Evening star. [volume], April 10, 1943, Page A-9, Image 9

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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J Senate Tie-uD
Of Hobbs Bill
Possible
Public Opinion May
Force Anti-Violence
Labor Law Through
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
The House, by an impressive ma
jority of 270 to 107, has taken the
first step to carry out the famous
minority opinion of Chief Justice
Stone in the
case wherein ex
tortion was con
s t r u e d on a
technicality b y
the other jus
tices as, in ef
fect, a legiti
mate labor ac
tivity.
The House was
importuned b y
labor unions not
to pass the leg
islation. The
reason given was
not that extortion was condoned,
but that the language of a new law
might be used to harass legitimate
labor activities. But that was exact
ly the kind of phrase which was
written originally into the anti
racketeering law and that gave the
Justices on the Supreme Court their
opportunity to question whether the
statute covered a labor union cus
tom whereby the employer is com
pelled to pay toll for work not
done so that trucks, for instance,
may pass into a given city and be
* handled by his own employes as
against union employes of another
craft or Jurisdiction.
The union argument was that
unions had a right to exact pay
equivalent to that which their mem
bers would collect if they were em
ployed and that this was not extor
tion. Unfortunately, violence ac
companied the so-called legitimate
labor activity and the transaction in
point happened to involve interstate
commerce.
So the Supreme Court left the
Inference that the violence would
have to be dealt with separately
and could not be touched by the
so-called anti-racketeering law.
James P. Byrnes, now director of
economic stabilization, wrote the
opinion of the court and indicated
that he felt the words of the statute
compelled him to decide as he did.
Protects Other Laws.
Now, however, the House has
written specifically what is a legiti
mate labor activity. An amendment
has been adopted which says that
nothing in the proposed law shall
be construed to repeal, modify or
affect the Clayton Act, the Norris
La Guardia anti-injunction law, the
Railway Labor Act or the National
Labor Relations Act.
All these laws are designed to
protect labor's legitimate activities,
but none of them is supposed to
make labor or any other group im
mune from the laws that punish
violence, robbery or extortion. The
new bill also would “prevent inter
ference during the war with the
trahsportation of troops, munitions,
war supplies or mail in interstate
or foreign commerce.”
This means that sit-down strikes
would be punished as an interfer
ence with shipments and that any
violence in connection with the
movement of war materials from
plaats to delivery points could be
punished during war.
It will be interesting to see
whether the leaders of the labor
unions now will place themselves in
the embarrassing position of oppos
ing the passage by the Senate of a
piece of legislation that is specifical
ly aimed at violence. The mere fear
that a law might be misused is not
a sufficient argument against its
passage as long as there is confi
dence in the fairness and integrity
of the courts. The judiciary, which
has largely been appointed by the
present administration, has been
fair to labor and there is no reason
to suppose that that course will be
altered.
May Be Halted in Senate.
It Is not surprising to see the
House pass legislation designed to
curb violence by labor unions, but
the proposed law still has to go
through the Senate, where for near
ly a decade the mere formal protest
by labor unions has been sufficient
to keep a bill in committee or to
prevent its passage.
Will the Senate squelch the Hobbs
bill as it has other legislation aimed
at curbing union abuses? If so. the
question doubtless will become an
important campaign issue, especially
in the farm areas where the tide of
feeling against labor unions has
resulted already in an augmentation
of the votes of the opposition party
in Congress.
If the bill passes the Senate, it
Wiy be signed by the President, be
cause he, too, would be in a difficult
spot in declining to ban violence in
labor disputes. But it is doubtful
whether the measure will ever get
to a vote in the Senate unless an
aroused public opinion so demands.
(Reproduction Rights Reserved.)
Litvinoff, in Cuba, Says
Russia Is Fighting Spain
Bj the Associated Press.
HAVANA, April 10.—Maxim Lit
vinoff, Soviet Ambassador to the
United States, said yesterday that
Russia “in reality is fighting Spain.”
since that country “has sent its
soldiers in the Spanish Blue Divi
sion to invade Russia.”
The Ambassador, who also is Min
ister to Cuba, presented his creden
tials at the presidential palace, and
later stressed at a press conference
that Germany “still has enough re
serves to recover,” from the crushing
blows dealt her in Russia, “and even
to earn new military victories.”
