Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 December 1949 — Page 14

oan

he long beyond him as an enduring monumen

ee a 1

SAY. Canade . copy. Telephone RI ley 5581 Give Lights end the People Will Pind Few Vwn Wey

Edward T. Leech epitaph Edward T. Leech would have wanted—and the one he richly earned—is this:

"Great in every sense. He was one of the finest report-

ers we ever knew, one of the most penetrating editorial writers, one of the ablest executives and one of the most successful editors. When Mr, Leech died yesterday, he had edited the

"Pittsburgh Press for 18 years, and he had made it one of

America’s great newspapers. His associates often said of him that he could do almost any job in a newspaper shop better than anyone else. He not only could, but did, on countless occasions, for he was driven by a restless energy that made him want to be part of whatever was going on. . Yet nothing he did was regarded as interference. Those who worked for and with him shared in his enthusiasm, valued his leadership, and will miss both sadly.

Rs . » HE IDENTIFIED himself with his readers, and had an instinctive sense for the things that would interest them and the causes that would promote their welfare. He followed the cardinal rule once well expressed by the late Raymond Clapper: “Never underestimate the intelligence or overestimats the information of the public.” From the day he left college, 37 years ago, to be a reporter on the old Denver Express, his life was spent in the service of the Scripps-Howard Newspapers. At his death, he was their senior editor. 2

He became editor of the Express at 23, then moved ~ up to other editorships in Memphis and Birmingham. In each of

those cities judges sent him to jail, both times battles of the people against local political maAnd both times he won, for he took his typewriter

fig

i BE” g E E

taken from us a valued

= f 5 2

, has

fellow worker and a beloved friend. ~ But we find consola-

tion in knowing that the passion for truth and for public which he inspired in many younger men will live

the coming session of Congress does not retrench as

- he advises, he says, it must decide whether to boost taxes by more than $7 billion or to authorize deficit spending of : that amount. /

- Buch a tax increase, he believes, would depress busi-

: ness and employment and cut federal revenue, while con-

tinued “chronic deficit spending” eventually would “crush

_ us into national insolvency” under the burden of the public

” » . . SEN. BYRD says his $36 billion budget can be adopted if the President puts his full influence behind it; if the public gives it sympathetic approval and if Congress refuses to enact a larger budget. : That's a big order, and there is no visible basis for ‘confidence that it will be filled. Mr. Truman obviously doesn't consider economy to any such extent within the

yealm of possibility; large sections of the public—or pres-

sure blocs which claim to speak for them—are clamoring for more spending rather than less, and there are too few Byrds in Congress. te

Watts Should Be Tried . . ..Soon CRITICISM by Judge Samuel J. Offutt of delays in bringing to trial Robert A. Watts will strike a responsive chord in Indianapolis. In the minds of most people around here this man was once proved guilty beyond any reasonable doubt, of a brutal murder. The reasoning of the United States Supreme Court justices who ordered him tried again may be perfectly sound but most of us don't understand it. Naturally his defense counsel will use every possible

- means of delaying a second trial. Any delays they can win

work for their client. Witnesses may die, or disappear, testimony may be lost, in fact most anything that can happen favors the defendant so long as they can keep him out

~ of court, and away from a jury that might again. convict "him, He has everything to gain, nothing to lose, by post-

_ Judge Offutt has shown a disposition to be wholly fair

impartial, and to follow every technicality of the la

closely and carefully in the preliminary moves in this case, _ to avoid, if possible, another successful appeal to higher "courts. He is’ entirely correct, however, in insisting that

no stalling by the defense, this community far

that this case,

Amr »

and too

A ’ pies

ROY W. HOWARD WALTER LECKRONE HENRY W. MANS

SERIES

- tician on the

J politician replied * couldn't be done because “it

s surprising aspect - of - Russia's recently disclosed -

Lewis Facing

2-Way Threat cy

PAGE 14 Monday, Dec. 12, 1049

Boycotts and Non-Union Coal Production Growing

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 12—John L. Lewis’ dominance over the coal miners is being threatened in two ways. One is the boycott movement started by coal brokers against operators who sign up. The brokers have a stake in the situation, for they claim that Mr. Lewis’ tactics are pricing coal out of the market. The other threat is a growth of production

organized still a considerable output from mines-—-mainly “strip” but some “deep”-—-that have resisted UMW organizing drives.

