Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-24
'Brasshats' Needed
To Help Win War,
Byrnes Declares
Job Of Boosting Morale
Put Up TO Editors in
Recent Off-Record Talk
b. the Associated Press.

Ef ms Associated Press.
The Job of keeping the American
people constructively Critical-but
not futilely angry-toward their
wartime Government was placed on
the desk Of the Nations press today
with the assertion that bureau
Gratis and brasshats" are needed to
win total wal
The task was outlined recently by
Economic Director James F. Byrnes,
who also called on the press TO keep
up the pace of battle on the home
front by fighting black markets.
exposing rationing violations and
editorially combating those who
tell US that We can win the war in
1914 as well as 1913"
To more than 200 members of
the American Society of Newspa per
Editors and their guests at the ASNE
annual banquet here on February IS
Mr.. ByrneS plea is not new, It was
delivered that night as an ofT-the-
record address and released for
publication by the Office OF War
Information only last night.
we Need BraSShatS.
Although mostly devoted to means
by which the press could help in the
war effort, Mr.. Byrnes' talk also took
issue with the people who believe
that because it may cause serious
inconvenience to our civilian popu-
lation, we must be careful not to do
too much at this time and who tell
us that we can win the war in 1914
as well as 1913"
Mr.. ByrneS remarks-interpr
by some as aimed at opponents of
a bigger army-were released by
owl day after Vice President
Wallace had spoken in the same
vein in Washington's birthday ad-
dress.
The economic chief said the editors
through publicity work could make
violations of wartime regulations
the shameful thing to do" rather
than the smart" thing. In dis
cussing criticism of the Government,
ne likened an editor to William Tell
IN that he must be careful that
aiming at the apple he does not
strike his SON"
The total organization for total
war is complicated business" he
said. 1T cannot be made simple
Scold the bureaucratS and brasshats
as we Go. we need them. Without
bureaucrats and brasshats we can
not win a total war.
Public Confidence vital
Because they (the bureaucratsl
are human, they make mistakes
Sut their tasks are difficult, and
after We indulge in the American
pastime Of criticizing public officials.
we must agree that on the whole
they are doing a pretty good Job"
Mr.. Byrnes said he assumed the
"brasshats, who are frequently held
up to scorn," are the high ranking
officers Of Army and Navy.
In no country on earth is the
commissioned personnel secured bv
a more democratic system" he said /
lhey are just as good or as bad as
are the people of the United States, |
The real danger l wish to guard
against and hope you will warn
against is the undermining of public
confidence, not in this or that Off
cial, but in all Government and all
administrative machinery.
We should consider whether our
speeches and editorials will direct
he thinking of our listeners and
readers to help win the war or
merely make them futilely angry
With their Government.
Stop Fighting Each Other.
While l would not postpone until
1914 fighting the enemy, I would
postpone until 1914 fighting among
ourselves. My plea is that we stop
ighting each other and start fight
ng the enemy.
The coming year is going to be
the hardest, toughest year our gen.
Grafton has had to endure. But we
can make it, if we will. one of the
most glorious years in our history"
Urging support for price control
Mr.. Byrnes said:
Black markets do not give the
people food they would not other
wise get. Black markets hold the
peoples food for ransom.
The fight against imitation is not
simply the Governments job. 1t is
the job Of all the people In this I
work the press can play vital part"
In connection with the executive
order for a 48-hour week, Mr.. /.
Byrnes said some people contend |
there is no justification for recog- I,
nlzing existing rights to overtime