by DREW PEARSON and ROBERT S. ALLEN .
Processing Taxes Pushed Tp Aid Farms, Offset Expected
Price Drop; Byrd's Probe Of New Deal Spiked By Gar
ner; He Takes It, Likes It; Larcantonio Believes U. S.
Communist "Suicide" Was Beaten To Death; Saying
Grace At Party For Clergymen Proved Harder Than It
looked.
Washington — There are two
pretty good reasons why the
President’s agricultural advisers
are urging that processing taxes,
to the tune of $367,000,000 be
pushed through Congress at this
session.
One, is that the voting of a
special tax, definitely ear-marked
as agricultural, makes it easier to
get that amount set aside for
farm benefits. Otherwise it may
be harder to get appropriations
next year.
Second, is the fact that food
prices are sure to drop next Fall,
and Roosevelt’s farm experts
know that their GOP enemies
could point to this and claim the
end of processing taxes as the
reason.
These same experts say that
food prices will fall anyway, en
tirely regardless of processing
taxes. Therefore it is better
politics to keep the taxes, in or
der to prove that they never were
the real cause of higher food costs
for the housewife.
Note; The Supreme Court rais
ed no objection to processing tax
es as such, as long as they were
not used to compel acreage re
duction.
XXX
Peace Dinner
The extent to which the Presi
dent is anxious to retain the sup
port of church and peace organi
zations was indicated recently
when a group of their representa
tives were invited to dine at the
White House.
The churchmen, strangely
enough, declined the invitation,
said they wanted very much to
talk peace with the President, but
felt it would be difficult to do it
at dinner. So they got an invi
tation to tea.
On arriving in Washington, they
received the news that Secretary
of Commerce Roper invited them
to dinner after their conference
at the White House. They ac
cepted.
Secretary Roper can be one of
the most charming dinner hosts
in the Cabinet, but on this oc
casion luck was against him. The
table was tided with clergymen.
Wanting to make them feel at
home, Roper asked Professor
James T. Shotwell, famous Co
lumbia University peace advo
cate, to say grace. Shotwell was
about the only non-clergyman
present.
“I am sorry,” he replied, “but
I was raised as a Quaker and
never said grace.”
The Secretary of Commerce
blushed, hesitated, stammered.
Quickly Walter Van Kirk of the
Federated Council of Churches
came to his rescue, gave a brief
blessing.
XXX
Texas Clipper
Spring is bright and buoyant
along the Potomac these days.
But Senator Harry Flood Byrd
is far from a happy man. A fel
low Democrat, Vice President
Jack Garner, has clipped the
proud ’ Virginian’s wings in ,a
most adroit and decisive manner.
The plucking happened this way:
A sharp critic of the New
Deal, Byrd introduced a resolu
tion early last winter calling for
a sweeping investigation of gov
ernment activities and expendi
tures. Other conservative Demo
crats, also Republicans, warmly
applauded the idea.
But the Administration eyed it
coldly, so when the resolution
emerged from a Senate committee
it was a “horse of another color.”
Revamped, it called for a study
of the governmental structure
with a view to consolidation and
coordination.
Byrd was somewhat dazed by
the transformation, but he had
the choice of the revised reso
lution or none at all. So he bow
ed and tRe Senate passed it.
However, the Senator from
Virginia thought he had another
ace up his sleeve.
When a special Senate com
mittee is authorized, it is custo
mary for the sponsor to submit
to the Vice President a list of
Senators whom he would like ap
pointed on the committee. Byrd
recommended Senator Alva B.
Adams, anti-New Deal Democrat
from Colorado and Frederick
Steiwer, .anti-New Deal Republi
can from Oregon. With Byrd as
chairman, this would give him a
safe majority.
XXX
Prematura
It was a clever idea—but Byrd
talked out of tfirn. He let it be
known that if he got control of
the committee he would ask Lewis
Douglas, former Budget Director,
now a rabid Administration critic,
to direct the survey. Word of
this plan reached Garner’s all
hearing ears.
He said nothing. But a few
days later he appointed the fol
lowing committee members—Jos
eph Robinson, Democratic flooi
leader; Joseph O’Mahoney, formei
First Assistant to Postmaster Gen
eral Jim Farley; Charley Me
Nary, Republican floor leader, or
cordial terms with the Adminis
tration; John Townsend, Dela
ware Republican and a Senate
“mute”; with Byrd as chairman,
This selection removed any pos
sibility of Douglas being employed
to make the investigation.
