The Clinton chronicle. (Clinton, S.C.) 1901-current, March 30, 1961, Image 4
4
THE CLINTON CHRONICLE
Thoraday, March SO, 1M1
May The Congress
Preserve Us
A curious notion seems to be gaining ac
ceptance from the American public irrespec
tive of how they voted last fall that the Ken
nedy program will not, after all, cost as
, much as people were led to expect
As that program now, emerges, we cannot
see that there is much support of this ever-
so-tempered optimism. It is more likely a
case of having become insensible to the
arithmetical significance of billions, and to
being stunned by the galting-gun tempo of
White House orders to Congress.
Extension of unemployment insurance
from 26 to 39 weeks, enlargement of social
security promises, care for the aged under
social security, medical facilities and train
ing, assistance to distressed areas and aid to
education will cost an estimated $5.2 billion
the first year.
Perhaps you can shrug off these first-
year billions. But don’t forget these are des
tined to be hardy perennials. We cannot now
conceive of their total cost. What is before
us is merely the token down-payment by
which we can acquire these expensive and
demoralizing habits for life—the life of the
nation.
These are in the pattern of such earlier
deceptions as the income tax, which would
never (they said) take more than three per
cent of our earnings, but now abstracts from
20 to 91 per cent of our substance; the social
security experiment that originally took one
per cent of the first $3,000 of our pay from
us and a similar amount from the boss, is
now taking three per cent of the first $4,800
and by 1969 will reach four-and-a-half per
cent for both worker and employer. And
they will be as leech-like as the wartime
“luxury” excises and the “temporary” boosts
in the gasoline tax.
We have mentioned but a handful of no
less than 16 measures on President Ken
nedy’s list of special priority, “must” legis
lation. On other fronts — defense, housing,
urban renewal, etc., the projected Kennedy
spending increases thus far revealed are
keeping pace with the warnings of observers
at Los Angeles last July. And overall, the
socialistic, paternalistic, Uncle-knows-best
fixation is triumphantly emerging.
Our elected representatives in Washing
ton must call upon some hidden reserve of
fortitude and patriotism with which to re
sist the cynical blandishments of a collec
tivist pied piper.
Wrong Prescription
In a recent month, new housing starts
were below the number for the comparable
month a year earlier. This, in the view of
some people, was almost a disaster. The solu
tion they demand is for the government to
start pumping a lot of “cheap money” into
the housing field before catastrophe ar
rives.
Well, there is evidence that the relatively
modest decline in home building is simply
the result of the fact that supply and de
mand are pretty well in balance. The short
age that was caused by war and the popula
tion boom has been largely made up.
This aside, the head-shaking over the
housing situation is symptomatic of a much
bigger illusion that seems to possess many
of us. The illusion is that everything should
grow all the time, with never a pause, much
less a temporary set-back. Those who sup
port that illusion suffer from shock when
ever an economic indicator of any kind fails
to soar higher and higher, month after
month, year after year. And their prescrip
tion, in all too many cases, is that govern
ment should be the doctor.
The fact is that there are limits to what
any people can consume, whether it is hous
es or groceries. Another fact is that national
growth must be measured over a period of
time—not on a day-by-day, item-by-item
basis—and that if we trouble to do this we
will see that the plusses in our economic
system far outweigh any minuses. A third
fact is that turning to government every
time something or other slows a bit is a
sure way to invite more inflation, ever heav
ier taxes, and less freedom for all.
The Reason Why
The long-standing proposal to extend the
federal wage-hour law to a large segment of
the retail industry, which has been exempt
ever since the law came into being in the
depressed ’30’s, has met with a great deal of
opposition. And that opposition may have led
people to believe that retailers commonly
pay wages below the existing federal stand
ard of $1.00 an hour, or the proposed increase
to $1.26.
The American Retail Federation reports
that, according to official tabulations, retail
wages averaged $1-82 an hour last Septem
ber. This is a higher wage than is paid in
several industries now covered by the federal
law.
Gillespie, 111., News: “Public welfare is big
business in the United States . •. The largest
amount of aid is ^iven to dependent children.
Three million of them received a billion dol
lars in assistance last year. Deserting fathers
and illegitimacy are at the root of this prob
lem . . . Public welfare is big business and
so is its administration . . . and the cost
falls on those who pay the taxes.”
