Evening star., 1943-04-30

permitted to grow that the honor
system really failed in the matter
of using gasoline for pleasure
driving" The truth is that, with
the exception of one or two brief
announcements about it, no Nation
wide campaign of education to urge
the people to avoid pleasure driv-
ing was undertaken by any gov
ernmental agency. Nor was any
satisfactory explanation ever made
authortatively as to what was the
legitimate difference between pleas
ure" and "occupationaI" or ''neces-
sary" driving for household pur-
poses.
One of the prerequisites to an
effective application of the honor
system is that the people shall have
complete confidence in the honor
and integrity of the agency which
issues, the appeal
1t cannot be denied that the OPA
was in bad repute around the first
of this year because of the inept
way it sought to handle rationing.
One of the first things necessary
was to rebuild confidence in the
OPA itself. But more important
still was the dissemination of ac-
curate information to automobile
users.
No Substitute Policy Pronounced.
1t can be assumed that millions
OF auto users never had anybody tell
them there was such thing as an
honor system on pleasure driving"
IN existence. In fact, when the
policy of threatening penalties was
Withdrawn, no substitute policy was
formulated which could be regarded
as in effect. The belief prevailed
widely that with the lengthening of
the time when coupons could be
used-so that, in effect, IL GAL
Ions per week were allotted
all regulations as to how the gaso-
line could be used were Withdrawn.
If this is not so, then the OPA
might well consider "a pronounce
ment to the public explaining Just
what it hopes and expects the
people to do with the meaeer allow
ance they are permitted, especially
1ntre Eastern States.
. The facts about the gasoline
shortage are still not as widely
known as they should be. There
isn't much need for secrecy now
from military standpoint, as most
OF the facts have been revealed be-
lore congressional committees or in
official statements. 1t would be
helpful if the people were told how
the existing supply can be or is being
distributed SO that the Individual
can realize the extent to which his
conservation is of help in The war
effort.
No Honor System Involved.
1t is discouraging to hear that a
breakdown in the honor system is
blamed for something that doesn't
even remotely involve the honor
system. For unless the people are
told all the facts and given all the
data and full explanations are made
as to what gasoline should or should
not be used for, it cannot be ex-
pected that policy of voluntary
cooperation is really in effect.
The difference between a democ-
racy and a totalitarian state Is in
the manner in which each is organ-
1zed Tor war America depends on
the principle of volition. and while
IN some instances penalties must be
imposed in order to punish the
small minority who can do damage
by their lnfractlonS, it usually hap
pens that even the few who chisel
90 not make it worthwhile to put
under discipline the many who con-
form.
Must Be More Facts.
II was mistake, for instance.
Tor the OPA under the Henderson
regime to threaten arrest of citizens
Tor the use of their gasoline in wavs
which they deemed legitimate. 1t
would be mistake now to introduce
penalties either for the violation
OF a so-called pleasure driving"
oan or any other so-called misuse of
ration coupons except well-known
fraud practices.
What is ever so much more i'm
portant is to organize Nation wide
campaign on rationing similar to
that which has been accomplished
with the drive to sell War bonds. But
mere appeal or exhortation will not
be effective. There must be more
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