Stink Exaggerated

Sirs:

Editor Goodfriend of the Paris Stars & Stripes did not read aright the figures on the schooling of servicemen (TIME, Jan. 29). The percentage of soldiers who have not completed four years of high school is 60.8, not "about 70%" as the Major concluded. He did not take account of 12.3% who have completed high school and some college work beyond, but short of graduation from college.

The Major should also note the improvement that has been made in the educational level of America's armies since World War I:

War II War I

COLLEGE 4 years 3.6 % 1.0 % 3 years 2.0 .8 2 years 4.0 1.3 1year 6.3 1.5 _____ _____ 15.9 4.6 HIGH SCHOOL 4 years 23.3 3.5 3 years 11.2 2.4 2 years 10.9 4.2 1 years 7.8 5.4 _____ _____ 53.2 15.5 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 5 to 8 years 27.4 55.5 4 years or less 3.5 24.4 _____ _____ 30.9 79.9

Furthermore, it is not so much "the record of education" that stinks, as charged, but the record of the general public's interest in education. . . . Most states need better financial support for schools, better qualified and better paid teachers, better schoolhouses, better compulsory-attendance laws and child-labor laws better enforced, and better curricula. . . .

CALVIN GRIEDER Associate Professor

University of Colorado Boulder, Colo.

Ecclesiastical Bulldozing?

Sirs:

I note that TIME looks upon the recent series in the Christian Century [TIME, Jan. 22] and the projected addresses of Moderator

Vale [Jan. 29] as ''a possibly dangerous trend toward anti-Catholicism." Your religion editor suggests that "intolerance is a boomerang."

Would you please tell me why comments such as these never appeared when the Roman Catholic hierarchy attempted to close Latin America to Protestant missions? Wasn't it intolerant for the Mexican hierarchy to watch silently while Mexican Catholics threw tear gas into a Methodist Conference?

TIME'S readers have come to expect more impartial honesty than this. Please keep TIME free from ecclesiastical bulldozing. K. R. BOOHAR

First Methodist Church Schuylkill Haven, Pa.

Sirs:

It is a well-known fact that the Roman Catholic Church is one of the best organized groups in the world. In comparison the unity of the Protestant Churches is practically nil. . . .

The Roman Catholic Church fares very well in the realms of movies and books, to name just two mediums. . . . Are there any films similar to Going My Way, The Keys of the Kingdom or The Song of Bernadette that glorify the Protestant religion ? . . . The right to organize has been given the green light for the past decade or so. Let us include the Protestants in that privilege and not accuse them of intolerance.

DOROTHEA ANDERSON Highland Park, Mich.

Sirs:

. . . Let the Christian Century and Dr. Vale remember that millions of Catholic boys are risking their lives for all of us--and they have a battle-won right to a voice in postwar U.S. affairs. . . . Catholics are doing their share to fight for democracy; they certainly don't deserve the hateful, ungrateful bigotry that TIME is helping to foster.

W. J. LESAGE New Haven, Conn.

Sirs:

. . . Naturally, the Roman Catholic Church seeks to dominate the religious life of the country, of the world for that matter. The clergy and laity of the Catholic Church would be derelict in their duty if they did not work and pray toward that end just as, I daresay, Dr. Vale would be failing in his duty if he did not seek the same leadership for the church that he represents. . . .

As for political leadership, I don't think that the Roman Catholic hierarchy has any more designs on it than Protestant leaders.

WILLIAM R. DOYLE

Elmhurst, L. I.

It's Those Women Sirs: In news items and editorials, I fail to find any statement giving the major cause of the cigaret shortage, which is the tremendous increase in smoking by women. One sees on the streets, in public buildings, in common carriers, females of all ages puffing on cigarets. A few days ago I saw four women in a Pullman compartment, all well over 70 years of age, all four attempting to smoke. The process to them appeared to be exceedingly uncomfortable. . . .

On my commuting train four young girls daily ride from Newark to Princeton Junction. The oldest of them is not over 16. Each will smoke two cigarets in this half-hour ride.

A tobacco-store manager says that 80% of his customers buying cigarets are women.

Women rarely obey nonsmoking rules. Every car on a train is a smoker to them and train crews cannot stop them.

In my young days a woman smoker was looked upon as something evil. For 50 years I have smoked cigarets. Must I now resort to a filthy pipe just so a lot of old ladies who do not really enjoy smoking can do it just to be smart and "show-offy"?

T. R. ELCOCK

Princeton, N. J.

Largesse in Hollywood

Sirs:

In its Jan. 15 issue, TIME printed a statement by a professional campaign director for charity and other funds, reflecting on Hollywood's generosity. We in Hollywood's organized charity effort do not know of any contact he has had with this industry in any fund-raising effort.

Truth is that the 25,000 employes of the motion-picture industry in Hollywood give more per capita in approved charity campaigns--and more closely approach 100% participation--than does any comparable group or community anywhere. In the recent War Chest drive an alltime high of $1,170,407 was contributed by a record number of 24,741 donors.

Because of the traditional generosity of people in show business, Hollywood has been a target for more than its share of charity appeals. To be sure that its money goes where it will do the most good, the motion-picture industry five years ago set up a Permanent Charities Committee composed of representatives of all guilds, unions and other industry groups. . . . Hollywood's record for giving [was] termed by P. G. Winnett, campaign chairman, Los Angeles area War Chest, "an exceptional one" and "a convincing example for less civic-minded groups."

EDWARD ARNOLD Exec. Vice President Permanent Charities Committee Hollywood

P:I Most fund raisers agree that Hollywood is a soft touch (for officially approved charities). Among its highest known gifts in World War II: $137,500 from Gary Grant for British war relief (in 1940); $100,000 from Edward G. Robinson to the U.S.O.--ED.

$138.50 for a Leg

Sirs:

In the Jan. 22 issue there appeared an erroneous statement regarding pension for the loss of a leg, which follows: "e.g., $30 a month for a leg."

Pension for the loss of a leg is paid on the basis of the degree of disability suffered by the veteran . . . ranging from $11.50 a month for a 10% disability to $115 a month for a 100% disability. In addition to this disability pension, a statutory award of $35 a month is paid for the loss of a limb or an eye.

EDWARD McE. LEWIS Veterans Administration Washington

P: TIME erred, is happy to correct the figure upward. The maximum for complete loss of a leg, rated as 90% disability, is $138.50 a month.--ED.

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