Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 1 February 1946 — Page 2

POST-DEMOCRAT, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1946.

THE POST-DEMOCRAT £ Democratic weekly newspaper representing the Democrats of Muncie, Delaware County and the lOtb Congressional District. The only Democratic Newspaper in Delaware County. Entered as second class matter January 16, 1921, st the Post Office at Muncie, Indiana, under Act of March 3, 1879. ‘ PRICE 5 CENTS—$1.50 A YEAR “ MRS. GEO. R. DALE, Publisher 916 West Main Street Muncie, Indiana, Friday, February X, 1946. A Patient President Faces an Impatient Nation After reading President Truman’s message to Congress we are tempted to paraphrase a famous remark of Lincoln: “You can please all of the people some of the time, and you can please some of the people all of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” The impression one gets from this long message is that Harry Truman is still the patient yet eager man from Missouri, who always wanted to please everybody, and still does. The -White House today is carpeted with the very best intentions. Perhaps it is this virtue of patience the nation needs most right now. Perhaps it may serve better than the confident, vigorous leadership which one hoped would be asserted in this message. When the boat’s rocking may be a time for even the skipper to sit tight. XXX The Truman message restates the 21 points of his program, most of it already before Congress. He chides industry, says most of it has “adequate leeway within which to grant substantial wage increases.” Of labor, he says only that it must accept new responsibilities. Of Congress, he is content to “urge”—again —that it act on his program. We still think it isn’t enough to “urge” a do-nothing Congress. Maybe it isn’t in Truman to raise hell. But it is about time. Biggest news in the message is in the foreign policy section. For the President, as we read his words, come out for something closely resembling a world state. Says he: “The United Nations Organization now being established represents a minimum essential beginning. It must be developed rapidly and steadily. “It requires that we begin now to develop the United Nations Organization as the representative of the world as one society.” This scarcely jibes with Soviet Asba^sador Gromyko’s address to the UNO last week, when he opposed any proposal to revise the UNO charter. Nor does it jibe with Truman’s own statement last week, that we would take the Pacific bases we wanted. There’s no doubt, though. Truman’s facing in the right direction, the' ultimate goal of the UNO. On the budget, ihe factor which will intercut the most people is his opposition to any further tax reduction. XXX - No, this isn’t quite the message a worried nation expected. n If may be the kind which will do the most

good.

Critics will say that the President irritates everybody by being so patient—with everybody. Other critics are saying that for every problem he offers a platitude; that while he cries out against rising prices, he still cries for rising wages; that he still asks a 60,-000,000-job program when 1,600,000 are on strike; that he deplores the “voices of disunity” without identifying them, and that his program is boldly liberal on paper, but very short on reality. Some of these criticisms are valid. Some criticisms of every President are valid. But it is only fair to bear in mind that Truman is in the toughest spot of any President since Andrew Johnson inherited the headaches of Abraham Lincoln without also inheriting Lincoln’s special genius. Truman faces a tougher problem than F. D. R. faced in 1933. Then we could see what to do: Feed the hungry, help the destitute, reopen the banks, create buying power and thus create jobs. Today we have surfeit. There’s abundant buying power, ample food, less unemployment than anyone expected, banks are prosperous, and business has more orders than it can fill. And yet a far more disunited nation than Roosevelt faced 13 years ago. XXX Emotions and economics are in collision. Postwar letdown, release of price and wage pressures, a yearning to relax generally all run head-on into reconversion. Had we been writing the President’s message we would have sought to shame the “Gimmie” boys running hog wild. We would have tried to substitute a fighting peacetime psychology for that of war. But maybe we’d have been wrong. Patience may not only be a virtue, but the answer we need. That we shall see. For the President certainly has it. — Philadelphia Record. o Growing Danger In Germany Along with a military policy necessarily must go a policy for occupation of enemy lands. Since the United States has no definite, long-range military plan, it goes without saying that our occupation policies, especially that regarding Germany, leave much to be desired. No early easing of occupation problems should be anticipated, either in Europe or the Far East, Business Week cautions in its current issue. “Despite the spreading convic- - tion that the military are wholly unprepared to cope with problems of civilian administration after the war has ended, and in spite of spreading of discontent, the State Depart-

