Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 December 1951 — Page 18

ae 2 shat Siw, ¥ ¢ 4 3 / "

LAE

“A SURIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER

* | ROY W. HOWARD WALTER LECKRONE HENRY W. MANZ : President :

: Editor Business ‘Manager PAGE 18 Thursday, Dec. 27, 1951

nd published daily by indianapolis es Publish. ECP peiis Hari br, Poel Lie Harb 0 - <¢ {ce od Press, Bureau of Circulation. - Price on County § cents a copy for dally and 10e SA A w y u A, dally and "sunday $1000 & vear. daily $5.00 a year.

only, 00; all other states, U 8 fons. Canada an Mexico. daily, $1.10 a month. Sunday. 100 a cop”. a

Telephone PL aza 8551 Give TAnht and the Peopla Will Find Their Own Way

Every Pound Needed STEEL production now is two million tons a week. That's a record-breaking rate. But it isn't enough. The defense effort, slowly gaining momentum, will continue to demand more and more steel. Even sharper restrictions on the flow of steel into’ civilian uses—restrictions which should be made—could not for long stave off that mounting demand. a Steps are being taken to expand the steel industry’s capacity. But it takes time to build new steel mills and get them into production. , Meanwhile, we can’t afford to have the mills now operating shut down for a single day. The day's “headlines provide a panoramic view. of Communist threats to this country's safety. We cannot rest easy until we are prepared to deal in strength with such threats, wherever and whenever they arise. Thus, the seriousness of the strike authorized for New Year's Day by the CIO United Steelworkers cannot be overemphasized. ; n

THE STEEL UNION, among other things, wants wage increases, averaging 181% cents an hour. Steel companies contend they can't pay higher wages unless they are permitted to charge higher prices. And government price control officials are fearful of the obvious effect a higher-wages-for-higher-prices deal would have on their efforts to stem inflation. President Truman has referred the dispute to the Wage Stabilization Board and has asked the steel union to call off the strike until the board has had time to make recommendations, none of which would be binding on either side. ! . The steel industry already has agreed to the President’s request. In Pittsburgh today the steel union's executive board and wage policy committee will consider it. We believe that the steel union should go along with the President's request—and that all parties concerned - then should get together and work out a satisfactory settlement. One that would not mean the loss of one pound of steel production.

What Have We Bought? HE REPORT that President Truman will ask Congress for approximately the same amount in foreign aid for 1952 as that appropriated during the past year seems somewhat premature. An accounting should be made to the public showing what has been accomplished with the money previously voted, before asking for new appropriations. That will not be very much, judging from information from abroad. The 1951 appropriation for foreign assistance was $7,284,000,000—which is a lot of money from the standpoint of those who paid the taxes to make it up. It is in order to inquire just what this money has bought in terms of divisions, tanks, guns and war planes. These specific items are suggested because our friends in Europe, in particular, do not appear to be thinking in these terms. They seem to regard the rearmament program as little more than a new name for the old Marshall Plan. They are eager to get money for so-called economic assistance, but never seem to get around to the point of making a sincere, determined effort to build up their defenses against a prospective attack. - i » ” = » THE FRENCH have heen promised a $600 million handout from the current appropriation as “economic assistance.” It has been explained that this was essential to prevgnt the French econefny from breaking down under the weight of the rearmament burden. But just what contributes to the alleged weight of this “burden”? Not troops, because we have contributed more troops to Gen. Eisenhower’s army than France has. Not new military equipment, because France is asking us for that, too. It is not enough to say that a healthy French economy will discourage domestic communism. It will take more than money to produce that. Moreover, despite all of the money we have spent in France since the war, there are approximately a million Communists in France, and a Communist vote much larger. than that. This potential fifth column is numerically stronger than the French armed forces. : ; Italy, with more than two million Communist Party members, has even fewer men in the armed services than France.

" » » . " = THE non-Communist leaders in these countries ought to be able to appreciate the dangers inherent in this situation and act to get enough men under arms at least to -hold their domestic Reds in check. in event of another war. It certainly is not to our interest to invest our money in productive activities which could be seized and handed over to the Russians without a struggle. We have spent too much money in Europe to pick up our marbles and come home, at this juncture. : But Eurape should not be given any more blank checks.

