The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-30

to direct the citizens, by that time panic stricken and chOk- ing with smoke, to the exits which inc would then choose for their evacuation.
 'The fact that during seven months there has been no train- ing of soldiers or of the people, and no signals or sirens or cannon arranged for concerted population movements to the designated exits, properly en- titles one to use the word 'ghastly' as describing the ma ture of Gen. DeWitt's plan."
 So far the War Department has finished so many naval con- mans pleas, despite the fact that he has also pointed out that Tokyo with a similar fire hazerd, has been trs@sng for year on how to get it's residents out of the citys Failing to get action from the War Department, Judge Denman recently has been sending a wire every day not only to the Secre- tary of War but to Navy and State Department officials warning them of what may be in store for San Francisco If action is not talk en immediately.
 WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
 To Fulton Lewis for his crusad- ing radio broadcasts which played a vital part in spurring Wash ington into quicker rubber produc- tion .. To L. Lion & Sons of San Jose, Cal, for giving away a lin- oleum mat free to anyone who gave the government a rubber mat from his automobile ;. To Chip Roberts engineering firm which has finished so many naavl con- tracts ahead of schedule that Ad- miral Ben Moreel wrote: "I know of no other engineering Organiza- ton which ranks above Robert and Company in its approach to impossible perfection" To Miss Elizabeth Rapkin of Loch Sheldrake, N. Y, for deluging her community with war bonds.
 UNFAIR PREJUDICE
 One of the most important new war plants is that for the manu- facture of basic magnesium, now under construction at Las Vegas, Nev. Magnesium is used with aluminium to make an alloy for airplane construction, and 1t is also used in the manufacture Of incendiary bombs.
 But in the Las Vegas project, an incendiary bomb of another character has already exploded. It's repercussions were heard even in Cabinet meeting when Jesse Jones told the President how race prejudice had been allowed to in terfere with defense construction.
 There are 10000 workers on the Las Vegas project, of whom HOO are Negroes. A group of white workers declared they would not work unless the Negroes were dis charged.
 Jesse Jones is from Texas, but he has no such prejudice as this. The Las Vegas project is being built with REC funds, and he wants no interference with the work. So he. laid the matter squarely before the President with the suggestion that Federal action might be desirable.
 For the moment, the snarl is left for local authorities to un- tangle. If they fail, 1t will be time for Federal intervention. But if they do fail another tangle arises. For if Federal troops should be called in, the nearest force, two or three miles away, is 8 regiment of Negroes.
 LABOR DELAYS
 Although the great mass of la- bor is working periodically on the war effort, 8 minority still hurts the reputation of labor gem erally.
 Latest case involved Govern ment long distance phone calls which are most important in speeding up production and mov- ing the armed forces. There is a tremendous congestion of trunk lines and a pressing need for new ] facilities.