The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-05-05
Observations
President Given
Piano Lesson by
Famed Paderewski

dfneu dutItNSkl
Washington President Humans
fondness for piano playing has
been well publicized but a new in
cident has just come to light The
chief executive once got a few
pointers from the great Polish plan
ist. lgnace Jan Psderewski
The Paderewski incident took
place in Kansas City, Mo. Mr.. Tru-
man had been having some diff
Guilty in handling one of the great
masters tickllsh compositions. Pad
erewski was in Kansas City at the
time and the future president
sought his advice.
The Polish immortal gave Mr..
Truman a few minutes instruction
and direction to aid him in play
ing the composition. II may have
been the only time that Padersw
ski gave q lesson in the United
States.
Capital observers are convinced
that ls45 will be a tougher food
year than last, but they feel GER
tain that the United States will
have enough TO maintain a substan-
TALLY high diet
Despite Allied gains in Europe
and the collapsing OF Germany's
military machine. food needs on the
home front and in liberated areas
continue TO mount. Result-the
American housewife will face the
rest OF l945 with scant supplies o.
steaks. roasts and chops.
Food of all types will be scarce.
at witness President Truman's ap-
peal to victory gardeners to boost
production this year.
The pessimistic predictions are
backed by an oPA directive plac-
ing nearly all cheap grades OF meat
on the ration list
There IL a distinct possibility
that the reciprocal trade agree
ments act will lapse this year for
the first time in the IL years that
il has been on the statute books.
The reason for this is that the
act expires June II, and the fight
over the extension bill Is becorn-
ing so intense that II may not be
possible TO pass It by that time.
even in modified form.
Antagonism against the extern
sion bill springs primarily from
the provision allowing rs per
cent cut in the Smoot-Hawley tar
If rates as contrasted with the so
per cent reduction which the re-
ciprocal trade agreements act
heretofore has provided.
The extension bill. which is be-
fore the House Ways and Means
committee. would continue the act
for three more years.
Germans who have been subject
ed to footing by their own retiring
forces are suffering very little
from depredations by CTS who have
moved in on them.
Despite pictures OF soldiers wear
ing silk hats and displaying odds
and ends OF booty, persons VINO
have recently returned from Ger
many say that these items general
ly are picked up in the debris
which follows air or artillery bonn
bardment of the Nazi cities.
The comparative miidness OF I'll
behavior il attributed TO the fact
that they have been in the Army
long enough to be well disciplined
and. when ordered not TO loot. obey
orders. Moreover. they have just
come across friendly country where
the temptation was lacking and
where, for the maintenance Of good
will, discipline WAS very strict
80
When the u senators and rep
resentatives return from their in
spection OF German atrocities'
watch for a first-class blow-off IN
Congress on the treatment OF Ger
man prisoners in the United states
The Geneva convention stipulates
that the United States must feed
Geman prisoners the same fare 1t
gives American troops. This lends
itself TO considerable interpreta-
ton and. II desired. the United
States probably could feed the
Nazis K-rations forever Instead
il has fed them up 10 standards
found In an officers mess.
The Germans probably will never
be given the abominable food
Americans received at Buchenwald,
Flossenburg and Ohrdruf, but Con
gress will view with a much stern
CT eye the fare they get hereafter.