‘Non-Union. Coal

in 1939 to 10,681,285 tons in 1048. _ The non-union percentage of total produetion in that area has risen from 3.5 to 22.6. A peculiar fact about the West situation is that the miners’ union is stronger in the southern part, which resisted organization for many years and was brought into line only after some bloody wars, In southern West Virginia the production of non-union coal is less than one per cent, as compared with the 25 per cent estimated for the northern half for the first six months of 1949.

Production Growing

CENTRAL Pennsylvania also has a large

non-union production, compared with the western end of the state. An estimate for the first half of this year places it as 25.8 per cent of the total, A national estimate divides the 1948 production of 507 million tons into 81.5 per cent for UMW mines and 185 per cent for nonUMW mines.

These national figures are the reason why income for the UMW pension and welfare fund is usually figured on the base of 500 million

Benefits for Employees

# ONE of the biggest concerns operating mainly on a non-union basis is the West Ken-

—tucky Coal Co. of Madison, III. It employs

about 1000 men and boasts that “retations between company and employees always Nave

—--ness-death_nenefits and retirement pay. sm

' —FOSTER'S FOLLIES . : 8T. LOUIS—Imposing a $100 fine for shouting “hey, babe” at a lady at midnight, the judge said he'd have freed the culprit had ft been daylight. The nights are blue in old 8t. Lou, But, ah, that lovely daytime ; When man may always freely woo (For fines that is not paytime.)

His honor will not hinder those Who pick the proper playtime. The answer, as you may suppose, Is: Sunshine is good “hey” time!

MY MOM My mom was not so fair I guess - I know her singing wasn’t fine, But I would rather se: her face And hear her sing a single line, From some old hymn she used to sing, Than see or hear ‘most anything.

My mom, she didn’t hava fine clothes, She had our childish mouths to feed, She didn’t have the luxuries And sometimes barely met her need, But mom had treasures, oft’ she said, God gave her three to tuck in bed. . - Opal McGuire, 314 Broadway.

What Others Say

I BELIVE that they (Russian leaders) do not want war simply because they are cynical

mankind.—President Truman, on mass hunger.

THE Boviets have received in territory and property all the Germans should be required to give them.— Former Secretary of State James F. Byrnes.

NEWS NOTEBOOK . . . By Peter Edson

Behind the Scenes

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 Federal Reserve Chairman Thomas B. McCabe was reading a long-wirided prepared statement on fiscal policy to Illinois Sen. Paul Douglas's Congressional Economic

Subcommittee,

“We were able ih March, 1949, to relax Regulation W (on credit controls) and the automobile industry since that time has =

sometimes actually used as a

been a bulwark to employment during the transition period of inventory readjustment that has prevalled this year,” read Mr. McCabe. Sen. Douglas interrupted him. “I may be in an impish mood,” he said, “but I can't help noticing changes in language in government statements. I now note that you call the recent business ‘recession’ a period of ‘inventory re-

medicine. The

as in a spray The catch is

adjustment.’ I sometimes Won- heen ‘enough der how these expressions start?”

Mr. McCabe didn't answer,

» . . AMERICAN and western European military leaders are putting on increasing heat to have Franco Spain included in defense planning against possible Russian aggressio

discovered by

n. But the diplomats and the political leaders .of the various democratic countries are still stone cold to the idea. One military leader recently propositioned a ‘ British polipossibility of having Spain admitted to the United Nations as a first step toward military alliance. The that it

in effect that law.”

in 1048, But wonder if this

would . split the Labor Party t open.”

