Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 19 July 1946 — Page 2

POST-DEMOCRAT, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1946,

THE POST-DEMOCRAT Democratic weekly newspaper representing the Democrats of Muncie, Delaware County and the 10th Congressional District. The only Democratic Newsjwiper in Delaware County. Entered as second class matter January 15, 1921, it 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, July 19, 1946.

Gaston and Alphonse In Ohio The Alphonse-Gaston act over in Ohio, in which Bob Taft and John Bricker have been indulging for many years, may fade into the limbo as Republican hopefuls line up for the sweepstakes of 1948. Back in ’39 and ’40, when Bricker was a first-term governor of the Buckeye state and Taft a fledgling Senator, the formerstood aside while the man from Cincinnati took his fling at the G. 0. P. presidential nomination. Simialarly, in ’43 and ’44, Taft returned the favor—while Bricker put up his political linghtning rod in the hope that the presidency might be his. It so happened that on neither occasion did the Republican delegates turn to Ohio for the standard bearer of their party. Bricker did manage to receive the vicepresidential nod on the Dewey ticket, however, and the chances are that Taft might have been Wendell Willkie’s running- mate, instead of the late Sen. McNary, of Oregon, had he been so inclined. Now, in 1946, both Bricker and Taft continue to rival each other for prominence in Ohio’s Republican fold. Both are being mentioned frequently as prospects for 1948. Taft continues to serve in the United States Senate, to which he was re-elected by a narrow margin two years ago. Bricker recently became his party’s nominee for the Senate seat occupied by James Huffman, a Democrat. But it is to be doubted that either of these ambitious men regards Capitol Hill as his ultimate goal. The opposite end of Pennsylvania Avenue is said to look rather attractive to both. Ohio, mother of presidents, was the residence of William Henry Harrison, Rutherford B. Hayes, Jamqs A. Garfield, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren G. Harding when they were nominated and elected. Two other chief executives, Ulysses S. Grant and Benjamin Harrison, were born in the Buckeye state. History rarely provides an exact repetition of past performances, but striking similarities certainly do occur — and it would not be surprising if destiny turned to Ohio once again for a presidential nominee. Four Ohioans are more or less available. Frank J. Lausche, Ohio’s personable young governor, might well become a Democratic favorite son. Associate Justice Harold H. Burton, whom President Truman appointed to the Supreme Court as Owen J. Roberts’ successor, might be tapped as a Republican compromise. Still, for the most part, the professional observers of political men and measures focus their attention on Taft and/ or Bricker for the 1948 role of elephant boy. Will Taft bow out in favor of Bricker, as was the case in ’44? Will Bricker fade for. the benefit of Taft, in a re-enactment of 1940? Both possibilities are doubtful. Age is likely to play its part. These men no longer belong to the younger generation of Republican leadership. When the next G. O. P. national convention is called to order, Taft will be 58 years old. Bricker will be 54. It is apt to be a case of “Now or never.” And it is entirely posible that the disappear ance of the “After you, my dear Bob!” and “You first, my dear John!” motif may strengthen the candidacy of some nonOhioan, like Earl Warren of California, or Harold Stassen of Minnesota, who could enter the convention with the advantage of a united delegation from his own state. Journal-Gazette

The People Demand A Report Rep. Andrew May has indicated a qualified willingness to testify publicly before the Senate aWr Investigating Committee *—and high time. No one who is connected with the Illinois munitions scandal should be allowed to squeeze or squirm out of the spotlight until all facts are known. Rep. May, as chairman of the powerful House Military lAffairs Committee, is alleged to have used his influence in obtaining contracts for the Illinois concern. May has acknowledged interceding with the War Department in the interests of the Garsson munitions firm but denies that he received any personal profit, For the moment we can accept that, but we are entitled to know why he used his influence to fator a special firm. His oration on the floor of the House recently did little or nothing to dispel the cloud hanging over him. His speech was full of bombast and compassion for the rights of the humble citizen, but we doubt if Mays refusal to testify thus far in the investigation is in keeping with a humble citizen’s deportment. TThere have been rumblings in the ground under May’s feet for several months. Recently he has been justly criticized for his questionable use of other Congressman’s proxy during the draft bill debate. His toadying to the military concerning the control of the atomic bomb has disgusted a majority of thinking Americans. Other dealings have been brought to light in Kentucky that bear i investigation. In short, it is time for Rep. i JMay to start talking. If he is the innocent

