EDITORIAL PAGE
La Grande Evening Observer
Frank Schiro, Publisher
MONDAY EVENINd, SEITEMIJER 17, 1945
About Time We All
1 L-
YKorrers St7Z Wanted
Officers in chniffe of army sepuni
lion centers say that many veteran,
particularly younjfer men, are not Uik-inj-
advantage of the army's job-coun-.seliiiK'
service and seem to be in no
hurry to find work.
This is natural. These men need a
time for rest and readjustment. Most
of them have been through several
varieties of hell. They have been lonj'
away from families and sweethenrts,
from soft beds and homo cooking and
the delightful privilege of doing what
they please when it pleases them. And
those without immediate family respon
sibilities can't be blamed for taking a
lil lie lime off to catch up.
A lot of war workers must feel the
came way. Of course, nobody has shot
at them. They haven't suffered expo
sure to tropic heal and arctic cold. They
haven't gone aching, danger-filled days
w ithoul sleep, or slept in rain-filled fox
holes when a chance for rest came.
Their lot can't be compared with the
combat soldier's or sailor's.
Hut for many workers, the war years
were no picnic. They made gooil money,
but they worked hard and long for it.
iMany moved far from home to live in
temporary, una t tractive, uncomfortable
dwellings. In spite of absenteeism, the
majority of them stuck faithfully to
their important work. Holidays and op
portunities for recreation were few.
Much work and little play may have
made a good many Jacks and Jills pros
perous, but they also had a tendency
Funny liusiness
"Quick! Go back in and tako $50 worth more lo pay
i bUll"
Page Two
Did a Little Worrying
it riizFiArartw was .
to make them weary and impatient.
So now most of the war work is
finished, and wholesale layoffs have
commenced. With them have come
signs of war workers' weariness and
impatience. There seems to be a tend
ency to seek unemployment compensa
tion first and let job-hunting go till
later. There is also an apparent tend
ency toward strikes, in spite of the
resident's request that an interim no
strike pledge be observed.
It isn't hard to understand the weary
war workers' feeling's. But neither is
it hard to see that protracted vacations
and strikes will add difficulties to this
period of industrial and economic re
adjustment. The country has the ingredients for
its first postwar economic stimulant
a pent-up demand for scarce goods,
savings with which to buy them, indus
trial capacity, and an abundant labor
force, lint this stimulant, to be effec
tive, should be administered as quick
ly as possible.
Delay can cause confusion and un
certainty, and freeze activity all along
the line. Some delay is unavoidable, but
not all of it. And while it would be
pleasant to think that displaced work
ers might lake long and deserved vaca
tions, or give full vent to their griev
ances, such actions hold a considerable
risk if long continued.
So, for the good of all, there is an
clivious ami immediate need for these
displaced workers to take jobs instead
of unemployment compensation.
SO THEY SAY
Our rent control will be just as
lough as it ever has boon, and
maybe n little tougher.
Loo F. Gontnor, acting OPA
regional administrator, New
York.
Under the American govern
ment, no man is irroplacable. No
one succeeding to the presidency
lias over failed to rise to the
highest requirements of the of
fice. Ncwburgh. N. Y., News.
Once wo roomed with a Now
Yoiker who referred to Chicago
as "a nice little town," which is
further evidence that a great
deal depends upon the point of
view.
Ponea City, Okl , Ncwj.
It wV take SO years to recon
stru .Germany and the Euro-,
poan political scene is very com
plicated right now. but 1 am al
most optimistic about the business
future in Europe.
William 3. Knudsen.
for the doctor
tt I
Washington Merry-Go-Round
By DREW PEAHSCN
WASHINGTON No one on Capitol Hill
will admit it openly, but President Truman's
own confidential memo regarding the $23-a-week
Kilgore unemployment bill was clev
erly used backstage to defeat the measure.
