The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-05-12


 man Joseph E. Talbot, guest of honor at the annual banquet of the Chamber of Commerce in St. Mi chael's parish house last night, de- nied an implication of the main and previous speaker, Charming Pollock, author and playwright, that the American people have gone soft and apathetic.
 Congressman Talbot asked the audience of 200 if they thought the American boys at Wake Island who held out for 22 days, those on Bataan, or Corregidor, were "soft." He expressed the opinion that the valor shown by these men equalled that shown by any Americans In wars in history in the past.
 He reminded that in four short months this country, fin no way prepared for war;" is now produc- ing more materials than that made by Germany, Japan and Italy com- bined. This is to the everlasting glory of those working in the fac- tories and those who manage and own the factories he said.
 He said he was informed recently by an expert that our bombing planes are now faster than any pur- suit ships yet manufactured by the Axis and we can pe proud to think that within four months, we are producing such bombers.
 He added, however, we must get over the gimme" attitude, gimme more wages, gimme larger profits, gimme shortef hours" France, which was afflicted with this, he reminded, now has no ginlmes ex- cept gimme bread for my baby, gimme me place to rest my head, gimme death"
 He pointed out many are giving up hours voluntarily to help in the great cause and denied an assertion by MT. Pollock that only 200 in this country know what Americanism means, asserting 200 in the hall knew what it meant.
 Cites Complaints
 He expressed the belief that most of the people realize that we are at war today, although admitting there are isolated cases where peo- pie don't, stating he had received complaints about sugar and gaso- line rationing and other things. He said that the complainants will come to realize soon that we are in a war, and that none of these things is being done to punish the people but they are done so that, If We go short of anything, each will go short equally. ITO me that is what Americanism means" he said.
 He also said that today We are living under regulations of a bu- reaucracy, saying that it isn't cons gross which makes the regulations but 1t is bureaus set up by execu- tive power. Congress delegated much of its power to the executive for the duration because it was thought necessary to speed victory, he explained.
 Congressman Talbot was pre- sented with pen and pencil set,
 Our worst weakness Is not mate- rial but spiritual, MT, Pollock said in his talk. You can't beat Hitler ply RpprOpriattng billions of dollars and then going back to your golf. Wars are woD, not only with gets, but with guts,"
 Doubt Expressed
 He asserted with g little less paeiflsm when Japan went into MaDebukuo, when Germany went into the Rhipeland, or when Italy went into Ethiopia, there would have been no dietat0rs, no aggressr OFR and no war, MT, Pollock deelagv cd this country Isn't hitting on at cylinders yet, He declared maybe union labor will be good now, but expressed doubt Of this, He res minded that Congress defeated by one vote only proposal sometime ago to destroy our eFDly by dls- charging all dpatGees wh0 had q years training, and there IS stlii pending, and in real danger of eD- acilneDl, MT, Pollock said, "a new and Vefy considerable ko'ealled Vet- eFang demand on top of the sol' dieFg' bonus"
 IIe urged that we end the rule Of pressure groups by barring Feselee. Jon t0 anyone. and that Be make an 0rganlzeA effort to educate our oleelorake and 10 overcome the noweF Of idl0cy and demag0geRy." He asserted, "our fools are more daraeFous than olg flfth eelumn." MF. Pollock warned against the dangaE Of q collective government,