The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, January 02, 1942, Image 2
THE SUN, NEWBERRY, S. C„ JANUARY 2, 1942
Washington, D. C.
MONET CONTROL
Money — capital — is headed for
early, far-reaching controls by the
U. S. government. Those controls
will be much different from those
employed in World War I.
So far, practically every other
phase of U. S. economy has been
marshalled to the defense of the na
tion. But because there has been
no immediate shortage of money as
such, capital has been left alone.
This will be changed in the near fu
ture.
A significant hint of what is In
the offing was contained in a re
cent little-noticed speech in Detroit
by Ganson Purcell, crack young
member of the Securities and Ex
change commission. This is the out
line of the control program under
consideration in inner defense cir
cles:
There will be no private capital
issues committees in various cities
as in the last war. Instead, there
will be a single inter-departmental
committee composed of treasuiy,
SEC, RFC, Federal Reserve and
other U. S. financial officials.
Object of this committee will be
not to prevent the investment of
capital in stocks and bonds of non
defense projects (because priorities
lists make such investments use
less), but to “patrol” the financial
practices of corporations so as to
direct as much of their earnings as
possible into the defense program.
For example: A ceiling may be
put on corporation salaries in order
to compel firms to build up reserves
and prevent officers from offsetting
personal income taxes by boosting
their pay checks.
Ceilings also may be put on divi
dends so that defense profits above
a “reasonable” limit woptd be avail
able for additional defense plant ex
pansion or the purchase of govern
ment bonds to finance the war. Also,
such reserves may be needed after
the war to enable corporations to
readjust their affairs to peace-time
production.
Problems of capital control are
great and complex, but defense au
thorities consider them vitally es
sential. Prior to the sudden out
break of the Japanese conflict, the
subject had been under quiet con
sideration for some time and tenta
tive plans had been mapped out.
With the nation engaged in war and
confronted with the necessity of
at least tripling previous defense ap
propriations, the regulation of capi
tal becomes an urgently immediate
requirement.
Every business man, banker and
broker may expect early govern
ment action.
• • •
‘POLITICAL TRUCE’??
Democratic chiefs may be read
ing a lot more into the wartime “po
litical truce” with the GOP than
actually is warranted.
If the Democrats figure that the
exchange of cordial telegrams be
tween Democratic National Chair
man Ed Flynn and Republican Na
tional Chairman Joe Martin mean
the G.O.P. will abandon plans for a
vigorous 1942 campaign, they’ve got
another think coming.
Martin has no thought of laying
off campaign activity. He consid
ers that his reply to Flynn means
only cessation of partisanship in
congressional consideration of ad
ministration measures to wage the
war. That is the sole extent of the
“political truce.”
In fact, behind the scenes, Martin
already is busy putting both the
national committee and the Repub-
.lican congressional campaign com
mittee in shape for a knock-down
fight against the Democrats next
year.
Martin’s objective is to capture
the house and strengthen the G.O.P.
in the senate as 4he foundation stone
for a Republican presidential .vic
tory in 1944.
Until recently, Martin’s ambitious
plans were sorely handicapped by
lack of funds. But this problem
has been solved by two angels who
have come to his financial rescue—
Pennsylvania oil millionaire Joseph
Pew and Pennsylvania steel million
aire Ernest T. Weir. They have
agreed to fork over personally, and
also to obtain other contributions.
• • •
MERRT -GO-ROUND
41. Insiders are crediting Federal
Security Administrator Paul Mc
Nutt with an important victory in
the appointment of Watson B. Miller
as head of the Old Age Insurance
bureau of the Social Security board.
Miller, close friend of McNutt and
former rehabilitation director of the
American Legion, replaces John J.
Corson, who was shunted to another
job at $1,000 a year less pay.
4[. The state department will soon is
sue a new Black List of firms doing
business with the Axis. On it will
be some American citizens who
failed to heed repeated warnings.
41. Heavy-browed “Denny” Lewis,
brother of John L. and head of the
United Construction Workers, is
taking no chances since the slug
ging his henchmen staged at the
recent C.I.O. convention in Detroit.
“Denny” has a hulking bodyguard
close at hand in his Washington of
fice. At Detroit “Denny” was al
ways surrounded by a squad o)
strongarm men.
