The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1939-04-27

~ JAMES PREsroN

~ JAMES Preston
A three letter WOODWARD
dominates the mail pouring in
at the Capitol. And this is one
subject ON which there is no
division of opinion. The Amer
lean people don't want it.
In many cases it is perhaps
the first letter some persons
have ever written to a Repre-
sentative or a Senator.
And it's the kind of mail to
which Congress listens. Some
is on scratch paper probably
taken from a school tablet. But
that makes no difference. Con-
gressment know it doesn't re-
quire expensive, gilt edged bond
to make expressions of this
kind stronger.
The Secretary OF one Senator
estimates that of every four
letters received - three are
against war.
This is the sentiment being
conveyed to washington. And
this same sentiment is being
expressed by prominent people
as well. The size of the pocket
book makes no difference in the
love for peace and hate of war.
Among these protests, those
from businessmen are stronger
than any.
One prominent businessman,
the president of the worlds
largest group of manufacturers,
said recently:
Il want to make it perfectly
plain that American industry
has no stomach for war. The
colossal expenditures on UN-
PRODUCTIVE armament, it is
true, would give added employ
ment and temporary stimulus
to our prosperity, but at such
a cost in human lives, suffer-
ing and DISLOCATION of our
future economy as to be a
tragic bargain indeed. We have
learned by bitter experience
that peace-NOT WAR; hath
her victories for industry"
Best opinion in Washington
is that as long as the senti-
ment against war continues to
pour in from the people, Am
erica won't become involved
even if war comes. Congress-
men, like their constituents,
have sons. They don't want war
either. And just as long as Con-
gress knows their constituents
are back of them, they won't
vote for war.
And Washington is having adj
ditional troubles as a result Of
the European turmoil. In fact,
it is downright embarrassing
for some officials. Center of
the new worry is the $4,000
mosaic floor of the new multi
million dollar Post Office De-
partment building. The mosaic
is a large map of the world.
When the floor was laid
about four years ago, Austria,
Albania and CZechoSlovakia
were countries in Europe. To-
day they are only memories 70
mapmakerS. The mosaic, how
ever, is a map that can not
be altered. Austria, Albania and
Czechoslovakia appear in bright
colored stones.
Officials don't know whether
it is best to tear up their $20,-
600 ornament or let time and
shutting feet wear out the
boundary lines - or wait and
make these other alterations
that the world fears will come,
Decision of the House Labor
Committee to hold hearings on
the Labor Act amendments
simultaneously with the Senate
Labor Committee had observers
puzzled for a while last week
But then the strategy behind
the decision began to show itself
and the story is simply this:
There had been no request
for hearings i'm the House (be-
cause hearings were already
underway in the Senate) until
a move was started for a Con-
gresSional investigation of the
National Labor Relation S
Board, which administers the
Labor Act.
Immediately the CLIO, the
NLRB and administration
spokesman began scratching
their heads for a way to head
off such an investigation. Fin
ally, when it looked as though
the planned investigation might
become a reality, somebody hit
upon the idea of starting hear
ings on amendment proposals.
The strategists reasoned that
the House would not be likely
to undertake hearings on both
the amendment and i~nvestiga-