GOP control of new House now possible
Democratic majority may be lacking at opening
…
Security plan postponement move started
Democratic leaders urge Roosevelt not to ask Congress to act
…
Ferguson: The Squaw ideal
By Mrs. Walter Ferguson
Katharine Hepburn, living exponent of the butterfly female, whose screen fame has made her an example for millions of molting juveniles, says American women are lacking in love for their government.
We don’t stack up so well alongside the Russians who, according to the fiery actress, are truly emancipated and passionately in love with the system which freed them – meaning communism, of course.
Honestly, aren’t you just a wee bit tired of our exotic element going off the deep end for the USSR? It seems to me we can admire the Russians and their defense of their country, without wanting to copy their habits or ideals, or advocating a return to the Dark Ages.
For that’s about what some of our ladies who haven’t lifted a potholder in their lives are doing.
After centuries of struggle, women are emerging from barbarism. Little children are released from hard labor; and one of the objectives of the Soviet plan was to lift the peasant to a more comfortable economic level. Which makes it all the more ironic to hear Americans lauding the Squaw ideal.
Russian women do love their system, but not because it has put guns into their hands and given them a chance to work. The common women of Russia have worked like galley slaves since the dawn of history. What they’re in love with in their system is now the pay they are given for their work.
Labor and initiative are materially rewarded, regardless of sex, which has been a custom in our country for some time, not perfected as yet, of course, but steadily improving. According to her theory, Miss Hepburn should burn with a passionate devotion to our system since she has earned a fortune at her career.
Let’s go back to first base, girls. We’re living in the United States of America, where women are treated better than anywhere else on earth. May the Soviets successfully work out their destiny, but for Heaven’s sake, let’s stick to our own.
Background of news –
Agenda of the 78th Congress
By editorial research reports
The new Congress, which convenes tomorrow, will get to work immediately on appropriations for the fiscal year 1944, beginning on July 1, 1943, but for some weeks, the problem will be tackled only by the Appropriations Committee of the House, through separate subcommittees. A reform in this procedure, long urged, calls for consideration of appropriations by a joint committee, representing not only the appropriations committees of the two houses, but also the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, which handle the bills for raising revenue to meet expenditures. The economy bloc will fight hard for drastic reduction in non-war expenditures.
A new revenue bill will be considered – first by the Ways and Means Committee – as soon as the Treasury formulates proposals. The Treasury will probably renew its recommendations for compulsory joint income-tax returns, for taxing income from future and perhaps outstanding state and local securities, for some form of compulsory savings. The Ruml Plan to forego one year’s income taxes, in order to put taxpayers on a pay-as-you-go basis, will come up with renewed support, and a general federal sales tax will also have considerable backing.
Congress may take action to nullify the executive action limiting salaries to $25,000, net; the administration will probably renew its recommendation for 100% taxation on all income above $25,000, net. Direct limitation of war profits may also come up.
While committees are wrestling with these problems, the parity price formula for farm products will come to the fore on the floor of both houses. The farm bloc will exert pressure to have farm labor costs, perhaps including the value of unpaid family labor, included in the formula. The farm bloc may also move to have parity price and other farm benefit payments disallowed in the formula, and to raise the loan value on basic crops from 90% to 100% of parity.
A strong move is expected to abolish, or at least amend, the requirements in law for time-and-a-half for hours worked above 40 a week. Restrictions on trade unions and limitation on the right to strike will get additional support if serious strikes break out. The fight for an anti-poll tax law may be renewed.
The debt limit will have to be increased. The administration will renew its recommendations for higher Social Security taxation and wider Social Security coverage – recommendations which will be viewed in the light of the recent Beveridge Report in Great Britain.
A legacy from the last Congress will be the Third War Powers Bill, giving the President powers he has asked to relax certain import and immigration restrictions alleged to be irritants in the war effort. Congress may decide to legislate on the size of the Army, but is more likely to leave the decision to the military and manpower administrators.
Senator Wheeler predicts that some limitations will be placed on the present Lend-Lease powers of the President; those powers, also certain inflationary powers and the power to make reciprocal trade agreements, must be renewed in 1943.