The White House memo, supposed to be
secret, was read out loud by Chairman
George of Georgia in the closed-door session
of the senate finance committee. This ended
the battle. It gave an out to certain anti
administration democrats (Radcliffe of Mary
land, Gerry of Rhode Island, Byrd of Vir
ginia, Bailey of North Carolina, and George.)
They used the Truman memo to defeat the
bill which he had placed at the top of his
message to congress.
Here is the inside story of what happened.
Truman has followed the same procedure
as FDR in sending senate majority leader
Barkley memos on bills which he considers
vital to his program. These memos are sup
posed to be secret, for the information of
Barkley and a few other leaders.
The Truman memo on the Kilgore bill
was kept secret at first. During one session
of the senate finance committee, Senator
George had the memo in front of him and
admitted that he had it, but did not read
it aloud.
Debate Gels Hot
During the next closed-door session, de
mate really got hot. Most vocal opponent of
the bill was GOP Senator Albert Hawkes
of New Jersey, former Head of the national
association of manufacturers. He contended
that if people thought they could get $25
a week, they wouldn't work.
Kentucky's Barkley hit into this argument.
"I have more faith in the American people
than that," he said. "The American people
arc not going to sit by and collect unemploy
ment insurance when there are jobs to be
had. And they have enough faith in us to
expect us to provide for them when, through
no fault of their own, they run into hard
times even temporary hard times."
Finally, a sub-committee was appointed to
WE, THE WOMEN
By RUTH MILLETT
In the world of sports Mrs. Byron Nelson,
wife of the golfer, is something of an od
dity. When her famous husband plays in an
important tournament Mrs. Nelson doesn't
follow him breathlessly around the links.
Instead, she sits quietly knitting in her ho
tel room.
She claims she isn't even a golf enthu
siast, that golf is her husband's business and
she doesn't feci that she should check up
on his business day any more than any wife
would.
Perhaps the reason why that makes Mrs.
Nelson seem unusual among sports wives is
because in the world of sport the little
woman who sits biting her nails while her
husband comes up to bat, steps into the ring,
or heads for a touchdown is so familiar a
picture. Wives have felt it their duty to be
their husbands' most loyal fans.
But maybe Mrs. Nelson has the right idea
in thinking the man who makes a sport
career and the means of earning his livli
hood doesn't need a wife on hand to cheer
him on, any more than any other husband
needs a wife lo watch his daily battle for a
Behind Scenes in Washington
By PETER EDSON. La Grande Erening Obserrer Washington Correspondent
WASHINGTON Checkups on what is be
ing done to counteract Japanese propaganda
to the Japanese people reveal that the ef
fort doesn't amount to a toot in a typhoon
thus far. The Japs haven't begun to get the
line story of the atomic bomb, their own
atrocities against their American prisoners,
the war guilt of their loaders. A few feeble
short wave office of war information broad
casts go out beamed to Japan, but this is all.
Responsibility for this lack of an Amor
ican information policy for Japan is kicked
around in a Washington reorganization. OWI
says it's up to the psychological warfare
division of the army. War department savs
its up to OWI's overseas division of which
has just been transferred to the department
of state. State has William Benton coming
in as assistant secretary in charge of in
formation policy and he has not had time
to find out what he might want to do with
OWI.
All these agencies admit that in the long
run its up to supreme commander Douglas
MacArthur. What the general intends to do
about it doesn't seem to bo officially known
in Washington.
General MacArthur has an assistant chief
oi stall in cnargc ot an iniormation control
section. He is Brig. Gon, Brenner F. Fellers,
whose record does not indicate he has had
any experience in Japan. General MacAr
thur's political advisor, George Atcheson of
the state department, is an experienced and
able China hand but he has never served
in Japan, never met MacArthur, and was net
scheduled to leave Washington for Japan
before Sept. l.V
In the meantime. General MacArthur has
appointed a chief censor, and he has sus
pended Japan's short wave radio. The gen
eral's Sept. 10 directive to the Imperial Jap
anese government tells them to stop put
ting out news that does not adhere to the
truth or which will disturb public tran
quility. But so far, there is no sign of any
kind of V. S. information serviur to ijive
llio Japanese people the facts of postwar life.
