The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-05-29
LETTING US TALK

Describing his proposal as
Fascist in principle former Presi
dent Herbert Hoover advocates the
vesting OF dictatorial economic
powers with President Roosevelt 10
insure Americas victory in the total
war effort.
At the same time the ex Repub-
lican Chief Executive cautions
against encroachment on civil liber'
ties and defends the right Of Sixth
Columnists" TO discuss and criti
CHE the conduct OF the war.
The idea sounds inviting, but in
operation it threatens some rather
complicated points OF fine discrim.
ination. For example it would seem
difficult for dictator 10 coordinate
all activities, with single view to
winning the war. without "encroach-
ment on civil liberties"
AS President Roosevelt is given
dictatorial powers We must expect
less economic freedom. He has told
US the plush days are all over-just
memory Of the past. We begin TO
see what he means by that state
ment as rationing and price ceilings
come into effect. We accept such
restrictions as being helpful, and
we expect more rigid rulings to fol-
low, but can there be such regula-
ton without encroachment on civil
liberties?
Sacrifice will be necessary, we
agree. but II We are to encourage
criticism OF the way the war il
being conducted, We shall naturally
criticize rulings that curtail our
free way OF living. Where then does
healthy criticism end and destruc-
tive criticism start? That is going
20 be a difficult line to establish.
Criticism OF the conduct Of the
war is necessary II We are TO win, -
says Mr.. Hoover. we want the war
conducted right. Democracy can cor
rect mistakes only through public
exposure and opposition to them
That is fair sounding state
ment. very democratic. Sure. we
want the war conducted right. but
what is right? And how many OF US
ordinary people know enough about
warfare 10 direct maneuyers?
A fundamental fact is that the
public does not have the informa-
ton necessary for intelligent de
bate. For example. We DO not yet
know exactly what happened dt
Pearl Harbor. II IL was true that the
higher-ups there were thinking more
OF their social week'ends than Jf
their military duties. that wives OF
officers wanted ships huddled in
the harbor so the men would be
free for social engagements, that
warnings from listening posts were
ignored. that supplies had been slow
in arriying-if any OF these dozens
OF other rumors have any part Of
truth in them, time 10 make correc-
tons was before the attack. not
months afterwards. How could peO-
pie here debate protection for Pearl
Harbor when they know nothing
about il? In fact. If they had known
1t is doubtful whether there would
have been sufficient national con.
Germ TO stimulate debate.
Can Democracy correct mistakes
Can Democracy. or the people az
large, detect mistakes? To antici-
pate what will be a mistake one
must first know what is the right
procedure, and in matters OF war
there are very few men or women
competent TO judge. The former
president argues that the American
people have always been a debating
society. They get immense salts
faction out OF gossip he says.
They always have views They
always speculate about events. Il is
part OF Americans inalienable
rights. All this is the stuff that
makes free men. 1t is not sedition
II comes from concern TO win the
war, and they ought to be allowed u
grouse and gossip a little withou:
being sixth columnists. Those who
would reduce US 10 a collection Of
parrots do not know the meaning OF
America
This phase OF the free speech
psychology, this encouragement oil
gossip. Is quite different than the
idea OF war strategy debate Talking
for the fun OF talking may be ad
visable as a kind Of mental safety
valve. even II II is not commend
able. We enjoy the freedom Of loose
talk.
II people will talk for the fun Of
talking and al the same time admit
that they don't know what they arc
talking about. the government need
not be greatly concerned. Mr.. Roose
welt can have a lot OF fun LISTENING
10 comments and criticisms so Ion:
as he has the international situa
tion well in hand. IL criticism hit.
close TO the truth he can profit by
IT, That which Is based on unbound
cd gossip can be lightly passed by
In that way. Mr.. Hoover's pro
posal can be adopted. Mr.. Roose
welt, and the assistants he choosel
can run the war and the people car
air their grievances, fancied an,
otherwise. without I'll effect. Advice
that Is good can be accepted, thu
rest can be quietly rejected and thu
war can go on to its successful en-,
with Democracy still intact,
--O-