THE DANBURY REPORTER
Established 1872
THE TRAIL OF THE SERPENT
The beautiful city of Naples is burning as the
Hun hordes begin their retreat up the Italian
peninsula.
It will doubtless be the policy of Hitler—he has
intimated it more than once—that if defeated he
will destroy Europe in the wake of his armies,
leaving its cities blackened and blasted hulks in
the midst of the universal graveyard.
The action of the Germans in Italy is sure evi
dence that they have no faith in their ability to
restore Mussolini to a puppet government.
It will be a costly job for the Allies to drive the
Hun back across the Alps, but the job will be ac
complished.
The American Fifth and the British Eighth
armies are moving slowly, steadily, inexorably,
and the enemy is retreating.
The Italians and the French, smarting with
their wrongs, are more and more coming in to
help in the drive.
But the churches and the monuments and the
lovely remains of ancient Roman glory and
grandeur will suffer irreparably as they fall in
the line of the serpent, who knows no honor,
pity or respect.
THE SLACKER
A New York newspaper offers a reward for the
best definition of "slacker."
The Florida Times-Union answers with this:
"One who escapes the draft, though he is phys
ically fit;
"Who refuses to buy bonds, though he is finan
cially fit;
"And won't work because he 'don't have to'".
The young man whom the above description
fits is to be pitied rather than censured.
For the day will surely come when he will al
most wish the mountains to fall down upon him
as the finger of execration and scorn is pointed
at him by the boys coming back.
When there is sacrifice and suffering arid dying
on the battlefronts, the appelation of "slack
er" is not to be envied.
It will burn and shrivel and mark with ever
lasting contempt.
Better had we have a millstone about our neck
and be drowned in the depth of the Coral seas.
MR. PEARSON EATS A PIECE OF FRICA
SEED CROW
We do not specially admire the widespread ac
tivities of Mrs. Roosevelt, but we do condemn the
efforts of some of the President's enemies to dis
credit her.
Notably, the editor of the Washlngton-Merry-
Go-Round, intimated that colored people's "Elea
nor Clubs" had been inspired by Mrs. Roosevelt.
Now comes out Mr. Pearson of the Merry-Co-
Round and says, "further investigation" has re
vealed to him that the Chicago Eleanor Associa
tion was started in 1898 and has no connection
with Mrs. Roosevelt.
Volume 72
Parade Of Events
Danbury, N. C., Thursday, Sept. 23, 1943* * *
DEATH OF THE WHEELER BILL
Burton K. Wheeler stands convicted as parti
ceps criminis in the crime of the Pacific. This
heart-breaking tragedy that has tied crepe on
the doorknobs of thousands of American homes.
And largely for this reason his bill to defer
drafting six million fathers is quietly chloro
formed in the Senate.
The patriotic people of America have lost con
fidence in the Americanism of the Senator from
Montana. They believe his feigned solicitude for
pre-Pearl Harbor fathers is rather camouflage
to conceal his ever-burning hate for Roosevelt
and to defeat the President's war policies.
The unanimous opinion of high military autho
rities —as heard by congress—condemned the
Wheeler bill. Their verdict is that it would se
iviouslv cripple the army's plans for victory by
retarding the war effort, and would be water on
Hitler's wheel.
The Senator at no time in his "crusade for the
fathers" has considered the urgent need of the
| army and navy and the air forces for more and
more power to enforce their colossal effort to de
feat the enemy.
But Wheeler has played steadily to the un
thinking gallery, and to that disloyal element
which found a head in the activities of the
"American First" committee, and in the machin
ations of Fifth Columnists, spies and pro-Ger
mans.
If Germany should win the war and the United
States of America be listed in that fatal corral
which includes France, Norway, Greece and Po
land, few people doubt that Burton K. Wheeler
iwould emerge as our Quisling. Hitler rewards
! merit.
Senator Wheeler's course in the Senate is an
unbroken record of retardation, obstruction and
defeatism.
Everybody knows that he voted consistently
against fortifying the Philippines and Guam,
voted against a large air force, vote;! against
an increased army, voted again.-t the 2-ocean
navy, voted against lend-lease, voted against the
present draft laws.
And every citizen of normal intelligence knows
that if the Administration's tearful pleadings
for these defense measures had been list
ened to by a majority of the congress and had
materialized, JAPAN WOULD NEVER HAVE
DARED TO ATTACK THE UNITED STATES.
As one of the chief conspirators, therefore, in
this crime against American security, the whine
lof Wheeler now sounds like the sinister rattle of
| a thistle in the wind or the vibration of a rat
j tier's tail.
SILVER FISH IN THE SKY
Sometimes singly, sometimes in groups or
squadrons flying in formation, daily the planes
going over Danburv make the sky roar.
Where do they come from and whither bound,
many people are wondering.
A silver-hued bomber flying' 10,000 feet high is
a beautiful fish in the ether.
There are now we read two millions of men in
the air service, and nearly 9,000 machines roll
ing eff the assembly lines a month.
No wonder they come here. They need room.
EDITORIALS
Published Thursdays
TOBACCO IS ROLLING IN THE WHEELS
ROLL THEM OUT AGAIN TO THE
FRENZIED FRONTS
Forty-two cents plus a pound is not a bad price
for tobacco, I'll say.
Stokes county farmers are now wallowing in
the gold tide and there's happiness and prosper
ity all about.
And so as the wheels roll in, let us roll them
back again for bonds to help our boys win the
great fight.
It takes thousands and millions and billions to
j-.iack the attack with planes and tanks and guns.
I Our President says we shall not be satisfied if
lour arms are as good as the enemy's, but let
-.hem be SUPERIOR.
■ And now the good day for those who have
money to not only do their duty to our govern
ment in its struggle to keep ihe hbert" that i
oui s, but now is the time, too, to feat! i our n .«• -
while the feathering i.- go' \.
Invest for the future in the best security of the
; world.
Back the attack.
MINERALS OF STOKES
J. W. Pepper of Christiansburg, Va., probably
is better acquainted with the mineral wealth of
Stokes county than any other living person.
More than 50 years ago as manager for the Pep
per Mining* Company, Mr. Pepper developed the
'Hawkins and other mica properties of Stokes
jcounty. For several years the products of these
'mines were manufactured and shipped to north
ern firms. He also investigated the iron de
posits along Dan river. He says the Quality oi.
'this iron is 80 percent magnetic, and that there
are some heavy veins in the properties waicii it
imight pay the government to closely investigate.
| Mr. P-: pper says that the mica deposits of east
jern Stokes reach considerably beyond the coun
jty line and into Rockingham, and is of a quality
■highly adapted to the needs of the government
at this time.
Mr. Pepper is warmly interested in the devel
opment of Stokes. He recently visited Danburv.
RAMPANT SQUIRRELS
•
I
Stokes county hunters will be pleaded to learn
hat the ration beau] will allow them increased
quotas of powder and shot w : th which to knock
'down i"he toothsome but destructive squirrels.
| Squirrels are reported to be more plentiful than
lever b fore, and in many cases arc depredating
in the fat corn fields.
The reason for the increased produc''
squirrels is attributed mostly to a lack oi ,aamu
nition. The open season com. • Oct, 1
But usually long before the expiration of •
season's ban, sqtr'rrel meat would beccmo scarce.
There's a fascination to sit r.i the shadow of
the big woods and violate the law.
Like stolen kisses, stolen squirrel meat is
sweeter.
* * * Number 3,719.