Evening Star Newspaper, January 9, 1942, Page 13

Authority On Economic Front Urged .Unified Command In Victory Program Rroduction Advised By DAVID LAWRENCE. Unified tommand abroad, but when will unified command be es- tablished at home? This is the all ®*important questio.. which is asked widely in Washington to- ] day and on i i answer depends whether the vic- tory program of planes, ships and tanks will attained or whether it will prove to be & victory program “on order.” The Nazis are already telling their people that the program is fantastic. So are the Italians. The Japanese never believed the United States was as David Lawrence. ready as it pretended to be in the Pacific. The American people, how- ever, are being told again that every- | thing will be all right in the long run—and it will be, but only after there is some house-cleaning in high qQuarters here in Washington. The real trouble is that the idea of a debating society exists where single administrators should be set up. The President doubtless has been too busy to get around to the job of organizing production and supply at home as he has been necessarily occupied with conferences with Prime Minister | Churchill. But the time 1s approaching when decisions will have to be made. Thus the industry-management confer- ence in the auto industry proved to be a mere repetition® of the New Deal and anti-New Deal conflict of pre-war days. The C. I. O. and now the A. F. L. want the pro- duction program to be managed In large part by & council of equal number of representatives of indus- try and labor who will debate how | production shall be obtained. And yet when it comes to buying, these same labor leaders urge a central procurement agency outside the War and Navy Departments. Uniforms Might Serve. Mr. Roosevelt has asked Congress, too, to set up a single individual price administrator but he has not yet tackled the question of divided authority and councils and boards In the defense agencies which ought to be headed up by administrators with definitely outlined authority. The best thing that could possibly happen in Washington would be to put most of the persons concerned with the defense agencies into uni- forms and make them a part of the Army and Navy. Even the labor leaders ought to be asked to don uniforms and be given high rank, along with prominent business ex2c- utives, so that evervbody would be integrated into the war program on the same basis. The idea of pre- serving allegiances either to labor unions or business organizations while a war is being fought makes for too many complications and em- barrassments. It is the duty of the War Department to decide what weapons it wants and when it wants them made. It is the duty of the ‘War Department—and the Navy De- partment, too, for that matter—to issue contracts and place them where the work will be most expedi- tiously done The entrance of too many civilians with business and labor affiliations offers the same difficulty as the placing of political-minded persons in high office. The other day a c&b- inet officer was given a list of pros- pective persons for an imporiam activity related to defense and he is reported to have asked that cer- tain names be stricken from the list because the individuals were not “politically acceptable.” No Room for Politics. This sort of approach is bad for the consummation of any war pro- .gram. Capitol Hill also has been interfering with the proper handling of defense contracts by attempting to satisfy this or that pressure group or organization or band of constit- uents. If this is & war such as the President describes, there is no room in it for politics of any kind, party politics or personal politics or group selfishness. When will the President begin to develop a unified command on the economic front? aH-important thing in the second Werld War. Unfortunately, there are too many signs that “reform as usual” and the “New Deal as usual” are considered important by persons high up in the administration. Un- less all Americans, irrespective of political affiliations, are treated the same and the same goal is held aloft —namely, the accomplishment of the victory program—there may be sad news for the American people at the end of 1942. ‘The President has done a master- ful job in international policy and in presenting the American case to the world, but he has yet to prove that he knows how to be a capable Commander in Chief at home. (Reproduction Rights Reserved.) Montéomer;fPoIEé Unit Elects Sergt. Jones Sergt. Guy L. Jones was elected president of the Montgomery Coun- ty (Md.) Police Association at a meeting at tae Bethesda County Building. Others named were: Sergt. James McAuliffe, first vice president; Policeman Ira K. Hover, second vice