Look in the Mirror

HE SYMPATHY of the nation goes out to the community of West Frankfort, Ill, and especially to the families of the 119 coal miners killed in the shocking mine explosion last week-end. Members of Congress are already asking how such a disaster could happen. il We don’t know for sure yet. But it is interesting that federal inspectors recommended certain precautions at this mine last July and that the mine superintendent says they were not adopted. : : Federal inspectors can only recommend, so the superintendent evidently violated no law by his action. ‘Congress has repeatédly refused to pass such a law.” Even if there is only one .chance in 100 that a federal law would have saved the lives of these brave men, the Congressmen will net have to leave Capitol Hill to find one

answer to their question. They can simply ask each other.

“gq Sie ¥ L bo

{ The Indianapolis Times

Sunday ©

Py Es ) Tn. i . va

. : % 2 % hia - REA = « - ce . Fo Sr Wa Ti, .

.@ - .

Don’t Believe What You Hear

Most of Anglo-U. S. Fight Over A-Bomb Bases Will Be Phony

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27—Most of the AfgloAmerican argument over atom bombs and American use of British bases, which you will hear during the next fortnight, will be, phony. Partisans in both countries’ are alarmed about the alleged irresponsibility of the other

government. And each group is suspicious that

its own government will not protect the national interest. ! oi 8 Prime Minister Winston Churchill - is going to put one over on President Truman, according to the American group. In England the fear is the other way around. . There is no major disagreement between the two governments in this general field, except over one theoretic point. That concerns sharing American know-how in manufacture, which the British think they have earned by their big scientific contribution. Even in this case the issue is mainly over principle rather than prac: tice—Britain cannot finance large-scale bomb production, and her area is too exposed for that

purpose anyway. ¥ Two Other Issues

BUT THE public debate is over two other issues. Is America going to precipitate a world war by premature usé of the atomic bomb—say

in Korea or China? Will America use its air ’

bases in England to bomb Russia without the British government's consent? » The British Parliament, public and press are so sensitive on these subjects that a year ago they forced the then Prime Minister Clement Attlee to fly to Washington to prevent irresponsible action by the President. In England the myth still flourishes that a British warning saved the day, though the President had no intention of using the A-bomb then and the Prime Minister knew that. Still the issue continues to be hot in England, It appeared in the October election campaign, and again in Commons debate two weeks ago.

Special Situation

PUBLIC misunderstanding, although there is no serious official disagreement, probably wills continue because of the special situation which exists—and which is unlikely to be changed soon. . The special situation is that the President alone controls the bomb. He must continue: to do so until the American-United Nations agreement on effective international control is accepted by Russia—if ever. Now if the United States shares control with Britain, what about France and other members of the North Atlantic Treaty defense system? Admittedly, this .is a fearful responsibility for one nation to carry. Actually, there are sufficient military and political reasons why the President is unlikely to use the A-bomb in Korea or elsewhere, except as a last resort. The London government understands this fully. But, domestic politics being what they are and fears being as acute as they are, the British public may never bh convinced of this fact,

A Better Case

THE British make a better case in asking that consent be given before their bases are used to bomb Russia—because Stalin would blast England in return. Some Americans object that this would involve indirect British command over our Air Force and bomb. In fact, however, and regardless of the lack of a written contract, the closest Anglo-American co-operation would be automatic in such a situation; because the bases are worse than worthless unless serviced by the British and protected by the Royal Air Force fighters. All of which is agreeable to both the Prime Minister and the President. The American air bases in Britain, far from being the cause of official friction as frequently appears, are the best example of the intimate alliance which both governments desire—but do not always maintain. \

Views on the News

By DAN KIDNEY PRESIDENT TRUMAN may begin 1952 just like some of his other years—invoking the TaftHartley Law he campaigned against.

o ” n GOV. FRANK J. LAUSCHE dried up the Christmas parties at the Ohio State House. Six hundred state employees sang carols, but there wasn’t even a quart for a quartet.

” 8 tJ KNQCKED-DOWN toys never were designed to make a father’s Christmas. merry.

2 " ” AFTER CHRISTMAS, some people lay off hating until New Year’s.

Mr. Lausche

. « No quarts

» ” ” TUESDAY holidays are about the best guar-antee-that the traffic death quotas will be met

What Others Say—

WE should not only give the press freedom but make it understand that freedom and how it is exercised.—Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, of India, as he was voted power to put “reasonable restrictions” o8 Dress, ¢ I AM for General of the Army Dwight D Eisenhower. It is my hope, too, that every on¢ of New York's 97 delegates will vote for him —William L. Pfeiffer, chairman N. ¥. Republi can state cominittee, 0» I AM definitely in favor of marriage.—Eliza beth Taylor, movie actress.