ONE

wartime request for uranium nitrate “for medicinal pur-

the story of a poses” is that the stuff is

pulled. on, the

§ “office, 4 contending befo!

American Illustrated Medical Dictionary lists uranium nitrate salution as a specific in treatment of coryza (colds) and diabetes, as well

pounds of uranium nitrate originally requested by -the Russians through Lend-Lease Administration wouldn't have

colds, while the 10 to 15 tons they wanted later would have been too much.

» . LJ ONE of the bugs recently

in the old contract with John L. Lewis’ United Mine Workers is a provision which says

be paid for loss of wages not otherwise compensated for by

This looked all right at the time the contract was signed

lawyers have now begun to

welfare fund might be used for paying wages to miners during a strike? This ia .one of the many booby traps which the ‘mine operators will’ attempt to bargain out of any new contract they make with Lewis.

ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF GEN. J. LAWTON COLLINS came back from Japan with

1 Now Take Pen in Hand—'

FREIGHT RATES . . . By Charles Lucey

Did Railroads Overcharge U. S.?

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12—After the Ein: stein theory, about as complex a subject as a layman would care to take & belt at is freight

rates, and that's the issue in the newest big —sei-to_ between the government and the rail-

The U. 8. through the Attorney General's Defote ths. Intecstore Can:

that the

by big over-charges on war goods carried for the Government; and is seeking repayment. A ~

couple billion dollars is variously mentioned as being involved, but any precise figure is hard to nail down. The government has presented its evidence in five of 17 cases, and the railroads in the last two weeks have poured a stream of presidents

and vice presidents into Washington to say it isn’t so. Ni the government will prepare its rebuttal, which is to be in the ICC's hands by

February, and there may be more evidence from both sides after that. When the ICC can come up with a decision in a matter as vast and detailed as this is anybody's guess.

Rate Overcharges , =~ ~~

TO fake the government's story frst

While the war still was on, ex-Sen, Burton K. Wheeler (D. Mont.) and other Congressmen, on the basis of complaints by officers and employees of the War Department, asked the Budget Bureau about reports of railroad rate overcharges. The Budget * Bureau appointed a special three-man group to investigate. The committee found that “the Government has not only paid excessive charges in 2 stupendous amount before Pearl Harbor, but it still is paying such excessive charges on presently (1945) moving traffic and will continue to pay them until appropriate action is taken to remedy this situation.”

The cases now being prosecuted by the Justice Department stem from this report. The ICC law, Justice attorneys say, provides it shall not be unlawful to haul goods for the 0 t free or at a reduced rate—that is. that rates lower than published rates may be negotiated. . The rates thus negotiated in these cases, it is contended, were not as favorable as the ‘Government could have obtained by application of published rates less land-grant reductions to which it was entitled. Government attorneys claim the U. 8. wasn’t treated as well as private commercial shippers. ‘To explain what they mean, they set up an

SIDE GLANCES

for the throat. that the 220

to cure many

coal operators

“benefits

the operators’

meant that the

munists by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Many of the Japanese prisoners of war recently released . by the Russians came back home indoctrinated by thelr captors, who had held them for four long years. The Communist plan was that these POW's would be pent smart gimmick intd the cites for agitation pee Com- and propaganda. ol

4 ». XY ~ — . = N=, 12-2 ; ; om MEA SERVICE. NC. T, M. REA. W. & PAT. OF,

“This Christmas will put a-dent in our savings, but at least we won't have tQ worry so much about the bank failing!"

Say the “paper” rate on a shipment is $2. If a private shipper sought a “going” rate instead of the : | bring it to $1. But, Government attorneys say. the U.S. was charged $1.50. They contend aiso

ing built in the last century.

