The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-04-01

I Sometimes ReCEteSSy.
When OPA abolished police enforce
ment of the nO-pleaSure driving rule
the American people were put on their
honor not to use gasoline for pleasure
uses.
Thereupon came an interesting spec
tacle.
1t developed that there was mighty
little honor where automobile driving
was concerned.
Movie parking lots that hadn't
housed a car since the ban suddenly
gave space to goodly part OF their
number of visiting autos.
Curbs near movie houses also be-
came crowded with cars.
If the police weren't going to en-
force the ban any longer, why who
cared hang? That seemed to be the
attitude
1t was all very interesting.
X X X
One may wonder about the "why'
of all this. Drivers still were not sup
posed to use cars for pleasure. But
they did, just the minute the cops were
called off.
Perhaps there were couple of
reasons.
One was that the ban on pleasure
driving was all wet in the first place.
People just naturally feel that if
they've bought and paid for a COM
modify they ought to be able to use it
in whatever manner suits them.
That's fairly well ingrained. Cut
ting the allowable amount is Il sounder
way
But maybe there's another reason
back of the conduct of folks in regard
to gasoline.
Throughout the whole American
background is the tradition of each
looking out for himself. It's a trans
lation of the thing called individual
initiative.
1t has nothing to do with generosity
toward those less fortunate.
Men sought to make more money
than their neighbors made for just
about the same reason that a good
many tried to store up one more can
of beans before rationing.
x X
The fellow who has an extra can of
beans probably would share it gladly
with hungry neighbor.
The urge to get that can of beans
has nothing in the world to do with
what the owner will do with those
beans later on.
Our history is filled with cases of
men who cut all kinds of corners TO
get money or to get power.
Whoever would expect they wouldn't
follow the tradition and also cut
corners in getting food, prior to and
after ratiOning?
You can't destroy an ancient urge
and a national tradition by making Il
rule or enacting a law
This isn't intended to be Il plea for
no rationing. That isn't the point
The point is that it will be wise TO
look facts in the face and not to be
too startled when the whole thing
doesn't work perfectly.
You can expect many case of
neighbor passing over Il spare gas
coupon to one who is in dire need, but
| that generous neighbor will fight like
bazes TO get the coupons in the first
place, just to be prepared against
| rainy day. Not in all cases, to be sure,
| but in plenty of them.
The present OPA leadership seems
| to be taking Il realistic view of ration
| ing and of those who are rationed,
which is well. 1t VIII save lot of
headaches and Il lot of temperS.
On an over all basis the American
people will give up what is necessary.
| They will do what is necessary, If
| they are convinced of the need and ii
| they believe there is Il fair deal all
| around.
The prerequisite to successful ration
| ing, or to success in any other war
effort if franlnesS by government,
sound administration and a measure of
plain old emolionaliZing in govern
ment's appeal for help. The American
people do love to emote.-CMW.