XXX
Or EIm
Byrd had to swallow the bittei
pill and like it. But McNary
squawked. He had no desire tc
Oregonian, Steiwer. It put him
on the spot.
He sought out Garner, said:
“Say, Jack, what, kind of a fast
one are you trying to pull on me’
I’m going to resign. I don’t
want to be on this committee. You
ought to know that.”
Garner smiled sweetly. “Suit
yourself, Charley.” he said. “But
if you resign I’ll appoint young
Bob LaFollette in your place.”
Note: McNary is still a mem
ber of the committee.
XXX
Roosevelt Grandchildren
Mrs. Roosevelt was put on the
spot in her press conference the
other day when she let it be
known that her two grandchild
ren, “Sistie” and “Buzzie” Dali,
were visiting her. Newswomen
asked for a “real” story about
the children. Mrs. Roosevelt de
clined. ■
“But if you can write about
them in your daily column,”
remonstrated the newswomen,
“why can’t we?’>
“I think their mother would
much rather there was no real
stpry about them,’’ the First Lady
replied. And that ended that.
XXX
Sweat Agricultural Music
A newsman asked Secretary
Wallace how the farmer was go
ing to get any cash in pocket
under the new soil conservation
program.
“Looks to me as if the fanner’s
got to spend all his 'allowance’ on
lime and seed this time.”
“Well,” said Wallace, it all
goes ’round. As far as national
prosperity is concerned, it doesn’t
matter whether he spends it on
lime and seed, or on automobiles.”
“It all goes round,’’ countered
the newsmen, “but where does it
come out?”
“It comes out.” said Wallace,
"so as to make sweet music just
the same.”
x X x
American Communists
There is a lot more behind
Congri ssman Marcantonio’s in
vestigation of the American Com
munist who “committed suicide”
in Brazil than appears on the
surface.
One significant fact is that Vic
tor Barron, the dead man, was
sent to Brasil by Communists—
presumably American—as a'sales
man of radio apparatus. Appar
ently this is a role frequently
played by Communist agents.
While in Brazil, Barron set up
a radio station used by the Bra
zilian revolutionists, also drove
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Living Room Suites
China Closets
Wardrobes
Buffets
Single and Double Beds
Kitchen Cabinets
Dressers
Chairs
and many other article* too
numerous to mention.
Crane To This Sale Expecting To Save Money
You Won’t Be Disappointed!
PLENTY OF GOOD STRING MUSIC
Delp Boys’ Furniture & Produce Co.
Sparta, North Carolina
WE PAY HIGHEST CASH PRICES FOR PRODUCE
revo
the car of Luis Prestes,
tnrionary leader.
When captured, Barron admit
ted tv Ambassador Hugh Gibson
thut ho knew Prestes’ hiding
place. Gibson passed this on to
-he voi ce, who gave Barron a
map. On it he pointed to the
place where they could And
Prestes. They did.
XXX
Third .Degree
Marcantonio claims, however,
that Patron did not point out
Prestes’ hiding place until he was
beaten L-y the police almost to
insens.■'o.'ity. There is evidence
that this was the case.
Ambassador,, Gibson carefully
refrained from any comment oth
er than the official report of the
police, which was “suicide,” and
his State Department cronies will
be the last ones to question him
further. They say privately that
ne Jid a good job.
Perhaps the most important de
velopment in the situation is that
the Brazilian revolution was
largely aided by American rather
than Uwsian Communists.
Note: Rio de Janeiro police,
always friendly to the American
limbai'sy, recently tried to sup
press all reports that the car of
tne American Counselor killed a
Brazilian physician.
Merry-Go-Round
Much mystery surrounds the re
cent quiet resignation of Miss
Mary LaDame as Associate Direc
tor of the U. S. Employment
Service and her subsequent mov
ing into the office of the Second
Assistant Secretary of Labor as
a special aide to Secretary Per
kins. The two women are close
friends and it is reported that
Miss Perkins is grooming Miss
LaDame for appointment to the
vacant job of Assistant Secretary.
