Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-14
Rep. KiIday
Provides Best
Joke ofWeek
PegIer Hopes Congress
Does lis Duty
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER


THE best laugh of the week,
Il albeit a bitter one, was the
statement of Rep Paul j. Kilday
OF Texas. member of the COM
mittee on military affairs. in
connection with the incident of
the quartermaster battalion
which was punished for yelling
loud remarks al some girls who
were playing golf in Memphis.
attlred in shorts, which is short
for short pants.
General Ben Lear. the COM
mander Of the Second Army,
CHANGED 10 be at large on the
golf course enjoying the view.
but keeping his comments To
himself and ne made the obStrep-
crouS grocerS and haberdasherS
perform a long march AS re-
minder that they were in the
army now.
This development scored on
Page ! Of most of our press in
rather light vein, being ideal
-hot-wcathcr stuff and Repre-
sentative kilday, whose name
has a reminiscent smack OF
West Point and the military
politicoS of Fort Sam in San
Antonio. instantly decided 10 be-
come the hero of the occasion by
humbling a three-Star general.
He has ordered the general 10
explain 10 him, with great pub
itcity for the hitherto obscure
kilday. and, in passing. said
THE general will find that
Congress VIII perform Its CON
stitutionai duty" and protect the
soldiers from abuse Al the hands ,
of ill-iempered officers
II REPRESENTATIVE Kill
L DAY speaks for his col
leagues. and if Congress really
has determined. AZ least. 10 per-
form its constitutional duty, that
is an item of news which far
outScores the whole Importance
OF the entire episode Of the
Young ladies in short pants and
the daShing warriors OF the
auarternastcr battalion
It's 10 be hoped that Mr.
Kilday knows where he
speaks. because If Congress
really has decided so, then this
is the most important develop
mcni since the first Inaugural
ton Of President Roosevelt.
about which time the Congress
abdicated most Of its constitu-
tional powers and responsible
tics 10 become an assembly Of
yes-mcn for the executive
branch and the lohbistS thereof
in return for hunks Of red meat
Off tho living flesh Of the Ameri-
can republic which the members
tossed 20 their constituents 10
how how important they were
IN Washington, y c.
ONLY Thursday about the
" very time that Representa-
tive kilday was resoundlng
across the country against
professional officer and dis
crcditinC the command Of oifl-
Gers generally in an army not
long out of civilian clothes and
not vet out Of civilian habits,
another representative. Howard
Smith of Virginia, SHas charging
on the floor that his colleagues
had surrendered miSerably 10
threatening band Of political
coons Of the Go in tearing to
tatierS a bill which would have
provided criminal penalties for
any one who forCibly prevents
worker from entering plant
where. a strike is in progress.
The bill was reduced TO Moth
ing bv the time the House FIN
iShed with il. and Mr.. Smith re-
lated that the Go had sent out
intimidation squads Of three 10
call on the m m b ers and
threaten them with political de-
Struction.
Congress surrend cred 10
Jimmy Roosevelt and Tommy
Tho Cork long ago when phone
call from the White House was
either a hattering promise or
threat. and topped the perform
ance with the passage Of a law
which yielded 10 the President
and those who influence his
mind. the most important and
tragic power which the Consti-
tuition specifically reserved TO
CongresS-the power 10 send
the country into war.
WITHOUT knowing Mr.. Kill
w days record on the issue in
which Congress did shirk its
constitutional responsibility. one
may say nevertheless, that the
body for which he purports 10
speak so boldly against a man>
in no position even TO argue
with him. has been much less
watchful of its duty in many
matters much more solemn, and
that no protest from him against
such resignation ever sounded
the same indignant, conscien-
tious note.
And it is the fault of Congress
that such patriots as General
Lear today are struggling 10
make up for lost time with
token WeapOnS. tools and vehi-