Detroit evening times., 1945-03-14
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY yWestbrook
PeeIer


III pudence that has developed
into a fixed attitude toward the
people since our press formed
the habit of obedience to censor
ship:
President Roosevelt's army of
occupation at Montgomery
Wards in Chicago announced
that a portion of the property
had been turned back to its
rightful owners but when q
colonel on that front was asked
why, he replied: "We feel it is
not necessary TO comment on
that"
In that case. the situation
calls for initiative reporting be-
cause this reticence might be a
self-serving cover for incom-
petence or worse in the adj
ministration of this job by
officers who were sent in TO turn
a trick for a political auxiliary
Of the Roosevelt party, namely
the CIO.
No military information of
any possible interest, much less
of value, 10 the enemy can be
involved here and foregoing
events show that if these belted
and buckled floorwalkers had
any excuse to boast of work
we'll done, their press agent
would have cranked up his
mineograph and told the world
about il.
They weren't bashful when
they took over SO this sudden
shyness naturally arouses sus-
piclon, the more so now that
the u. S. district court has
placed them in the position of
trespassers.
pY STEALTH, the army has
b-developed a domestic peiiti-
cal propaganda service for use
in such cases. employing for the
ballyhoo eX-reporters who have
been given fat commissions but
haven't necessarily changed or
abandoned their politics.
To assign TO such a Job
major or Northumberland who
belongs to the newspaper guild,
also a union of the CIO and
heavily sprinkled with Commd-
niStS and communism, at mat,
would be a piece of deceit that
the newspapers shetiid expose.
To the public and. indeed, to
reporters on the 10, the press
agent in such a case would be
just another army officer IN
whose press releases they would
not suspect political sympathy
or motivation.
Actually, however. his first
duty would be to give his COM
manding officer in the seized
property a magnificent reputa-
tion as an organizer and admin
istrator, failing which he would
get bad report himself, and
might have to wait six months
extra for the right to wear
chickens on his shoulders.
And, this new and peculiar
service being strictly political
and pro-union, the lawful own
ers and management of the
property obviously cannot hope
for fair treatment.
So, not only is their property
seized if onely some loafer pro-
vokeS a mere threat of a strike
but the owners, through their
taxes. pay the salary of some
unioneer in a majors uniform 10
disseminate propaganda inJuri-
Gus TO their reputation.
THE incident Of Elliott Roose-
l. velt's dog was similar piece
OF lofty arrogance.
The army was in politics last
summer when a group of Roose-
velt union politicians were sent
to France 10 lie to the soldiers
about the record of strikes and
other wastes of manpower on
the production front at home.
In another case, the Demo-
cratic nominee, addressing the
ariStocracy of the teamsters'
union last fall. dragged in a
rumor that his dog, Fala, had
been left behind in the Aleu-
tians during his summer cruise
and that a naval vessel had
been sent back, at great eX-
pense to the public, to fetch
him.
No such story had had gen.
eral circulation and there is no
reason 10 grant that il wasn't
planted by one of his political
agencies so he could deny it.
The army is in dirty business
doing the work of the CIO in
privately owned property and
should have better use for its
generals and coloncls if they
have ability suitable to their
rank.
But, if this must be. then the
press agents should be dropped
from the organization table be-
cause we know they are only
going TO butter up the men
they have to salute and that,
my friends, is not press rela-
tions. but ballyhoo and politics.
Copyright, 1945. by King Features
IszL- TooI