. . . President Roosevelt’s eigh
teen vetoes this session are three
short of the entire number dur
ing Hoover’s four years in office.
So far Roosevelt has turned down
a total of seventy acts of Con
gress. President Cleveland holds
the record for vetoes with 344,
most of them so-called “private”
bills, carrying appropriations for
individuals. . . Decision in the
$3,000,000 Mellon tax case is
expected late this -Spring. Which
ever side loses before the Board
of Tax Appeals, now considering
the suit, is sure to take an ap
peal to the Supreme Court.
Hooker
Hooker, April 13.—Misses Amo
lee and Iva Jordan visited Miss
Myrtle Richardson Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Everett Handy
spent Saturday night at the home
of Fred Handy.
Misses Myrtle Richardson, Ida
mae Hyatt and Ruby Brands
visited the home of Glenn Ed
wards Friday afternoon.
Those visiting the home of Mr.
and Mrs. Bert Edwards Sunday
afternoon were Mrs. Jim Ed
wards, Mrs. Clyde Johnson and
children, Mrs. Stella Hyatt and
children, Mrs. Maggie Richardson
and daughter, Myrtle, Miss Ruby
Branche, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Rich
ardson and Hubert Moxley.
Mr. and Mrs. Everett Handy
and family visited the home of
Edgar Wright Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan Edwards
visited the home of Everett Handy
Sunday night. .,
Miss Iva Jordan spent last
week with her sister, Mrs. Ray
Smith.
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Edwards and
family, and Mr. and Mrs. Glenn
Edwards and family visited Mr.
and Mrs. Clyde Johnson recently.
Mt. Zion
Mt. Zion, Piney Creek, P. O.,
April 13.'—Mrs. Jack Mason, who
has been spending some time
with her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Lee Black and other relatives in
this community, will return to
Washington, D. C. soon.
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie William
son and child, of near Mount
Airy, and Mr. and Mrs. Oscar
Moxley and daughter, Lorene, of
Topia. were visitors in the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Black Sun
day.
H. Clay Smith and family
moved last week to the John
Williams farm in this com
munity. v
Rev. R. L. Berry, Sparta, filled
his regular appointment at Rocky
Ridge Sunday. Those who at
tended from this community
were Mrs. George P. Smith, Mr.
and Mrs. R. M. Pugh, Mr. and
Mrs. J. Roy Cox, Miss Ethel
Pugh and Mr. and Mrs. H. Clay
Smith and children, Edna Rae
and Howard. ,
Mrs. T. E. Pugh is ill,
Mrs. Sallie Absher and child
ren visited Mrs, S. E. Smith Sat
urday.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Taylor,
Glade Valley, were in this com
munity Sunday.
Those visiting Mrs. Rebecca
Smith last week were Mr. and
Mrs. George P. Smith, Mrs. W.
R. Jones, Mrs. Mary Cox and
Miss Virgie Williams.
LOOKING AT
WASHINGTON
(continued from front page)
which amounted to 1578,423,967
for the month. The surplus col
lection for March, 1935. was only
$50,224,265. The explanation lies
in a twenty-three per cent in
crease in income tax collections
and a fifty-four per cent rise in
other internal revenues for the
month. The income tax payments
totalled $412,452,233 for 1936
compared with $326,268,511 in
1935. Other internal revenues
went up to $291,218,692 as com
pared with $188,919,079. The
one gap in revenue was the ab
sence of processing taxes, in
validated by the Supreme Court,
but which yielded $50,000,000 in
March of last year.
LANDON GAINS FAVOR
It has been apparent for some
time that the sentiment of respon
sible Republican leaders favors
the nomination of a candidate
with the greatest strength in the
West with a vice-presidential nom
inee from the East. Moreover, the
present idea in the East is that
Governor Landon has a distinct
edge on the field, and is showing
the greatest strength on both
sides of the Mississippi. Among
the leaders, the idea is that east
ern states will be carried by the
Republicans in November and that
the battleground is in the West
and Middle West, with Illinois,
Ohio and Indiana debatable ter
ritory. although now favorable to
President Roosevelt.
The situation in Pennsylvania,
reported by former Senator David
A. Reed, admits the strength of
the President, who will be helped
by the United Mine Workers.
Democratic registration has shown
substantial gains and the former
senator says the Republicans will
have a “real flight to hold the
srate.”
