The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-03-26
. New York
Listening Post
Monned By
AlsEsr n. lfnAn
Recreation Centers Hard
Hin by War and Weather
Belgium Labor Suffers
Under Man tyranny
Zoo Much Morale" in
u. S. Softens Nation

100 MUCH Mofdle IN
U. S. Softens Nation
In many parts of the country
the war is raising hob with the
recreation industry through enc
my raid rules. transportation
stringencies. and the drying up
of incomes. For example Florida
has had trying winter with
much unpleasant weather. Even
the sun deserted the pleasure
paradise. Wealthy vacation res
idents. anticipating heavy taxes.
have been unloading their extra
properties. Magnificent homes
at Miami Beach and elsewhere
can be purchased for q song
II ones pocketbook still has q
golden voice.
Northern watering places had
dreamed Of August bonanzas
since train travel will be re-
stricted. Inkeepers and real es-
tate men hoped tourists would
come to stay while and get
their action-since autos are out
by enjoying speedboats and the
surf. Visitors PROBABLY will still
flock TO the beaches. An occa-
sional sub scare will keep no
more people away than the rum
or of a shark off the sands.
But now the Navy has ordered
seaside resorts to dim their lights
and abolish glaring boardwalks.
The new rule is the result Of a
report by the engineer Of q ship
sunk by U-boats off New Jersey
with the loss Of twenty Of the
crew. The survivor says his
vessel was silhouetted by the
shore illumination and offered
a perfect target. Atlantic City
and other coastal colonies will
douse their Moons. place black
out screens on all hotel rooms
facing the ocean, and perhaps
use purple snd/or mauve bulbs
for street lamps.
Skilled laborers work u hours
daily six times a week for a ten
cents an hour wage. Suppose
the statement applied ito the
United States! We are free
from that slavery because we
have not yet been defeated. But
this Ia an authentic picture OF
the plight of the workineman in
Belgium, according to a recent
survey made in that unhappy
land. If he has no trade he is
only paid seven cents an hour.
Should he dare leave work. his
ration card Is seized which
means he has no way to obtain
food or otherwise earn a living.
He has no choice about posi-
ton. He must register at an
exchange which places him on
a Job. often in the Reich, which
he cannot reject no matter how
unbearable conditions may be-
come. When Hitler's storm
troopers overran the Low Coun-
tries the patriotic Flemish
miners quit. The Germans or
dered that before one could with
draw he must give three
months notice. So many reg
istered for transfers and sever
ances that q new decree required
q nine-month warning.
Recently German controlled
Brussels announced that wages
had increased from eight to III
teen per cent. The authorities
neglected to state that the cost
Of living had gone up one hun
dred and twenty-five per cent
and that buying power had
dropped forty per cent The
quantity Of food which a family
can secure is half as much as
was available in 1899. and It's
quality is greatly inferior.
One of the arguments used by
Missionaries to justify boondog-
giles in Civilian Defense il that
such activities are necessary ito
keep I'D American morale" II
they should talk with expert
enced newspspermen whose JOBS
TAX. them all over the country.
IN. scribes would tell them that
among the worst dangers right
now is that we have too muen
morale" Nobody believes we
can lose and hence very few
classes are willing TO make gen
uine sacrifices 10 back up MAC
Arthur.
II people thought ~s oonin
lose these things would not 70
on: Labor calling strikes IN war
industries: manufacturers oalk-
ing conversion of machinery,
lonsshoremen off on orhnHs
when convoy ships still are win
out cargoes: Washington Key
men trying TO claw down othsr
public officials: and air rad ar
ransements still unorganeo-
Politicians would not De senem-
ing 70 gain the November eiee-
ton when they should be strain
w. ever, nerve 70 win the war.