The Alleghany Times
Alleghany County's Only Newspaper
Published every Thursday by the
Gazette Printing & Publishing Co.
117 W. Grayson St. Galax, Virginia
Sparta Office In Transou Building
H. B. Zabriskie __-. Editor
Mrs. Robert M. Gambill _ Local News Editor
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Entered at the Post Office at Galax, Virginia
as Second Class Matter under the Act or
Congress of March 8, 1872
Sparta, N. C., Thursday, April 13, 1939
Consider America First
In a world so filled with terror and
confusion as has been brought about by
the steady advance of Germany and Italy
toward control of all Europe it is hard
for Americans, so far removed from the
center of world events, to come to sound
and sane conclusions as to what the effect
of the world disturbance is likely to be
upon ourselves and our nation.
A great variety of opinion as to what
we ought to do or ought not to do, is be
ing expressed by statesmen and near
statesmen, in and out of Washington. Our
greatest danger is that the idea may take
possession of the American people that
it is our national duty to go to the help
of the “friendly” nations of Europe if
their security is threatened.
There seems little doubt that a great
deal of propaganda, emanating from Brit
ish and French sources, is being set on
foot in America to influence public opin
ion. That is a dangerous thing.
Just that sort of stimulated public
opinion got us into the last great Euro
pean war. We came out of it “holding
the bag.” We sacrificed the lives of fifty
or sixty thousand young Americans to
“make the world safe for democracy,”
and hardly got even a “thank you” from
the peoples and governments we were
supposed to be saving.
We lent them billions of dollars, not
•only for war purposes but for rehabilita
tion after the war was over, and they
haven’t even paid us the interest on the
<iebt.
And neither our efforts nor theirs
made the world safe for democracy.
There is a lot of tommyrot in all the
talk about friendship between nations. No
nation has any friends except those which
want to get something out of the friend
ship for themselves. The essence of
national interests is and must be self
interest.
Before we even think of taking part
in any war except in self-defense, we
must consider our own interests first. No
bodv else will consider them.
• - i
* .
If no criticism is ever aimed at you,
you haven’t a very important job.—The
Pink Rag.
Thomas Jefferson, Democrat
On Thursday of this week occurs the
anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jef
ferson, who was born April 13, 1743.
It is well for the nation to remember
the author of the Declaration of Independ
ence and the man who wrote the Statute
for religious freedom in Virginia and suc
ceeded in establishing the University of
Virginia. These were the things for which
he asked to be remembered, although the
epitaph that he wrote for his monument
made no mention of the fact that he was
twice the President of the United States.
Jefferson was a Democrat who be
lieved in and cherished Democratic ideals.
Incidentally, he regarded agriculture as
the best occupation for men and the
foundation of all other wealth. He was
a scientific farmer in his day and con
stantly endeavored to improve methods
and introduce new crops.
It might not be a bad idea for Ameri
cans, in this day, to become acquainted
with the life, works and writings of
Thomas Jefferson, the “sage of Monti
cello.” In his life and in his thoughts
are lessons for us all.
The person who crows loudest usually
is forced to eat the most crow.—Winston
Salem Journal and Sentinel.
Here’s A Good Idea
This will sing the praises of the of
ficials and police of Danville, Virginia,
who have launched a campaign against
motorists who press the buttons of their
strident automobile horns unnecessarily.
Policemen, it is reported, watch
especially for drivers caught in lines of
^traffic who immediately toot their horn*
He moment ihfc green light appears,
kreover, thjjj H»ep an eye c^^heim
patient motorist who, when he has noth
ing else to do, delights in blasting the air
with the full output of his horn.
This is a good piece of work. We
hope the practice spreads throughout the
United States and that indiscriminate users
of automobile horns, will be fined until
they learn better.
If we could address Congress we
would make a dozen word speech bor
rowed from Mark Twain; “Always do
right. This will gratify some people and
astonish the rest.”—Bluefield Daily Tele
graph.
Political Outlook
While it is much too early for any
political prophet to risk his reputation
by predicting the outcome of the presi
dential election in 1940, because almost
anything can happen in the year and a
half that will lapse before the American
people go to the polls, it is interesting to
note that a survey conducted by the
American Institute of Public Opinion, in
dicates that at the present time a bare
majority of all voters with opinions say
they would like to see the Republicans
win the presidency.
