Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 October 1947 — Page 14
The Tndianapols Times PAGE 14 Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1947
ROY W. HOWARD WALTER LECKRONB HENRY W. MANZ [President Bditor Business Manager
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Union Labor Is American
AST week was one of great accomplishment for American labor unions. Many citizens may disagree with much that was said and done in the national conventions of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations.” We think some of the statements made were false and some of the actions wrong. But on two paramount issues—ruthless dictation over the AFL by John L. Lewis and over the CIO by pro-Com-munists—the conventions took sound and patriotic stands. In so doing they affirmed, by deeds and not by mere words, the fact that these two big labor organizations, with a total membership of around 14 millions, are loyally American and democratic, Lewis suffered a crushing defeat when the AFL elimi-
br —— Eh AS Ee —.—
In Tie : | With the Times
Donald D. Hoover
THE PARTHENON
Is the Parthenon a ruin? Said a little boy As fie saw it in a-picture Crumbled like a modern toy.
Teacher sald its architecture Was the greatest of all time Ranking with the Seven Wonders Of the world; it was sublime!!
And now, and now its loft columns With its horses and its men Phidias carved in Grecian marble Mingle in the dusty glenn!!
And the Goddess, great Athena Reigns no more upon her throne To receive the sacrifices For the Grecian sins atone,
Will the children of the future Turning History's heavy pages Look with favor on our buildings Sinking too among the ages?
Or will they dismiss our era And turn backward to the Greek? There to treasure golden stories And to hear the sages speak? ~HELEN MORI ECK. ® 4 o
'NO MONEY DOWN'
nated all its vice presidents in order to rid itself of domination by Vice President No. 11, This was not just an interunion row. Lewis stood for arrogant defiance of law—for chaos and anarchy in labor relations. The AFL conven- | tion refused to yield to his abuse or be swayed by his ham acting, It decided to seek its aims by orderly processes of legal and political action, The battle in the CIO convention also was historic. The | Communists and their friends came to that meeting, cheered | by their recent success in putting over a completely pro- | Russian program at the United Electrical Workers’ convention. But their effort to capture the whole CIO for the same | sort of program was turned back decisively. The CIO delegates, by overwhelming vote, refused to follow the Moscow party line advocated by leaders of a few Communist-domi-nated unions. In a period of grave international stress, the
CIO stood for America. w . ” » » »
HE heartening thing about the outcome of these two convention struggles is that it gives evidence that the | labor movement has within it will and ability to clean its | own house, ° | There was no outside compulsion. The delegates were | not pushed or restrained by any law. Their actions, inci- | dentally, when added to the speeches and proceedings of | the entire meeting, seem to us a refutation of the claim that | free unionism is threatened with destruction By a “slavery law.” Certainly the AFL and CIO conventions were free. What they did about the two great issues that faced them was a service to their country and to every loyal man and woman who carries a union card. We think they have helped to spare all American unions and all American citizens a host of troubles,
We Can Afford to Help
VIDENCE of Europe's desperate need and of America’s
ability to help continues to pile up. A bipartisan group |
of the House appropriations and armed services committees, which has just returned from Europe, is the latest to testify to the need. We can provide substantial. foreign aid without jeopardizing our own security or living standards, according to the special committee under Interior Secretary Krug which has been making an inventory of American resources. Neither of these reports is partisan. Both represent responsible and serious research. The congressional group called for immediate aid along Marshall Plan lines to prevent the downfall and communization of Europe. Sen. Barkley, minority leader, who also has returned from a swing around Europe, found the same serious conditions reported by so many members of Congress and American correspondents. These substantiate the elaborate factual data pouring into the State Department and on which Secretary Marshall bases his pro-
gram for helping those who help themselves. »n . » ~ ~ .
HE Krug committee reporf is the first authoritative answer to the question whether further large-scale aid can be extended without injury to ourselves. The committee makes these points: The amount and duration of this help will depend upon crop weather, conservation, co-operation and efficiency at home and abroad. | We can supply the needed grain without injury to our food standards only if we eliminate waste, and feed less to livestock. if we are careful. Morescoal must be mined than last year, There are bottlenecks in coal cars, freight cars, and mining machinery. The worst is in steel—more scrap and pig iron | must be found for the 10 per cent idle steel-mill capacity, This warning is underscored by the Krug report: “These (present) high levels of employment and activity
cannot he maintained without comprehensive programs for
expanding, developing and replenishing our basic resources,
adding materially to our productive capacity in key indus- | : . ’ > ! tries, and where domestic supplies are inadequate, through
importing raw materials.”