Babson Discusses A
Dangerous Industry
■«C«r W
Babson Park, Mass., March 30—Unfortunate
ly, the “cold war” is developing into a dangerous
industry. Too many voters are directly or indi
rectly making money on It.
WHO LIKES THE COLD WAR?
I am ashamed to say that many people are
learning to like this “cold war.” Even labor de
pends upon it for employment and employers feel
it necessary for profits. They dreaded the “cold
war” at first—but now are getting used to it and
even depending on it. Surely if the cold war should
suddenly stop, there would be a great increase in
unemployment. This is feared not only by those
now out of work, but also my employers who are
benefiting from sub-contracts and
forced sales. Talk with Dun &
Bradstreet if you think I am
overly fearful; or watch the
“markdown” advertisements in
the Sunday newspapers.
Most of the active stocks listed
on the New York Stock Exchange
are counting upon the “cold war”
to continue. This is a dangerous
limb upon which to depend. In
vestment counselors warn that
temporary market declines are
to be expected as a “necessary correction or read
justment,” but they continue to be fundamentally
bullish and look for even higher prices after the
“corrections” are completed. They may be right
for a while; but the Law of Action and Reaction
which Sir Isaac Newton enunciated back in. the
17th century still holds good.
Even President Kennedy and his White House
advisers see the dangerous paradox in the present
situation of “getting used to the cold war." Sure
ly, full employment depends now on continuation
of the cold war. This is resulting in a new atti
tude on the part of both conservatives and liberals.
Republicans and Democrats. It has become as
popular as cocktail parties. No one yet has had
the courage to check it.
WHAT ABOUT JOHN BIRCH?
It now looks as though the only way to com
bat the present contentment with the “cold war”
—with its spiraling wage and upward price move
ments—will be through the arbitrary “freesing”
of both wages and prices. This is the first step
toward making President Kennedy an economic
dictator . . . which I expect to see. He is now
preparing the ground for such a move by appoint
ing so many of his family and intimate friends to
important posts. Watch his future moves.
Another movement to watch is the John Birch
Society, which has “Americanism” of the DAR
type as its watchword although it favors a semi
dictatorship for the nation. It is named after
John Birch, who was a Christian missionary in
China and later fought with the Nationalist Chi
nese in their war against the Japanese. Birch
was promoted to captain and worked in the In
telligence Division under General Cbennault. On
August 25, IMS, Birch was killed by the Chinese
Communitsts. The present national leader of the
Society is a neighbor of mine, Robert Welch, of
Belmont, Mass. Frankly, he is fighting for our
return to a Republic and away from Democracy,
which Mr. Kennedy probably also thinks is the
only way to win the “cold war.”
BUT DISTRESSED PROPERTY
Surely distressed property is coming on the
market some day, regardless of the forecasts being
made by optimistic investment advisers. The saf
est way to make profits is to render service. No
investor can render service now by climbing to
buy stocks, bonds, real estate, or commodities
The way to render service is to store up cash now
and be prepared to use when it is again in great
demand.
The first group to “feel the pinch” are the
country banks. When borrowers fail to pay their
notes, then we know the turn downward is com
ing. The “Roaring Sixties” can roar from two
causes—from enthusiasm or from panic. Anyone
who has lived on a ranch with cattle, hogs, and
other livestock has seeq his stock roar when
frightened and look for a hole in the wall to get
out through! I agree we are entering the “Roar
ing Sixties.” but as to the reason for the “roar
ing” perhaps many are now being fooled.
Clinton Davidson
This Week in Washington
REGULATORY AGENCIES.
The appointment of a White
House “Overseer” for the several
government regulatory agencies
is an important and significant
move toward correcting what has
become an indefensible and in
tolerable situation in Washington.
James M. Landis, appointed by
President Kennedy to head the
newly created Office for the Over
sight of Regulatory Agencies, is
well qualified for the tough job he
faces. He formerly served as
chairman of the Securities and
Exchange Commission and the
Civil Aeronautics Board, and as
dean of the Harvard Law School.
But the really important thing
is that for the first time in sev
eral years there will be an au
thority with power to review, and
if necessary over-rule, arbitrary
decisions by the semi-autono
mous agencies.
Over the past several years we
have repeatedly called attention
in this column to the urgent need
for closer supervision of the reg
ulatory agencies which almost
daily make decisions affecting
every user of transportation, ra
dio and TV, electricity, airplanes,
and other public utilities and ser
vices.
