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The Alamance Gleaner Vol LXVT GRAHAM, N. C., THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1940 No. 14 WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS e e e e Nazis Gain Ground in Norway As Allied Fleet Watches Italy; Balkan States Are Still Uneasy (EDITOR'S NOTE?When opinions are expressed in these columns, they are those of the new* analyst and not necessarily of this newspaper.) by Western Newspaper TTt*I/y" THE WAR;? Shifting Scenes Uajor stagehands in the theater of World War n are busy changing scenes for the next act in the cur rent military draiha. While the al lies were admittedly doing a "fade out" in southern Norway, attention was centered on the Mediterranean area where the French-Anglo fleet was concentrating. Two important reasons for this shift in allied tactics seemed evi dent: (1) Britain and France fig ure on a swift German thrust into the Balkan countries and (2) to the allies the Italian question mark is looming larger than ever. While Prime Minister Chamber lain was telling the house of com mons that British forces were be ing removed from their central Nor wegian base at Andalsnes, Germany was claiming that the allies were in "headlong flight" in that area. German gains in central and south ern Norway have been strength German cod for Italy it now shipped by railroad through Brenner pass. ened but-the battle is far from over. A long campaign is apparent and allied leaders are now attempting to cut off German supplies and troops from the homeland by inten sifying attacks upon shipping and air bases. Since the British sea blockade of Germany's coal shipments to Italy, Nazi officials have been transferring supplies of this important commod ity by railroad, through historic Brenner pass. <See cut). But trans portation problems in the war areas are getting even more complicated. Because of fears that Italy may align herself with Germany in the present war, Britain is discontinu ing all through-shipping in the Med iterranean and is routing such cargo around the tip of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. This, combined with the massing of the allied fleet in the eastern Mediterranean, ap peared to point toward Italian war entrance. But while this activity was taking place two counter moves were made which pointed toward continued Italian- neutrality. William Phillips, U. S. ambassador to Italy, was re ported to have learned from Premier Mussolini himself that Italy was not planning a war movement at pres ent. The other favorable sign was the sailing of the great Italian trans-Atlantic steamship, Rex?out of Naples to New Toxic. Foreign observers believed it unlikely that Italy would let this prized ship leave the country if war were near. It appeared that the allies were attempting to force Italy into an of ficial statement regarding her posi tion in the present conflict. ? i SIDELIGHTS ... of the war Id Canada the Department of Na tional Defense issued posters which warned citizens to refrain from aim less or idle talk about military mat ters. Placed in conspicuous places throughout the country, the placards were released because the govern ment fears the presence of enemy agents, according to the department. Prance too, clamped down on gos sip as the government warned citi zens to be on guard against listen ing ears of the enemy. Even the slightest chance remark might re veal the clue to important informa tion said the official statement. In discreet babblers of such informa tion are liable to prosecutioo. POLITICS: Came the Spring Month of blossoms and green grass, May, this year is watching leaders of both major political par ties scamper to the grass roots to pluck choice blossoms in the form of convention delegates. There was plenty of weeding to do in the gar den of presidential candidates, how ever, and while President Roosevelt could claim the greatest share of instructed Democratic delegates and Thomas Dewey was leading the Re publican fold in that regard, May is definitely regarded as a vital month. Republicans will choose 477 of their 1,000 delegates this month, al most completing their total. Demo crats, who have already chosen 374, of their 1,094, will select about 400 more in May. With Roosevelt already having 305 pledged and semi-pledged delegates tucked away in his fold he looked like an odds on favorite to enter the convention with a nice majority for himself or for his own "favorite-son"?whoever that might be. While many of the lesser "buds" continued to hide their shy little heads at least one more Democrat blossomed out with the statement that he would make the race if the President didn't. And what's more, said he?none other than Burton K. Wheeler, senator from Montana?"I can't conceive of him (Roosevelt) being a candidate." Republicans meanwhile gathered in Washington to do a little spading and cultivating with their convention and campaign problems. Keynoter Harold Stassen of Minnesota held conferences with the designated choice for permanent chairman of the convention, Rep. Joe Martin of Massachusetts. He also contacted other party leaders as the