president; Corpl. Charles Barnes, third vice president; Corpl. Gassaway Linthicum, fourth vice president; Police Clerk Kelly Mc- Gee, secretary, and Lt. D. L. Snyder, tréasurer. Sergt. J. B. Nolte, Policemen J. B. Day, Marion Dayhoff, E. L. ‘Thompson, and Police Clerk Law- zence Best were elected to the Board of Trustees, “ By DOROTHY THOMPSON." ‘The President’s message is one 1@ horrify our encmies, and cause us, ourselves, to be resolute and somber, Nothing less than the task he out- lines assures us of main- taining our security and independence |as a. great |nation in a |tolerable | world. Nothing less than just | such an effort will save America, as a " land of free Dorethy Thempson. souls, with a great future for our children’s children. ® * What he demands is. the fotal mobilization of the labor, resources, savings, credit, wille power and brains. of the Nation, | for an effort extending to every fleld, assembly line, craft, bar- racks, laboratory, household. What he asks demands that we think, work and act at every moment in the full consciousness that in our hands rests the fate | of the United States of America | and of the whole of western civilization. ‘What this means is not vet clear in the consciousness of the people. What it means can hardly be imagined. It means a | complete change in every one of | our lives. It means that things | that we take for granted, as ordinary necessities, will become, very\ soon, unobtainable luxuries. | There is not a single material thing of life that does not con- tain something that must be diverted for defense—soap, for instance, which contains fats of which there will be a shortage. We normflly consume 60 per cent | of the world's soap, and even the | poorest regards soap as a trifle, | But it is not. Must Salvage Waste. The situation in the Far East | will deprive us of many essential. | raw materials. The people of this | country do not realize how great is our industrial dependence upon | the Far East. We shall have to salvage and reconvert every sort of waste. And America is notori- ously the most wasteful nation on earth. dominated for a genera- tion by an economic theory of prosperity through rapid obso- | lescense. Our thinking is condi- | tioned to the garbage can and the | wastebasket. | Our work mentality is tuned to the idea that efficiency consists of the smallest amount of work for the largest material rewards. Now efficiency must mean the most prodigious effort largely as a free gift to America and the world's besieged. | Can a nation change its in- grained habits? Will it love de- | mocracy as deeply in adversity as l in prosperity? That is our test. The test is whether we shall re- discover America and American democracy or lose it. Nothing | less. ! And no one yet knows the an- | swer. “Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray.” But no one knows the answer. Must Save Ourselves. It is not written in the stars that we shall win this war. Nothing will save us but our- selves. What the President proposes is | BEEEIZEEEREZEERREANM In a Dual Role Military Styled Shoes On the Record War Cap’t Be Won With Authority Checking And Balancing Itself Into Chaos THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1042 This Changing World possible. It is wothing more than that. But it is not possible unless there is a radil reconsiderstion of the present organization and administration Mr. Willkie's re- mark to this efect following the President’s sprech was a loyal warning. The problem is one of author- ity and co-oyera¥on; of com- plete, center.d responsibility, plus the wicest decentraliz tion of admini:tration; the crea- tion of an esp.it de corps of the whole Nation, nd its creation in {reedom. ‘The failure «f democratic gov- emments to .dequately under- stand that auhority is not in- compatible with democracy is one reason for the demise of democ- racies. Need Centra, Responsibility. ‘The production program can- not be realize¢ unless the Presi- dent makes ons man, & man who combines tercific drive with great tact ang patriotism, com- pletely respon:ible for this pro- gram, with a pace in a small war cabinet and aithority over even Army and Nav’ purchases. We cannot win a war of the dimensions of this one with au- thority checking and balancing itself into cheos. Neither can it be won from Washington alone. Authority muit devolute itself to the farthest oeripheries of the Nation and alow democracy to function—the heroic effort of every voluntery group. If the state goes or. trying to absorb into itself every energy of life, we shall be caight in a dead ma- chine and stringled in paper. The Nazis kiow this. They are | despotic to th- core of their pur- pose, but und-rstanding the na- | ture of total war, of which they and the