Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 April 1948 — Page 14

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hoping Mr. Hoffman finds able men to help him in this

) HOWARD WALTER LECKRONE HENRY W. MANZ President = Editor © : Business Manager

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PAGE 14 Wednesday, Apr. 7, 1048

LE # oy _ 5 Owned published daily (except Sunday) by Times Publishing Co, 214 W. Maryland St. Postal Zone 9, Member of United Press, Scripps - Howard Newspaper Alliance, NEA Service, and Audit Bureau of Circulations. Price 'n Marion County, 5 cents a copy; detivered by carrier, 25¢c a week. = in Indiana, $5 a year; all other ay as possessions, Canada and Mexico, $1.10 a month. Telephone RI ley 5551. re taght and the People Wili Fins Thew Own way

Paul Hoffman and ERP HS eppointment as administrator of the European Re- + covery Program gives to Paul G. Hoffman a job of great difficulty—and great opportunity. Mr. Hoffman brings to the post high talent as a business executive, and widespread public confidence and respect earned as president of the Studebaker Corp., as chairman of the Committee for Economic Development, which did so much to encourage post-war business expansion, and as a member of the committee which drafted the excellent Harriman report on ERP, The fact that his appointment was urged by Republican congressional leaders should help Mr. Hoffman launch the program with a minimum of election-year opposition. And it should en- | able him to carry forward into the future stable policies, regardless of the outcome of the November balloting. The law gives to the ERP administrator extraordinary powers in dealing with foreign governments. If he gets off on the right foot and keeps on a firm course, he can accomplish much in restoring prosperity and security to that portion of war-weary Europe west of the iron curtain, where people still struggle to maintain free government. It is important that this not become another rathole operation. That ERP be held to its announced purpose of helping European democracies help themselves. That we get, in return for our multibillion bounty, scarce materials for stockpiling here. That the Marshall Plan countries be required to stabilize their currency systems, lower their trade barriers, and develop their resources and productivity for mutual exchange and advantage. » . LJ » . . : FOR THIS, some form of clearing house should be established. Anything that one European country needs and another can produce, should be produced and traded over there—not supplied from here. We are trying to get away from the system of hand-outs through which we have poured forth upward of $20 billion in American goods and dollars—with little result. : : Mr. Hoffman and those who work with him will encounter many pitfalls, They will have to overcome ancient nationalistic prejudices and habits, and the even more ancient human desire to get something for nothing. Here's

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undertaking. The peace and stability of the western world may depend largely upon its success. >

Friendly tke oy Ta (GEN. Eisenhower has tried in as many ways and as strong words as he knows to keep himself out of politics. He finally convinced the Republicans that he meant it—bput then the Republicans have a large field of candidates from which to choose. hs Not so the Democrats. They have only one candi« date, Harry Truman. And a lot of Democrats, for different reasons, are not happy about Mr. Truman. - They look around for somebody to use to beat him. And it's strange what a variety of Democrats are trying to start a “Draft Ike” bandwagon. One day a southern conservative declares the general is just the man to save the country and the party. Next day it's a northern city boss. Next, a New England “liberal,” or a CIO or AFL or Farm Bloc leader, : How account for this phenomenon of politics—Democrats of the right and left, who don't agree with each other on anything else, huzzahing for Ike for President? The assorted Eisenhower boosters admit, when pinned down, that they don't know where the general stands on any important political issue of the day. In his lifetime as a military man, the general has carried out to the Nth degree the soldierly policy of not getting involved in controversial political questions. Maybe that’s the explanation of his popularity with politicians of so many shades. They look upon his frank, open, friendly countenance, and each says to himself: “That Ike is a nice fellow, 80 he must agree with me.” Each sees in the general the image of his own political beliefs and prejudices. The general just smiles, says he isn't interested, and wishes they would go away.