What Other Editors Say
The Fruits Of Promised Reward
From The Industrial Press Bulletin
Daily life in America has become a series of
contacts with the words “patent” and “patent
pending.” They mark the way of millions of
Americans as they turn on a light, shave, drive to
work, telephone, write a letter, listen to the
radio, occasionally fly about the country, and see
motion pictures.
These common but seldom noticed words re
late to some part, if not all, of most appliances
and gadgets that make possible the modem way of
life. They are silent police that warn of the
right of the originator to prevent exploitation by
others.
Invention is a field of pioneering that remains
as a frontier now that our geographical frontiers
are extinct. The individual leads on this frontier
as on those of old, for more ideas still come from
the garrets and workshops of individuals than from
the industrial laboratories either large or smalL
And who of us can say what new and unthought
of inventions are coming in the future to bring
us more and better living, making new industries
and new jobs?
Rich Indeed
From the Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel
One man seems to have found his way out
of the morass in which capital and labor appear
to have badly bogged. Last week he was awarded
the Annual Forbes Magazine Gold Medal for his
“business statesmanship’’ in creating better re
lations between worker and employer.
The man was George F. Johnson, 81-year-old
industrialist and philanthropist.
In the past quarter of a century, Johnson
has paid the highest wages in his field at his
plants around Binghampton, New York. He has
divided “fifty-fifty” the profits of his concern
between capital and labor, the humblest worker
receiving the same share as the highest paid
executive.
The Forbes medal was presented to Johnson
for his “outstanding accomplishments in the field
of business statesmanship; his service to industry
and to the nation in fostering better understand
ing between employer and employees; his contri
bution to the welfare of humanity in developing
better living and working conditions, better wages,
better hours, better co-operation, better industrial
relations.”
In spite of his expressed belief that no man
should die rich, Johnson will leave this earthly
scene a rich man. For he has created the wealth
that neither depression nor income tax gatherers
can take away from him. His riches are in the
good works he will leave behind him.
Let’s declare for universal peace and lick
hell out of any nation not favoring it. We have
dilly-dallied long enough.—Houston Post Dispatch.
After watching the number who drive past
the boulevard stop signs one wonders if there is
any power in the-printed word.—Oakland Tribunal.
And after a lady has been thoroughly mar
celled elsewhere, she can go to Reno to perman
ently waive her husband.—Dallas News.
The Low Down From Hickory Grove
You know, there are folks who think that the
Democrats, they are always poison—and a bad
omen—and a sure sign of slim business. And
there are folks who think the Republicans, they
are not so hot, either—and are a false alarm also.
And I been thinking the thing over and I
guess both sides, they do some funny didos, now
and then—but neither side are not always a 100
per cent loss and failure.
And even without a microscope you will see
some pretty fair bombres on both sides of the
fence.
And the other day* I was reading about this
here yankee, Mr. Aiken—he is Governor Vermont
—and he knows tricks. He knows which shell the
pea is under on this idea of the Govt, getting into
business—and_ running everybody else out.
And then we have this southern gent, this
Mississippi Harrison, he takes no back seat either.
An owl, even an old one, has nothing on Patrick.
And there you have a ticket—Harrison and
Aiken—'Democrat and Republican—north and
south. Pardner, it would go to town.
Yours, with the low down,
JO SERRA
Speaking of Dictators
I-T- I
Weekly Washington Merry-Go-Round
(Trad* Mark Registered)
by Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen
Frankfurter Chafes Under Restricted Social Life Of
High Court Justice; Truce In Famous Hoover-Johnson
Feud Likely As Toughest Campaign Looms; U. S.
Worried By Foreign Airline Invasion If All Get Inland
Privileges; Vandenberg Sees Himself Out In 1940,
Prefers To Go Back To Journalism.
Washington—Before he became
a Justice of the Supreme Court,
Felix Frankfurter was one of the
most convivial men in public life.
At Harvard, hundreds of students
came regularly to his house.
Scores of them were replaced in j
government jobs. “Frankfurter j
boys’’ are among the foremost;
Brain Trusters in the New Deal,,
used to telephone him continually
about this or that policy^
He maintained a huge corres
pondence, was one of the most
frequently consulted men in the
United States, and his advice car
ried weight. But as he stepped
up to the Supreme Couit, Felix
Frankfurter overnight became a
recluse.
