The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 4

FOUB TUENASB Y1LLE TENNESSEAN Wednesday Morning-, April 28, IMS ll i --tttt-i I 1- The Nashville Tennessean Uncle Sam vs. John L. Lewis Don't You Believe I'll Throw It? Published by TENNESSEAN NEWSPAPERS. INC. SILLIMAN EVANS Presidsnt and Publlthtr COLEMAN HARWELL Executive Editor JOHN H.

NYE and JENNINGS PERKY Editor! Publiibcd Every Morning and Sunday at Eleventh and Broadway. NathvllU. Tennessee Entarcd at the Post-Office at Nashville. Tan lessee, aa atcond-claia mail matttr Tha Naahville American Eitabiiihed 1112 Tba NathvllU Tennetican Established 1007 Consolidated September 24, 1910 Nathrllle Democrat 1912 More than fifty soft coal mines have already ceased to operste, snd the possibility grows that all production will be halted by the end of this week. This is in accordance with the plan of John L.

Lewis, who scorns to use the sgencies for settlement of wsge disputes that have been aet up under government sponsorship. The U. M. W. dictator ia aubject to no rules, nor is he bound by the no-strike pledge to which he subscribed in behalf of national security.

By royal decree, as it were, he changes the rules as a matter of expediency, like aoma of the nations with which we are at war. If no workers go into the soft coal mines, production in many essential lines will be endangered. Not many men would be willing to ahoulder responsibility for such a development, but Mr. Lewis' mind does not work like that of tha average American citizen. Officially, this gentleman can be expected to point out that no strikes have been authorised.

But he is the one who provided the needed formula. "If there is not a Contract between operators and the union by Friday," he decreed, "there won't be any miners going into the mines Saturday." Diatrict U. M. W. leaders, meeting in New York for a policy session, followed this cue when they observed that while no strikes hsd been authorised, their boss plainly had not forbidden them.

Under the circumstances, they know what is expected of them. But it js a sad commentary on their intelligence, to say nothing of their patriotism, when they turn a deaf ear to President Roosevelt's appeal for national support and follow the course charted by a "leader" who uses them to further his own ambitions. Whether the mine workers need more pay ia not a matter to be debated while this challenge to the nation, rather than the Administration, exists. And it is to be hoped that this Is one occasion when John L. Lewis, who thinks more of the "rights" of the group he represents than the winning of the war (for no other construction can be put on his actions) is not going to come out winner with nothing but a slap on the wrist from his Uncle Sam.

We are struck with the thought that any industrialist callous enough to adopt such an America-be-damned policy in this crisis of the war would be lucky to escape tarring and feathering. And the first men to condemn such a representative of management (who, we are proud to say, does not exist) would be the sanctimonious fuehrer of the coal workers' union. Tba news eolumna aball fait and accurate; tba aditorial eolumna aball beaut and fuat in tba axprauion of conscientious opinion. Tha Tennessean Firsts FOR THE CUMBERLAND-TENNESSEE REGION: Full development of the natural resources of its valleys. Inclusion of tha Cumber land la tha TVA program.

FOR TENNESSEEl 1,000,000 Voters. A Merit System In tha Constitution. Reduction of tha gas tan. FOR DAVIDSON COUNTY: Consolidation of county and city health services. A metropolitan community hospital Consolidation of county and city school systems.

FOR NASHVILLE: Lafayette Street extension. Smoke abatement. Sewage disposal plant A municipal auditorium. WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL 28, 1943 prefer Jf; Letters to The Tennessean 'Keep the Lamps of Culture Bright' Round the Rosy A PUBLIC FORUM The Tennessean Is always glad to receive letters from Its readers giving their views on questions of the day. Whan requested, only initials or a nom da plume will be printed.