UNRESTRAINED POWER
Since Presidential Assistant
Sherman Adams was forced to
resign because of a gift from in
dustrialist Bernard Goldfine there
has been no one either at the
White House or in Congress who
dared tell the agencies what they
could and could not do.
Anyone who thought they had
been dealt with unfairly by any of
the agencies had no one they
could appeal to in the White
House, and congressmen dared
not intervene for fear of being
charged with “lobbying for spec
ial interests.”
Although the regulatory agen
cies were created by Congress
and supposedly are directly re
sponsible to Congress there has
been very little actual supervision
of their operations, and none
whatsoever in several years by
the Administrative branch of
government.
We have pointed out many
times that the boards and. com
missions frequently make judi
cial decisions without all of the
members being present to hear
evidence and arguments in cases
involving life or death of import
ant companies and corporations.
This is similar to a jury trial in
which all of the jurors are not
present.
THE LANDIS REPORT
Mr. Landis, in a special report
prepared for the president prior
to his appointment as Overseer,
roundly criticises some proce
dures of the regulatory agencies.
The so-called regulatory agencies
are the Federal Trade Commis
sion, the Interstate Commerce
Commission, the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Fed
eral Communications Commis-
Jomes F. Weathers
Fountain Inn — James Frank
Weathers, 75, native of Laurens
County, died at his home in the
Fairview community Saturday at
9:15 p. m.
He had lived in the Fairview
community for the past 40 years
and was a fanner. He was a son
of the late Warren Calvin Weath
ers and Mrs. Ellen Tumblin Wea
thers, and a member of Beulah
Baptist Church. He was also a
member of Woodmen of the
World.
Funeral services were conduct
ed Monday at 3:00 p. m. at the
Beulah Baptist Church by Rev.
Wingard Berry and Rev. Dr. T.
Layton Fraser. Burial was in the
church cemetery.
sion, the Civil Aeronautics Board,
and the Federal Power Commis
sion.
In his report Mr. Landis em
phasized that the regulatory
agencies have become so bogged
down in bureaucratic red tape
that decisions often are delayed
for months, and sometimes for
years. The delays alone, he said,
have cost consumers and the
regulated industries millions of
dollars.
Another confirmation of our
criticisms was made in a report
by the House Legislative Over
sight Subcommittee, - of which
Rep. Oren Harris of Arkansas, is
chairman, in which it charged
the agencies with “using horse-
and-buggy approaches to space
age problems." That is one of the
most apt descriptions we have
seen as applied to some agency
operations.
Hurricane News
Of The Week
Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Scogin,
Mitch and Mike were in Orange
burg to see the Edisto Gardens
Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Cope
land and sons. Misses Sallie and
Mary Frances Nabors, Mr. and
Mrs. W. D. Bishop and family,
and Roy Haupfear enjoyed a
picnic ‘ dinner 'on Lake Green
wood Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Odus Young and
children attended the "Holiday
on Ice" in Greenville last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Craven
and David visited Mr. and Mrs.
Francis Crowder in .Ninety Six.
Mrs. Cleo Gastley of Fork
Shoals spent Wednesday of last
week with Mr. and Mrs. W. P.
Gastley. Mrs. Bessie Oakley
visited Mrs. Gastley recently.
Mrs. Jayce Black and Mary
Elizabeth of Joanna was supper
guests of Mrs. Edward Craven
on Wednesday, she also visited
her aunt Mrs. William Gastley.
Mrs. Tammy Moore, Mr. and
Mrs. Lester Davis of Lydia, Mr.
and Mrs. Yancy Eubanks of Buf
falo, were Sunday visitors of Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Young and
family.
Mrs. Ben Dickson of Cowpens
is spending some time with her
daughter Mrs. Charles Young
and family.
Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Neighbors
and daughters visited Mrs.
Neighbors sister Mrs. Hugh
Pegram and family, also Mrs.
Neighbors parents Mr. and Mrs.
O. R. Willingham in Brevard,
N. C.
Mrs. Lila Neighbors is im
proving at the home of her son
Bobby Neighbors after a stay at
Blalock Clinic. Miss Alice
Neighbors of Greenville visited
her mother Mrs. Lila Neighbors
during the week end.
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Bowden of
Greenville visited Mrs. Lila
Neighbors Sunday.