Allies smash Jap outpost, push on last one near Buna
By Don Caswell, United Press staff writer
…
Peep drivers in New Guinea like Papuan life best
…
Roving Reporter
By Ernie Pyle
With U.S. forces in Algeria – (by wireless)
I have been delving further into this strange business of Axis sympathies among the people of French North Africa. It is very involved.
The population was all mixed – Arabs, Jews, Spanish and French. And there didn’t seem to be much national loyalty. It looked as if the people, being without any deep love of the country, favored whichever side appeared more likely to feather their nest.
Outside the big cities, Algeria hadn’t fared badly under the Germans. But the cities had been actually starving, because the Germans bought produce direct from the farms, and the cities couldn’t get it.
America has already contributed shiploads of food to the Algerian people, but for some reason little of it showed up in the public markets. City housewives find the stalls bare as usual, and they mutter about “les Américains.”
The Germans paid high prices to the farmers for their crops, and paid in French money. They didn’t levy the terrific indemnities here that they did in France. Hence the farm population actually prospered, and had almost nothing to kick about.
Now this year, Algeria has the biggest orange crop since the war started. In distant sections, oranges were actually rotting on the trees for lack of transportation. The farmers blame the Americans for this, and I suppose with some justice. True, we have already arranged to ship vast cargoes of oranges to England in returning convoys, but we can’t spare enough transportation to get the whole crop to the docks.
Buying of crop would help
As far as I can see, the only way to get the Arab, French, and Spanish farmers on our side would be to buy the whole orange crop, even at the high prices the Germans paid.
When the Germans took control, they demobilized the French North African Army. That suited the people fine. They didn’t want to fight anyway. But now the army is mobilized again, and people are saying:
Under the Germans, we didn’t have to fight. Under the Americans, our leaders make us go into the army again.
They are passive about it, but many of them are not happy. There was a deep fascist tinge among some of the officers of the regular army. I’ve tried to find out the reason. As far as I could learn, it was mostly a seeking for an ordered world to live in. The people and the army alike were disillusioned and shattered by the foul mess into which Paris had fallen – the mess that resulted in catastrophe to France. They were, and are, bitter against the politicians and the general slovenliness in high places. They wanted no more of it. They wanted things to run smoothly. They wanted security – and they visualized it as guaranteed by the methodical rule of the Axis.
The German propaganda here has been expert. The people have been convinced that Germany will win. Lacking any great nationalistic feeling, the people jumped onto whatever seems to be the leading bandwagon, and they think it’s Germany. Propaganda has also made them think America is very weak. Literally, they believe we don’t have enough steel to run our factories or enough oil for our motors.
Americans misinterpreted
German propaganda has drilled into them the glories of the New Order. These people believe that life for them under German control would be milk and honey, perpetual security and prosperity. They really believe it. Also, our troops have made a poor impression, in contrast to the few Germans they’ve seen. We admittedly are not rigid-minded people. Our Army doesn’t have the strict and snappy discipline of the Germans. Our boys sing in the streets, unbutton their shirt collars, laugh and shout, and forget to salute. A lot of Algerians misinterpret this as inefficiency. They think such a carefree army can’t possibly whip the grim Germans.
Most of the minor peoples of the world expect discipline. They admire strict rulers because to them strictness is synonymous with strength. The Algerians couldn’t conceive of the fact that our strength lies in our freedom.
Out of it all I gather a new respect for Americans, sloppy though we may be. They may call us Uncle Shylock, but I know of no country on earth that actually is less grabby. In all my traveling both before and during the war, I have been revolted by the nasty, shriveled greediness of soul that inhabits so much of the world. The more I see of the Americans and the British, the most I like us. And although Germany is our bitter enemy, at least the Germans have the character to be wholly loyal to their own country.
Once more, I want to say that this stratum about which I am writing is not a majority of the people of North Africa. Much of the population is just as fervent for Allied victory as we are. But there is this Axis tinge, and I wanted to try to explain why it existed. Personally, I don’t feel that it can do us any grave harm.