Now he cannot express opin
ions, cannot mingle freely with
people unless he knows them inti
mately. Every time he drops a
stray word, he knows it may be
picked up and used as a barom
eter of what the Court is think
ing. Almost everything he says,
no matter how trivial, now must
be weighed carefully.
Other Justices of the Supreme
Court have got used to this. Chief
Justice Hughes is one of the shin
ing social lights of Washington
dinner parties—when he goes, out,
which is only on Saturdays—but
he talks about trivialities or
things entirely foreign to the
Supreme Court. Justice Roberts,
who is especially good at banter,
'does the same.
Justice Stone, less discreet, was
criticized as the source of some
! statements regarding Justice Black
! last year. Ex-Justice Brandeis
! talked reasonably freely among
his close friends.
But Justice Frankfurter, not
yet adjusted, is puzzled by the
sudden transformataion.
I “Felix didn’t realize,” remark
I ed one of his close friends, “that
! when he wrote an epitaph on
j Cardozo it rhight contain his last
| free words uttered in public.”
—
Senator Vandenberg
One entry in the 1940 presi
dential derby has ceased to take
himself seriously.
Realistic Senator Arthur Van
denberg is telling intimates that
he knows he is out of the ruri
■ ning as a GOP white hope except
! as the darkest of dark horses.
Young District Attorney Tom
| Dewey and Senator Bob Taft
have left him far behind at the
post. And that isn’t all.
Vandenberg also admits frank
ly that he is up against tough
going for re-election to the Sen
ate from Michigan next year.
Representative Carl E. Mapes,
Grand Rapids veteran, has let it
be known that he will oppose
Vandenberg for the Republican
nimination. Even if the Senator
clears this high hurdle he will
face another hard fight against
the Democratic candidate.
Vandenberg is convinced that
his Democratic opponent will be
Attorney General Frank Murphy.
Michigan insiders, however, are
putting their money on Highway
Commissioner Van Wagoner, who
has developed one of the most
powerful machines in the history
of the State.
Privately, Vandenberg has no
stomach for a scrap either with
Mapes, Murphy or Van Wagoner.
He would like to return to his
first love, journalism, in the
role of editor on a leading Re
publican newspaper. A report
was current recently that he was
offered such i. post on The New
York Herald-Tribune, but the
Senator denies it.
Last year lie was offered a con
tract by Tf e Saturday Evening
Post, but re was not sufficiently
attractive.
Thirty Every Thursday
The Senate has a “Thirty Ever;
Thursday” < club—but it is for
lunching purposes, not old-ag
pensions.
However, the club owes its star
to California’s famous “funn;
money” scheme. As a welcom
to Senator Sheridan Downey whei
he took his seat in January, Sena
tor Joe Guffey of Pennsylvani;
gave a “ham and egg” • luncheo:
on a Thursday yith 30 Demo
cratic Senators present. The part;
was, such a success that it was
decided to hold a similar luncheon
every week.
The gatherings have done
much to promote friendly per
sonal relations in the Senate; also
between Senators and big, gun
Administrationites. Two guests of
honor are invited each week, one
“lean” and one “fat.” At recent
parties guests have been required
to donate something.
Reserve Board Chairman Eccles
was “soaked” a case of liquor,
which was received enthusiastical
ly. Other guests of honor have
been Vice President Gamer, Sena
tor McNary, Foreign Minister
Aranha of Brazil, RFC Chairman
Jesse Jones and Secretary Wal
lace.
Herbert And Hiram
One of rhe most famous po
dticr.I vendettas of our time is
the 20-year-old feud between ex
President Herbert Hoover and
Ptn-'toc- Hirzm Johnson. They
have hated and fought each other
as only strong-willed men can
fight.
r Onlyonce in the two decades
rhave they stopped gunning for
;one another’s scalp, in 1928 when
Hoover was running for Presi
tilent and Johnson was up for
/re-eelction to the Senate on the
isamc ticket. For the duration of
i the campaign they parked their
-howitzers and called a truce. But
rafter entering the White House,
lHoover started the feud all over
-again by excluding Johnson from
■ the guest list of a dinner for
the Foreign Affairs Committee.
