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¥nfred «» Second Claa* Matter at Wilming
toa, N. C.. Postoffice Under Act of Congress
ol March 3, 1878
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SUNDAY, JULY 13, 1947
Star-News Program
State port* with Wilmington favored
in proportion with its resources, to In
clude publio terminals, tobacco storage
warehouses, ship repair facilities, near
by sites for heavy Industry and SS-foot
Cape Pear river channel.
City auditorium large enough to meet
needs for years to come.
Development of Southeastern North
Carolina agricultural and industrial re
sources through better markets and food
processing, pulp wood production and
factories.
Emphasis on the region’s recreation
advantages and improvement of resort
accommodations.
Improvement of Southeastern North
Carolina’s farm-to-market and primary
roads, with a paved highway from Top
sail inlet to Bald Head island.
Continued effort through the City’s In
dustrial Agency to attract more in
dustries.
Proper utilization of Bluetfcenthal air
port for expanding air service.
Development of Southeastern North
Carolina’s health facilities, especially In
counties lacking hospitals, and Includ
ing a Negro Health center
Encouragement of the growth of com
mercial fishing.
Consolidation of City and County
governments.
The Weapon Is Authorized,
But...
In the referendum conducted to de
cide whether New Hanover’s county
commissioners should he authorized to
levy*a tax of not more than five cents
per $100 valuation for construction of
a modern tuberculosis sanatorium,
there appeared little opposition to the
highly worthwhile proposal and it was
approved by a handsome vote.
If any doubt still remains as to
its acute necessity, it is erased by a
report disclosed Friday by the execu
tive secretary of the New, Hanover
County Tuberculosis associaton.
It revealed that prevalence of the
disease has doubled so far this year in
comparison with the first six months
of 1946. The Consolidated Health de
partment lists 75 cases, 31 of which are
active, were discovered during the first
half of 1947 in comparison with 36
cases, 17 active, during the correspond
ing period last year.
New Hanover, according to the as
sociation official, ranks fifth among
North Carolina’s 100 counties from the
standpoint of infection, which has de
veloped into an alarming problem. There
were 32 deaths from the disease here
last year. The state mortality ratio
was 26 per cent, but this county’s ratio
was 56.9 per cent.
The first step—the people’s approval
of a sanatorium—has been taken to
ward relieving this distressing situa
tion. The next is construction of the
institution. In view of the great increase
in cases alone, those entrusted with that
responsibility should see that it is met
as soon as possible.
It is quite obvious that New Han
over is losing ground in its battle against
tuberculosis. And it is disheartening
that an authorized and greatest of all
potential weapons—the , sanatorium—
is receiving so little of the kind of at
tention which would bring it into exis
tence and the fight against this steadily
advancing disease.
Victim Of A Bad Neighborhood
Pity poor, helpless, little Czechoslo
vakia.
Born in the aftermath of a great
war, she enjoyed less than a generation
of freedom before the dissolution of her
sovereignty at the hands of a totali
tarian leader at Munich. This was be
cause this despot, Adolf Hitler, knew
the necessity of controlling her as the
basis of further European expansion.
Her fate was selected because of
geographical location, a natural buffer
between Europe’s East and West.
The fall of Czechoslovakia brought
appeasement into such distaste that
free people looked upon this bending of
knee as only a respite to prepare them
selves for the war that all knew must
eventually come.
Czechoslovakia's only sin wras that
she was in the way of a totalitarian ex
pansion.
The war was fought and, through
the Four Freedoms, the Czechs were
given new hope. Again, they believed,
their independence would be sustained.
Again, the Democracies would provide
some safeguard. But the Czechs forgot
an old geography lesson. Today, as
far as their rights are concerned, they
are practically back where they were
when Hitler took over.
This time they bow to Communism.
Definite realization of their new
plight happened rather quickly and
quietly. It didn’t receive the notice it
deserved as a possible harbinger of
dreadful things to come. In fact, it
was given nowhere as much play in
some newspapers as the “flying sauc
ers.”