As for postwar problems he said:
“It h hardly fair to Insist too much
now on potential or imaginary dif
ferences which may arise in the
future, undermining by that in
sistence the unity now reached as
to the principal aim of today: To
win the war.”
r
The Political Mill
Public Sure to Rally Behind the President
In His Order to Keep Down Costs of Living
By GOULD LINCOLN.
President Roosevelt’s executive
order to keep down the cost of
living comes at an opportune
| time. With the leaders of or
i ganized labor
| — n o t a b 1 y
| John L. Lewis
; of the United
Mine Work
ers — knock
ing at the
door for ma
terial wage
1 n c r e a s es,
and the farm
bloc seeking
through con
gressional
action to
boost farm
prices, the fat might easily have
been in the fire. Presumably the
various agencies of the Govern
ment dealing with wages, prices
and transportation will be guided
by the President's order. Cer
tainly public opinion will rally
strongly back of the Chief Ex
ecutive, even though some groups
will resent the action.
The Senate voted overwhelm
ingly to send the President's veto
of the Bankhead farm bill to the
Agriculture Committee. There
it will rest in all probability until
and if wage increases and indus
trial prices are given a boost.
The farmers have had the little
end of the stick. Other factors
that go into the cost of living
mounted very greatly. Farm
prices did go up, but they had a
good way to go to reach the so
called •parity" prices. Congress,
and especially the Senate was
prepared to go ahead with the
Bankhead bill despite Presi
dential disapproval. But it was
obvious to many that such action
would have had a bad psycho
logical effect. The case has
been settled temporarily at least,
not on its merits, but because of
the feeling that it was no time
to start another spiral of in
creased costs.
New Tax Plans Advanced.
Impinging closely on the cost of
living is the tax situation. When
the House a short time ago
. showed itself unable to reach any
action on a pay-as-you-go method
of collecting the income taxes,
which now affect 44,000,000 Amer
icans directly, the country was
discouraged. The country has
been heard from in various ways
on this subject. It looks now as
though something will be done
to revive this necessary legisla
tion, first in the Ways and Means
Committee and then in the House
itself. It seems incredible that
some rational plan cannot be
worked out to meet the demand
for pay-as-you-go tax payments
and withholding of the taxes at
the source.
It would have been silly to
postpone it until next January,
as was the plan of the Treasury
Department and Chairmana
Doughton of the Ways and Means
Committee dealing with this im
portant matter. Already several
proposals are being advanced to
meet the situation. Further, it
would not react well in the coun
try for Congress to take an ad
journment for the Easter holi
days, as has been planned, with
this issue thrown into the dis
card for the time being. The
Democratic leadership in the
House, represented by Majority
Leader McCormack, has wisely
moved in the matter. The Re
publicans will be unwise not to
go along.
Politics T.'p Again.
Politics are never downed for
long in this country. The re
election of Mayor Kelly in Chi
cago had been expected by the
Democrats. In the first place,
Chicago is predominantly Demo
cratic and has been for a num
ber of years. Further, Mayor
Kelly in the main, has given Chi
cagoans a good government.
There are plenty of Republicans
in the Windy City who bear tes
timony to this — despite the
charge that the Kelly-Nash ma
chine dominates the situation.
The Republicans cleaned up
in Michigan this week, electing a
State highway commissioner.
This was the last remnant of
Democratic control in the State.
Former Gov. Van Wagoner,
Democrat, was State highway
commissioner before he became
Governor, and built up a strong
political organization through
the highway department.
The political strength of Wen
dell L. Willkie — Hoosier New
Yorker and the Republican nom
inee for President in 1940—has
been under attack in Indiana, his
native State. Mr. Willkie carried
Indiana in the last presidential
election. The question now is,
will Indiana Republicans again
support him for the presidential
nomination in 1944.
The Fort Wayne News Sentinel
undertook to poll the Republican
precinct committeemen on their
choice for the presidential nomi
nation next year, with particular
reference to Mr. Willkie. The
committeemen were also asked a
second question: ,-Do you favor
the United States mixing ex
tensively in foreign politics after
this war?” The Sentinel is iso
lationist in sentiment and anti
Willkie. The results of the poll
were entirely in support of the
Sentinel’s attitude. Only 82 of
the committeemen favored Mr.
Willkie and 918 were opposed to
his renomination. On the second
question, 113 answered in the
affirmative and 887 were against.
The total vote cast in the poll,
however, was 1.000, and there are
4.000 precinct committeeman.
With only 25 per cent of the com
mitteemen answering, there may
be some mystification as to the
attitude of the whole group.
