Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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; *4 jt. TO FRESHMEN OF '69 To you recent high school gradu ates who will be going to college next year, we would like to offer a few words of advice. You will be exposed to many new ideas and thoughts and that is good. However, do not accept these at face value. Do not join that group of col lege students who have tried to re place thought and study with slo gans. Consider the source of state ments—what are the qualifications of the speaker, what has he accomplish ed? There are some on our college cam puses who do not like the United States system of capitalism and free enterprise. Just remember that you are going to have to live with which ever system wins the current struggle between capitalism and communism. Those of us who are now adults aren’t likely to reap the consequences or re ward as are members of your gene ration. LET'S CLEAR THE AIR There is growing feeling in the Nation’s Capital that the latest in the long chain of events known as the “Otepka Case” is no more than a po litical game. Otto Otepka was dismissed from his State Department security evaluar tion post for giving information to a legally constituted committee in the U.S. Senate. No one to our know ledge has ever questioned the validity of his testimony. In fact he was re instated at the State Department by Dean Rusk, but assigned to a lower position. Rather than accept the new assignment, Otepka decided to fight for complete vindication. President Nixon has now appoint ed Mr. Otepka to a post on the Sub versive Activities Control Board which has become an active unit rather than the ghost board it has been in the past. Attorney General Mitchell is expected to utilize the Board in the in vestigation of operations by radicals on the nation’s campuses. Four U.S. Senators, including Ted dy Kennedy, have announced that they want an investigation of the source of funds for Otepka’s legal defense dur ing his long fight for reinstatement, -the stated purpose being to ascertain whether or not members of the John Birch Society contributed to the fund. There are murmurings and veiled allegations in connection with the Birch groups, but so far no specific charges. It appears to be a sort of McCarthyism in reverse. Many ac cused the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy of irresponsibly branding his oppon ents communists or fellow'-travelers. Many in Washington feel that reaction is setting in, with charges now leveled by the left against anyone who ap pears to be on the right. We do not know what the true facts may be, but we are tired of charges and countercharges involving the Birch Society. Why doesn’t the Senate grant the request of Birch leader Robert Welch and investigate this organization once and for air LEST WE FORGET On May 30th, we celebrate Memo rial Day. This is the day set aside to pay tribute to the men and women who have given their lives for us. They made it possible for us to take for granted the liberty they died to preserve. In gratitude to Abraham Lincoln, and to the men and women who pre ceded and those who followed him in death under the nation’s flags, we in vite you to read again these immortal words, first delivered at Gettysburg: Four score and seven years ago our father brought forth on this con tinent a new nation, conceived in lib erty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now- we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogeth er fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate — we cannot hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who strug gled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or to de tract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us —that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full meas ure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of free dom; and that government of the peo ple, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. The Great Pumpkin NOTED AND PASSED Flabby Americans of the Future: From the Daily Standard, Sikeston, Mo.: “When I was a boy we walked three miles to school and three miles home each day. Now we spend $5,000 for a bus to pick up the children so they don’t have to walk. Then we spend $50,000 for a gymnasium so they can get exercise.” This is in flationary two ways. Just A Thought: We wonder if Hubert Humphrey is sorry that he lost the run for the big one last year. He has his teaching position, a syndi- cated news column and plenty of speaking engagements. He likely gets more press exposure than he did as senator or vice-president. He gives freely of his opinions without having to worry about results if they happen to be in error. And he can quit when ever he desires. 'One Burger coming up.. 2-B—THE CHRONICLE, Clinton, S. C., May 29, 1969 Unions Attempt A Comeback Apparel Industry Gains Interest BY BABSON’S REPORTS INC. FAVORABLE FUNDAMENTALS WELLESLEY HILLS, MASS.- Once a drab and unappealing segment of American business, the apparel industry has grad ually gained a greater measure of investment interest. In the past ten years, it has shed its ugly duckling appearance and taken on a more sophisticated stature. During this period, consumer outlays for apparel have fared better in relation to the trend and total volume of disposable in come than they have in the past. Several factors have accounted for the improved image of the ap parel industry. The most import ant factor has been the remark able growth of personal income, particularly with respect to in come per capita and per family unit. As the decade of the 1950’s drew to a close, consumer ex penditures for clothing bur geoned. The progress of income growth and the accompanying ex pansion of buying power via con sumer credit altered the pattern mmiwwwezm:' SENATOR STROM THURMOND REPORTS TO THE PEOPLE \ lUHUlln ACTION ON TEXTILES The United States is the only textile producing country that does not limit foreign textile imports. This is the basic reason why the Nixon Administration sent a top-level negotiating team to Europe and Japan to attempt to secure a voluntary agreement on foreign textile imports into the United States. NIXON SUPPORT As evidence of the importance which the Nixon Administration attaches to this effort, the dele gation was headed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce himself, Maurice Stans. Secretary Stans was accompanied by the Deputy Counsel to the President, Harrv S. Dent. Although President Nixon is a firm supporter of free trade, he said in a public statement in February that he understood the need for an ex ception for textiles. The President spoke as fol lows: “As far as the textile situ ation is concerned, this is a special problem which has caused very great distress in