SIDE GLANCES

a Waa

gota die

2-21

core. 1oet Bv bik SEAL ve,

"Your boy pilots a plane at 500 miles an hour? I'l sure have to pinch him if he tries that in his jalopy when he gets home!” §

By Galbraith

: oF “ SRS eg 3 es Ny ?

¥ a

— RT

———

w A ee

5 « fy Soo

HOLIDAY FEASTING . . . By Peter Edson Fs Congressmen and Raw Fish—

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27—Speaking of holiday feasting, there's one little group of Congressmen that has had all the raw fish it wants

for quite a while. - They just got back from a 22,000-mile trip garound the U. S. islands and the Trust territory in the Pacific. It was a House Appropriations subcommittee under Reps. Christopher C. McGrath of New York. With him were Reps. Ben Jensen of Iowa, Carl Andersen of Minnesota and “Georg: /Schwabe of Oklahoma. They went out to see how much money the U. 8. would have to spend next year, and why, to support these former Japanese mandated islands. The U, 8. High Commissioner, former Sen. Elbert Thomas of Utah, went along for hiz first inspection of the territory he governs.

A Delicacy to Some

There wasn't a great deal of entertainment on the McGrath junket. The Polynesian natives on the islands are too poor, for one thing. There was a platform erected and a crowd of about 1000 including the major chiefs and a lot of school children to sing welcoming songs when the party landed on-Truk. Commissioner Thomas made a little speech, saying he’d be back again to stay longer and get better acquainted. -There was a couple of parties thrown for the Congressmen on the U.' 8. island of Guam, which is much more highly civilized than the Trust territory. There were about 50 guests at each ofsthese stag affairs, and enough food for 150—including the raw fish.

But the party that really stopped the Congressmen was an-affair arranged in a native restaurant on Ponape, in the eastern Carolines. The name of the restaurant, by the way, was “Antoine's” like the New Orleans gourmets’ paradise.

ON the menu at the Ponape Antoine's was, first, raw crayfish—the big clawless lobster tail variety-—then two or three kinds of crab, topped off with raw tuna. It's served head, tail and all, smells considerably and is considered quite a delicacy. But not to the Congressmen.

Speaking seriously, they found other problems in the islands more serious than the diet, according to staff members who went along. For instance, there's the matter of where to locate the headquarters for governing the Trust territory.

‘Boondocking’

COMMISSIONER th has been operating from Honolulu since he took over from the Navy for the Department of Intérior, on July 1. But Hawaii is 2000 mjles away front the three million square miles of ocean which make up the Trust territory. And that's too far for proper inspection and administration.

The Japanese had their capital for the mandate on Dublon, a little island near Truk. Under the Japs, Dublon was a city of some 30,000 people. But it was completely destroyed in the ‘war and is now overgrown with bush. To rebuild the capital here would cost entirely too Jnuch money.

Next best bet seems to be Saipan, nerth of Guam. The Japs and the U. 8. Armed Services after them had big installations on Saipan during the war. Since then. without adequate guards and caretaking, there has been plenty of vandalism and lotg more just plain weather-

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27—1 almost burned down the house, trying to get rid of the Christmas wrappings in the fireplace,

but I now have my Yule loot piled up neatly under the tree for inspection by President Truman's anti-racket squad.

Lobbyists, press agents, publie relations experts and big business all showered down on me, but there wasn't a mink in the lot. Or a deep-freeze, either. Having added up the value of the contributions, I have come to the pleased conclusion that nobody tried to bribe me with the Christmas gift de luxe. One .of our leading airlines

presented me with a card which said, “To Light Your Holidays,” a dozen safety

natch books inscribed with the firm's trademark. Another airline rushed over a leather wallet with a zipper to keep my money safe. The world’s biggest electric company sent me a black address book, with the addresses of all the firm’s’' subsidiaries and branches already printed inside, The greatest alyminum manufacturer presentéd me with a handsome book; it turned out to be a history of the firm, Probably very interesting and,

ing’ and deterioration. Most of the buildings were of temporary construction, not made to withstand tropic climate,

If any new capital for the Trust territory is to be created on Saipan, it will have to be done by what has become known on the islands a ‘‘boondocking.” It means trying to make something useful out of war salvage and

scraps, after they have been cannibalized by

somebody else who got there first.

The Trust territory is divided into six districts for local government, and they're all in pretty much the same fix. There are about 50 Americans in each district, as administrators. They went out to the islands—most of them with families—on 18 months contract, now onethird gone. With temporary housing, uncertain electric power supply furnished by wornout military diesel portable light plants, they're having their troubles. They need the electricity for their refrigeration system, for fresh food supplies come in from Guam only once every two weeks. If living conditions for these people can’t be

improved, it’s going to be hard to keep good

administrative staffs for the 96 islands, now inhabited by some 52,000 natives.

