THE FRANKLIN TIMES Issued Every Friday SIB Oonrt Street Telephone 288-1 A. F. JOHNSON, Gdltoi and Mannger James A. Johnson, AislMant Editor and Manager SUBSCRIPTION RATES One Te?r 91 M Nix Months 7A Right Month* .... l.OO Four .Months SO Foreign Adrertlslng Representative AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION New York City Entered at the Postofflee at L/Outsburg, N. C. as second . claw null matter. * WAR . KA The German invasion of Scandinavia has turned a long-held fear into a grim fact. Norway and Denmark have desperately sought to retain their precarious neu trality ? yet, despite these efforts, it is obvious that they have moved steadily toward war for some time. The recent pessimistic announcements of Norwegian govern ment spokesmen have provided ample evidence of that. Scandinavia is of immense importance to all the bellig erents, and she has been subjected to an ever-tightening squeeze froui both sides. Yesterday the squeeze was diplomatic; today it is militaristic. From the cold, purely military point of view, it is un derstandable that Germany should have moved north ward at this time because the Allies announced that the blockade against the Reich was to be extended and in tensified, and intimated that Allied men-of-war would go inside Norwegian territorial waters, if necessary, to seize German ships carrying precious Norwegian iron ore home. And the British have been mining Norwegian waters, at the expense of German shipping. This ex plains the German high command announcement that Denmark and Norway are being given Nazi "protec tion." On top of that, there is another factor involved ? an intangible factor, but one of great significance. It is the factor of prestige. German and Allied diplomats have been working at fever heat in all the little neutral nations to cement their governments' ties and influence. It is apparent that threats no less than pacific persua sion have been used? anything goes in war time. Ger many, the experts say, had come to fear that her inac- j tion had caused some of the neutrals at least to believe ' she was worried and indecisive, and, as a result, had caused them to cast a more friendly eye on the Allied front. The invasion of the North may have been order ed in an attempt to change this situation, 110 less than in an attempt to protect her ore supplies. There is 'evidence to indicate that the Danish govern ment knew the blitzkrieg in Denmark was coining and agreed to it ? in other words, simply bowed to the in evitable, rather than offering futile resistance which could have only resulted in a massacre of her pathetical ly small fighting forces. Norway, farther away and better protected, chose war. But her wartiriie mili tary strength consists of an army of little more than 100,000 men, inadequately equipped, buttressed by a small fleet of warships, largely obsolete. It seems in conceivable that she can hold off the Reich long without immediate support 011 a large scale. The Allies, of course, must do all they can ? complete and unquestion ed control of Norway, along with Denmark, would give Germany a superb series of air bases for striking di rectly at the heart of England, and hampering British merchant shipping and naval operations. There will be turmoil in the Balkans and elsewhere now, as Germany presses forward on the diplomatic as well as the military fronts, pointing to what she has done to small powers which refused to "cooperate" in the past as an example of what may happen to others refusing to "cooperate" in the future. The Allies will undoubtedly go the limit in seeking to "outsell" the Beich. And so war broadens out. Germany's action has posed another ominous ques tion: Does it perhaps mean that Hitler now feels it is time to fight in earnest, and will shortly open a "Western front for hostilities by sending his armies through Hol ? land and Belgium, flanking the Maginot line? The French army is said to be ready, even eager for this, and it is reported that Belgium plans to open her frontiers wide to the Poilus, once Hitler's legions march. Tf that happened, the decisive phase of the war might be con cluded comparatively soon, through the decimation of either the French or the German army ? or both. ?0O0 WHEN GOOD FARMERS GET TOGETHER An authority on agriculture recently said: "Tlie in tense competitive spirit among farmers is waning. Oth er farmers now are people to work with." The progressive farmer still tries to outdo his neigh bors in the field of production and utilization of his re sources. But he has learned that a cooperative spirit in marketing is a necessity. The farm marketing coopera tives, which have made such an outstanding record in recent years, have done much to develop and coordinate this spirit. When good farmers get together to sell their combined produce, the return is invariably larger. Such marketing cooperatives as the Dairymen's League of New York, which has been much jn the lime light due to marketing difficulties in the great Eastern milk shed, have proven that aggressive, public-spirited cooperation can go a long way toward solving the farm er's problems. And it solves them without extravagant tax subsidies. ; OOO Times Advertising Pays BUSINESS Business is marking time. The downward trend evi dent recently has been checked in moat lines, but no sign ificant upward trend has yet appeared. Steel production is at a materially lower level than last year ? due largely to the fact that production was ahead of consumption in 1939. Automobile production is running ahead of the level of a year ago, and late estimates indicate that 4,250,000 cars will be made this year, as against 3,750,000 in 1939. Domestic construction goes ahead. This year's hous es generally are smaller and slightly .cheaper than last year's houses. The result is that while more dwellings are being erected, the total value is somewhat less. Most businessmen have given up hope of any big "war boom." This time Allied purchasing is orderly, and excessive prices are not being offered. ?OOO THE FOREST PRIME EVIL In a Pennsylvania forest there is a lire prevention sign which consists of a huge reproduction of a match, with the following words: -'This is the forest prime evil." That