Newspapers / The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, … / Dec. 29, 1938, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
The Alamance Gleaner 1 r ' . f f GRAHAM, N. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1938 " NO. 46 Weekly News Analysis Reversal of Foreign Policy Seen In U. S.9 British Loans to China By Joseph W. La Bine EDITOR'S NOTE ? Whan opinions V* expressed in this* columns thej art thosa oi the newt analyst and not nacaasarilj oi tta newapapar. International Although U. S.-British sympathies in the Chinese-Jap war have al ways been with China, industrial ists of both nations have gladly prof ited by selling arms to more pros perous Japan. In the U. S., this activity continued unabated until last June 11, when Secretary of State Cordell Hull asked that It be discontinued. Still later came a se rious blow to U. S. prestige when Japan, having conquered Shanghai, Canton, Hankow and Nanking, pro ceeded systematically to shut Chi na's "open door" in violation of the nine-power treaty. Obviously, U. S. British supremacy in the Orient was at an end unless the two nations would reverse their soft-stepping policy and take military or econom ic recourse against Tokyo. After weeks of undercover negotiation be tween London and Washington, the recourse now emerges as economic. Still acting without apparent co-op eration, the two capitals made sim ilar news on the same day: Washington. The government-op erated Export-Import bank ad vanced $25,000,000 in credits to a New York company for exporting U. S. agricultural and manufactured JESSE JONES Hit bank answered Japan. goods to China. Recognized as a very thinly veiled government loan, most funds will be used for aqtomo bile trucks and gasoline to haul mu nitions over the new Chinese gate way from Burma. To mature in five years, the loan is guaranteed by the Bank of China. Chief U. S. negotiator was Jesse Jones, chair man of the Reconstruction Finance corporation. London. Now en route through parliament is an allotment of 10, 000,000 pounds for export credits to protect Great Britain's far-flung for eign trade from Nazi encroachment. Already earmarked is an initial credit of 450,000 pounds for the Chi nese government, to purchase trucks and roadmaking equipment for the new Burma gateway. Also under consideration is a British loan to the Chinese exchange equaliza tion fund to help China's dollar. ." Rumama Of all the lesser European nations subjected to Nazi Germany's polit ical-economic pressure, Rumania has alone stood up on its feet and barked back. Reason: Rumania has been able to buy her imports anywhere she desires, but Germany must have Rumanian wheat and oil. Until last fall this upper hand served King Carol well, but the ring of Nazi-dominated nations around Bucharest has now grown so powerful that he must bow to Berlin or risk economic starvation. Thus Rumania watched anxiously as German aggression in Austria and Czechoslovakia threatened to wipe out her prospering trade with those two nations. - Since most of Rumania's Czech imports came from Sudetenland, now a part of Germany, the Reich gained an enor mous advantage. To woo Rumania successfully, Germany must only meet the dila tory competition of Great Britain, whose promise to buy part of King Carol's wheat surplus is overshad owed by a German offer to buy all of it. Thus heartened, Rumania has signed a trade agreement whereby the Reich will take almost a third of its exports, meanwhile buying half its imports from Berlin. How long Rumania can remain independent of Germany's beck and-call is problematical. Lika a child who wants cake but - won't brush its teeth. King Carol has sac cessfuUy smashed the rising Nazi party within his borders. Yet he followed this coup with a totalitar ian declaration under which Ru mania becomes a one-party country politically similar to Germany. Sptrtn On a gloomy November day in 1931, Spain's parliament stripped King Alfonso of his citizenship and properties. Already, the previous April, Alfonso had left for France, soon taking residence in Italy where Premier Benito Mussolini has not been unfriendly to his once-royal guest. Since the loyalist government that ousted Alfonso is now fighting a los ing battle to Generalissimo Fran cisco Franco, moreover since Italy and Spanish royalists are on Fran co's side, observers have long thought Alfonso has a good chance of returning to the throne some day. Franco hinted as much last spring, indicating that he might retain for himself the premiership and thus make the throne a puppet post. This theory is now strengthened by action of rebel Spain's council of ministers, not only restoring Al fonso's citizenship, but his lands as well. How soon ? if ever ? the ex king will return to Spain is still a secret, but pessimists regard Fran co's gesture as merely an insincere bid for continued royalist support which has been dwindling in recent months. Politics v Smart politicians lay their cam paign groundwork well in advance, swapping favor for favor, smelling out the trail that