But it happened and here is how:
As a follow-up o fthe Marshall sug
gestion that Europe get up off its back
side so it may see what it needs
to walk away from the chaos of World
war II, Britain and France called the
Continental Recovery conference which
opened yesterday in Paris. Bids were
sent to 22 nations. Fourteen quickly
accepted. Early last week, Czechoslo
vakia said she would attend. But Thurs
day night, she announced she has
The 34-foot Channel Project
Another boost toward providing a
channel depth allowing the Port of Wil
mington to accommodate every type of
fully-laden vessel wishing to call was
revealed late last wreek and present in
dications are that the badly needed im
provement will be realized.
In fact, the port is but three steps
away from its long sought 34-foot chan
nel.
Latest development was the dis
closure that the proposed project for
a 35-foot depth across the bar and
then 34 feet to the anchorage basin has
been recommended by the Wilmington
district and South Atlantic division
engineers of the Corps of Engineers,
War department. It will now go be
fore the Board of Engineers for Rivers
and Harbors. If approved there, and
there is nc reason to believe it will not,
it will go to Lieut. Gen. Raymond A.
Wheeler, Chief of Engineers, and then,
if his action is favorable, to Congress
for authorization of the necessary
funds.
In announcing his favorable decision,
Col. George W. Gillette, division head,
pointed out that all interested in the
proposed improvement may present
their views to the Rivers and Harbors
board. This is the next place wher;
Wilmington must continue its excep
tionally strong case in behalf of the pro
posed undertaking.
The benefits to be derived will justify
the cost of the project.
Because the present depth is inade
quate for newer, larger tankers fully
loaded, it is necessary that they divide
their cargoes with other nearby ports.
Thus, Wilmington is not only being
forced to share a part of this com
merce but the compulsory arrangement
results in higher transportation costs.
The port has the facilities to handle the
additional petroleum tonnage, plus a
consumer territory that will use the
changed her mind because “acceptance
of the invitation might be construed
as action against the Soviet Union.”
The entire cabinet, according to the re
port, approved the change in decision
after a telephone call from Communist
Premier Element Gottwald in Moscow.
He made the call after an interview
with Soviet Prime Minister Stalin. Thus,
Russia changed Czechoslovakia’s mind.
Today, the little country in a mem
ber of the Soviet bloc boycotting an
economic effort to return normalcy to
Europe. Others are Russia, Poland,
Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, Bul
garia, Albania and Finland. All are vas
sals to Communism. They are not even
free enough to take badly needed aid,
offered by those who have no desire
to influence their present or future
politics. Their status is exactly the
same of the pre-World was II Czechs,
and others who came under Nazi domi
nation. They are, as far as the United
States, is concerned, in a state of 3ervi
ture to Communism which leaves them
helpless in their war wreckage.
The East-West rift in Europe is
wider today than ever before. On one
side are Russia and her eight friends.
On the other are Britain, France, Aus
tria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxem
bourg, Eire, Iceland, Norway, Swe
den, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Por
tugal, Greece and Turkey. Spain was
not invited.
Of all kidnaped into the Soviet obit,
Czechoslavakia strikes us with the most
pity and significance. It seems only a
short time ago that she was going down
before military expediency. Now it is
an economic and political one. But back
of this feeling is the fear that another
pattern is being cut on old, familiar
lines for a garment—war—the world
cannot don anytime soon unless it
wants to court complete destruction.
Meanwhile, our sympathies again go
out to the Czechslovakia, whose geog
raphy makes it impossible for her to
enjoy the freedom and peace she de
serves. Fate simply put her in the
wrong neighborhood.
extra gasoline made available through
calls by fully-laden vessels.
With the 34-foot channel, Wilming
ton will be able to receive the new T-2
type tanker, which draws about 32 feet,
with full cargo. Thus, the extra chan
nel depth will place it on a basis com
parable with practically every other
large port in handling this commerce.
