The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1942-07-23
THROUGH
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~ 5
BY HAZEL B.

AeV @ . vi
after five o'clock. Thousands ~
busy government bureaucrats are
relaxing from a hard days work of
uplifting and so many Of them
cant get in that it wouldn't be sur
prising If the government should
decide to build one big bar for gov
eminent employees only so that
they all will have a place in which
to drown their sorrows.
Everything you've heard about
Washington being crowded is true.
Every plane, train and bus coming
into the District of Columbia IS
crowded with people, most OF
whom want something from our
beneficient Uncle Sam. Hotel reser-
vations must be made several days
in advance and every eating estab-
lishment turns away many custo-
mers almost every meal. We saw
them turned away from Harveys
Restaurant and the Shoreham Ter
race and standing in line to eat at
less expensive places. Every u
and street car is crowded to capac-
ity with people standing in the ais
les and you are asked to share your
taxi with q stranger going in the
same direction. Temporary build
ings are mushrooming up every
where even in the White House
grounds. Officials can be seen by
appointment only and you must be
introduced by the right party or
you don't get past the third assis-
tant secretary. In short Washing
ton is the last place on earth most
people would a to live in even
though it is the center OF the uni
verse right now.
There are more British in Wash
ington now than there were when
they burned our capitol down and
some Of them are just about as
popular as the Tories in old days
In tho District of Columbia proper,
however, it is safe to say that for
every one person who dislikes n
British there are at least two flat
tered to death by the little atten-
tions shown them because OF their
positions which make it possible fof
them to aid John Bull. These bu-
reaucrats, thus flattered, are Tor
the most part from jerkwater
towns in the hinterland who have
rome to Washington because I
their political affiliations and Tor
the first time in their lives feel m
portant. Washington is CROWDED
with little men in big positions VINO
have lust about as much idea wnat
they're doing as does John smitn
from Podunk.
Every government department
. and agency have expanded SO
much until they've just about
reached the bursting point. Whole
buildings, covering acres of ground
and several stories high. have been
built to house the new divisions
and bureaus supposedly aiding IN
the war effort. The right kind OF
pass must be held by the taxpayer
before he can set foot inside past
the armed guards. One of the al
rhabetical agencies had expanded
so fast in a new building that one
official couldn't even get inside TO
his own office!
The government has asked 0
sands of s~tenographers TO come 10
Washington to go to work II .hey
would put the ones they have there
to work they could get along NICE
ly. was our observation.
~
The President
1t was our pleasure to attend a
press conference of the President
and meet and talk to Mr.. Roosevelt
after the conference. Mr., Lowell
Mellett, head of the Office OF In
formation, popularity known as
"Mellett's Madhouse', kindly in
troduced us to Mr.. Mcintyre, sec
rotary to the President, who pre-
scented us to him. It was a rare priv
iiege to be able to meet n mar
who is guiding the destinies OF ov-
er 1870 million Americans in a war
torn world. He is showing the signs
of care and worry as might be ex-
pected of a man with his respoh-
sibilities. But he is holding up re-
markably well.
We were present at the press
conference where the President
said ct might be necessary to take
the tires of every automobile IN the
country a statement 'nas
made the headlines in practically
every paper in the country MT.
Roosevelt made that statement IN
answer to a question some reporter
but to him about the rubber situa-
rion. He answered the question:
using the words just quoted IN
about the same tone of voice n
with about just AS much sigharl-
cance as he would had he said, III
may rain tomorrow" We person
ally do not believe that Mr., Roose-
welt has any idea of taking une
tires of any car in the country. we
wouldn't put anything past some %
his ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ADVISORS
but we do give him credit for know
ing that such a thing could MOI De
forced on the American people. %
nj Fiji