However, the Identity and address of tha sender must always be known to the Editor. Because Forum space la limited letters must be edited and often cannot be printed In full, though every effort will be made to preserve the Idea in each letter used. Each day an award of One Dollar will be made for tha communication deemed beat by the Editor. That letter will be designated by three stars. The" Great Gajne-Of Politics By Frank RCinr House Action On Agricultural Budget Called Revolt WASHINGTON, April XT If the old carnival saying of "the monkey's dead and the show's over" were altered to read "tha New Deal's deed and the show's over" it would describe with complete accuracy the situation aa it is generally viewed today in Congress.

The significance of some of the things that recently have happened there has not had the public notice It deserves. For example, there was the house action last week in killing a large part of thoae costly and radical experimente in regimen tation and regulation which. In the early days of tha Roosevelt regime, It had enthusiastically Indorsed. Perhaps It Is the war, but It Is strange that more was not made of tha murderous blow which flattened out a whole flock of agencies created when Vice-President Wallace waa secretary of agriculture, and hi under secretary, tha ebullient Dr. TugwelL colorfully proclaimed the New Deal Intention "to make America over." Scarcely a Gulp The contrast between the Congress which then swallowed with scarcely a gulp an Administration philosophy which ran contrary to common sense, and this Congress, the popular branch of which has just repudiated that philosophy, la striking, indeed.

That the repudiation was effected without tha least evidence Of public disapproval makes the whole business explainable only on the ground that the tide that ran so long In one direction really Is running now In the other. It was an undoubted reflection of the change In public sentiment a widespread desire to be rid of amateur reformers and their dubious schemea to circumvent natural economio laws. What the house did was to slash the Department of Agriculture's next year budget below the President recommendation. It did this deliberately, well knowing and well warned of the consequences. Among these may be listed: 1.

Under house action, about $10,000,000 in direct paymenta and loans which farmers otherwise have received Is now denied them. 2. The Farm Security Administration, particularly dear to the Tugwelllan school and primarily established to aid tha down-and-out "share cropper" of the South, about whom so much has been written and spoken, has been wiped out abolished. 3 The "crop Insurance- Idea, designed when Mr. Chester Davis was AAA Administrator, to protect the farmer against weather and reimburse him for damage by drought, has been abandoned.

4. Various Informational promotional and inspirational programs have been ordered consolidated or eliminated. Outstanding Act Of all these things, the outstanding piece of repudiation Is that of the Farm Securities Administration. This was the most radical of all the New Deal agencies, strongly supported by the C. I.

O. and often accused of Communistic and collectlvlst tendencies. A desperate Administration fight to preserve It was made and the decisiveness with which It has been chopped down la a measure of the revolt. An effort to have the FSA re stored in the senate will be made, but the prospects are poor and the spirit of Its defenders very damp. The significant feature of all this is that the killing of these New Deal agencies waa done neither by the Republicans nor by any combination of anti-New Deal Democrats and Republicans.

It was done by tha of Democrats who, In the early days, had ruhher-atamped every Administration proposal a their White House orders and gone straight down tha line. The change from complete congressional subserviency to an almost unprecedented Independence of the White House Is very great. But what makes the revoltand it ia correct to call It a revolt-really remarkable is that It has nothing whatever to do with the war. The house support of Mr. Roosevelt's war policies and foreign diplomacy Is as strong as opposition to his domestio policies Is pronounced.

Usually the house, composed of 433 men never more than IS months away from an election either general or primary, la theA best harometer of popular oplnil Ion. It Is generally Indicative of feeling In the country. If such Is truo of its present attitude toward the Administration's domestic policies, then, indeed, "the monkey dead and the show's they're cheerful, but the thought Is always there. I wonder if Mrs. Stewart and others who make remarks similar to hers have ever had that lost feeling that feeling of grahbinaf for every minute, every hour.

Those kids will, and many do, pay the high rents that almost equal their husbands pay per month for Just a few more days together. Those days are precious, even though they do come high. The people who charge those rents Just because they know they'll get it should be so ashamed. Why can't they understand the way the wives feel and help, them Instead of making It harder. For that feeling will never change and they'll follow their husband just as long as it's possible.

know, for my husband ia a soldier. MRS. RUTH ROSSER, Tullaboma, Tenn. The Streets and the Front As we go along with the municipal race we ought to put a mark by snide blows. Put a mark by the attempt of the opponents of Mayor Cummings to make political hay out of the traffic discomforts on West End resulting from removal of the old car tracks.