As a matter of fact, this point
has already been raised. Mr.
Willkie has some strong support
ers in Indiana. The Republican
organization workers in many of
the States have in the recent past
been strongly opposed to Mr.
Willkie. That is true in Ohio,
Illinois and other States as well
as in Indiana. There are several
reasons for this. In the first
place when the 1940 campaign
was on there were the “Willkie
Clubs,'1 organized entirely sepa
rately from the regular Republi
can organization. Tire re was a
good deal of jealously. In the
second place, Mr. Willkies atti
tude on the foreign relations of
this country did not please many
of the organization Republicans.
They disliked intensely his sup
port of the foreign policy of the
President.
There has been a growing feel
ing among Republicans, however,
that it would be a great mistake
for the party to go back to the
old stand of isolationism which
it occupied after the last war and
for many years. This has been
shown in many ways. The ques
tion asked by the Sentinel was so
worded that few Americans would
say “Yes.” It is one thing to "mix
extensively in foreign politics”
end quite another to join with
foreign nations to preserve the
peace after this war.
Former Pipefitter Stitches Up
Sailor After Doctors Operate
Naval Hospital Corpsman, 25, Has Assisted
In 63 Surgical Cases; Prefers Old Job
By NORMAN BELL.
Associated Press Staff Writer.
WITH THE UNITED STATES
FLEET IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.
April 10.—I've seen a pipefitter sew
up a sailor while the surgeons
looked on.
And another assistant, who called
himself the "real hero of the opera
tion because I do the dirty work,"
until last June was employed in the
credit department of a building
materials company at Gary, Ind.
They are samoles of American
youths’ adaptability—a major factor
in the Navy’s triumnhs over the Japs.
Big Edward J. "Pudgy’’ Purcell,
the 25-year-old pharmacist mate
who did the sewing, expects to re
turn after the war to his job as a
pipefitter for the Providence (R. I.>
Gas Co.
Richard E. Redding, 22, hospital
apprentice, thinks that instead of
going back to his Gary credit job,
he may apply the Navy-acquired
knowledge to some civilian line. He’s
had a year at the University of
Indiana.
Mr. Purcell, who was an amateur
wrestler during and after his days
at Central High School in Provi
dence, was chief assistant to the
surgeons. He took the needle and
thread and completed suturing the
incision after the surgeons had fin
ished the more delicate part of the
operation.
Lt. (j. g.l c. R. Little of Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, the junior medical of
ficer, called attention to the deft
ness with which Mr. Purcell han
dled the needle with his big hands.
Hospital corpsmen, Dr. Little ex
plained, are encouraged to get as
much practice as they can. because
in battle “they’ll probably have
plenty of sewing to do."
Mr. Purcell, with his white cap
and mask removed following the
operation, looked the part of the
genial, 220-pound pipefitter.
He said his job with the Provi
dence company had been principally
laying gas mains and making house
connections and that he must have
been “pretty good because I didn’t
have too many complaints.”
He doesn’t know just why he was
picked for the hospital corps when
he enlisted in the Navy. “I guess
they just needed somebody and I
filled the bill,” he wid.
He has assisted ni63 operations.
“But,” he added, “I guess I’ll go
back to pipefitting—if the war
doesn t last too long. I was doing
all right at it.”
British Middle East Chief
To See Turkish Leaders
; By the Associated Press.
ANKARA, Turkey, April 10 —Offi
cial quarters here said yesterday that
Gen. Sir Henry Maitland Wilson,
British commander in the Middle
East, would arrive in Turkey next
! week for a conference with Turkish
I military and political leaders.
British Embassy sources refused to
comment on the purpose of the visit.
But in the words of the communique
which followed Prime Minister
Churchill’s visit to Turkey in Feb
ruary, it was generally assumed the
general would discuss details “of the
manner in which Britain and the
United States can help Turkey con
solidate her defensive security."
Gen. Wilson was present at Mr.
Churchill’s conference with Presi
dent Ismet Inonu at Adana.
Gag Writer Wins $8,000
In Suit Against Fields
By the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, April 10.—A jury
today directed Comedian W. C.
Fields to pay Harry Yadkoe. Ho
boken (N. J.) hardware merchant
and amateur writer, $8,000 for the
use of some of Mr. Yadkoe’s gags in
a movie.
Mr. Yadkoe had sued Mr. Fields
for $20,000 damages, contending the
actor employed his material in the
picture, “You Can’t Cheat an Hon
est Man,’’ and had not paid for it.