This is in conspicuous contrast to the job
that was done when MacArthur landed in
the Philippines. Al Leylc, a Philippine
consider the matter and next day when the
full committee m e t again behind closed
doors, Senator George proceeded to read
Truman's confidential memo. The memo di
vided the Kilgore bill into three categories:
(1) Indispensable; (2) Essential;' (3) Desir
able. Very significantly, Truman failed to
list the $25-a-week unemployment compen
sation as "indispensable." He merely called
it "desirable," and suggested leaving it to
the individual states as to whether this
amount should be paid.
This $25 payment is the crux of the bill.
And Truman's run-out cut the ground right
from under Kilgore, despite the unequivocal
send-off Trman gave the bill in his message
to congress.
Vandenbeig Storms
"This senate committee is not going to
retreat in public while the president retreats
in private," stormed GOP Senator Vanden
burg of Michigan, who had always opposed
the Kilgore bill but is under terifie pres
sure from unemployed Detroit auto workers.
Other republican senators looked on amus
ed at the consternation of their democrat
colleagues. GOP Senator Brewster of Maine
leaned over to his democrat New England
colleague, Brien McMahon of Connecticut,
and said in a stage whisper:
"Well, Brien, this means a third party."
(He was referring to the republican hope
labor will bolt the southern conservative
leadership of the democrats.)
"If this is a pattern of things to come,
you'll probably sec a third party all right,"
admitted McMahon,
Final Showdown
However, McMahon was the only demo
crat present smart enough to force the sen
ators to declare themselves for or against
the Kilgore bill, including its much-debated
$25 payment. George and Barkley were
about to proceed with compromise measures,
when the Connecticut senator spoke up.
"Before we vote cn anything else," he
See WASHINGTON . . . Page 4
living.
Perhaps the best place for the little woman
is sitting home tending to her own knitting,
where her husband can find her when the
day's work is over.
Certainly, the men whose wives are al
ways on hand to cheer them on lack the
opportunKy of coining home anld letting
the little woman in on all the important
happenings of the day. You can't tell a wom
an anything if she already knows all about
, it, and already has her own opinions on the
subject
The surgeon's wife isn't on hand to cheer
him on when he is performing a delicate
operation. The lawyer's wife isn't on hand
when he is making a dramatic plea in court.
The reporter's wife doesn't help him cover
a fire.
So why should the wife of a golf, tennis,
baseball or football pro feel she has to share
his career with him. It may be fun for the
wives to get dolled up and sit in the grand
stands cheering their men on, but it would
probably be better for the men to have the
little woman silting at home waiting to say,
"Well, how did it go,"
newspaper was published the day after the
invasion forces stormed ashore. From that
time on there was never any doubt on the
U. S. information policy toward the Fili
pinos. Brig. G e n. Carlos P. Romulo has
given full credit for the job thai was done
on the Philippines to Fred Marouardt and a
small staff of OWI people who served in
Gen. MacArlhur's division of psychological
warfare. Marouardt's job in the Philippines
having been concluded, he has resigned and
is now on his way back to the United States.
There is no counterpart to his organization
at work in Japan. The two OWI men in
Japan today are cable and radio technicians.
Neither is a policy maker.
OWI is continuing its pre-war short wave
broadcasts to the Pacific area from San
Francisco. Honolulu and Manila. They are
a mere spit in the ocean.
These three stations, plus a medium-wave
station on Saipan, operate on a 14 hour
schedule but' the number of receiving sets
which pick up these programs in Japan is
of course limited.
During the war they were probably moni
tored by the Japanese government but little
of this information was spread to the Jap
anese people. Actually, the japs were get
ting more American information before the
surrender than they get today. While' the
war was on the B-2rts dropped millions of
leaflets on Japan, but even that is stopped
now.