This steel is being aalvaged to make guns and tanks. It is a project of the federal government a war project. It is not merely related to national defense. It is as much a part of national defense as any contributing action this side the actual firing line. To gibe at this work is to gibe at the procurement of basic war material.

To gibe at this work because it has not proceeded fatter is to throw slurs, not at Mayor Cummings, but at tha faction here, including a majority of the City Council, who shouted down the mayor's proposals to secure funds for a real street building program. The rail removal program on West End has gone slowly since winter because it was a WPA job, and because WPA is being liquidated, and because ft workmen have been well on in years or physically stooped. It has gone faster since tha city sent in its own crews. Resurfacing, impottible before the end of the' freezet, has begun, and soon much of the street will be reopen-ad, and better for the operation. In the meanwhile, traffic has been slowed on West End.

Some people have had to drive two blocks instead of one to reach their homes. On the other side of the world on both sides some other people our people are having to crouch in slit trenches in the blistering sun waiting for the tanks and guns to come up. These are the tanks and guns we are mining out of Nashville streets, out of West End. It is difficult to realize that political partisans would go so low as to scratch for votes in an inconvenience directly due to an act in furtherance of tha war. The Passing of Pelf "The capitalism of complete laissei-fairc, which thrived on low wages and maximum profits for minimum turnover, which rejected collective bargaining and fought against justified public regulation of the competitive process is a thing of the past." The above is not a quotation from Mr.

Earl Browder, nor even from one of those famous "starry-eyed" New Dealers; nor is it the bitter pronouncement of a man who wants to destroy our business system. It is the considered observation of Mr. Eric A. Johmton, president of tha United States Chamber of Commerce. So completely is Mr.

Johnston convinced that "the old-style capitalism of a primitive free-booting period is gone forever" that he does not hesitate to declare those who seek to revive it "as unrealistic in their way as the addle-brained paper planners of our economic salvation." Well, those are strong words in high places, and tha admirable address of Mr. Johnston before the opening session of 31st annual meeting of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce sounds tither a death knell or a wishful thought. As a practical man, a competent appraiser of tha times and tha determinations of tha people, Mr.

Johnston merely calls a turn. These things, ha notes, are gone because an increasingly civil-lied people have dismissed them. As a man of conscience, Mr. Johnston evinces no regret that these things, being evil, are gone. As a man of Intelligence, Mr.

Johnston certainly knows that, in fact and in truth, here and there and about till linger gentlemen who look to the old free-booting days, not with asperity, but with complete nostalgia. To these hr words must sound less like a coroner's verdict than a weighted warning, must carry lesa of finality than of discouragement. It is in no way to disparage the thought of Jphnston to suppose that wherever employers still thrive on low wages, still reject collective bsrgaining, still take maximum profit's on minimum turnover they will not immediately abandon those ways and rush to catch up with the parade. Some always will trail. But it is refreshing to know that the U.

S. Chamber of Commerce points to the enlightened course, and that, among other powerful incentives to progress, laggards now may count the tendered approval of that highly respectable body. Nashville business and civic leaders who attended the luncheon given Mr. Johnston here earlier in the year by Mr. Fitzgerald Hall recall that the U.

S. Chamber official, a Spokane. industrialist, has bothfeet firmly in the Twentieth Century snd wastes no tears on the past. It is to be hoped, of course, that all his fellow membere advance rapidly to share his vision snd his stsnd; and that there need not be too many postscripts to the epitaph he has placed ever practices of a popularly unlsmsnted day. Writer Urges To the Editor: Our boys who have surrendered their comfortable homes, thlr good paying positions and their pleasant social and rtliglous surroundings to follow Old Glory wherever that glorious flag may lead, have a right to expect something of us who are left behind.

