The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1943-01-01
American Boys Learn
To Be Tough Killers
Strike News Follows
BurisIs az Sea
owl Movie Order
Stirs Up Ruekus
Setting Ready For
Politics ss Usual
By RAY TUCKER

part in battles against the Jsps
and Germans have undergone tho
transformation which might 10
expected If veterans whose daily
work 10 killing They have be-
come tough in body and mind.
Wounded officers and men re-
turned to the states tell stories
Of daring. bravery and even saw
sgery which would be shocking
but for the fact that they must
meet fire with fire. They show
no mercy to Tokyo's troops until
after the enemy has surrendered
and it rarely does. Americans
are repaying Hirohito's legions for
the treacherous tactics they have
exhibited ever since their surprise
attack on Pearl Harbor. Our
youngsters are learning that war
is exactly what Sherman said it
was and behaving accordingly.
II may not be astonishing 10
discover that they are bitter
against certain groups in this
country. While fighting and dy-
ing for $50 q month they grow
disguised when they get reports
about strikes hack home. They
cannot understand why their foes
on Gusdalcanal appear to have
plenty of supplies, whereas a vast
nation like ours cannot provide
sufficient food. planes. ships and
weapons for its defenders.
The commander of a cruiser
which was recently damaged with
heavy loss of life illustrated their
attitude with tragic snecdote.
Said he:
I'VE had just buried hundred
of our sailors at sea. I thought
il would distract the crew il ] let
them listen TO the radio. Imag-
inc what the boys thought and
felt when the very first an
nouncement told OF a walkout in
Detroit which was holding up
munitions production"
High army and navy officials
have lined up with Hollywood in
a counter-attsok against govern
ment control and censorship Of
films. They prefer to rely on the
knowledge Of experts instead OF
on the theoretical judgment Of
the Owl department headed by
Lowell Mellett. In particular,
they see no reason for him to
make the decision where certain
features shall be shown and
where barred.
Frank Capra, one of movie
lands great producers and now a
lieutenant-colonel in the army.
recently made a picture entitled
prelude to Victory" depicting
the Germans, Italians and Jsps
in an unfavorable light. The
flicker contains actual war shots
with fictional interludes. 1t il
being shown TO our men in over
seas camps and outlying posts.
They say il is an exceptionally
inspiring scenario. But Mr.. Mel
lett has ruled that it cannot he
billed in this country. II il all
right for our boys to see II, but
not, in his opinion. for their
mothers and fathers.
The celluloid city's explanation
is that the Office of War lnfor-
nation member is an internstion-
alist. This was revealed when he
was a newspaper editor, He
makes the point-and il may be
good one-that we must do
business with our adverssrief
after the war and therefore II 10
unwise TO antsgonize them un-
necessarily on the screen. But
YOU cannot sell that Good Ssmar-
itsn philosophy TO Mr.. Csprs,
the stimsonians or the Knoxtes.
The opportunistic firing Of
Leon Henderson as price admins
traitor will not wholly paeify
members of congress who have
resented his arbitrary methods.
They have informed the president
they want the OPA cleansed Of
professors and theorists who, they
charge, bungled price fixing and
rationing so thoroughly.
II is not generally known, but
Leon stuffed his organization with
college teachers who never had
any practical experience in bust
ness and industry. As former
consumer credit expert for tina
Russell Sage Foundation. he
turned 10 intellectual types for
his assistants He brought sesd-
smists from Princeton, swsrth-
more. Yale and Harvard 70 Gil
the key posts. II was an even
more starry-eyed gang than the
original group which came to
Washington in 1888. including
the Moleys, Tugwells and Hop
kinses. They refused 70 deal with
trade or manufacturers sssoci-
ations because these bodies a
economic royahsts, were sus'
pect. Fantastic and bizarre or
ders were issued all day long.
Most Of Icons minions, how
ever, have recognized the hand
writing on the political wall
They realize they must walk m
plank. So FDR viii receive
flood Of designations about IN
tine their sponsor is scheduled L
quit. And even the White hous'