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About Eugene register-guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1930-1983 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1941)
Page Four. EDITORIAL PAGE OF THE REGISTER - GUARD - ?uni Dean 0nthank W. trotthe!hSl3 AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER (PubUahad Evarr Svaami and Sunday! BDlTOll AND PUBUSHEB Alton a, aakot MANAOZNO) EDITOR ------ William M. Tiuui KEWB BEWICK . - Associated Preaa. United Prsas IfEMHfS ------- Audit Buraau of Circulations attend at h Pose otBsa at Cugena. Oruoo. as ascend class mattar. Tha Ragtstar-Guard'a polley si tna eomplata and Impartial publication In 1U news pasaa 04 all newt and statements en uwi On this pals tha adltora at Tha Baslitar-Guard orfar thalr oplnlona on avanta of tha day and matters of tmportanoa to tha community, andaavorlnx to ba candid but fan and balpful la tna development of oanatnietlva aommnnHr policy CO-ORDINATING WITH CANTONMENT If there Is a big army cantonment "in the vicinity of Eugene," there will be problems of adjustment between camp and commun ity which will require intelligence and un derstanding. That is why Col. Waller's mili tary affairs committee has asked Howard Merriam to take up the job of "Co-ordinator," full time for at least one year. In the last war, Mr. Merriam served in France with dis tinction; he knows the army; he also knows Lane county, expecially its road and trans port problems, its farm and town problems. For Liaison he is the ideal man. Here and there we hear some rumbling . from people who wonder what the commun ity gets out of it. We believe Eugene is going to take considerable pride in patriotic service well done. But, for the benefit of the "hard headed," let's see how such a pro ject analyzes: CONSTRUCTION PERIOD According to John Kelly, our Washington correspon dent, the first cost of these new cantonments may run as high as $23,000,000 apiece; for a period of six to eight months construction will give employment to 5,000 to 8,000 men, mostly skilled carpenters, plumbers, electri cians, etc., etc. Each camp calls for millions of feet of lumber of plywood, most of which probably would come from nearby mills. SOLDIER PERIOD Each camp is planned to accomodate approximately 35,000 men and officers, a potential spending power of over $1,000,000 a month. Although most soldier clothing and bulk food and supplies will be bought through central quartermas ter depots, army outfits buy enormous quan tities of milk, butter, green vegetables, fruits and other articles not on regular "QM" lists. DISCIPLINES Soldiers like to come to town and prefer decent facilities for amuse ment and recreation. Discipline is a very simple matter. Whenever any area is con sidered unsafe for solider health or morals the commanding general simply declares it "out of bound"; any solider found therein is arrested and punished; parasite business starves under these conditions. PERMANENCE There is no promise of permanence in any of these new canton ments, but it is the history of these develop ments that the army likes to remain where it has been well treated. Keep this in mind. Nearly every city in the state competed for these cantonments. Only Medford and Eugene were selected. Go to Tacoma or any other city which has had "army experience" and you'll get this ver dict: "It isn't all velvet but let somebody try to take it away." It is almost scandalous, we think, to scan the "profit" in cantonments; if our commun ity has a service to render it should be given gladly; we have no patience with the snobs who think all soliders are "awful people"; we are not all going to get rich out of this thing; neither is our lovely little town going to be ruined; we are going to be mighty glad to have the army with us And that's why we need Howard Merriam down there at the armory along with the con structing quartermaster's people to find the right answers to the thousand and one prob lems of providing for 35,000 people. "UNLIMITED NATIONAL EMERGENCY" Although nearly a week has gone by since President Roosevelt's "fireside chat" with his people and his declaration of "unlimited national emergency," people at home and abroad are still asking just what he meant. Berlin says "oh pooh!" Tokyo is irritated! Rome guesses along with Berlin Mr. Roose velt doesn't really want to get tough. Lon don, perforce, applauds "the final warning to Hitler." Portugal is disturbed by the re marks about the Azores and Canaries. Lind bergh and Wheeler continue to sound off. The American people whose sons are marching off to military camps hardly know .what to think. "Doesn't it seem to you that Lind bergh and his crowd are actually gain ing some strength in spite of the presi dent's warnings?" A