Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 December 1944 — Page 14

The Indianapolis Times

"PAGE 14 ' Wednesday, December 6, 1944

ROY W. HOWARD President Editor

#

WALTER LECKRONE = MARK FERRES Business Manager (A SORIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER)

Price in Marion County,:5 cents a copy; delivered by carrier, 20 cents a week. Mail rates in Indiana, $5 a year; all other states, U. 8. possessions, Canada and Mexico, 87 cents a

land st. Postal Member of United per Ry NEA Serv- month. . los, and A : Ciroulations. penirve = novarsl] “CUP = RILEY 5551 Give LAght and the People Will Find Their Own Woy ’

-

STATE DEPARTMENT SHUFFLE

HE state department shakeup, the biggest in years, was needed. Reorganization, begun last year, was delayed by the election rather than by any opposition of former Secretary Hull. The old place required streamlining and . expansion to meet increased responsibilities, including absorption of conflicting wartime agencies, Secretary Stettinius, thanks to his tenure as undersecretary with Hull, was

familiar with these organizational problems.

; Though the new appointees, with one possible excep- ~ tion, are men of ability, most of them are not trained diplo-

* mats. This is unfortunate.

Since the natiom became. a world power, Republican presidents beginning with Theodore Roosevelt, have tried to build a professional service, leading by promotion to the top jobs in our embassies and legations abroad and to undersecretary and assistant secretaryships in the state But President Wilson and F. D. R. reverted in part to the system of spoils, amateurs and personal friends. As a result our foreign affairs have suffered when our well-meaning but inexperienced representatives had to deal with seasoned professionals, who run the for eign offices and embassies of the other world powers. When the state department organization is complete, and congress has authorized two additional assistant secretaries, there will be an undersecretary and six assistants. Of the seven only three will be professionals, or “career »

department,

men. t

voters knew when they re-elected him.

. . » » % » “THE THREE PROFESSIONALS are to be Undersecretary Joseph C. Grew and—when congress creates two additional positions—Assistants James C. Dunn and Brig. Gen. Grew, formerly undersecretary and ambassador to Turkey and Japan, is one of our oldest and ablest career men, besides being an old schoolmate of the President. His appointment is significant because he is Dunn is now the Holmes was sent from the diplomatic service to be chief of civil affairs on

Julius C. Holmes.

our ranking diplomat in Pacific affairs. department’s European director.

Gen. Eisenhower's staff,

But—since President Roosevelt is determined to be his own secretary of state and to fill the secondary positions with personal acquaintances—it is futile to hope for any L basie change now. That is the way he works, which the

“Assistant Secretary Dean Acheson, an able official and the only present assistant to remain, is to be congressional

contact man and also handle international conferences.

has lost favor at the White House,

” » » . . » CLAYTON is the world's biggest cotton broker, former assistant to Secretary of Commerce Jones and present surHe will handle -economic Rockefeller, now head of the office of inter-American affairs, which is to be absorbed, will handle the department’s Latin American affairs, And the poet MacLeish, another Roosevelt favorite, is ghifted from the library of congress to take charge of the department's

plus property administrator. affairs, plus aviation.

public and cultural relations.

usual.

IN APPRECIATION OF TOMMY THE CORK "THOMAS G. CORCORAN was the government before the | - New Deal. That may not be rémembered by many. But when reform cried for utterance after the stock market binge and Roosevelt arrived in Washington to chase the money changers from the temple, Tommy came into his own. He grabbed a hammerlock on opportunity, He was a bright, aggressive and charming young man, of the Horatio Alger type. And he was handy at the accordion, too, with an ample stock of songs and quips, and soon he turned out to be a “card” in White House affairs during evening hours of relaxation when the New Dealers were

taking their ease in their inn.

“Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'” should have been available in the tangy dawn of that new moral climate, However, “Home on the Range” sufficed. Tommy laid a quick foundation for the practice of He worked from sun-up to eve and far into the night for the uplift. He He covered more ground than a harrow. To change the metaphor, there was not a || rope he didn’t learn. He threw his weight where it meant most, developed an “in” on “the Hill” and through the departments, created the “White House calling” telephone technique, and otherwise established himself as one who

but it wasn't. influence. Reform was direly needed.

learned who counted, where.

amounted to much,

~ lawyer-lobbyist.