1 Like
War and Hollywood
Super-glamor will rule the screen
By Harlow Church, special to the Pittsburgh Press
…
CANDIDLY SPEAKING —
Place for woman at peace table
By Maxine Garrison
These are days of strange and splendiferous happenings. It has even been suggested in all seriousness that there might justifiably be a place for a woman at the table which will follow this war.
Let us quickly pass over any small remarks about the wonder being that no one’s thought of it before. The notable feature is that the suggestion has been made and, forsooth, approved by men.
The justification is pretty obvious. Women share with men the responsibility for the current mess. Although they did not win the vote until 1920, and are therefore technically absolved of responsibility up to that point, they certainly had their share of fostering the “Eat, drink and be merry” philosophy which lulled national and international conscience.
The catch in that philosophy is that you aren’t nearly so likely to die tomorrow as you are to have to live through the mess of your own making.
Women are sharing with men the job of fighting the war. They are enlisted in all branches of our armed services. They are building war machines and making war supplies.
Women, side by side with men, will endure the duration and whatever may follow.
It seems only natural that they should have a place at the peace table.
Leading nominees so far seem to be Mrs. Roosevelt, Mme. Chiang Kai-shek and Clare Luce.
I will stick my neck clear out to here, and suggest a woman’s panel including Mrs. Roosevelt, Mme. Chiang Kai-shek, and Dorothy Thompson. The enthusiasms and knowledge of such women should fuse into a definite influence for good.
The general inclusion of women as members of the human race in good standing will spur individual women everywhere to increased and even prouder effort.
U.S. War Department (January 6, 1943)
Communiqué No. 288
North Africa.
French headquarters reports that Allied aircraft and artillery destroyed 12-15 tanks of the enemy force which attacked French positions at Fondouk on January 3. French counterattacks also inflicted casualties on the enemy. In support of operations by French troops, Allied bombers escorted by fighters yesterday attacked Cherichera, north of Fondouk, and fighter sweeps were carried out.
Our bombers also attacked the railway yards at Kairouan, and four enemy aircraft attacking one of our airdromes were destroyed. Two of our planes are missing from yesterday’s operation.
U.S. Navy Department (January 6, 1943)
Communiqué No. 241
South Pacific.
On January 5:
-
During the darkness of the early morning, a U.S. task force of surface units successfully bombarded the Japanese airfield at Munda on New Georgia Island.
-
As the task force retired, it was attacked by Japanese dive bombers. Four “Wildcats” (Grumman F4F) intercepted and shot down four of the enemy dive bombers and probably destroyed two more. All “Wildcats” returned safely after the remaining enemy planes had withdrawn.
-
“Marauder” medium bombers (Martin B-26) later attacked enemy installation at Munda. Results could not be observed.
-
During the afternoon, “Flying Fortresses” (Boeing B-17), escorted by “Lightning” fighters (Lockheed P-38), attacked an enemy heavy cruiser at Buin on the island of Bougainville. Results were not observed. Our fighters were attacked by 25 “Zeros” and float-type biplanes. Three enemy planes were shot down and 2 others were probably destroyed. Two U.S. fighters were lost.
-
“Flying Fortresses” attacked and scored a bomb hit on a Japanese transport in the Shortland Island area.
-
During the day, 84 Japanese were killed in mopping-up operations in the Mount Austen sector on Guadalcanal Island.
Communiqué No. 242
North Pacific.
On January 5, “Mitchell” medium bombers (North American B-25) bombed an enemy cargo ship 110 miles northeast of Kiska. The ship was left burning and was later seen to sink.
On January 6, a “Liberator” heavy bomber (Consolidated B-24) scored one direct and two near hits on an enemy ship 185 miles southwest of Kiska.
The Pittsburgh Press (January 6, 1943)
PLEASURE DRIVING BANNED!
Autoist must prove his need, OPA chief says
Order effective at noon on Thursday
…
Rayburn wins speakership in close vote
Congress convenes with bipartisan pledge to fight bureaucracy
By Lyle C. Wilson, United Press staff writer
…