Plus Fours
Sirs:
I take violent exception to a sentence in a letter published in your Jan. 20 issue, signed A. G. Ellis, M.D.: "First, how could anyone be elegant in a pair of those inelegant, nondescript outmoded golf trousers?" Nondescript, inelegant, outmoded indeed!!! Where has Dr. Ellis been all of his life? I know a few who look elegant in them, H.R.H. the Duke of Windsor, Jimmy McLarnin [see cut], MacDonald Smith, Gene Markey, and several million English golfers and hikers. I personally possess 15 suits with golf trousers and wear them in Hollywood, at every appropriate occasion.
ADOLPHE MENJOU
Palm Springs, Calif.
1776 and What It Means
Sirs:
I am a 14-year-old adolecent. I don't know a thing about politics, international, national or new deal, but I do credit myself with a little common sense. On a recent radio forum a certain congressman put fourth what I think is the best common horse sense argument against the so called Lend-Lease bill. I have been against the bill all along but not knowing politics did'nt know why. I know now. This argument was'nt an argument it was a question it went like this: "What further aid short of war can we give to England under the terms of this bill that we cannot give without it?" This question proved quite embarassing for certain other congressmen. . . .
SHERIDAN HALL
San Diego, Calif.
Sirs:
I would like to register a protest from myself, as well as from all persons I have talked to, against the views of Senator Burton K. Wheeler on European affairs. I travel each week in several counties of Montana. I contact in particular businessmen and also many employes of business firms. All of them, without exception, agree with me emphatically in saying that Senator Wheeler does not represent our views. It is not proper for us to remain quiet and to give the impression to the balance of the United States that Senator Wheeler's opinion is our own. He was elected Senator from Montana, but we had no choice as his opponent was little known and had no chance. . . .
W. P. CONWAY
Busby, Mont.
Sirs:
Now that the British (Ambassador and aides) have landed and the United States has become another crown colony with a Viceroy in the White House, there is little left for the true American to do but pay taxes again as in 1776. When do we get the Tea Tax?
ROBERT I. MINSON
San Diego, Calif.
Sirs:
Lindbergh must have a very short memory.
When he thought it necessary to find a safe haven for his family he turned to England for sanctuary. The cause of this was a German, who had entered the U. S. illegally. . . . We, in Canada, feel that his attitude is the perfect example of "a stab in the back."
L. W. TAVERNER
Calgary, Alta.
Sirs:
Some time ago when reporters asked President Roosevelt if he would run for a third term, he told them to put on a dunce cap and stand in the corner. If I correctly recall an article in TIME, he even told how he would turn everything over shipshape to his successor in January 1941.*
Well, he ran for a third term, and he was elected. He isn't turning anything over to any successor.
The excuse: times have changed.
Now some people suggest that under the terms of H.R. 1776, Mr. Roosevelt might give away part or all of the Navy. How could could anybody be so dumb, says Mr. Roosevelt. Don't people know he is fond of the Navy? Then why would he give it away? Why, he would just as soon stand on his head.
Can't times change again?
Mr. Roosevelt declaims to high heaven that he will not send American boys to fight abroad. But how can anybody trust any such declaration, when this Administration considers that "changing times" is excuse enough to release it from any commitment? . . .
R. A. TODD
Englewood, N. J.
Schnedecker on Hitler
Sirs :
Mr. Schnedecker Jr. evidently thinks that Hitler is a modern Messiah, who will bring all people under his benign rule.
Does he not think that his methods are a trifle crude--vide Rotterdam and Coventry?
F. GRAHAM TOLLIT
Los Angeles, Calif.
> Reader Otto G. Schnedecker Jr.'s letter praising Hitler (TIME, Jan. 27) concluded: "If England wins . . . the world will have lost the opportunity to be governed by the smartest master since the days of Moses."--ED.
Sirs:
. . . The world does not want to be governed by a master, but a servant; a servant of the people. His letter shows the predominant trait of the Germanic people. Order, Yes, ORDER, at all cost, even down to the last of their own personal liberties.
FRANK L. DAY
Bremerton, Wash.
Sirs:
Reader Schnedecker came to praise Hitler, but buried him instead. . . .
Why, no greater insult could have been hurled at the German Dictator than to compare him to the Jew Moses.
JACOB FINK
San Francisco, Calif.
Fabulous Wages
Sirs:
I notice a statement in TIME regarding the pay rate received by rollers in steel mills [TIME, Jan. 27]. The story indicates pay for these men is $40 a week. This is apparently the work of an unbelieving copy reader who saw the figure in its original form as $40 a day and decided it was an error.
One of the legendary figures in the industry is the steel roller, who in days such as the present makes fabulous wages. In the years 1916 to 1919, $40 a day would have been only an average salary. . . . One man would hold down two jobs in adjoining mills, working possibly from 7 to 3 in one plant and running over to the next one and working from 4 until midnight.
The roller is probably the highest-paid man in the industry, and on the average his base rate will run $2 or more per hour, exclusive of tonnage bonuses. For the 40-hour week, this would make a base rate of $80, and it is not uncommon to find rollers today drawing $200 a week or more. In other words, in the past few weeks in this district a roller received better than $60 for a day's work. . . .
R. L. HARTFORD
Cleveland, Ohio
> All thanks to Reader Hartford for an informative correction.--ED.
Shirts Unstuffed
Sirs:
Thanks for your article under Religion in the Jan. 20 number.
I am no religionist by a long shot but that program of certain high men in the Church of England, coming from men whom I had always considered among the most well-stuffed of all stuffed shirts, is as inspiring as anything I have ever read. It is a grand and a daring job. . . .
RUSSELL S. WALCOTT
Tryon, N. C.
Sirs:
Perhaps the present war will have been worth all its tragic cost if the new society which the Church of England is advising be formed. Your account in TIME was excellent. . . .
HELEN HUNT
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Sirs:
The publicity that you give "For a New Society" under Religion in the issue of Jan. 20 makes it appear that you are more than enthused with the Communistic theories propounded.
May I ask, what the -- are the Jews of this country trying to incite this country to war for and why does a certain would-be boss in Washington, when he is not off fishing somewhere, make putrid statements about preserving Democracy if that is what we are coming to?
If we went to war, what would we be fighting for ? Would it be to overthrow Hitler so that we could embrace Stalin? . . .
ELBERT E. GINN
Stockton, Calif.
Third Time
Sirs:
A very interesting sidelight to the President's inauguration took place in one of the schools of our county. Plans were made to read the same chapter of the Bible (for that day) as the President laid his hand on when he took the oath. Somehow or other the teacher opened to the 13th chapter of II Corinthians instead of I Corinthians, and was amazed to read, "This is the third time I am coming unto you." . . .
ROBERT G. ANDREE
Muskegon, Mich.
Oops--
Sirs:
In your issue of Jan. 27 you state that Max Peter Haas caught the first picture of Sonja Henie doing a fall on ice on Jan. 17, 1940. You also include a cut of the photograph. This statement is incorrect.
On Jan. 19, 1937 Sonja Henie was giving a skating exhibition at the Hershey Arena, Hershey, Pa. I was taking movies of her when she fell on the ice directly in front of me. I had photographs taken of my movie film and prints made therefrom [see cut]. . . .
PAUL A. MUELLER
Lancaster, Pa.
*Four years ago Franklin Roosevelt said: "My great ambition on Jan.20, 1941 is to turn over this desk and chair in the White House to my successor, whoever he may be, with the assurance that I am at the same time turning over to him as President, a nation intact..." (TIME, March 15, 1937).
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