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In so far as your reviewer's statement presents an invidious comparison, it should be recalled that the circulation of a recent supplement to the New Republic exceeded by a quarter of a million anything attained in the early days, and a supplement published in 1940 exceeded the circulation of 1919 by more than three quarters of a million. . . .
DANIEL MEBANE
Treasurer
The New Republic
New York City
> For giving the New Republic 23,000 free circulation, TIME'S Books researcher is hereby sentenced to three hours in the Morgue (air-conditioned).—ED.
Zoot-Suit Riots
Sirs:
. . . Your story of "Zoot-Suit War" in Los Angeles [TIME, June 21] certainly "jumped the gun" on facts. No mention of the several murders committed by "zoot-suit gangs"; no mention of unprovoked attacks by them; no mention of unguarded knives and brass knuckles found in their possession when "not doing anything"; no mention of two single women in different parts of the city beaten by female gang members. . . .
CONSTANCE C. CLOTFELTER
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Sirs:
With regard to zoot-suit disorders in Los Angeles, I think you have exaggerated the race angle out of all proportion. It is true that Mexican and Negro boys wear zoot suits out on the coast perhaps more than others. But to a soldier who has been taken from his home and put in the Army, the sight of young loafers of any race, color, creed, religion or color of hair loafing around in ridiculous clothes that cost $75 to $85 per suit is enough to make them see red.
You know they are loafers because no business house would allow them to work in such fantastic outfits. If you are a serviceman with a few dollars in your pocket, you also know that some of them are ready to hoist you into an alley and roll you. . . .
If the Mexicans and Negroes and all the rest of the zoot-suit fraternity want to avoid trouble, there is a very simple way. Just get out of a zoot suit and into a uniform or a pair of overalls.
(Pvt.) KENNETH KING
Kearney, Neb.
Sirs: I am sure that in addition to my thanks . . TIME will receive those of many a loyal, upstanding and worthy Mexican for the only sincerely honest picture of the recent "zoot-suit" atrocity that I, for one, have had the opportunity to read.
Your condemnation of the press, however, should not have been restricted to Mr. Hearst's notorious organs and the [Los Angeles] Times. As news editor and broadcaster of Station KGIR and the Z-Bar network, I have ample opportunity to peruse the wire service of the United Press. During the whole deplorable episode it was as if we were getting a Hearst Service straight from the office of the Examiner, . . .
ROBERT N. PINKERTON
Butte
"Slate for Normalcy"
Sirs:
When I first saw Mr. Patterson's so-called Slate for Normalcy" letter in TIME, June 21, I thought that it was a well-meaning joke. However, as I read farther, I became aware that the letter, despite its contents, was sincere.
I was wholly shocked to learn that any person could even suggest that the Government should be run by such men as Senator Taft, Ham Fish, Colonel McCormick, Senator Wheeler and John L. Lewis, not to mention Governor Bricker, among the greatest dispersers of nonsense in the Midwest. . . .