Endorsement of the proposal is ad
ditional evidence of the interest of the
Corps of Engineers in assisting the port
to gain the position it rightfully de
serves in North Carolina transportation
and commerce. From 1847 through July,
1946, the Federal government has spent
twelve and one-half million dollars to
deepen the channel from its original
eight feet to its present 30. Now, it is
engaged in extending the depth to 32
feet.
In view of this, as well as favorable
treatment so far accorded the 34-foot
proposal, it is easy to see that the Fed
eral government is high on the list of
the port’s friends. It has backed its
belief in the rich potentialities of our
great asset with millions of dollars. And,
as commerce grows over the years, it
has ever been disappointed. For that
rea : n alone, final approval of the 34
foot improvement appears quite prob
able. But because all stages have been
passed quite successfully to date Is no
reason for Wilmington to let its in
terest lag and become overconfident,
especially if and when the matter goes
before Congress.
Gabbledygook
One reason the Soviet government
wouldn’t let a Russian woman leave
her country to join her Canadian hus
band, Deputy Foreign Minister Vishin
sky explained the other day, is that
“women talk too much.”
Maybe so, Mr. Vishinsky. But did
you ever heard of that fine old mascu
line marathon of American government’
the congressional filibuster?
Around Capitol Square
Cherry Administration Completes First Biennium
BY LYNN NISBET
RALEIGH, July 12—On June 30
the administration of Governor R.
Gregg Cherry completed the only
full biennium for which it must
assume full responsibility. When
a new governor comes into office
early in January every fourth
year, he finds himself immediate
ly confronted with a general as-'
sembly over which he traditional
ly wields tremendous influence.
But he also finds himself largely
bound for the remaining six
months of the fiscal year by com
mitments of his predecessor. Like
wise when a governor retires
from office he leaves for his suc
cessor that same six months car
ryover plfiod- So each Nortn Car
olina goBrnor, while limited to
tricably involved in sharing re
sponsibility for two others.
BIENNIUM — Since the bienni
um commencing six months after
inauguration is the only full fiscal
period for which a governor has
exclusive responsibility, brief re
view of the Cherry administration
for that period may be in order.
It will be necessary of course to
consider the first six months of
the term embracing the legisla
ture of 1945 which largely set the
pattern for the administration. Al
so the 1947 legislature must gei
attention, although relatively few
of the important laws enacted
then became effective until begin
ning of the second biennium.
FINANCES—A great deal has
been said ancf written about the
huge general fund surplus, unan-1
ticipated high revenue and other
facets of fiscal policy. While that
it is important it is easy to see
that neither the governor, nor the
presiding officer of either branch
of the legislature or any member
of the council of state had a great
deal to do with it. Such credit as
may accrue is due more to failure
of state officials to interfere with
normal course than for any action
during the past two years.
POLICY— Fact is, the revenue
act which produced 122 million
dollars in general fund revenue
last year is in all essentia] fea
tures the same that yielded only
thirty milliqdl in 1933. When the
revenue ac£gp 1933 was adopted
Gregg Cherry of Gaston was a
ranking member of the house fi
nance committee under chairman
ship of the venerable Rufus A.
Doughton of Alleghany. Cherry
had a large part in drafting the
revenue act of 1933, which was
continued without material change
until 1939 when it was made “per
manent”—and has been continued
since with only minor amend
ments. It is interesting to note
that Cherry was also in the 1939
session ranking member of the
house finance committee, af.er
serving as its chairman in 1935
and as speaker in 1937. Moving
over to tne senate side. Cherry
served on the finance committees
of that body in both the 1941 and
1943 sessions.
INI^A^EINCE — Point of inject
HECKLER
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MBOR \
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CONCE&lOH
II ' -
The Gallup Poll
Democratic Party Found Leading G.O.P.
