Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-05
Many Don't Need Much
but Get Big Share
BY HENRY McLEMORE

nuflS.
The present gasoline rationing
plan is the work of either hur-
ried or shallow minds. 1t has no
connection with the sort Of
minds one hopes are directing
this country in the time of its
dire stress.
We feel free to discuss the
gasoline subject because we
haven't any sort Of a card. We
haven't any car. as matter OF
fact. Our car is up on jacks, a
patient patient in an automobile
sanitarium Elm southern Florida.
Only occasionally do we hear
from il, and then secondhand,
via a practicing mechanic who
sends up a professional card that
reads like this.
scar doing well. Spark plugs
normal. Differential feverish.
Axlcs holding their own. Cyiin-
ders doing rs well rs can be ex-
pected."
If we had gas card we
wouldn't write this. But, as we
said before, we haven't got an A
card, a B card, a c card, or the
kind the politicians get. So. a
few days ago we plunged into a
study Of gasoline rationing.
WAS il on the level? Was il
w strictly square? Did every
American get a decent break?
In short, were the men in charge
of gasoline rationing doing a
good job?
The answer is this: No. They
aren't.
Example: A newspaper friend
has a B card. A newspaper
friend of his, and also a friend Of
ours, has an A card.
Newspaperman A lives a
frogs jump from railroad sta
ton. He can take three steps
and catch a train that viii carry
him to his office in Manhat-
tan. Once there, he is less than
a frogs jump from subways,
cabs, trolley cars and other We
hicles which will take him 10
wherever he has to 60.
The other newspaperman
(newspaperman b lives 10 miles
from q train. He is having one
devil of a time getting TO work.
In addition, his work calls for
him to report events all over the
New York area. He needs gaSo-
line to do his work.
A MOTHER mple: We
"A could get an A card by
applying for one. The chances
are we could get B card. Yet
our brother, who is a salesman,
whose living is dependent on his
getting from town TO town by
automobile, has to try TO make
his way with B card.
We have heard that the
travelling statesmen OF the coun-
try have formed an organization
and are lobbying in Washington
for better treatment. We hope
their lobby does all right.
Example 3: An acquaintance
has an A card. All he needs il
for is to get 10 the golf course
and play few holes of golf and
drink a few drinks of whisky.
Another acquaintance, an old
lady who counts on the few
dozen eggs she can sell during
the week to keep a roof over
her head, also gets an A card
She happens to live in the
country. After all, you can't
keep chickens in midtown
apartment.
Who deserves a little more
gas, the guy who spends his
ration looking for a birdie. or
the old lady who wants to sell
her eggs?
There must be a full million
such examples in this country.
WHY not take a survey. and
w find out who needs gasoline
and who doesn't? The same
goes for tires. Take the gaso-
line and the tires away from
those who don't need them and
give them to the man or woman
who is doing something toward
the war effort.
That would cost money. A
survey, ! mean. Sure. ii would,
but those in Washington must
know by now that money, more
money, and still more money,
doesn't worry the average
American. He is willing to give
IL all toward victory; but Wash
ington is going to learn this,
sooner or later:
This country is not forever
going to put up with light
weights doing the thinking.
Some time, sooner or later. there
is going to be a national de-
mand for honest. level-headed
leaders.
You know as well as we do
that all this country has ever
needed to make il unified, to
make it rough. tough, and 100
per cent strong, is fellows in
charge whom every one trusted
The day we have such men will
mark the end of all the labor
and capital foolishness. And
we'll get il. rest assured. just
Leon niichinr until honesty