-—_ Then, also at tssue is a six per cent rate in-“crease-granted early in the war, then suspend-

ed by the ICC. The Government claims this six per cent often was added on where it should not have been. Tr Te I

Reductions Cited

NOW, the railroads reply: In no case did the railroads charge the Government more than the rates applicable upon commercial shipments. In most instances the railroads charged the Government much less than they charged commercial shippers. The railroads contend

. the reductions came about usually in two ways

~first, through reductions because of early

and grants; and; second; through Government ~~

agencies’ requests for épecial reductions because of the volume and character of Government shipments, The railroads say: “The rates selected for complaint by the Justice Department are not isolated charges. ‘They are part of a general body of rates arrived at by discussion, compromise and agreement between the railroads and the several departments of Government who were the principal users of transportation during the war. “The present effort of the Department of Justice is to accept the benefits of all the many thousands of negotiated rates it finds to the government's advantage, while asking the ICC to go back more than six years and reduce retroactively the rates where the department thinks further advantage can be gained.” No Big Profits THE railroads cite the tremendous hauling job they did during the war and say that ir rates had been excessive then profits would have been too. Yet during the five years, they say, railroads earned a total return of “only 4.62 per cent on net investment in transportation facilities for the public's service.” Fred Gurley, Santa Fe president, told the ICC that insolvency of many railroads and impairment of service on all undoubtedly would result if the government” should win the reparations cases.

one-fourth of American families

paper rate, negotiation might

sy Tolbt Hoosier Forum

will defend lo the death your ight te. sey 1." ‘Scare Words Used’ :

By E. Bowman, 3831 Station St.

what socialism really is 3 Hut use un We se ceiving end of governmen ‘ For example, long term financial assistance at low interest rates to manufacturers is good to educate medical stu-

Subsidies for farmers, meat packers and dairymen is O, K. with these outfits. But anything done for the public as a whole, such as Social Security, old age pensions, health insurance and unemployment

But the. foresight of the makers of the Constitution was almost uncanny sand they wrote into that instrument provisions te take care of any condition that might arise. And they didn't designate it as statism, welfare state, government interference, or made the

being advocated. Britain's government ownership of all utilities and jurisdiction over every walk of life, makes a despotic dictator out of the government, which is worse than an absolute monarchy. Debs’ socialism was just a dream child that could never have been put into operation. with 8 than $1000 per year, one-third less than $2000 per year, prices and profits soaring, medical aid prices becoming prohibitive for so many, and so many persons thrown on 4 scrap heap of uselessness, it's time that something be done about it.” And, according to the Constitution that established our government, it is clearly the government's responsibility.

‘Enough Decorations’ By Mrs. Walter Haggerty, Oity.

ery and suffering in the human family? Asking the merchants to decorate the outside is a childish thing, but ® you Ana be Shue. ren es ly during the holiday season, down Po write Old Santa a letter. Tell him where these unfortunate pute, ot humans are and help him his door. re ‘mo disgrace €o be poor, just unhandy, and if you would lend a helping hand, you and Santa Claus may work out a pian to help these unfortunates help themselves. This is the only way the human family can achieve the decent, satisfying, self-reliant life that is the right of

all people,

. . » v ‘Price Regimeniation By W. H. Edwards, Gosport, Ind. We are continually told that free enterprise and individual initiative are the things that make our country the most prosperous one in the world. But now a pressure group known as the Fair Trade Association has lobbied our Indiana legislature into passing laws that make it illegal for any retail dealer to sell cigdrets for less than $1.89 a carton. Before the war a carton of cigarets cost L cents. Because of the war they were raised to $1.39 a carton. Then a former legislature put 30 cents a carton tax on them, ng the price to $1.66x Along came the recent ature and made it illegal for any retail dealer to sell a carton for less than $1.89, a further tax of 20 cents for the benefit of the fair trade boys. Now, with coffee speculators having gained complete control of our favorite beverage, for a profit estimated at around $100 million and with the public resisting the grab, it seems likely that the fair trade group will insist on the Indiana legislature being called into special session to pass another fair trade law. Just some more grab for excessive profits for a few at the expense of the many. Price regimentation thou art a jewel of great pride, with the fair trade lobby calling the tune and the unorganised public paying the fiddler.

