The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-05-21
War Effort =.
Goal Hidden
Coffee Expresses
Views to Egun
Continued From Page on.l

once buiicinR Garner To-Day. TN
cidentally. three other Taeomsns
dropped in during that hour: DR..
Lewis Hopkins and Mrs. Hopkins
and Frank March. These Tacoma
folks do get sroundi1
John read me q letter he had
Just received from a Tacoma boy
who is student at Washington
State college A typical example
Ct those continually arriving, he
said. The young collegian stated.
with close TO profsne emphasis,
that most Of the students he knew
at W. S. c. wanted no war med
cling in Europe, no use of naval
conveys. etc, etc. and that they
expected the men they voted to
seats in congress to not forget
that.
Coffee Comments
Most of the letters and messages
sent here to Washington could be
down to a single phrase:
Stay out Of war;" But a lot of
your lawmakers appear not to read
their mail.
The trouble with Washington
is that it is completely insulated
from public sentiment" Coffee
somewhat bitterly commented.
Those of US who oppose putting
the United States into the war
and I have consistently opposed
steps that would lead to that end
often are denounced as fifth
We are termed bad
Americans because we dare think
Ct the welfare Of America first
Competition Cited
! gathered that the Tacoms con-
gresham Is not entirely sold on
this business of about aid to
Great Britain.
He pointed out that England 10
still paying cash for supplies
bought in Canada, Australia and
rarious parts Of the empire. In
many instances money allotted to
Great Britain through the lend
tease bill is financing the purchases
made in England's colonies, selling
in direct competition with Ameri-
can merchants in the matter
CT apples, to name one thing OF
some interest to Washington state
residents.
Sounds Cockeyed!
Despite Great Britain's plea for
more American bottoms to carry
supplies. their merchant marine
still is trading briskly with the
Orient and South America And,
war or no war, Coffee told me, you
cen today sail under the British
flag to various ports on pleasure
cruises.
This whole business sounds cock
eyed, doesn't it?
Obviously the British want to
keep their world markets, war or
no war. and there is a justifisbls
that the hope is TO in
volve the American merchant MAJ
rine to an extent where II cannot
take over this juicy business when
Il is all over-if 1t ever gets over.
Columnists Raped
Coffee was somewhat vitriolic in
his comments on Washington col
umists, most of whom are beating
the war drums with a great deal
OF noise. Even those who used to
maintain on objective attitude in
national events seem to
have succumbed to war hysteris.
My own conclusion is that these
boys do not get away from the
cocktail lounges and the social
gatherings and the embassy func-
tons enough.
They keep listening to the same
old crowd and the same old propa-
ganda until they swallow it-slong
with the excellent hquor-without
even blinking.
Still No Answer
The Atlantic seaboard states are
said to be strong for entry into
the war. But Coffee insists it 10
the big boys who are clamoring,
not the fellows in overslls or carry
ing tin lunch buckets or course,
listens TO them. They are
to be too dumb to know
what it is all about.
Maybe they aren't nearly az
dumb as some folks think. Ask
congressman who do read their
nail.
Several weeks ago The Tscoms r
Times asked editorially what this
war effort would lead TOO. demand
ed the American people be told
the ultimate goal. Exactly what
would victory mean, il we aided
Great Britain in. gaining victory.
Nobody m Washington, even in
the highes, places. will answer
that query. Coffee said. Nobody
knows the answer Yet the answer
= vitality important. The truth is,
il probably cannot be answered to
the satisfaction If thu o.rsc.n