ment has flatly refused to take over administration of the U. S. zone in Germany beginning July f, as originally planned.” In the New York Times, Correspondent Drew Middleton writes from Berlin that Germany presents a growing source of danger because of the dark outlook confronting a conquered people. He believes the sporadic outbreaks of violence that have been occurring will become more general unless the United States is able to convince the German people that we can accomplish our major purpose —making democracy work. Middleton reports that one does not encounter the awareness of future problems among Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence Corpsmen that could be expected. Instead, he declares, our Intelligence men appear to view the attacks on anti-Nazi newspaper editors as something not very serious. Middleton, however, sees a striking similarity between these attacks and those launched by the French Underground on collaborationist editors during the occupation. It is generally believed there is no organized German Underground at the moment, but it is thought by some that one will be functioning by the end of next Summer if proper steps are not taken. Middleton has found the Intelligence Corps hard hit by deployment and that those remaining have an inclination to view occupation through rosy-hued glasses. It must be recalled that the Germans failed in their attempt to sell Nazism to France; when arguments failed, they used force. That also failed. We have a better product to sell than the Germans had, but we must use all our wits. The education and information branches of ouT military will be the ones who decide the outcome. If they can, through systematic and intelligent direction, convince Germany that our political concept is superior to theirs, they will have performed a modern miracle. Let us hope the age of miracles is not entirely past. -— Journal Gazette. The High Cost of Strikes The Milwaukee Journal estimates that with about 1,600,000 workers on strike in the United States the weekly wage loss is in excess of 72 million dollars. The Journal continues: v “In the auto strike, the workers have already lost so much in wages that it would take them two years to make up their loss, even if they had a chance of winning the full 30 per cent increase originally asked. Since they have agreed to accept less, it is going to take them longer. “The loss to the companies cannot be figured, because these losses will be influenced by future profits under existing carryover tax laws. The companies have an opportunity to compensate themselves for inactivity. This compensation in the end will mean less coming into the Federal Treasury, so that the nation loses. “It all adds up to this—that the loss to individuals, to the public in each region affected, and to the nation as a whole is going, almost before we know it, to add up to billions.” The Journal might have gone on to say that the wages which the near 1,600,000 striking workers would draw if they were not on strike would not stop with them. Most of these wages would pass on to retail and other businesses for the things which the workers would buy. It is this quick exchange of money which makes business good. As it is retail and wholesale business in many sections of the country is taking quite a beating today. The condition will get worse if the strikes are prolonged. If the steel strike continues for any considerable length of time other manufacturing concerns which are dependent on steel will be forced to shut down due to lack of material, throwing more people out of work. Therefore, one of the most interested parties to the strikes is the general public. It is a short of innocent bystander which is taking a good part of the rap. With a gigantic national debt on our hands, we have need of a large national income But the national income is being rapidly reduced by strikes. It is with these things in mind that the public is appealing for an honest and energetic effort by both sides to get the controversy settled. There is no time to be wasted while the negotiators debate or sulk in their respective offices. The United States is not in a position to afford the cost of a bogged-down economy.—Journal Gazette.

o

Kilgore’s Research Plan For many weeks the nation’s scientists have been debating two bills, introduced respectively by Senators Kilgore and Magnuson, to set up a government-financed program of scientific research. A new bill, S. 1720, sponsored by Senator Kilgore with bipartisan support, meets the legitimate questions raised about his first bill and is definitely superior to Mr. Magnuson's. Some scientists centering about Dr. Vannevar Bush, who co-ordinated wartime research, have supported the Magnuson measure. They have held that policy should be controlled by an advisory body of private citizens, as Mr. Magnuson proposes, rather than the single administrator designated by the Kilgore bills. They have felt that Mr. Kilgore’s sections on patent Controls—declaring that processes developed with public funds should be dedicated to the general welfare—should be removed. Senator Kilgore’s new measure clings to the single administrator, on the ground that the experience of government agencies justifies it. On the patents issue, however, it makes a compromise. As a general policy, all rights in inventions or patents produced by federally financed research would be dedicated to the public, but exceptions would be allowed for private laboratories which develop inventions on government contracts. Just individual property rights would thus be sameguarded, but the.principle that citizens. shall not enj.oy> exclusive profits from