That means we shall suffer irreparable national loss | unless our minerals, depleted by war and post-war demands, |
are replenished by larger imports from abroad and stockpiled here, It is one way in which Europe can repay us in part. It should be written into the bond and enforced.
Otherwise the United States in the future can have neither |
economic nor military security.
With these and similar safeguards, including continuous emphasis on helf-help abroad, America can well afford to |
provide the wherewithal for European reconstruction. What we cannot afford is collapse of hungry European democracies under pressure of chaos and communism.
Must Have Been Popov
WORD comes from Moscow that the Russians are “deeply offended” because Americans insist that an Italian, Guglielmo Marconi, invented radio back in 1896. They say one of their boys, Alexander Popov, beat Mar- | coni to it by a year. Hold your hat, but we're inclined to side with the Rus |
sians on this one, After listening to an evening of com- |"
merciale, we'd eall Comrade Popov a natural. /
/
| stallment credit regulation, ends.
| dealers, only a few of either sellers or buyers | will celebrate the occasion with enthusiasm. An
“IT ISN'T THE PRICE, IT'S THE MONEY,” says Clarence Day Jr. in the movie, "Life wilh Father,” He's explaining to a salesman that $156 seems a fair price for the suit he is trying on; the only trouble is he doesn't have $15. At midnight, Oct. 31, Regulation W, the inThereafter high | prices on consumer durables will be easier to | take; consumers won't need so much money. It is paradoxical that, although the lifting of installment curbs will mean easler terms for credit buyers and more business for installment
air of foreboding is prevalent The average wage earner knows that he cannot be depended upon to exert upon himself the “voluntary” curtailment of credit buying which
‘Hoosier Forum "I do not agree with a word that you say, but | will defend to the death your right te say it."
The Governor Said—
By M. Burkett, 1428 Park Ave. What the governor of South Caroling said to the governor of North Carolina has-been finally and superbly eclipsed by what he said to the National Association of Real Estate Boards assenibled for a little harmless conviviality, in his home state. And what the realtors said to the governor will undoujtedly go down in history beside that other famous remark, for mincing no words, they branded his sinister utterance as “straight from the in« ternational offices of the Communist Party!” What the governor really said was this: “Sellers of exhorbitantly priced property are profiteering in human misery. Somebody, some where, has got to stop this horrible inflation. I ask you to urge your clients to put Teasonahle prices on their property.” The outraged realtors couldn't believe their pars; then pandemonium broke loose. The South Carolina Assn. of Real Estate Boards did the only honorable thing. Manfully, it issued a public apology to the convention. But the realtors, mortally wounded, may not accept; it is whispered they will settle for nothing less than the head of Gov. J. Strom Thurmond wrapped up in a blanket 50 per cent rent increase. Meanwhile the Amalgam« ated and Footsore Order of Homeless Veterans has le voted a Croix de Guerre for the heroic governor. > *
‘Truman's Plans Fail’
By Mrs. Arthur Estes, 136 E. New York St. I read in The Times about “Energy and Good Will.” As high as food is here in America, the Japs are letting good American cornmeal rot in their kitchens and cheese that is so high here that I myself can hardly afford to buy but very little of it. Also the Greeks say our canned foods such as baked beans, oatmeal and powdered eggs are offensive to them. Tried to paint their houses with the powdered eggs, throwing away the canned food. Why should the housewife deny her family meat on Tuesday or eggs on Thursday? "Well, I for one give my husband who works hard and my family all the meat they want also all the eggs. After reading what I have written I certainly hope all Hoosiers will do likewise. The very idea of Mr. Truman also wanting the bakeries to make smaller
has been recommended by some government economists. He is fully cognizant of his inability to withstand the temptations which will be placed before him by business hungry merchants. Lower down-payments and longer terms will enable him to make concomitant purchases of more of the
IN WASHINGTON nis rl Candidate Taft's Ideas
By Peter Edson
loaves of bread. Well all I can say is, I'll be glad to see him out of the White House in 1948. His Marshall plan like this food committee he has ap‘pointed will be a complete failure like everything else he has undertaken. His main interest should be the American people and let the rest of our
{ new sales.