What is happening in Japan is said to be
an exact parallel to what happened in Ger
many, When military government took over,
the work of the OWI in Europe was sup
pie.ood. The president has just sent Byron
Price to Germany to try to straighten out
the news policies in that theater.
The job of tolling the German and Jap
lnese people a straight American story is
obviously the work of sonic civilian agency
such as the OWI overseas organization now
being transferred to state. Foreseeing that
such a job would have to be done in Japan.
OWI hod prepared full plans for super
vising Jap publications and radio. But in
the contusion of a double reorganization,
nothing has been done about them.
Side Glances
COPB. Wi BY HZA SERVICE, IHC. T. M. BEO. 0. 9. PAT. OFF.
" Hold that pose. Dad I'm drawing a picture of you to use as an
illustration in my essay on erosion!"
o McKENNEY ON BRIDGE
By WILLIAM E. McKENNEY America's Card Authority
UNEXPECTED SYLVIA
DOES IT AGAIN
Our unpredictable Sylvia lias
been taking a vacation for the
summer, but she is back at the
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Duplicate Neither vul.
South West North East
1N.T. Pass 3N.T. Pass
Opening A 9. 18
bridge table now and up to her
old tricks.
North and South were playing
tho weak no trupT
justificd South's opening bid of
one no tiump. vVcsl decided he
o BARBS
With meats due to come off of
rationing and a surplus of the
barnyard delicacy reported, we'll
be glad to see a couple of old
friends get together again ham
and eggs!
Little Willie's sleeve will be
glad to know that more paper
napkins are appearing in the
stores.
"Miss America of 1!)45," picked
at Atlantic City, will pass up a
stage or movie career in order
to study music which is not in
tune with the usual procedure.
We hear there will he plenty
of turkeys for everybody on
Thanksgiving. Get set to gobble,
gobble, gobble!
Joe Sheeltetski is the new back
field coach at Notre Dame. We
Irish must stick together.
Scientists seem agreed that the
atomic age means "one world or
none." We'll take the "one,"
thank you!
Nothing feels more disgusted
over extreme vanity than a big
foot in a little shoe.
This Curious World
COPR. m! BY HLA SEfiVlCt, INC.
M OSTRI04 GG
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AND IT TAKES
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ANSWER: Near Marietta. Georgia.
NEXT: The mighty Utile atom is mighly little
had as good a chance of finding
his partner with spades as any
other suit, and opened the spade
nine; the jack was played from
dummy.
What would you play from the
East hand? The king, and then
return a spade? Well, Sylvia did
not. She played the ten-spot.
When West got in with the ace
of hearts, ho led another spade.
Declarer had to establish the dia
monds in order to make nine
tricks. When West was in again
with the diamond ace, he led the
third spade, and Sylvia cashed
her three good spade tricks.
IN FORMER
YEARS
Thirty Years Ago
Six silos are being constructed
in Union county today and more
are to go up as soon as possible.
Farmers are planning on filling
their silos in the spring with
wheat and again in the fall with
corn. Money invested in silos will
pay the biggest interest of arv
improvement, it is contended.
It has been demonstrated by a
few of the farmers of this valley
that corn can be successfully
grown and that it is a good crop
to have. Al Good, whose farm is
situated a couple of miles north
of La Grande, has been planting
upwards of 20 acres in corn for
a number of years and he is us
ually successful. Notwithstanding
the long period of the present
season in which the precipitation
has been scant. Good says his
corn crop is among the best he
has over had.
Fifteen Years Ago
If the Mt. Emily scenic high
way is constructed through the
cooperation of government, coun
ty and tfily, La Grande must
pledge $500 by Sept. 18, the cham
ber of commerce was told today.
Bringing the total to 45, 20 deer
were reported killed yesterday
with the largest one brought in
by H. B. Barton, weighing 258
pounds and having four points.
Ten Years Ago
President H. E. Inlow of East
ern Oregon Normal school un
derwent an appendicitis opera
tion in Portland last night and
was reported in fair condition
today following a restless night.