We have promised to "keep the home fires burning," and they also have a right to expect ua to keep the lamps of culture bright, that the ideals for which they fight may not be trampled under foot. We are growing most careless with our speech. Instead of following the Bible admonition of making; our conversation "yea" and "nay," both men and women are much given to the use of expletive. Slang is the rule rather than the exception. Even what was once termed "the unspeijk-ahlfl word" is heard on all sides.

Each year I notice that we are getting farther and farther away from the old standards getting more European, perhaps. We women perhaps have digressed even more than the men. "We first endure, then pity, then embrace" too many things: smoking, drinking, cussing no longer are rare occurring evils. We meet them on all sides and where are they going to lead us? We want to keep this country's standards high, and the ideal of no nation is higher than the standards of its womanhood. We want our home land fit for our hoys when they to do so we must check upon ourselves.

MRS. E. H. D. Nashville.

VOTING PLACES To the Editor: Have just read your editorial, "Vote in the Schools." Like tha young man who went to Jesua with an Important question and was told after soma discussions "yet lackest Thou one thing." You likewise left out of con-' sidcration one very Important item. That Is who pays the bill? Many schools are one-room schools and few schools have extra rooms. On the whole, If voting is to be done in the schools, the schools must he discontinued for that day. If teachers are to be fairly treated their salaries will continue. Thus the bill Is paid hv the children.

Is It right? Should the children furnish the voting places? H. OAULTNEY. Delrose, Tenn. UNDIRTY DIRTf To the Editor: I've never voted not that I am proud of It for I know It Is my duty but I have Just "been stubborn about paying for aomethlng I knew should be free. Therefore I've never tried to "analyse" candidates very much.

This city election has been especially interesting to ma aa one of the candidates on the "people's" ticket la a friend. I've tried to determine If Mr. West or Mr. Cummings is the best man for the office. I think I've made up my mind, which I believe has happened to others.

Tha Cummings election posters on telephone poles that were so widely publicized by anti-Cummlngs papera turned tha tide for Cummings. It isn't likely that a mayor would go around tacking up his own signs and If that's the dirtiest dirt they can dig up against him after ao many years in office, then he must be an extra good mayor. ENLIGHTENED. Nashville. ONE DEFENSE To the Editor: Wa Forum writer are a bunch of kindergarten babea who require patient and particular edl- splendid and most efficient service.

Our city has accomplished more Improvements during his administration than ever before. Thomas L. Cummings at all times la ready to cooperate with any official or citizen of our City and has at all times worked to the advantage of the people. I hope every citizen feels as I do that Thomas L. Cummings has made us an excellent Mayor and that on May 13, you will cast your vote for this man who is well qualified to fill the office, as well as George Cate and Dr.

J. W. Bauman. MRS. WILL PEEKE.

Nashville. I AM AN AMERICAN To the Editor: While serving ss registrar during this supplemental registration In our city, I have been asking the various questions necessary to qualify the prospective voter. One question stands out among all others. It is the one which requests the nativity of the registrant. Since that word is unfamiliar to many, we ask, at our place, "Are you American born?" I have watched the faces of all these people, from all phases www of life, of many creeds, both white and colored, young and old.

Their answers seem to swell right from their very hearts, with a pride that glows In the faces of the most humble. They say. "Yes Indeed!" "You "Yes Ma'am!" "I should say so!" It's a good feeling to be a free American," because that's Just how I feel too. MRS. W.

8. V. Nashville. DEFINITE PART To the Editor: Mr. Forbes' letter of last Friday relative to the hot lunch program in our schools should he read and re-read by the parents and school teachers throughout the state.

With general rationing already upon us, now is the time to give this hot lunch project fair test. The state can produce everything needed for the project and the amount of labor would be nothing compared to the good accomplished. It should hecome a definite part of our school curriculum. BUD OAILBREATH Gaineshoro, Tenn. THE SEVEN C'S To the Editor: Someone asks Frederick J.

