Detroit evening times., 1942-10-14

much as the September redemp-
tions amounted TO only OPT per
cent of the bonds sold that
month.
RUTs every one knows it costs
- the treasury money TO sell
bonds administration. advertis-
ing, etc., and every bond or
stamp redeemed must be sold
over again at added expense.
There are few more effective
ways you can aid the enemies of
this country than by bravety
pretending to buy what you do
not propose to hold and defend.
THE government is not fooling
Il now in its promise 10 provide
tires for all, 10 keep this motor
lied nation going on wheels. The
promise of Mr.. Jeffers can and
will be fulfilled.
The government already has
practically doubled the recapped
tire quotas for public disposition
this month of October, from
425, 900 to 5000.
Two months ago rubber was
the hottest subject. Today it is
the coldeSt.
The only thing that has hap
pened in the meantime has been
straightforward, mon
sense investigation of the prob
lem and the appointment of an
experienced (but not in rubber)
business pan with an affirma-
tive reputation 10 work out an
affirmative policy all that any
one. including this column, ever
asked.
THE only new part OF the pro-
l. gram is the proposal to de-
velop 20,000,000 victory tires
from reclaimed rubber, and even
this proposal was being worked
up in the government mill be-
fore Mr.. Jeffers took over.
1t might have been instituted
anyway. So what Mr.. Jeffers
has contributed actually is
change of government policy
from repression to affirmative
help.
The old chant that the auto
mobiles of the nation would be
In the ditch, or every one would
have 10 waik by such and such
n day, has been replaced in a
few weeks with a valid and
workable solution.
The alteration il a really
great achievement OF govern
ment, and an excellent example
of what can be done. by select
ing government directors who
say they can do things, in place
of those here who have favored
a cant chant" from the begin
ming.
GONE editors and readers have
~ written me asking about the
lack of comment in this column
on the censorship dispute of the
press with the White House,
and requesting my personal
views.
1t seems TO me the discussion
went astray somehow. The de-
bated questions have been
whether the Presidents life was
really endangered, whether news
of the trip should have been
kept from the people so long,
and such technical matters.
THE President should have the
Il right of wartime censorship,
If he thinks his safety is in
volved. whether or not any one
else believes il was. But he
should take the responsibility of
this censorship entirely from
the press.
The way the White House
handled the affair may leave
suspicious in the minds Of some
people that they are not getting
all the news they are entitled to,
through their press. In any
similar future censorship. the
government should go far
enough in handling the matter
to prevent any such suspicion
from arising
So also with the Presidents S
criticism of certain publishers,
columnists and radio commenta-
tors" for breaking down public
morale. His blanket castigation
tends TO tear down public con-
fidence in general.
II he had specified those whom
he believed guilty. and W h {
they have said or done 10 pro-
woke his charge. they would have
been exposed and tried before
the bar of public opinion.
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