LABOR . . . By Fred W. Perkins - =

Lessessessinnasnensssany

~ winds.

AEST a

Hoosier Forum "| do not agree with a word that you say,

but | will defend to the death your right to say it." Voltaire. wl

EERIE TE EERIE TTR ERRATA RARER Ranta r ian

‘About Our Freedom’

MR. EDITOR:

We are always hearing about free enterprise, ejvil rights, .supply and demand and the governed being the government, & in my opinion they have all gone with the Take free enterprise. Markets are manipulated ‘by the manufacturers, processors, and commercial associations, regardless of supply and demand. They set the purchasing price on the raw material and the selling price on the finished product. Surpluses are either destroyed or held-in storage to hold the line in prices. For instance, prices go up in all chain stores all over the nation the same day regardless of supply or demand or the price paid the producers, How much civil rights still exists? According to the Constitution a person going before a court has the right to a jury trial, and also the right of appeal. And excessive penalties are not permitted. : > >»

‘BUT IN the case of contempt of the court the question of whether it is contempt or not is up to the judge. He is the aggrieved. He is the judge who passes sentence (no jury) and penalty unlimited. From his decision there is

TEENIE I Eset Renn

NO appeal.

Just what does the governed have to do with the government? The servants of the government deceive them, lie to them, further their own welfare with no regards to the welfare of the governed... And the governed has. to take it on Jthe chin: and like -it. What can be‘ done about it? Just talk 2bout it, Jd grin and ‘bear it. The politician sets up e target and tie r at it. That's all got 21 18 shoo Some day there may be a change made the results of which ‘may bea revolution or a wave of assassinations or suicides, a trend Hoat copia JO, rom bad to worse. But we wi ome out of the dilémma. W . 8 calves than this get well. @ Nive seen Bioker

—E. Bowman, 2881 Station St,

‘Truman Should Quit’ MR. EDITOR:

As this nation sinks deeper into degradati through dishonesty, deceit ih ya ation 1s much talk of housecleaning. All this talk comes through hats with nothing under them Great cities have come to grief by political mismanagement, ineptitude and inefficiency but have been transformed into models of perfect government, progress and prosperity by the city-manager system. That is exactly what the United States needs now. - ~The Truman administration has proved iis ineptitude, ignorance, inability to manage the nation’s business as it should be; and what is still worse . . . indeed is almost criminal negligence . . . ignores advice of those who do know what should be done. SBD THE BYRD COMMITTEE has said there should be a $10 billion cut in the budget; the Hoover Commission made similar suggestions. Why this bull-headed blindness to facts when we are tottering on the brink of bankruptcy? When Congress meets in January, the President should be called before a joint session of both houses and asked to resign and take his Vice President with him. Sen. Byrd is the best qualified Democrat to manage this nation’s business, and Congress should aft him for the position. If Truman has a spark of common honesty, common justice or love of country in his makeup he will retire gracefully while there is still time to save us, ~—Pat Hogan, Columbus

Will Congress Probe Mine Blast?

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27-— The coal mine blast at West Frankfort, Ill, is sure to set off a repercussion in Congress next session, which starts in January. Boers It will take the form of a new and stronger push for an old bill to allow federal mine inspectors to close coal mines they consider unsafe. Under present law they can only recommend. Authority to close mings. is held only by state inspectors. Those against extending the authority to federal men include coal companies and state mining departments. They argue that such a law would violate the Constitution, which reserves police powers to the states. The old bill is now sponsored by Sen. Matthew M. Neely (D. W. Va.) and Rep. , Melvin Price (D. IIL). The latter's district is in southwest Illinois, not far from the scene of the recent tragedy——which -has taken 119 lives and was the 13tl¥ worst in the United States since 1900. The impact. on Congress will be affected by state and federal investigations expected to start in West Frankfort. * The investigators may disagree in placing the responsibility.

Mr. Lewis

« + + Mourning

Charges already have been made that federal .

inspectors’ recommendations were not followed. and that dangerous quantities of coal ‘dust in the mine added force to an explosion generally blamed on methane gas. : . “These tragedies are a high price to pay for corrective legislation,” Sen. Neely said recently. “But it appears we can’t get the necessary law without them.” .