oy Ay

; Assistant Secretaries Berle, Shaw and Long have “resigned” and the following have been appointed: William L. Clayton, Nelson Rockefeller and Archibald MacLeish. Shaw and Long were good professionals, though Long at 63 has earned retirement. Berle went in ‘as a personal friend of the President, kas made some mistakes but performed well in the current world aviation conference; he apparently

Though many of these men lack diplomatic experience, they have the advantage of knowing each other, Secretary Stettinius and the President. That should make for better teamwork in a department which has lacked it. The “quarterback” in the White House will call all the signals, as

. 8 = . a nn» FINALLY, the new moral shine began to dim. The WPA scandals started. The first flush of virgin idealism faded into the “practical”; the evangelical flash subsided |- into a steadier, though more pragmatic glow. So Tommy turned practical, too. He went over to thé other side of the street, carrying his know-how and his equipment, his knowledge of who and when and what, with him, reversed his haberdashery, and went to work as a|-

“Next seen he was giving Harold a buzz and hanging his hat on the hall tree of his old friend and fellow revivalist,

ate ommy, He's ood, according to ‘the that herever J ou iid hime \& 104 10 pass the word

Mediterranean, and a Union of the West, consisting

‘| Molotov agreement at Moscow, the commission was

RERECTIONS aN Past and Future

By Robert Duncan ~~ LT peace, 1010-1917," by Joseph

Daniels (University of North Carolina Press: $4), is the opening volume of the memoirs of a stanch friend of President Wilson, and as his secretary of navy, an im-

mentous years, For the many who, after a bitter presidential campaign, are soured on politics and politicians, Mr. Daniels’ book is refreshing reading and goes far to restore faith. ? It depicts, without rancor, the hard row of bitterness and ridicule which men in high places must Loe. But it is neither a defense per se of a profession, nor is it, strictly speaking, altogethér an autoblography. Mr, ‘Daniels has you pull up a comfortable chair, light that cigaret you've put away for a special occasion, and listen to recollections of the Wilson administration. His story is not a new one, but his interpretation of the men and events of ‘the era he writes of is lively, mellow, and consistently interesting.

Behind-the-Scenes Portrait

WOODROW WILSON was, and is, his hero. He tells of the day he met Wilson, how he entered politics and gained: the support of Bryan, and was nominated and elected. He gives a behind-the-scenes portrait of the man who was to go down in the minds of many as a martyr; and now and then he gets around to Josephus Daniels, whose brother warned him to turn down a cabinet job should Wilson offer it to him. But he decided to take it “with great pleasure, knowing that I am doing wrong.” . Perhaps a minor, but interesting point brought out by Mr. Daniels is the truth behind his ban on intoxicantg for men in the navy. Alcohol had been tabu before—for enlisted men and petty officers. Officers could have their cocktails, and Daniels’ act was the correction of what he saw to be a non-democratic evil, His first book of the Wilson years is a fine ome, and its readers will look forward to the second volume, which will deal with 1917 and the following tragic years, ! . » »

Mr, Daniels

portant participant in those mo- | Si

“THE GENTLEMEN TALK OF PEACE” and so does William: B, Ziff in his new 580-page book published by Macmillan at $3.00, The voice is occasionally strident, but speaks good sense. Mr, Ziff twirls a globe with his pointing finger, and when it comes

"The Hoosier Forum

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

to a halt, he casually realigns boundaries and does a redecorating job in several colors. But the author, bear no comparison to “diplomatic shadow-boxing.”

Strikes at Roots ‘of Problem

STRIKING AT the roots of the problem, Mr, Ziff declares: “Much of the genesis of the present conflict will be found in the revolutionary character of our time.” He asks, “Can civilization survive the radically changed conditions brought about by the machine age, without a series of violent*and bloody upheavals which will leave the world finally a shambles, and perhaps put an end to the white race?” ~ Though not optimistic of survival, much less an Utopia, he advocates “radical action,” then proceeds to outline steps which would put to an end Germany's ability to make war, ‘There would be no German army or police force, no arms, submarines, airplanes. The German industrial machine must be broken down and a large part of it used for the benefit of ruined neighbors, Pan-Germanists (large landowners, industrialists, some {titellectuals) who would | be the core of any future German resistance would be “liquidated.” The world’s society would be reorganised into selfcontained “Power Aggregates”: the U. 8. 8. R,, a United Orient, a United Europe clustered around the

of North and South America, the British Isles and Australasia, and a mandated territory of Africa. He calls it “a compromise between the ideal of an international society and the existing era of international discord and disorder.” Whatever you may call it, it's thought-provoking reading.