As Result Of Recent Impressive Gains
- n
Fifty-Five Per Cent Declare
They Prefer Democrats
As Of Today
By GEORGE GALLUP
Director, American Institute of
Public Opinion
PRINCETON, N. J„ July 12
—The Democratic party has
made impressive gains in
voting strength in recent
months.
While Alf M. Landon re
cently declared that Repub
licans stand a better than 2
to-1 chance to elect the next
president, a survey by the Insti
tute finds that a sizable majority
of voters say they would cast their
ballots for the Democratic pari}—
not the Requblican—if a presiden
tial election were held right now.
The rend of events in the next
twelve months may substantially
alter the situation. But as of this
date the Democratic party runs
about as strongly as it did in the
last presidential election. Its come
back from the low point of last
November, when the party lost
control of Congress to the Repub
licans, has been something of a
major political feat. The question
now is whether the gains will last.
Th party’s qourse is traced in
the following table showing the
trend of sentiment on the ques
tion :
■'ll a presidential election were
being held today, which party
would you vote for, the Democratic
or Requblican?”
Major Party Vc/e
% Dem. % Rep.
1944 election _53.8% 46.2%
Aug., 1945 _58 42
Dec., 1946 _47 53
Feb., 1947 _50 50
March _51 49
May _ 57 43
TODAY ,_55 45
The latest figure compares with
53.8 per cent in the 1944 presi
dential election, when the late
President Roosevelt defeated
Thomas E. Dewey, and with 55
per cent in 1940 when Roosevelt
beat Wendell Willkie.
In analyzing the Democrats to
day two factors must be taken in
to account—(1) the basic strength
of the party and t2) tbe popularity
of President Truman. The presi
dential popularity index base don
the question. “Do you approve or
disapprove cf the way Mr. Truman
is handling nis job as president?”
is a widely fluctuating, almost
mercurial index, reflecting changes
of opinion based on day-to-day
events or statements. In a short
period of two years, for example,
Mr. Truman’s personal popularity
as measured by that index has
gone from 87 per cent down to 32
per cent and back rp to 54 per
cent, which is the figure today.
The Institute’s index of party
strength, on the other hand, is a
much more stable indication of
political sentiment. During the
past twelve years it has proved
highly accurate in anticipating
voting intention. The two indexes
usually shift in the same direc
tion, thougm in different degrees.
When the president’s popularity
declines for a considerable period
of time, the party strength index
usually declines, and when the
president is on the upswing the
other index moves up.
The Democratic party today
draws its voting strength mainly
from farmers, manual workers,
big city voters and young people—
the same groups (except the farm
ers) which kept re-electing Presi
dent Roosevelt.
The problem facing Mr. Tru
man in 1948 is whether he can
hold those groups in line for him
self as Mr. Roosevelt did, or
whether they will find the Re
publican candidate, and G. O. P.
ideas, more attractive.
It is still more than a yea* to
presidential voting day and Iviince
m> forecast of how Truman and
j 1 TREND OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY STRENGTH
The trend of Democratic party strength is shown above, as meas
ured by Gallup polls on the question of what party voters would
favor If a presidential election were being held today.
even remotely possible. The per
sonality of the man picked by the
Republicans to run against him.
the economic situation at home
and the course of our foreign
policy will all weigh in the bal
ance as voters go to the polls.
But at this early date it is in
teresting to compare the strength
of the Democratic party by groups
with past performance at election
time in 1944 and 1940. This shows
among other things, the gains that
have been made since 1944 among
farmers.
% Democratic
1940 1944 Today
elec- elec
tion tion
Bus. & Prof. 36% 42% 43%
White Collar 48 51 52
Farmers 54 48 58
Manual
workers 65 62 61
The trend by size of commun
ity for the non-farm population
shows a fairly stable picture:
% Democratic
1940 1940 Today
Towns under
10.000 _52% 40% 53%
Cities 10,000
500.000 _54 54 52
Cities over
500.000 ..61 61 63
Next Wednesday: The fourth
and final article in this Gallup
Political Scoreboard Series will
survey the relative strength to
day of possible Republican pres
idential candidates.