will most likely lead to success. Thus official Wash ington has started buzzing with ru mors following (1) resignation of Commerce Secretary Daniel C. Rop er and Attorney General Homer Cummings, and (2) Vice President John Nance Garner's return to the capital. That Mr. Garner visited President Roosevelt the same day Mr. Roper resigned gave an added zest to the game. While both the President and vice president look to 1940, they appar ently look in opposite directions. No public utterance followed the con ference but it is quite obvious that Mr. Garner looks fearfully on the projected appointment of WPA Ad ministrator Harry Hopkins to suc ceed Mr. Roper. The Roosevelt pro gram: To strive for more New Deal gains such as governmental reor ganization, and to give Harry Hop kins a build-up for presidential nom ination in 1940. The Garner pro gram: To consolidate the adminis tration's position, to unite arguing factions and make a record in con gress which will win public approval. Both programs lead to 1940, but each goes down its own trail. In the inevitable compromise, it is expect ed that Mr. Hopkins will be named commerce secretary, but ihat in re turn congress will demand drastic revision of relief adrqfnistration. VICE PRESIDENT GARNER He ? bo looks forward to 1940. How this solution could clarify the 1940 presidential issue is not appar ent; moreover, conservative ele ment* in the Democratic party doubt that the commerce depart nrait's immediate charge, U. S. business, will like the than whose job has been to dispense $9,500,' 000,000 since 1933. While gossiping over this morsel, Washington's politicians have let pass almost unnoticed an equally important bit of groundwork lead ing to 1940. John L. Lewis, C. I. O. chieftain, has spoken publicly against a labor-sponsored third par ty, choosing instead to broaden his Labor's Nonpartisan league. Its pro gram: To elect delegates in the presidential primaries who will as sure nomination of "progressive candidates." Congress Last winter Texas' Rep. Wright Patman offered congress a measure to tax chain stores out of existence. Its gist: To levy graded assessments from $50 per store on small chains to )1,000 per store on large chains, each store tax to be multiplied by the number of states in wnich the chain operated. Sample: A chain operating in 48 states plus the Dis trict of Columbia would pay $49,000 per store annually on each store over 600. Though boasting 73 co-sponsors, Mr. Patman's bill failed. Also de feated was a New York state chain store tax, which signified that chains had more friends than their foes had expected. But an apparently dying issue was revived as congress ad journed, for Mr. Patman announced his bill would be introduced in Jan WRIGHT PATMAN Fewer notes than last year, uary, 1939, as House Resolution No. 1. Battle lines since formed presage a bitter contest next month, as chains and anti-chain agitators re view their cases: Anti-Clutiii. Supporting Mr. Pat man is a once-potent national trend (now questionable) which caused 21 state legislatures to enact chain store taxes. Another state, Colorado, last month rejected a referendum to kill a similar levy. Having won passage of his Robinson-Patman act, also an anti-chain measure, Mr. Patman bases his new attack on familiar charges that chains (1) force inde pendent merchants out of business; (2) cause low farm prices; (3) take money out of the community. Pro-Chain. U. S. census figures show a decreasing number of chain stores and more independents, while federal trade commission statistics credit chains with distributing $8,000,000,000 in goods at an average 10 per cent saving to consumers. If the Patman bill passes, resultant taxes (with the Great Atlantic St Pacific Tea company, they would total more than half 1937's gross sales) would destroy practically all chains, would reportedly wipe out 30 per cent of the farmer's market, throw nearly 1,000,000 chain em ployees out of work and force a sharp rise in retail prices. Chains point proudly to their two-year cam paign of helping farmers move sur plus crops like lamb, beef, walnuts, apples, and canned grapefruit juice. Anti-Patmanites include the Amer ican Federation of Labor, speaking for its 5,000,000 members (who charge the measure would increase living costs and unemployment), and the National Association of Retail Boards, which termed it "vicious." Counting noses on the eve of con gress' opening, Mr. Patman finds his 73 original co-sponsors dwindled to 32 through .election defeats, while another has withdrawn support. People Lost, by the duchess of Windsor, the title of world's best dressed woman, accorded annually by Par isian dressmakers. New title hold er: Mme. Antenor Patino, daugh ter-in-law of Bolivia's Simon Patino, tin millionaire. FORECAST CANCELLATION of the 1933 concordat between Germany and the Vatican, to precede enact ment of Nazi laws directed against the Roman Catholic church. REV1TALIZATION of Japan's drive north and west of Canton, to strengthen Tokyo's position in the event of a Russian