Eugenean asks that question and our answer is YES. The pacifists and isolation ists have gained, we believe, because their position for the moment is the positive posi tion. At least they know what they do not want. Mr. Roosevelt's position is not strong because it is not positive. It is not clear. We have put all leadership into his hands, but we can only guess his intent. This is a very strange situation for a proud republic. We find the reflection of Ameri can confusion in some of the president's own words: "Hitler's plan of world domination would be near accomplishment today but for two factors, the epic resistance of Britain, the magnificent defense of China .... today the world is divided between slavery and freedom; we choose freedom; we will not accept a Hitler dominated world; we will ac cept only a world consecrated to free- " dom of speech, worship, freedom from want and fear .... our whole program of aid for the democracies has been based on hard headed concern for our own security .... we have made no pretence about our own self-interest in this aid " And so by the process of word twisting we have "unlimited national emergency" for the short and ugly condition which is WAR. We have the pat on the wrist for obstructing labor unions and recalcitrant employers, and we have (for the first time in any of Mr. Roosevelt's utterances) the blunt warning that if Hitler wins and we are back-to-the-wall for defense we shall not be able to keep our "social gains." (Can't have cake and build battleships too). Robert Ruhl, of Medford, an able obser ver, raises the suggestion that "one of the motives of the president is to keep the enemy guessing" and "if so he was magnificently successful, not only in that part of the world but every other." We doubt if high strategy abroad governed policy so much as political expediency at home. Fumbling for reasons to justify more ag gressive action, President Roosevelt tells us that we may have to consider our defense boundaries moved eastward to the Azores or Dakar. Those are military decisions. ' For the people, we need the much simpler but deeper moral appeal. We are at war with Germany NOW and we are at war because of the simple difference between RIGHT AND WRONG! There is another and very important rea son for facing the truth. The sooner this dirty job is over the better. Delay can be costly in treasure and in men. WELCOME TO SOUTH SLOUGH, MAC! Most of our readers are familiar with the name of DeWitt MacKenzie, able war analy ist for Associated Press. Now we have never met Mr. MacKenzie personally, but after reading his effusion for today, we are going to nominate him for membership in our South Slough Colony, for he writes (on his way to Canada for trout) : In the long run, fishin" Is more important than flghtin'. Fishin' is wholesome and cal culated to clear the mind of those mean and selfish thoughts which inspire aggression. The music of a reel across the silver waters amidst the towering pines is like a church organ calls a chap closer to the hearts of his fellows. Of course, Europe has on hand a war which must be carried through. Sometimes when forces of evil begin to prey on the world, they have to be stopped with a heavy hand. Still, If certain armored knights on horseback had done a bit more fishin' in days past, we shouldn't be tortured with war now. This European upheaval has brought much of the world to the edge of the preci pice. The signs are that the big crisis has arrived, and a lot of things can happen. However, there is one thought which goes with me, and I want to pass it on to you that this war is going to be won by the side with a just cause. That sounds sort of silly, doesn't it, especially as coming from a hard-boiled analyst. It doesn't quite agree with Napoleon's famous line that God is on the side of the strongest battalions. That's a grand epigram, but it isn't neces sarily true. Morale civilian morale is likely to win this war, and that must be based on a great and just cause that is worth suffering for and dying for. No mere desire for aggrandizement or territorial gains can provide such a cause. Ajax McGurk thinks MacKenzie would fit right into South Slough society, but Old Rosybeak may cast a blackball. He wants to "see if the guy can grow a beard." Rosy beak is suspicious of anybody who is very optimistic about the future of the world, or rather the people in it. That, says Rosybeak is why deep canyons were created, and no man is entitled to a canyon who wants to go on worrying about the world. LASHING INTEMPERANCE Gov. Eugene Talmadge of Georgia is on record as urging a group of church workers to establish public whipping posts for drunkards. The intemperate use of liquor is, as the governor says, a terrible thing, a source of misery and