First Widow
Sirs:
In TIME, Jan. 31, you State that Marietta McGregor Payne, in announcing her candidacy for the Texas State Legislature, became the first U.S. hero's widow of World War II to run for political office. For your information, I wish to state that in a contested election, held in October of 1942, I was elected to the State Legislature of Connecticut from the city of Bristol.
My husband, Captain Edmund Peter Zbikowski (803rd Engr. Bn. Avn.) died on April 2, 1942, of wounds sustained in battle. He was a hero of Bataan and Corregidor.
May I, through TIME, convey my kindest and best wishes to Mrs. Payne in her political career.
HELEN W. ZBIKOWSKI Bristol, Conn.
> Legislator Zbikowski (see cut), Democrat, mother of one, sister of U.S. Infantry Captain Edward Wozenski, one of the heroes of the Sicily campaign (TIME, Aug. 9, 1943), beat her Bristol opponent (a World War I veteran) neatly in a forthright no-punches-pulled campaign.—ED.
When Is News News?
Sirs: I must write to someone of my deep personal disapproval of the method behind release at this time of such news as that of atrocities occurring in Philippine prisons. If we American people cannot be trusted to "back our boys with war bonds" without such rank propaganda, we are unworthy of the sacrifices made by the men on Bataan and by men every day in all theaters of the war.
We want to know news such as that at the time it is news. Such withholding until circumstances are auspicious — to stir up public feeling during a war-bond drive— makes me sick, and must make thousands of other American citizens extremely cynical and unhappy at the evident mistrust held by responsible authorities of the average American citizen. . . .
PRISCILLA MEDLER
Albuquerque, N. Mex.
Sirs:
What does Washington think we are? . . .
The news of Jap treatment of our boys was no news to us. ... I could have thought up better propaganda for bond sales. . . .
T. M. DAVIS
Salina, Kans.
Sirs:
In the hysteria and excitement arising from the Jap atrocities report let's not forget our other enemy. I hold no apology for the report. There could be none. But already I have heard people say: "Well the Germans are not that bad." Yes they are just as bad. Let's not forget Warsaw, or Lidice or the massacre of the three million Jews. Can there be anything worse than that? . . .
W. R. KIMBALL Ogden, Utah
"Jealousy"
Sirs:
In TIME, Dec. 6, 1943, which an American soldier gave me, there are some remarks on the attitude of Englishmen towards the U.S. men. I was very sad to read of this, and I want, if possible, to try and explain the position from our standpoint.
I think the whole situation can be summed up in the word "jealousy." ... (I am a member of the Women's Land Army, age 22, am a tractor driver and steam shovel operator, and until two years ago I was a shorthand typist.)
Most of the feeling against the G.I.S is from our own men. The womenfolk think them most friendly, charming, generous and cheerful. The menfolk are jealous. Why? Because the girls like to be friends with the Yanks and, I suppose, naturally our soldiers feel mad because they don't get a chance with the girls. . . .