The Alamance Gleaner \ " ? _ ?* 1 GRAHAM, N. C., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1937 No. 8$ XetcH Review of Current Events KLAN ISSUE DOGS BLACK Newspapers Claim Proof He's Life Member . . . Fleet Stalks Submarine Pirates . . . Japs' Big Push Starts -^MmuuLW. PuJuuul SUMMARIZES THE WORLD'S WEEK ? Western Newspaper Union. Fiery Cross Haunts Justice most embarrassing period of his en tire political career as the whole country stormed over the publish ment of what was claimed as docu mentary proof that Hugo L. Black, recently appointed a justice of the Supreme court, was and is a mem ber of the Ku Klux Klan. The series of articles, copyrighted by the North American Newspaper alliance and printed in the news papers which subscribe to its serv ice, included reproduction of Black's resignation from the hooded broth erhood, allegedly turned in to the organization in 1925 but never made known to the public or to the Klans men in general. It also contained reproduction of the minutes of a Klan meeting in the following year at which Black was said to have become a life member and was given a gold "passport," one of the highest honors conferred by the or der. Implications of the revelations, if they are true, are manifold. Presi dent Roosevelt asserted that he had no knowledge that Black was a member of the Klan when the ap pointment was made. He refused to comment further until Black re turned from Europe, where he was vacationing. Black, hounded for a statement by the press, went into seclusion in London and refused to confirm or deny the accusations. Opposition to the administration lost no time in making political cap ital of the situation. Senators who had been marked for political ex tinction because they had dared to oppose the administration on the plan to add Six new justices to the highest tribunal found it the finest kind of defense ammunition. They pointed out that the President, in his opportunity to appoint one new justice of the liberal character he desired, had appointed a man who, if it were true he belonged to the Klan, was incapable of administer ing impartial justice to Catholics, Jews and negroes. Other senators declared they never would have vot ed for his confirmation had they known he was a Klansman. It was admitted that since Black had already taken his oath of office there might be no means of correct ing the appointment other than by influencing him to resign. This the President might do, it was be lieved, if Black did not deny the charges upon his return to the Unit ed States. ROOSEVELT suf fered what was probably the Showdown on 'Sub' Piracy O REAT BRITAIN and France ^ were massing the greatest de stroyer fleet ever operated in the Mediterranean sea, to police it and safeguard neutral shipping from at tacks by "pirate" submarines, as a re sult of the agree ment signed by nine powers at Nyon, near Geneva. The powers signatory to the pact also In cluded Greece, Jugo slavia, Turkey, Ru mania, Bulgaria, Egypt and Russia. M. LitTiDoff Italy and Germany had refused to attend the conference when Russia publicly accused Italy of operating the "pirate" submarines which sank two Russian ships, and threatened reprisals if Italy did not pay indem nity. The principal provisions of the agreement, which Germany and Italy were invited to join, were: 1. Mediterranean shipping will be restricted to the regular ship lanes, ? which, will be patrplled by. French and British warships,' in EaST ffie eastern and western stretches. If Italy agreed, she was to be al lowed to patrol the Tyrrhenian sea. 2. Patrollirfg navies will attack and attempt to destroy any sub marine which attacks merchant ships other than Spanish, without first giving passengers and crew op portunity to leave in lifeboats, as outlined in the 1936 London naval treaty. J. Signatories expressly declare that they do not concede belligerent rights to either party in Spain. 4. Patrol ships arriving on the scene of an attack too late to pre vent it will be authorized to attack any submarine in the vicinity, pro vided they are satisfied it is the guilty one. 5. These measures will be execut ed by the British and French fleets HANDS ACROSS EUROPE Jointly refusing to attend the anti-"piracy" conference, Hitler (left) and Mussolini once more show the complete accord of the two Fascist governments. anywhere in the Mediterranean with the exception of the Adriatic. East ern powers will protect neutral shipping in their territorial waters. 6. Signatories agree not to let any of their own submarines put to sea in the Mediterranean unless accom panied by a surface vessel, except in certain "exercise" zones. 