Detroit evening times., 1945-02-17
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbrook.
PegIeN

PegIeN
I DOUBT that more than a
few of our people appreciate
the menace to our freedom, and
our rights and dignity as hu-
man beings, that Harry Hop
kins expresses from time to
time.
His haggard physique and his
sickly condition are dangerous
camouflage.
They make him seem harm
less, although Napoleon. too,
was little man and suffered
from dyspepsia.
WELL. Hopkins is President
" Roosevelt'S most intimate
friend and chief counselor.
THUS we owe IL ~ ourselves
10 assume that, when he says
in print that American students
should not be allowed 10 waste
their time studying Latin, he
speaks for Roosevelt.
Think what we NAV about
The importance of Latin in a4tf--
cation, this man here IS telling
Us what the next generation of
American citizens may not
study. and with RooSevcltS
silent consent and with the
benefit of RoOScveltS power
and prestige. consistently he
could tell us what they must
study.
This is not just Harry Hop
klns speaking. Harry Hopkins,
by himself. couldn't sell his
opinions or intentions 10 any
editor.
If Roosevelt disagreed. he
would throw Hopkins out as he
threw out Stanley High few
years ago for writing a maga-
zine article that diSpleaSed him
IF OUR homes are not our\
own, are We free citizens or
mere subjects of regime? ?
They did that in Russia. 10 be
sure, but, IN this country, the
men who framed the ConStitu-
ton felt strongly on the issue
Of the compulsory bllleting Of
strangers IN their homes and
the invasion Of their family
PFtHae f-----
Remembering their recent ex-
pcrlcnces with the soldiers ~
the English king, they insisted
on writing into the Bill Of
Rights an article feFbiddinr u.
This amendment dealt only
with the billcting Of soldiers.
bat wc may allow ourselves the
reasonable assumption thar tho
only reason why they didn't
forbid the compulsory bilicung
OF civilians was that they didn't
think any one would ever have
the cftrOntcry 20 Try II.
Hopkins assures us that those
drastic changes in our way are
proposed for the duration of the
war only and strictly as cmcr.
gency measures
HOPKINS and Roosevelt
II know, of course. that Hitler
forbade certain students arhl-
irarIiy 10 take up studies &C.
cordlnC 10 their own choice and
bent
But now Hopkins not only
tell, Us that Latin should be
abolished bat goes so FAR as 10
say that some students should
qut high school
Well which students then.
must quH? And who Is going 20
pick the lucky ones who viii
be- given the ADJ aniagc Of an
education
And would man capable Of
such q command to- our poOpl/
hesitate 10 forbid The teaChln
OF religion? Or 10 require the
teaching of atheism ?
Consider Hopkins
The central figure in d.
Norce case, unimpOrtant by him-
self. the unInvitcd guest for
years of the American people
as a resident Of the White
House, this person. who never
was elected 20 any public office.
actually lays down these condi-
tons OF life 10 US.
And he says, IN a tone of
authority No American. any,
whore, not IN the war effort.
should he allowed 10 decide for
himself how much he will give
He read that over before IL
went into type and he meant
every word OF II We must be
wary enough to assume that. in
the absence Of reputation.
Roosevelt means il. too.
This means that the govern
. mcnt, and Hopkins, will decide
hoW much each citizen shall
give. That means. in turn. the
power Of total confiScation Of all
earned property, the insurance
the savings, the investments OF
all Americans.
MORE recently, Hopkins. now
VI enjoying in time of war.
tho poak income of his bfo had