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In this final article of a series by Barrow Lyons, staff corres
pondent of Western Newspaper Union, he gives the graphic re
sults of his swing through the nation to gather an impression of
political and economic thinking in rural America. All of these
pictures were taken by Mr. Lyons, and opinions expressed or
quoted are either those of persons pictured or the writer’s. They
are not necessarily those of this newspaper.
Shown at left is E. C, Biggins,
wheat farmer of Gregory, S. D.,
an early settler who “saw the land
come up from nothing^” Biggins,
who is 67 years old, doesn't like to
be told how much wheat to raise
and what to do. He believes that
many of the farmers around Greg
ory are spreading themselves too
far, buying too many steers, sheep
and hogs at prices that are too
high. They are putting them
selves on the spot for the coming
deflation. Biggins believes —
counting their chips too soon.
BEHIND THE
SCENES
IN
American Business
By JOHN CRADDOCK
New "iork, April 3 — One problem
always faced by our Congressional
representatives when writing a tax
bill is that of distributing the burdens
equitably. It seldom can be done. The
new excise and postal rates of the
1944 Revenue Act, which have just
become effective, afford a current
example of an added cost to one
group and a windfall to another. Re
tailers who handle cosmetics, jewelry,
furs and other items of merchandise
classed as luxuries will have to add 20
per cent to their prices instead of 10
per cent under the new excise rates.
On the other hand, the banks of the
country, both commercial and savings,
are looking forward to a great deal
of additional business because of in
creased rates on postal money orders.
The new post-office charges run
from 10 cents to 37 cents for money
orders on sums up to .$100, compared
with 6 cents to 22 cents previouslv.
The banks figure they can now under
sell Uncle Sam in this important
field of service. Banks will be able to
advertise savings of four cents and
upwards over post office rates. To
many bankers this looks like a golden
opportunity not only to obtain larger
volume sales of their own money
orders, but also to stimulate greater
use of their no - minimum - balance
checking accounts.
— Recently, numerous manufacturers
have obtained approval to use alumi
num for experimental purposes in
models of post-war civilian goods. To
small industrial companies engaged in
war work who are now thinking about
what they can make and sell in
peacetime markets, this opportunity
to experiment with what was once
our most stategic war metal should
be of interest.
The Truman Committee of the
Senate, in its third annual report
says “it is reasonable to assume that
substantial amounts of most types of
aluminum fabrication could be made
available in the near future for civil
ian use.” The report commends the
Aluminum Companyy of America “for
the prompt and effective manner in
which it expanded at its own expense
its annual production from 360,000.-
000 pounds to more than 830,000 000
pounds per annum, as well as the ex
pedition with which it constructed the
government - owned aluminum and
alumina facilities.” In that picture of
unprecedented and prompt expansion
in a time of emergency one finds the
real answer to why it is possible to
day, in the midst of a war so depen
dent on airpower, to spare aluminum
for industry generally to use in de
signing postwar products that will
help to maintain business activity and
jobs at a good level.
THINGS TO COME — Round-trip
airplane flights to Bermuda from
New York for $30 after the war . . . .
Fresh meat shipped direct from pack
ing plants in portable refrigerator
. . . . Increased supplies of the miracle
drug, “Penicillin,” for civilian use.
T Tz-xirr, test for STANDARDIZATION
IGHT METAL OPPORTUNITIES — While war production still is the
first order of business -o
tion’s railroad carbuilders, they
get another chance this
the advantages to railroads of lar.-
scale, standardized railway car de
sign. The War Production Board has
released materials for building an
1944 up to 60,000 freight cars, ot
which about 30,000 are expected to he
of the all-steel, standard victory
design. Another test of standardiza
tion, earlier this year, resulted in the
delivery by Pullman - Standard har
Manufacturing Company of
troop sleepers for the Defense Plan
Corporation in just four months, one-
third of the time which would have
been required for a like number ot
assorted passenger cars built to cus
tomers’ specifications.
RUG DEARTH — Many of the
looms of companies like Mohawk
Carpet Mills have been converted to
the production of such military ne
cessities as blankets, cotton duck and
tarpaulins. So don’t be surprised if.
during the spring cleaning season,
you decide to replace that old 9X12
in the living room but find the stores
fresh out of a suitable replacement.
A survey indicates that the rug in
dustry is producing only one-fourth
as many wool carpets as in 1941. It
is reported that stores have only one-
seventh as many wool rugs on hand
as they did in 1941. These and other
statistics lead to the conclusion that,
even if the war should end right now,
it would take at least two years to
build up store inventories again to a
normal level. Better not spare the
moth preventive on the family rugs
this spring.
BITS O’ BUSINESS — Gasoline
consumption in automobiles will drop
445 300,000 barrels in 1941 to an esti
mated 246.000,000 barrels this year
Stockholders prefer that their
'companies keep dividends low at
present if it’s going to mean a
Wronger post-war competitive posi
tion according to replies to a ques
tionnaire sent to stockholders of
General Foods Corporation.
IN THE NAVY
I know that you are lonely,
But there’s nothing I can do
Till this world is peaceful
And I am home again with you.
I can even send you flowers.
To express my love in part
But a carload of flowers
Wouldn’t ease an aching heart.
Now, dear mother, please keep smiling
And at times when you feel blue
Remember other boys are fighting
And their mothers miss them too.
So you mothers stick together
Please don’t worry ’bout us men
And before you even know it
We’ll be marching home again.
Written by Rudean Stallings of
Durham, formerly of Selma.
CLEAN - UP
A thoroughly organized Clean-Up
Campaign throughout farm areas and
towns will be a tremendously worth
while contribution to the war effort
this spring, suggests the National
Fire Prevention Association.
LARD
There is more lard on the market
than cold storage warehouses can ac
comodate and it is suggested that
housewives store a smalt amount of
extra lard in their refrigerators.
Sentiment in Benton, Arkansas, is
strongly divided. Business men and
farmers deeply resent the many con
trols and restrictions imposed by the
T^cw Deal, and assert Washington has
bungled badly. The bauxite miners
support the administration. Section
of Benton’s business district is shown
at right.
' \ V
Many farms in Ava, Mo., are changing hands, as indicated by these
sale posters displayed in an Ava restaurant. These reflect the nation’s
current land turnover. George Mullins, Douglas county FSA supervisor
(inset), has helped many farmers around Ava to rehabilitate themselves.
I
J. G. Saurenman, general fore- M. H. Bourne, editor emeritus
man of the Rock Island roundhouse Owenton (Ky.) News-Herald, says
in Eldon, Iowa, finds this labor- Kentuckians don’t like too much
dominated town a good place to government control, but tobacco
live. It has excellent schools, growers approve AAA program.
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“A TRIAL IS ALL WE ASK”
smithfield, N.