Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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l The Chronicle Strives To Be A Clean News paper, Complete, Newsy and Reliable If Yon Don’t Read The Chronicle You Don’t Get the News Volume Lm Clinton, S. C., Thursday, May 1,1952 Number 18 ▲ Regular Chronicle Feature STEEL SEIZURE IS ROBBERY TO PAY UNION DEBT. CHAR * v jl vlllll* * --r, ff' ■ Bobson Declares It Is Most Horrible Thing Truman Has Done. By ROGER BABSON Washington, D. C., April 25.—Of ill the dangerous and unforgivable things which President Trupian las done, the seizure of the steel slants is the most horrible. Wages Secondary I am not now discussing the ivage question involved. Doubt less, some raise in wages was justi fied; and if only a moderate in crease, there need be no increase in steel prices. This would have been better for all—in cluding labor— in the end. Under the above conditions, labor would get less “take-home” pay than they would get with the full increase; but what they would take home under the steel industry’s of fer would buy more. The action of the Stabilization Board and the President will set off another gen eral price increase. Every reader of this column will suffer. It is too bad. The Great Crime The great crime was to seize the plants without due process of law, or without awarding fair damages, or without treating all plants aliite. We are used to having the Presi dent seize our boys and send + hem to Korea; but this is under a fair draft law to which all boys are equally subject.- We know that our 4 Roger W. property is liable to seizure for payment of taxes, but all citizens (not having mink coats to give) are treated alike. The President can take our home by eminent domain for a public highway or other necessary needs; but only after a fair hearing, prop er time to vacate, collecting full damages—all being subject to Court injunction. The reason why the railroads were seized last year without a row is because the Rail road Laws provide for-such a rem edy. No such provision exists for seizing steel plants, or shoe facto ries,^ or newspapers, except in case of a War declared by . Congress. We are now in no such war. This means President Truman’s seizure was premeditated robbery, done to pay a cheap political debt. I repeat it was a crime, especially when he would not try the Taft-Hartley law. What This Moans To You In short, this “Hitler-Peron” act by our President means trampling on the fundamental pinrciple of our Constitution. The American Revolution was fought to protect the sacredness of life and property. The fact that the Free Nations en joy such protection today is their main difference from the Commun istic Nations. Surely,_ President Truman acted on some very bad and unconstitutional advice. It is a shame that he will go down in history as making this colossal mis take. I need not describe the harm which this seizure does to our prime investments. It can under mine the security of all good stocks and bonds. If the seizure is upheld by the courts, it could cause the best stocks to go into a nose dive from which all investors, savings bank depositors and holders of life MORRISON FURNITURE CO. SPECIAL SJQQOO f W ALLOWANCE! i TO PURCHASERS OF NEW 1952 48" JETsTOWER DISHWASHER WITH HYDRO-ELECTRIC CONTROL To introduce the new 1952 Young, town Kitchen* 48* Jet-Tower Dish washer with Hydro-Electric Control, we are making the above offer to purchasers who will promise to show and explain it to five friends, neigh bors, or relatives. No other method washes dishes so clean, so fast! In less than ten minutes, dishes are washed, flushed and rinsed hygienically clean, spar kling bright! *$75.00 olio wane* on »h* 27" mocUI. YOUNGSTOWN KITCHENS 48' ELECTRIC SINK Ritail price $429 f# , Special allowance 100°° You pay only • • $329 95 EASY TERMS Mardi 15-May 31, WSJ 1952 Youngstown Kitchens Electric Sink, 48* wide. Jet- Tower Dishwashing, full sink facilities. Food Waste Disposer and rinse spray available at extra cost. v SEE IT— NOW ON DISPLAY Morrison Furniture Co. “The Rest for Less” Clinton, S. C . Phone 425 The Constitution of the United States is a splendid document and is still read and studied by stu dents of government, but is not fol lowed strictly by our leaders of to day. That is true, also, in part, of the Constitution of South Carol'na. Our State Constitution, howev er, cannot be regarded as a great document. The .Federal Constitution does not suit the moods of our go-get ters and fast-movers; they want ac tion, action according to their whims; they want to carry out their own ideas, unhindered by any principle of sound government: the go-getters want action and more action. . I can readily understand the spirit of those who are irked by restraints and restrictions. For ten years I wrestled with a Consti tution and I know how tantalizing it is to have one’s bright ideas and turbulent emotions thwarted by a Constitution. But a Constitution is the organic law; it is the su preme charter which all depart ments of government must recog nize, respect and obey. Constitutions deal in great prin ciples of government; they set forth certain rights of citizens which no Congress or Legislature may disregard. A Constitution de clares in general what are the functions of certain departments. The great underlying purpose of all American Constitutions is to re serve to the individual certain rights. In order to do this some guarantees are specifically given to the individual and certain in hibitions specifically indicated as applicable to legislatures, courts and executives. Stern denials of prerogative they are. The right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is expressly reserved to citizens—during good behavior, of course. The right to acquire, own, and enjoy property in peaceable possession is a fun damental right. Both these rights are being frequently denied to citi zens of the United States. The de liberate coddling of certain groups at the expense of others is not merely an act of discrimination in favor of one group but is an act of harsh discrimination against an other group: it gives to one group more than they are entitled to, and in equal measure denies to another group its guaranteed con stitutional