government investment is maintained. It is difficult to see how a bill ignoring this principle would be tolerable and it is encouraging that a great many scientists—especially the younger ones—sense the issue of public policy and support Senator Kilgore.—Chicago Sun. o Congress Pursues Do-Nothing Policy Congress is always caurious in an election year and this is such a year. All of the members of the House and one-third of the members of the Senate are up for re-election in November. With the county full of burning issues, the lawmakers are not sticking their hands out to take hold of them. It is a period of dodge and drift on Capitol Hill. President Truman is not furnishing strong leadership to the solons. When he first entered the White House many people seemed tot hink he would get along because he had spent several years as a member og the Senate. He was conciliatory acting on the theory that honey would attract more legislators than vinegar. But it did not work, and Mr. Truman showed his displeasure in his recent “fireside chat.” That was more like a spanking by mama than by papa in that it did not hurt the tough hides of Congressmen very much. They still are not inclined to budge. The President is faced with the decision as to whether he should try to get tougher or whether he should go along as he has been going, hoping that time and self-aroused public opinion will come to his aid. There is no measuring stick which shows that a majority of the people are in favor of all or nearly all of the recommendations made by Mr. Truman, but there is a widespread view that the measures ought to be submitted to a vote rather than remain bottled up in committees. As we said before, this is an election year and cqutious Congressmen are trying to be all things to all men. This is believed to be good politics. It may be and again it may not be. Some of the do-nothing members may find out when the votes are counted in November that they have misjudged public sentiment. It is our own opinion that the people are not quite clear as to what they do want, but are trying hard to make up their minds. Most private discussion of public questions are better informed than they were 20 or 30 years ago, but conditions are so complex that they would stump even a genius.—Journal Gazette.

Isolationist Logic Isolationists and nationalists live in a cozy little world all their own. They are hardheaded, practical men; they are always talking about facts—odd, irrelevant little facts which, when put through their logic machines, prove conclusively that we couldn’t possibly have won the war. With much grinding and clashing of gears their logic machines have seized a new bit of evidence. This is the secret speech Winston Churchill made to Commons on April 23, 1942, now published for the first time in Life Magazine. In that speech, an example of Churchill oratory at its peak, the former British Prime Minister revealed that he and the late President Roosevelt agreed, right after Pearl Harbor, upon the strategy of concentrating Allied might on Germany first and then turning to Japan. Although there was no secret about this strategy at the time, the isolationists are now saying, in deep, self-satisfied tones, “See, what did we tell you?” Well, for one thing, they never told us it would win the war. And it did; yes, it did. We read it in the Chicago Tribune.—Uhicago Sun. The Atomic Control Fight As expected, the atomic scientists and progressive Americans still have a big job ahead in defeating the design of the armed services to retain a military strait jacket over atomic development in this country. Secretary of the Navy P’orrestal made that all too clear Wednesday in his attack on the McMahon atomic control bilj. The McMahon bill, which would establish a civilian control commission, was drafted with the aid and approval of outstanding atomic scientists. It is an enlightened measure. It reverses the militarist philosophy behind the Johnson-May bill which the armed forces tried to jam through Congress. The new measure points to maximum development of this vast new force, atomic energy, for the benefit of all the people, through industrial, medical and other use. It would encourage the greatest freedom of research consistent with national safety. It would facilitate international controls to prevent the manufacture of atomic bombs. It would give the President power to have atomic bombs delivered to the military when and if he ruled this was necessary in the national interest—but only then. Save for such presidential intervention, all domestic control and all custody of atomic bombs would be in civilian hands, where they belong. Secretary Forrestal would change the bill’s basic nature. In place of the five-man civilian control board responsible to the President, with no member engaged in any other job, he would substitute an eight-man board, half of its member ex-officio; the Vice-President and the Secretaries of War, Navy and State. That would give the fighting services a great entering wedge for control—but Mr. Forrestal would go much farther. The commission would have to share atomic control with the military chiefs of staff. Thus the military could continue to dominate atomic science. If amendments are npeded to improve the McMahon bill, they must represent a philosophy far wiser than that which Mr. Forrestal bespeaks for the Navy.—Chicago Sun.

