The Explosion
Sirs:
Words cannot express the contempt with which I read the remarks made by Senator "Cotton Ed" Smith regarding our Commander in Chief in your article "Explosion in the Senate" [TIME, Dec. 20]. . . .
It will be up to history to decide who has done more for his country and for mankind: Franklin D. Roosevelt . . . whose name is linked with freedom, democracy and humanity ... or Cotton Ed Smith who wastes the time of his people by insulting their President. . . .
STEPHEN L. SABORSKY
Lieutenant, M.A.C.
Camp Claiborne, La.
Sirs:
As an officer in the Army of the U.S., I am thankful that this country does tolerate remarks from all persons. . . .
But to think that a U.S. Senator would cause to be entered such remarks as those uttered by "Cotton Ed" Smith in the Congressional Record! We are in the midst of an Orientation Program but what do you say to men when they ask, "Why do they let a man so bitterly against the Administration and openly agreeable to lynching carry on as a Senator?" Yes, I go overseas soon but what a memory of Congress I have. . . .
(SERVICEMAN'S NAME WITHHELD)
Newport News, Va.
Sirs:
. . . Your presentation of the backyard internecine squabbling among New Deal and Southern Democrats is plain disgusting. . . .
Surely your vast and literate reading public has more to think about than the feudalistic, reactionary statements of a few Southern Senators. While American troops are fighting for an equivalent world of four freedoms, certain Southern statesmen wage a ceaseless battle for their world of poll taxes, racial intolerance, lynchings and indiscriminate mockery of the Chief Executive. Why don't the Southern Senators secede from their party? If they did, at least they would no longer stigmatize the remaining Democrats with their cant, spurious oratory and hypocrisy.
DAVID L. SUTHERLAND
Corry, Pa.
>TIME will continue to report the significant squabblings of Senators, hopes readers will continue to find them food for thought. ED.
How to Clean Paint
Sirs:
To either TIME'S Army & Navy editors and their researchers ... or to their "baldheaded SPARS squeegeeing paint" (TIME, Dec. 20) a couple of clean rags, a bucket of "soujge" and another of fresh water to clean their paint-work.
Second thought is that TIME'S harbor-hopping correspondent might need one large earhorn.
J. J. SULLIVAN, U.S.N.R.
Lieutenant (j.g.)
Peru, Ind.
> Let an earhorn be ordered. The word is indeed "soujge" (variously spelled--meaning a cleaning solution). ED.
Warning
Sirs:
TIME, Dec. 13, under Production, states, "The American production war has [been 4 TIME, JANUARY 10 1944 won]." I am concerned lest the average reader receive entirely too rosy an impression from a casual reading of that article.
To those of us responsible for the material condition and equipment of combatant ships going into action areas, it is still a frequent and heartbreaking experience to see them sail lacking many items which may be vital to the successful accomplishment of their mission....
On the fighting fronts there can be no relaxation until the war is finally and conclusively won. There should be no encouragement for relaxation or complacency on the home front while any shortages in vital war equipment exist. We do not want any of our soldiers or sailors to die with the bitter words of Kipling's Batteries out of Ammunition, on his lips.
If any mourn us in the workshop, say We died because the shift kept holiday.
RONALD T. STRONG
Commander, U.S.N.R.
c/o Fleet P.O.
San Francisco
Of War Correspondents
Sirs:
For some weeks, Mr. Will Lang of the staff of TIME magazine has been closely associated with this Division. This period has included participation in two campaigns.
Mr. Lang, by reason of his professional competence, genial personality and cheerful sharing of all dangers and hardships has come to be considered a member of the Division.
The "All-American" Division wishes to express to you its appreciation of his services, and to assure you of his welcome, should future assignments again bring us together.
M. B. RIDGWAY
Major General, U.S.A.
Commanding
Hq. Sand Airborne Division
c/o Postmaster
New York City
Sirs:
The purpose of this note is to express my very genuine admiration for the courage, fortitude and superb aplomb of Robert Sherrod, one of the associate editors of TIME, during the Tarawa battle.
I came to know Mr. Sherrod when we shared the same transport en route to the target area, and gained a respect for his ability to evaluate events. It did not occur to me that he would attempt to land before a reasonable beachhead had been secured. However, I met him on the beach during the critical first day, and learned that he, in company with William Hippie of the Associated Press, had accompanied the assault waves of the center battalion ashore. Such devotion to factual reporting deserves special commendation.
EVANS F. CARLSON Lieutenant Colonel,
U.S.M.C.R.
Camp Pendleton, Calif.
>To General Ridgway, and Raider Carlson, TIME'S thanks.--ED.
Concern
Sirs:
In a time when our country so needs men of stature at the helm, it is shocking to hear that there are political bosses in the country who are deliberately conniving to deadlock the Republican convention to the end that a "dark horse" favorite of their own may secure the nomination over a man of the stature of Wendell Willkie. ... I refer to your account of "Mr. Pew's Ambassador" (TIME, Nov. 15).