party's platform began to take shape. Stas sen said that party leaders were in "general agreement" over most Jot Martin and Harold SlauaH ditcutt plaiu far Republican national convention. plonks. Biggest stumbling plonk was the "anti-war" attitude to be taken. All agreed that the party should promise to keep out of war, but a split was evident over the best manner in which to gain that end. DOMESTIC: Shipping Despite restrictions placed upon it by the neutrality act, U. S. shipping has climbed to its highest point in 10 years. As this news was an nounced Attorney General Jackson was forming a special Justice de partment unit to investigate and prosecute any violations related to neutrality sedition, espionage and similar offenses. Because so many ships are clearing U. S. porta tor for eign destinations, law enforcement agencies have been hard pressed to keep track of all violations of the neutrality act. Help Wanted While Federal Security Adminis trator Paul McNutt was reporting that private industry was hiring about 18 per cent more persons last month than a year ago, another fed eral official, WPA Commissioner Harrington, was urging private em ployers to hire additional workers being released from WPA projects. Harrington stated that about 1,250, 000 workers had left WPA in the past 12 months to take jobe in in dustry and on the nation's farms. Many of these, however, usually find it necessary to return to WPA after a few months of work. TREND I How the wind is blowing . . . Car Design ? From Detroit, world-center of the auto industry, comes word that 1941 models will present "changes ... of a mag nitude rarely before equaled in the automobile industpr." De signs will be revised with a defi nite trend toward streamlined "torpedo" bodies. Construction ? At Miami, 600 architects saw a display showing how structural glass, large win dows and plate glass mirrors may make tomorrow's home a "house of glass." Transportation?Railroad com panies have put into effect a plan whereby travelers in at least 30 states can rent automobiles for use in a community after having made their long trip by rail. Res ervations are made at the time the train ticket is purchased and cars are ready when the traveler arrives. An association will co operate with railroads in provid ing the cars and uniform national rates have been set up. LABOR: Ambitions - ? According to William Green, pres ident of the American Federation of Labor, his arch-rival, John L. Lewis, desires to be President of the United States. Speaking before 1,500 delegates to the Pennsylvania A. F. of L. convention, Green charged that Lewis was trying to form a third party so that he could become its presidential candidate. Speaking in West Virginia last month, Lewis stated that unless the Democrats selected candidates ac ceptable to the common people and to labor he would advocate a con vention for "every U. S. citizen." In Green's Pennsylvania address he was cheered when he said: "He (Lewis) says the President is no good, nobody in the Democratic party is any good. He can't find anybody that measures up so he looks around and says, 'I'm the man.' " Green asserted that A. F. of L. would refuse to affiliate with any third party move. MAY DAY: Contrasts Thousands of America's rural vil lages and towns regard Hay day as a time of traditional fun and frolic lor U. S. children. But in the major cities of the world the day takes on a varying hue. It is usually a day for the voice of labor to be heard. This year even that voice was quieted for laborers listened to still another voice?that of military might. Around the world, May day, 1M0 style, sounded like this: Stockholm?Addressing a gather ing of Swedish citizens. Premier Al __________ bin Hansson told the world that Sweden was de termined to de fend her neutral ity "with all our power." He pleaded for Swed ish people to co operate fully with the government in every way to meet the present international situ ation. Both the allies and Germa ny have assured Sweden that her neutrality wui De respectea dux late ly the nation has undertaken broad military precaution*. Berlin?Adolf Hitler'* party depu ty, Rudolf He**, declared to a (roup of workers that the German people were engaged in thi* year'* May day celebration "with the certainty of victory a* never before." He ridi culed all allied hopes for Germany's internal collapse. Meseew?Always impressive on May day, Russia's parade this year lived up to tradition as thousands of troops filed by the tomb of Lenin. Joseph Stalin stood for hours on the reviewing stand as his might was revealed before him in the nev er-ending line of soldiers. Members of the American diplomatic corps were among the thousands of spec tators who watched the ceremonies and heard the speakers declare that capitalistic governments and the So viet were steadily growing further apart. MISCELLANY: C Old Glory was lowered in Little America overnight It will stay low ered for four months?until August 26, when the sun will reappear in the Antarctic regions. 