Rubber Ruble Plot
Sir:
While sending balloons into the air over Russia carrying messages of freedom, why not also attach some American-made Russian currency? Imagine the feeling of independence each Russian citizen would have if he were to become suddenly wealthy. Of course, Russia would have inflation, but it might jar loose a revolution. The beauty of my proposal is that Russia could not very well retaliate because they couldn't print our money any faster than we're spending it right now.
If our leaders in Washington had more initiative they would take a page from Stalin's book and keep Russia so busy solving her internal problems that she wouldn't have time to foment wars.
DON KROGER
Lincoln, Neb.
Liquor & Pearl Harbor
Sir:
According to the W.C.T.U., if it hadn't been for whisky, there would have been no Pearl Harbor [TIME, Aug. 20]. And if my aunt had wings, she'd be an F-86. Seems to me that the ghosts of the Japs who delivered that attack must be mighty restless, to see the credit handed to something else. After all, it was one of the best surprise attacks ever made . . .
I am not a drinker, and I don't approve of drunkenness. I also don't approve of people who blacken the memories of 3,000 dead men who are not able to speak for themselves. Sunday morning is a day when things are allowed to ease off, in the Army, at least. The Japs had that in mind. But in spite of their well-planned action, there were a lot of men who fought back, surprised or not . . .
Is there any way one can get the W.C.T.U. another string for their harp? . . .
JOHN P. CONLON
Newark, Ohio
New Disability Bill
Sir:
Re the new disability bill [TIME, Aug. 27]: "A barefaced grab of public money" is right! Why not put all veterans on pension as soon as they're discharged and spoon-feed them for the rest of their lives?
I think we veterans have received enough and ought to get along on our own by now . . .
JOSEPH S. PAPROCKI
Chicago
Sir:
It is comforting to know that all the gold bricks, latrine lawyers, sick-call specialists can line up for their $120 a month. As an ex-member of the expendable 106th Division, who was stupid enough to find himself overseas fighting for somebody's turnip patch, and to lose a leg, how do they do it?
. . . I have worked 70 hours a week (when I had a job) and for as little as 90-c- an hour, in an effort to make my income equal my prewar earnings. I am furnished, free, a clumsy artificial leg with none of the postwar improvements, which will not be replaced as long as I can hobble around with it.
To my ex-Russian P.W. friends, who are, I presume, in Siberia now: "Buddy, it's cold here too!"
CARL M. ROBERTS
South Bend, Ind.
The Colonel's Candidate?
Sir:
Re the Aug. 20 article, "The Case Against Ike": Thank you for keeping us informed on the Republican Party's own worst enemy, namely, dear old Bertie McCormick. To many who live in and around Chicago, the Tribune is bought and read strictly for the comic strips. The rest of the paper, in particular the editorials, would be funny if the whole thing wasn't so sad, unfortunately so because there are undoubtedly many people who read the colonel's hogwash and believe it.
He almost certainly helped defeat Dewey in 1948 with his "Oh well, this man is a terrible candidate but I guess he is a Republican" attitude. There doesn't seem to be anyone the colonel could back wholeheartedly except, maybe, a man who goes by the name of Robert R. McCormick.
MAXINE KIPLEY
Chicago
The Lepers of Tala
Sir:
I was pleased to read your Aug. 20 article on Father Hofstee at Tala. When I first heard of him, a few years ago, he was living in a makeshift hut in the leper colony, eating canned goods that he cooked over a portable stove. I hope your article will inspire some readers to assist him in the tremendous task he has assumed of rehabilitating these unfortunate people.
He wrote us recently that if the newborn infants could be separated from the leprous parents immediately after birth they would not develop the disease. The parents want desperately to give their children this chance. The problem is that some kind of housing must be provided for these children, to say. nothing of food and clothing . . .
MRS. M. K. GORMLEY
Los Angeles
Sir:
Father Hofstee's friends on the Pacific coast who knew him as a student for the priesthood, in his inspirational parish work in California, Oregon and Washington, marveled at his dynamic energy, especially for youth, and who hear from him only occasionally by a letter, are deeply appreciative that TIME has devoted such generous space to his wonderful work . . . It is with a great sense of satisfaction that we see true religion in action so aptly portrayed. The spirit of sacrifice of oneself for others still lives, if we only look for it . . .
G. K. DOOLEY
Berkeley, Calif.
Sir:
It was Christmas 1945, in Manila. Father Hofstee was the Army chaplain who convinced several members of the Army show Yanksapoppin that they should go out and entertain "my lepers at Tala." We reluctantly agreed to go . . .
The trip was one of the most interesting I have ever taken. Not because of the scenery we passed as we climbed higher into the hills north of Manila, but because of what Father Hofstee had to say. He told us of "Joey" Guerrero (the same Joey TIME--July 19, 1948 and July 16, 1951--reported on), who was his right hand, acting as secretary, confidant and friend to her fellow lepers . . .