All such trifling with the normal operation of democratic processes will surely receive nothing but angry disapprobation from thinking people today.
(CORP.) ROBERT R. MARTZ
c/o Postmaster
New York City
Sirs:
Here's one Republican who is becoming quite concerned, even nauseated, over the activities of that triumvirate of Old Guard Bulls--Hoover, Landon and the Schuylkill tycoon, Pew.
If they continue along their present path, I hope to see many "Young Republican Clubs for Roosevelt Unless Willkie is Nominated."
ANSELL E. SWEET
South Glastonbury, Conn.
Impert
Sirs:
Dr. Edward Hitschmann, who ran Sigmund Freud's clinic for over 40 years . . . was recently our guest. During the conversation he coined a word which some of us feel deserves to become a permanent part of the English language.
The word is "impert." An expert is one who has had sufficient experience to know what he is talking about. An impert is one who is sufficiently impertinent to think he knows without experience. . . .
F. ALEXANDER MAGOUN
Cambridge, Mass.
Pin-Up Girl?
Sirs:
Artist Chaliapin's Woman of All Time, Greer Garson, surpasses every other TIME cover which has ever been printed.
If sufficient requests are received to warrant reprinting of this cover, please enter my name at the top of the mailing list.
(TECH. SGT.) HARLAND C. WOOD
Fort Sill, Okla.
Mortarman Diamond, U.S.M.C.
Sirs:
Received the magazine and will put you straight on that story (TIME, Dec. 13).
First, I have no middle name.
Second, I did not go to the party at all. . . .
Now for the good of those poor boys that went six months without a party:
They get paid extra for working in the canteen and they are not out in the rain. They will never have to do combat duty. ... I think someone ought to buy them a nursing bottle for crying to the public about their party.
This outfit I have works just as long and harder than they do and gets not a cent extra for it, and has no time for a beer party till after work.
Lou
Parris Island, S.C.
P.S. I do not play cards with M.P. Sergeants.
>To famed, hell-roaring Master Gunnery Sergeant Lou Diamond, mortar expert and "Ideal Marine" (whose best friends insist that his name is Leland Stanford Diamond)--peace, and a reminder that it takes all kinds of Marines to make a Marine-topped world.--ED.
The Big Convention
Sirs:
TIME'S coverage of the National Association of Manufacturers' 48th annual meeting (Dec. 20) is an outstanding example of reportorial craftsmanship and editorial judgment.
Your recognition of the sincerity and good motives of tne leadership which the National Association of Manufacturers seeks to offer will be an inspiration to all industrialists in their efforts to build a better America.
FREDERICK C. CRAWFORD
1943 President
New York City
The Departing Soldier
Sirs:
Pfc. Raymond Borcher's letter and your story "Inquisition in Los Angeles" (TIME, Dec. 20) point up one of the things that has been worrying me as I get ready to take a trip.
I think I have a right to expect that the fundamental human rights which are held up as a banner for us now are still in existence when I get back. The emotional, hateful racial prejudice shown by certain Californians against anyone with yellow skin who can be called "Jap" certainly helps tear down the Constitution of our country, not only for loyal Americans of Japanese descent, but for all loyal Americans.
If California succeeds in passing a law excluding all persons of Japanese descent, there is nothing which would stop any state from passing a law excluding all New Yorkers who wear glasses (like me), or all Baptists with Swedish names, or all people by the name of --say Hearst, or Chandler.
They say many of us don't know what we're fighting for now; you keep up the good work and we'll know right well what we have to fight for, and against, when we get back.
WADSWORTH LIKELY
March Field, Calif.
Sirs:
The article entitled "Inquisition in Los Angeles" contains an error: that "20,000 [evacuees of Japanese ancestry] cleared by FBI now live in the Midwest and East." The error is in the statement or the implication that each individual is approved by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The War Relocation Authority assumes full responsibility for granting leave permits to evacuees. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other investigative agencies of the Government cooperate by making available such information as they have concerning each individual.
D. S. MYER Director
War Relocation Authority Washington
The 480th
Sirs:
Your account of Colonel Roberts and the 480th Anti-Submarine Group (TIME, Dec. 20) warmed the hearts of all of us who were formerly engaged in the Anti-Submarine Command. . . . These men never had the comforting feeling of wingmen in close formation. They were strictly lone wolves, and there's a hell of a lot of water in the Atlantic Ocean.
GORDON F. DEFOSSET
Lieutenant, U.S.A.A.F.
Langley Field, Va.
Since January 1, 1943, TIME, LIFE, FORTUNE and THE ARCHITECTURAL FORUM have been cooperating with the War Production Board on conservation of paper. During the year 1943, these four TIME, Inc. publications will have used 14,600 fewer tons of paper than in 1942. In view of the resulting shortages of copies, please share your copy of TIME with your friends.
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