EVfF? t1' \Y\ ffl iW ? IPfiH
'Columnist's Thoughts Turn
To Squirrels?and Crabgrass
By BAUKHAGE
New? Annlyit and Commentator.
WNC Service, ISIS Eye Street, N.W
Washing ton, D. C.
Summer was creeping toward th
Potomac, the flag over the Whit
House hung limp as a wilted peta
a hot sun, burning through the ii
frequent gaps in the heavy foliagi
made yellow patches on the lawi
The fountain splashed faintly, fal
log like warm, futile tears.
I moved slowly along the driv<
wondering if I could garner even
modicum of answers to meet emptj
ness left by the thousands of unar
swered questions the world is ask
ing.
I looked under the Jspanese oak
whose tightly laced leaves, only i
little above the ground, smother th<
young grass, hopefully starting u]
each spring, withering in the shad
ows before July. There, bored an(
half asleep, 1 could make out thi
form of the old gray squirrel.
Often this winter, he had com<
to my rescue when other "depend
able sources" and "authorltativs
quarters" refused to yield up theii
secrets. But this time, he barely
nodded, and looked away, deep ir
his meditations, probably a nucleai
problem of some sort.
A few moments lster, I was tak
ing down notes at a not very news
ful press and radio conference. The
President, I feared, did not feel ai
cheerful as he looked. The hand
kerchief in his breast pocket wai
neatly folded in its customary three
flat, razor-sharp triangles. (Some
times his answers were almost at
sharp.) The great red carnations
on the table behind his desk, which
holds the photographs of members
of his family, were already droop
ing. The low hum of the mowing
machine came in the open windows
that look toward the Potomac.
Of what was said of import to
the nation and the world, you will
Hftukbige consults the old gray
squirrel.
have read by the time these lines
are printed. The rest was trivia.
We walked out of the executive of
fices. I glanced under the Japa
nese oaks, but my friend, the squir
rel, had gone, the vista looked very
bare and cheerless. So I went back
and talked about it
As soon as mall could reach me
from Sturgeon Lake, Minn., I re
ceived a letter and a package. The
writer said that as I had mentioned
that it seemed impossible to raise
grass on the shaded parts of the
White House grounds, I might be
interested in this sample of quack
grass which she offered, and she
wrote: "If it won't grow there. I'U
be glad to know there is some place
it won't grow."
The next day, I acknowledged the
gift, and opined that quack grass
must be another name for crabgraas
which I remembered as the bane
of my lawn-mowing experience.
Soon I received other communica
tions.
A landscape designer in Akron,
.Ohio, informed me that "quack
grass is not crabgrass. The former
is a perennial; the latter is an
annual. Quack grass (agropyron
repens) propagates by seeds and
creeping rootstalks. Crabgrass re
seeds itself each year."
Another letter came from Robert
Jj. ("Pop") Davis, "Amateur Mulch
Gardener" of Thorsby, Ala. He re
ferred to my mention of crabgrass
as a pest, and then he went on:
1 "Having spent years at my
hobby of looking for the most
useful plant for growing sum
mer mulch in my gardens, and
deciding that crabgrass was it,
I cannot resist a challenge.
,r
Even though million* of garden
ers agree with your remark*, I
e still challenge them. At prea
t ent, I have a spring garden
1, growing without any hoeing on
land covered with a thick lay
. er of last year's dead crab
;; grass.
"Scarcely a weed can grow
through it, not even this year's
, crabgrass.
"You see, I am 'Pop,' the
, laziest gardener in the world,
and I refuse to gather, haul and
spread mulch when crabgrass
will do it for me, and do a bet
ter Job of it. I make it mulch
the land for me by leaving It
strictly alone. I may even en
courage it with fertilizer. After
_ I have gathered my early spring
[ vegetables, I let the crabgrass
, take over. In early fall, when
the crabgrass stops growing
here, I mow it down. I then
1 have that mulch gardener's de
light, a mellow mulchy spot
> where most anything can grow
without using spade or hoe. I
us* a potato digger to dig
1 planting holes."
