The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-06-06

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invade Tex-or else the other way
around, 1t not having been quite
decided which.
Why June IL, definitely and with
out reservation? Because June 10 is
! the civilian D-Day on which Secre-
tary OF the Treasury Henry Morgen-
thau Jr. is going to open the Fifth
War Loan Drive, in Texarkana.
From here on this story should
make a little more sense. Getting at
the heart Of the matter-showma
Welles has cooked up this idea for
focusing invasion interest out where
east meets west, just to dramatic
for the people at home the serious
ness and the reality of the bigger
invasion In Europe. Fully awakened
and aroused by having the war
brought home to them in this man
ner, 1t is expected that everyone will
go out and buy his share Of the
$4,000, 000,000 worth Of War Bonds
on sale In the Fifth War Loan
Drive June IL to July 8.
! IT'S ALL IN DEAD EARNEST
If the idea for this Welles prem
iere on the drive sounds bit far
cical, Fred Smith, assistant and
confidential adviser to Secretary
Morgenthau, who has been working
with Welles on the show, empha.
sizes that 1t Is all in dead earnest
The Welles script calls for present.
ing what would happen If the peo-
pie Of the country Of Ark were to
assume the characteristics of the
master race. get expansionist ambi-
tons and invade the country of Tex
with the idea Of making it another
Poland. Presented by this situation,
1t would be up to the people of Tex
to roll up their sleeves and put the
people Of Ark back in their places.
Local pride and prejudice being
what they are, Treasury officials
promoting this show have quite pub
licly tipped a coin to determine
whether Ark would invade Tex or
vice-versa. At the time Of issuing
this communique, there is still some
local debate on the point, so the
cast may be changed at the last mo-
ment, or If the idea backfires the
whole thing NAV be dropped though
that is insignificant.
What is significant to the Urea
sury officials is that the import
ance Of the war is being forgotten
at home. Recent successes in italy
and in the Pacific have given the
impression that the invasion OF
Europe will be a pushover. AS SO
per cent of the individuals buying
/ War Bonds give as their sole rea-
son desire to support the war. the
Treasury Is interested In seeing that
the war doesn't lose It's box office
appeal. Hence the effort to reqen-
crate enthusiasm through the Welles
show.
IDEA CAME OUT OF
A DRUG STORE
Selection of Texarkana as the
locale for launching this Fifth War
Loan Drive stems from the fact that
this Is perhaps the best-known bor-
der town in the country. Behind
that, though. Is an interesting story.
Previous bond drives have been
onened in New York or Washington.
The idea for opening drive In
Texarkana came from local citi-
zen, Willard Simmons, tall and
drawing operator Of cut-rate
I pharmacy on the Arkansas side Of
the line and chairman of the Mil
Ter County War Finance Committee.
He fished this idea out of his hat.
sold 1t to his Chamber of Commerce
which sold 1t to CONGRESSMAN
Wright Patman from the Texas side
of the line, who sold 1t to the Trea-
sury
In appreciation. Texarkana has
turned itself inside out. The two
border counties have already over
sold their Fifth War Loan quota Of
$4,675 600 State Line Avenue, run
ming through the center Of the city,
has been renamed Liberation Way
and intersecting Broad Street has
been renamed War Bond Drive.
Secretary Morgenthau. a dozen
governors, radio and movie celebri-
| ties will be there. ...
Texarkana hopes Its idea for a
civilian D-Day will catch on.