The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-10
BY RAMONA rJ,,n


Today's newspapers ren,,.
that the Central Labor Tpia pul'
here has already raised a,on sso
WO as a gift to local civiI;s,
defense authorities, Seven tho"
sand members have each
pledged one days pay, as an
outright gift for civilian da a4
fense expenses, such as financ.
ing blood banks.
But after discovering tb,.
Mrs. Roosevelt's protege was
drawing s4,6OO a year from tbs
Office of Civilian Defense n
encourage rhythmic dancing
among children, officials Of tIs
Central Labor Union An
nounced that they did not want
any of the wages pledged BY
their members to be used n
pay fan dancers.
How can it but be a chilling
experience to any man, after
pledging a days wages, to find
that OCD is throwing away an
army majors salary on some
girl dancer that Mrs. ROOse.
welt happens to like?
Yes, it's a trivial thing and
the girl shouldn't be crucifiet.
But it is just this kind of thing
that embitters men and won.
en- who are making very hard
sacrifices because their gov.
ernment asks them to. II is
bound to embitter them TO find
the First Lady of the land play.
ing so lightly with matters
which members of the Central
Labor Union here are taking
seriously enough to donate a
days wages each.
I have never felt that much
of the criticism of Mrs. Raose.
velt's varied activities was jus.
titled. She does a great deal
of good. When she goes around
the country, helping the under
privileged, bringing thelr
wrongs to public attention, it
is a real public service.
But it is something else to
tamper with a most serious
public agency to feather a nest
for friends. Nothing can be
more fatal to national morale
than this sort of thing. Because
it comes from a high quarter
is not a reason for ignoring 1t.
On the contrary the fact that
it comes from a high quarter
only magnifies the deplorabh
effects on public morale.
We hear frequent reports that N
New York, and perhaps o'aa
places, communists and faScSS
are battling to infiltrate and con-
rel air : raid warden SERVICES
which would make excellent trans. y.
belts. The highest flolss flas
and interest on the part OF cl'lle.'
Will be necessary to prevent SUM- sun.
such perversion Of these SefVi.s,, .Sd
Treat them lightly at the 'op .a a'.a
we will surely encourage A'i''''
If them at the bottom,
In England civilian defense IS !.
1nder the direction OF a ca0'.', ~.
minister, Herbert Morrison ,,ls Ias
minister of home security M he,s ~
t is noninally in charge Of Js,1F' ar1
NJ. Lands, the executive ol oCn' ,,n'
But he has only vague anu : q' y,
certain authority, with Mayor e. 4n, ~,
and Mrs. Roosevelt III :, u,
,ne a superior and the o:ll'. mi
subordinate, both popping III !. 'rr NJ
2ut with part-time bosslng 'as. aso,,ii Il
:esponsible administrator saoas ssrt
1ave to contend with. II 'hey M sbo1 Sr
lands a chance to run MS us Si5' ios
le ought to do a credl'a0'' -,
But at best the civilian pEo'ss a,'iss,
ion task is difficult. II ,si5srct le9s
much technical work and gulaa'lltit. n
# local communities, and a vei' mil ii
lie rhythmic dancing by the ssv, '.,,
iren. Local groups alus' a direc
complete confidence in the 1s.1s al.I, },
ion at the top. How can ,nsss so,scJt i
any in face of the public spe'''''
1t headquarters here? .,,,
It is a rule in any organlzaa.lct+,, asc+,
hat morale at the bottom rel.sis I'll N,
he morale at the top, HERE ''
op it stinks.