war, which is expected very soon. INCREASE in lending power of O. S. Export-Import bank to ex pand trade with Latin America. CANDIDACY of Franklin D. Roosevelt for the Presidency, not in 1940, but In 1944. REQUEST by small business men for congressional creation of a system of credit banks to meet the needs of "little business." Brxtckarf* Washington Digest Three Important Problems For Congress to Consider National Defense, Relief, and the Railroads Are Pressing Questions; This Congress Will Not Vote Money Just to Please the President. By WILLIAM BRUCKART WNU Service, National Preit Bldf., Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON.? If it were possi ble to close one's eyes to the tragedy of the scene and forget all about the sadness of the world, one might produce a masterpiece of humor concerning the situation in the na tion's capital this week. After the manner of the circus hawker, one might shout that the greatest show on earth is about to open; one might call attention to the fact that this show is unlike most others because it has two "big tops," and one might, without stretching the imagi nation, suggest that if you want to understand what is happening, or is about to happen, you had best keep your eyes trained on both tents. Yes, in all seriousness, there are two shows this winter. One of them has many actors, many voices. It is to be found in the halls of con gress on Capitol Hill. The man on the flying trapeze never excelled by comparison with members of the house and senate. Never were there better clownish acts than are staged annually in those chambers. Instead of vocal applause and much clap ping of hands, however, the actors in the Capitol Hill circus want ap plause in the shape of votes; they want to have the home folks ap prove. Now, concerning the other tent, there is only one actor. But he controls many Charlie McCarthys. He used to operate a puppet show. He made his actors perform so well that they became known as rubber stamps. But an election has inter ; vened. Some of the strings that controlled puppets have been bro ken, others have become knotted, and the master actor probably has somewhat more critics in his audi ence than he formerly had. National Defense and the Railroad s Serious Problems And so we get down to cases. President Roosevelt will offer to congress in a few days his program for building up the national defense. He will tell congress, as well, what the needs of the destitute are and how he conceives that they must be : met. As a third great problem, and probably the most difficult as well as of concern to every one of us, there is the question of what to do to save the railroads of the country. No official seems to have found a proper or sane solution, but to me it appears that the time has come when national action is called for in a much more concrete form than the "intellectual liberals" surround ing the White House are accustomed to advance in bringing about the more abundant life. Trains run on j money, as well as steel, and if the owners do not get some money very soon there won't be more than ha if a dozen rail lines in the country that have escaped bankruptcy. In addition to these problems, we ' are likely to see competition be tween the two shows for some very juicy jobs. Of course, these con cern largely the north ring of the Capitol Hill circus, namely, the sen ate, which must confirm presiden tial appointments before the act is completed. It is not too much to expect that there will be considera ble difference of opinion between the White House and the senate over a good many of these selections. Congress Wont Vofe tponey J uit to Please the President 1 From present indications, I be lieve it may be said that Mr. Roose velt will get money out of the cur rent session of congress only when the congress decides it desires to vote money. It will not vote money just because the President says money shall be voted. Further, it appears certain that there will be no more "blank check" appropria tions. The end has come for that tort of thing. Hereafter, one may expect that congress will have its say as to what is done with the money, where and how it will be spent. In other words, there is such intense hatred of Professional Re liever Harry Hopkins that the bulk of the congressional membership is awaiting an opportunity to clip Harry's wings the world's great est spender. And it might be added just here, too, that there are cer i tain senators and representatives who would rather welcome a chance to take a slap at the whole new deal 1 relief setup, not to ?v*ntt?n a fide wise smearing that thereby would be given the President It must be remembered that Mr. Hopkins is Mr. Roosevelt's closest friend and adviser. This national defense program about which the administration has been doing so much talking has its merits, I believe. As far as I have talked with officials, with students of international affairs, with foreign representatives, I find none who is happy about the ^prospect. It is a straight-out challenge to the democ racies of the world that has been waved by Hitler, Mussolini and the others. Dictatorship is feeling its oats. With Communism on the one hand and Fascism on the other, there surely is need for prepared ness, and that is what Mr. Roose velt is proposing. Big Navy Help* to Keep Foreign Statesmen Rational It looks like a tremendous wast* of money, because hundreds upon hundreds of millions will be spent for ships, for aircraft, for fortifica tions. I always have felt that ? big navy ? the mere presence of it ?helped keep some greedy and ag gressive foreign statesmen in their right senses. The change in war methods that has come about from development of the airplane re quires that our air force be strengthened. All of these things must be considered. But if they were not to be considered, I have two other reasons for believing the President is on the right track. I witnessed the terrific waste in the attempt to build a war machine in 1917 and 1918. If it is built up ac cording to plans, without haste, by people who know their business, we will at least get something for our money ? which we didn't in 1917. Those who have ever visited the James river in Virginia surely will agree with that statement after they have seen several thousand boats, built for war purposes, rotting to the water's edge without ever hav ing been used. The second reason to be men tioned is that expenditure of money for this type of construction is go ' ing to mean jobs. It will take many people off of relief. Again, surely it is worth more to have something substantial built than to have strong men raking up leaves or building privies. ?f* . ?? M ? - nauroaa riciure important At h the Dtfent ? Program The railroad picture is a* impor tant in a domestic way as is the defense prof ram. Indeed, I can not help wondering what our defense program would be like if the rail lines break down. I am told that the war department has figures showing that if the railroads were called upon to haul 25 per cent more traffic now than they hauled in 1937, some of the freight trains would be taking short cuts across corn fields and trying to leap orer creeks. Some of the senators and some administration officials want to pro vide additional government loans to the rail lines to help tbemibuild up their rights of way. sounds foolish to me. To loan them more money is simply to break their backs with added debt. They have all of the debt thft they can stand now. I have about reached the conclu sion that an actual subsidy to the railroads may be the best and the cheapest thing to do. Give them cash; treat them as other means of transportation have been treated. There is no use denying it, for the government has subsidized water ways. It is giving cold cash to the merchant marine. It has subsidized highway construction which in turn enabled the sale of motor cars. It has given funds for airport con struction and has construction light ed airways for planes. Each and every one of these is a subsidy and calling them by any other name does not change the fact. It would seem to me, therefore, that it the administration and con gress were to vote a plain sub sidy U a couple of hundred million dollar^ a year for, say three years, they would be rebuilding an mdustry we must have for peace as well as war. The funds could be granted foe use on roadbeds and buildings. nmw Nmvasar Mn. Speaking of Sports Sports Writers Select Nation's No. 1 Athletes By ROBERT McSHANE r\NCE more the nation'* sports " authorities have gone into thair annual huddle, and again they have announced their yearly list of the country's most outstanding figures in the world of sports. Admittedly it is easy task U designate any one maa as the No. 1 athlete of the year. The divergence ?f opinion was manifested when United Press sports writers picked Henry Armstrong as their "great est," and Associated Press repre sentatives named Don Badge. Rightfully recognized as a man who may be the greatest fighter, pound for pound, that ever lived, Armstrong is the only one who ever held three boxing championships at the same time ? featherwight, light weight and welterweight. The AP nominee. Don Bodfe Don Budge, nego tiated an unprece dented tennis sweep in winning the Aus tralian, French, British and Ameri can titles in one year before electing to cast his lot with the ^^professionals. ?rty-five of the 87 Sorts critics who participated in the eighth annual AP poll selected Patty Berg of Minne apolis as the overwhelming choice for No. 1 woman athlete of 1938. Miss Berg, who climaxed a brilliant golf campaign by winning the na tional championship, drew four times as many first place nomina tions as her closest competitor. The Edward J. Neill memorial med al, perpetuating the memory of the grand boxing writer and war correspond ent who was killed in Spain a year ago, went to Jack Demp sey as the man who has done most for the fight game in 1938. The New York Boxing Writers as sociation, medal do nors, voted Henry Armstrong non ; orable mention for the aj^rd. Yanks Are Best Team In ? victory