The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1942-02-12
THROUGH
HAZ E [
E Y E S
BY
Hazel Brannoa

One good reason for Melvyu
Douglas, popular screen star, to be
appointed to an $4,000 job in the
office of Civilian Defense is that he
and his wife, charming Helen Gaha-
gen, helped to whoop 'em up at the
Third Term Democratic convention
held in Chicago. Perspiring, blond
Douglas led at least one snake dance
around the auditorium to whoop 'em
up followed by his wife and hun
dreds of other Democrats who braved
the bright kleg lights and July heat
to show their enthusiasm for a third
term. A second reason is that Miss
Gahagen is National Committed
woman from California for the Dem
ocratic party.
II we Mississippians at that on
vention had been very bright we
would have joined the procession
hollering and yelling and dancing a.
of wild Indians. 1t seems to have
paid high dividends.
--oOo-
A lot Of people have asked us
questions about Civilian Defense,
what it's all about, why Congress
should allocate q hundred million dol
lars to civilian defense. etc.
We presume "Civilian Defense" is
just what the word implies; that it
IL designed to be an organization OF
private citizens for action in the
event Of an emergency confronting
the civilian population.
So far all we have heard about
civilian defense is the argument be-
tween Mrs. Roosevelt and LaGuardia
with Congress and the War Depart
ment about who is going to have the
authority and the various titles and
jobs and salaries and whatnot.
As far as organization is concern
ed there just doesn't seem to be
any. Ordinary citizens, the Toms,
Diets and IIarrys who live on my
street and on yours are all anxious
and willing to do something for civil
liam defense or where they may be
needed. But they do not know wha,
needs to be done nor how to do it.
An attempt was made to organize
civilian defense in Durant last Thurs
day night. A speaker was supposed
to come from the state office at
Jackson to explain the hows and
why's of what. A crowd filled up the
Methodist Church to hear the lady
who did not show up.
This is just one good example OF
bad bungling that's going on all over
the nation in Mississippi and every
state. The confusion that exists over
the nation is nothing nor than the
confusion reflected by Washington.
We're not going to have any civil
liam defense if Mrs. Roosevelt keeps
handing out $4,000 jobs. to movie
actors and to dancers suspected Of
being Communists and to her hum
bred and one pets. According to
Congressman Dies we can expect an
invasion of the United States, v
though it be a token invasion, some
time this spring. Should that happen
we would certainly need our civilian
population organized to protect
roads, bridges, water supplies; to
keep transportation and communi-
cation pen all ovtr the nation; 10
do hundred of things which func-
ton so smoothly during peace time
protecting our health and ~well-being
that we do not even realize they
are being done.
Certainly LaGuardia and Mrs
Roosevelt have made a sorry mess
out of Civilian Defense from the be-
ginning. It looks like they'd have the
interest of the country and the peo-
pie at heart enough to step down and
let somebody else have a chance. II
is just possible that we may need
Civilian Defense organization.
900
If the Normandie fire was not the
work of saboteurs then U. S. work,
men are becoming awfully careless
with a~cetylene torches, said n com
mentator Monday night after the
former French luxury liner had beer
severely damaged by fire. This ship
now the worlds largest naval aux
iliary, had been counted on to play
an important role in the American
war effort.
Could this be another example Of
carelessness on the part of Officials
entrusted with responsibility? II
seems so,
-oOo-
At the rate thing are going nov
we'll lay even money the British qui
CD fighting in Singapore before
General Macarthur gives up on Ba
taan.