Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-11
U.S.Warned
Of SpineIess
Appeasers
Too Bad No Law Affects
Them, Runyon Writes
BY DAMON RUNYON

I'VE appraisers. Of yesterday
will he the appeaSers OF to-
morrow when long drawn out
war and the increasing casualty
lists commence making the
people restless. That is the
thing we must prepare against
now the whine must stop be-
fore the victory is fully won.
II is always so in war. De-
featS frlghten the faint hearted
behind the lines. Taxation be-
comes more and more onerouS.
The inconVenlenceS and the re-
StriCtlonS on comforts are irk-
some. The sacrifice human
life that is demanded by war
appalls those at home and
causes them 10 lend willing
ears 10 the cries Of the eravens.
10 listen eagerly 10 the ques-
ton, Why 90 on
This is a form OF treason for
which unfortunately there is no
prescribed punishment, but
which is more dangerous than
outright sabotage. II is fifth
columning against public mo-
rale II Is apt 10 he more pro-
nOunced IN a war that is being
fought far from the homeland
than If the battles were being
waged on our own soil And the
longer the war continues. the
louder the screams from the
coyotes Of defeatlsm that a halt
be called.
IN EVERY war We have ever
L had. and probably in every
war that any nation has ever
had. the same CoWardly pack !
found Cringing far behind the
fighting men and clamoring for
peace, though II might even he
peace without honor. Luckily
for the United States we have
always had men of strong hearts
and abiding faith IN high places
10 deny the pleas Of the poll
troonS and we have no fear that
our present leaders will ever
give heed 10 them
But II IS something n he
guarded against. This Is going
10 be a long Mar-perhapN-!eHger-
Than any Of our ChIeflalns
anticipate. II may last any
whore from three 10 ten years.
II MUST last until the enemy is
defeated And IN that period
the people Of the United States
Will he Invested ~ a thousand
and one things they have come
10 accept as necessities and
without which they viii be
handicapped and uncomfortable.
The whole easy way Of Amer
lean life viii change and priva-
ton and downright hardship
may he our portion. Great Sor-
row Will probably visit thou
sands OF our homes through The
grimlY terSe announcements
from the war and navy depart
ment Of death in action II is
IN the darkest hours that the
towards Will murmur.
IT Is in time Of public dlSmay
that you viii hear ihem
uttcrlng their dolcful plants
that We should call u off and
save further suffering, though
they will be first out Of their
holes and yelplng brilliantly
when the word flashes that our
arms have pre-, allied and the
darkness turns IN light.
You must regard as yellow
hound any man who now wins.
perS that there should he any~
hating IN our course until The
lcCionS Of Hitler and MuSSoini
have been completely shattered
and our soldiers are marching
through tho streets Of Toxic.
Though in the interim the people
OF all tho cities Of our coasts
may be sleeping IN bomb shell
terS. you must regard As
dcfeatiSt SCOundrcl any one who
suggests We should turn back.
and YOU might also casually spit
IN his eye
T1ilS Is war War IN the knife
and tho knife N the hill. We
would he ungrateful 10 the mem.
DRY Of the mon who le buried
m shallow graves on the Bataan
Peninsula and IN Java and who
rest in Davy Jones locker faith
omS deep did We pause 10 listen
10 pacifSt waIllng until The
weight Of or vengeance has
been felt in every quarter whore
an enemy has raised his head.
and especially until the assassin.
Japan. has been reduced IN rum.
But as time goes on YOU VIII
hear those Whltc-llVered raScals
Just the same. unless certain
form Of human nature has sud-
denly changed, and We do not
think il has. You Will hear them
whispering their treaChcry in
various GuISes. Yet always 10 the
same point.
What a pity there is no law
IN cover them imprisonment.
Punishment, or even good
punch IN the nose.
Copyright 1912. nv King Features
Distributed nv international News Service
ONE YEAR AGO TO-DAY