North Carolina Newspapers

The Alamance Gleaner Vol LXV GRAHAM, N. C., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1939 No. 39 .4 WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSjp BY JOSEPH IV. LaBINE Belligerents Fight for Favor Of European Neutral States; 'Flint' Incident Still Simmers ? - (EDITOR'S NOTE?When opinions are expressed in these eoimnns, they are these a! the news analyst and not necessarily of this newspaper.) , Released by Western Newspaper Union. ?? THE WAR IN BRIEF ^Unorthodox: warfare continued on Iflc Hiciiui ttnrellnquish i eftly geine. Though 1,. 500,000 Ger ? man troops were massed ' at the -Sieg I tried line, any offensive must come 1 immediately RnOrftrftd?v~ OT ** ?tu ' n spring. seorntuL Three soUd days of rainfall left trenches half filled with water and stranded the highly touted mechanized artillery. Then came snow and sleet. Diplomatic activity continued at top speed, far overshadowing the actual war. Turkey's new pact with Britain to guarantee the eastern Mediterranean was the source of all efforts, which resolved into a fran tic scurrying among belligerents to line up neutrals. At Danzig, Ger man Foreign Minister Joachim van Ribbentrop furnished divertisement by lashing at British Prime Minis ter Neville Chamberlain for "break ing promises." He also tried to drive a wedge between the allies by woo ing France. Two days later Cham berlain replied just as scornfully. In the Balkans, Britain encour MARINE: 'Flint' Saga ? German seizure of the 5,000-ton O. S S. City of Flint bid fair to af fect world commerce far more than ail the 100-odd vessels which bombs and torpedoes have sent to the bottom since November 1. Carrying contraband to Britain, the Flint was seized by Germany in mid-Atlantic, taken first to Norway and then to Murmansk, Russia, where ' her American crew was reportal safe. But the Soviet indicated Germany would get the ship, thereby reliev ing Joseph Stalin of bickering with the U. S. Most observers agreed the Reich was justified in seizing THE REICH BREAKS LOOSE Nasi raiders have broken Britain s Bonk m blockade to raid Atlantic ikip M. and Britain cannot hunt them doom ?rtnm weakening her home It/earn Fvidassces of raiding: Brituh liner Stone gate picked up torpedo victims at (I), wot then torpedoed herself (I), probably by At Deutschland, which prmstjed north to capture the V. S. S. City o/ Flint (S) and ami bar to Trosnsoe, Norway, (4) where Slauegale passengers were dumped. City of Flint wet then taken to Murmansk, Knot IS). In the heavily protected North tea It) a convoyed Greek steamer was smth. while three British vessels went deem St miles of Gibraltar (7). A French tub reported driving Jin Nazi raiders to m African port IS). the Flint, but few expected his next bold move. Berlin ordered a prize court hearing to determine whether the boat, crew or cargo should be heed. Britain began crowing premature ly about her "speedy" inspection of neutral vessels by contrast with German blundering. U. S. skippers thereupon complained to Washing ton that Britain's contraband con trol was actually, pretty bad, often taking 18 days to clear a boat. Re sult: A "gentleman's agreement" to ?peed inspection. Obviously the Flint incident put Russia on a spot. By releasing her th the American crew, Russia would snsdr an erstwhile ally, Germany. As it was, the Soviet incurred U. & skepticism. If Russia again offers haven to a neutral vessel seized by Germany, the Kremlin might ?*n be asked to tell how she stands k lWi war. Ibtti was a strong hint at her aged Turkish formation of a neutral bloc, using what some observers called poor strategy by apparently neglecting to consult Italy. While the Reich wooed Rumania, Turkey and Hungary by threats, Britain was more subtle. Under consideration at London were trade pacts to assure the neutrality of Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Lat via, Turkey and Russia: To soothe the latter nation,' Chamberlain agreed that Dictator Josef Stalin's invasion of Poland had been neces sary for protection against Ger man aggression. Russia continued negotiations with Finland, but their nature remained mysterious. Finnish Foreign Min ister Eljas Erkko called "just as unfounded as all others" the latest I report that Russia had demanded ? concessions in the Gulf of Finland, a friendship policy between the ' Kremlin and a Fiilland, and tc destruction t< of all fortifi cations in 0 the strategic w Aaland is- ^ lands. Some jj observers C believed w Russian de- a mends on " 1 " Finland " CHAMBERLAIN w e r e i n - ? So anu he. creased to P offset the Soviet's diplomatic defeat " in Turkey. But it remained unlikely 0 that Russia would invade Finland, ? position in another Flint aftermath. At Moscow, British Ambassador Sir William Seeds was given a note rejecting Soviet recognition of Brit ain's war contraband list because