shame. But it is questionable whether intemperate punishment is the way to eliminate it. All intemperance is bad; intemperance in eating, intemperance in speaking. Has the governor, we wonder, ever in dulged himself in intemperate speech, seek ing to lash an audience by words designed to steal away the wits as effectually as ever a bottle did it? He might well ask himself that question before unlimberlng his lash. IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG QUERY UGENE, Ore. (To the Editor) Several persons have offered opinions on the fireside chat. It was a most eloquent appeal to the public to do something for the country in its time of need. The public have responded to the draft of the president. -The public has volunteered, even to Indians, hitherto considered only of good when dead, have freely offered their services. The con gress representing the people has passed unlimited and unprecented powers to the president. The army is in the hands of the president. The national guard has been taken into the national army. There is no power remaining in the hands of the people, except their local and state police. We are threatened by war from abroad. Open war Is being waged by saboteurs and strikers against the people and the government. It is the same as during the World War. While the army was in France, a strike was called - in Seattle. It was threatened to blow up the City light and water plant. Two companies of soldiers were at once sent from Camp Lewis, and there was no farther diffi culty. Is the President afraid to take firm hold of the subject, and does he substitute a fireside chat to evade it? C. L. ANDREWS. she didn't think the nest waj too full and if I could take a couple of them to my seat. She hesitated .a iyirrt them AVAr Jit firfit. I think she misjudged my ability of ap peasement. Alter lniorming ncr i was born and raised in the cattle kn.tnAH snH ihnncrrit nothing of getting hooked once in a while she agreed. Just as 1 started on with a couple of them, one started to ci-yi and the lady pointed her finger at him and said. Now Yohnnie you be a gud boy and ven we get to Minneoopolis I bane go ing to get you a yinger snupe. a. m. w xtrtuxr. CPRINGFIELD (To the Editor) Hitler's taking of small coun tries and feeding them by scien tific methods reminds me of a time while riding on train. I fell asleep in the night and was awakened by some children cry ing. The train was crowded and the lady had a large family and no place to put them. So decided to double deck 'em. I went over and asked the lady if Lines From The Library ORE the men having difficulty in choosing the style of whiskers and moustache which they will wear for the pageant? If so, they should look at the styles of other days pictured in the stairway dis play case at the Eugene Public Library. Along with these are photographs of old time shaving mugs, old razors and two old moustache cups loaned for the dis play are being shown. A story of Richmond in the years of change after the Civil War is "Sing For a Penny" by Clifford Dowdey. Kirby Harron's struggles to build an industrial empire during the change-over in southern economy and his fights with the "paper lords" of his town makes interesting reading. At the same time that he is opposing these industrialists he is wooing their neice. The author's last novel was "Bugles Blow No More" which was a Civil War story. "Sing For a Penny" was serialized in the Saturday Evening Post. There has long been a need for a readable and up-to-date book for the layman on Turkey. Emil Lengyel has done it in "Turkey." From the time of ancient Byzan tium to modern Turkey is covered with the emphasis on the later period. Both the beauty and bar barity of its oriental life are pic tured. There is a description of the country s role in the Armenian massacres and the revolts led by T. E. Lawrence. In view of pres- ent events, the book should be widely read. The end papers are especially good maps of the coun try. "Just Among Friends" by Wil liam Wistar Comfort is a reveal ing study of three centuries of progress through the Quaker way of life. "The author demonstrates the Friends' source of strength, and outlines their inward con tributions to the causes of edu cation; the ethics of business and the social order; and to war relief and peace." a a Frank Buck with the aid of Fer rin Fraser has told of his almost legendary exploits in "All in a Lifetime." He was born not know ing the meaning of "can't" and "fear." He re-pictures his ad ventures in Texas as a boy, as a bell-hop In Chicago, then in such strange places of the Orient as Malaya and Borneo. Later he al lied himself with oriental animal dealers and worked to fulfill or ders for the zoos of Europe and America. Being one of the most noted