The jury deliberated an hour and
five minutes.
Mr. Fields denied using the Yad
koe material, and his attorneys said
Mr. Yadkoe must have been in
fluenced in his writings by hearing
Mr. Fields on the radio or seeing
some of his films.
*
CfHE 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.
'I'd Rather Be Right'
Problem of Postwar Education of Germans
Is One That Seems to Have No Answer
By SAMUEL GRAFTON.
If I were a teacher, sent into Ger
many after the war to “re-educate”
German youth I should insist on
using Mein Kampf as a textbook.
I know 1 should
be hated, as a
foreign usurper,
and I would fig
ure I might as
well make them
hate Mein
Kampf, too.
German youth
will hate what
ever the foreign
teacher teaches,
because he will
be a foreigner,
thg visible sym
bol Of German Samuel Grafton,
defeat. There is no getting around
this point. In the long caravan of
war aims, that for foreign super
vision of German education is the
flattest tire of them all.
Where, then, do we go from here
on the “problem of German educa
tion”? We go nowhere. It is a
blind alley. Sometimes the answer
is that there is no answer. We can
solve the German-education problem
only by solving the German problem.
When we take one splinter out of the
German problem, that of education,
and isolate it„and try to solve it by
itself, it turns out to make no sense.
Naturally, for the approach makes
no sense.
Straight Ultimatum Needed.
The average liberal, in contemplat
ing a future lor Germany, is both
curiously soft and curiously brutal.
The suggestion that we are making
war on the German people, as well
as their leaders, pains him. In this
field he is soft. But then he skips
lightly to a plan for taking over
the German schools, which is ex
quisitely cruel, a plan for the great
est humiliation any country could
undergo.
By comparison, a straight ultima
tum to the German people that
we consider them all our enemies
until they show enough spunk to
make a democratic revolution, knock
over their leaders, and clean house,
is kindness itself.
That is a kind of compliment to
the German people, for it holds
them, in some degree, responsible
for their own plight and their own
I futures. It is democratic to that
extent.
The other view, that the German
people are purely victims of mis
fortune, that we are coming, clip
pety-clop, to save them ijpm bad
men, and that when wi finally ar
rive we shall treat them kindly, but
like idiot children, with democratic
schools and hot lunches and every
thing, is not in the least democratic.
It takes all responsibility from the
German people for what they are
doing at this very moment and it
promises them a future regardless:
except that it shall be a future we
shall invent, while they lie inert, like
a mattress, and wait for it. We
will write the textbooks.
The seemingly harder approach
is actually much kinder. It denies
that the Germans are mental de
linquents, who have to be the wards
of somebody, either Hitler or us.
It says to them: “You got into
this, now get out of it."
We have set revolutionary tasks
for the Czechs, the French and the
Poles. We do not in the least say
that we love those Czechs, French
and Poles who are content with
Hitler. We say quite frankly the
reverse. To set the Germans the
same revolutionary task is to invite
them into the same brotherhood.
The way to bring the Germans back
into society is not to tell them that
we love them, regardress of what
they do, but to tell them quite
frankly that we have the same
feeling about a German who ac
cepts Hitler as we have about a
Frenchman who accepts Hitler.
Should Make Things Clear.
That is infinitely more demo
cratic than to tell the Germans
they are victims of misfortune, who
have somehow been brought up
wrong, and that even if they try to
kill us for the next 10 years, it will
not matter: we shall be there with
our schoolmarms and our lunches.
If the Germans can make a revo
lution, they can probably make an
educational system. If they can’t,
we can’t teach them. If Germany
does not make a revolution, Ger
many is going to be a shambles, re
gardless of all our theories. There
is no door that opens out, but that
one.
The only possible kindness toward
Germans is to let them know this,
in the firmest, harshest, most em
phatic and undeviating terms.
Where To Go!
What To ‘
BUFFET SUPPER.
Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Frater
nity, Wardman Park Hotel, 9 o'clock
tonight.
CONCERTS.
Soldiers’ Home Band Orchestra,
Stanley Hall. 5:30 o'clock this after
noon.
"Meet the Army Band"-"Pop'’ en
semble concert and broadcast, Fort
Myer (Va.) band auditorium, 6:45
o’clock tonight.
DANCES.
Officers dance, Phi Siema Sigma
Sorority, G.W.U.. Fairfax Hotel,
2100 Massachusetts avenue N.W., 9
o'clock tonight.