many items he desires. With credit easier, incomes
| will be mortgaged for longer periods than is “safe”
in an economy of ups and downs such as ours. Knowing all this, and being fully aware of his frailties, the credit buying consumer has welcomed the restraint which has been imposed upon him by Regulation W; he is apprehensive about its removal, ‘The era of the gotten by
“No-money-down-take-four-years-to-pay” '30s is too recent to have been formany installment merchants, They
| remember how, from 1930 to 1034, their trucks
were busier ‘taking back merchandise from customers who couldn't pay for it than delivering Futrhermore, while “W” kept downpayments large and maturities short these mer= chants maintained a sound, comfortable liquidity. It was a good feeling to have money in the bank. They know that with the advent of easier credit terms their capital investment to finance increased accounts receivable and slower collections will have to be considerably greater. This means bank loans or a trip to the finance companies and, after many years of standing on their own financial feet, few merchants favor the necessity to borrow. Taking a more objec#ive point of view, many economists point out that the lifting of installment | regulations at this time is an inflationary move. With business activity still booming and with shortages of many consumer items still acute, it is foolhardy, they say, to increase demand in this manner, LEONARD SOLOMON.
“> Oo 4
"LIVE AND HELP LIVE"
“Live and help live,” don't you like that better? Said a big financier to a friend one day That the way it's been said for centuries past. Don’t you think it's time to change it at last?
“Live and help live,” don't you like that better? Much easier too, to collect from a debtor So instead of the old motto, let's use the new, “Live and help live,” can we count on you?
=—OPAL LOGAN McGEE.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21—In a message to the Ohio Republican Central Committee on Oct. 24, Sen. Robert A. Taft is expected to tell what he intends fo do about running for President in 1948. In that connection it is interesting to try to make an inventoty of his ideas. What mékes him tick? In his recent tour of the West, he shot his wad. Six major speeches, seven press conferences and five formal statements. He skipped some issues like the farm program, and said he didn't know about some others like the western steel industry. But boiling down what he did say for a summary index, it reveals that the Senator's serious, colorless, humorless ideas on principal domestic issues jell out about like this, in direct quotations: 1948 Campaign—"Domestically, the main issue is the question of whether you want more power in Washington and more money spent in Washington.
(Editor's Note: This is the first of two dispatches analyzing Sen. Taft's ideas on domestic and foreign issues which may be factors in the 1948 presidential campaign.)
I think very likely the question of high ‘prices will be one of the issues. I don’) see how the labor bill can be made a successful issue by next November.” Democratic Party—“It isn't easy to determine just what its principles are, because the party is divided between the left wing and the conservative wing whose views are often more conservative than the Republicans.”
Disapproves of Health Insurance HEALTH INSURANCE—"“The United States has the best medical service in the world. It seems idiotic to throw it away and start a brand new experi=ment. (The Wagner-Murray-Dingell bill plan) which has never achieved any real success in the countries where it has been tried.” Housing—"My own belief is that we cannot get rid of sub-standard housing and keep all housing at a decent level, without a further development of public housing. If the subsidy extends only to the lowest income groups, it is not Socialism.” Inflation—“A tax cut will tend to further wage increases, which now offer the greatest danger of further inflation.”
Price Levels—"I belieye we may as well recognize that price levels are permanently above pre-war. . .. We had better work toward a stabilization of wages and prices, at some new level, perhaps 50 or 60 per cenit above pre-war.” Public Works—" With a budget of $35 billion, it is no time to spend lavishly on public works in general.” Housing Control Extension—“I would not like to say as yet. . . . The question should be %eft open for decision at that time.” (Feb. 29, 1948.) Republican Record—“We are proud of that record . . . the Republican program outlined at the beginning of the session was completed. . We received no co- -operation from the administration. »
Discusses New Deal
SOCIAL WELFARE—"I have always distinguished between that part of the New Deal which undertook to regulate every detail of agriculture, commerce, industry and even family life, and that part which undertook to improve the condition of the people of this country who, for any reason, suffered hardship and poverty. . . . Many (New Deal) measures were proposed and some enacted. Most of those enacted
. were experimental and it is doubtful how effective, |
they have been.” Taxes—"The time has come when we should determine the limit of the tax burden which can be safely borne without threat to freedom, and conform our expenditures to taxes. . . . I have thought there should be a reduction of taxes right along.” Taft-Hartley Labor-Management Bill—‘The violent propaganda of the labor unions shows that either they do not know what is in the bill, or they are deliberately deceiving their members. Where the labor union members are advised of the bill's provisions, polls show that they are generally in favor of them— the act does not in any way limit the legitimate rights of labor unions.” Truman—"The President has not failed to indorse every spending project which has been seriously proposed.” Unempldyment Compensation—“It seems probable that the states can handle this without federal assistance, but if there are any weak states, this assistance can be made available. I am absolutely opposed to the federalization of employment compensation.”
