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Editorial
February 24, 1942
The Daily Monitor
Mount Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan
What is this article about?
The editorial lambasts 'false front patriots' who buy and promptly redeem defense stamps and bonds, citing Cleveland's 27% redemption rate and $6.6M national total in December 1941, arguing this wastes resources and undermines the WWII effort after Pearl Harbor, calling for genuine commitment.
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THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN
PEARL HARBOR
Washington had his sunshine patriots and Lincoln his copperheads. Today we have a new and equally obnoxious breed—false front patriots.
They erect with loud talk and a great fanfare of activity a magnificent structure of patriotism. But it falls flat with the first stiff breeze because it has a false front.
Specifically these big talkers and small doers noisily buy defense bonds and stamps one day and very quietly cash them the next. Obviously this sort of thing is about as helpful to our war effort as is Hermann Goering.
For instance, the Cleveland post office reported defense stamp sales of $274,093 one week but it gave back $75,900 to persons who did not wish to keep these stamps or trade them in on defense bonds. This was a net sellout of Uncle Sam, General MacArthur, Admiral Nimitz, the thousands in front line fighting and the millions on the home front of 27 per cent.
Reports of such redemptions, some more and some less, come from other sections of the nation and piled up to a total of $6,646,712 stamp redemptions in December. That is enough money to equip a fleet of flying fortresses and slap the Japs with a punch their honorable ancestors would hear.
Some of these stamps undoubtedly were redeemed in bonds. Some persons were forced to cash them because they lost their jobs or suffered other financial jolts. Nevertheless the percentage remains too high if we are going to do much about Pearl Harbor other than throw out our chests and predict dire things for the enemy.
Such fair weather patriots not only defeat the purpose of the stamp program—to sharpen the ax for the axis—but they cost the Treasury Department money because stamps turned back must be canceled. Thus a tremendous amount of printing and paper goes down the river. Furthermore, the redeemers are tossing away the very best investment in the world.
Possibly the Treasury may do something about it. It would be a far better thing, however, if we all would resolve to build and perpetuate our patriotism on solid ground, and issue a sort of moral building code outlawing false-fronts.
PEARL HARBOR
Washington had his sunshine patriots and Lincoln his copperheads. Today we have a new and equally obnoxious breed—false front patriots.
They erect with loud talk and a great fanfare of activity a magnificent structure of patriotism. But it falls flat with the first stiff breeze because it has a false front.
Specifically these big talkers and small doers noisily buy defense bonds and stamps one day and very quietly cash them the next. Obviously this sort of thing is about as helpful to our war effort as is Hermann Goering.
For instance, the Cleveland post office reported defense stamp sales of $274,093 one week but it gave back $75,900 to persons who did not wish to keep these stamps or trade them in on defense bonds. This was a net sellout of Uncle Sam, General MacArthur, Admiral Nimitz, the thousands in front line fighting and the millions on the home front of 27 per cent.
Reports of such redemptions, some more and some less, come from other sections of the nation and piled up to a total of $6,646,712 stamp redemptions in December. That is enough money to equip a fleet of flying fortresses and slap the Japs with a punch their honorable ancestors would hear.
Some of these stamps undoubtedly were redeemed in bonds. Some persons were forced to cash them because they lost their jobs or suffered other financial jolts. Nevertheless the percentage remains too high if we are going to do much about Pearl Harbor other than throw out our chests and predict dire things for the enemy.
Such fair weather patriots not only defeat the purpose of the stamp program—to sharpen the ax for the axis—but they cost the Treasury Department money because stamps turned back must be canceled. Thus a tremendous amount of printing and paper goes down the river. Furthermore, the redeemers are tossing away the very best investment in the world.
Possibly the Treasury may do something about it. It would be a far better thing, however, if we all would resolve to build and perpetuate our patriotism on solid ground, and issue a sort of moral building code outlawing false-fronts.
What sub-type of article is it?
War Or Peace
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Pearl Harbor
False Patriots
Defense Stamps
Bond Redemptions
War Effort
Patriotism
What entities or persons were involved?
False Front Patriots
Hermann Goering
General Macarthur
Admiral Nimitz
Cleveland Post Office
Treasury Department
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of False Patriots Redeeming Defense Stamps
Stance / Tone
Critical Of Fair Weather Patriots, Exhortation To Genuine Patriotism
Key Figures
False Front Patriots
Hermann Goering
General Macarthur
Admiral Nimitz
Cleveland Post Office
Treasury Department
Key Arguments
False Patriots Buy Defense Bonds And Stamps But Quickly Redeem Them
Redemptions Undermine The War Effort Like Aiding The Enemy
Cleveland Post Office Had 27% Net Redemption
National Stamp Redemptions Totaled $6,646,712 In December
Some Redemptions May Be Due To Financial Hardship But Percentage Is Too High
Stamp Program Aims To Support War But Redemptions Waste Resources
Treasury Incurs Costs From Canceling Redeemed Stamps
Urges Building Solid Patriotism Without False Fronts