Officers Service Club, Mayflower
Hotel, 9 o'clock tonight.
Membership dance. Jewish Com
munity Center, Sixteenth and Q
streets N.W.. 9 o’clock tonight.
Cartographic Recreation Club,
Willard Hotel, 9:30 o'clock tonight.
FILM.
"Cancion de Cuna.” Spanish,
Pierce Hall. Sixteenth and Harvard
streets N.W., 8:30 o’clock tonight.
HIKES.
Capital and Center Hiking Clubs,
meet at F and Eleventh streets N.W..
to catch Bellevue bus for hike in
Maryland, 9:15 a.m. tomorrow.
Wanderbirds’ Hiking Club, Cabin
John Creek, Rock Run Ridge. C. & O.
Canal, Md„ meet at Cabin John, 10
a.m. tomorrow
American Youth Hostel, 35-mile
bike trip to Great Falls, Va., meet at
end of Key Bridge in Rosslyn, 10:30
a.m. tomorrow.
HORSEBACK RIDING.
Washington Saddle Club, open
horseback rides in nearby Mary
land, meet at Georgia and Alaska
avenues bus terminal, 9:15 and 10:45
am. tomorrow. Reservations neces
sary, call Adams 7059 or Ordway 7264.
t irrrr¥TiMr
“Food in Relation to Health,” by
Dr. William De Kleine, League for
the Larger Hfe, 1322 Vermont ave
nue N.W., 8 o’clock tonight.
RECREATION.
“Home Away From Home,” library,
games, music, dancing, radio-phono
graph, Walsh Club for War Work
ers, 1523 Twenty-second street N.W.,
4 to 12 pm. today. Miss Margaret
Speaks, soprano, will be the guest
artist at 9:30 pm. today.
FOR MEN IN THE SERVICE.
Stage Door Canteen, Belasco
Theater, Madison place and vPenn
sylvania avenue N.W. Tonight:
Madrillon orchestra. Pete Macias’
orchestra; and, “Doughboys in the
Dark,” Fort Meade musical show.
Pepsi-Cola Center for Servicemen,
Thirteenth and G streets N.W., 9:30
am. today until 12:30 am. tomor
row.
Masonic Service Center, New York
avenue and Thirteenth street N.W.
Today open, 1-11 pm.; games, sta
tionery, library, showers, shaving
facilities, theater tickets; snack bar
open 4-8 p.m.; formal dance, or
chestra, hostesses, 8-11 pm. Every
thing free.
Dance for officers, Scott* Hotel
for Girls, 2131 O street N.W., 8:30
o’clock tonight.
Officers’ Club of the United Na
tions, Burlington Hotel, 1120 Ver
mont avenue N.W., 10 am. until
10:30 pm. today.
Dancing, Arlington Recreation
Center, Tenth and North Irving
streets (Va.), 9 o’clock tonight.
■Games, refreshments, hostesses.
Salvation Army (USO) Chib, <06 E
j street N.W., today from 9 a.m. until
i midnight.
I 'Dinner, dancing. Fellowship
! House of Covenant-First Presby
i terian Church. 3363 Massachusetts
avenue N.W.. 6:30 o’clock tonight.
‘Dinner, Fellowship, Recreation,
Christian Business Girls’ Associa
tion, Almas Temple, K street near
Thirteenth N.W., 6:30 o’clock to
night.
•Dinner, • entertainment, dancing
Foundry Methodist Church, Six
teenth and P streets N.W., 6:30
o'clock tonight.
‘Ballroom and tap dance classes,
dancing, Jewish Community Center
'USO), Sixteenth and Q streets
N.W., 7:30 o’clock tonight.
•Supper-social, Luther Place Me
morial Church, Fourteenth and N
streets N.W., 6:30 o’clock tonight.
•Drop-in-hour, dancing, refresh
ments. gymnasium, Calvarv Metho
dist Church, 1458 Columbia road
N.V/., 7:30 o'clock tonight.
"Refreshments, dances, orchestras,
YWCA <USO>, Seventeenth and k
streets N.W., 7:30 o clock tonight.
Round and so.uare dancing, re
freshments, hostesses, games, Serv
icemen's Club No. 1, 306 Ninth street
N.W . 8 o’clock tonight.
'“Lour of Music,” concert organ
and voice, Washington Chapel, Six
teenth street at Columbia read N.W.,
8 o’clock tonight.
