Imperial Valley press., 1942-04-23

IT'S WAR
We can't buy neW automobiles.
We shall have To use the old ia
Topics year after year, instead OF
turning them in every spring for
new models
We can't buy tires. We shall have
to walk to stores and bridge par
ties or else use buses and trolleys.
Gasoline is ratloneG-or will be
to dealers. We must either spread
our share through the month or
la up the car the latter part of
each month.
Stores and laundries and various
service agencies are saving tires
and gasoline. Our demands for in
Simultaneous service are coldly re-
iected We have TO plan now and
take advantage OF regular pick
ups and deliveries.
RefIigerators and stoves and IA
dios and washing machines are not
being manufactured any longer.
Dealers are running out of patterns
in linoleum We can't get alumni
mum percolators or other cooking
dishes. Sugar is short TypeWriterS
aren't on sale. We can't have cuffs
on our trousers.
It's terrible-or IS it?
Certainly its inconVenient. Our
civilian life isn't quite normal. But
suppose the next time somebody
you perhaps?- begin lamenting on
hardships in this war you pin him
yourself? down to specifications.
Excatly how much have we been
hit by the scarcities. the rationing,
the deprivation thus far?
We are escaping very lightly
thus far
Suppose we were Britain We
wouldn't have been rationed on
tires because Tor two years and a
half there wouldn't have been any
new cars and petrol rationing
would have PERMITTED us to drive
no more than 200 miles a month
We should be accustomed long since
to scarity Of most types OF food
not merelg a few We should be
limited TO one suit, one coat and
few haberdashery items a year.
and should long fervently for the
good old days when only trouser
cuffs and extra pants We're banned.
s oppose we were French, or
Belgium or Dutch, or Norwegian.
or Poles. or Serbs, or C2echs, or
Greeks-or Chinese?
To be sure, we're none of these.
We're American and proud of it.
WIZ suppose tie impossible? Why
compare US with those unfortun-
ates?
Because they, too. once thought
it couldn't happen there. They, too
declined to sacrifice against the
future. They aWoke too late.
Thanks to them, we know in adj
vance the dreadful cost of half
measures
We can and will give up luXur-
les which we have taken for grant
ed in order that the Armies of
Democracy may have all they can
use of what there is
It's war.
h2D NEW = FOh EtoIAoDEho
ANY company or individual plan
ming a violation of rationing regu-
lations should stay out of the jur-
isdiction Ct Federal Judge Robert
c. Baltzell of Indiana. Expressing
the sentiment OF "a people unite Il
to smash anything retarding the
war effort Judge Baltzell sentence
ed at Evansville, Ind, two men to
l3 months and year and a day
plus heavy fines for concealing and
storing large quantities of new
tires The company they owned was
fined $1,000.
One of the men was caStigated
b. the jurist as IAN enemy of the
war effort and lacking in essential
patriotism" The rubber they hid
for their own personal profit might
have spelled the difference between
success and failure for mechan-
lied regiment. The nation is more
than ready to back Judge Baltzell
and other officials in such actions.
DOLLARS
The president of a Brooklyn saw
ingS bank has taken a step which
must meet with general approval.
His example may appeal to bankers
-. Ii II -. l.,