The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-03-15
Observations
Ration Tokens to
be Guarded Just
as Coins
BY Helen EsSIry


Those ration tokens which be-
gan circulating late in February
are under as much government SUI
pervislon and protection as coius
made in the United States mint.
OPA has taken every precaution to
guard against theft OF the red and
blue fiber tiddley.winks at the os-
borne Register Company, in Gin
cinnati, where they are made. The
plant itself has operated under
heavy guard
The company's contract called
for the screening of all unsealsd
windows so finished tokens could
not be passed outside; 24-hour arm
ed guard service; institution Of
electrical protective systems; in
spection by government agents and
elaborate safeguarding of the dies
from which the tokens are made.
The provision extended to all
parts Of the company where tok-
ems or raw materials for them are
stored, used or packaged. The
dies must be photographed both
before and after being used and
become the property Of the govern
ment.
Each die has special code letters
10 identify the tokens stamped ont.
Search OF employees working on
the token mostly women
also was required. When the
women workers objected plant
men had them roll dice to determ-
inc which ones would submit to
search as they left the plant.
The one rolling the highest num-
Der became the victim. Only
about one in 10 employees were
searched under this system and
the workers took it in good spirit,
An angry Senate Agriculture
Committee has had its second act
OF defiance from members OF the
executive branch OF the govern
ment
This time it was Jonathan Dan
iels, confidential assistant to Pres
ident Roosevelt who, like Agricul.
ture Secretary Claude Wickard,
refused point-blank TO give" on
matters concerning REA policies
under the Agriculture Department.
With the committees investiga-
ton OF REA activities stalemated
for the time being. irate senators
are threatening TO bring contempt
proceedings against Daniels who
refused TO answer committee Coun-
sci Carroll Beedy's questions be-
cause. he said, the answers would
not be in the public interest"
Upshot OF the frscas probably
will be that the Congressional COM
mittee will not get far in its at
tempt to link alleged irregular"
activities and policies in REA with
President Roosevelt's fourth term"
plans.
However. the committee is con.
templating legislation once again
10 set up REA as a separate and
independent agency. By an act OF
Congress REA was made a part of
the Agriculture Department. Since
then, senators believe, the agency
was made a political springboard
and has not operated as efficiently.
Best bet: that the committee will
show up one OF these days with a
new bill to set up REA as an in
dependent organization, giving Ad-
Harry Slattery his old
time powers.
Finland is nearing the end OF
her collaboration with the Nazis.
The little Scandinavian country Is
expected very soon TO sever her
lies with Hitlerite Germany and
quit her hspless war agains Rus
ia.
War WEAKNESS and a sharp re.
ization that further resistance
will only make peace a more Bit
ter pill 10 swallow, has brought
Finland to the end OF her second
war with Russia in four years.
To diplomatic Washington and
London, peace terms offered Fin
land by the L. S. S. r. are surprls-
Ingly generous, and both English
speaking countries are urging that
they be accepted forthwith. In fact,
there is ground for belief that Fin
land already has decided TO ac-
cept the terms, and her big prob
lem is avoidance OF a major war
within her borders after an arm
istice.
At least seven German divisions
are known TO be stationed in Fin
land at the present time, and Rus
STA is determined that they shall
not be allowed TO escape as the
result of her peace negotiations
with Finland
Other problems. including Rus
sian insistence that leaders in the
Finnish war be punished and BAN
ned from future political life, are
also matters still to be thrashed
out. While these problems are
knotty. they are not considered
insoluble, and diplomatic expec-
tation OF an armistice declaration
mounts hourly.
SOLDIER KILLED