victim of predatory interests, then he should talk to clear his name. At any rate, he should talk. It begins to appear that the Garsson, probe is going to involve some persons in high places. Shady circumstances involving $78,000,000 in war contracts, an attempted bribe a committee investigator, must add up to something unsavory. It is quite possible that the ensuing investigation will cut across and through party lines with abandon. There is every reason that it should. If Rep. May can throw any light on the matter it is his duty to do. so. President Truman, who headed the Mead Committee while a Senator, has given his whole support to the investigators. The American people will demand that a full report be made.—Journal-Gazette

Bilbo’s Terrorism Wins: What Will The Senate Do? In 1912, the U. S. Senate refused to seat William Lorimer, of Illinois, on grounds that his election was a result of fraud. In 1928, the U. S. Senate refused to seat Frank L. Smith, of Illinois, on grounds that he spent too much money getting elected. In 1929, the U. S. Senate refused to seat William*S. Vare, of Pennsylvania, also because he spent too much in his campaign. In 1946—? Well, what IS the U. S. Senate going to do about seating Theodore G. Bilbo, of Mississippi? XXX Bilbo almost certainly has won the Democratic Senatorial nomination in Mississppi. In that state it is equivalent to election. So far as we know, Bilbo didn’t “spend too much money.” But he does stand guilty of conduct far more dangerous: Bilbo’s campaign was based on race hatred. : Bilbo openly called on his fellow citizens to prevent Negroes from voting in the Democratic primary, in violation of his own oath to support the principles of the U. S. to those of all races and creeds. Bilbo advocated violence. Here’s what he said in a speech: “I call on every red-bloded white man to use ANY MEANS to keep niggers away from the polls. If you don’t ,understand what that means you are just plain dumb. . . “And the best time to see the Negro about voting is the night before.” XXX That’s how Bilbo campaigned, His henchmen saw the Negroes “the night before.” Here is how effective they were : In Mississippi there are about 600,000 whites of voting age, and about 550,000 Negroes of voting age. Of the 600,000 whites, nearly 200,000 voted on Tuesday. Of the 550,000 Negroes, only 3,0000 voted on Tuesday. That’s why the total Mississippi vote was only about one third of that normally cast in States where there is not a noose dangling between the Negro and the ballot. . Yes. Bilbo’s boys saw the Negroes “the night before.” XXX We repeat: What is the U. S. Senate going to do about it? Is the upper house of Congress going to put its stamp of approval on campaigning by coercion? On the same day Bilbo urged use of force to keep Negroes from voting, a Negro veteran was flogged when he tried to register. . AJT t blame the people of Mississippi. Many of the whites there, as well as Negroes, were not allowed to vote. we in Philadelphia know how hard it is to beat a corrupt political machine, even with no restrictions on voting. But when Vare—an honorable gentleman compared to Bilbo—was rejected by the Senate, decent Phildelphians applauded. So will decent Mississinpians applaud if the Senate now bars Theodore Bilbo from Ins seat on grounds of fomenting hatred, intimidation and terror.—-Philadelphia Record.

The Day of Individual Action Has Departed ., ^ a ke fun of the nation if. you will, abuse it if you must; call its officers names if that will relieve your feelnigs; stay out of it as long as you can, but eventually you will be forced to the inevitable conclusion that the day of individual action is over and its sun has set and the day of collective, united, concerted action is at hand; for the good of one is bound up in the welfare erf all. Yes, today—organization is really a necessity ! —The Retail Clerk’s International Advocate

Anything which weakens labor’s living standards will ultimately cost the farmer money, too, in reduced prices and a tight market for his products.—California Farm Reporter. Actually the motives actuating those* who cry out against OPA restrictions are greed and selfishness. The lobbyists for textiles, cattle, oil, automobile and other interests who are crowding Washington* today are pushing for the end of OPA because they want a “killing” in the lush market which they see spread before them. They want that “killing” regardless of its effect upon the nation as a whole. With a few outstanding exceptions, such as Eric Johnston, the attitude of big business indicates that its sole concern is the pursuit of more and more profits regardless of consequences. — The Labor Leader, Association of Catholic Trade Unionists.