BORAH AND BRYAN
Senator Borah continues to oc
cupy a key place in the political
puzzle. His defeat in New York
was followed by a substantial vic
tory in Wisconsin. Every indica
tion is that the Idahoan intends to
vigorously press his campaign
against the leadership of his par
ty to the bitter end and he does
not hesitate to reiterate his inten
tion to take note of the platform
adopted and candidates selected at
Cleveland before binding himself
to support the party. Borah, it
seems, is destined to play a role
in the Republican drama that will
be strongly reminiscent of the
parts assumed by William Jen
nings Bryan in the Democratic
conventions of some years back.
He will hardly be able to control
the delegates but may prove
strong enough to exercise a veto
threat on success unless the party
leaders make terms with him.
_ »
ROOSEVELT'S SITUATION
On the Democratic side of the
picture, President Roosevelt, up
on his return to Washington last
week, found little to disturb the
satisfactory outlook left behind
when he departed on his fishing
cruise. The Wisconsin primary
was hailed by his supporters as
evidence that he will win the Pro.
grtssive vote in states where this
element is important. Meanwhile,
opposition within his party has all
but disappeared. Certainly, there
is no effective work being done
against him and little evidence of
disapproval wil be apparent at
Philadelphia.
To realize the situation, as far
as the President is concerned, it
is only necessary to recall the
speculation during the winter as
to how far he had “slipped” in his
hold upon the voters. There was
considerable surface agitation for
“Jeffersonian Democrats’’ to get
behind another leader and talk
was heard of various senators who
would cause a great deal of
trouble during the campaign. This
idea has dissipated and, despite
various attacks on parts of the
Administration program, the
Democrats will be found shoulder
to-shoulder behind Mr. Roosevelt.
VANDENBURG’S ATTACKS
Senator Vandenburg, of Michi
gan, listed as one of the possibili
See Castevens Motor Co. for
radio batteries and tubes. tfc
ties of the Republican coni
has been furnishing most of
opposition to the Adminii
lately. Mr. Vandenburg broke
to the news by fighting the
Inter-coastal Canal and the
amaquoddy project, by ii
upon publicity in regards to
checks and by spirited ci
of the executive practice of
ing large projects on small
While most observers take1
view that the Republicans in
gress, as a group, have rendei
very ineffective opposition, jStl
statement does not apply to *Mr.
Vandenburg. It is thought
he would be acceptable to Sei
Borah although they differ oij
ternational policy. The Michigan
senator favors concerted adtion
with other powers in such ques
tions as the World Court, while
Mr. Borah’s isolationist program
limits our cooperation to this
hemisphere. Mr. Vandenburg
has all along consistently dis
couraged any candidacy and there
are those who say that he thinks
1940 will be a better year.
DON’T FORGET!
—that Dr. J. A. Somers will be
at the Clerk’s Office in the
Courthouse, every Saturday, 9
’til 4. Home office in Dr.
Smith’s building. Independence,
Va. ltc-16
Reins - Sturdivant
Funeral Home
Ambulance Service Day or
Night
Licensed Embalmers
SPARTA, N. C.
Telephone 22
To Voters of Alleghany County:
I hereby announce my candidacy, subject to the
June primary, for reelection as Representative in the
State Legislature. I will greatly appreciate any sup
port given me.
W. P. Warden
“The Ford V*8 uses less fuel and
oil for the power it gives than
any other car we have ever made
AND ITS UP-KEEP COST IS THE LOWEST”
ENTHUSIASTIC sales talk often begins
and ends with gasoline mileage. Some
salesmen would like you to believe it is
the whole story of automobile economy.
But drivers ought to know better. For,
the fact is, it’s way down the list.
The big items of car economy are low
first cost, low up-keep cost and low de
preciation. Savings here can make a
great deal of difference in cost per mile.
Gasoline mileage is more of a talking
point than an economy factor.
Check up and you will find that die
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average driving (8400 miles at 18 cent*
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More value for every dollar you pay.
Lower cost for repairs and service.
Long life. Slow depreciation.
Quality means economy and the 1936
Ford V-8 gives you more real quality
than any other low-price car. No other
car under $1645 has a V-8 engine. No
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:
*25 A MONTH
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V-8 CAR ON NEW UCC Vi% PER MONTH