The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-10-03
H!!hmt
Eleanor Roosevelt
RETAILERS AND DEFENSE


wise move. While it may curtail
some of the buying at the present
time, it will put money in peoples
pockets for future use. We shall
need that money to keep us from
too great business slump during
the transition from defense work
to normal activities.
1t seems to me that in everything
we do today we should have an eye
to our present needs, but at the
same time think far enough ahead
to guard against some of the diff
ficulties we have undergone in the
past.
For instance, if the production of
automobiles is going to be drastical-
ly curtailed in order that industry
may take bigger share in defense
work, why not plan to put money,
which in ordinary times we might
set aside for a new automobile, into
Defense Stamps, and call those
stamps: 'Our Automobile Fund"
for the future?
We may have to use our old car
a bit longer than we would ordinar-
lily think wise, or even economically
sound, but at least we can arrange
our own finances so that they are
helpful to the government at pres
ent and useful to us when the day
comes for buying that new car.
WOMEN AND BUSINESS
Women are as interested in all
these business questions as men.
During the second week of October
which will be observed as Business
and Professional Women's week
throughout the nation, there will be
special emphasis on the plans laid
by which women, many of whom
are influential in business and pro-
fessional groups, can aid the de-
tense program.
I wish they would all think not
only of the problems which come
before them in business, but also of
the many local problems which in
the end are going to be very vital
in national defense. A particularly
vital problem is participation of
volunteers in work where their eff
forts will be valuable.
am counting on these important
women's organizations to make
valuable contribution in the working
out of the volunteer services. They
must be rendered on a very large
scale if this country is ever to be
really well prepared and fully de-
Tended.
was very much interested to see
that the Readers Digest" is going
to be published in Portuguese as well
as in Spanish. This publication has
proved that it is possible to bring
out in this country magazine that
is read by our South and Central
American neighbors with interest,
and I wish this new venture great
success.
SHAPE OF THE FUTURE
want to tell you about series
of articles which the magazine
Common Sense" is announcing.
They plan later to have them pub
lished in book form, but in the
meantime, both the subject matter
and the authors make me feel that
none of us will want to miss them.
They deal in general way with the
shape of the future"
The editors, in their announce
ment, say few things which, if
they are really carried out by the
articles, mean that we shall be given
something vital to think about. One
statement reads:
''The crucial question for believ-
ers in democracy is whether the
constructive possibilities are to be
realized We can not hope
merely to save what we have. No
Maginot Line can hold back the tide
of change"
CIVILIAN VOLUNTEERS
A conference one morning with
Miss Eloise Dawson to talk over
some of the things in connec-
ton with civilian volunteer partici-
patton in national defense. ! am
trying, as far as possible, to
familiarize myself with the or
ganization which now exists. I am
studying its accomplishments and
publications, so that when I do 60
to the Office, shall not find myself
meeting people whose names ! do
not know and who are functioning in
ways which ] do not as yet under
stand.
/ am very much interested in q
pamphlet which has been compiled
for the organizations which are deal
ing with the registration Of volun-
teers. It is intended to aid in set
ting up volunteer registration cen
tiers. This seems to be valuable
step, but it will take some time
to set them up so they function
smoothly.
] like Mayor LaGuardia's idea
that registering people is compar-
atively useless, but enrolling them
to do definite things is well worth
while. Obviously, it accomplishes
two things at once. It gives a card
catalogue of people who may be