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Show ipppj Released by Western Newspaper Union. A LONG LINE THAT THE AXIS CAN'T BEAT FOR FOUR LONG DAYS, 12 to 14 hour days, that line of men did not seem to grow less. Of the men in that line, three out of four had gray hair and wrinkled brows, the evidence of advancing years. During the warm days of early spring, I had seen a number of the men now in that line occupying benches in the public square. There they had worn a look of despondency; despond-ency; despair and hopelessness were written upon their faces. They had reached the end of their road and were but awaiting the final sum- j mons., The occasion was the registration of men between the ages of 45 and 65 for service to the government. Could the Huns or the Japs or the 1 Wops have seen that line of eager men, they would have realized how thoroughly back of the government are the men of America. There was broadcloth and overalls, over-alls, wealth and poverty, represented represent-ed in that line. The one did not give way to the other; all were equally eager to reach the registration desk and report themselves as ready for service in the cause of America. In that line were all colors white, black, brown, red and yellow representing rep-resenting all races. In it were men representing practically all nations, but all were Americans, either by birth or adoption. In that line were men who had not worked for years. Some who were physically disabled, others who did not need to work. But on every face was expressed that willingness, will-ingness, that keen desire to do his part, whatever that part might be, that this country their country might live. That line was America. It did not represent the glamour and adventure ad-venture of war as previous registrations regis-trations had done. It did represent a desire to serve. The place was a rural community, one of America's small cities. A VILLAIN IS CAPTURED AS HE WADDLED ACROSS the lawn on his little short legs, I SCOODed him ud in a lone-handled pan. Scientists would tell you he was a talpidae. To me he was a mole, against which I had sworn dire vengeance if I could catch him. For weeks he had committed depredations dep-redations in my flower beds. He had burrowed under and around the tender plants, killing the youn roots. Day after day I had followed the ridges made by his burrowings in the soft earth. I had stamped on these ridges with my feet, hoping he might be under my heavy heel. Now I had him there in a pan from which he could not escape. I examined his little shovel-shaped snoot, his tiny eyes. I put my finger on his soft fur. I realized he had done only what Nature had fitted him to do. Each minute I watched his frantic efforts to climb up the side of that pan my ire lessened, and in the end I pardoned him, or rather, changed the sentence from capital punishment to exile. I carefully carried him across to a vacant lot, a full 50 feet from my nearest flowers, and turned him loose. The next morning he was back in my flower beds, and again I have sworn dire vengeance if I catch him. AN IOWA FARMER AND UNION LABOR I HAVE KNOWN JOHN NICHOLS an Iowa farmer, for some years. To me he has typified agriculture. Ht considers farming as a way of life, more than as a business. He does not keep a profit and loss set of books. Over the years the family-father family-father and grandfather before him accumulated quite a sizable tract of Iowa farmland, all paid for. John and his family live there, and they live well. The four children have had university educations. The family fam-ily rides in automobiles. They take vacation trips every year. In the home they enjoy modern conveniences. conven-iences. John, his two sons and the hired man work when there is work to do, and they do not count hours. He considers himself a good American, with all the privileges of American citizenship. He does not ask help or want it. He is not long at accepting accept-ing advice as to how to conduct his farm, or what to raise. I can imagine what John Nichols would say to John Lewis should Lewis propose that Nichob join the CIO farmers union which Lewis is attempting to organize. America should be thankful for the John Nichols type of farmer. HITLER HAS ANNOUNCED that he has seen and interpreted the handwriting on the wall, and the strange message is defeat for Germany. Ger-many. You can look for peace overtures over-tures before many months, which, let us hope, will not be 1'stened to until Hitler and Germany are thoroughly thor-oughly licked. DOING WITHOUT shaving cream does not constitute an "all cut" war sacrifice. We can dig up the old shaving mug of a generation ago and save money for war stamps. |