Evening star., 1942-09-17

Henry MeLsmsrs. trys negligence
in not stocking up with the precious
stuff before the Japanese took
Malaga and the Netherlands Indies
will be counterbalanced, and there
will be more than enough rubber
for all military and civilian needs.
Without the exact figures at hand,
we figure that this country now has
a stockpile of rubber reports from
various agencies in excess Of 1000
900 tons. Almost every one has had
some sort of report to make. We
have had Jesse Jones report. We
have had the Presidents report.
We have had the Baruch commit
tees report. Also, Leon Hender-
sons report, the rubber companies
report, and the reports of those
sterling analysts, Tom, Dick and
Harry.
All of these reports are going to
waste; that is. they were going to
waste until our stan scientist, .
DR.. Something -or- Other, decided to
put them to use. He feels lend
you should see the bright light Of
research shining in his eyes when
he darts from behind the couch to
beat the dog to q bone or q biscuit)
that they can be put to use.
Let us hope he is right, and that
before very long he will emerge
from his laboratory with four-pl
whitewall, non skid tire in his arms,
fabricated entirely from reports on
the dismal situation.
Unless he does, the American rub
Der situation Is bound to get worse
and worse. Certainly, reports will
never remedy the situation. They
are all nice reports-you couldn't
ask for any better-but they all miss
on one point-they don't explain
how the shortage is to be met.
Take Mr.. Henderson's report to
the Nation via radio few days ago.
He started OF as II he were going
to throw a real Sunday punch by
saying that unless the shortage
were solved we would lose the war.
That was enough to make any
American sit up in his chair and
start listening.
So was his next statement, that
American drivers were wasting d
billion tire-miles a day in needless
driving. 3
So was his next one, in which he
pointed out that civilians have q
bigger stockpile OF rubber In their
,, possession than the Government
,, has.
Then, brethren and sistren, was
the time for Mr.. Henderson to let
loose with his haymaker. Then was
the time for him to ask, and fatty,
that those OF us with tires, whe
didn't need them for some essential
war work, give thoSe tires to the
Government; that we not let the
day pass without putting away our
cars for the duration and contribute
ing their rubber to the Government
so that the tanks might roll, the
planes fly, the guns flre and the
boats ride the seas.
But he didn't do it. He petered
OH into the same old talk that all
the rubber reports have given us
Drive slowly. Walk when In doubt
Keep the precious things properly
inflated. Pat them on the head and
tell them bedtime stories. Keep
them happy and in good spirits.
For what? So the civilians can
keep on having tires to roll on while
the Army and Navy have to resort
to conservation program. In the
name Of sweet heaven what Is the
sense OF that? There must be
100000 car owners and driver,
in this country who could carry or
their work II they never rode in ar
automobile again until the war was
over.
1t can't be that Mr.. Henderson
and all Of the others don't know
that good half Of the driving that
is done in this country each day
could be stopped without hurting
any part Of the war effort. Paps
has car. The family has a station
wagon. Brother and sister have q
car. Miles and miles every day
covered by drivers going nowhere
doing nothing.
Why doesn't the Government eet
completely honest and completely
tough about 1t, and take the tires
it needs? Is this war or q picnic?
Meanwhile, the good doctor will
continue to seek a formula TO,
making rubber out Of rubber reports
Distributed BY NcNausht Syndicate. Inc.)