enemies take care of themselvs, * © o
New Plan for Europe By Walt Cress, Crawfordsville
regulations will be altered whenever any new ideas for saving food are submitted. How about the following: : 1. Instead of curtailing the production of brewers and distillers of America, let Europe curtail their own beverage industry. . 2. Sell only the choice cuts of meat in America. If Europe is starving they should be glad to get the inferior cuts, 3. Let the pro-European “Brain Trusters,” who advocate the 60-day moratorium of beverage production, declare a 60-day moratorium on their own salaries and donate that to Europe. > Sd
Help Feed Starving
By Mrs. M. H. Wiseman, 1126 N. Bancroft St. To Roy Lesher, 947 Virginia Ave. for his letter on feeding Europe, I wish to say “Shame on you” | for such an un-Christian attitude. We in this | glorious land have so much, we should gladly share and thank our God that we have it to share. If you regard an egg and a slice of meat more important to your well-being than saving the life of a starving man or child, then you are indeed a man to be pitied. May you never have to pick greens from your front lawn to eat as Europe's starving have had to do. Again, I say shame on you and God pity you. ’ * &
‘Public Already Sees Red’
By Rowena Applegate; Indianapolis I see by the paper that the Indianapolis Street Railway Co. is going to paint the busses and cars red and white. I want to save them a little money, poor dears. They needn't waste money on red paint, they can save it for lawyers’ fees. The public, the “riding public” sees red anyway everytime they think of the honored
The committee on food says that the save food
Enough fertilizers and oil can be exported only |
LONDON, Oct. 21—The trade-union leaders who direct Britain's government today face a dilemma inexpressibly painful. They must try to convince their following that the only salvation for England lies in more production with less pay. : This is contrary to all the doctrine preached for at least a generation. A Socialist Labor government was to usher in the era of shorter hours and more pay. It was to begin something like the milennium. That is the picture still in the minds of millions of earnest men and women who have absorbed trade-union doctrine. Thgy were | brought up on the parliamentary socialism of Britain's Labor party. The trade unions, the co-operative movement, the party itself were all instruments of education, teaching the belief that socialism (and the Milennium) could come peacefully by the ballot box. __ By voting for socialism, the people would take control of industry.
Side Glances—By Galbraith
| i
10:21
“If you foschars are CR strike for Nigher poy. | hope you
and the profits which had previously gone to a few owners would be distributed among all the wage earners. For many of the faithful, that goal seemed to be achieved when the Labor party triumphed at the polls two years ago. The triumph coincided with the end of the war, as weary Britons, regardless of politics, were expecting a little more margin for comfort and pleasure.
Shock to Supporters IN THE TWO YEARS SINCE THE ELECTION, the leaders of the Labor party have come up against the grim facts of England's eco-
Labor Government May Crack Down On Friends
nomic position in the world. They have been relucant to face the facts | —and understandably. The American loan was, in some respects, an
effort to postpone a final recokoning. But that reckoning can no longer be postponed.
The deficit of food and raw materials which must be imported into |
this island cannot be waved away by a political formula. Even if nationalization were to be pushed right across the board, comparatively
| little would be added to what the workers get. One of the leaders of
the Labor party's left wing admitted candidly that it would mean
| hardly more than 10 per cent added to the pay envelope.
In other words, wealth cannot be created by nationalization. The
cover the body politic of Great Britain.
company or ride their streetcars and busses,
By Marquis Childs
Even now, without any planned increase in the cost of living, the coal miners’ union is demanding an increase of $4 (1 pound) & week on the minimum wage in the industry, which is only $20 weekly. They are pressing that demand on the National Coal Board, which is the government agency directing the operation of the mines since they were nationalized by the Attlee government. In one coal field a strike already has occurred which meant a loss of coal priceless to Britain's recovery. It is one thing to erack down on your enemies. It is quite another thing to have to discipline your friends, and that is what the Labor government must try to do.
