The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-08-27
Michigan in
Washington
ev Esther Van WAGNER Tufty

The reaction OF the automobile
big.wigs to the so per cent yearly
average) cut in auto output was SO
mild, that 1t surprised many people
here. In fact, Joseph w. Frazer
president OF Willys-overland, gave
a cocktail party the same afternoon
to exhibit his new models-just Is
II drumming up sales was the same
old problem.
The chit-chat at this party was
a good barometer OF the temper OF
the automobile big and not-so-big
men towards the curtailment in
passenger car production.
Three factors explain the lack of
fireworks. They knew that larger
cut had been ayerted. They appra-
ciate the small cuts, averaging 2613
per cent, for September. october.
and ovember-instead OF the SO
per cent feared-because 1t gives
three months to make adjustments
from automotiye to defense jobs.
They asked for a gradual swing
over to ease the unemployment
load and to keep their organization
intact-and got 1t. They are CRATE
full, even II they are not happy.
The third factor. OF course, is the
heavy demand for trucks, which
helps to Offset the curtailment on
passenger cars.
That 1t should be President Fraz-
er OF Willys-Overland who cele-
brated the event with a big party
at the Shoreham WIS especially sur
prising. This firm is especially
hard hit, officials say, because its
. past production figures, on which
the distribution Is based, were out
OF line with its present day produc-
tien possibilities.
The Willys-Overland had on ex-
hibition its new defense time"
car SO called because it uses less
defense" materials and gasoline.
The WHY'S quota for the next
three months is 1859 against 1854
produced during the same period
last year. Mr.. Frazer said with
some heat-"This is not fair, and
neither is the Nash quota fair, be-
cause our output was abnormally
small for this period last year"
actually this was taken into con-
sideration in giving these and sew
eral other firms a curtailment of
20.2 per cent as compared to Gen
eral Motors 27.6 per cent?
What President Frazer didn't
mention is that his factory is re-
ceiving aid with Army orders for
special cars.
The protocol boys at the State
Department are in the others over
what to do about the possible visit
OF the Duchess of Windsor to the
capital. If she is a royal duchess.
then she must be given the same
courtesies as any other visiting
royalty of equal rank.
Wally's friends say she Is going
to give "the stuffed shirts" a good
scare, but really plans to go right
through Washington.
This neatly eliminates the ques-
ton of whether she should be re-
ceived by the White House and
stay at the British Embassy.
Mrs. Roosevelt has always lodged
the question-"Will you receive the
Duchess of Windsor" with the
answer-Ill do what the State De-
partment tells me to do.
She is certain to be asked the
same question again at her first
after-vacation press conference
scheduled this week.
The U. s. Housing Authority
proudly claims that although De-
troit's Grand Boulevard section
houses one sixth of the city's pop
ulatfon the only residential con-
struction in the section during the
the past 20 years has been two
U. S. Housing Authority low-rent
slum clarence projects"
Now comes government news
release on skunks. What a reward
for Washington reporters who pa
tiently read through piles of daily
news releases to find leads for
stories. But three pages clarifying
the four-legged skunk is too much.
The always hopeful Fish and
Wildlife Service is trying to make
skunks popular. ITO call a man
skunk is a compliment not a slur"
say they. -.
The maligned polecat would make
4 fine pet. The example of one
Ingenious fan is cited. Tired OF
having yaluables. stolen from his
car, he captured a young skunk,
descended the animal and raised 1t
as a pet. Whenever he used his
automobile, he carried along the
animal. After parking his car, he
tied the skunk to the steering
wheel. The molesting stopped.
The skunk is patient and valu-
able. Farmers should love him be-
cause he eats beetles, grasshoppers,
grubs, and other jests. His fur
brings top prices.
Not until paragraph Z, does the
release mention 'the powerful
LII l. II