WORLD AFFAIRS—

Time to Meet By William Philip Simms

(Continued From Page One)

position is steadily deteriorating. In Yugoslavia, something akin to terror reigns. Poland's plight is notoriously tragic. Turkey and Switzerland are wondering what is in store for them, Spain and Portugal are uneasy, and so on. . Chungking, Free China's capital, is menaced by the advanc-

admit the next 60 days may decide whether or not China can continue in the war. Collapse is a distinct possibility. Some blame Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and his conservative entourage. Some blame the Chinese Communists who refuse to collaborate with Chungking, save on their own terms, Still others say the fault lies with the allies, for China has already lasted several times as long as military experts believed she could, fighting almost with bare hands, : ;

Chinese Collapse Is Possible

word from her to the right people—whether in Bel-

elsewhere—would be as oil on troubled waters.

Fundamentally, American policy, at least, has followed the Atlantic Charter. Governments and boundaries were to be left intact until after the defeat of the axis. Then all such issues would be settled around the peace tables. Meantime the allies would not take advantage of the war to gain territory for themselves or to impose governments on unwilling or helpless peoples. Partially to implement this understanding, a European advisory commission was set up at London, " But the commission has failed, because the Big Three have net empowered it to function as it was intended to function. One dangerous situation after another has arisen in Europe and nothing has been done about it, Yet, according to the Hull-Bden-

to insure the closest co-operation between the three governments. It was to study Buropean questions as they arose and make recommendations concerning them.

Revolutionists Fish In Troubled Waters NOTHING LIKE that has happened. Washington and London have been and remain in the dark cone cerning Moscow's present and future intentions in Europe and Asia. '

else. And in almost every instance local Communists

ing Japanese. Some officials, there | favored peacetime military train-

RUSSIA, above all, holds the key to this mess. A

gium, Greece, Poland, France, Yugoslavia, China or

“HATS OFF TO OUR LOCAL SYMPHONISTS” By Clara Cheadle, 020 Division st.

Hats off to our local symphonists who trudged three miles over railroad ties to keep their appointment at Dartmouth college. - This should be both morale booster and object lesson to all people who class the fine arts as panty-waist luxury instead of recognizing them as a necessary element of good living. L The example should shame all who are dilatory or indifferent about their jobs. A keen sense of duty—a natural talent — good education — capable leadership. Let's be proud of the Indianapolis Symphony! . »

» “ISOLATIONISTS

ARE ON THE LOOSE" By Horace Pogue, Seymour It would appear that the isolationists are on the loose again, Haven't these people learned how many of our fighting men died because of our lack of preparedness for the present war? “There are none 80 blind as those who will not see,” and most isolationists are in reality escapists. They, are just plain afraid to face the facts of life. Did burying our heads in the sand prevent the Japanese from attacking us? It did not, but a powerful navy and air force poised to strike at a moment's notice would have kept the sons of er-a-heaven in their own back yard. Hugh 8. Deale writes: “Any thinking person, and certainly every mother and father, would oppose peace-time conscription.” That is the equivalent of saying, “anyone who disagrees with me is a fool.” Such an attitude is not conducive toward making intelligent decisions. The figures aren't before me, but I believe the last Fortune poll showed that 70 per cent of the public and 90 per cent of our servicemen

ing. There must have been a few mothers and fathers in those vast percentages, How many sons do you have in the present war, Mr. Deale? Mrs. Laura: A. Allen - writes: “Compulsory doesn't mean freedom.” What about compulsory edu-

taxes, etc.? Where people must

cation, compulsory payment of|n

(Times readers are invited fo 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 correspondence regarding them.)

r

| “PLEASE KNOW YOUR FACTS”,

‘|1t is so ill advised and full of

By Carl RB. Davis, president, Indiana State Association of Letter Carriers, Indian- " apolis, in the Hoosier Forum appeared an article from James R. Meitzler

of Attica, in regard to postal pay.

misinformation that it certainly cannot be passed over. It is true that we are asking our employer, the United States postofice department, for an Increase in salary, but only in such manner as we believe to be commensurate with the needs of the times and those to come.

thing as absolute freedom. She further states, “If Europe wants to kill each other, let them do it.” It is evident that our world is now one large community. If Mrs. Allen's neighbors kept killing one another, would she feel it was none of her business just because she had a high fence around her house? I don't think she would. She could readily see that this barrier would only slow them down, and it would be just a question of time until they entered her own yard to continue their killing. It has never been advocated that scrapping a police force would prevent crime. A police force does not prevent crime, but it does help curb its growth and protect the law-abid-ing citizenry from the criminals. War may be likened to crime on a mass production basis. Preparedness may not prevent all wars, but it will curb.a number of them and protect our countrty from the ravages of invading armies, China is an excellent example of

the

live together there can be no such

a nation that hid behind self-made barriers and put almost no curb on freedom of its people. Look at her plight today. We now