Let The Senate Expel Bilbo For America’s Good Name

There is no point in hunting through the

dictionary for nasty names to call Sen. Theodore G. Bilbo. The very name Bilbo has come to mean more than any words of obloquy in Mr. Webster’s lexicon. The very word Bilbo has come to mean the quintessence of the unwholesome in American public life. Instead of denouncing Bilbo, it is time for Americap^ to do something about him. It is time for the Senate to throw “the

man” out—

In the way our Constitution provides. No need to prove that Bilbo is one of the most dangerous characters in the United

States. He proves that himself. There is nothing secret about Bilbo.

Openly, blatantly, h e called u p on Mississippians to use violence to keep Negroes from voting in the primary. Here is

what he said:

“I call on every redrblooded white man to use ANY MEANS to keep the -niggers away from the polls. If you don’t understand what that means you

are just plain dumb. . .

“I believe white people will be justified in going to any extreme to keep the ;Negro from voting. And the, best time to see the Negro about voting is the

night before.”

ON THE SAME DAY BILBO SAID THAT, A NEGRO ARMY VETERAN WAS FLOGGED BY FOUR WHITE MEN, WHEN HE TRIED TO REGISTER. Right now, the Department of Justice is reported investigating Bilbo’s campaign practices. The Senate Privileges, and Elections Committee is holding a special meeting tomorrow to consider a probe of Bilbo. It seems to us that vqry little investiga-

tion is necessary.

All that need be established is whether Bilbo made the remarks we have quoted in this editorial. That should not be difficult. Those remarks were heard by many people,

•including experienced reporters.

That fact established, Bilbo should be

promptly expelled from the Senate.

Article XV of the U. S. Constitution says:

“The right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of

servitude.”

Bilbo took an oath to uphold the Constitution when’he was sworn in as a Senator Now, using the power of his office and the prestige of the Government of which he is a member, Bilbo is violating both the letter and spirit of the Constitution he swore he

would uphold.

Article 1, Section 5, of the Constitution,

says:

“Each House may... punish its members for disorderly behavior, and with 7 ie ,™ c ^ rrenc? of two-thirds EXPELL A MEMBER.”

The answer to Bilbo, thus, is found rig in the Constitution itself. There is no e cuse for pettifogging. No other man in American history has besmirched the good name .of the U. S. Se ate with his preaching or race hatred, r hgious bigotry—and now violence. No other man has ever so humiliated t] Senate before the whole world. No other man has ever so thorough fouled the nest of liberty as this Senat from Mississippi. It is time for the Senate to protect i own good name, and the good name of tl United States of America. Expel Bilbo!

iriiavMdMjjpi /\uu ine iviai Theodore G. Th(e Man) Bilbo once ; demonstrates that, no matter how di view the other 47 states may take of Mississippi still clasps him to her boso

ail T3M? n ? red and re spected son.

Bilbo s_ showing i n the recent L cratic primary is a matter to give ob ers pause. Here is an individual whos olerance, stupidity, and persecution minorities have revolted thefiner sens ties ot men and women across the nat One might suppose that, because of is constituents woud straightway £ someone else for his seat in the U. S. a j they heartily endorse a nd, by implication, his votes and spe< on the floor of Congress. So it is that A ica says, in the vernacular, “How coi In the first place, it is well to reme

of the oddest characters on

itoi Hill have been sent there througl

years from southern states.

Blease of South Carolia, Heflin of bama, Long of Louisiana, the current “ the Biscuits, Pappy” O’Daniel from Lone Star State of Texas have dispi irom time to time many of the charad

tics of “The Man.’

Education is not at a premium in the Deep South. Ignoranc is rife. Illiteracy is accepted as something traditional and permanent, and Mississippis illiteracy rate stands as one of the black marks of the

nation.

When one appreciates these facts, it is no wonder that an individual like Bilbo has been elected to the Senate of the United States, not once but twice, and that he soon will win his second re-election in all likeli-

hood.

The Man” is a symbol of the people who give him their votes, and Senators of his stripe will continue to appall the nation and the world just as long as prejudice feeds on ignorance and superstition down m the bade bayous'' and in the' ““piney

woods.”

