The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-02-26
By STAFF CORRESPONDENT

0OAA AAAS" O.
ing on here!"
That exclamation of Senator
Tydings' crystallized the feel
ings of, a growing number of gov
eminent critics, who until recently
have kept their criticism of our
war program to themselves but
are now openly attacking the red
tape, the wrong decisions, the pet
ty squabbling, the political ang-
ling and the general confusion
which abound in various depart
mentS.
Perhaps the most outstanding
error of the month, from the
viewpoint of public reaction, was
vote for raid on our war funds
for congress to pick this time to
to provide pensions for its own
members. Already as a result of
the public's protest against this
action, a number of bills have
been offered to repeal this meas
ure.
Another chief target of attack
has been the Office Of Civilian
Defense, which, it is charged, has
been going into fields which are
only indirectly related to civilian
defense and which has been used
to expand social reforms rather
than concentrating on the pur-
pose for which it was formed.
The designations of New York's
Mayor La Guardia and Mrs.
Roosevelt from the dictatorship
of this office is resulting in re-
organization of the whole set-up
under the guidance of James M.
Lands, former dean of Harvard
university. Mr.. Lands has said
that he will rebuild the oragniza-
ton for action of a purely defense
nature and he seems to have been
given the authority to reorganize
it in whatever way he believes
will do the best job for the ma
ton.
Lack of reports and explana-
lions to the public on the accom-
plishments Of our army and navy
in the Far East also are believed
to have done more harm than
good. The fall of Singapore led
to a growing public demand to
know what we can do in the Far
East. The Juror in England over
Singapore and over the escape of
the German battleships through
the English channel quickly
spread to Washington-and the
people of both nations are be-
coming more and more insistent
upon getting an accurate account
ing of our war program progress.
Anti-administration forces, who
for several weeks seemed to be
working hand-in-hand with the
executive department, are now
d ally building new charges
against the administration of try
ing to take advantage of the war
to put through new social re-
forms.
In addition, the public is grow
ing increasingly ANNOYED by re-
ports of jealousies between diff
ferent government departments
over who will control what.
All this dissatisfaction may not
be as bad as it is painted. Anyone
will admit that the gigantic prob
lem of organizing for this war
would be a severe strain on the
most gifted executives in the land
and there are some here who are
glad to have the weaknesses in
our set-up ironed out now before
the many new government de-
partments are too firmly estab-
lished.
It is expected that congress will
continue to give about support
to the President on all measures
to speed production and support
our army and navy. Although
there will be increased debate
over measures such as the bill for
$500, 100000 for relief of workers
who are forced temporarily out of
their Jobs, legislation for war sup
plies will be pushed through in
record time.
The best example of this is the
support given to the largest ap-
preparation bill in the history Of
the country, which came right on
top of other record appropriation
bills but which all of the men,
bers of congress and the public
realize must be rushed through to
guarantee victory.
The new appropriation calls for
$32, ITO, 901 600 which includes S.
43O, 000, 900, for the lease-lend pro-
gram, $685., 600, 900 for new ship
construction, 100000 for
army ordinance, $3,011,512.000 for
aiding production for the army,
$2,245, 100000 for the transporta--
ton of troops and $220.3 1886, 900 for
the chemical warfare service.
One bright spot in the confused