4. A report from Manila, Philippine islands, indicated that a wave at head hunting was under way in the interior of the Nueva Ecija prov ince. Three homesteaders were said to have been beheaded. The wild tribesmen are fighting en croachment upon their ancestral hunting gropnds by farmers. - - '<'T- ?? Bruckarfa Washington Digest Congress Plans an Investigation Of Wallace's 'Must' Legislation House Committee on Agriculture Will Check Secretary's Statement Regarding Loan Policies of Federal Land Banks. By WILLIAM BRUCKAKT WNU Service, National Preaa Bid*., Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON.?Those folks who have been around Washington any length of time cannot tail to recog nize the tremendous power exer riwprl nupr ivwifrrMS and throughout the country, by official* in the executive branch of the gov ernment. If always has been so. It ap pears to be on the increase, which is to say that it is grow ing very dangerous because through the last few years we have had a great deal of "must" legislation sent to congress from the executive branch of the government. While, as I said, there always has been pressure of a tremendous sort from executive agencies, it reached a new peak lately. Secretary Wal lace of the department of agricul ture headed the pack. He has set in motion a gigantic pressure machine to force through some legislation on farm loans. It is so far-reaching in its scope that if a private corpora tion or group of individuals had done it, they would have been char acterized as "special interests" try ing to smother congress; they would have been lobbyists of the first wa ter, and they would have been de nounced on the floors of the house and senate as brigands and high waymen. But Mr. Wallace seems to have stuck out his neck. He was too anxious. The house committee on agriculture has decided to look into the matter. You see, there is a statute that forbids officials or em ployees of the executive branch of ti)e government disseminating, at public expense, documents designed to influence the views of congress. I That is, in short, the statute forbids lobbying by officials of the govern ment. The statement would not be complete, however, if the fact were not added that this statute has been violated so many times it is impossi ble to accurately make a report on them. Wm. Braekart Secretary Wallace Duliked Land Bank'* Loan Policies I expect that the house committee on agriculture will not punish Mr. Wallace and his subordinates at all, politics being what it is and the ne l cessity for face-saving always being present. But that does not prevent me from setting down here what Mr. Wallace has done. It ought to be notice to all farmers to take the propaganda with a grain of salt, or several grains of salt. Recently, Secretary Wallace is sued a statement harshly criticizing the loan policies of the federal land banks as those policies were car ried out under the banks' former management. In the language of the street, he kicked those policies high er than the well-known kite. Any body who criticized the secretary's criticism at once became an agent of the special interests who are try ing to enslave the farmer. In other words, all of the world's knowledge on the subject of farm credit was tucked away within the brain of the current United States secretary at agriculture. But Mr. Wallace did not atop there. With the assistance of one Governor Black of the Farm Credit administration. Mr. Wallace sent his statement about the terrible federal land bank policies through the mails to something like 000,060 farmers who are borrowers from the land banks. The letters, of course, want through the mails, free under the federal government's franking priv ilege. ? J oner-W heeler BUI ReeulU Are Subject to Debate To got bock to the secretery"# crit icism of the former lend bank man agement and the circular letter sent oat at public expense: As I said, the secretary appears to have stuck out his neck. He included in that letter a thinly veiled appeal for the 600,000 farmer-borrowers to write to their representatives and senators in support of a piece of legislation known as the Jones-Wheeler bill. Mr. Wallace said this legislation would make it much easier for the farmers to borrow and it would make their debt burden easier to carry through a reduction in interest rates and through revision of other terms. It was, according to the department of agriculture interpretation, legisla tion that would aolve the farm debt problem that has confronted the American farmer over a period of very many difficult and trying crop ping seasons. It seems, however, that there are differing views as to what the Jones Wheeler bill would do. Opponents of the measure insist that it is just anotheftheory to supplant other the ories that have failed. They charge it will make the borrowing of money so easy that presently an unsound basis will be established for all farm mortgages and that, ultimately, it win be almost impossible for farm ers to borrow money anywhere. That is to say, the bin is another step in the direction that has ruined the farmers of land in the nations of dictators, for the reason that eventually the government win be telling the farmers when to eat and sleep. All of this is without refer ence to