The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1941-07-24
THROUGH
HAZE {
{ Y E S
.
BY
Hr-.i Brannon

A preacher in the rural section, not
far from Durant, addressed his church
members thusly on a recent Sabbath
morning: II am not going to preach
TO you today on the war and the
troubles that all of US know about
throughout this old world. | am going
to preach to you about the troubles
that confront everyone Of you as
members of this church and citizens
of this community"
Whereupon this wise leader pro-
ceeded to tell his congregation that
there was too much gossip and back
biting among the members and that
before they realized it there would
be a split in the church if the MEM
bers didn't get back pretty quick TO
q stricter sense Of honor and decency.
How true that is Of every COM
munity. We have boosters in every
community and we have persons who
are always trying to teal down ev-
erything others build. Most Of our
troubles with our n~eighbors stem
from the fact that we don't know
them and don't have the time to
really make friends with them.
Throughout this nation we are too
busy saving democracy for other peo-
pie and tending to other peoples
business that we don't have time to
take care of our small affairs at
home.
A bin has been placed in front Of
the News office for the collection OF
old aluminium pots and pans, or any
thing made of aluminium, that the
housewife may be ready to discard.
The cooperation Of every citizen is
asked. Please go through your kitchen
and attic and see if there isn't some
piece yor can discard hat isn't ac-
tually useful.
This program is being carried out
throughout AZ states in order to get
twenty million pounds of scrap metal
to use as substitute materials in
industry so that the strategic ma
terial Of aluminium may be conserved
for national defense.
The first call made on citizens
was the United Service Organiza-
tons call for funds with which to
carry out a recreational program for
our rapidly expanding army.
The second call was registration
of all citizens.
Durant has responded beautifully
to the first two calls. Now let's see
what We can do about collecting
aluminium.
Brine your offering to the News
office to-day Just drop it in the bin.
A Uuited Press dispatch says that
an u~ndiselosed number of selectees
were punished with confinement to
camp and quarters for writing letters
to two u. S. Senators in protest
against legislation to extend the
service Of citizen-soldiers for the du-
ration of the emergency.
Similar protests have been receiv-
ed by congressman from Fort Dix.
Camp Lewis. Pine Camp, Fort Knox,
a camp in Georgia and one in Louisi-
ana, according to the dispatch.
Persons responsible for such pun
ishment evidently think men induct-
ed into the army lose their citizen.
ship and no longer have any civil
rights. Certainly it is true that pri-
vate citizens are free, in his coun-
try. to express themselves to their
government and its representatives
on any measure they desire to pro-
test.
1t follows that men who are going
to be called upon to see actual
service and possibly give their lives
should be shown equal consideration.
The seleetees who wrote the letters
protesting service should be heard
the same as any other citizen. The
parents and families of the men in
service should not hesitate to lie;
their congressman hear their opinion;
on keeping the men in service. The
only way true representative govern.
ment can work is for the people t.
let their representatives in Congress
know how they feel about vital legis
lation.
This country is still theoretically
democracy and we still have a con
gress that is supposed to be doing
what the people want it to do
unless the people do make THEN
voices heard he Congress win con
tinue to become more of a rubber
stamp for the President every day
We have virtually a dictatorship now
If it is true hat the majority Of
men in service do not want to re
main there all we can say is Goo
pity an army Of men who do no
want to fight when they are sent t
Ireland, Africa, and other American
bases in the Atlantic and Pacifi
where the President decides to SEM
them.