Japinese are the au- thors, they lave developed, in the mechanic: and economics of war, a far gieater decentraliza- tion and fluliity than the bu- reaucratic democracles. Must Not Demoblilize Thinking. Under the frst shock of the at- tack upon us there is a natural tendency of al to “trust the Gov- ernment” anc any criticism risks appearing as disloyalty. But the very passion tnat we have for our | country and ‘ne greatness of our | cause demani that we do not demobilize trinking. A submis- sive America can be regimented, but not libe:ated into creative action. The Natior. must consider how to win this var, and that con- sidergtion wi! call into question rigidities, in¢ficiencies, lack of authority witl, responsibility, out- | worn habits «f organization and behavior ever.in the armed forces | and petty jealousies between | agencies whos: spheres of activity and responsidlity are not de- lineated. * Al attacke! nations have gone through a period of confusion and silence. The first shock Ws meant a sot of spiritusl de- mobilization. And the reawaken- ing to new strength has come through the cuality of the leader- ship. The President has -this leadership tu an extraordinary degree. But he must use his authority to riake clean decisions, cut red tap:, give people and groups comjlete responsibility, kick them out if they fail, and thus create he confidence that will mobilize the entire Nation. (Released by tie Bell Syndicate. Inc.) HOE America’s most ppular shoe for b both men in the s:rvice and civil- ians. beyond compare. Superb quclity and service In the smartest of new bark tan leathers. | Snyder @ Liitle 1229 G St. N.W. |8 Pine Footwear Since 1885 4 _-_—— e -k Production is the | _ -1 709 14th $t. N.W. : i _Phone NA. 1997 ) NAVY UNIFORMS Qvercoats, Mackinaws, Bleuses, Slacks, Service Blue, Raincoats 100 per cemt Virgin Woalens Expertly Tai- lored 1» Your Individual Measure ; Priced Reasonebly ? ] q’Hl opinions of the writers on this page are their own, not necessarily The Star’s. Such opinions are presented in The Star’s effort to give all sides of questions of interest to its readers, although such opinions may be contradictory among themselves and directly opposed to The Star’s. The Great Game of Politics Efficient Administration " Called ‘Something to Be By FRANK R. KENT. Here, where there is so much dup- | lication, disorder and waste in the effort to put the Nation in fighting shape, it is invigorating to find one war sagency which functions effectively, effi- ciently, without friction, without confusion and ., almost without | complaint. As they pre- pare to register of Selective Service Proud Of" was done to perfect the best pos- sible plan. ‘When, in 1940, the Selective Serv- ice Act was passed, creating an autonomous board responsible only to the President, it found the ad- | ministration fully prepared. In this | case no one could charge a lack of administration foresight. In this case the administration was ready | with the law, with the organization and with the men.” In this case the drafting is being done even better than it was in 1917, though a very good job was done them. But the | unavoidable mistakes made by those next month, some 9,000,000 men from 20 to 44, and eventual- ly to extend this 50 as to bring Frank R. Kent. the total to 43,000,000 from 18 to 64, inclusive, there is no real difference of opinion concerning the excel- lence of the job being done by the | oMecials who administer the ex- tremely vital Selective Service Act. Tt is extraordinary that in so vast an undertaking, affecting so huge a part of the population, there should be so | little apprehension and such general satisfaction. Already a million men have been drafted into the Army as a result of the first registration. As a result of the amended act, it is likely from five to six million more will be draft- ed. In the first registration, exemp- tions and deferments were made upon a very liberal basis. In the coming registration and reclassifica- tion the policy as to dependents will be much stricter. The need for men means that many who were put in the deferred class will be taken out of that class. As the need grows, the deferment policies will tighten and the exemptions become fewer. Stricter Rulings Ahead. Every man subject to the draft knows this. And yet, both resistance and resentment are negligible. A re- cent poll showed that more than 97 per cent of the people are satis- fled with the manner in which the act is being administered. This largely is due to public conviction that the whole thing is peing com- petently and impartially operatec. The basic idea back of those in charge of the Selective Service Board is to get the men needed for the armed forces with a minimum of dis- location to the