Letters, Jul. 30, 1951

Independents for Ike?

Sir:

Now is the time to start a new party. Eisenhower is the man to head it. Call it the Independence Party. “Independents for Eisenhower”— that would be the slogan. He would get the support of the better element in both the Republican and Democrat parties. Taft can’t win, and as for Truman—may God save us from the form of American Communism that his regime is fastening upon us.

It is Eisenhower’s plain duty to run—just as it was Washington’s duty to lead the Continental army. Let’s draft him. The country needs him and trusts him. He’s honest. He knows how to handle people. He’s one man who would have the confidence of both labor and business—and of the farmers and soldiers…

A. E. CORNELL Tunkhannock, Pa.

Man with a Purpose?

Sir:

Governor Dewey’s visit to the Far East…has far more possible content than your July 2 story was aware of. Although the man “so clear of eye and so steady of voice”declared he would never run for President again, he did not declare that he wouldn’t accept the position of Secretary of State…say, under President Eisenhower.

J. J. BONGA JR. Stockholm, Sweden

Proud Pigboatman

Sir:

The tenor of your interesting July 9 article on submarines was much too disparaging of our designers and engineers. The strengthhulls of American WW II subs were the equal of any combatant. Maximum submerged speed of all submarines prior to the XXI was about 9 knots. Our radar was superior to that of any combatant, as was our fire control (electromechanical aid in solving the torpedo aiming problem).

The German operators received the XXI more than a year too late. We did not need that type submarine against the tired Jap. In my considered opinion, if Jap air and escort-borne radar had punished our subs at the rate ours did the Germans, our designers would have produced a snorkel and other necessary equipment in less time than did the Germans . . .

C. O. TRIEBEL Captain, U.S.N. U.S. Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn.

Class Dismissed

Sir:

In your July 9 issue, you use the word “submariner.”

It is not in Webster’s New International. Please tell your readers (and me): is it accented on second or third syllable?

UPTON SINCLAIR Monrovia, Calif.

¶On the second syllable.—ED.

How to Baffle Baby

Sir:

I predict overwhelming success for Dr. Mack’s prescription for thumb-suckers [TIME, July 9]. The picture of the hay rake in the child’s mouth was so terrifying to my 3½-year-old daughter that she hasn’t had her thumb in her mouth since…

MRS. W. E. SCHLEMMER Steubenville, Ohio

Sir:

…Why doesn’t Dentist Mack try to spend a few nights with a hay rake attached to his own teeth to find out how the children feel when they accidentally brush their tongues against that torture contraption while sleeping?…

DALILA DE FARO GORSIN Los Angeles

Sir:

…It is unbelievable that anyone could think up such a barbarous contrivance with which to “treat” a child.

JENNIE STARK Washington, D.C.

Sir:

…Let Dr. Edward S. Mack keep his hay rake in San Francisco! I prefer using reason, patience and a simple Band-Aid on my six-year-old daughter’s thumb…Believe it or not, my present system is working.

(MRS.) ROSLYN SCHORR RITZ Worcester, Mass.

Sir:

I … suggest that Dr. Mack try the hay rake in his own mouth, and bite his thumb a few times.

… I have discouraged my child’s thumb-sucking by providing a simple cylindrical splint, consisting of cardboard about 1/16 inch thick, wrapped it around her arms, extending from the wrist to the upper third of the humerus, preventing the infant from flexing her elbows. The cuff was anchored in place with tapes, tied at the ulna side to prevent her from opening it with her teeth. If the infant cannot flex the elbow, she cannot get her thumb into her mouth…

FERENCZ RITTER Detroit

Galvanized Ironsides?

Sir:

Why not transfer the title “G.I.” to men of the Navy, where the initials have always stood for “galvanized iron”—sturdy stuff that retains its glitter and good shape, seldom gets rusty?

JOSEPH A. MILLER Allentown, Pa.

Something for the Boys

Sir:

Your July 9 article on Dagmar indicated a tone of wonderment about her spectacular rise in popularity.

We males hope she’ll breathe for a long, long time to come…She is truly the stripless strip-tease queen of television.

RALPH LOMBARDI Clifton, NJ.

The Martyred Gaze

Sir:

TIME (July 9) describes habitual criminal Warren Lee Irwin as “a harmless-looking sort —lie had the severe mouth, high forehead and martyred gaze of a divinity student.”

As one who was quite recently a divinity student, I object. Most of the members of my class were ordinary-looking fellows; none of us possessed a martyred gaze. Some of us could have passed as TIME writers.

FRANK H. HEINZE New Bethlehem, Pa.

Sir:

TIME…paints a picture of a man whose depravity is almost unmatched in recent times. To give the reader a vivid look at this monster, you liken this diabolical creature…to a divinity student…

Never before have I seen such a blow struck against the messengers of hope…

DAVID L. CODDINGTON

Newark

Sir:

…May I suggest that you…send your Crime man up to Union Theological Seminary and let him see how a divinity student really does look…

ALICE RIGBY MOORE Long Eddy, N.Y.

Thanks

Sir:

…Having read the July 2 report about Donald Morton and his father’s gallant pilgrimage, I must carry out my desire to express my gratitude…

May I ask you to send my sincerest wishes together with enclosed check as my modest contribution to little Donald’s recovery? . . .

(MRS.) ELLEN DAMKIER Aruba, D.W.I.

¶Reader Damkier’s check for $50 has been forwarded to the California hospital where Donald is waiting for a third operation.—ED.

Thurber

Sir:

Congratulations on your excellent Thurber piece [TIME, July 9].

Why don’t you send a psychiatrist to examine the psychiatrist who wants to cure Thurber of his drawing?…

CREDE CALHOUN Panama, R.P.