terse slogan speaks volumes. For destruction to our priceless forests is one of the most tragic phases of the fire problem. Anyone who has traveled in timber country has seen the wastelands, covered with black stumps, which fire leaves behind ? the ruin where onee were stately trees, busy communities of wild life, and beautiful recreation areas. It will not be long now until the dangerous forest season is upon us. Good weather brings mounting haz ards. Trees and underbrush dry to the point where they are virtually explosive. One touch of flame may be sufficient to cause a holocaust. And death and dis aster follow. The primary causes of forest fires are well known; Inexperienced and careless campers are among the worst offenders. Every man and woman who goes vacation ing in the woods should keep this everlastingly in mind: Never leave a camp fire while a single spark remains alive. Douse it thoroughly with water or smother it with dirt. Motorists are also responsible for ruinous forest fires. A cigarette butt cast from a fleeting car may supply the tiny flame that will spread until it has devastated thou sands of acres of splendid woodland. Most of the states have laws designed to prevent this,, but policemen and fire wardens can't be everywhere at once to see that the law is enforced. The public must cooperate. Tjet'S all work to save our forests this year. It takes centuries to replace great trees ? and only seconds to destroy them. Don't forget that. . 0O0 THE "TAX RACKET" A recent survey, reported to be amoi^lUe most ac i curate ever made, concerned the propoeRm of income { paid in taxes by a typical Workingman gaming $2U a | week. The survey found that $4 of this modest wage went to the -tax collector. That $4 was not paid directly, of course? it is probable that the average worker doesn't know he is taxed at all. He isn't concerned with income tax blanks and the other myriad and involved tax reports required by govern ment of those in higher income brackets. His $4 was paid indirectly, throughout the entire week. High taxes make a loaf of bread cost a penny more than it would otherwise, a pair of shoes cost fifty cents .jnore, a ticket to a movie a dime more, the monthly electric bill sixty cents more. So it goes, down the endless list of pur chases and payments we all make. The tax collector is always at your elbow ? a highly expensive if unseen companion. And here is the living proof of the fact that the real burden of taxation falls more heavily on the man of small means than the man of large. Four dollars a week taken out of a $20 paycheck means that this typical worker's family must go without needed clothes, medical atten tion, entertainment, etc. It means less money for in surance or savings. Jt means poorer housing, poorer meals. We've heard much of that proportion of the popula tion which is "ill feil, ill housed, and ill clothed." "VVhat we don't hear often enough is that the burden of debt and taxation is largely responsible for that, and in two ways. First, it takes a percentage of the small wage earner's income which he obviously cannot afford if lie is to maintain a decent standard of living. Second, it deprives him of jobs and opportunities and the chance for better pay. An overtaxed business doesn't expand and hire more men. Nor, when it is being drained to the limit by government,; can it increase wages. So the "little man" is getting it in the neck ? as a re sult of those suicidal fiscal policies pursued by a group of politicians who, weep copious crocodile tears on be half of the people. It's time the "little man" woke up to the racket. oOo ? Perhaps Mr. Welles was merely finding out what Eu rope thinks about the third term idea. oOo An exchange thinks the "Gone With the Wind" craze is giving everybody Scarlett fever. ? oOo Gambling is said to be "a normal human weakness." Which probably accounts for a lot of marriages. --0O0 ? A good many alleged statesmen seem to still' believe thafc>calling names will win the war. oOo ??. The human body contains about 10 million nerves, and some folks manage to get on all of them. oOo ? Subscribe to The Franklin Times Notice of New Registration Notice is Hereby given that a New registration of voters has been ordered by the Franklin County Board of Elections for all Town ships or Precincts in Frank lin County. The New regis tration books will be open at all times during the regis tration period, and at each regular polling place on Saturday, April 27th, 1940, and will remain open until and including Saturday, May 11th, 1940. The Reg istrar will be at the polling place on each Saturday from 9 A. M. to sunset inclusive, during ' said period from Saturday, April 27th, 1940 to Saturday, May 11th, 1940. This action was made nec essary by the changes made in the election law by the 1939 General Assembly, one of its most important re quirements is that all voters must give his or her party affiliation in order to vote in the primary elections. By order of the Board of Elections of Franklin Coun ty, this March 23rd, 1940. PHIL R. INSCOE, Chairman. L. O. FRAZIER, Secretary. 3-29-5t Professor ? What is untold wealth? Student ? That whicb is not re vealed to the Income Tax Man. fSIS THERE GOL DM SIN YOUR ^CELLAR?" If Ye*, and in Your Attic Too! Turn Those Things You Don't Want Into Money with a Want Ad ____ Since a high-grade jack was placed on the farm ot N, H. Per ry, of Erwin, Harnett County far- ; mers have exhibited greater Inter est in raising their own work stock. m i Great Man ? Yes, 1 woke up one morning and found myself fam ous. The Other ? It was slightly dif ferent wit'h me. I found myself famous ? and then woke up. RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION; LOST - STRAYED - STOLEN j One red dog ? Part Collie and [ Eskimo-Spitz. Answers to name! of Rex. Anyoue knowing of his whereabouts kindly notify James A. Johnson at the Postoffice in j Louisburg, N. C. 4-19-lt MAN WANTED for 800 family Rawlelgh route. Permanent if you're a hustler. Write -Raw leigh's. Dept. NCD - 123 - 123, Richmond, Va. 4-5-19-40 WANTED Old Mattresses to rebuild. $3.50 j and up. Write, phone or call SURE-REST MATTRESS CO . I Youngsville, N. C. 4-l-2-4t j (Political Advertisement) FOR