With Rankin also winning in Mississippi, and with Gene Talmadge again snapping his suspenders out on the hustings of Georgia, the sole recent election from which one jean take hope is Milton Young’s sweeping triumph over Gerald P. Nye in the senatorial race in North Dakota. Still, wonders never cease. The state that produced Talmadge also elevated a fine, forward-looking young man like Ellis Arnall to its governorship. The commomwealth which sponsors Bilbo and Rankin for years sent Pat Harrison to Congress. Perhaps both Mississippi and Georgia will redeem themselves even while the hopeful are waiting for improved educational facilities for future voters. —Journal Gazette.

THE POCKETBOOK OF KNOWLEDGE

Gov. Warren And

The GOP Field

Gov. Earl Warrn is a terrific vote-getter in the state of California and his remarkable sweep in both tthe Republican and Democratic primaries three recently has boosted his stock for the GOP nomination

for the presidency.

But Gov. Warren has one heavy handicap when it comes to the national picture. That lies in the industrial rivalry between the East Coast and the West Coast. Since the war the eWst Coast is stepping out to gain a new place as a manufacturing center. Earl ' Warren is closely identified with this movement of which the East is not a little jealous. It is likely to hamper him in lining up delegates for 1948. The Eastern influence and money will probably get behind a man who

is more favorable to them.

There is Gov. Thomas E. Dewey of New York to consider. He still leads all other Republicans in the public opinion polls. Most members of his party think he has made a nexcellent governor of the Empire State. He did not particularly wa,nt to run for president in 1944, but he did and was beaten m the Fall election by Franklin D. Roosevelt. It has been the tradition of the GOP not to renominate a candidate who has been defeated and so Dewe yalso bears a heavy

handicap.

Ohio has Sen. Robert A. Taft and former Gov. John W. Bricker to offer. Taft is more m the limelight right now. No one can be , sure how his fight against the OPA will affect his political chances. He has the advantage of controlling the Southern delegates to the Republican national convention but his colorless and frigid personality does not cause to warm up to him. He talks the U??TT a , ge of big business and while he is a Mid-YV esterner his face is turned toward the East. Bricker is probably less able intellectually and less resourceful in guidinoparty strategy, but he is a better mixer and he thoroughly stumped the country when he was a vice-presidential candidate in 1944 Ihe delepte type of mind likes him and thinks that he is an ideal candiate for the presidency in the tradition of William Mc-

Kinley.

Sen Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan is too independent and too unpredictable to Party natl0nal leaders of the Republican The leader of Republican liberalism is former Gov. Harold Stasen of Minnesota. But the powers that be” are not liberal ?P d , W1 knife Stasen whenever they can It Stassen is nominated, it will be because his popular support has grown so big that the four-year locusts” do not dare turn _nm down, just as they could not stop the Willkie stampede in 1940.—Journal Gazette. What Makes a Good Democracy “There ought to be a law.” That expression has been used so much that it has become something of a joke. Whatever problem arises some people think it can be solved by the mere passage of a piece of legislation. The result is that the law books get bigger and fuller and more numerous and the country grows more lawless. We do not know how many men and women really want a good society. But we do know that it is impossible to obtain a good society without good people. There are not and never have been any substitutes for charactei and individual initiative. Law may be able to bring a minority into line, but only where the overwhelming majority are already doing or are willing to do what the law says. There has been a growing tendency in this country to lean on government. That is not one of the older and more fundamental tenets of the American faith. In the early days of this Republic people were willing and glad to accept individual responsibility. They were sure that freedom lay in that direction. In recent years, it has been regarded as smart to borrow ideas from foreign isms. In fact, we have been told within the last decade that there was only one choice and that was between fascism and communism. Such a fallacious line of thinking ignored democracy all together. The people of the United States fought a war to destray fascism and they certainly have no intention of embracing communism. We made our choice on this continent long ago and it was democracy. So the talk about the only alternative being between fascism and communism is particularly ridiculous in the United States. It denies reality completely. No intelligent American has ever contended that our democracy was perfect. We know that it is not perfect, but it can be improved and it will be improved as rapidly as its citizens improve. The country needs a few more good laws today, but above everything else, it needs a better brand of citizenship.—Journal Gazette. ,

