Evening star., 1942-06-10

heufy McLSmofe. were VIC
simply moved from prominent street
| intersection to prominent street in
tersection and, when the cars pulled
to stop for red lights, we asked
the driver or passengers where thsS
were going and why.
1t was not easy. The poll could
just as we'll have been named the
Who the -Hell-Do- YOU Tn nix -You-
Are-Pal?" Poll. That was a stand
ard answer when we stepped on the
running board and inquired as to
the destination and purpose of the
trip.
We decided on the poll only after
months of reading about the seri-
Gus rubber shortage that this coun-
try is going to face between now and
the middle of next year. II there
Is going to be shortage-and more
experts than circus pony could
clear in three jumps have testified
that there is going to be one-why
are so many citizens allowed to fool
around in private cars2
1t was possible, we figured, that /
the Government felt that all citi-
zens were super patriotic and
wouldn't wear a silver Of rubber OF
their tires save on vital errands, ana /
that to take away the tires from
such men and women would be to
show a lack of confidence.
We felt we could render a service
to the Government by finding out
II its faith were justified. or II 1t
were being taken for a sucker and
would find, when civilian tires were
finally taken up, that the boys and
girls had run of the tread for
selfish purposes.
The Hard Way Poll revealed that
practically none of the Manhattan
motorists was using his car on mis-
sions calculated to further Amer
ica's chances in the war.
We polled several hundred mo-
torists and offer a cross section of
he replies:
Mrs. x. riding in q white-wall
number with two fine spares: On
her way downtown to pick up her
sister, whose daughter was graduat-
ing from a finishing school in an
hour or two. We didn't ask for the
information but were told that Julia
(the niece was the only niece in
the family and every one was burst
ing with pride at her marks, which
averaged just under 90.
Mr.. A: En- route to Pennsylvania
Station to catch the last train for
Belmont Park. Wanted to know IL
we had anything good in the first
to eighth races. inclusive.
Mr.. j.: On his way to pick up some
theater tickets at ticket agency. and
If we didn't like it we knew what
we could do.
Mr.. T, Mrs. L and Mrs. Y: Headed
for an afternoon of shopping. Had
come in 40 miles from the country.
were in a hurry. and. Please. won't
you quit bothering us and let us get
on our way
Master R: Just practicing driving.
Scarcely high enough to see over the
wheel, he had Just gotten his drivers
license and was out to prove to his
parents that he was capable Of driv-
ing a car anywhere, any time.
Misses B and W: Headed for
movie, then the hairdressers. Would
we please stop holding them up
scarcely had time to keep both ap-
pointments and get home in time for
dinner and their dates.
And so it went. Men, women and
children just rolling along the ave-
nues and streets, wasting rubber
that Washington says is needed for
fighting equipment.
The citizens of Manhattan are
not to blame. any more than ara
the citizens of thousands and thou-
sands of other cities. towns and
hamlets of this country. The men
who are in charge Of rubber In this
country are to blame. Let them tell
the people, honestly and once and
for all, that rubber is too precious
to waste on frivolous missions. and
there won't be many frivolous mis-
sions.
If rubber is needed, let them take
it, now, not tomorrow or next year,
when again it will be story Of too
little, too late.
| Distributed By McNavsht Syndicate. Ine.t