Mrs. J. Willie Young is visit
ing her daughter Mrs. Charlie
Nantz and family in Morganton,
N. C. On Sunday Mrs. Young
attended the christening of her
granddaughter Kathy Marie
Nantz.
Mr. and Mrs. Bootsie Caldwell
and daughters attended the “Hol
iday on Ice” in Greenville.
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Johnson
and Frank of the Fariview com
munity visited Mr. and Mrs.
Allen Young Sunday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Haupfear
and Laurie, Dr. and Mrs. Mac
Going were Sunday afternoon
visitors of their daughter and
sister Mrs. B. J. Lawerence and
Steve in Greenville. Mrs. Law
rence returned home for a sev
eral weeks stay.
Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Bartley
were Sunday supper guests of
Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Clegg in
Greenwood .
YOUNG ADULTS MEET
The Young Adult Class of the
Hurricane Baptist Church held
their monthly meeting March
23rd at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Dillard Young. Eleven
members were present. Dillard
Young gave the devotional. After
the business session, fellowship
and refreshments were enjoyed.
local Legion Auxiliary
Sponsor Representative
For Palmetto State
The 15th annual Palmetto Girls’
State will convene Monday, June
5, and will adjourn Sunday, June
11, after noon lunch. Palmetto
Girls’ State will be held in Co
lumbia, with housing in J. Marion
Sims college, University of South
Carolina. Palmetto Girls’ State
is sponsored by the American Le
gion Auxiliary, Department of
South Carolina, of which the
Copeland-Davidson Post No. 56
Auxiliary is a unit.
Any girl in the junior class of a
South Carolina accredited high
school is eligible. It is this educa
tional level which best suits the
program. Each girl is expected
to return to her high school for
her senior year and to furnish
leadership in her school, her
church and her community.
The final approval of the “citi
zen” must be left to the local
American Legion Auxiliary unit.
Each unit is' urged to ask the
assistance of the high school su
perintendent, faculty and junior
class in selecting candidates for
Girls’ State citizenship. Following
is a list of qualifications for citi
zenship in the order of their im
portance: 1. Leadership, 2. Char
acter, 3. Courage, 4. Honesty,
5. Scholarship, 6. Cooperative
ness, 7. Fitness. Girls’ State is
not a camp or vacation for the
underprivileged girl. Girls’ State 1
is not an award for scholastic
attainment. Girts’ State is a prac-
tical application of Americanism
and good citizenship.
The objective of Girls’ State is
to educate our youth in the du
ties, privileges, rights, and re
sponsibilities of American Citi
zenship.”
Before coming to Girls ’State, if
each citizen will Visit and discuss
duties, qualifications, laws, etc.,
with:
1. City officials and city coun
cil.
2. Court house and county offi
cers.
3. Political meetings, caucuses
or parties. -
4. Make a choice of offices for
which to iffer herself In Girls
State—then the program will be
alive and sparkling and she will
be a vital, happy part of it.
The Constitution and the stat
utes of the State of South Caro
lina are the patterns from which
the fundamental laws of Girfls*
State have been developed.
The local American Legion unit
sponsors the local girls, and are
asisted with the finances by dv-
Ic, social and fraternal dubs.
Mrs. R. Pope Chapman is presl-
denth of the local unit. Mrs. P.
M. Pitts is secretary.
Homed "Soldier
Of Month"
SP-4 Horace G. Mann, of 206th
Signal Co., Fort Gordon, Ga.,
received the honor of being nam
ed "Soldier of the Month” for
two months in succession, Feb
ruary and March. He, was also
promoted to his present rank dur
ing March. He is the son of Mrs.
Durward Murdock of Clinton.
Sava for that downpaymaitt hare I
Dobn’t TAXB MUCH to get started—m little
me $6. Add to it regularly, and in no time at aD
you’ll hare the downpayment on that bouae of
your dreams. While you save, funds are earn
ing a good return, are safe, and available.
4%
• CITIZENS ©
FEDERAL SAVINGS
AND LOAN ASSOCIATION ->
220 W. MAIN ST.
CLINTON, S. C.
Member Federal Home Loan Bank Sys’em
CLINTON, S. C„ THURSDAY, MARCH M, 1961
ill? (Clinton (Cljrnmtlr
EtUMhked IMS
July 4, IMS — WILLIAM WILSON HARRIS - Juee 13. IMS
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