Some Help for Mr. Truman from the Senate The resolution planned by Senators Kilgore, Tunnell and Morse may clear the way lor some valuable fact-finding by a special Senate committee on who is to blame—unions or a little group of corporation executives— for prolonging the strike epidemic. It is unlikely that such a committee could complete its work in time to meet present emergencies. President Truman, lacking even the mild legislation he has proposed, must bear the burden of the immediate crisis. The President does not make things easier for himself by the irritated pettishness with which he appears to approach the country's industrial conflict. His actions have generally been sound. But he has weakened nn. chances of making them effective by blunderbuss scattering of his verbal fire. He has failed to use the full force of his prestige in dealing with the great corporations which have rejected the proposals of fact-finding boards and direct presidential requests. In his news conference yesterday he exclaimed, with apparent irritation, that the whole industrial struggle was merely a fight for power and that both unions and management have too much power already. It is not a President’s function to act as if he wishes that an inescapable clash of social forces, involving the vital interests of citizens, would simply go away and let him alone. If Mr. Truman is wise enough to exploit the proposed Kilgore-Tunnell-Morse investigation, however, even the prospect of its operations would help him. A corporation can’t tell a Senate committee that wages and profits are none of the legislator’s business; its lawyers can’t arrogantly boycott the committee hearings. Furthermore, a hard-hit-ting inquiry scheduled by senators who know industrial relations intimately might persuade big industry’s executives that Congress won’t pass any one-sided antilabor laws, and strike settlements might follow.—Chicago Sun.

Farm Income 13 Billion; Was 2 Under GOP American farmers are in better financial condition today tnan ever in the nation s nistory. Their net income in 1945 reached the all-time high of more than 13 billion dollars, compared with apre-war annual average ox less tnan 5 billion dollars. In 1952, under the itepublicans, their annual income was 2 billion dollars, an all time low, Net income per farm operator averaged wel over $2,000 a year during the war period. This compared favorably with the average annual earnings of city workers, harm prices in 1945 were almost twice as high as the pre-war (1935-39) average, standing a^ about 15 per cent above parity. Not only were prices favorable, but farm output was high. Food production in 194o Truman’s recommendation for fact-finders with statutory power, should be passed. An was 35 percent above the 1935-39 average even broader bill, introduced months ago oy and total agricultural production in 194o was 31 percent above the pre-war level. During the past war, farmers paid debts steadily while in the World War they went into debt and continued to do so for several years after the war. Farm mortgage indebtedness has dropped from 6.5 billion dollars at the time of Pearl Harbor to about 5 billion dollars. Total agricultural assets amounted to more than 95 billion dollars at the beginning of 1946, compared with less than 54 billion on January 1, 1940. At the start of 1946 farmers had roughly 18 billion dollars in financial assets (war bonds, cash, bank deposits, warehouse receipts, and so forth), as compared with 16.1 billion dollars on January 1, 1945, and 5 billion dollars on January 1, 1940. At the start of 1946, farmers’ total financial assets were substantially more than twice their total debts. At the beginning of the war, the total debts owed by farmers amounted to considerably more than their financial assets.