But that is not all. "Pop" may
be the laziest gardener in the world,
? U..s I _ ?: - ?*
uub ne is a vigorous poei. ne en
closed a poem of which (alas) I
have room only for one verse and
refrain. Here it is:
"Bring me a hoe; pull 'em all up!
Chick weed, crabgrass, dig and
cut!
Stoop down low! Nothing but
trash,
Goosefoot, pigweed and Johns
ton grass;
Just no time to look at the sky,
Fleecy clouds a-floating by;
Work 'til you've such a crook
in the back
That gardening pleasure's gone,
alack!
"Wisdom may have a foolish
sound;
Crabgrass mulch Is good for the
ground,
' Let the weeds grow! Bring me
a chair I
Crabgrass mulch is every
where.
Soft and thick and brown."
? ? ?
Strategy Misfire*
In Battle Over OP A
The battle over the OPA In the
senate has brought out some of the
good old axioms on how to bring
pressure on congress . . , and how
not to ... if you want to get your
favorite bill passed.
Anti-OPA strategy all along has
been to postpone action on OPA as
long as possible. Supporters have
fought for action. At this moment,
though some unforeseen event may
change the courfca, it looks as if
the odds favored postponement, but
not defeat.
It first appeared that ordinary con
ventional methods used by the pro
fessional lobbyists were going to kill
me Din Tnen It looked u if spon
taneously written letter! were going
to save it. In both case!, the effort
was overdone. There were too
many expensive advertisements in
the newspapers, sponsored by the
various business institutions fight
ing price control; too much money
easily identified as coming from
vested interests was being spent.
Then it was that John Q. Citizen
sat himself down, took up his pen,
or often his pencil, and wrote an
un dicta ted letter because he (most
ly she) was really stirred up. Con
gress began to take heed of thoae
letters. They were obviously spon
taneous, they were written by men
and women who had made up their
own minds. They were voters with
convictions, and it was very likely
those convictions would be regis
tered at the polls.
But once more, Pelion was heaped
on Ossa. There was a nation-wide
organization by the labor people, the
veterans, the women's clubs. The
mail and telegrams piled up, but
the senators weren't too interested.
The letters were sincere enough. But
the majority revealed that they
were inspired, not by an inner urge,
a look into the pocketbook or pan
try, but by the persuasive voice over
the phone or at the front door. Do
what you will, the kind of communi
cation produced by these methods to
very likely to have a second
hand appearance which the experi
enced congressman can recognize.
That is why, despite the number
of letters and telegrams, the regi
mented telephone calls, senators
were content to discuss the British
loan, and even ponder such compli
cated matters as atomic energy,
before hastening to line up for OPA.
mm
I BARBS ? ? ? by Baukhagt
' Musician Charles Chiisikoff took
ftO shirts with him when the Phila
delphia orchestra went on tour. The
tour lasts 41 days. I suppose they're
stopped in Pittsburgh.
? ? ?
Inflation note from a reader who
sends me soma of Ms IMO Mils,
deems be paid H.TS for CM floor
Mg In 1940. and |12 ? last menth
?
'? ...
Scemi there's a special Josef
Stalin tulip named after the gen
eralissimo. Wonder if it's red.
? ? ?
The coal Industry is sick all right
. . . and some of Its nurses are get
ting pretty superannuated.
? ? ?
This spring weather would be fine
if it weren't for an occasional flu fil
the ointment
TRCMAN8 ENTERTAIN PAGE HOTS . . . Ninety page boya of the senate and boose were (nests of Presi
dent and Mrs. Truman. The boys were brought to the east wing of the White House where they met the Pres
ident and First Lady of the Land, then they were escorted through the White House by their host and host
ess. Here are tbe Trumans with the fa tare senators and representatives daring their recent visit to the
White House. They represented every state in the Union.
REVOLT ON THE "ROCK" QUELLED . . . Upper photograph show* members of the San Francisco police
department, who together with marine corps and coast gnard aided gnards at federal prison, Alcatras, the
"rock" in San Francisco bag, when prisoners revolted. Before the revolt bad been bronght under control
three prisoners and two gnards wers killed and shores wounded. Insert, view of the "rock."