7. Signatories will not permit for eign submarines in their waters un less in urgent distress or on the surface and accompanied. It was plain that delegates knew that explosions might occur in half a dozen European capitals if their pact did not get into operation be fore there were any further attacks on shipping. They were embar rassed in conference by the Russian foreign commissar, Maxim Litvinoff, who insisted on naming Italy as the "pirate." Russia at first refused to sign, on the grounds that the sec ond provision was no protection at all, merely requiring submarine commanders to be "gentlemanly" before sinking ships, and that it im plied recognition of both Spanish parties as belligerents. China's German Strategy JAPAN'S long-awaited "big push" J in China was believed definitely "on" as the Japanese assumed vir tual control of North Hopei, and made important thrusts into the Chi nese lines at Shanghai, after the most terrible fighting of a month of undeclared warfare. At about the same time, the Chi nese, heeding at last the advice of German officers generally conced ed the "brains" of the central army, began a strategic retreat to the "third area of defense" mapped out by these same officers after the Shanghai conflict of 1932, which was conducted under identical condi tions. Apparently the Chinese plan of re treat was to withdraw defending troops from the range of Japanese naval guns in the Whangpoo and Yangtse rivers. The Chinese were reluctant to leave positions which they claimed had been held against the Japanese invasion, but the Ger man advisers finally won them over to the theory that these positions had been held at a cost far out of proportion to their importance. The first strategic stage of the Chinese fighting in Shanghai ? as planned by the German officers ? was to slow down and harass the landing of Japanese reinforcements; the second, to divide the Japanese lines, and the third, to deprive the Japanese of the use of their naval guns. Realizing what is going on, the Japanese command has ordered rapid -advance -no mattct what-th? cost, in an effort to change an or derly retreat into a complete rout Copeland Losei in Primary TWENTY-ONE arrests were made as violence dogged the polls in New York city's most spirited may oralty primary in years. Senator Royal S. Copeland, who ran for the Republican nomination although he was supported by Tammany Hall, lost the honor to Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia, fusion candidate for re election. Copeland made his bid for the G. O. P. nod by bitterly oppos ing President Roosevelt, but the stamp of Tammany precluded his nomination. The Democratic nom ination was captured by Jeremiah T. Mahoney. who had the backing of Democratic national chairman James A. Farley. 'Keep Us Out of War" and the Far East, cut his vacation short and returned to Washington to discuss developments with his cabi net. After discussing the situation with Norman H. Davis, his European ambassador-at-large, and Bernard M. Baruch, and getting reports from the State department, he was said to be convinced that there was a real possibility of implication of the Unit ed States in a foreign war. Baruch called Europe a tinder box, ready to explode at any time. In an address before an outdoor meeting of Dutchess county (N. Y.) citizens President Roosevelt had said, "World conditions are pretty serious. I am glad to say . , . that we are going to do everything we can in the United States ? not only the people of the United States but the government of the United States ? to keep us out of war." ious over conditions in Europe ROOSEVELT, anx Headache for the League At GENEVA, the Chinese delega tion framed an appeal against Japanese invasion, to be presented to the League of Nations. The ap peal, which urged peace-loving members and non-members to join in action against the "aggression," invoked Article 17 of the League covenant, which would invite Japan to sit in on the council of reply. The Chinese statement charged that since mid-August Japan has thrown 60,000 troops into the Woosung-Shanghai area. "The intention of Japan . . . can not otherwise be interpreted than to dominate Shanghai . . . and to at tack Nanking, the capital," the statement said. It also declared that the Japanese blockade of the entire Chinese coast was illegal. Eiji Amau, Japanese minister to Switzerland, made . it plain that Japan had no intention of returning to Geneva to sit at any council board that discussed the Far East ern hostilities. Nippon resigned from the League in 1933. $300,000,000 in New Money SECRETARY OF THE TREAS URY MORGENTHAU has agreed to issue $300,000,000 in cash against an equal amount of the Secretary Morgenthau treasury's "steril ized" gold. The move was believed to have been made because of recent weakness in the market for govern ment bonds and a 16 per cent decline in the stock market over a period of about four weeks. In addition, the open market com mittee of the federal reserve board announced that it had authorized the twelve federal re serve banks to 'buy additional amounts of short term government securities. In some quarters, the treasury's move was interpreted as an about face by the administration, reversing