rights. The seizure of the steel plants by President Truman is not an act of deliberate aggression against the presidents of the steel plants: they are just employees: it is an act of usurpation against a million men and women who own these steel plants. Nothing in the Constitution jus tifies this act of tyranny; nothing in the Constitution justifies this favored position of one group over all other citizens. One thing, and one thing only, stands out with the clarity of the noon-day sun: it is that the Truman Administration deliberately, callously betrays the whole nation and our Constitution al principles because ^it is in league with one group, and that a minor ity, to form a steam-roller — or Macedonian phalanx — that this group may assume and enjoy privi leges denied to other citizens. Where stands the Congress of the United States? Where stand the courts? More or less we are all in collusion; we, the citizens, seek un fair advantages; the Congress has surrounded the Constitution be cause Congressmen are just poli ticians; and the courts have been recreant because they have failed to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.” A citizen shall not “be deprived of life, liberty, or property, with out due process of law,” says the fifth Amendment to the Federal Constitution. This is an express restriction on the National Gov ernment. Constitutionally, the seizure by President Truman was an arbitrary act of unbridled des potism; if it can be sustained then no citizen is immune from the con fiscation of his business or his home. “Undermining the Constitution” is a timely book which my Doctor brother has sent me from Ander son. It is a clear exposition of Con stitutional principles which we have cherished. One thing I quote from it now: “For two decades no great debate on a Constitutional subject has been heard in either House of Congress.” I think I’ve been cheated: I once had a course in Constitutional Law that required nine hours a week for six months and the reading of ten thousand pages of decisions. Timp utterly wasted, for who cares today? • I recall Senator Bailey of Texas, in his 1 great arguments over a broad court review in rate cases, as he thundered in debate over Con stitutional limitations. No such de bates today. We are minute men and crave action. Today a Senat >.* declares that Mr. Truman had an ‘inherent right” to seize proper?/ to avert a strike. The Federal Government should get out of vhis strike business and put. everybody, on an equal basis, letting them seek justice in the courts. The President has no inhe-ent rights: the duties of the President are set forth: he is not a Sovereign, with the ancient prerogatives )f absolute sovereignty as led to the fiction of the Divine Rights of 1 FINAL SETTLEMENT Take notice that on the 19th day of May, 1952, I will render a final account of my acts and doings as Administrator of the estate of Claude Hawkins in the office of the Judge of Probate of Laurens Coun-!$ ty, at 10 o’clock, a. m., and on the j same day wjll apply for a final uis- j ft charge my trust as Administrator. | g Any person indebted to said es- ft tate is notified and required to j g make payment on or before that date: and all persons having claims against said estate will present them on or befdre said date, duly proven, or be forever barred. DOC. HAWKINS, Administrator. April 17, 1952 , 4c-w-May 15 SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE “The Paper Everybody Reads” insurance policies could suffer. Looking Into The Future Another thought: Think of . the danger of letting the President seize a newspaper which he would like to suppress! He could do this as well as seize a steel plant. He would only need to stir up the em ployees to demand an impossible wage increase, and then “in the emergency” seize and edit that •newspaper! It is horrible to con template. But labor ultimately suffers from this frightful prece dent. Unless the courts throw o*it this steel seizure, it surely some day will be used against Labor it self. “It is a poor rule that will not work both ways.” Last week I was quite hopeful as to the Summer or Fall Outlook. Due to Mr. Truman’s retirement, I felt that the clouds were breaking Since then, however, a thunder storm has arisen! Whatever hap pens to the steel case, I am now more convinced than ever that when the next Unemployment De pression comes, it will be brought on by Labor Leaders. Goodyear Tires and Tubes . BATTERIES AND ACCESSORIES McMillan Service Station Sinclair Products Phone New 2 Savings Accounts 3%—DIVIDEND—3% We invite savings accounts from the people of Clinton and vicinity. You will like our friendly and efficient ser vice, and you will receive your dividend promptly each January 1st and July 1st. Any amount — from $1 up — opens an account. Each account is insured up to $10,000 by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. Two people may have up to $30,000 fully insured. Accounts by mail promptly acknowledged. Chartered and Supervised by the United States Government Laurens Federal Savings & Loam Association Telephone 22271 LAURENS’ LARGEST SAVINGS INSTITUTION 104 West Main Street Laurens, S. C. SALE OF- fylanciican Wake 16 PIECE STARTER SETS REGULAR $13.90 Now is the time to select the FRANCISCAN WARE service that you have always wanted. Starter Sets in the popular Ivy pattern on sale at a great reduction. Here is an opportunity to own this color ful, durable dinnerware . . . hand-painted under the glaze . . . richly embossed ... re sistant to cracking, chipping, breakage. Gay today, beautiful always. FRANCISCAN APPLE A gay design of timeless charm. Bright russet apples , and deep green leaves are hand-painted on thfc richly embossed ware. FRANCISCAN WARE STARTER SET includes: 4 each Dinner, Bread and Butter Plates, Cups and Saucers. „ Accessories and Replacements Always Available. -J. Cv Thomas, Jeweler, Clinton. S. C. Please send me Franciscan Ware Starter Set Name I - Address City State • Add 50c Postage and 3% Sales Tax We have, in addition, all items made in this pattern in open stock: PLATTERS, SERVING DISHES, TEA POTS, COFFEE POTS, ETC. Phone . . . Write . . . Come In Today — While Complete Assortments Await Your Choice J. C. THOMAS, Jeweler “It’s Time That Counts”