it violates international law. CONGRESS: Victory, Then What? It an isolationist fillibuster was really delaying action on the neu trality bill, the Ciiy of Flint incident (So* MARINE> was enough to end it. Next day the senate agreed to al low each speaker 45 minutes for the bill and an extra 45 minutes for each amendment. Lashed by acid tongued John Nance Garner, who rebuked the senate for being a "horae-and-buggy outfit," battling solons called a truce to approve amendments (1) banning 90-day credits to either belligerent nations or their residents and (2) lifting ? shipping restrictions against Ameri- ? can boats in the Pacific (except armatnent), Bermuda, New Bruns- F wick, Nova Scotia, Tasmanian sea and Capetown. Rejected was an ? amendment to make President J Roosevelt sole judge of the neces sity for invoking neutrality. There 2 was good chance another a intend- f meat would pass: To forbid aay Del- v ligerent ship from flying the U. S. flag as defense against a foe. * As early as two days before the senate's final vote, Isolationists Bor- * ah and Nye conceded administration J forces a two-thirds victory. But ? they were more hopeful about the ' bouse, where neutrality would run * against pretty strong opposition. An " attempt to invoke parliamentary ? rules (preventing amendments to the senate bill) was conceded little d chance by argumentative represent- * stives. ? ft PEOPLE: \nc Dies Coup t< At Washington, Texas' Red-bait ing Rep. Martin Dies achieved pub- \ 1 icily with his list of 983 U. S. em* r ptoyees who are on a "membership L and mailing li?t" of the p 1 n k 1 ? h American League for Peace and Democracy. In the house an argument brewed over the sugges tion by Waah ington'sBep. "? ? ? John Coffee TEXAS' DIE8 that Diea' Bo looked for rods. un-Americanism committee be dis owned for insinuating that all Sdt federal employees were Commu nists. C At Phoenix, Ariz., the state in sane hospital announced Wianie Bath Jndd, notorious trunk slayer at 1931, had escaped leaving a note; "I'm only going to see my fa ther and my husband ..." \ I ? Know your Mmf Deduct 20 points for each of the following questions you mist. One hundred it perfect; any thing below 40 shouldn't be bragged flfrfrlff , , , % 1. At Mnncle, Ind., ? young man said: "We wouldn't do It again lor a million dollar*. Our leg* became too stiff to operate the plane properly." To what was he referring? 2. Choice: New head of the wage-hoar administration is (a) Elmer Andrews, (b) Fiorella La Gnardia, (e) Clark Gatde, (d) Col. Philip Fleming. S. For what purpose is the U. S. boilding 41,004 huge steel bins in the midwest hog-raising states? 4. What European nation (the only one to pay its war debt) is trying to arrange a loan or cred its from the Reconstruction Finance corporation to acqniro agricultural commodities in the O. 8.? 5. Why was President Roose velt reprimanded for going to church? (Answers at bottom of column.) BUSINESS: tig Stick At South Bend, Ind., the U. S. nti-trust suit against General Mo >rs (for allegedly forcing dealers j use G. M. A. C. financing) went > the jury. In Washington three ther prominent anti-trust actions rere in the mill: (1) against the jnerican Medical association, be ig appealed once more; (2) against Ihicago area milk dealers, being reighed in the Supreme court; (3) gainst building trades, which may lushroom into a nation-wide probe. l fourth potential case centered gainst 68 life insurance companies roducing 90 per cent of all ordinary ie contracts, a situation frowned n by the securities exchange qpm A. A. B.'S PELLET What it public interest ? aission and the senate's temporary ational economic committee. Against this background Trust luster Thurman Arnold popped a ew issue: In District of Columbia ederal court the justice department led complaints charging the Aiso iation of American Railroads and 36 individual roads with violating he Sherman act. Cause for action was an A. A. R esolution of June 29, 1037, which eclared public interest would be erved "if railroads refrained from stablishing with motor carriers hrough routes or joint rates or area which invade territory not erved by such railroad and which i already served by one or more ther railroads." In Washington, A. R. R.'s Presi ent J. J. Pelley "welcomed the ction in order that there may be nee and for all . . . determined a what extent the railroads are per -litted ... to declare sound poli ies consistent with the public in erest." IPfflTE HOUSE: toy* Stay Home Addressing the New York Herat* 'Hbutu forum on current events, 'resident Roosevelt added his roughts on America's responsibility 1 Europe's war. He excoriated "or tors, commentators and others eating their breasts and proclaim if against sending the boys of jnerican mothers to light." New* Quit Answer* tCy/sXr, vmB&mmVi:t iSoMmSsSB vex- wteMoar* 'S. /SA 1. To the endurance SUM Jnet ended by himself (Robert Mr Daniel.) end Kel vin Baxter, who dew IS boars. ? mln 1. (0) te correct Colonel Fleming. 