fine thing for any older person. A lot of older folks sit around and talk “about what a shame it is the way young folks runs off and leave their kids with irresponsible girls who aren't old enough to look after them properly. But if a few more of them would pitch in and help the young parents out a bit as this’ woman is doing— there wouldn't have to be so much head shaking. Most of them have forgotten what this woman remembers: That when a couple are young it is only natural for them to want go out and have a little fun _and-if they are completely tied s not only hard on them, but on their marriage.
To The Point—.
IF THE FBI really wants to round up saboteurs, we know some people "who leave soap on shower.bath floors. /
"THE EASIER a man's . the more “time he has to become disgusted wih i, Co. FOUR. ILLINOIS men, Bied $10 each for gambling at pinochle, ‘were nabbed the second: time and fined $20. Double pinochie) * * A ‘GOLFER doesn't have to be" 6 Buglish tobe an old topped, nl & 8.8 . SOME OF the folks who claim to have opén. mins ought to close up a while = Yepaiss,
~
have been restored to civilian jobs. |
the selective service interpretation is that the vet-
at“night, she mades it possible for young couples
fun together, without wondering whether or not
SHE IS having a good time, for like most women
ger
1 The Way to Celebrate
Today
“The Hoosier Forum
I wholly disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.
“THINK IT OVER, WORKER}, By W. E. Miner, 5345 E. Washington st, Apt. 10. ‘
To “A Worker”: My dear friend, «A Worker,” I presume that ycu are a human being, but, after reading ‘your letter about children in the Aug. 28 Forum, I doubt it. 1 wonder if you could raise a child and follow the example you are preaching. 1 am now waiting for a 24-hour notice to leave for the navy. As for mothers and children living in apartments,” most of them can’t fire furnaces, carry ashes, ete, which is too much for most women. Also, most servicemen cannot afford the expense of keeping a house, with all the bills that go with it7 And why are people without children discriminating people? Unfortunately, we can have only one child, but he is a blessing to us and a symbol of future America. We have moved to an apartment so that when I leave my-wife will be able to stay home and raise him to be a fine young man like all the rest of the young men who were once noisy children playing cops-and-robbers and who are now good enough to fight and die to save your dirty neck. Think it over, Worker. Read your Bible and then offer a prayer of regret for the Words you have written. # # ” “YOUR VIEWPOINT WOULD BE DIFFERENT”
By » Mother, Indianapolis.
-
I read the letter, “Keep Them in Their Own Homes,” in the Aug. 28 Forum and it made my blood boil. To think that my husband and the fathers of hundreds of children in|l Indianapolis are fighting for people
worker could contend with their children. Dear writer of the letter, do you remember whén you were a child? I suppose your mother never took you anywhere. Don’t you suppose children like to go riding? And, on the other hand, there are a lot of mothers who do not have anyone to leave their children with. We mothers have business to attend to just-the- same. as anyone. else. As for going in restaurants, children get hungry the same as a war worker or anyone else.. What are we’ supposed to do—shoot our ¢hildren so they won't bother you? As for living in apartments, there are a lot of soldiers’ wives and children who have to live that way. Wouldn't: it be a terrible let-down to a soldier's morale to find out the people back home were. kicking about their children? What are we supposed to do—live like hermits
like that! If seems to me that this} If I was to%ay what I am think-
{I rather imagine that your children
(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 manu. scripts and cannot enter correspondence regarding them.)
You suggested that, a mother should get a home for per family. But tell me, my friend, why don't you get a home of your own? You make the money to afford one. If it would at some time be necessary for me to live in an apartment, it would be a nice feeling indeed to) feel that my small son was bothering someone. Children havé played cops-and-robbers as far back as can: be remembered. Are we supposed to stop them now? If they shouldn’t play on the lawns, where, I ask, should they play? When you said in your letter thet children were all right in their place, I had a feeling you wanted to say “but it isn’t dug yet.” I think that if you had a child of your own, your viewpoint would be entirely different. I surely hope 50. 8 = “THANKFUL THAT I AM DIFFERENT”
By F, Bloombuff, 2054 N. Talbdit st.
ing about the letter signed ‘A Worker,” this would never go to print. Having «never been a’ child yourself, Worker, I. can readily understand why a discriminating person such as yourself would be so put out with Junior playing cops and robbers. Or, if you were a child at one time or another, I can just see you sitting around every day, watching normal children play.
really lead a glorious life—~or maybe discriminating people don’t have babies. Now, as for eating in cafes, tell me, are you afraid there won't be enough for you if Junior gets in ahead of you? You not only pegrudge him some place to live, but you also want-to starve him. The streetcar company says to “ride more from 10 to 4" so that you chosen people can have the streetcars the rest of the time.
out in the woods just because we have children?