what I regard as the worst feature of the legislation, namely, < the further use of federal money in controlling national, or even state, : elections?because that end wUl surely result. The secretary's action in sending the circular letters to 600,000 farm- ! er-borrowers shows what can be done. Having been a farm boy my self, I think I can visualize the re action of hundreds, if not thousands, of farmers to that letter. A good many of them will be afraid that if they do not support the Jones-Whee ler biU, they will not get fair con sideration from the Farm Credit ad ministration. They wUl be afraid ' that some local representative of FCA wUl "teU on us." In other j words, there is the danger of use of pontics in the meanest way. And don't forget: when a politician is ? seeking office, he Is seldom re strained. T wo Loading Farm Groups Are Opposed to Bill The best proof that I have of the unsound character of the Jones Wheeler bill lies in the fact that the National Grange and the Farm Bu reau federation are opposed to it. Further evidence is that Mr. Wal lace has been courting the Farmers alliance support of the bill. The Farmers alliance never has had a great following among those who seek sound farm policies. The Na tional Grange and the Farm bureau always have been respected and their views generally have been im portant with members of the house and senate. So, Mr. Wallace is found nursing the group that best tits his immediate purposes. There is another thing to be men tioned. The Jones-Wheeler bill, with all its trick phrases, probably will not get through at this session of congress unless all available pres sure is put behind it. It was to cre sts this support that Mr. Wallace and Governor Black sent out their circulars in criticism of the land bank policies. Since there is no probability of congress being called into extra session and sines adjourn ment of the current session is Hkely to occur sometime in June, tha bill has to be pushed through now, or it will yield no political benefits at the election in November. I believe it is fairly clear from this what Mr. Wallace's suggested program coo The n drive for additional au thority lor tba secretary of agricul turo count at ? time whan tba caah turn Income picture Is not pretty. The last figures Issued by the de partment of agriculture show that caah farm tncoaoe for the months of January, February and March to talled njmmjm. whereas it was fl^BliPOO.OOO for the same three months of 1930. That looks like a gain, but wait! According to the department of agriculture, farm subsidies for the first three months of this year were $301,000,000 and for the same three months of 1030, the farm subsidies totalled (101,000,000. The cash in come reported for this year was, roughly, 0115,000,000 more than a year ago, and the subsidy paid to the farmers was almost $100,000,000 larger then lest year. Which, in my book, represents Just no gain st all for the farm program. I cannot enthuse, therefore, about the policies that have been called "best" by Secretary Wallace. He has triad too many "bests" and, after a lapse of time, they were displaced by another "best" and an other that Is certain to solve the farm problem. I am beginning to doubt whether the experts in the de partment of agriculture know what the weed "best" means. Speaking of Sports Fiction Pales Before Career Of Kid McCoy By ROBERT McSHANE (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) XTORMAN SELBY wai the "real McCoy." And Norman Selby took his own life recently in a De troit (Mich.) hotel. It was under the name of "Kid McCoy" that Selby became one ef the best and most clamorous box ing champions of half a century ago. The "real McCoy" was originated when the Kid billed himself that way in opposition to a rival who also called himself McCoy. There were no tears shed at the Kid's funeral. He had caused too much trouble during his lifetime, had pulled too many mean tricks and was never too particular about bow he fought as long as he was victorious. But Kid McCoy was a great light er. Boxing old timers remember him as a paralyzing puncher?one of the hardest hitters the light game has ever known. His skill was so great he could pit successfully his 180 pounds against the best heavy weights of his day. His cunning was almost diabolical, and it was his cunning which made so many ene mies for him. Lesson in Canning McCoy reveled in victimizing his opponents. The old shoe lace gag was one ef bis best. In the midst of combat he would pause, point down, and tell his opponent to "hur ry up, tie your shoe, laces." When the victim looked, McCoy struck. Sailor Tom Sharkey, now living in San Francisco, recalls the Kid with no fond memories. He tells about their fight in New York back in 1899. The Kid came into the ring that ?' KID (THE REAL) McCOY night with his gloves on. Sharkey's manager. Tommy Rourke, ordered the gloves removed. They were full of plaster. One good punch could have brought a permanent close to Sharkey's career. That's a fight Sharkey will never forget. Odds were 10 to ? McCoy would beat him. When the Kid knocked him down in the first round the ringside