Non-sectarian religious service,
social and fellowship hour, refresh
ments, hostesses, broadcast, John £.
Bennett Memorial Service Club
(Central Union Mission), 613 C
street N.W., 8 o’clock tonight,
•Women’s Battalion dance, De
partmental Auditorium, Constitution
avenue between Twelfth and Four
teenth streets N.W., 8 o’clock to
night.
•Dance, refreshments, entertain
ment, St. Margaret’s Church (Epis
copal), Connecticut avenue above
Florida avenue N.W., 8 o’clock to
night.
•Foreign films. All Souls’ Church
(Unitarian), Fifteenth and Harvard
streets N.W., 8 o’clock tonight.
•Dancing, games, refreshments,
Parish House of St. John’s Episcopal
Church, Sixteenth between H and I
streets N.W., 8:30 o’clock tonight.
•Dance, NCCS (USO), 1814 N
street N.W., 8:30 o’clock tonight.
•Games, dance, refreshments, or
chestra. YMCA (USO), bovs’ build
ing, 1736 G street N.W., 8:30 o’clock
tonight.
•Dance, refreshments. Temple
Vestry Room. Eighth and I streets
N.W., 8:30 o’clock tonight.
•Indoor recreation, Reformation
Lutheran Church, 212 East Capitol
street, 8:30 o’clock tonight. Organ
music, 9 o'clock tonight.
•Dance, refreshments, hostesses,
orchestra, NCCS (USO), 918 Tenth
street N.W., 9 o’clock tonight.
FOR COLORED SERVICEMEN.
•Games, dancing, hostesses, or
chestra, smokes, YMCA (USO), 1816
Twelfth street N.W., 8 o’clock to
night.
•Dancing, games, refreshments,
hostesses, smokes, Litchman Leisure
Lodge, 1439 U street N.W., 8 o'clock
tonight.
•Dancing, hostesses, orchestra, re
freshments, YWCA (USO), 901
Rhode Island avenue N.W., 8 o’clock
tonight
•Outer guard kiddie party, recre
ation, games, refreshments, Ban
neker Servicemen’s Center, 2800
Georgia avenue N.W.
•War workers welcome.
C
This Changing World
Air Battle in Solomons Area Regarded
As Prelude to New Japanese Offensive
By CONSTANTINE BROWN.
Wednesday’s air battle In the
South Pacific In which the Jap
anese lost 34 fighters and bomb
ers is regarded as the prelude to
a renewed
enemy at
tempt to
strike at the
islands which
guard our
lines of com
m u n i c atlon
with Austra
lia.
It is be
lieved that a
strong Japa
nese naval
force support
e d by air CtnluliM Brawn.
power is convoying a large num
ber of transports, with their
destination, for the time being,
uncertain. The Japs may either
try to capture Guadalcanal or
attempt to strike farther south
toward Espiritu Santo or New
Caledonia, considered as impor
tant operational bases.
Admiral William E. Halsey, jr.,
is fully prepared to receive the
Japanese as he has received
them in the past. But it must be
realized that the South Pacific is
a large expanse of water which
cannot be thoroughly patrolled by
surface ships and aviation.
Should the enemy fleet be able
to conceal its movements and
reach its destination before it is
sighted, it has chance of success
if our own forces are concen
trated and waiting for them
somewhere else, hundreds of
miles away.
News of Japs Is Scanty.
News of the Japanese, even if
we are able to follow their move
ments, is scanty. Our high com
mand in that area is not likely to
communicate with anybody since
messages are being intercepted
and Admiral Halsey must keep
all the information he has to
himself until he can engage the
enemy. It is conceivable that
Wednesday's important air en
gagement may have been only a
feint by the Japs to induce us to
concentrate in an area which
they do not really Intend to at
tack.
Ever since the last Japanese
defeats at Guadalcanal and New
Guinea there has been a di
vergence of opinion among the
various naval strategists.
In some quarters, it was be
lieved the Japanese would not try
to interfere with our lines of com
munication with Australia and
New Zealand, and would concen
trate on some other area—either
against Western Australia or
China.
The price they paid in the Solo
mons struggle was so heavy in
ships and lives that it was doubt
ful that they would butt their
heads once more against the
American wall in the South Pa
cific. This was a logical conclu
sion, based on sound strategy.
Australia Still Secure.