Then, too, she has become better acquainted with | |
Side Glances—By Galbraith _
So, if Mother has to go to town to get a few articles, she has to take
(.]
ger-piece of cak
sn T. MW. REG. U. 8 PAT. OFF.
: “You're: sending me to bed without su 50 can have a bi 3 KILLT 6 TIME is the ewicst way to murder| ite rcs you y
|
Junior with her because it is impossible to get anyone to stay with him. Unfortunately, lunch time comes between 10 and 4 and Junior, who has been eating ever since his first day on earth, gets hungry. My friends and your friends (if you have any) are fighting all over this world to make this country a decent and safe place to live and you would like to kick their children out in the street while they are dying for you. If all discriminating people are of your type, I am very thankful that I am in a different class. » » 2 “LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED” By George R. Murphy, Indianapolis. For the past 12 years workers have been beating the bushes to help put the Republicans back in office in Marion county. But look what has happened. Mayor 1yndall has sold us down the river for a crack-pot outfit from Chicago who came down here to tell us How to run our city to the tune of $10,000. And now the Republican city council has added to all the trouble by approving salary raises for the Democratic employees of the city hall and cutting out and reducing the Republican jobs, and at the same time throwing most of the department budgets so out-of-line that some of them will not be able to operate. Think of it! Could it happen any place bui-Indian-apolis? Has Mayor Tyndall forgotten that it was the Republican party
the J. L. Jacobs Co. of Chicago, or maybe he thinks it was the Chamber of Commerce that elected him. Does he not know that the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce has more than once éstabliShed the fact that they are radicals and certainly not non-partisan? Look up their records. Remember when they ;were responsible for the failure of the Ford Motor Co. to establish their factory in Indianapolis? Imagine a Republican mayor issuing an edict ruling: out politics among his employees and favoring Democrats. It really has happened here! ” “SOMETHING TO APPROVE” By T. McGuire, 1022 Udell st.
At last, according to the Times of Aug. 22; we have something in our city administration’to approve. Our mayor says the elected and other members of our city’s staff of workers are servants of the people and not beholden to any political party or group for their present positions nor need ‘they fear dismissal or punishment of any kind for not subscribing to campaign funds or disobeying group leaders. In other words, ‘employes, not directly elected will sustain their jobs and remain on them so long as they merit the approval of the Indianapolis public. Mayor Tyndall, that is a big order, and if you as mayor are big enough to enforce this decree and able to correctly determine the needs of our city and induce or compel obedience of public servants to the public, for public good, you are a great man and need never fear a successor so long as you desire the job. I hope you ‘are honest, sincere, and determined to. improve our town and inspire the present loyalty of all workers and officials likewise. I am all for the merit system and uld | demote all according to their worth and record. 1 hopé that in my party loyalty I may have misjudged an honest and worthy civic leader. If so, I apologize and will say more power’ to Mr. Mayor. Carry on for the good of the general public and I feel sure you will have all good citizens petfind you. Let’s go now for ‘a better ity,
course by the errors of the past.
DAILY THOUGHTS
For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not Yo away ig sacs from you, if return un lime] Chiron Acles 30 9. £
FORGETFUL L youth! but know, Ee San save
that elected him to the office of}: mayor? Or does he think it was]:
present and future, correcting our|
WASHINGTON, Sept, Every ve won't rules : iN ! ox who shows up the pretenses and = Form synthetic practices such as, for po example, ; prepared i HS As LTE b t writers. wie ; i» : i“! x rd custom, ‘this busl~ * “Rites wi pass of waking #jsesiis wish . + Thomas D. by someone practiced len B - of both parties, even including ® edi 30. those earnestly interested in the election this year N, Meridian into the pockets of men smart with the BS. Pet sit in back rooms at campaign heads hi* Burial will | phrases and bright quips. ~~ ' Methodist h not to say they get rich at it. Far from ° we ed illness, there are so many of them. in campaign * & . and Mrs. MN Their reward is in thinking up the stuff, in: # the ‘brother how they've caught the other side off : o k Lawlor. A or on a vulnerable point. Their despair comes * he attended mispronounced, emphasis in the wrong place, and way post of “Why the so-and-so can’t even read?” ‘ M : 4 He was ac Latest Scandal Is Amusing 2 agement bus THE LATEST ghost-writing scandal is sn smusing * = ihe Gar) | one. It was ferreted out by shrewd little Senator Jos - SJR * Ciateq with OMshoney of Wyoming, Who is in charge of the © nery Co. in Democratic senatorial campaign. ~~ and then w Ho. amid fatly that three Republican governors a y . Ayres and & who started off the gubernatorial phase of the came « + _ Survivors paign didn’t like the speeches written for them by Helen Lawl National Chairman Brownell's ghost-writing squad in Lawlor, Mrs New York headquarters and had changed them bee .. he. Mrs. James fore delivery. She apolis, and "One of the three, Governor Earl Warren of Calle Mrs. A. LR fornia, spoke up promptly. Yes, he had changed his, - LT. HARRY Now the fault cannot be laid entirely to the ghoste » is writers. They constantly have to rewrite and revise, A former r That's part of their business. The mistake was in Lt. Harry F. somebody handing out te species. 