Evening star., 1941-07-17
Community Gauges
To Measure Defense
Efforts Urged
VoteIess League Hears
Stacy Nay Of O. P. M.
At 'AII-Out' RuIIy

Quota thermometers" on the
steps of every courthouse in the
land to measure each community's
defense effort were suggested last
night by high Office of Production
Management official.
Stressing that his idea was per-
sonal and embryonic, Stacy May,
director of the research and statis-
tics division of o. P. M, called the
thermometers "a bit of hoop-la"
to bring home the defense effort to
the people.
His suggestion was received with
loud applause by members of the
VoteleSs District of Columbia
League of Women Voters and their
guests. attending an all-out defense
rally in Palisades Playground Field
House.
One of many such rallies in the
leagues national effort to win the
battle of production" the rally
opened with a plea by Miss Mar
guerite Wells, national league presi-
dent, that the defense program was
something not with which to find
fault but to join"
Sees Success in Peace.
An effort similar to that now
planned by the Government, Miss
Wells declared, has never succeeded
before except in time of open war.
Yet she believes Americans can do
it without going to war
Within year civilians must sacri-
flee anything made with war ma
terials, panel of experts led by
Mrs. Anne Hartwell Johnstone de-
cided following Miss Wells key
note address.
Refrigerators and automobiles
will be among the first sacrifices,
declared Richard L. Stokes, Wash
lngton correspondent.
Mr.. Mays suggestion of courthouse
thermometers was made in response
to queries as to the best method of
obtaining these sacrifices from the
people. He also mentioned auto
ration" cards as a possibility.
The spiritual attitude of the
country toward defense has been its
main bottleneck, said both Mr.. May
and Mr.. Stokes.
The double personality" of the
administration unwilling to put
aside the wage-scale features of the
New Deal, according to Mr.. Stokes,
has been one of the worst bottle
necks.
Not scholar like Wilson, but a
politician devoted to the acquiring
of power, Mr.. Stokes continued,
President Roosevelt has been un-
willing to appoint the supreme head
that the defense program heeds.
Besides spreading defense effort
to every community rather than
centering it around large firms, Mr..
May observed that people must &C
custom themselves to being 'shunted
about" to defense areas and that
women must take over certain Jobs
as they have in England.
Large-scale investment in Govern
ment securities instead of banks
etAie oAAApaAoOAy saving oCAlCillCS dlSO
were advocated by Mr.. Stokes.
Cites Expenditure Rate.
Only six and one-half billions ac-
tual cash disbursements have been
made on defense during the first
half of 194l, Mr.. May told the audi
ence, adding that two billions must
be made every month to reach the
quota of SI7,0O0.000 planned for this
year. The United States. he esti-
mated, is now spending Is per cent
of its national income for defense.
had planned to spend 20 per cent,
and would have to spend 40 per
cent to equal the percentages of
other countries.
Asking questions of the experts
were Mrs. Raymond Clapper and
Mrs. Richard Duncan, former foreign
policy chairman of the District
League. Mrs. Eugene Callaghan.
District president, presided.
A choral poem written by Mrs.
Harold Stone, legislative chairman
of the District League, was spoken
by 40 members under the direction
of Mrs. Elinor Cox Karsten.