1 To olsre part of 70.000.000 busbela of corn now sealed under V. S. loans Is farmers, moot el which wm be he tae government's hands bp mid-winter. ? Finland. S. Far beta* present at Ota Hyde Park church when the pastor, baring received a Bible boa Britain's King George, prayed SMI be btaf might be etrength ened to "vaa?ta* sad all Ma Brackart't Washington Digest Time for Showdown in L&bor Situation Is Not Far Distant Serious Reaction Follows Attitude of NLRB; Public Also Resentful of Conditions Caused by Union Leaders; Inquiry May Bare Startling Facts. By WILLIAM TpynrART WNU Service, National Press Bldf., Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON.?There is every indication that the labor situation in this country?government policies, labor union policies, employer atti tude?is fast approaching a new tangle. A reaction has set in on the part of the public to certain phases of the Roosevelt administra tion's earlier (but not necessarily the current) policies. Likewise, la bor union leadership has produced certain conditions that are not find ing public support, and there are still some employers who continue to make fools of themselves by follow ing Eighteenth century methods. I have suggested in these columns previously that the national labor relations board was riding for a fall. It was riding too high. Ther^ was bound to be a serious reaction. The board's arrogance, unfairness, over bearing attitude, its general con tempt for anyone disagreeing with its conclusions were elements cer tain to lead to an eventual show down. The time of that showdown seems not far distant. The same type of mentality as that which jeopardizes the princi ples of the national labor relations act also has caused a blowup in the wages and hours division of the la bor department?the division which administers the year-old law limit ing hours of work and prescribing minimum wages. Administrator El mer F. Andrews was the goat, and he had to resign. No one prob ably ever will know whether it was foolhardiness on the part of Mr. An drews or the treachery of his sub ordinates that brought about the ex plosion. But explode, it did; and as a result, Col. Phillip Fleming is in the job of wage and hour adminis trator without benefit of senate con firmation of his appointment, al though the senate is in session. Lewis and Green Warfare Shows No Signs of Let-Up No cessation of the warfare be tween John L. Lewis' C. L O. and William Green's A. F. of L., is fore seen. The Lewis faction of organ ized labor continues to do a lot of things that do not flt into the picture of Americanism, despite a strong denial by Mr. Lewis that commu nists are in key positions. Mr. Green's organization is building up a majjmflcgnt record of fighting within itself. One craft is pitted against another, here, there and ev erywhere, with the result that peo ple generally are getting pretty tired of"having to wait to get work done because carpenters and bricklayers, for example, both go on strike over the question of which one shall do particular work. The unhappy labor board has few defenders, any more. For a long time, the board, its attorneys and investigators were commonly re garded as an adjunct of the Lewis labor union. Surely, then was ground for such belief by the ad missions that came from time to time, coupled with consistent end concerted attacks by leaders of the A. F. of L. Wherever it was neces sary to make a choice between Lew is followers and Green supporters, it was an odds-on bet that the Lewis group's contention would be sus tained. All of this was followed ultimately by an attack from the C. L O. on the functions of the board. That happened at the annual C. L O. con vention and came from Mr. Lewis. No one seems to know the real rea son. Expected to Examine Facta And Than Propone a Remedy The house committee is beaded by Hep. Howard Smith, a Virginia Democrat, who long has been noted far fairness. As far as Us record goes, I believe it can be said that Mr. Smith has seldom been "anti" or "pro" on any question without first having facts. With him on the committee are Representatives Hea ley of Massachusetts and Murdoch at Arizona, Democrats, and Halleck of Indiana and Routzahn of Ohio, Republicans. 'Mf- Healey is sbout the only member of the group who pan be suspected of leaning violently one way qr the otber. Mr. Healey's record marks him as a New Dealer on nearly all occasions, sometimes without too much reason. I have heard Mr. Halleck praised for his fairness any number at times in house debate, the commenda tion has come as much from Demo f < -/?