The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-03-27

Eleanor Roosevelt
by !,
WAR TIME ATTITUDES

CuSSlUilS Oue AFTERNOON AT the WuiJe
House on the subject Of what the
general attitude of the people should
be during this war period. I've come
to one very clear decision, namely,
that all Of us-men In the services,
and men and women at home,
should be drafted and told what Is
the job we are to do. It seems to
me there should be imme diately q
freezing Of prices, Of profits and Of
wages. No ONE can be frozen with
out freezing all.
The only way can see to get
the maximum service out Of our
. citizens, is to draft us all and to
tell us all where we can be most
useful and where our work is
needed. So long as we are left
to volunteer, we are bound to
waste our capacities and to do
things which are not necessary.
We are bound, quite thoughtlessly,
to waste materials which we have
wasted in the past, but which we
no longer have a right to waste. I
would be relieved beyond measure,
and so would many people through
out the nation, if an authority great
er than our own personal decision
told us where we could be most USE
full. realize that in the White
House this is more difficult ques-
ton with which to cope, than it is
outside. In the last war ran a pri-
vate home and complied with what
ever the government asked of us.
We were never sufficiently involved
in the last war, either in a military
or an economic way, to require
much regulation beyond what could
be obtained from people of good will
on a volunteer basis.
We are in quite different situa-
ton this time. I personally, am in a
different situation in the White
House because the President, as
head of the nation, requires in his
household certain things which
would not be necessary in any pri-
vate house. In private life, how
ever, / should like to feel that
was complying with the wishes and
doing the things which those in au-
thority thought should be done.
BOOKS ON PRESENT CRISIS
There is a bulletin from the Col
lege of the City of New York, which
contains two interesting lists of
books on the present crisis. They
are entitled what We Are Fighting
For" and "What We Are Fighting
Against" These lists are prepared
by DR.. William Bradley Otis, pro-
fessor of English, in an effort to
provide an understanding of the
present situation.
They are certainly interesting
lists. We can all keep busy for q
long while if we undertake to read
all the books mentioned, though
there are few with which we may
already be familiar. Surprisingly
enough, I find that those know best
are in the column Of s'What We Are
Fighting For" so / shall have to do
some reading on What We Are
Fighting Against"
GIFTS FOR SERVICE MEN
The department stores in New
York city, and / imagine others all
over the country, are going to save
us great deal of trouble. have a
letter telling me they will put UP
packages, after consulting the au-
thorities in the army, navy, marine
corps and air forces, which will
contain things needed by the men
that they will really enjoy receiving.
The idea behind the drive is very
practical, because we civilians
sometimes forget that it is not Just
our most intimate family that we
might now and then remember in
camp. There are other boys whom
we know only slightly, who might
be glad to get package and have
the fun of surprise. So, when you
see these packages, remember they
are put there for your use and, If
you can do so, send one to some
service man.
NATIONAL PLANS ,:sss
have had an interesting talk with
a young Korean woman, married to
an American citizen, who has been
promoting an organization among
the women of her community which
she thinks would be of value in
many other communities. ~
Her hope was that I would head up
this organization on a nationwide
basis, but ] feel very strongly that
everything that is done should origi-
nate in community need and,
therefore, should enlist the interest
and activity of the people in a par
ticular community. National plans
smack too much of something hand
ed down from the top. Though I
think it is well when something valu-
able is done in any community to
have it given wide publicity so that
other communities with the same
needs may adopt it, think it is a
mistake to try to start any new ma
tionaf organizations at this time.
COMMUNITY RENEETTC .estI