I started one day with a com
mittee meeting at nine o’clock, at
which all the government agencies
met to find ways in which they could
co-operate.
From there, I went to a meeting
of the District of Columbia social
agencies. They have gathered a
group of volunteers who have been
taking a course in an effort to pre
pare themselves for work which
would necessitate a knowledge of
all the available resources in the
community. This kind of knowledge
is valuable, and I think it is a good
preparation for the type of activity
which defense work asks of us all.
There was a time when many
people thought that the word defense
meant simply physical protection.
This could be given by the army,
navy and air force, plus the police
and fire departments. Even the air
raid warden, who became a recog
nized person in defense through our
knowledge of what had happened in
England, was looked upon primar
ily as a person who would see that
lights were out and people were
notified where fires were to be ex
tinguished.
Now it is understood at last, that
real defense begins in every home.
The insecure home is a menace to
the security of the community.
Therefore, the air raid warden, who
knows every family in his or her
area, must know upon what agen
cies to call to meet the needs of
each and every person in it who is
not able to meet them himself. The
job is not just policing, it is social
service as well.
I am told that some people have
an idea that this has nothing to do
with defense. They say it is really
only a way of putting over on an
unsuspecting community, in the
guise of defense, some of the very
bad things which go by the name
of “New Deal Measures.” These
people, I am afraid, are putting the
cart before the horse.
If there had never been a New
Deal, we would have had to accept
this conception of defense. We have
learned from London that it Is in
secure to rush in large numbers to
congregate together in air raid shel
ters. They must be given security
or their fears run riot.
• « •
TWO WAT PASSAGE
During the trip to the West coast
I read Louis Adamic’s book, “Two
Way Passage.” It is a book that
every American should read. I have
not quite finished it, so I cannot real
ly discuss it, but it has started a
trend of thought which is pointed up
by the situation on the W’est coast
for the American-born Japanese.
New Pearl Harbor Chiefs
A shakeup in the high command of the navy and Hawaiian command of the army, because of the Pearl
Harbor debacle, brought about promotion for these officers. They are Admiral Chester C. Nimitz (left), who
will replace Admiral Husband E. Kimmell, who was in command of the Pacific fleet. Center: Lieut. Gen. Delos
C. Emmons, replacing Lieut. Gen. Short, in command of the army F ivaiian department. Right: Brig. Gen.
Clarence L. Tinker, assigned to the command of air forces, and wh< replaces Brig. Gen. Frederick L. Martin.
After Stab-in-the-Back by Japs
Smoke of death hangs over an army airfield in Hawaii (left) after the surprise attack by the Japs. The
plane shown in this photo (released by the army) is a B-17 bomber, known as a flying fortress. Picture at
right is an official U. S. navy photo. It shows a Japanese two-man submarine beached on the island of Oahu,
during the first action with U. S. forces. The 41-foot craft carries two men and is wired for self-destruction.
We know that there are German
and Italian agents and people repre
senting other sympathetic Axis na
tionalities who have been very ac
tive in this country during the past
few years, just as the Communists
have been. We know that now there
are Japanese as well as other
agents, who are here to be helpful
to their own nation and not to ours.
But these people are gradually be
ing rounded up by the FBI and the
Secret Service.
We, as citizens, if we hear any
thing suspicious, will report it to the
proper authorities. But the great
mass of our people, stemming from
these various national ties, must not
feel that they have suddenly ceased
to be Americans.
* • •
DEFENSE GROUPS
CO-OPERATIVE
On returning to Washington I
called Mrs. Morgenthau and some
of her assistants in the Office of
Civilian Defense, to learn what had
happened while Mayor LaGuardia
and I were on the West coast.
Then I considered some of the dif
ficulties now arising. There have
been conflicting directions as to
what people should do in case of air
raids. The reason is that there are
quite a number of people, who have
no official sanction whatsoever, giv
ing advice and directions about a
number of things.
In addition, there has been con
flict in the minds of the people actu
ally in charge of developing pro
grams. However, much of the con
fusion is being cleared up, as it al
ways is. Actual experience on the
West coast has helped.
Air Raid Shelters at Bargain Prices #
German Baron Jailed
Mass production air raid shelter, shown during a tryout in Boston.