-? ... / crats as from the Republicans. So, there is every indication that the investigation will be of the type that ess mines the facts and then proposes a remedy. Much evidence has been gathered, and will serve as the basis for further inquiry. Some ef it is reported to be of a sensational character, but It is not Mr. Smith's idea that the commit tee is operating solely to make newspaper headlines. Among other things, the house committee has sent out question naires to hundreds of employers, hundreds of labor leadets of both tactions of unionism, and local offi cials, such as police chiefs and oth ers charged with law enforcement. The purposes of the questions are rather obvious. With the statements , from all of these sources, the com mittee believes it can sift out much chaff from rumors, complaints, counter charges and propaganda. Further, the committee wants to as certain whether there is evidence that the board, itself, had any con nection with labor disturbances and, if so, which of its personnel was in volved. May Uncover Facts That Will Startle Legislatori Copies of records in nearly all of the board's hearings are being ex amined by the committee staff. Board decisions have been under fire many, many times. It seems to have been the rule, rather than an exception, that the board was willing always to listen to C. L O. attorneys and almost never pay at tention to alleged facts which em ployers or others tried to submit Prom this source, alone, there is every reason to believe the com mittee will uncover enough abuse of power to stun the legislators who fought for passage of a law which the administration described as per fect. In any event, if the principle of the labor relations act is to sur vive and become a workable part of governmental interference in rela tions between worker and employ er, it seems that the Smith commit tee must produce the proper basis. Concerning the wages and hours bureaucracy, however, there is less ; optimism that a sound solution can , be found. Colonel Fleming is tak ing over the Job, with feeling among all types of partisans at fever heat. That is a handicap. Mr. Andrews went in with wishes ef good hick, but he had to administer and en- , force e law that was loosely drawn, a principle untried. As in the case , of labor board personnel, either , through his own mistakes or be cause nutty individuals were forced ] upon him, Mr. Andrews immediate ly was surrounded by a sour group of subordinates. It ssemsd almost that if a wrong way to solve the problem was available, the wage and hour division folks would find it [; Another Army OMcer Takes Job OatsuU Military Work Colonel Fleming is the third army oflicar to taka oeet a Job outside at the military service, lately. First, who was made bead of the WPA; aacoodly, Brigadier Canaral Watson was made Mr. KooeevelTa secreta ry, and laatiy, thara euna (ha Ap pointment at Colonel Flaming. It la rather hard to fecaeast how an army aflfaar la fokg to deal with one particular part at the Job now undertaken by Colonel Flem ing?application at the law to cer tain typee at farm labor and to busi neaaea directly connected with iarm flliated directly or IndlracUy. with farm operationa hare been engaged in a door-die atruggle bare In Waah ipgton with Mr. Andrews. I think the mere change in headahip at the ' wage and hour dhrieioo la not likely to quiet those people, because the increase in wages that became ef fective October M represents the dif ference between profit and loss in most instances. Probably, the aeers who invented the idea of federal control of wages and hoars never I milked a cow after dark or busked corn 6a a frosty morning. These con ditions were not of the making of Colonel Fleming, but his is fee task at attempting to reconcile an Inflexi ble law with conditions feat vary la every county in fee United States. If ha ean succeed, soma political . party ought to nominate him as Ms i presidential candidate next year, I Speaking of Sports Reformed Red Infielder Gets League Award By ROBERT McSHANE A LITTLE mora than four years ** ago, William Henry Waltera Jr., third baaeman of the Philadelphia Phillies, was persuaded to forsake his inflelding chorea and try a turn on the pitcher's mound., Today Snaky, right-hand^sBiawr ball star of ths Clncianati Reds, Is the National league's most rateable player, an honor rated him by M members of the Baseball Writers of America, three from each city in the league. Had that 1034 suggestion been made a few months earlier "Bucky" would have laughed it off. Ha broke Into organized baseball and climbed up to the majors as a third base man. The Boston Braves brought him up for his first big league chance, but he failed. Then the Bed 80s tried him. but again It was no go. As a Utter be was a distinct washout. Be was s ?US Utter in the Pacific Coast league, bat be eoaktet prove thai in the majors. The Red Sox sent him to Phila delphia on waivers. Still he failed to make any impression on major league pitching. Johnny Verges was holding