Detroit evening times., 1946-01-07
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbrook
Pegler

=
~ you know, the last Of the
year Mrs. George Spelvin,
A m can. well, she got. to
hgurlng that her old man was a
not-half-rotten kind of old plug.
after all, because he worked
hard and didn't 60 in for much
sky-larking and they couldn,s
stand the belt for New Years
Eve at one Of those traps where
the rich trash do their falling
down, so by hell. in that senti-
mental mood. she decided 10
buy a good fat slab Of toddy at
the store and do a little sitting
up at home and work up a mild
reek with papa,
So minded, Mrs. Spelvin went
down 10 the corner and asked
the guy for one tube of his very
best corn-squeezing and, point
ing to a row of Old Rumhound,
price $3.50.
So Mrs. 6. was floored for a
count OF nine when the euy
slapped both hands on the coun.
ter, gave her a glare and de-
manded:
How much dough does your
old man make, how much have
you got In cash. bonds and other
Investments, what mortgage do
IN your IOVe-bOwer,
at how much per cent. and does
he figure TO get raise within
the next IL months" ."
COMING up slowly and
" shaken but pretty good and
damn sore. Mama 6. went 10
her right until she could regain
--her=xf'crrh-aHd then, with Ter
rifle rally, hollered:
why. you fresh tramp. what
for kind Of asking II that and
what II the matter with YOU,
anyway, because I come in To
buy me some provisions for a
strictly law abiding. respectable
family bust and the way YOU
talk YOU would think ! was try
ing to Join the Piping Rock Club
instead Of just shopping for a
little boeze.
Listen to me, YOU overbear-
ing Fascist" the guy yelled
back. and by now quite crowd
was gathering and a cop had
come IN and was stretching an
ear 10 see whether the situation
called for steps
Listen 10 me. because YOU
are Just so SNUG and reaction
AIRY, with your riches, and your
tradition Of power. that YOU
don't seem To realize that us
poor people have got a right 10
charge according 10 how much
you can afford To pay and N
you are filthy rich I am right
here TO tell you | am entitled
to a fair share Of your dough-
THE cop moved up TO the
Il counter now and, turning To
Mrs. SpelVin. said, Lady. I
think you ought 10 realize that
this II just fact-fnding and.
while I don't have the legal
power Co make YOU tell what
the guy asks, I think he sounds
pretty reasonable because. II
YOU can AFFORD 20 pay $1,000 for
this merchandise. then. after
all. why should the poor mugg
let II go for $3.50: He only
wants To see your books To
prove how much YOU can pay
can't stand a higher tap we'll
NO" Mrs. Spelun shrieked
the way she sometimes does
when she is really sore. neither
for you nor President Truman
nor anybody else, and II Is none
of your business either 80 please
he away and don't interfere and.
moreover. suppose II I am
absolutely busted and my, old
man IL out Of job, then, ac-
cording to you buns, why, ~
It's ability To pay that counts,
why all ] got 20 do Is prove we
can't pay anything and this
meat-head here will give me q
quart for nothing
81 ADY." the cop said. II
IL think you should realize
that by your stubborn attitude
you are holding back that won
derful prosperity that IL Just
waiting for people like YOU tn
yield selfish interest for the
good Of all and now our brave
boys are coming back and here
you are holding up everything,
30 pretty soon the clerks and
the bottierS and cork-makers
and label-printers and stickers
and wrappers, and hootch-
workers and the coppers and all
will he out Of work and their
little children will starve and
bur beloved country will have
another depression unless
YOU"
And say" Mrs. Spclvin
screamed. "it Is you buns that
are responsible and ! am willing
To paw just what everybody else
pays and II don't make n par
ticie OF difference whether l can
pay 5000 or $500 because
maybe my I'D man worked
harder than this mug and
maVbe he il smarter"
At this. the cop grabbed
Mama 5. and slammed her in
corner and grabbed her bag
and tossed il To the guy and
the whole crowd went rummag-
L-------L