GARDEN gossip^
L by J
PETER HENDERSON^
V /■
If You’re Planning a Vegetable Garden
* a
REMEMBER some seed" and
plants may be set out early,
while the ground is still cool:
others must wait until wanner
weather. 1
• • • • \
COOL WEATHER win not harm
the following vegetables. Seeds
and plants may be set outside
when the temperature is around
45° in the shade, and even an
occasional light frost won’t harm
them.
Asparagus
Beets
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Endive
Kale
Kohl Bahl
Leek '
Lettuce
Onion \
Parsley \
Parsnip \
Peas i
Radish \
Spinach V
Turnip |
WARMER WEATHER with a
temperature of <0* In the shade,
Is necessary for safe outdoor I
planting of the following rege-l
♦■Wee
Beans
Corn
Cucumber
Egg Plant
Melon
e e
ggu
x'epper
QET^THE MOST from ypnr gmr
Iffitfniri'ihWri i -r ’ _grata
the harvesting of early maturing
vegetables.
• • • •
CORN rows should be planted
with pumpkins or vine squash in
mid-June. You will get a nice
crop of these vegetables without
interfering with the productive
ness of the com.
• • • •
PEA8, if early varieties, will be
over by mid-June. Celery plants
may then be set out. Late peas,
removed from the ground in
early July should be followed by
Ruta Bags and Late Turnips.
• • • •
BU8H BEAN8 sown in mid-May
may be cleared off the ground
In July, and Cauliflower and
Cabbage plants may then be set
out
• • • •
CABBAGE and CAULIFLOWER
plants set out In April or May
will be off the ground by August
Then a late crop of Bush Beans
may be had from the same
I ground.
J • • • e
' BEET8 of the earlier kinds wffl
be off the ground by August
when there is still time to sour
Spinach for s toB crop
e • * •
SPINACH sown to April and
May wll be cost by mldJUaa, in
ample time te get a orop of
Carrots off the same ground.
In 1932, Johnson supported
velt.
Now comes inside
the two Californians
bury the hatchet,
desire to unseat
has overcome personal piqu
Next year, Johnson must
to the people” once
he faces one of the most
tests of his career. His
attacks on the Administration
deeply offended Democrats,
now control California, plus
and liberals—always the
of his support.
California Bloc ■
Hoover also has his eye fl
1940. He would like to stagefl
comeback, but whether that 1
possible or not he intends to hafl
a big voice in the GOP convefl
tion. To do so, he must contfl
a bloc of delegates, and fl
nucleus of that bloc must be tfl
delegation from his own StateH
That delegation is not goingfl
be easy to capture. Already fl
eral Republicans have serfl
notice that they will put a rifl
ticket in the field if Hoover tifl
to grab control. H
So to bolster his drive, Gfl
insiders say that Hoover is mfl
ing secret overtures to Johmfl
to pool forces. Hoover wofl
back Johnson for another tefl
and Johnson would throw fl
weight to Hoover on the delegsfl
issue.
Whether Johnson agrees fl
mains to be seen, but some fl
his Senate colleagues are offerifl
bets that he will. They bas
their confidence on the fact thal
recently Johnson has not snorteJ
angrily at the mention of Hoovl
er’s name.' For Hiram this is|
unusual. In a Senate cloakroom!
the other day, Hoover’s name
was mentioned and Johnson actu-i
ally made no comment whatso
ever.
noover none ■
Ever since February 1, when 1
Secretary of War Woodring was 1
asked to vacate the large brick
Hoover house on S Street, poli
ticos have watched the place with
intense curiosity.
The secret is now out. The
house is being refurnished under
Mrs. Hoover’s direction for the
publicity announced purpose of
being used as a headquarters from
which she will conduct her Girl
Scout work. Wonder what other
campaigns will be conducted
there?
Transatlantic Flights
The State Department is not
shouting it from the house-tops,
but the opening of transatlantic
flying also has opened some diffi
cult diplomatic deals, with the im
pending demand of foreign air
lines that they be allowed to
cruise over U. S. territory to
Chicago and other points inland.
Unless the other countries get
such concessions they may refuse
the United States the right to
fly Pan American planes inland
from the Atlantic coast to Euro
pean capitals.
Nub of the problem is a single
phrase in the international agree
ments: “to, over and away from,”
The United States obtains consent!
from Euro >vemments t<!
fly “to, o' away from’!
their territc to obtain sud^l
cons
to $
P
will
on
neaj
impi
fly i
lar
grai
Stat