Hawkins to name the seven sens and he lists the North snd South Atlantic, the North and South Pacific, the Indian, Arctic and Antarctic Oceans. Probably the seven C's uppermost In the modern American mind are cash, credit, conflict, carnage, Congress, courage and clothes. No doubt there are those who might select other C's, but in the end they would all simmer down to those I have listed. DAVID H. HEPBURN.

Nashville. PRECIOUS MOMENTS To the Editor: In answer to Mrs. Anne Stewart's letter In which she asks the question, "Why don't the wives and children of our army men stay at home? I'm sure she doesn't have a husband in the services or her feelings would be entirely different. Doesn't she realize the majority of those wives are young girls, too young to stay calmly at home when before them always Is the thought: "Tomorrow, next week, may be our last together." They don't often voice this thought and aa whole Mr. A.

V. McLane, Republican member of the County Election Commission, charges that the other two members, Mr. Bill Jones and Mr. Buck Loser, have ignored the law in appointing officers for the approaching municipal election. The law requires selection of election officers from both parties.

We suppose ignoring the law is the same as violating the law. And we can't help wondering if it would be improper to suggest that Mr. McLane make his charges in court? We suggest also the propriety of the public's keeping an eye on these goings on. After all, the election machinery, too, as little as it appears, belongs to the people. The public will observe the little triple-play that is in progress from Jones to Jones to Jones.

Ms. Bill Jones, a county official, was the political fingerman in last year's legislative race; Mr. Jones is the political godfather of the Welt, Jenkins, Luton combine; and Mr. Jones disposes the officers for the election toward which all Mr. Jones' other activities head up.

The public, including Mr. McClane, need not be surprised by the crass political maneuvers coming into view. It is no secret on the streets nor in the houses that a few remaining operators of the old Howse clan, in collusion with elements of the county government, are scheming to come back in Nashville. The cards are merely coming on the table from under it. The public ought, as a very interested party, to keep the cards constantly in sight.

Gas Before Rubber Getting high octane gasoline for war needs may not depend on controversy, as Donald M. Nelson observes, but it is now an established fact that not enough fuel is being produced because of priorities extended to synthetic rubber plants. Admittedly, the WPB chairman was faced with a hard decision when it appeared that the country might have been without rubber by the end of this year. And it may be that the War Department underestimated the amount of gaa required for the widespread 1943 operations. But it is alarming to learn that planes have already been grounded for lack of proper fuel, when one or more invasions of Europe are in the cards.

The country needs rubber, but gasoline is an absolute necessity for the war machine. Th ere can be little doubt that the requirements are greater than had been anticipated, and in that respect the War Department cannot escape its share of blame. But the job of production is in Mr. Nelson's hands, and it now becomes his responsibility to relieve a dangerous situation. Solution of the problem is far too important to be complicated by charges and countercharges.

i how Legislatures Work Maryland's overwhelming Democratic house of delegstes, it now appears, adopted without dissent during the closing hours of its last session a resolution picked up bodily from the Republican state platform of 1942 condemning the Hull reciprocal trade agreements. At least the resolution has turned up in the Congressional record, which is taken as proof that it must have passed. But as for the Republican sponsor, who introduced it, as a matter of form without any idea that it would go through, and the Democratic leadership, you can search them. They simply don't know a thing about it, and are as surprised as csn be. Republicans don't even claim credit, for putting over a fast one on the Maryland majority.

And Democrats have no alibis unless it be that most of them were asleep while the legislative mill was grinding out its product. "How it was 'ever adopted," said Speaker Conlon, Democrat, "is a mystery to me." But not to people who know their legislatures. torlal care as well as some encouragement. Our lines must be watched carefully In order to restrain us from making broad and sweeping statements statements thst are true in particular and individual cases but cannot be extended too generally or univer-aally. Such as "all days are loving end intelligent," "soldiers are perfect," and "farmers are noble." It is the task of the editor to cause us to see if possible that intelligence and love varies in dogs just as it does in human beings, that the soldier carries the degree of perfection with him into military life that ha gained from civilian life, and that farmers (I sm one) range in class from ignorant and Idle to the thrifty, Industrious and excellent.

