Evening star., 1942-02-07
American Morale

Those persons in the Capital who
have set themselves up as guardians
of public morale might profitably
reflect upon two questions: What is
the matter with American morale?
And from what direction does the
real threat to it come?
In the first place there is no evi-
dence that anything is wrong with
the morale of the people. On the
contrary, there is every reason to
believe it is far better than the
morale Of those who seem to think
that professional dancers, movie
actors, press agents and scores of
lucrative jobs are indispensable in
gradients of victory on the home
front. If there should be any break
down in public morale it is much
more likely to come from having to
foot the bills for the fantastic activ-
tiles Of these self-ordained morale
builders than from anything the
Germans or the Italians or the
japanese are apt to do.
1t has been but few months since
some people were convinced that the
morale of the Army had gone to pot.
But that myth has been pretty we'll
exploded. The soldiers who were
''going over the hill" in October-if
one listened to the gloomy prophets
stuck to their guns and their train
ing instead, and have since given a
f1rst-rate account of themselves
whenever they have met the enemy.
Nor is there any reason to suppose
that Americans in the civilian ranks
are made Of softer stun. Given
appropriate guidance in the really
essential phases Of civilian defense,
they will do their part Of the Job.
And they will do it without being
coddled and pampered by a comic
opera assortment of highly-paid
Observation-Disclosures with fancy titles
and vague duties.
It does not necessarily follow, how
ever, that morale cannot or will not
be undermined. The people of this
country are prepared to pay the price
Of victory. They will buy the bonds,
pay the taxes. give up the luxuries
and comforts. do the work and en-
dure whatever hardships may be
necessary without any impairment Of
morale so long as their Government
meets them half way and restricts
its own program to activities that
are genuinely essential. But If the
Government does not do this. it is
foolish to suppose that the morale
Of the people can be maintained on
a high plane, no matter how many
dancers and movie stars may be
rushed into the breach.
AS first step, the Office of Civil
Ian Defense should drop all boom
doggling activities and stop wasting
money on salaries and programs that
contribute nothing to the war effort.
And this should be followed UP by a
vigorous and thorough elimination
OF all governmental activities which
smack Of politics as usual"
Testifying before a congressional
committee yesterday, Edward A.
ONeal, president of the American
Farm Bureau Federation, charged
that startling and shocking condi-
tions of waste, extravaganza and
other indefensible practices" in the
administration OF the Farm Security
Administration amount to a ma
tional disgrace" In substance, he
accused this agency of using public
funds improperly to maintain gov
ernmental control over the indi-
viduals coming within the scope of
its activities. Earlier, the admins
traitor OF the agency had admitted
that Farm Security funds were used
to pay poll taxes OF needy farmers
and had defended this as "per-
fectly proper thing to do"
The administrator denied that the
money was advanced for the pay
ment OF poll taxes with any thought
OF influencing the votes OF the farm
ers. Be that as it may, there is no
room for denial as to the effect on
the morale Of the hard-pressed tax
payer when he learns that the Gov
ernment, instead Of spending his
money to fight the war, is using it to
pay the salaries of dancers and movie
stars and the poll taxes OF prospective
voters.
1t is from this sort of govern
mental activity, repeated time and
again, that the real threat to morale
comes. And If there should be any
breakdown on the home front it will
not result from weakness on the part
OF the people, but because the ad-
ministration, while wasting its ener-
gies on non-essential and even
harmful "morale-buildipg" activities,
neglects to stamp out the dubious
practices which constitute the really
serious threat.