I I
REBEL AGAINST GIRL DUNGAREES . . . Ton abort Is fair play.
Annoyed by the practice of girl Undents appealing for elan dad In
dangarees, then three etndents of the Robert E. Lee school, Richmond,
Vs., decided to tarn the tables and arrived at school wearing dresses.
Photo shows the daring trie.
BIKE SATES ELECTKICITT ...In lotk. right, Chieags UUnC
?tail? ayerater, wtwl tee electricity shortage by rigging ay a eae
hUto yawer mater to Us gas mi, with Dick Frederick dateg tea
teg mack, wtete tea s ??earner, ham te gat gas, teaks aa tram his
car wtedear. Oaal shaftsga hrsaght ahaat hy tea strike malted la
maay Ghteaga ladaslilss hateg easts Bad as aamptetely shat dawn.
UNDERGROUND HERO .. . Gen
eral Tadenss Bor-Komorowski,
Polish underground leader, who
commanded the uprising in War
saw in 1944, shown as he spoke
at the 159th anniversary of Polish
constitution, held at Chicago. Gen
eral Bor, as he Is usually called,
addressed the colorful ceremonies
at statne of General Koseiussko,
Revolutionary war hero in Hum
boldt park.
PARIS GETS NEW PHONE U
BOOKS . . . Paris hasn't had any b;
new telephone directory since he- ti
fore the war; so the issuance of nr.
one was an erent. A pretty ftrl th
sits en stack of phone books here. rr
If
IOHN L. LEWIS STRATEGY
WASHINGTON. ? John L. Lewis
confided -his strike strategy to
friend the other day as follows:
"Before you can get action,
you've got to have a crisis.
And in any crisis, someone's
nerve has got to crack. 1 al
ways bet that I can bold out
longer than the government or
the operators. My nerve won't
crack first."
? ? ?
GOP CONGRESSMAN
REWARDED
Few congressmen have enjoyed
a higher rating at the White House
in the last two decades than hard
hitting Richard J. Welch of Califor
nia, a Republican congressman for
21 years.
Always subordinating party inter
est to the national welfare, Welch's
rugged integrity won him the
esteem of both Presidents Hoover
and Roosevelt, with Harry Truman
equally fond of him.
It is an axiom in congress that
when Dick Welch wants something
ot tVin nrku. ;* TJ;_
?? hic niuvc iiuuac, iic Kct,? *??
last visit, to request Presidential
support of another bridge connect
ing San Francisco and Oakland,
was no exception.
Despite opposition from the
navy, which contends that ex
panded aircraft and water
transport facilities in the bay
area make a new bridge inad
visable, Welch told Truman that
the bridge was imperative.
Traffic on the present Oakland
bridge, he said, was moving
"bumper-to-bumper."
"All we are asking is a public
hearing to state our case, Mr.
President." said Welch, "but the
navy is even opposed to that."
"This is an election year," com
mented Welch with a grin, "but
there are no political considerations
in the bridge project as far as I
am concerned."
Truman may have been thinking
of Welch's' unflinching battle to sup
port OPA as he replied:
"In your ease, Dick, it
wouldn't make any difference to
me whether there were any
political considerations in it or
not."
? ? ?
CONGRESS RETREATS
It isn't often that the public rises
up in protest so quickly and effec
tively as over the recent cutting of
price control in the house of repre
sentatives, However, the "Save
OPA" mail drive on congress now
appears to have scored a bull's eye.
Senate opposition to crippling
bouse amendments is mounting and
anti-price control senators one by
one are beginning to yell "uncle!"
Despite this, OPA Boss Paul
Porter and Economic Stabilizer
Chester Bowles are awaiting the
senate showdown with crossed
Angers. What they fear is a
compromise senate bill ? a
watered-down, but still danger
ous, version of the house "re
peal" measure.
Porter warned of this in a re
rent secret conference with Bowles
ind other top officials when the
question was raised as to whether
the outspoken Bowles should con
tinue his cannonading for air-tight
3PA legislation. Bowles himself
!elt that it might be smart for him
to pull punches temporarily.