By Galbraith WARNING TO PEOPLE ... . By Bruce Biessat

—

£ IE | < x =

But Dr,

time search an

Gen. MacArthur therefore bold, risk-taking adventure. quire some positive, easily ordered that all prisoners must “People bent on a soft secur- measurable loss of liberty to return to. their families on ity, surrendering their birth- - convince people. ° the farms and stay there. right of individual self-reliance heard too: many hore Only When they got back to their for favors, voting themselves the reality of events seems villages, Gen. Collins reports, into Eden from a supposedly likely to impress them. they discovered for themselves inexhaustible public purse, sup- But should they some time that the Americans hadn't porting everyone by soaking decide that another course is robbed them, raped their wom- fast-disappearing rich, scram- wise, they might well hope for en and disernbowled their chil- bling for y, learning the men of the caliber of Dr. dren, as had been told them . arts rolling and forget- Bush to help lead them down . by the Ruskians. wy ting the rtyes of the that new path. ” or

Bush has already proved himself a man of . statesmanlike stature. He was not chosen head of the warOffice of Scientific Reelopment merely because of his rank as a render scientist. He understands the need for relating science to the broader patterns of life. >

~ = HIS new book, “Modern Arms and Free Men,” is being hailed as one of the most important books of the postwar period. It brings home to the average man what another war would be like, . Thus Dr. Bush's comment on trends cannot be dismissed as the uninformed blather of an ivory-tower statesman lated from reality. He is not the type of man who talks without thinking first.

. 8 »- DR. BUSH {is sincerely worried that people in this country {pn are becoming too interested in cushioning the blows. of life and have lost the desire for

‘Security’ Dangers WASHINGTON, Dec. 12—-Dr. Vannevar Bush, the nation’s top wartime scientist, has ranged himself against what he sees as a growing trend toward government-sponsored “soft security” for the American people. : : Because Dr. Bush is distinguished in science that does not qualify him to speak with authority on social and political affairs, Too often experts in one field like to offer themselves as ex-

pioneer. will not measure up to competition with a tough dieta“torship.” 80 spoke Dr. Bush recently at’ Cambridge, Mass. He added:

“If we go all the way down the path to dependence and 4 ourselves a people fawning for handouts on an intriguing bureaucracy, Russia. can cease its building of war machines. It will conquer the world without them.” Dr. Bush believes Americans have the “wit to recognise a dangerons trend, reverse it before it is too late, _and laugh at sirens with crack-brained economic theorfes who would guide us down an easy path over a precipice.”

nN ~ insu- THERE is no great sign,

, it will probably re-

By |

day night b , day, Indian: stuff which As am seven billio + reservoir 1 In ‘addition

feet deep, a: about 11 feet produce abou a day.

« We're Luc THE CITY ' Hon gallons lion ctrhes fr: million gallor ervoir, the W Creek, For a city natural wat lucky, indeed in trouble eve rainfall declf * the year aga 29.9 inches. Even that its point of gr * five feet at th est point. The reason and will not | * that in the ea ter company industrial gro

1000,000 ANOTHER * there is no un »: {ee in town. has 100,000 * been ticking | eight years te In New Yi > land the wate by lack of 1 “free water,” rainfall. So feel fre ‘baths as you er as long a: drink all of * ean hold. Yo and there's _ You got it:

They want to The needle for young ‘ want to mov stem with of attract colleg them for exec "The clothin has suffered f conception th: much skill to coat. But t oe ? ~d ONE OF th joked-about, - designer $50, men’s fashion ds competitive » dustry, he ha Morris - Gr » Schaffner & ) . lish a clothin bright young The headthat the syr giving the cc . sheep herds s Ypyons, nylon , are moving in

. - fast that fit

test tube bac . suit makers } new materials . THEN, TO are getting t tion, the lofts clothing is pu * dre like this * Fashion Parl ings and fan still are a | ‘away out o rafters of low The clothin,

LEGA AL NOTICS