The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-11-17

Administration
Near Failure on
Initiation CurbS
BY Hejsn essary

Insiders in Washington are will
ing 10 admit that the Administra-
lions efforts 10 hold the line
against initiation have failed and
that the stage is being set 10 per
init labor some wage increases.
The timing OF the new policy rs
aimed at laying the blame for the
collapse OF the Little Steel wage
formula a. the door OF John l..
Lewis and his United Mine Work
ers. But. actually, the real cause
OF the failure is the uuaya.liug et.
forts OF OPA 10 check rising Twins
costs particularly food costs.
This factor in turn, according 10
some official sources. is directly
iraceable to the belligerent att
iude OF Congress. toward holding
down food costs by subsidies
All factions OF organised la5o"
Viewing Lewis victory and the pc
sition Of the War Labor Board that
he Little steel" formula canno'
continue without the support o,
other autl.inflation agencies, smell
blood
They are on concerted cam.
paIgn 10 gain concessions for labor.
Railroad workers steel workers,
garment workers and other groups
feel the time is ripe 10 really pres
fo- more money And, in the opiu-
ION OF Washington observers. they J.
get at least a par Of what tney BE-
seeking
Despite all tbs gloomy outlook
for the forces battling initiation,
OPA Is plugging hard TO hold the
price line. Latest tip in the capita
il that the agency soon will slap
p~ice ceilings on more gra.u-oais
rye barley and hard wheat. Mos
soft wheat and all corn already are.
under ceilings and. the add.tona.
price maximums are planned ta
keep livestock feed prices down
No matter where they are, Uno.n
sans soldiers sailors and marines
are going 10 have turkey on Thanks
giving Day. For service men a.
home. OF course. there will be fresh
killed turkey. but for those abroad
the situation will be different.
Canned turkey will be served in
tropical countries and thaved-out
frozen turkey will be served in OH
o. climes. There will be all the 9th
o. trappings. too. even Il dehydra'-
Cd potatoes and cranberry sauce
must be called upon.
The German Navy has changed
It's U-boat tactics by mounting
more anti-aircraft guns on the con
ming towers and decks OF their subs
for protection against L. S. planes.
But naval officers are not really
worried about IL because the subs
still are no match for speedy Grum
man Avenger bombers and Wildcat
fighter planes which now operate
from escort aircraft carriers, or
baby flat tops
American attack methods were
disclosed recently by the Navy.
Wildcat fighters strafe the decks
10 keep German gun crews busy
and Avenger bombers follow in 10
drop depth bombs.
Unlike varships. submarines car.
not cover their decks with enough
, "A guns 10 offer real protection.
especially when four. six and eight
planes can cooperate in. an attack
on a Ubost.
President Roosevelt has long been
famous for mis- ability TO turn aside
news conference questions on ma
terS OF moment. His repartee I'M
doubtedly Is Of the best but he has
little devices which help him out OF
many a Jam when the quick, bright
answer is not forthcoming.
One OF mis- most-used lodges Is
10 hurl back a biting reply az the
unfortunate questioner who has
made an un-Wanted inquiry. This in
vairably brings down the house
with the raucuous laughter OF the
l0O-odd reporters When the laugh
Ter has died down the reporter-yic-
Tim is in no frame OF mind 10 re-
peat the question
Another favorita trick OF the
y
10 be used as a reply 10 a question
ne knows is going to be asked. For
example when questioned on the
increased cost OF living the Presi-
dent will reply with the story bout
a housewife ne knows who needs
more money to fill her lsgder now
than in peacetime
But the President triumphantiy
points out she IL now purchasing
sra berries in January and sspars-
gus in February --increas!ng her
cost OF living by buying out-ot.se1.
son foods. contrary 10 her pre-wsr
practice.
Some OF the reporters who regu-
larry attend the Presidents news
conference have heard this straw
berries and asparagus story three