UN FAILS PEACE . By William Philip Simnrs
FLUSHING MEADOW, Oct. 21—Barring the unexpected miracle of a complete somersault by Moscow, the presently constituted United Nations can be written off as a failure right now, insofar as fulfilling its peace obligations under the charter are concerned. There are two reasons for this statement: First, the United Nations cannot possibly function effectively as
{ long as any one of the Big Three refuses to abide by its clear obliga=
| Socialist government must try to cut the cloth, desperately scarce, to |
The scramble just now is to find the dollars to cover the de- |
ficlency of the next six months. If that gap is not filled in; industry will begin to go backward instead of forward. The spiral of depression, as Sir Stafford Cripps warned, will set in and no one can predict where it will end, This temporary emergency can be resolved by temporary expedients such as unfreezing the remaining $400,000,000 of the Ameri
dition. That condition is that long-term assistance will come for Europe and Britain through the Marshall plan. If the last dollar is
| scraped up and then there is no Marshall plan, the resulting collapse
will sheke a lot of foundations a long way from this island dom.
tions under the charter as interpreted by the overwhelming majority. Second, the Soviet Union has now made it clear that she will ignoré the United Nations findings unless these findings coincide with her own wishes. Here is the assembly's score to date: Through its committees working at Lake Success for the past month, it has voted to set up a Balkans commission to watch over Greece's frontiers; second, to partition Palestine between Jews and Arabs and, third, create some kind of standing committee, or “little assembly,” to remain on watch
| after the regular assembly has adjourned. can loan. The bottom of all the barrels can be scraped-—on one con- |
The immediate task of the Attlee government isi to try to frame
an austerity budget. That means cracking down on the very people who put the Socialist government in power. For a politician that is a sad necessity, to be put off as long as possible.
No Real Gain HOWEVER, not one of thesd “accomplishments” can be scored as a real gain. Russia has served formal notice in some cases and given a clear sign in others, that she wiM boycott both the Balkans and “little assembly” activities. By so doing she hopes to do to the assembly what she has already done to the security council—that is, use it for her own
| purposes whenever possible, and paralyze it when she can't.
There are many, both inside and outside the government, who fear | the chain of consequences that cracking down may invite. Take the
matter of food subsidies. The government is this year spending more |
than $1,500,000,000 to underwrite the pst of essential foods. Chancellor of the Exchequer Hugh Dalton, who can never bear to offend a labor voter, has apparently been persuaded that, in the new austerity budget, food subsidies must be reduced. . The average citizen will then pay a higher food bill and some of the excess currency will be absorbed. Money far in excess of goods available is exerting a constant in- | flationary pressure.
Faces Dilemma
BUT HOW WILL the Labor voter react when he pays out more of | his income for food?
He is very likely to come through with a demand for higher pay,
Sieh though he 1a wid by his own government that higher os Nal to inflation and make the position of the government that
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As for the partition of Palestine, to which Russia gave reluctant
| approval, all indications are that it will be the beginning of greater
rather than the end of trouble in the Holy Land. Zionists are inclined to accept partition as the least objectionable of practical solutions. Over the week-end, however, official Arab spokesmen warned that a Jewish state in the heart of the Arab world “can have no chance of survival.” Britain, has announced the early withdrawal of her troops from Palestine, regardless of what may be done. Article 43 of the charter calls for a United Nations army or police
The nation’ renewed their dent ‘Trumar scrap poultryl They propos stitute progra dustry would of grain for E Meanwhile | an Secretary c F. Brannan pi less Thursday: quickly—possit He said his the belief ti would agree exchange for Thursday use First Prop: The poultry to committee Luckman, wh down their fir for ending ch less days on gi specific enoug Mr, Luckmi open to the q such days, ho and feed man him their pl grain than th The poultrs program woul ONE: Save grain by red broilers to 75 level. TWO: Save grain by trim laying flocks | THREE: 8a ain by a st tion program, of better gr Wheat is the used for expo Can Save FOUR: Sa grain by redu try flocks by | 1. The poulti bushels of .gr saved for eac to market. + The poult: what they te and a possi chickens and hoped Luckm new program, They said grain is to er more—not les millions of | jammed up o is no market
MOON MEAN The word n the words “t being a meas