agricultural, indus- trial, social and commercial life of the Nation. That was why when only & million men were needed the most liberal interpretation of the deférment provisions was made. And that is why, when millions more are neéded, the interpretation will be much more strict, - Of course, the real reason for the smooth functioning of the Selective Sefvice Act and the public confi- dence in s fairness is that it is one agency in which the experience of | the past has been fully ultilized in- stead of being disregarded. Not only is the present system based on that evolved in the last war but it has been extended and improved. In 11926 the selective service divicion was set up by the Secretaries of War? national luck to have it in such | The Huntington Terrace Citizens' who were then the pioneers will not be repeated this time. Every sound | feature of the 1917 operation has been retained; only the unessential | or unsound have been discarded. The result is something to be proud of. In Gen. Lewis B. Hershey the President picked exactly the right man to head the board. The | administrative personnel under him | are officers who have been trained in selective-service details for years. There are no bungling amateurs in the organization. The machine is complete, compact, beautifully con- structed. It runs like a watch and is as carefully observed. There have been almost no cases of corruption among the many thousands of local boards and extremely few miscar- | riages of justice. The wisdom of the selective-service administration is | attested by the extent to which it goes to guard against both these | things. In no other way could it better justify the public confidence 50 essential to its success and with- out which our whole war effort would be weakened. | Nothing Secretive. | There are two thing about the | procedure which especially contrib- ute to popular satisfaction with it. | One is the ease with which an ap- | peal can be taken from the local | draft board. In every district of 50,000 registrants there is a conven- iently located, easily accessible ap- peal board. Any man who feels that | he has not been given a fair hearing, full consideration or just treatment | by his local board can appeal with- | out trouble, expense or waste of time. The appeal is as quickly decided as it is easily taken. The other thing is the fact that there is nothing | secret about the selective service. | The records of the local boards are | open. Full publicity is courted. The facts are available not only to news- | paper reporters but to any one else, even if he has not better excuse than ! sheer curiosity. In other words, the board goes the limit to make it impossible for any man to have a just grievance. The machinery is so geared that no one‘ | or denied a | chance for a full hearing, or treated can be ilroaded” | differently from others in his classi- | fication and circumstances. The combination of easy appeal and full publicity is the best guarantee against partiality, politics and in- Justice. of the job and the spirit in which it is being dong is a tribute to the breadth and understanding of those in charge. It is a great giece of and Navy. For years the most in- hands. telligent and painstaking research Now Showing Locally |Buy Defonss STAMPS and STANP Out the Assll® . ° (Coprright, 1942.) ] This elevated conception | By CONSTANTINE BROWN. The excellent news from the Russian front which indicates that the Russians have taken full advantage of the planes and tanks we have sent them in the last few months is overshadowed by the bad news from the South Pacific. Whether we shall rejoice over Russian victories or grieve over the steady advances of the Japa- nese in Malaya and the Philip- pines depends on whether we consider the coat closer to the skin than the shirt. Russia is far away. If the theory held in some ‘Washington quarters is correct, namely, that Germany is our principal foe and the victories of the Japs are only temporary, A . L Succkssés then there is no question that the probable sacrifice of Amer- ican and British bases in the Pa- cific is of only relative impor- tance. But if we think in terms of our war with Japan and the possi- bility of losing thre initiative if Singapore and the sdjacent ter- ritories fall into Japanese hands, then we must mourn our help- lessness in the Far East, Indian Ocean an Objective. Opinion about American strat- egy in the early stages of the war is divided. Militarv men are in- clined to pelieve that once the | Japanese establish themselves in the South Pacific it will be a hard task to dislodge them, for they will have gained control not only of importont military bases but also of valuable raw materials. With these two assets they will be able to help Hitler and