It is bolted on a concrete base. Ventilation comes in at the top where
the little cone crowns the steel pyramid. Tes, this shelter can accom
modate 12 people. With air raid alerts on both coasts, interest in shel
ters is increasing. Some can be bought for as little as $200.
Ernest de Meyer, reputed Ger
man baron and alien, who was ar
rested in Los Angeles for a traffic
violation. Police became suspicious
of him when he attempted to change
from an army jacket to a civilian
coat. A short wave broadcasting
set was found in his apartment, ay
well as data on coast defense.
First Victim of Pacific Coast Blackout
At Mexican Border
War Impetus.
Up to the war’s beginning it was
almost impossible to accomplish
any real work with state and local
defense councils, which were often
nonexistent or existent only on pa
per. Frequently, people who want
ed work were given no money by
state or local governments with
which to do so. Volunteers did not
materialize in such great numbers
until a real war was upon us. Now
there is co-operation everywhere.
Even with that co-operation, it is
going to be necessary to work out
certain plans in the light of experi
ence. No one should be surprised
if there is a certain amount of
change that develops in the handling
of different situations. The organi
zation for actual defense, even
where civilians are concerned, is
primarily under army control. How
ever, in many cases, the welfare of
the people of the community, which
is also part of defense, is closely
tied up with the actual protective or
ganization.
Two members of an army beach patrol are shown looking at the
stranded Matson line steamer, Mauna Ala, which ran aground near
Astoria, Ore., while en route to Hawaii. The steamer was the first vic
tim of the West coast blackout, having run aground when she lost her
bearings because of darkening of lighthouses during an air alert.
Maj. Gen. Price of the U. S. ma
rine corps (left) visits Gen. Contre
ras, commander of the second mili
tary zone of Prja, Lower Califor
nia, in Tijurr.r.. Photo released by
navy.
He fumbles and he
misses—
He often fans the air;
He makes his share of
boners
And often splits a hair;
He wastes a lot of motions
And has a wagging tongue . . .
But, boy, he packs a wallop
When once his chin is stung I
II
does much shadow-
boxing
And dances in the dark;
His oratory often
Goes far wide of the
mark;
He dearly loves to muddle
And seems a little queer . . ,
But not a second after
His duty is made clear.
HI
He can be fooled and kid
ded.
And often seems a boob;
Amid the foreign slickers
He sometimes plays the
rube;
He often seems the duffer,
And likes to play the clown . . .
But it’s another story
When once the chips are down!
IV
| He often plays the sucker
In ways a little dumb;
In fact he’s pretty childish
(Until the punches
come);
He trusts a lot to fancy
And harks to fairy tales . . .
Until he gets his wind up
And then he NEVER FAILS!
rare
V
He often is too gabt.
And trusts a lot to pacts;
He sometimes wears dark
glasses
So he won’t know the
facts;
He’s futile and loquacious
Until he’s good and sore . . ,
But, boy, he packs a wallop
When he gets into war!
VI
He glorifies debating
And dearly loves the
stump;
He likes to hear the gossip
Around the village
pump;
He certainly can fiddle
Upon the old dishpan . . .
But when it comes to fighting—
It’s "Gangway for a MAN!”
VII
He dearly loves his pleas
ures
And all his comforts,
too;
He much prefers life fes
tive
Than when it’s very blue;
The peaceful road’s the best one—>
He nourishes that hunch;
But once that road ain’t open,
Tou’d better duck that punch!
• • •
THE T DRIVE
V Is for Victory,
Vigor and Vim;
Hitler’s aware it is
Volleyed at him.
V is for Valor,
V’s for the Vote
Well worth preserving
And keeping afloat.
V is for Voltage
Behind every clout;
V is for Vermin
We’ve got to drive out
V is for Vortex
And all of us know
Into it war lords
Will presently go.
V is for “Vittles”
By sea and by air;
Vs for Velocity
Speeding ’em there.
V is for Vertical—
That’s where we’ll be
Long after Adolf is
Flat as cold tea.
V means Vitality—
V stands for Vow—
V is for Victory
Coming . . . and how!
V is for Vitamins
Needed in war;
We have a lot and can
Find a lot more.
V stands for Verdun
And Vimy Ridge, too;
That it’s for Vichy
Is awful but true.