as decisive as their American league and World Series triumphs, the New York Yankees were named by AP writers as the outstanding sports team (or 1038. Joe McCarthy's Bombers, who cre ated a new all-time record by whip ping the Chicago Cubs, (our games to none, (or their third successive world baseball championship, were placed at the top o ( the heap by 61 out o( 67 writers. And last but not least? Charles B. Howard's 8eabisesit was awarded the tarfs highest honor when ad judged the oatstanding race horse el the year in a nationwide poll tt tori and sport writers conducted by the Turf and Sport Digest Sea biscuit won six races In 11 starts, finished second (oar times, and was third once during his 1M campaign. His earnings were IIN^K, boosting his all-time winnings U (344.4M, placing him second to Sm Bean's (37C.744 all-time record. It is entirely natural that not ev eryone will agree with the choice made by the critics. There are bound to be close decisions, but keep in mind the (act that sports au thorities (rom everywhere had a voice in naming the winners. Football in France COOTBALL has taken many a rap ' during the wane of the past Ma son, and the latest back-handed boost takes on an international as pect The Americas game made Us de bat before i parts- Urrtaj: Frenchmen recently, and the verdict was that the best thing abort the fame is the "huddle. A troupe of American footballers coached by Jim Crowley of Fordham played their first exhibition game in Paris, where thousands cheered the ! former collegians. Several other exhibition games were scheduled for the U. 8. athletes. The game was described as a | "combination of Rugby, soccer, wrestling and bullfighting," and "very much like a collision between an automobile and ? bus." The experts, however, were In trigued do end by the huddle, though perhaps they were a little mistaken as to ita true purpose. "It la by far the most Interesting part W the game," one sports writ er said. "It is apparent they gather to cheer, taUw spirit extras sprts i' 1 i A 1 1 ii aw i art'" Golfs Money Wizard \AT ITH one major tournament left to play, Sammy Snead, link* wizard from White Sulphur Spring*, W. Va., has emerged as the great est money winner in all pro golf history, accounting tor $19,039 prize money during the past year. Snead's fairway income warn an nounced by Fred Corcoran, tourna ment bureau manager for the Pro fessional Golfers association, who worked in eight hour shifts to arrive at the total. iotumy Rerolta ran a pear aaa* oad, anarrtng $8453 in cash prises. Barry Ceoper of CUetfee, Mass-, leading money player ? t 19J7 wit (14,3M. landed ia third place wMh only $7, W. Others high in this year's money brackets, announced by Corcoran: Paul Runyan, White Platoa, IT. Y-, $7,479; Henry Picard, Hershey, Pa., $6,800; Ky Laffoon, Northmoor, nL. $8,185; Ralph Guldahl, Madison, N. J., $9,842; Jimmy Hinea, LakeriDe, L. I., $5,525; Victor Ghezzi, Deal. N. J., $4,831; Jimmy Thompson, Shawnee. Pa., $4,750; Dick Mctz. Chicago, $4,137, and Horton Smith, Oak Park, IIL. $4,068. Uncrowned Champ I? RED APOSTOLI, far and away the best middleweight in the light business, wonders what he haa to do to be recognized aa world i pion. Saa Frucisti out Marcel ?; Steele as Amerieaa champ oat Sol Krieger. N. B. A. i and anished the list by Young Corbett III. And now he'd like to know how ho can get clear claim to the title. It it can be done by polishing off Krieger again, he's more than will ing to do just that at any time. This 23-year-old lad who cam* oat of a San Francisco orphanage to win fame and fortune is a quiet, oh assuming young man, almost shy with strangers. His bashful man ner belies his boxing instinct. Once Freddie crawls ropes he's He la start throwing With the battle under way the change is complete. His eyes bias* and a. vicious snarl gives evideaca of the same killer inslliwt that spurred Dempaey. He alums no mercy to opponents, and his dually amazes ring fans. Five minutes after the bout he la again a bashful young I pion without a crown. _ t sport shorts T~)E PAUL university at Chicago has discontinued intercollegiate football because of ' ' de-emphasized" gate receipts . . . There will be no heavyweight championship boxing match at the Golden Gate Interna tional exposition. Mike Jacobs want ed a $900,000 guarantee . . . Monty Stratton, Chicago White Sax pitcher who lost a leg in a hunting accident, has been offered a permanent ofBc* job with that club . . . Michigan hunters bagged *0,837 deer in 1S3>. ? Wmutb Nmpipcr Date. Pocket Billiards By CHAKLES C. PETEBSON U America i Lesson N?. U This dbpua rtiii ? ? IMll ball break (hot. When playing this ihot, Just forget about the cluster of bails at the left, and take careful aim % left on the object ball; bold your cue level; make a firm bridge; strike the coa ball in the center; and by all means rest your cue en the table for a sec ond after the stroke m delivered.
The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 29, 1938, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75