Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-28
Uni+edNa+ions
Stamp Slated
ForCri+icism
Plays Up a Side Issue
at Wrong Time
By GEO. ROTHWELL BROWN

Postmaster General Walk
er's official handout, announcing
that he had authorized the is
suanCe of a new 2-cent United
Nations - postage stamp, 10 go
on sale January IS. is slated for
some severe denunciation when
Congress gets back on the job.
Ii seems almost incredible
that the Roosevelt administra-
ton would deliberately accentu-
ate the United Nations issue at
a time when everybody in Con-
greSs is anxious 10 get on with
the prosecution Of the war.
without controversial side issues
being raised.
While only a few members Of
Congress are Christmas-recesS-
ing in Washington. the reaction
Of those still fitting around the
capitol corridors was decidedly
hostile.
In the past great number Of
special commemorative stamps
have been issued. but invariably
heretofore they haze heen COM
mcmoratiyc Of something wholly
American. except that last sum-
mer ~ special stamp was used
10 commemorate the founding OF
the Chinese Republic.
IT IS now proposed, for the first
L timc. if Walkers hand-out
means what il says, 10 issue for
sale in the United States a
stamp Identified with a purely
International idea.
OF course. 50 far as the Amer
lean Congress * concerned. that
IS all sthe United Nations is,
just an idea, Just a phrase.
II first greeted the more or
foSS aStoniShcd cars of our
national lawmakers when Presi-
F dent Roosevelt addressed Con-
gross on January IS So II is little
less than year old, Nreity
young 10 be entitled 10 stamp
of It's own Said President:
The consolidation Of the
United Nations total war effort
against our common enemies IL
being achieved"
To tho congressional ear the
phrase was new but u became
even more startling In print. for
The official transcript OF Mr..
RooSeycltS remarks shows that
tho words we're spelled with
capital initials.
EARLIER than this. on Jan. 2.
II 1852. the text of the Allied
joint agreement ri IS nations.
was issued in Washington. Ac-
cordinc TO tho report Of the
Now York Times II was cap
toned declaration by united
nations. ths u and the "N'
both being IN lower case type.
The phrase was selected by
Mir Roosevelt. but IL mas re-
NAMED only phrase
The United Nations" upper
case. still. year after. is neither
an historical geographic
entity. II simply doesn't exist.
II has never been recognized by
Congress. has never been passed
upon by that body. II IS gilt
tcrlnC generality CIng
from Mr.. RooSevelt'S own bril-
Liant and romantic mind.
The United Nations Is not a
place. You cannot find II on any
map II is not an anniversary,
-nG anything. like that Of the dis.
Covcry Of America. or Tho found.
lng Of jamestown. events Of
American character. which have
been commenorated heretofore
in special issues OF American
stamps
However. the United Ma
tions within tho year have
attained the distinction OF a
"~ ational song. And now.
stamp Where are we going,
anyhow?
4 GOOD many people, includ-
Il irg this writer, have de-
plored tho emphasis laid upon
United Nations, spelled with
capital letters After all. we
arc fchtinr this war FOR THE
UNITED STATES Just as -we
have fought all our other wars.
Why rot keep on fighting il
FOR THE UNITED STATES?
Is there anything better TO fight
il for?
Is there anything ABOVE
TIE UNITED STATES to
fight il for?
Not IN a thousand years
II so happens that tho appro-
priation bill for the treasury
and post office departments il
now under consideration by
subcommittee Of the House COM
mittee on appropriations which
Is in temporary recess over the
Christmas holidays.
II is exceedingly likely that
Walker will he asked about this
proposed now United Nations"
stamp. for tho issuance Of which
there would seem 10 he not the
slightest statutory authority
And the committee may de.
eide 10 put a quietus on II.
What War Bonds Buy
or course you \ want that