WE THINK there may be one way Gen. Eisenhower can bail himself out of his embarrassment. It's pretty drastic, but we think it could accomplish the privacy the general wants where all his honest protestations that he's not running have failed. With the utmost of friendliness, General, we suggest you try this: Haul off and tell 'em what you think on every major issue now before the country. If you say you favor the so-called Civil Rights program, the Southerners will immediately start leaving you alone. If you oppose the program, the “liberals” and northern city bosses will start cooling. ; Speak your mind on the Palestine question—you’re sure to lose votes whichever side you take. Declare your views on income taxes, sales taxes, corporate profit taxes, margarine taxes. Speak out on farm subsidies and tariffs, on public housing and socialized medicine, on price controls and rationi ery time you open your mouth, you'll scare ‘off another crowd of politicians. Pretty soon, you'll achieve what you've wanted. You'll be left alone to go your way in peace to the serenity of Columbia University. If you don’t think that will do the job, general, just look at what's been ‘happening to your friend and Com-mander-in-chief, Harry Truman.

No Mystery

THE strike in New York's financial district has forced dignified brokers to roll up their sleeves, grab mops and do their own janitor work. : It won't take a congressional investigation to find out

In Tune With the Times

PORTRAIT

A portrait in the torn leaves of a book, With never dim possession of a name, Lay like an idle dream, though void of shame: Dumb lps, ‘and exes that never hope to look Beyond the depths of nothing and forsook A valiant smile that died before it came Without the warmth of love or light.of fame, Leave but the glimpse of tenderness they took. In the still form the silent kiss of death And, yet, the beauty of half-wakened life Still bloom upon the brink of other years! And, 1, to fancy but one fleeting breath Should swell thy bosom chaste in noble strife Would look upon thy image dimmed tears. —~MARVIN THEODORE JOLLY. * & 0 A

When most after-dinner speakers wind up their speech, it's the audience that should say, “I thank you.”

® o TOY CHEST

Just a battered wooden box Filled to the brim with toys, And each a cherished treasure In the eyes of little boys.

There's a box of toy tin soldiers And a sad-eyed teddy bear, He nearly died of “loving”; But, of course, he didn’t care.

And here's a funny wooden man, He has a broken arm; He lost it in a fall one day, But he felt no alarm.

Oh, here's a book I read to them; They loved this story dearly. If I should read it to them now I wonder if they'd hear me?

For they are grown up now, you see, No longer little boys; But still I find delight in This treasured box of toys. --BETTY ABBETT. * ¢ Mar is the million or more reasons why women are interested in the attractive spring fashions. > ¢ ¢

LOVE'S TEST .

ALBURT®

| Hoosier Forum,

I am a veteran of World War IT haying served three years with the U. 8. Army in the South Pacific. Iam now in the enlisted Army

reserves. ’ 1 am ashamed of the fact

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at you? From the article I quote again: “Senator Jenner was so busy getting ready fo go to Indianapolis for the Columbia Club beefsteak ~ dinner tonight, that he only listened to the President via radio here yesterday. He issued this statement: “The President’s mes. sage was alarmingly frank.’ Why does he tell us now?” Please Mr. Jenner, I am ashamed, When the people of Indiana elect a man to the highest office possible representing the state in the United States Government and ‘when the Presidént calls a joint session of Congress one of our illustrious Indiana Sen. afors is “too b getting ready to go to a beefsteak, dinner.” The President's message, Mr. Jenner, was “alarmingly frank,” but let us not take the ostrich’s attitude, ® % @P

Plea for Meyers

We thought we knew what love was all about That day we walked together down the aisle, But now we know that we had only guessed . At what those words “I love you” can compile.

We know that life with happiness and care, With sadness and joy, down through each year Brings love that first love can’t compare with, And makes us to each other seem more dear.

-~MARGIE YOUNG HILL. * ° <

Announcing one sap that we're sure is going to run Sain. yenper good old maple.

LINDA LEE

I know a little girl Whose name is Linda Lee, Her eyes are like dew-drops That sparkle on a tree.

‘Her golden, curly hair Wind-blown tho’ it be, Is like the morning sun When it comes up, at sea.

Her lovely little form— No painter could express The charm and the beauty Under that yellow dress.

Ana there's that bonnet, too; She doesn’t a "9% Altho’ it makes her look Just like a millionaire. -

Ah! Yes, she's a darling, More than you realize. Sometimes I kinda think— An angel in disguise, TL. JOHNSTON.

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* A man too important in his own way is usually in the way of others. sik

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FOSTER'S FOLLIES .

(“WASHINGTON-—FBI Investigating Veterans’ Housing.”) On big question that's arousing Lots of thought throughout the land, Is the faulty GI housing, ; And just where the poor guys stand.