Why We Need Subsidies The effectiveness and validity of food subsidies as a means of holding down the cost of living have been thoroughly established. When President Truman in his budget message advocated legislation to extend subsidies beyond next June, therefore, he was raising only one issue: Does the inflationary situation now demand the same sort of countermeasures which it demanded during actual hostilities ? Any consumer can give the answer. The inflationary situation Is in fact potentially worse than it was a year ago. If subsidies were valid during the war, as they were, they are doubly so today. Last fall the administration announced plans to end the subsidy program before next June. The decision was based on the premise that food prices soon would begin to soften up. But they have not softened up. If subsidies were ended, butter would instantly rise 10 or 12 cents, milk 1 to 3 cents, meat 3 to 9 cents, bread 1 cents or more. The total effect, the President estimates, would be to hike the cost of food at least 8 per cent, and set up incalculable pressures against the whole price-and-wage structure. Subsidies continue to be a vital part of the battle against inflation. Congress should extend them until that battle is won.—Chicago Sun.

Farm Machinery School Held Thurs. ^ — i

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A Farm Machinery and Crops t School for the benefit of Delaware | County farmers was held Thurs- [ day in Central High School, Muncie. The meeting was spomsored jointly by the Delaware County Crops Improvement Committee, implement dealers of the county and the Indiana General Service Company, in co-operation with the County Agent’s Office. • R. C. Shipman of Purdi’e, was present and discussed “What’s New in Farm Machinery,” and “How to Cut, Cure and Store Hay in One Day’s Time.” K. E. Beeson, of Prrdue, spoke on “Crop Practices Which Will Pay Dividends in 1946,” and “When to Use Plow Sole Fertilization.” Ira Brooks of Winchester and Roy Meeker of Muncie, told of their experiences of mow curing of hay. A fine plate lunch was served at noon to all who had made reservations. Muncie G.I.’sWill Have New Houses One hundred new houses for G. I.’s are to be built in Muncie, C. L. Bartel, Muncie realtor, announced. The houses will be owned by ReaDEstators, Inc., and constructed by Mr. Bartel. Five of the houses are now under construction. The houses are to be built in Arcadia addition, which lies south of Twelfth and east of Madison St. Priority for construction on the nou&es, which will sell at between $5,250 and $6,400, was given through the Federal Housing Administration by the Civilian Production Administration. Bartel was given an “HH preference” which permits the obtaining of scarce building materials on priority. Financed (Under Gl Bill All of the houses must be sold to returning servicemen. They will be financed under the GI Bill of Rights loan program. Bartel recently completed construction of 50 houses which have been built during the war for war industry workers under War Production Board regulations. Of these group seven were erected on Sixth St. for colored families and the rest w r ere in Arcadia addition where the present group of houses is beijig built. The houses will be located on Ebright, Beacon and Grant Sts. in the sub-division. They will be of FHA-approved construction and be biilt under FHA supervision. All are of frame, modern construction ! and insulated. The houses will be of conventional construction, but will be “job cut,” the various timbers u&ed being pre-sawed and ready for erection w'hen delivered to the site. How fast the houses can be built depends on the flow of materials. Many of the more scarce items have been obtained. The priorities are granted on a 90-day basis and will be subject to review at the end of that period, renewal depending upon the progress made. Approval for the construction j of the homes here was given through the FHA office at Indianapolis. o Dairy Income Can Be Increased The annual dairy income in Indiana which now amounts to $146,500,000 could be increased 21 per cent by maintaining of healthy herds and promoting good management, Delaware County dairymen were told by E. A. Gannon, Purdue University extension dairyman, at the county fair school held last Tuesday at the Muncie Y. M. C. A. Bang’s disease, mastitis and sterility account for the greatest losses to the dairy production, Mr. Gannon said, and many of these losses could be reduced materially through management and sanitation. Most losses occur when the cows reach four to five years of age, just when they are ready to return a profit to the dairyman. The first two years of production by the dairy cow are needed to pay for her raising. “Dairymen should take steps now to stop this drain on the dairy enterprise. Cut the cost of disease by careful management and prompt action at the appearance of a disease,” the speaker said. A free lunch was served at noon under the sponsorship of the cooperating dairy industries, and Mr. Gannon again spoke during the afternoon session on the subject, “Dairy Head Management Methods of 1946.” Dr. C. R. Donham, Purdue veterinarian, also addressed the group during the meeting.

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