Other qualified naval men,
however, did not share this point
of view. They believed that loss
of face was far more important
to the Japs than the physical
losses they have suffered since
last August. Hence, these ob
servers have been warning the
high command that the Japanese
were bound to return as soon as
they received replacements and
reinforcements.
While it is difficult to say
whether their new objective
would be the Solomons, it was be
lieved a new attack with stronger
forces might be made toward
other outposts guarding our sup
ply lines.
No operation against Australia
is possible so long as Australia
maintains its communications
with the west coast of the United
States. The Japs, by a determined
effort, might be able to land on
the west coast of Australia, but
their hold would be precarious
unless the Amerlcan-Australian
forces were cut off from their
supply bases in the United States.
Definite Information Lacking.
This line can be severed only
if the Japs occupy and maintain
themselves in principal islands
straddling our lines of communi
cations.
American bombers and naval
units have been making many
reconnaissance trips to the Japa
nese strongholds in the Bismarck
Islands and have pushed as far as
their principal naval base at
Truk. Important movements of
Japanese naval units and trans
ports have been frequently sig
naled, but it is not easy to obtain
a definite idea as to the size of
these reinforcements.
Weather conditions frequently
interfere with observation of the
planes and it is mostly luck when
submarines or surface vessels
spot convoys or naval concentra
tions in areas far from our own
bases.
Hence, it is mostly a matter of
lucky guessing and intuition on
the part of the American high
command when it attempts to
determine where the enemy is
concentrating over the vast Pa
cific area. For all we know, the
Japanese might attempt to draw
a large portion of our fleet to the
South Pacific w'hile intending to
make an important attack in the
north.
May Attempt Coup.
This appears improbable, but
at present such a possibility is
not completely discounted by
naval strategists.
The enemy has suffered hu
miliating reverses since last sum
mer. Japan has only one real
war on her hands — the war
against the United States. Her
military operations in China are
of slight importance.
The Tokio military clique is
beginning to feel that it must
give the people of Japan some
thing more spectacular than
broadcasts and “headline vic
tories."
America is now heavily en
gaged across the Atlantic and
can spare little for the Pacific.
There the Japs may attempt a
spectacular coup in an area
where we least expect it. The
consensus in Washington is that
■we may have to do some heavy
fighting in the Pacific soon.
Peruvian Throng Lines
Plaza to Cheer Wallace
By the Associated Press.
PUNO, Peru, April 10.—Vice Presi- j
dent Wallace arrived here last night
from Yunguyo where, he crossed the
Peru-Bolivian boundary, and was
greeted by a large cheering crowd
lining the main plaza.
High Peruvian government officials
and military representatives met the
Vice President and will escort him
to Lima, the capital. In expectation
of his arrival there Monday, the
government has decreed a suspen
sion of all industrial and commercial
activities on that day.
Jiminez Is Appointed
Panamanian Envoy
By the Associated Press.
PANAMA, April 10.—Enrique A.
Jiminez, twice Vice President of
Panama, was named Panamanian
Ambassador to the United States
yesterday, replacing Ernesto Jean
Guardia.
He plans to leave by plane for
Miami April 18 en route to Wash
ington.
Who says you cannot eat your
cake and have it, too? War bonds
will help win the war, and still be
yours for savings.
Keep the Home Up
Here are some questions of vital
importance; and The Eberly Plan is
the answer.
All the things that CANNOT be done only stress
the importance of doing the things which CAN
be done.
Does the house need Are the gutters and
painting — inside and downspouts all right?
out?
Is the cement work
Is all the plumbing holding up?
and plaster in good .
shape? Whats the condition
of the bathroom and
How are the floors? kitchen equipment?
There are a host of just such things as these
needed for maintenance and repair. The longer
they are permitted to go the more serious the result.
The Eberly Plan is the ONE best answer—for it
makes just one job of them all-—with only ONE
modest overhead, instead of many—and only ONE
responsibility—OURS.
And why not let us INSULATE the house now?
It will prove a summertime comfort as well as a
wintertime economy. Not an expense—for it pays
for itself in short order.
*
The Eberly Financing Plan offers
its convenient budgeting privileges.
McLemore—
Changes His Choice
For Kentucky Derby
By HENRY McLEMORE.
EDINBURGH, Scotland.—Life is
full of surprises. Over here a man
who jumps at the unexpected would
be outside of his skin in a week.
Take what happened to me today.
