The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-11-09
Observations
John l.. Lewis
Takes Leaf Out
of Nick Carter Books
BY HELEN ESSARI
By HELEN EssARY

BY HELEN ESSARY
I sat beside John L. Lewis al
dinner.
No. Lewis" / said, Negotiating
", Il should very much like TO
have a pleasant conversation with
you. What would you like TO talk
about"
DO you know what most peo-
pie talk to me about?' asked the
president of the United Mine Work
ers, Wrinkling his shaggy, black
brows. I'm tell you what they talk
about They talk about coal. And
then they talk about coal some
more.
Lets talk about something else
for a change. How about telling
me how you have managed to
escape the pitfalls that haye-shall
we say--lined your PATH
Pitfalls" laughed Louis in very
deep tasso. Have there been any
pitfalls? haven't noticed any pit
falls. Perhaps this explains how
I've missed falling in. ! just
haven't known the pitfalls were
there
I'm afraid, Mr.. Lewis" pursued
the subject. I'm afraid you aren't
being quite honest. Let's put the
question another way. When you
found you had got into a pitfall,
then what did you do? How did
you save yourself?"
Replied the labor leader in an
ostentatiously solemn tone:
Ever read Nick Carter? He
was the Hairbreadth Harry-Sher-
lock Holmes OF my generation.
when he found himself at the
bottom OF bottomless black pit.
with lions roaring at him above.
darkness all around him and drag
ons bLrrowing up from below, Nick
quickly whipped a small sharp
knife from a secret coat pocket.
slapped on his false whiskers ana
within the twingling OF an eyelash
dug himself onward and upward to
safety. That's my system. It's
been known to work"
IN A RECENT COLUMN l dis
cussed the campaign OF the Ameri-
can Women's Voluntary Services.
Inc, 10 do something about the
domestic help problem. An import
ant part o: this program is the
effort to raise the status OF the do
mestic worker. l would like to
common further on the AWVS
camp Align, IL | may.
This plan OF the AWVS Is, as
said before, not a fly by night
whimsy. Every ope-of Its 1000
members is interested Quite a
number OF women! add to these
the membership of the General
Fedora ton of Women's Clubs.
about 100000 more women sup
uorting the AWVS plan. and you
have en- army. An army OF inva-
sion. really. about TO set foot in
every territory. For II there ever
was enemy territory. It is the serv-
ant problem.
Correctly, the AWVS means to
start schools for domestic EN-
ployes-and employers. 1t intends
TO initiate the movement, but not
to sustain 1t indefinitely. Once
started, the promoters mean to
turn the project over to other
women's organizations, TO labor
groups and to educators.
At the moment. labor unions do
not enter the picture. Glad OF that.
Nor will there be a color line IN
the payment OF wages or treatment
OF workers. The organization does
not mean to set wages. Those vary
greatly t. different areas and such
q dictum would be unwise.
Terrific hurdles await you. my
good ladies OF the AWVS. Barbed
wire fences, water jumps and
heaven knows what other obstacles.
But don't you get discouraged. II
you even begin to solve the ser.
want (sorry. the domestic employe
problem), you will be doing a
superb service to humanity.
WAS BROODING OUT LOUD
TO big important Swiss: isn't
this country in a horrible state,
UNEMPLOYMENT. Discomfort. Strikes.
Everybody mad, ="
Whatever are you complaining
about said the Swiss gentleman.
why will Americans never learn
TO appreciate their own great quail
ties. Think how much you have
sprea1 yourselves out in this war
how much you have whipped
yourselves UP into unusual activi-
ties, production and everything
else.
How can you not expect the pen.
dulum 10 swing? or course. you
are feeling reaction now. In any
other country the reaction would
take the form OF real revolution. Re
proud, you Americans. Not apollo,
getic