Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-08-23
Leadership
Responsible
For Morale
Don t Blame Pc op e
or The Soldiers

DEOPLE must be tired OF hav-
Il ing rehashed this question of
morale - both in the army and
the civil population. Beginning
weeks ago and more frequently
lately this column has rung the
changes on il and is reluctant
to do so again.
But the various alibis in some
official comment makes il hard
to keep still. President Roose-
welt, quoting Lincoln speaking
in very different circumstances,
blames the American people.
General Marshall blames the
debate over the Draft Act. Mr..
Knudsen exclaims. it seems al
most regretfully, that Main
Street hasn't been bombed yet"
That is like Winston Churchill
In World War / advocating the
spilling of "a little American
blood" Other authorities blame
the families of soldiers for their
sloppiness.
This isn't very creditable
exhibition TO put IL mildly.
The responsibility for morale,
either of an army or people,
is on their leadership. For that
leadership TO blame its follower
ship is just like the father of
a large family Of worthless chill
dren blaming them for their
lack of discipline and high prin-
ciple.
1t is like a school m a ter
whose classes are far below par
blaming them and not himself.
What is leadership for If not to
inspire high purpose and prin-
ciple in the people entrusted
to it?
IF THE President doesn't think
L the American people are
straining sufficiently at the
leash to enter war abroad he
should not forget that he re-
peatedly has assured them that
no such thing would be neces-
sary.
If he wants them to take him
more seriously he should ease
up on the Hollywood hokum and
Potemkin sideshows that he so
dramatically stages at every OPP
portunity. He should tell them
some cold hard facts, instead of
so many glittering generalitles.
Keeping their attention dis
tracted all the time from the
dark side OF the stage by Jug
Cling glass balls in the spotlight
would be a good thing to avoid
rather than practice. Paying a
little attention 10 domestic
problems without so much con-
centration on regulating the
worlds most distant scenes
would also help.
Mr.. Knudsen has been In
there battling a full nine in
nings. 1t was his show. If IL
was a flop for lack of authority,
he is 10 blame for not demand
ing what authority he needed
or getting out. He has not been
frank enough with the Ameri-
can people TO blame them. They
don't need TO be bombed to get
into action. They only need 10
be convinced.
IT WAS not very long ago that
Il General Marshall was telling
the public that the morale Of
the army was very high. He is
responsible for keeping it high.
If he thinks public debate is the
cause of its fall, what is the an
swer? Abolish debate? Surely
such an inbred American as
General Marshall thinks no such
thing.
No sir. As stated here re-
Gently there is cause for the
present undoubted dissatisfac-
tions. But the cure is not TO
blame the compliments. The
cure Is competent, vigorous,
honest and just leadership and
organization.
These chieftains need not
worry about young American
soldiers or the rank and file OF
American people. They can be
forced to nothing. They can be
led to do almost anything il
they are openly and honestly
convinced and inspiringly led.
No, these leaders are wasting
their worry on the soldiers and
the people. They should do a
little soul-searching and worry
about themselves.
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