TRUCK ROUTE
MAP IS READY
Will Be Presented To City
Council Soon For
Study
A proposed new .truck route ir,
Wilmington moved a step nearer
reality Saturday with Mayor E.
L. White in receipt of a map from
Acting City Engineer Henry Von
Oesen showing the three proposed
routes under consideration by the
city council.
Action on the proposed new
route moved swiftly this past
week after the matter was
brought up before the council the
week before by Councilman J. E.
L. Wade.
Counciimen first were called to
gether by the mayor Tuesday to
make a personal survey of tile
three routes under consideration.
This was followed bv a request
to the city enginering depart
ment for a composite map of all
routes, which has been prepared
and will be studied by council
men.
Next moves in bringing a new
route into realization will be a
tentative decision on selection of
a route and conferences with
state highway commission offi
cials relative to slate aid. A pub
lic hearing for all interested
Behind The New*
Bloc Is
A New Meaning
By DEWITT MACKENZIE
AP Foreign Affairs Analyst
Now that the Russian "Bloc'’ of
satellite nations in Eastern Eu
rope has been designated dearly
we shall find it illuminating if w
pause to devote a bit of nought
to the meaning of the t»rm
“bloc.” ” 01
A bloc of nations, in its general
ly accepted sense, °is a groun
which has willingly combined to
achieve some objective n.
common interest. Membership J
the bloc is voluntary.
Now in examining the Russian
bloc we find an interesting devi.
ation from the ordinary definition!
The element of willingness js ]ac^‘
ing in much, if not all. of thjj
association, that is, willingness on
the part of the people as a who1*
in the various nations. For ex.
ample. Hungary, Romania and
Poland were among countries
communizcd over protests by the
United States and Britain that
strong-arm methods were being
employed so the will of the Ken.
eral public was being smothered
The most recent demonstration
—and it has drawn shocked ex
pressions from the Western Worid
—is Czechoslovakia’s withdrawal
from the Paris economic confer
ence on orders from Moscow. And
in passing we can’t overlook that
Greek troops have been fighting
a hot oattle near the Albanian
frontier against Red guerrilla
forces which Greece charges are
supported ‘by her Communistic
neighbors and are aiming to es
tablish a Communist state. A ma
jority report of the United Nations
Balkan commission recently up
held the charge that Communistic
Albania. Yugoslavia and Bulgaria
were aiding the Red rebellion
against the Athens government.
Unhappy One
So the Russian bloc is an un
willing and unhappy one. The
mere fact that a Communist gov
ernment may be in control of *
country doesn’t necessarily mean
that it speaks for the population
as a whole. It means that the op
ponents of the government are,
for the time be'ing, either afraid
to protest or are unable to regis
ter a useful opposition.
Moscow had several reasons for
creating this bloc. One was to
spread Communism. Another was
to increase the political and eco
nomic prestige of the Soviet
Union. A third, and very impor
tant one, was to extend its sphere
of ir.f uence westward for military
security.
On paper the bloc is a formi
dable one that at first glance
would seem to fulfill all the pur
poses for which it was built. How
ever, when we consider that it is
made up of unwilling units we see
that it provides a highly unstable
barrier between Russia and the
Western democracies which she
distrust's so much.
It is unstable because it cuts
across a section of Europe which
includes countries that long have
been famous for their love of
liberty and for their fierce defense
of freedom. Among them are
sturdy fighting folk like the Bo
hemians. the Serbs, the Poles, ‘he
Czechs, the Slovaks and the Finns.
Can any doubt that Russia will
have to sit on the lid of this melt
ing-pot? She herself, better than
anyone else, must realize this be
cause many of the populations in
her bloc belong to her own Slavic
race of fighters who so often have
revolted against oppression.
Coercion isn’t the right cement
to hold a bloc together indefini
tely.