his European gang, especially if they gain access to the Indian Ocean, that is to say, India and the Per- sian Gulf. Naval and military men are convinced that Japan will not let down after her principal military | objective has been attained. | Should Singapore be conquered— | and the fate of Java and Sum- | atra depends entirely on Singa- | pore—it will be difficult for Allied | naval and air forces to prevent | the Japanese from operating in the Indian Ocean. | ‘The closest base for Allied | operations would be Australia— | some 2000 miles from Singapore | =—or Colombo, Ceylon, a good, ; but hardly adequate, base in the | Indian Ocean. It is likely that when production of planes and warships in this country has reached its peak such operations | will be possible, regardless of dis- I tance. But this means thinking in long-range terms while our enemies are acting immediately. ‘The relative quiet which still prevails in the Mediterranean is described by optimists as an in- ‘ dication that Hitler's strength | Nazis Seen Waiting to Time Offensive With a Spectacular Jap Victory has suffered such severe blows from the Russians that he is not in position to take the offensive which was expected to start some time this month. Others, less optimistic, believe the German dictator is watching developments in the Far East and his offensive will be synchronized with some spectacular achieve- ments of his yellow allies. The latter theory appears more plaus- ible to those who look at the sit- uation without too much wishful thinking. In such quarters dramatic de- velopments are expected before spring. We may possibly take the initiative in some sectors of this world-wide war, but in view of the fact that we are not yet fully prepared to strike effective heavy blows at the enemy, it is feared that in forthcoming major operations we shall be compelled to do the best we can on the defensive. Cheerful News Scarce. ‘There is a general complaint on the part of newspapermen in ‘Washington regarding the scarcity of war news from official Ameri- can sources. The fact is there is not much to say which might cheer the country. In the Philip- pines, we are putting up a gallant fight and our men, from buck pri- vate to commander in chief, are writing history with their blood. Details are not available because Gen. Douglas MacArthur is fight- ing with his back to the wall and in recent days has sent available news in terse messages. A month has passed since the stealthy Japanese attack on our Pacific bases. During that time it has not been possible, as far as newspapermen know, to send any kind of assistance to the Ameri- can-Filipino garrison in Luzon. The Japanese have overwhelming forces and continue to pour in reinforcements undisturbed. As far as is known here the Fleet in the South Pacific is intact, but compelled to remain inactive be- cause of the lack of air support. Whether reiniorcements are on the way and whether they will be able to relieve the situation is a military secret known only to those responsible for the conduct of the war. But neither the Navy nor the War Departments can give out at this time more than routine communiques, because there is no other news available. To talk about the future in a realistic manner is difficult be- cause plans for concrete opera- tions cannot be revealed. If such plans are still in the distant fu- ture, there is no point in raising futile hopes and still more futile optimism. The unofficial statement which is repeated often that there will be bad news and more knocks be- fore we can hear good news seems to represent the actual state of affairs these days. McLemore Old Jalopies Now Lead Pampered Life By HENRY McLEMORE. TALLAHASSE, Fla.—The spoiled darling of the American family today is not junior, who can count to 20 and button his breeches, or sister, who can tie & bow and out - curtsy any child in the neighborhood when company comes in. No, the chil- uren have had to take second place to the new apple of the household’s eye —the family car. People can go right on having Henry McLemore. | new children, but right now it looks |as if it will be many years before any one gets a new car. Consequently, the old jalopy now is leading a pampered and petted life. It is being given the sort of | | | |given a loving care that Americans hitherto have reserved for brand spanking new automobiles the first few weeks they owned them. You know how we all have worried and fretted over new cars. We avoided taking them out in rain lest that first lovely luster be lost. We drove them at & snail's pace for fear their innards would become overheated. The first nick of a fender or dent of & bumper tore at our hearts. We even used the ash trays instead of stomping out the cigarette butts on