YULE GIFTS ... By Frederick Othman

Loot Ready for Eyes of Anti-Racket Squad

In addition to the “police powers” argument, opponents of the Neely-Price bill are expected to question whether additional federal power would be any more effective than the state inspections * systems. All coal-mining states have such systems and spokesmen for Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio have asserted they are doing all that federal men could do. On Mar. 25, 1947, 111 men died in a mine explosion at Centralia, also in southern Illinois. The Centralia tragedy was followed by state and federal investigations on the spot. The federal report distributed the responsibility between state and federal authorities (the government at that time was in technical operation of the coal mines) said the United Mine Workers Union also had been negligent, and gave a liberal share of the blame. to Illinois state politics. West Frankfort may produce a senatorial inquiry, as Centralia did.

No Christmas Party

THE UNITED MINE WORKERS this week called off its. annual large and gay Christmas party here for newspaper men and others. A spokesman said it would be “inappropriate. ’

UMW President John L. Lewis is in West Frank- -

fort and may use his authority under the union's

contract with coal opérators to call a “mourn-

ing period.” during which coal miners nationwide would not work. Four representatives of the Mine Union's Welfare and Retirement Fund are preparing to make immediate payments of $1000 each to next-of-kin of the 119 victims. This fund. financed oy a tax of 30 cents a ton on production, will pay $30 a month to widows who remain unmarried and $10 a month for each dependent child under 18.

-—

I know for a fact, heavy; should make an excellent doorstop. ~ ” = ANOTHER aluminum manufacturer, who also turns out a

line of automobiles, steel, bathtubs, hydraulic dishwashers and no telling what all else, delivered a package of assorted cheeses in smaller packages.

Some' of these had odors all

their own, one was dunked in port wine, and one was flavored with caraway seed. The country’s biggest distillery sent me a hand-painted tray in the Pennsylvania Dutch

tradition; this should be good for passing around sandwiches, but probably not much use for drinks on account of splashed alcohol making the paint run.

From a thoughtful manufacturer I received one of his ballpoint pens, which should be useful for writing under water, I say the man was thoughtful, because there's always the possibility this pen won't work. So he sent along one of_his automatic lead pencils to match. I mentioned the Senator a while back who wanted to send me a turkey, if I thought I wouldn't be embarrassed.

VIOLETS

; UPON a corner in our town . .. where thousands pass each day ... there stands an aged lady who . . . sells violets so gay . .. lier face is full of wrinkles and . . . her hair is snowy white . . . and you'can always find her there « « + from morning until night . . . her voice is soft and kindly and . . . she always has a smile + + » for customers who buy her wares . . . her . looks always beguile . . . I do not know from whence she came . . . or how it came to be , .. ' that such a sweet old lady was , . . thrust out upon life's sea . . . for rain or snow she takes her place . . . each day you'll hear her ery . . . violets, sweet violets , , , oh please, sir, won't you buy? . - —By Ben Burroughs.

I didn’t think I would. The turkey arrived and I can report it was excellent. The donor of this was taking no chances on anybody getting in

‘the President's doghouse. His

name did not appear on this bird. Neither did mine. 1 picked it up at the butcher's, as per instructions, under the

name of-the Senator's secretary. :

~ o » THAT BRINGS us finally to the finest gift of all,.or at least so it struck me. Turned out that the representative here of a western railroa’ was shopping for a nightgowr for* his wife. While waiting hig turn at the lingerie counter, he read a piece I'd done about my own nightgown troubles. He was sympathetic. So he bought two gowns: one for his wife, one for mine He told me that these garments cost $3 each. Hild~

wore hers to bed Christmas

night. It was blue. It also was a beauty. She said she had no idea $3 in 1951 would buy so much. This proves that men are better shopper: for fluffy-ruffles than women. It also.indicatas that Christmas bribery by. Capital fs-vor-seekers has not filters” into newspaper circles. I doubt if it ever does. .

gia 30 ack as 00 Worl 15 Head :30 Bing 45 News 200 News 5 Weal | 30 Kifeh 45 Robir 100 Arthy 1S - 30° 4S - sn] 00 ° 15 - | 10:3 Grand :45 Rosen Wend

:00 1 1 HE z 30 «45 :00 1 :15 :30 Hs." «00 Secon AS Pemy :30 Nona +45 Brigh +00 Hilito 15 House 3..." 145 Make 00 Make HE - 30." 7

WAJC-FM

3:00 Thursday Matinee 6:30 ROTC Review 7:00 Artistry In Rhythm

Hundreds o tised EXCLU: estate pages ¢ them over . . suitable home

EAT NEAT,