But we felt that those behind it, (Though some efforts went awry) Would at least know where to find it, And not need the FBI.

FOREIGN ASFAIRS . . . By Parker La Moore Italian Election Finds Reds Well-Organized

ROME, Apr. 7—The election campaign in Italy finds the Communists well organized and financed and the Christian Democrats, their principal opposition, badly in need of a Jim Farley and an adequate campaign fund. . W The Communist grass-roots organization is one to delight the hearts of politicians. It begins with the neighborhood cell of five members. Five cells make a group, five groups a section and five sections a federation. Each of these units is under a leader whose authority is as well defined as it would be in a military organization. The plan follows almost identically the pattern set up by Mussolini for his cellular Fascist organization. '

They Pay Dues Promptly

POLITICAL ACTIVITIES are financed by assessments on the dues-paying members of the Communist Party. And these people pay up promptly, as a result of rigid party discipline. If the Italian Democrats had an organization and money to match that possessed by the Communists, the outcome of the Apr. 18 election would not be in doubt. The Catholic Church through its parish priests has the only organization in the country which compares with the Red's field force. And the only real money the Christian Democrats have had has been supplied by the Catholic Church, But here again the Communists are the best fortified. Typical of how their money is being used in the case of the province of Benevento with a population of 200,000. The Communists have 10 organizers in the province, each of whom is paid 50,000 lire (about $250) and is furnished an automobile,

Reds Pay Organizers Well

. UNMARRIED TEACHERS in Rome high schools are paid only 20,000 lire a month and bank clerks between 32,000 and 40,000. So the Communist field worker rates well toward the top of the white-collar class. * Communist goon squads on election day will be matched by Catholic Action groups, but these are not full-time workers, merely persons who will volunteer to protect the voters at the polls. It is much too late now to do anything about the lack of political organization by the Democrats. Work should. have been started two or even three years ago at the same time the Communists took the field tuo win votes for Moscow. The moves made by the United States to influence the election also have been late. Most effective are the letters from ItalianAmericans to their relatives in Italy, particularly those letters which have inclosed cash. A little money goes a long way in Italy. 8 The Communists are the threat they are today because they have had the field virtually to themselves. While we were confining our activities to the top diplomatic levels, the Communists were working the section lines’ and at the factory gates. The Communist Party has a paid up membership of two million, while the remaining 21 million potential voters are unorganized and as apt to get aboard the Communist bandwagon be-

cause it appears to be a going concern as they are to vote one of the other tickets.

cleaned up in this Wall Street operation.

Leaders of the anti-Communist forces have had little if any

WASHINGTON, Apr. huge European Recovery Program, will take a staff of about 800 in this country and approximately the same number abroad. Even before the No. 1 and No. 2 men get organized, the drive has begun to recruit this force. Immediately the question of clearance for loyalty comes up. Increasingly, with the spread of fear and suspicion, this becomes an obstacle in the way of quick, effective government. As spelled out in the BRP Bill, that obstacle looks particularly tough. It is a beautiful example of the lack of confidence which seems to plague

Under the loyalty provision of the bill, there is a period of grace of three months when members of the staff may go to work, This is a modification of the language put in by the House, which specified that no one could be employed at all without first undergoing a loyalty check and certification. If that language had stayed in, the start of the program might have been delayed for weeks .or months. Both: in the State Department and the FBI, there was a great sense of relief when the tHree-months grace period was substituted. There is still, however, a big hurdle in the loyalty provision. All employees must be investigated during the three-moriths grace period. They cannot be retained after that time except on the following terms:

Catch Word Is ‘Believes’

“ ...UNLESS SUCH individual has been investigated as to loyalty and security by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a report thereon has been made to the Secretary of State and the administrator, and until the Secretary of State or the administrator has certified in writing and filed copies thereon with the Senate Committee on Foreign Rélations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs that after full consideration of such report he believes such individual is loyal to the United States, its constitution and form of government and is not now and has never been a member of any organization advocating contrary views.” The catch word in the above is “believes.” Legal advisers in the State Department are of the opinion that this means the secretary or the ad-

NATIONAL AFFAIRS . . . By Marquis Childs

Loyalty Check of ERP Tough Job

ministrator must personally vouch for the loyalty

7—Administering the of each individual employee.

