The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1943-01-14
COP in the Chicken
Shooine Business
Hope 10 Send Some
Back 10 FOR Roosf
Not YET Down 10 War
Basis on Oil Saving
Medicos Gum Cards for
High Command
By RAY TUCKER

WAsHINGToN-Cordell Hulls
recent report on policy throws a
few stones at the White House
windows across the street. In his
1910 campaign spec ehes the
president promised that American
boys would never be sent over
seas to fight. He saved and quali-
fled that statement by declaring
that our youngsters would not be
shipped abroad unless we were
attacked-as we were at Pearl
Harbor.
But the state department book
reveals that the chief executive
and the secretary had anticipated
and planned for our participation
in the conflict long before Roose-
welt told the voters that their
sons would not be drafted.
Nobody here wishes to cavn
over the discrepancy between
words and action. When the cam
didate gave his pledge that our
soldiers and sailors would not be
ordered to North Africa, the
Solomons and to China, FDR did
not know what war would bring,
nor did anybody else. Neverthe-
less. some GOP'ers on Capitol
Hill will recall this election vow
and its repudiation-within the
next few weeks.
Millions of gallons of gasoline
and fuel oil can be saved annually
if the government dares to attack
this problem boldly and non-po-
litically. But so far private rec
concentrations looking toward
drastic retrenchments have been
sidetracked.
Petroleum Coordinator Harold
L. Ickes and his aides have sug-
gested that schools close for the
bitter months of January and
February, thus conserving coal or
oil, and keep open until late June
or early July to make up for lost
time. Nor is there any reason,
in accordance with this theory,
why libraries, museums and art
galleries which require warmth
cannot be shut down except for
one or two days a week.
Delay in making such obvious
economies proves that the United
States has not yet gone to war.
But it has now become clear that
Uncle Sam cannot afford steam
heated educational institutions
and reading rooms if he is going
to whip the Japs and the Ger
mans.
Many of the questions asked by
puzzled First World War vet
Grams, whose applications for
commissions have been rejected,
may be answered in the following
information secured from an i'm
portant army source: Assumption
of powers beyond its province by
the United States Medical Corps
is frustrating the carrying out Of
the considered policy of Stimson's
department and thus, to a great
extent, hampering the war effort.
Because of the technical char
acter of this arrogated authority,
the high command so far has
been unable to act. Repeated de-
cisions by the staff to release
physically fit officers from adj
ministrative jobs and fill their
places with personnel not quail
fled for fighting through disabili-
ties have been overruled effective
~ by the doctors.
Persons past Selective Service
age, but with military back
ground and managerial expert
ence, have been recommended
III aim ~ lAAciL
younger and active soldiers might
be assigned to the front, but they
were turned down by the medicos.
In many instances, the black
balled individuals took over war
department positions as civilians,
without discomfort or indications
of strain. But they have been pre-
vented from holding key execu-
tive posts because Of lack Of
khaki status. In fact, majors
and colonies qualified for the
battle lines, were signed in titular
capacities, while citizens in multi
did the owrk.
Several months ago, an ingen-
ious move was made to settle
this problem by organizing a
secondary military force COM
prising those who might not be
able TO handle strenuous tasks by
reason of age or minor bodily
handicaps.
Everything went according to
plan until the appointees for ASC
commissions encountered the
army doctors. They asked,
How dare a high authority not
OF the medical profession decree
who should be exempt from the
regul a ito n phvsicaI reotlira-
ments ," Export or otherwise. in
sisted the MD's, the newcomers
would have to be tested all along
the line on blood pressure, heart
action and such things.
True, minor vision defects and
the like were reluctantly over
looked; but generally, the demand
for perfection in physique was en-
forced cit was not very long,
therefore. before before II became