Then we saw Tala, a series of quonset huts, set in a small valley. Large letters on the roof of the largest hut spelled out TALA LEPROSARIUM FOR ALL TO SEE AND BE WARNED. Joey was there to greet us, and behind her were 300 men, women & children, all smiling and eager to help us unload the instruments, including the piano . . .
J. NORTON DUNN
Wilmette, Ill.
Hearst Obit
Sir:
As a working newspaperman, I thought TIME'S story on the passing of William Randolph Hearst in the Aug. 20 issue was excellent, but I am moved to say that the follow-up story in the Aug. 27 issue was even better. TIME surely caught any and all other current-events journals asleep at the press.
HAROLD H. DETLEFSEN
Bellevue, Ohio
P.S. to Cicero Story
Sir:
It was with a great deal of dismay that we read the July 23 report "Ugly Nights in Cicero." That an entire community could be so bigoted and prejudiced . . . by participating in such a disgraceful spectacle of mob action is a matter of grave concern . . . If such attitudes were prevalent on a national scale we would have no reason to think we are any better than the tyrannical forces of Communism which we are opposing in Korea today, and it would certainly leave those of us in Korea with little purpose or reason for fighting . . .
Enclosed is a small contribution [for] Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Clark Jr. . .
LIEUT. HAROLD L. MICHAEL LIEUT. CHARLES B. REDMAN LIEUT. ROBERT B. ROTH 2ND LIEUT. FRANK H. DE NOBRIGA
1st Marine Division, F.M.F. c/o Postmaster, San Francisco
P: TIME has forwarded this check (for $75), along with other contributions (total: $468.50), to the Harvey Clarks. --ED.
Fish on the Roof
Sir:
Mr. Earl Duclus, field supervisor of mosquito control for the Los Angeles health department [TIME, Aug. 13], apparently has a typical California pressagent . . . The territory of Hawaii has had a mosquito control board for a number of years. It operates so efficiently that it even inspects flowerpots in private homes, to search out breeding spots for mosquitoes.
As to fish--it breeds millions of mosquito fish for placement in areas where mosquitoes might breed . . . We grant that Mr. Duclus has placed many fish with ranchers, swimming-pool owners, but he makes no mention of industry. We, on the other hand, have gone one step farther. Sears Roebuck & Co.'s building is unique in the U.S. We have six inches of water on the roof, to keep the building cool--and how do we prevent this water from becoming a breeding place for mosquitoes? Yeah, fish--but not only mosquito fish, but other varieties of tropical fish that breed like mad, and then we sell the progeny to fish lovers. Now we are unique, not because of the water, but because we attain mosquito control at a profit.
H. O. WALLACE
Honolulu, T.H.
The Case for Ike
Sir:
The horrifying thought just occurred to me . . . that everyone seems to take it for granted that the competitors in '52 will be Tru-Deal Harry and Robert ("if you ignore it, it will go away") Taft.
Americans, for the most part, are sick and tired of the waste, corruption and flagrant mismanagement of the Tru-Deal, but feel just as strongly against Isolationist Bob and the so-called Old Guard Republicans.
Let's send Harry back to Missouri, keep Bob in Ohio and put a man in the White House that everyone can trust--Eisenhower.
FRED L. STEVENSON
San Diego, Calif.
Sir:
Those Republicans who think that the Old Guard can pick the next President should realize that the real alternatives are winning with Eisenhower or losing with Taft.
CHARLES H. PORTER
Tamworth, N.H.
Churchillian Pidgin?
Sir:
TIME, Aug. 20, says: "In current Washington pidgin, a 'shortfall' is a defense production program that falls short of its goal; 'slippage' is the amount it slips behind."
The London Mercury for May 1928 carried an editorial note headed "Mr. Churchill's New Word," reading: "We notice in Mr. Churchill's budget speech the repeated use of the word 'shortfall.' The word is used to indicate the difference between the amount estimated and the amount received, when such difference is on the wrong side. Such a word is no doubt needed, and Chancellors of the Exchequer, no less than the rest of us, find frequent occasions for its employment. 'Deficit' does not quite meet the case, and in previous years Chancellors have had to fall back on some long circumlocution. Nevertheless, if Mr. Churchill's word be an invention (for all we know, it may have been imported from America--though we have never heard it before), it is not a very good one. It is difficult to speak, and by that token does not pass one of the principal tests to which new words should be subjected."
Thus a Churchillian "shortfall" corresponds to a Washington "slippage," which is the deficiency in the "shortfall." In short, someone had better pin down "shortfall" before it furthers Anglo-American misunderstanding.
J. M. STRAUSS
Los Angeles
This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.