Ford Co. Changes
Time Card Rale,
Smoking Ban Eased
DETROIT, July 12—(JP>—A tradi
tion established by the late Henrv
Ford, that salaried employes right
up to top-bracket executives punch
time clocks, will be terminated by
the new management of the Ford
Motor company.
This change effective Aug '■
was revealed today in a memo
randum to the company's 23 000
salaried workers from Henry Ford
II company president and grand
son of the founder.
They checked in and out at the
start and end of the day and »;
the beginning and end of luncn
periods.
The elder Ford's rigid ''no smok
ing” rule also has been relaxed
somewhat so that visitors in tha
lobby of the main building may
smoke and employes are permitted
to smoke in the lunch rooms
Bales of cotton stored for more
than 80 years have betn found
to have practically no deterima*
tion.
parties is to be held later before
final action is taken.
Walter Winchell
Memorandum To Public Prosecutors
(A Bill of Particulars)
In a democracy the Court of
Public Opinion is the most import
ant forum. Tie judgments handed
down there are mandates for
action from t h e people to their
Government bureaus. When these
bureaus fail iri their sworn duty
to protect the American people
from enemies within, the fault
may be with the people—for not
filing their bills of complaint. . .
But in the present case, the public
is blameless. Daily, citizens from
every walk of life swamp this
desk with documentary evidence
of the un-American doings of the
hate-rabble. . .Here is the people’s
current complaint:
AKRON, O.: Since 1942, with
never a word in the public press,
the Ku Klux Klan has been meet
ing here. The town’s alleged long
arm of the law lays limp against
its side. The facts. Meeting place:
The Klan Home, 719 East Market
Street. Most recent meeting: June
15, 1947. Leading local Klansmen:
R- Sheakley. P. McClensey. F.
Grannon, J-. McMillian. . .At, these
Konklaves. plans are made far
fer.ses. . .We arraign this mob for
tar and feathering good - will
among Negroes, Jews, Catholics
and Protestants.
NEW YORK, N. Y.: Exactly ten
years ago one Kurt Mertig formed
a pro-Nazi outfit here called the
‘‘Citizens Protective League.” Its
first meetings were held on Lex
ington Avenue in Yorkville. In the
last decade its leader, Mertig,
worked with every pro-Ratzimob
in the East, defending Bund lead
ers, protesting the hanging of
Hitler’s henchmen at Nuremberg,
distributing un - American litera
ture. . .In 1946 Mertig was
sentenced to six months in jail for
holding a hate-filled rabble-rousing
meeting on the streets of N. Y.
Now out of jail, this localouse
carries on. . .Only last month he
held another rodent rendezvous in
Queens . . . We point to this pro
fessional bigrot as the new nadir of
a new Americanzi movement.
CHATTANOOGA. Tenn.: In this
city lives a leading hooded Nazi.
24 years old, single, no depenti
ents, he spends his time poisoning
blab. His name: J. Ben Stoner. . .
During the last 12 months, by ‘be
use of U. S. postal permits snJ
mailing privileges, this pronn
gend.a goon has flooded t h a
country with applications
membership in his Nazi • 'VP*
party. He also uses Robert Ha '
negan’s post office departmen' ' '
demand extermination of religion'
groups. . .We brand J. B. Stoner
guilty of using the mails to per
petrate the crime of hatred—"’ 1
the tacit approval of the li- !“
Post Office.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.: Accord
ing to its citizens, Independence
City is suffering a petlic-’A
plague. Ladies who call them
selves the "Blue Star Mothers'
Recently the "Mothers” attacked
John Rogge for his prosecution of
the alleged sediticnists (natch'.
Last year they invited ex-jailbird
and former Bund leader. Ernes
Elmhurst, as a sneaker. . .Ti,e
year before they raised funds fn"
dizzie Lizzie Diiling (but ' ( ,
course!). . .And in the War '”ca j ^
they demanded a “negotiated