I was standing
on a corner
waiting for a bus
to take me to
the tailors (I
want to see how
I look In kilts
even if the
draught kills me)
when a chap
tapped me on
the arm and
asked, “Who is
going to win the
Kentucky Derby
Henry f. McLemore. this year?” Just
like that, as if he were asking the
time of day.
Now, that is a question that be
longs to Toots Shor’s Restaurant or
the Bluegrass Room in the Brown
Hotel in Louisville. But here this
fellow was asking It on Princess
street in Edinburgh—and in an ac
cent that dripped with sorghum king
and hot biscuits.
Yet he wasn’t wearing an Ameri
can uniform. It was the blue of
the RAF and had unfamiliar mark
ings on it. It was a queer mixture,
this American face and accent and
the strange uniform, but I answered
him. “Count Fleet will win the
Derby,” I said happily, remember
ing the best 2-year-old I had seen
run before leaving the States.
“I think you're wrong,” the chap
said. “I don’t believe Count Fleet
can go the Derby distance.”
Stops to Argue.
Now', I’m not a man to have his
Derby selections spumed in any such
casual manner. So I passed up my
bus and started arguing with this
fellow', whose name, face and uni
form I didn't know. I don’t know
what the Scotsmen who passed by
thought of us, because there we
were, slightly blocking traffic on one
of the world's great thoroughfares,
talking Churchill Downs, betting
odds, Matt Winn and all the other
things that go with America's
racing classic.
But he finally talked me out of
liking Count Fleet. I've been talked
out of liking a certain horse in the
Derby by Grantland Rice, Joe Wil
liams, Bill Corum and Bill O'Keefe,
but I never thought I’d live to see
the day when a stranger would halt
me in Edinburgh and make me
change my mind.
But James Jackson Henderson did
just that. That’s the fellow's name
and he is from Henderson, Ky. You
could have 100 guesses without
guessing what he is doing now, this
20 - year - old Kentuckian, who is
; homesick for the bluegrass. I asked
! him to set me straight on his uni
form and how it all matched up.
Serves With Poles.
“It doesn't match up,” he said.
I “I’m of Scotch-Irish descent, live in
Kentucky, am an American citizen
and I am a member of the Polish
Air Force.”
“Come again." I said.
“That's right,” he laughed. “A
good while before Pearl Harbor I
| had a hankering for some action,
j I found out that about the quickest
way to get it was to join the Polish
| Air Force. They were asking for
| volunteers then so I joined up with
j them and was shipped to England
; and given training. I've been with
them ever since as a gunner in a
Wellington bomber.”
j “Seen much action,” I asked.
James Jackson Kendcrson smiled.
"Brother, if you're with the Poles
; you see plenty. They aren't happy
unless they're in the air shooting at
something. I guess I’ve been on 15
or 16 operations against the Jerries.”
“Where did you learn Polish,” I
asked. “That must have taken some
time.”
Just Says "Okay, Kid
Tills time James Jackson Hender
son laughed out loud. "That’s the
funny part about it. I don’t speak
any Polish. Oh, a few words here
and there, but not enough to carry
on a conversation or read stuff."
Knowing the terrific teamwork
of a bomber crew and how this
teamwork is guided by the pilot
over the intercommunication tele
phone, I expressed amazement that
James Jackson, without a knowledge
of Polish, could work with a Polish
crewr.
“I get a lot of laughs," he said.
"When the action is measly, the
Poles talk pretty good broken Eng
lish, but when things get red hot.
| they forget that and start talking
to me in the fastest, loudest Polish
you ever heard.”
"What do you do then,” I said.
"Just yell back ‘okay, kid’ and
keep my finger on the trigger. I
just let my gun do the talking. It
speaks a language every one knows,
including those Jerry pilots.”
Note to readers: Can’t tell you
James Henderson’s selection for
the Derby for free, but if you will •
cable us 10 bucks, we will let you
in on something good.
(Distributed by McW»utht Syndicate. Inc.)
Ex-Governor Freed
By Order of Vargas
By the Associated Press.
RIO DE JANEIRO, April 10.—
President Getulio Vargas yesterday
ordered the liberation of Gen. Jose
Antonio Flores da Cunha, who re
turned from exile in Uruguay sev
eral months ago and submitted to
arrest on an old charge of import
ing arms without authorization
while serving as governor of the
state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Jose Antonio Flores de Cunha re
signed his post as governor of Rio
Grande do Sul in October, 1937,
when President Vargas ordered the
troops of that state placed under
federal control.
A