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Show fhl.Phillipr iF PLEDGE FOR AN AMERICAN I would rather pay taxes to Uncle Sam than tribute to Hirohito. I would rather be socked by Washington Wash-ington than hocked by Tokyo. I would rather give till it hurts than to be blackjacked when my feelings won't make any difference. I would rather go all out for America NOW than to find myself my-self "all in" under the Japs and Nazis. Valley Forge was tough, but any existence under Japan or Adolf would make it seem like a Valhalla. A democracy fumbles, hesitates, muddles and bungles, but I still prefer pre-fer it to any form of government that concentrates on dirty work to such an extent that 'it gets most of the high marks in gangsterism. I would rather be exasperated by Washington, D. C, than silenced by Tokyo or Berlin. I would rather excuse some of the blunders by my form of government gov-ernment than not be permitted to hear about the blunders of a new form of government. I prefer to co-operate with my American leaders in every way rather than to take a chance on a leadership in which what I want to do will make no difference differ-ence whatever. I think the need of the moment is a switch from the More Abundant to the LESS ABUNDANT LIFE, and that it should be made while there is still a choice. I believe that The Forgotten Man is in danger of becoming The Forgotten For-gotten Manikin unless he wakes up . and becomes the Patriot Who Never Forgets. I would rather get suggestions from Roosevelt than orders from Hitler. I prefer instructions from the White House to orders from the Reich or Diet. I would rather perish in the spirit of MacArthur than survive sur-vive under the yoke of the Nipponese Nip-ponese or Nazis. I think the 44-hour week of work should have no place in our calculations calcu-lations when defeat in this war may mean 100 years of slavery. I would rather work overtime just now, regardless of the money, than to work on a non-stop basis for the rest of my life without being consulted. con-sulted. When I know that American prisoners pris-oners of war are toiling in road gangs in Japan for a bowl of rice a day I am resolved not to impede their rescue by quibbling over another an-other 20 cents an hour and time and a half for giving up my Sunday auto excursion. Whenever my 'impulses prompt me to squawk, "But I'm not getting get-ting a square deal," I am resolved to pull out a little card upon which I have written "What about the men of Bataan, Corregidor and Wake Island?" Is-land?" My 1942 motto is, "The hell with worrying about social programs of the future! Let's concentrate on just being sure there IS a future!" A SONG FOR TODAY (To the tune of "Brother, Can Ton Spare a Dime?") Once I had some toothpaste, long ago. Gosh, I sure was a boob! Now I'm out of toothpaste, moanin' low Brother, can you spare a tube? Used to have my whiskers shaved each day, Now I look like a Rube; Shaving cream costs more than i can pay Brother, can you spare a tube? I'm all-out for Vict'ry, Deard and all. Let's slice those Japs into cubes! Meanwhile, can't you hear me sadly call-Brother, call-Brother, can you spare some tubes? Frank M. Schmitt. Mrs. Roosevelt says she may have a White House vegetable garden this year. All we can say is that it ruins a railroad trip if you have to worry about weeding. Our fear is that the First Lady, becoming quite confused, may get the timetable and the seed store folder mixed. It is pretty exasperating exasper-ating to find that string beans leave on track eight daily except holidays and carry a diner, while the 8:15 for Chicago must be planted in rows one foot apart and watched for bugs aod worms. |