I note and appreciate this attitude of the editor; If he permits a criticism of a person, thing, circumstance or doctrine, be it religious, philosophical or political, he deserves space for at least one defense of the subject. LOVIE WEBB GASTEINER. Celina. UNSUNG HEROES To the Editor: Luther Luton points with pride to his fire department, and the splendid crew of men who dally risk their lives for the preservation of our property. He crows mightily over the civil service laws that are Intended to give them a measure of security.

To these unsung heroes I take off my hat and wish them every good fortune. They are true soldiers of the home front and deserve the best that we can give them. If you have had the privilege of knowing any of these men as I have, you know that I speak the truth when I say that, civil service notwltstanding, many of them are forced to endure petty Injustices that cause their fighting hearts to beat mightly in anger. Strange as it may seem, they have no recourse, for tha Luton crowd ia In full control of the Civil Service Board and to speak a word against Luton or his policies ia to invite severe discipline, or loss of jobs. The citizens of Nashville owe these men a great debt of gratitude and I for one will pay a little interest next election day.

THOMAS MURRELL. Nashville. 1 AUTOMATIC To the Editor: For the good of mankind, I recommend we establish automata governments for all tha peoples of the earth at the close of this horrible war. I mean by an automatio government, one that will aupport all of its inhabitants. We might persuade people to try out the philosophy of living this life, as was taught by the Christ.

Ws are headed for aome kind of social order different from what we have had, and I believe It would be well to try out tha Christian order. When I was a small boy I overheard a conversation between my father and his brother. Both were In the Union Army, but in different localities. My father's brother told him he had applied for a pension. My father asked, "What for?" He replied, "You know I was in the army four years." To this my father replied; "Tea, but you never shot a gun or heard one shot." To which my uncle replied: "You are getting a pension." Father replied: "Yes, for gunshot wounds received in the service, and I am ashamed to take it." He told bis brother that it was not the business of the government to support the citizen, but was the duty of the citizen to support the government.

So if we can establish automatic governments to support the people, we can have the Utopia. But if it cannot he done, have all the people help in the support of their government without either fear or favor. J. E. DeFORD.

Savannah, Tenn. CALM STRATEGY To the Editor: In torturing and murdering American airmen who were prisoners of war, the Japs are running true to the form displayed by them at Tearl Harbor and in numerous other instances. The resulting highly inflamed state of mind of the American people can and will serve to accelerate the sale of war bonds as probably nothing else could have done, thereby serving to aid in winning the war. But wars are not won actually except by the exercising of calm and coldblooded military strategy. For our military leaders now to do anything rash or not well planned would be like the prize fighter who, In a fit of anger, leaves himself wide open to a deadly knockout punch at the hands of his cool and cautious adversary.

C. B. MOODY. SR. Nashville.

BETTER TOMORROW To the Editor: What are we fighting for? The right to come, and go, when and where we please and many other rights that brave, courageous, determined Americans fought for at Valley Forge, and left bloody footprints In the snow to give us the priceless right to run our country as the majority of us think that it should be run. So let's strive to keep the wheels of our national life rolling in defense of our home front by taking on burdens that befalls our duty to do so In order to serve our nation in a time like this. We should all plan for a better tomorrow, so we may all continue to hold our heads up as free Americans, and that our children may enjoy the blessings of a nation of self-governing people. With the toil and sweat of our millions of loyal workers in field, forest, factory, and mines, and with the bravery and tha brilliance of our boys in uniform, and by the help of God, we are not going to let any "goose stepping Nazi," or "Squint eyed Jap" tell us what to do. MRS.

CLIFFORD BAIN. Smithvllle, Tenn. WELL QUALIFIED To the Editor: On. May 13 the City of Nashville will hold an election. We will select our Mayor, two commissioners and nine councilman.

We hope every one that la eligible to vote will go to the polls and vote, but before doing ao, give this a careful study. Since Thomaa Cummings has beea la office we have had i i.