As president of the Indiana State Association of Letter Carriers, I consider it a privilege to ask Mr. Meitaler and my fellow workers a few pertinent questions. First: Do you think that by any chance, the cost of living will drop immediately at the close of hostilitles, to anywhere near the level of former years? % Can anyone deny the fact that this war must be paid from taxes, or that those taxes must stay high? Do you, Mr. Meitzler, kriow that we pay any and all forms of such taxes? Do you, Mr. Meitzler, fully realize that devaluation, inflated prices, taxes, retirement fund of 5 per cent; etc, have so reduced our income that at our present base pay plus war bonds, we now have only about two-thirds of our ‘pre-war pay? Do. you know that the pay raise is intended to do away with the

bonus, not in addition thereto? Do you know that we work for 18 cents less per hour on overtime than at regular rates? Do you know that we have no

Side Glances=By Galbraith

IN WASHNGTON— ; . Hands-Off Policy

{By Thomas L. Stokes

by

WASHINGTON, Dec. §.—Demo= crats in congress, with a few notable exceptions, are exhibiting a callous and—in some cases—cynical .attitude in the matter of some housecleaning and improvement of administration which the publie seemed to expect after the election. Congress has a definite ree sponsibility of its own with which it is charged by the people. This “is to use its investigative powers to examine allegations of maladministration in gove ernment departments, such as those brought by Norman Littell, deposed assistant attorney general, against Atty. Gen. Biddle. They involve, in part, the influence of. an outside friend, the ‘lawyer. lobbyist Thomas G. Corcoran, upon Mr, Biddle's decisions in important matters,

Democratic Leaders Shy Away

ONE BRANCH of congress, the senate, shares with the President the, power of appointment through, its authority to reject presidential nominations. Yet, a reporter who inquires around the Capitol finds Democratic leaders shying away from an inquiry into the Littell charges, where they are not busy trying to squeich anyone bold enough to want some light, such as Rep. Voorhis (Cal), § progressive Demoerat, who has introduced an investigation resolution. > The reporter also discovers that while Democrate privately are critical of President Roosevelt's twe appointments to the all-important surplus property board, ex-Gov, Robert A. Hurley of Connecticut, a lame duck, and Lt. Col. Edward F. Heller of Cali fornia, they are preparing to swallow them, holding their noses the while, as “a party matter.”

itself and tell Mr. Roosevelt plainly that it wants different sort of men, men more experienced im the type of work to be done by this importan$ agency. But Democrats, who are in the ma, are not stirring themselves, ’ Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn is using his powerful office to prevent the proposed house judiciary committee inquiry into the Littell charges, being obligated on many counts to Tommy Corcoran

Mead Dodges Behind Subterfuge

IN NAMING names, there might also be included Senator Mead (D. N. Y.), who is acting on behalf of the administration to suppress any investigation into the Littell charges by the committee Which he heads, formerly known as the Truman committee.

Public Can Not Get the Story

TOMMY CORCORAN is expected to appear few days before a house committee, the special

station WMCA, New York, to former Assistant Secre tary of Commerce ‘Edward J. Noble, This particularly smelly affair involving inside pressure, in which the firm of Dempsey & Koplovits was em ployed. Both young men, William J, Dempsey and William Koplovitz formerly were employed by the federal communications commission, Tommy has been associated with them. JBut administration pressure resulted in closing the doors of this committee, so that the public can not get the story. In the absence of any initiative by Democrats,

t

IN WASHINGTON

Price Support By Daniel M. Kidney

are spearheading a

money put into a fund to help lat least a few of them out of the breadlines.

being At present OPA sets the maximums but the Mine neapolis plan for owner-bosses to join the union has

Here is an opportunity for the senate to exert

WASHINGTON —President Roo pointments to the high command f grees of oppositi today. But administrs pressed confiden would be confirm The senate committee appro tions yesterday. Chairman Sena (D. Tex.) said hi est floor oppositic ment of Archibal

assistant secretar He indicated be

® ~ * toh :* Cha fa. pho . * tak ® ‘ . his 2 raph * «

A —_ ll ii

sg Fs