The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-22

and the defeat of the politicians at the polls Is being centered not on the war or tho primary causes Of these things, but on the one, 200. pound mass of government otiieial who had the gNtS to take the re- sponsthality for putting into effect these war eureS on civilian life as 1t was lived in these United States hefore Pearl Harhor, Government administrators are eNpendahle, too,
 "YouTe here to do a joh," said Henderson philoSophioally six months ago, when your influence is through, you get out"
 STILL coon AT
 PREDICTIONS
 Henderson recalls that before he became N government official, he used to make a living on economic prophecy, After he took the toh of price administrator he forecast that he would become the most unpopu- lar man in the United States, Six months ago, knowing some of the things Still to come, he could jest that while he hadn't reached the zenith of his unpopularity, he could report progress,
 That is perhaps the most typical thing about Price Boss Leon Hem derSon, He is utterly fearless, He took the most than&leSS job in the United States today, His Job was to resist price increases, h order to aa tt hA had AA NaAiaYN anANnNNkAlaS and tires and bicycles and sugar and coffee and gasoline and fuel oil,
 It was thought that the American people were so solidly behind this war effort, that the need for ra- uoning these things was 50 obvious to everyone, that there could be no question about accepting any ineon- venienees necessary to help in win ming the war,
 "JuSt tell me what you want me to doC waS tho cry that was sup posed to be rising from every good American all over this broad land "I'l dtg diteheS, I'll peel potatoes, I'll scrub fioors-but hurry up and tell me what you want me to do to help win this warl"
 The answer to that demand was the word that civilians at home would have to do without new auto- mobiles and tires and leo boxes and such things, and they'd have to get along on less sugar and coffee and gasoline and fuel oil, and later they'd have to get along on less meat and maybe butter and milk and other things people in this country were used to having plenty of. The Army and the Navy needed these things to fight the war,
 It all sounded very simple and very easy,
 CAN WE TAKE ITs
 When Leon Henderson was wiSe- cracking about personalities in Washington 1t was the first day of summer. Today is practically the first of winter-a winter that stretches ahead in gloomy prospect There will be many cold homes many meatleSs meals, much ineon- venience, q lot of suffering, And the signs begin to point up that the American people can't take 1t,
 We're yellow, even before the first bomb has fallen on us, We're mad clear through because VIC can't have two cups of coffee and barely enough sugar for the one cup, We're uncomfortable. And we're going to get the big fat, bureaucratic so-and- so who caused all this, and you know just what we mean, Leon Henderson. So say the politicians the wolves of Washington who must have someone to chew up because people back home are beginning to complain,
 Tying a can to Leon Henderson isn't going to GO any good, Putting & r-bureaucrat boss over Leon Henderson won't do any good. Hen derson, Henderson's successors, su- periorS, substitutes or subordinateS will have to be responsible for the same orders to ration the same things Henderson has rationed ano more.
 But personalities in Washington are made to be chewed up, like rub Der bands and paper clips. And when mans influence is through he gets out. Henderson has said so himself.