odds went to 10 to 3. But the Sailor weathered the storm. Be started working on his opponent's stomach; and the rdferee counted | 10 over the Kid in the tenth round. Sharkey couldn't forget the matter of the loaded gloves. The mast hi rid fietisa is tame when compared te McCoy's Ufa story. At varieos stages te his ca reer he was a millionaire aad a hobo. He was a world's bexteg chsmplce aad a Jailbird. He mar ried atea times?three times te tee same wemaa. He served eight of a tO-yesr nation far morder. Once he was proprietor a< s Jewelry store, aad saee he swamped cad silima. It's almost impossible not to be melodramatic when writing of Mc Coy. He was a melodramatic per son. His life was a series of fan tastic adventures. Unpleasant Memory Tom Sharkey recalls another un pleasant incident in the Kid's life. ''I remember." Tom says, "how he met Tommy Ryan, in 1896, after working as Ryan's sparring partner and learning all his tricks, still hid ing his own skill. He wrote Ryan be was dead broke and sick and wouldn't Ryan give him a chance to make some mooeyT It would be Just a workout for Ryan, but it meant a change tor the Kid. He told Ryan he wouldn't even have to train. Ryan took him at his word and gave him the fight. McCoy beat him unmercifully?and laughed about it" The tables were once turned on McCoy, however. He was the vic tim of an upset that ranks with the game's most inexplicable. Meeting Jack McCormick in 1899 in Chicago, the Kid was rated a 100 to 1 shot to win. One second after the bell the Kid was stretched on the floor senseless. McCormick had knocked him out with the first punch. GENERAL HUGH S. JOHNSON IviJaus: uMMM W wmtrnrnrn MUZZLED BI NAVY A retired naval officer ha* been ordered by the navy department to cease giving lectures on the war. An officer on the retired list is in a peculiar status. Having been dis abled in service be is removed from active duty and not subject to orders in the usual sense. He gets, for life, what looks like three-quarters pay. Actually counting lost allowances, it is about half pay. Whether tba navy department can legally muzzle him is a doubtful qiwstinn Yet the navy doesn't shush 09 some retired officers who do not say acceptable things. The ant standing case is Smedley Bulhr. He has called his erstwhile marine employment the instrument of a racket. The difference is that an obacure little lieutenant-commander (re tired) could be smk without a trace while a double medal of honor major-general super showman with a national reputation, a picturesque vocabulary and a voice like a fog horn?"old augur-eye" or "old gim let-nose" or whatever "old" it is? REAR ADMIRAL TAUSSKZ? Bit voice is being "skssskfT bj lho nary. couldn't be sunk at all without a splash that would raise the tides on all the seven seas. In times of peace, I can't see why there should be any shushing at alL Nine-tenths of this military secrecy business is the bunk. I was glad to read of Admiral Taussig's testi I mony, that the reason far the navy's insistence on fortifying Guam and increasing naval estimates at a cost of more than a billion is that we've got to fight Japan. For this purpose, he wants to es tablish an "impregnable base B the Philippines" (which is not possible) "fortify the Island of Guam to make its capture impossible" (which is equally absurd) "and make an alli ance with Great Britain, France and the Netherlands that will insure co operation in the maintenance of the status quo in the area to the south ward of Formosa." The navy didn't attempt to shush l Admiral Taussig. It merely said that his opinion was his own and | contrary to its views. But the navy is asking tor exactly what Taussis is defending. It con cedes that it wants to fortify Guam "to stabilise the political situation in the Far East" Admiral Taussig eras simply more explicit. Ha wants te check Jap anese expansion te Asia and Ma laysia which ha says Is "undsr way at present with tha auiijugstteo of China, tha FMteptasa, Nwteariantte Indian, French ladnChten and Ma laya are te be taken ever te due driven westward of Lake Baikal." It te a fair interpretation at the rest of the admiral's testimony teat we have to fight a naval war with Japan to prevent all this and must get ready now. I don't agree with Admiral Taus sig. If we are to engage our strength and effort on distant and indefensible objectives half way across the world, we shall be duck for ZDUOh cloftftr f? our shores. We have as bone buried I in Asia. But it te a wonderful thing to know that he could apeak and did speak his mind. It te unfair to the army, tee navy and the country to tell them to pre pare for war and not tell them what war?how, when and where. What is the foreign political, mili tary and naval policy of tha United States? That te our most important question. It needs to be debated and explored, and Ss to its military and naval aspects, professional mil itary and naval men know the limi tations. For the PBBent at least.
The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.)
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May 9, 1940, edition 1
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