of modern adventurers his tales are exciting, unconventional and absorbing. Educator Deplores Defense Bungling CLEVELAND. May 31 0 An educator who spent three months In OPM declared today that Presi dent Roosevelt "seems unable to delegate any major responsibility lor defense planning and co-or dination to others of proved ad ministrative capacity, in whose political and economic views he has confidence." This statement was made by Dr. William E. Wickenden, presi dent of Case School of Applied Science, in a speech drafted for alumni. Simultaneously Dr. Wick enden disclosed he had resigned a month ago as chairman of the general production group of OPM's priorities division, a job to which he was called in February. He explained he took the post after agreeing with Case school tniS' tees that he would devote only a limited amount of time to it. "All in all, there are 18 civil ian defense agencies, apart from the army and navy and from the regular departments of the gov ernment, which include a per sonnel of nearly 130,000 and which have no other co-ordinating head, short of the president himself. "Our apparent fumbling, and especially our dependence on Im provisation in planning and execu tion, are In striking contrast to the long and precise preparations of the totalitarian powers. Several thousand prospective University of Oregon students, In cluding this June's graduates of Oegon high schools, will find out all the "whats, whens, whys, and hows" of life on the campus when they receive their copies of the new University of Oregon Wel come Book, out this week. This is the fourth- edition oi this handbook prepared by the Freshman Week committee, of which O. F. Stafford, dean of the lower division, is chairman, and Karl W. Onthank, dean of person nel, editor of the handbook. The book includes complete information Freshman Week, Including rushing and pledging and num erous other "helpful hints" on getting started at the University. In addiuon to tne revisea sec tion on "Living at the University," "Costs and Financial Aids," "As sociated Students and Other Acti vities," and various others, are Oh. So? Japanese Disapprove? Yes? TOKYO, May 31 (U.BPeOple don't want the freedom promised by President Roosevelt so much as they want the organization, systemization and rationalization offered by Adolf Hitler, the Ja pan Times and Advertiser, organ of the foreign office, said today. Discussing the war aims out lined by British foreign secretary Anthony Eden, the newspaper said Eden undoubtedly had con sulted President Roosevelt before he spoke, because the United States was certain to insist on a part in Britain's post war pro gram as long as it had partici pated so heavily in British war operations, "even to the extent of training British airmen." Six Lane Draftees To Report June 23 The three Lane county selective draft boards have rereivH a nail for two men each to report for auty in me army June 23 it was announced Saturday. The names of the men will be announced In a few days. These six men, all registered in this county, are in aaamon to those recently called to report on June 4. Zamzam's Survivors Taken Into Spain SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain, Near me rTencn frontier, May 31 OP) A group of 119 American surr vlvOrs from thm fimin..iinV Egyptian liner Zamzam crossed uie ironuer into apain today but 21 others, American ambulance drivers, were held hv tha mans at Biarritz, in nazi-occupied .t rance, witn no explanation ex cept "diplomatic reasons." Headquarters for Plcnio Specials . . , You can trust some people to the ends of the earth and others after they get there, FROWING TO SEE Moot&VtipCun yrecManJjmn The faces of many attractive and Intelligent women are marred by faulty eyesight. As they read, or play cards, ar look at any one, they unconsciously furrow their foreheads In an effort to lee better. Tou can work and read easily; save yourselves from unnec essary frowns and fatigue with efficient, corrected vision. Hare you get an efficient scientific eye analyiia and re traction without cost to you. In Eugene since 1915. 38 East Broadway Telephone 362 U-0 Welcome Book Now Ready For Prospective Freshmen new sections "Education and Na tional Defense" and "Pages for Parents," which new students are invited to hand to Mother and Dad to peruse. Part two is devoted entirely to fraternities and sororities giving information on Rush Week, its customs and rules, on the choice of a fraternity, and similar pro- gana. Bergman UKttt 4 J PRESSMAN ' WUUmttt. HEADQUARTERS for NEW and USED BOOKS and MAGAZINES CASH PAID For High School Textbook, CAIPEsJ I TOO J GARDEN TOOLS 31 WEST 7TH is a Bigger Car a Finer Car-yet its price is close to the lowest! 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