Porter, however, vigorously ad
fised the contrary.
"This Is no time to trim oar
sails or for you to let down,
Chester," he told Bowles.
? ? ?
MISSOURI POUND CAKE
President Truman's first cousins,
Vellie and Ethel Noland of Inde
>endencet Mo., are writing quite a
lew letters these days about the fa
nous "pound cake" which long has
wen a favorite delicacy of the Tru
nan and Noland families.
Last Christmas, while Truman
vas in Independence for the boll
lays, one at the Noland sisters'
?akes was featured on the menu.
1 writer for the Associated Press,
ipparently inexperienced in the
citchen, obtained the recipe and
>ublished it. Later housewives
hroughout the country tried their
land at preparing the cake. But
tomething was wrong. Scores of
etters began pouring into the No
and mailbox at 216 North Dela
ware street. Housewives were bav
ng kitchen difficulties.
A cheek revealed the Associ
ated Press reporter had failed
to laelade in the recipe one
pound of batter ? necessary for
good results in baking the cake.
Perhaps the AP reporter was pa
riotic and didn't think butter should
te used in cake in view of the edi
ile fats shortage. Anyway, Presi
lent Truman's cousins have been
rriting letters ever since.
? ? ?
1ERRY-GO-ROCND
Eighty-live professors at the Uni
ersity of Pennsylvania's Wharton
chool of finance and commerce
?ere polled regarding the continu
tion of OPA. Eighty-one signed a
etition urging continuation of price
ontrols. . T. Telegrams were sent
i clothing manufacturers recently
r the civilian production adminis
ation asking a report on the
icn's suit shortage. Reply was that
? government's goal of 28 million
ien's suits will be almost met ...
that helps any.
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DEPARTMENT
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SERVICE. Dept. WN, P. O. Bex 821.
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POULTRY, CHICKS A EQUIP.
KAYTEE PIGEON FEEDS
10 Types Choice, clean mixture* and
iodized Pigeon Health Grit?the best
that can be produced. In writing lor
free samples state whether (or
squabs, fancy, or racing pigeons.
KNAUF A TESCH CO.,
T Street, Chlltan, Wisconsin. |
WANTED TO BUT
WANTED: Vi; W; (4: Vk; ti;HP Motors
115 volt, single phase.
NORTEX COMPANY
2821 Mala Street - Dallas. Texaa.
Buy U. S. Savings Bonds!
VSlY 13I
a I Sj SjB
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WALL PAPER FOR A
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SAMPLES ON REQUEST
Box ltti Baltimore 3, Md.
iOTMnpvn|i^
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BALSAM OP MYRRH! It contains
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Takes the sting and itch out at burns,
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chapped sldn. Its antiaeptic action less
ens the danger at infection sinew the
skin is cut or broken.
Keep a bottle handy for the minor
casualties of kitchen and nursery. At
your druggist?trial sise bottle 35 6
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a C. HANPOftO MFQ. CO, Syracuse, PLY.
Sols mmkmrm of
L J
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V TO^IACCO^ IIT-MO^DUC^TS ? 0
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WNU?4 21?41
For Yon To Feel Well
S4 toon mrj day. T day* erery
week. newer rtoppinr. the kidneye filar
waato matter from the blood.
If moro people wore aware of tow tto
Udam moat constantly rtmore eur
plue duid, exeoa add* aad ottor waato
matter that eaaaot atay la tto bleed
without la jury to health, there weald
to tottar understanding of why tto
wtoU ayatam la opaat wtoa Hdaeya fad
to fuaetioa property.
Burning, scanty or tee tra|?t artaa
tloe aometimm wares that aomelbfaf
la wroef. Tea may safer nagging beefc
acha. beadaehm. Jbdam. rbeumetis
235?!EK2?2as
eeaatrr owar. Docn t iHw elite tto func
tion of tto kddeeya aad batp ttom to
flush eat poisonous waato from tto
blood. Ttoy contain aetblaf barmfuL
Get Dses'e today. Una with nallaa
At all drug atoraa.