the floor. * ¥ x ¥ Our ardor cooled quickly, how- ever. In a few weeks, just as soon as the newness had worn off, we treated them as if we had bought them at a 10-cent store. We left them out overnight in driving rains. We parked them in spaces so narrow we had to scrape off a little paint to wedge them in. We paid no at- tention to their diets and fed them low-grade fuels that would have tractor indigestion, and treated the upholstery as if it were cast iron. Then the Government slapped the ban on new-car sales. Overnight every automobile owner realized that the car parked in his garage was the only thing that stood between him and that invention of the devil, walking. Not being able to read or listen to the radio, American automobiles must have been bewildered by the sudden show of attention from their owners. Cars which hadn't felt & mechanic’s loving hands for years were rushed to the best motor diagnosticians in town and put through the clinic. *x oo Cars whose valves were heavy with carbon were given day and night mechanfcs. Cars whose broken springs had plagued them for years were given relief. Consulting spe- * clalists were brought in to save ancient models with rheumy head- lights, gout of the gears, concussion | of the carburetor, and wheezing of | the wheels. [ Matronly old machines had their clutch faces lifted, their bumpers beautified, and the mud packs taken off. I am on a motor trip now and my car is constantly on my mind. When I stop at a hotel for the night, I am not particularly interested in what Wins Citizens to Meet Tonight | kind of a room I can get. My first | | tonight in the County Building, 6949 ' question is about the hotel garage. | Wisconsin avenue. A special defense ' Is it fireproof? | meeting. to which all residents of 'Does it have a night watchman? Is Is it steam-heated? | Association of Bethesda, Md. will the community have been invited, there a mechanic to give the car a | hoy its regular meeting ‘at 8 o'clock | will follow. , luse Lux Soap- ® never neglect my daily ACTIVE-LATHER FACIALS” This famous star with the million-dollar complexion tells you just how she helps to keep her skin smooth and blossom- fresh. Right in your own home, you can give your complexion the same gentle care. Try these ACTIVE-LATHER FACIALS for 30 days—see what Holly- wood’s beauty soap can do for you! SMOOTH SKIN'S IMPORTANT! YOU'LL LOVE THIS LUX SOAP FACIAL. PAT THE RICH WATER, THEN A DASH OF COOL PAT LIGHTLY TO DRY. NOW YOUR SKIN FEELS SOFTER, SMOOTHER _LOOKS SO FRESH! use Lux Toilet Soap | thorough check-up? I honestly do everything but ask for a corner room | for the car—a quiet room where it ;cnn get a good night's sleep. On the road, my concern is even greater. I stop every few miles and water the car and am much more interested in the pressure in the tires than I am in my own blood pressure, * * ok x When America was young, the worse thing that could be said about | a man was that he was a horse thief. | It was a hanging offense. I prophesy | that before this war is over, and ‘Americu returns to normal, to call a man a car thief will be rock bot- tom in epithets. Years from now, men will be barred from clubs because there were Chevrolet thieves in their family lines. The time will come when auto- mobiles will be more precious than gold. Heiresses will be those who have a 1938 Oldsmobile in good re- pair as a dowry, and a young man who has a 1939 re-paint Buick and a set of re-tread tires will be con- sidered a very eligible bachelor, in- deed. A matching set of spark plugs | will be a coveted engagement gift, and brides will proudly display a | trousseau that includes a windshield wiper and a new fan belt. Now I must hurry and feed my jalopy & lump of sugar. (Distributed by McNaught Syndicate, Inc.) Two Probes Insfitufed : In Takoma 11-Family Fire Two separate investigations have been started by officials of Takoma Park, Md., following a fire Tuesday in a frame structure housing 11 families in the rear of the 600 block of Carroll avenue. Roy P. Frye, building inspector, said he would make a thorough ex- amination of the burned structure. Fire Marshal Herald Hirst, who played a leading part in the rescue work at the fire, also will make an investigation. Joseph Martin, president of the Takoma Fire Department and s member of the Town Council, sald his department would recommend that the remaining portion of the building be condemned. * “Following the death by fire seve eral months ago of the young daughter of one of the families routed out by the flames Tuesday I was assured that it was to be va- cated, but this was never done,” said Mr. Martin. “The structure is no longer habitable, as the roof and interior were completely burned and the rafters are in a dangerous con~ dition.”