10 the Hewat.” day of a hes papers before the governors had approved them and .§ ! Saval then having to call them back to revise them—a mise , - el alt a take that likely won't happen again.’ * according to Republicans probably learned another lesson, too, . Lt. Lake from this episode, which is to be careful with Gove § G4, in Indianapo ernor Warren. joy m= AeSigien} pers averse Warren Is a Frank Gentleman L aefive duly i THEY GOT burned on him once before when ha. Alice Lake refused to accept the vice presidential nomination a§. sisters, Mrs. Chicagd, a minor sensation. It is a sensation when & N. Delaware téllow turns down a vice presidential nomination, for. ° + Kline of Lou you always see so many hopefuls around national *f# Horace E. Li conventions, with their arms raising up and down in a niece, Mis that gesture of pounding a gavel before the senate, & Indianapolis, little different from the gesture at the bar, Take the. » Russell Eva Democratic convention at Chicago, for instance. 9 ‘us both of Conn: Governor Warten is a frank gentleman, and i © of Louisville, seems to take Republicans a long time to find that out, - Long before the convention he kept saying that he fs OTTO 8. Mt couldn't accept the nomination. But Republicans ; wouldn't believe him. He was not sure the Republics Priva sel ahs sould Wir tis year, ner. tit Guy ould eanegl _ Otto 8. Muel ornia. 7 dent of this The ghost-writing incident indicates he's not so noon in the sure yet about California. He showed this in the ° mortuary, T changes in his speech. The original sent him from ducted by tt New York bore down very heavy on the C.1.0. and * pastor of th its P, A. C. He toned that down considerably. Ty church. Bui The C.1.0. is strong in California, and presume Hill ably has done a good job of registering its voters, Mr. Muelle Governor Warren is taking no chances, - 8, Noblesville h o ° 2 he was Year of Decision I Jaft here fou . Muelle By James Thrasher widow, Mrs. 1 a granddaugh WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.—Sincs let, both of X 1940 the parade of voters to the “ JOSEPH RO!
polls has thinned out to an alarme
poll estimates the number will be 40 million. Since 88 million Americans are of voting age, - there is the possibility that the Nov, 7 elections may represent a minority choice—no matter what. ' candidates are chosen. And that isn't good. There are some unavoidable reasons’ behind the forecast of s light vote. Certainly all service men and women won't vote. Many transplanted war ’ workers will not be able to meet residence require ments in new locations. But there are also a grea§. ® number of people who through lack of information ° or interest won't yote unless something is done #bout" them.
This Is Everard s Job _
“> ONE EFFORT is being made by a new organizes tion, the Non-partisan Association for Franchise Education. It is made-up of individuals and groups banded ‘together out of a feeling of common concern. Both major parties are equally represented on a - national committee of prominent men and women, Henry J. Kaiser (by all reports a very busy man) has thought enough®df the movement's importance + to accept the national chairmanship, This association, with only a short time in which © to do effective work, is lining up an intensive cam- ° paign through press, radio, motion: pictures and direct mail. Its efforts are commendable. But there is.f no reason why it should have to do the whole job, v This is a community, neighborhood and home job * to. be done by anyone, whatever his party, who believes in popular government, The talking points are obvious. This is one of the most important elections in: our country’s history. There are areas of political agreement in the campaign, but there are also clear-cut-flifferences which demand choice,
The Road fo National Disaster
POLITICAL INDIFFERENCE brings on national paralysis and national disaster, as the people of Italy and Germany and France discovered. Today the . liberated and occupied countries fully appreciate the © precious and long-denied right to choosé their publis _ servants and they are eagerly and joyously awaiting its restoration. Confronted with the spectacle of recent European ; history it is amazing that any American enjoying the | privileges of free citizenship (including the right to. + domplain about the government) can confess an “indifference” to politics. We cannot afford indiffer‘ence. The history of four fateful years depends pom + the President: and congress that the majority of ‘American voters send into office next January, 5 2 ~
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fo
So They Say—
SOME OF THE Japanese over Saipan were as - smart as any we have seen. The Jap navy pilots were as good as any of the boys have run up against, —Cmdr. Brest M.. Sowden, Back trom Sa than t the
- . » *
WE ARE gait to. wifi this war Wmih goose EE ne x To American soldier has proved unequaled. Barry 5, Tiiman, of Missouri ) .
WE GAN no longer ;