its year-old policy of trying to pre vent an untimely inflation. ? ? *? Loyalists Ready to Pay Up WAS reported in Geneva that ihe Spanish loyalist government and the American government had agreed upon $30,000,000 as a settle ment for American claims arising out of the Spanish civil war. This, it was understood, would cover every kind of damage suffered by American business in Spain since the beginning of the war, including confiscation and appropriation of private property for military pur poses, as well as material damages. In voluntarily offering a settle ment while the war is still going on, the Valencia government shattered revolutionary traditions. It was be lieved that the loyalists were anx ious to emphasize the fact that they are not the revolutionary govern ment, but the real government of Spain, and consider prompt pay ment of claims one of the .best ways of keeping the respect of other na tions. No Help for Munitions Ships ANY American merchant vessels which carry arms or other im plements of war to China or Japan will do so at their own risk, Presi dent Roosevelt warned shipping con cerns. This policy applies to all of the articles listed in his proclama tion of May 1, 1937, when he in voked the neutrality act against both parties in the Spanish civil w*ar. The President's order also forbade any government-owned vessel from carrying war materials to China or Japan. Unless war is declared he has no control over other American shipping, but he warned shippers that if ships carrying such cargo are bombed or attacked they need expect no action on the part of the I United States. Keeping Beauty Contest Judges Incorruptible When the French hold a beauty contest the judges, called "Le* In eorruptibles" (the incorruptible ones), wear masks so that their judgment cannot be warped by the smiles and winks of the fair con testants. This photograph was made at Le Touquet. Bedtime Story for Children ? KM. By THORNTON W. BURGESS V JIMMY SKUNK MEETS THE STRANGER \\T HEN at last Unc' Billy Po* * * sum got safely back to his hol low tree he knew, of course, that Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow and Peter Rabbit were not crazy, as he had so often said they were. Anyway, if they were, why he must be himself, for hadn't he seen the very stranger Sammy and Blacky had told about? If Unc' Billy couldn't believe what they said he ' Une' Billy Looked Down to Find HU Old Friend Jimmy Skunk Looking Dp at Him. felt sure he could believe his own eyes. He just knew his own eyes couldn't fool him like that. It made Unc' Billy shiver every time he thought of that stranger he had seen deep in the Green Forest by the pond of Paddy the Beaver. He was so big! And he had such great cruel-looking claws! "Ah ? Ah hope he can't climb trees!" said Unc' Billy. , Now Unc' Billy had spoken aloud, for he didn't know that anyone was near. So he jumped almost out of his skin when a voice said: "Who is it you hope can't climb trees, Unc' Billy?" Unc' Billy looked down to And his old friend Jimmy Skunk looking up at him. He hesitated a few min utes. He knew that Jimmy thought that Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow were crazy or else were tell ing untrue stories, and he didn't like to tell Jimmy what he had seen "A husband i starvation wage." ityi porerlsh Pearl, "seldom rirei a wife anything new te her back bat veicM." WNV 9*rrtc?. himself. You see, ha didn't want to be laughed at or thought crazy. But he felt that he just had to tell someone, and so finally he told Jim my Skunk all about it. Jimmy looked at Unc' Billy very sharply, but Unc' Billy was so very much in earnest that Jimmy had to believe that Unc' Billy really thought he had seen this terrible stranger. Jim my never had heard of such a stranger in the Green Forest. He couldn't quite believe there was one even after Unc' Billy had said so. "I think I'll go up to the pond of Paddy the Beaver and see if I can see anything of this stranger," said Jimmy. "Ah wouldn't if Ah was yo\ Br'er Skunk! 'Deed Ah wouldn't! Yo' don' know what he may do to yo' with those great claws. Mah goodness. Ah cert'nly does hope he can't climb trees!" Unc' Billy looked so anxious that Jimmy had to turn his head so as to hide a smile. "I'll go ask him if he climbs trees and then I'll come and let you know, Unc' Billy," said he. Now, Unc' Billy knew that Jimmy Skunk is afraid of nothing and no body unless it is Farmer Brown's boy when he has his terrible gun, but he also knew that Jimmy had never seen and had no idea of this great stranger who had given him such a fright, and he couldn't be lieve that Jimmy would dare ask him any questions. He watched Jimmy march off into the Green Forest and be grinned just a little. "Br'er Skunk never hurries, but Ah reckons Ah'll see him hurry right smart if he meets up with that stranger," muttered Unc' Billy. Jimmy Skunk went on until he came to the pond of paddy the Bea