• * *
So plaster the highways
For I have a hunch
V’s will be vital in
Planting THAT PUNCH!
• • •
Add similes: as useless as an air
raid warning to a man attending an
Olsen & Johnson show.
• • *
The synchronizing of radio adver
tising with the war bulletins is be
ing marked by many amusing bulls,
but the best one so far happened
when this came out of the air the
other night:
"A big force of enemy airplanes
is reported over the Pacific coast
cities . . . Prepare for your next
headache with Such and Such tab
lets.”
I T REMAINED for Florida and
West Point to get the first war
AK-American in Colin Kelly who de
livered the three death thrusts to
the first Japanese
battleship to be
sunk. The Florida
and West Point
fighter found death
in a brilliant coun
ter stroke when
such was badly
needed after the
Japanese raids on
Hawaii. Captain
Kelly was closely
followed by Lieu
tenants Wagner and
Keller in setting up
a new honor roll along the road to
glory. This new All-America honor
roll is one that is sure to grow
where the main trouble will be giv
ing due credit to so many con
cerned, not overlooking those gal
lant marines on Wake island. Colin
Kelly’s performance in diving
through three anti-aircraft blasts for
three direct hits on the hostile bat
tleship was not only the final word
in bravery but also the final touch
in the amazing nerve control need
ed for this triple blow.
Sports Fortune
Queries including letters and tele
grams continue to arrive asking
what the future of sport should be.
The answer is entirely in the hands
of the government at Washington.
They know the types of sport that
will still be badly needed—and they
also know the types that will be
out of order until the war is over.
It will naturally take a certain
amount of time to get the right
program set up. In the meanwhile
it is better to keep original programs
going until changes are needed un
der government order. There is
no occasion for any panic along this
line as competitive sport can still
play a big part in the way of physi
cal fitness and morale under proper
supervision and direction.
The war situation in regard to
sport is a far different thing from
what it was at this time a year ago.
Then there was largely apathy on
all sides. It is entirely different
now. Everything else is completely
overshadowed, as it should be, by
the greatest emergency this coun
try has ever known.
Sport can still play its part in the
way at national conditioning and na
tional morale, but there will be a
far larger call on all athletes to
help out, and classifications will be
changed abruptly and on an ex
tended scale.
Getting in Sttape
Jack Kelly, who might be known
as national commissioner of nation
al physical condition, now has one
of the country’s important jobs to
handle.
There should be no national soft
ness in times of peace. There is
certainly no place for national soft
ness in times of war. And the coun
try, from youth on by middle age,
hasn’t been moving toward rugged
ness for some years.
When the going begins to get
tough, health and general fitness
mean more than ever. One of the
best ways to help rests with each
individual who, after all, is the re
sponsible party—the one most af
fected.
This can be done by closer atten
tion to diet—by taking more exer
cise—by making a personal point
of getting back into better shape.
This country, for one thing, needs
stronger legs—only a small per cent
are equipped along this line. Ask
any able athletic trainer.
Too Many Spectators
The point has bc?n made that we
have too many looking on—not
enough taking part. This is true.
But the growth of basketball and
bowling has been a big help. These
two games now call on many mil
lions.
Bowling, for example, may not
be heavy exercise, but it contrib
utes its share. Basketball is now
in the middle of a nationwide sweep,
especially in all high schools and
colleges.
There is still a place for competi
tive sport that has a crowd appeal.
To have all this destroyed would
be a big mistake. But this should
not prevent the spectators from tak
ing better care of their own fitness.
All along the route from New
York to California those more close
ly interested were asking how the
new war would affect such sports
as football, baseball, racing, etc.
It will have a decided effect on
the financial side, which will be
nothing to cry about. And there
can’t be the same keen interest in
results. But there will still be com
petitive sport to contribute its part
along needed lines.
SPORTLIGHT BRIEFS:
4L The contract of Biff Jones, Ne
braska football coach, has been ex
tended for another five years. The
contract was renewed following the
Cornhuskers’ poorest season of the
century.
41 Michigan was third in total home
football attendance in 1941 but the
Wolverines led the nation in aver
age per game with 60,321.
41 Mel Hein has completed his
eleventh season for the New York
Giants. He played college football
at Washington State.
Grantland Rice