Of ELHCTRlCny Irt THE HOME HA5 QUADRUPLED SJMCE 1920

sgiP™ JIItl UtMIM HOME

Q. What is the complete story on a veteran’s exemption from the Indiana gross income tax? A. Indiana veterans are exempt from the Indiana gross income tax on their service pay. The only servicemen required to file returns will be those who had independent incomes exceeding $1,000 annually during the war years. The ruling covers all ranks and branches of the armed forces, including auxiliaries. Items of military income excluded from the tax, in addition to base pay, include all allowances in lieu of quarters, per diem payments to enlisted men, Government allowances to dependents, pensions to widows, and mustering out pay. Q. In view of the reported crowded conditions of colleges, which ones would you recommend that a veteran apply to for admission? A. Try the smaller colleges in Indiana. They are more likely to have vacancies for the Autumn semester than the big ones. Q. Is it possible to reconvert National Service Life Insurance into an increased amount of cov-

erage?

A. No; a veteran cannot apply for a greater amount of National Service Life Insurance than that v/hich he carried as term insurance while in service. However, a veteran whp has only completed a part of the G. L insurance which he carried while on active duty may at a later date (before the expiration of such term insurance) convert the rest of the term insurance that he had previously carried. into perman-

ent insurance.

Q. What is the story of home-

steading lands?

A. Some land suitable for farming is now open for homesteading in Alaska; and about 100,000 farms averaging 70 acres each, in the far West, will probably be available in the next few years as fast as Congress provides funds for Western land reclamation and irrigation purpos-

es.

A booklet entitled ‘Our last

tailed information concerning homesteading, can be obtained by writing to the Division of Information, United States Department of the Interior, Washington

25, D. C.

Q. How long do I have before I must convert my term insurance

to a permanent form?

A. You can keep your term in

restrictions as to residence, travel, occupation, or military or naval service. Q. What is Public Law 16? A. Known as the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, it benefits veterans who have a service-con-nected disability for which a pension is payable, or who were retired from active duty because of a service-connected disability of at least ten per cent rating. Disabled veterans should check this. Q. Can a member of the women’s armed forces obtain medical aid from the Veterans Administration in pregnancy cases? A. The Veterans Administration has ruled that pregnancy is not a disease or a disability but a natural phenomenon or process, and therefore is not a responsibility of the Government. However, if there are pathological complications, the ex-service women can receive medical aid. Q. Where are the district offices of tlie War Assets Administration ip Indiana? A. Indianapolis, 1034 Circle Tower Building; in Chicago (Lake and Porter counties, Indiana) 226 W. Jackson Blvd.; Louisville (Indiana counties in Louisville area) 200 Hoffman Building; Evansville, 211 North West Fourth Street; Fort Wayne, 4s34 Utility Building; South Bend, 602 Pythian Building. These offices are open every day except Saturday and Sunday. O Nellie Ends Search For A New Buddy

Spokane, Wash.—Sgt. Nellie, the dog who wears six overseas stripes and an Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with battle star has tried to be man’s best friend, but only recently has she found the right

man.

In the three years Nellie was with the Army Air Forces in the China-Burma-India theater, she had bad luck with her men. One after another, her masters were either shipped away, listed as

missing or killed.

She had been smuggled overseas early in the war when troopships were pretty crowded and a tiny pup could be hidden easily in a GI blouse. The black and white mongrel kicked around

land frontiers,’ which contains de- various outfits overseas until some

kindly soldier finally brought her back to the U. S. by plane. She wound up at Ft. George Wright and that’s where she found Pvt. Allal Begel of Detroit. Nellie got into the habit of riding Pvt. Begel’s jeep and now she stays with him all the time. “Nellie goes with me from now on.” says Pvt. Begel, a military police-

surance for eight years from the nian. “If I’m ordered out, I’ll pack time it was taken out, if it was. Nellie’s ge5r too When I go home

taken out before January 1, 1946; or five years, if it was taken out

on or after that date.

Q. Is it permissible for a ver-’ eran to reduce the amount of his

insurance policy?

A. Yes. The amount continued must be in multiples of $500, but

not less than $1,000.

Q. Are there any restrictions for National Service Life Insur-

ance policy holders.

A. The insurance is free from

she’s going with me. I don’t want her to get the idea that men are

fickle.”

—i

Miller’s Flower Shop FLOWERS for all OCCASIONS Closed Sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Funeral Work a Specialty RUSSELL MILLER, Prop. 5th and Vine Sts. Phone 8286

JEFFERSON FOOD MARKET

AT JACKSON AND KILGORE

730 W. Jackson St.

Phone 7714