down the third sack tor the BCCIt WALTERS Phillies and Bucky couldn't displace him. Both Walters and Jimmy Wil son, then manager of the team, were pretty well convinced he wouldn't make the grade aa a top notch third baseman. Wllsoa had noticed, however, that Walters pat more sta* ea a throw from third to first than some of his so-called pitchers. So he sag rested pitching. The Conversion That was in 1934. Walters pitched ?very day in batting practice. He did look pretty crude, but had a One teacher in Wilson?and also had a mind of his own. Before the season was over he had responded to treat ment and had developed a good fast ball, curve and sinker. Be had as wen and lost record In 1934. In 193S ho wen nine and lest sine with the Phillies. The nest season be wen 11. bnt lest U. la 1937 he scored 14 decisions while Mag 15. The nest year he bettered AM, winning 15 and losing 14. Cincinnati purchased him in June of 1938 for $99,000 and two players. Catcher Virgil Davis and A1 Hol Ungsworth. This past season, his most successful by far, saw Bucky winning 27 games, balanced against 11 losses. He led the league in vic torias, in innings pitched with 319 and in complete games with 31. He struck out 136 men, walking 1M. 'Hittingest* Pitcher Though tell never knock the league'* leading hitter* from their pedestal, Walters need* no one to pinch hit for him. Right now he's the "hittingest" pitcher in the big leagues, his lethal bat adding extra base hits to a large assortment at singles to any part at the Held. To stew the esteem la which Becky Is held, the committee at M ?ports writers gar* him MS eat at a possible total at SM rots*. Bis worth to the Beds la wtamlag tl 5u?dta7 VontribetioB to their sao eoss that his nearest rival, Jshaay Mise, M. Louis first baseman, had only 17S rotes. Walters is well liked by newspa per men. Last July, after winning the first of a double header from the Phils in Cincinnati, Bucky observed the second game from the proas coop. During the gam* he pulled a brand new ball out of its carton and, almost bashfully, banded II to one of the ic pullers. saying: "?are, win yea autograph M aafi Sports Shorts CADDENED were Indiana's tool- ? ? ball coacbaa when motion plo tures at the game failed to show a dee Madder's 80-jrard dash for a touchdown against Wisconsin. The film was being changed af file time. Madd ox was oooe too iHUflpy. either .cJSsJfTS: i ig oi a ing 10 wfll aerve pa an ar Alabama Poly playa football"' g'araa at home thia year . . . Willard, tenner heavyweight chLm pion, ia serving as greeter in ? MQ waukee cafe . . . Three griddera are married. THsfr v* Fullback John Rabb, Canter Claude White and Fullback Tommy Wei baum . . . Lee Raman baa en rolled as a freshman at San Diego State college, where he wgl coach boxing . . . Joe Hill, California box er who had been a deaf mute steoe infancy, regained his faculties while Powder Bowl stars WINNERS at the first Powder *V Bowl football classic. ?t West em State college, Gunnison, Colo., are eager for new worlds to coo-.' quer. Eleven upper-class rungs, i hilar iSftis .My? Biggest drawback of the gains was the girls' difficulty in breaking op huddles. Though the players do not admit it, reports have circulated that too much time was wasted is making barbed remarks anent Cm opposition's uniforms, many at which sacrificed style for safety. from us seT" Abee Shanks, iqUl snd? quarterback for Ae^wtseees, "I wouldn't be afraid to ckaBengs the whole world." ^ j Helen Ruth Wilcozson. 115-pound tackle, was Just as enthusiasms: "I love this footbalL I love- te bowl 'em over." Thanks to ssslstence volunteered by members of the varsity ffiatbsD team the girls came through with s wide variety of forward and fed eral passes, end runs, lias snwriah reverse*, bid inner* kicks. TWt blocking and tackling was roue, tough and effective. " Gridiron 1? Topnotchers This l 11 nil i ? 11 ? mrim a# mrtUrn fmUtrmt oumeiuiaif |??llefl fUf Tt from tckooU 1 *e >? rum. N??dk ikw racordi till A* ^thU 210-poud, Meet Maeh Mhr wfca In Im year* has Im tt* key aw In (he Wildcat Bw. While hia offensive ability, a tar M passing la concerned, la ?*U nigh 100 per cent, tt -al that Hainan haa attainad recognition as tng center is the Wasters conference. Used almost exclusively for harking up the Una (sort of ? secood full back) Ham sb's tackling has thus and agate gotten tha Wildcats oat of tough rv'^sssras to teteree* passos to ate of North FSSvS^-r tea Daaae. Haman, whose homo is te Naper- ' ville, BL, a Chicago suburb, attoiaad ? prominence almost overnight as a result of his brilliant performance in his first Big T*n game against Ida- ' Desoto te his sophomore rear. II I was tha first game in whiclxbe start- r, ad and ha played 60 minutes to turn te if hat was regarded as tha prisa J sophomore performance of the 103V season. Hn sharp accurate ticklisf , ISJOf . - *