ver, which you know is deep in the Green Forest. Jimmy was tired and he sat down to rest. It was very still there. Paddy the Beaver was nowhere to be seen. Neither was the stranger. Jimmy grew sleepy. He made up his mind that he would take a nap before he looked any further, and he started to find a nice soft spot to curl up on when be heard a heavy step behind him. Jimmy whirled about and there Just coming out of the bushes was the stranger of whom Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow and Unc' Billy Possum had told, and he was just as big and just as black and had just such great cruel claws as they had said. "I don't know who you are, but I'm very glad to meet you," said Jimmy Skunk politely. eT W. Buries*. ? WNU Sarrlc*. First Aid Roger B. Whitman to the Ailing House DODGING TROUBLE I HAVE had more questions on how to overcome wetness in cel lars than on any other one subject. Questions have come from every part of the country. There is no commoner house trouble. In a flood, when water runs into a cellar through the windows, it is a catastrophe that cannot be avoid ed. But ordinary wetness, due only to water in the ground outside the walls or under the floor, can be kept out by adapting the construc tion to the conditions, and with high quality materials and good work manship. Almost always, cellar wet ness can be blamed on careless ness; on poor construction; on a failure to study ground conditions and to plan the cellar according to the needs. Common faults are poor materi als in the walls and poor workman ship: porous mortar joints; too lit tle mortar in the joints; low quality and carelessness in the pouring; thin concrete floors, and no provi sions for drainage. All of these causes are avoidable. I feel very strongly that a home builder should foresee them and insist on materials and workmanship that will make his cellar waterproof. One of the commonest mistakes is in the filling of the part of the excavation that is outside the walls. This cavity is usually filled with the debris of building; chunks of con crete and plaster, old bricks, stones, and even cut-off ends of timbers, the whole thing being covered and hidden by a layer of top soil. In a rain, water running down the side of the house soaks through the top lay er and collects in the open spaces beneath. It stands in a pool against th? outside of the foundation walls. and finds its way under the floor. The pressure that is created drives water through weak and porous places in walls and floor. Pressure may be sufficient to crack the floor. To remedy this, fill the cavity out side the walls with solidly packed earth. There will then be no spaces in which water can collect; pressure will not be created, and this cause (or cellar wetness will be complet ly avoided. In addition, the outside of the walls should be coated with tar or asphalt. The filling of the excavation is not the only cause for cellar wetness, but it is the commonest. Avoiding it will add little or nothing to the cost of construction. But whatever the extra expense might be, it would not compare with the cost of mak ing the cellar dry after the house is finished. ? By Roger B. Whitman WNII Servlc*. | MOPil] THE INDIAN BOY By DOUGLAS MALLOCH I J PON the plain the Indian boy ^ Is playing with the white man'* toy And talking in the white man's tongue. An Indian boy whose fathers sprung From a long line of braves of yore Who now are legends, nothing more. But now and then he lays aside The white man's toy and looks with wide, Wide eyes across the ancient plain. Now ripening with the white man's grain Forgets awhile the white man's school. The white man's bounty, and his rule. A frightened bird stirs in her nest. And something stirs within his breast Beneath the white man's clothes- ha - wears. From plain to ridge to hill he stares. Yes, seeking in the sky above For something he is cheated of. Only a legend, not a land, A boy finds hard to understand, Only a legend he recalls That echoes like far waterfalls. The people of his form and face Only a legend, not a race. e Douglas Malloch.? WNU Scnrtc*. ? MANNERS OF THE MOMENT By JEAN THE person who insists that you have a drink is a type we're get ting tired of. He takes you by both shoulders, pushes you into ? chair and starts to find out what complex it is that makes you refuse his mar velous cocktail or his best-that-moo ey -can-buy whisky. If you tell him that you com* from a family of teetotalers, he de cides that now is the time to break the family ties. If you tell him that you never drink during working hours, he is sure that today i s the "Oh, Bat In MUST." time to begin. If you tell him that one drink makes you tight, ha is thrilled at the thought. The on* reason that leaves him cold is that you don't happen to want anything to drink. He ignores that last one. We know but one cure (or him. That is to disappear whenever he's around. JWXV Sarvtc*. In White Ermine Sn