Peurifoy,

his assistant act for him.

charged with top responsibility “foreign policy.

Heavy Burden for FBI

placed on the overworked FBI.

Atomic Energy Commission.

The Budget Bureau cut the FBI from the $50,000,000 requested by J. Edgar Hoover to about $43,000,000. This means that the number of agents will be reduced by 413 on July 1. FBI employees are now working a 6-day week while other government workers are on a regular

5-day week.

work load of FBI goes up.

creasingly oppressive burden. with loyalty investigators

Side Glances—By Galbraith

That appeared to be the view of members of Congress who wrote the provision into law. They wanted a personal guarantee from the top man. Ordinarily, of course, certification of loyalty after a thorough FBI inquiry would be delegated to an administrative assistant. In the State Department this responsibility falls on John E. isstant secretary for administration. But Mr. Peurifoy’s legal adviser has informed him that in this instance, because of the of tne wikP act, secretary Marshall could not have:

Even if the secretary and the administration should divide the task, it would put a great burden on two men who already have far-too much to do. To look over several hundred FBI reports and personally vouch for that number of employees ‘would consume the invaluable time of officers

AT THE SAME time a heavy new burden is

Truman's loyalty order the FBI has thus far checked 1,404,162 government employees, nearly 400,000 still to go. The FBI must clear all employees of and applicants for’ work with the

Buck-passing between Congress and certain government agencies also adds to Mr. Hoover's burden. Take the factual example of agency XYZ. A committee of Congress believes that Agency XYZ, reluctant to act, tells the Committee that it has asked the FBI to get more information. This means putting six agents on the case, and the

Government cannot be efficient under this inIt will finally end investigating other loyalty investigators, and the net result will be a stalemate of suspicion and distrust.

—

4-7 comm. 190 mv ner

INC. 7. M. REC. U. 8. PAT. OFF.

“I'l bet you've get plenty in the bank, Mr. Greeley! Don't people wear out lots more shoes nowadays hunting for * houses and bargains?"

more experience in Democratic elections than the rank and file voters and in the main they have relied upon oratory to present the issues, They do not have the machinery to measure the success of their efforts. Observers are hopeful that the activity and influence -of parish priests in rural villages will cause many peasant wives to vote against the Communists even though they may counter their husbands’ votes. : ’

LITTLE QUOTES From Big People

In order to fight the threat of communism democracy must be made to work, and we must free our economy from scarcities and monopoly controls.—~Walter P. Reuther, president, UAW. * + 9

. Parties to a divorce rarely destroy the tranquillity of home

life for children. In most instances relatives assume maintenance | of a stable home lite.~Probate Judge John V. Mahoney of Boston.

By H. Seaford During the war we said nobody could ever repay service men. Remember? When war records are examined few men have records more outstanding than Gen, Meyers. His fel. low officers were loud in his praise. He was “tireless” and he produced amazing results, When he asked to be sent overseas he was told he could not be spared, With fanfare he was awarded medals and praised was heaped on him. (There was no ceremony later when the medals were taken from him.) To all except his enemies, it is conceivable that he as much solicitude for his family, During the war, Meyers, as procurement officer, was in contact with ‘out-of-service: men who were piling up personal fortunes, Hé yielded to temptation. , . When Howard Hughes was investigated he was impregnable and sassy. Meyers declared they had to find a scapegoat to save their faces. He said, “that turned out to be me.” When Meyers was found guilty, few newspapers told that Mrs. Meyers struggled through the crowded courtroom to his side, put her arms around him ‘and kissed him. | If two men conspire to commit a crime, one committing the crime and the other giving encouragement, to ordinary people it would seem that the one who committed the crime was worse, Perjury seems criminal while persuasion to perjury seems {li#gal rather than criminal. Illegal, bei 16 stripping Meyers of his medals; fllégdl, like withholding from Meyers his earned pension. ! Today the brilliant, one-time-indispensable officer who, persuaded to perjury, is in jail; the incapable, desk-hugging civilian who committed perjury is greeting hij customers with a smile, ® ¢

Land Reform

“By Thomas Lloyd

The people need no warning. Everybody, except those who have an ax to grind, is too disgusted with European affairs to get excited about what happens over there. This county is being bled white and pushed to the brink of war to save the family dynasty, The same interests are promoting the same system in this country; landed estates and subsidized gentleman farming. ; Individual welfare receives no consideration, A world-wide land reform is the only thing that will bring peace and prosperity for all.

IN WASHINGTON . . . By Peter Edson Whatever Truman Does He's Sure to Be Wrong

WASHINGTON, Apr. 7—The beating President Harry 8. Truman gets is something. But when you add up the crimes of which he is accused, they amount to simply this: He has been opposed to a tax cut all along because he believes: (1) That the national debt should be reduced while national income is high. (2) That national defense is going to cost a lot more money which should come out of taxes, not from borrowing. People who object to this policy are in a funny position. They used to criticize Roosevelt because he ran up the debt, Now they criticize Truman because he wants to pay it off as fast as possible. The President thinks there ought to be a federal law against lynching people. He thinks the poll tax should be abolished as a requirement for voting in federal elections. Only seven of the 48 states still have poll taxes. The President thinks there should be a Permanent Fair Employment Practices Commission to prevent “unfair” discrime ination. He thinks Jim Crowism should be eliminated on inter« state transportation. He doesn’t say on local busses and streetcars—just those which cross state lines. ‘

for American

Undér President with

Other Proposals. on the Pan

FOR THESE FOUR and six more general civil rights proposals like admitting Hawaii and Alaska to statehood, giving District of Columbia citizens the right to vote and admitting Orientals to citizenship in this great “melting pot” country that is now trying to save the rest of thé world for democracy, the President is threatened by revolt in his own party. = * Mr. Truman’s proposals for UMT and a temporary draft law are criticized with about the same degree of consistency. The President is panned by his opponents becaues he didn’t ask for more air power. In any defense program, however, the first requirement is man power. ! a he President Pow calls for a costly international re« nt program and it goes h along with economic aid, an additional strain will be rue U. pg dow of foods, raw materials and manufacturing capacity. Under such increased demand prices are apt to be forced still higher. Last November the President asked authority to put emergency con-

trols on prices where needed. His oppositio id he wanted to set up a police state. Ppo 8 S24 Tew .

Foreign Policy Under Fire

THE PRESIDENT is taking a shellackihg on foreil licy, particularly on Palestine. There are plenty 5 can. the original Palestine policy should not have been adopted. Partition has never worked. Is there any reason a foreign policy shouldn't be abandoned if it isn’t working? While the Marshall Plan’ was criticized because it asked too much, Mr. Truman's China policy was criticized because it didn’t ask enough. ? 3 : Gen. Marshall went to China as ambassador to work for A coalition of Nationalists and Communists. When he came back as Secretary Of State it was with the feeling that coalition

All these shifts—if that's what they are—are criticized as vacillating ‘Truman foreign policy. But what is a man to do if he has made a mistake? ‘on making it? Or admit that he has been wrong and then try something different?

munism is

. answer to tI

In the spir who knows | Mr. Hoffma not dismaye expected del “It can be

He speaks of a man minor mirac er miracles effort. A salesma salesman is For Mr. Hof uses all the efficiency ti A rugged dashes by there fast. ] lot of places daily itinera type train s In his ne does the ex his appoint will have mi as sales ter Billior With bill lars at his ¢ stimulate BE Europe and prosperous, “It can be repeats. “Tk off.” A foe of believer in capitalistic doesn’t dis difficulty of of Red-ism. “To my he has ren gamble.” Mr, Hoffn early Chica tled here 1 ago. A for (from who rives his r sewing ma good one. Fath Mr. Hoff D., was a trouble in who kept t Paul G. Apr. 26, 1 University with the fir lawyer. Bu he decided business, s The lure industry . Road-going you by the horses hc went to w distributor as a partn He soon that he be shop. Trie In time, became tl Charles M. ganized th Mr. Hayes to try his Mr. Hof the time, f was in th and sons ( kind of cl of the sal the ritzy those who Mr. Hg wasn't his the small and looket common px ed those other sale In 1910, decided to There, you with the Sf he was the the place. His com that fat around.” Lea For Mr cars and r anyone els contest he Mr, Hof He develo nesses on he observe days didn’ in trade. The ms more quicl like the ¢ whenever that seem up. had it :

ager of St branch, made bra tire distric Then ca man joine and rose { tenant, At the man was Job as np baker bra " He turne