certain parts of this country, and to a great number of wage earners, as well as those who operate our textile facilities.” Accordingly, Secretary Stans worked hard in Europe and in the Far East to win acceptance of the U.S. textile position. He had a tremendous advantage in these negotiations in knowing that he had the firm backing of the President. In past times, such negotiations were frequent ly hampered by undercutting from other departments of the Executive Branch. JAPANESE ATTITUDE For the first time in recent years, the Japanese realized that they had met up with a firm and determined negotiating team. Although they rebuffed the effort of Secretary Stans, only the first round has taken place. A Japanese official, Yomiuri Shimhun said: “In the final analysis, this is nothing but a political obligation President Nixon took in order to win the support of the Southern States during his presidential election campaign. There is no reason why foreign countries should have to be subject to the after effects eauaed by these domestic circumatancea in the U-S." Shimhun misjudges the temper of the American people and of President Nixon. The present textile import situation can have a severe ef fect on the American job pic ture, particularly in the smaller mills. The United States im ports $800 million more in cot ton, wool and synthetic fibers than we sell abroad. Half of this textile trade deficit comes from Japan. Two out of every five men’s worsted suits made in the United States last year were produced from Japanese fabrics. INCREASING MARKET If the Japanese continue to increase their share of the American market, American mills and their employees will suffer. The textile industry is a strategic industry, second only to steel from the standpoint of national defense. We cannot allow local areas of our econ omy to suffer. At the same time, import quotas on textiles coming into the U.S. would not seriously affect the booming Japanese economy. The Japanese have piled up an astounding $3 billion in reserves. More than $1 billion of this has been earned through world trade in the past year alone, with an even greater rate of earnings predicted for Japan for the present year. By con trast, the United States showed a $1.1 billion deficit for all trade with Japan. Although the Japanese have turned down the proposals ad vanced by Secretary Stans, they are very much mistaken if they think that the negotiations are over. In fact, the Secretary and his delegation had no sooner returned home than he an nounced that he was giving foreign nations ninety days to make up their minds on accept ing voluntary quotas. CONGRESSIONAL ACTION If these countries do not re spond favorably before the deadline, then Congress should step in and impose mandatory quotas. Congressman Wilbur Mills, Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Com mittee, has served notice that he stands ready to introduce the necessary legislation if the deadline is not met. A bi-partisan group of Sen ators and Representatives is prepared to come forward as co-sponsors. This country does not want to go to mandatory quotas. How ever, if reasonable voluntary restrictions are not adopted, there is no question but that Congress will initiate action to protect the interests of the American working man and of American industry, and that such action will have the firm support of the Administration. < not prtptffd or prfetW *1 government osponat) of consumer spending to the de gree where an increasing pro portion of discretionary con sumer buying power has been flowing into the apparel field. The affluent environment has made it possible for most consumers to maintain larger wardrobes, and has encouraged greater fash ion consciousness. Furthermore, the growth of the nation’s population and the change in its profile -- wherein the teen age and young adult groups have been experiencing rapid in crement recently -- have bene fited the apparel industry. Credit for the progress now being en joyed by the clothing field must also be given to changes within the industry in the form of knitted fabrics, mixtures of synthetic fibers, bonded fabrics, and stretch fabrics. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INDUSTRY The apparel industry is a frag mented structure composed of many firms, most of which are small and either privately or closely held. It must be recog nized that the element of risk is an inherent part of the field. It is subject to the ravages of sudden and very radical changes in fashions and styles. The ele ment of foreign competition is al so of great importance. LONG-TERM OUTLOOK However, the over-riding con sideration is that apparel manu facturing enjoys the status of being a business which is basic to consumers. Looking ahead, the industry is not likely to lapse back to obscurity. The fundamental social and economic progress of this nation, though not without problems, bodes well for the continued af fluence of the buying public. Moreover, the years ahead will see a significant increase in the 15-30 age group, which wields much power in terms of demand and fashion receptivity. INVESTMENT FACTORS A continuing record level of personal income, and consumer acceptance of new and colorful fabrics and fashions point to fresh sales gains for the apparel indus try in 1969. Despite pressures on profit margins, the expected in crease in volume of business should enable most clothing manufacturers to post higher earnings versus 1968. In the past two years, stocks of apparel firms have experienced mixed performances, but in the stock market setback since late 1968, many of the apparel issues have receded to levels which make re tention worth while, and some at tractive buying opportunities have been spawned. The Research Staff of Babson’s Reports Incorporated recom mends retention of the common of BLUE BELL, BOBBIE BROOKS, CLUETT PEABODY, MANHATTAN INDUSTRIES, and UNITED MERCHANTS Si MANUFACTURERS. For ac counts which can undertake addi tional common stock commit ments, and which can assume the risks incumbent in an industry which is subject to changes in styles and consumer preference, the Babson Staff favors the com mon of EAGLE CLOTHES, MUN- SINGWEAR, and RUSS TOGS, and the common and $1.50 converti ble preferred of WARNACO. BY THURMAN SENSING Executive Vice President Southern States Industrial Council The labor union movement, which has lost ground in recent years because of blue-collar dis enchantment with union bosses and their political plans, is try ing for a comeback by forming new alliances with street mili tants. The most significant develop ment in this connection is the es tablishment of the Alliance For Labor Action, a union conglo merate launched by the United Auto Workers and the Teamsters Union. The ALA, a product of UAW President Walter Teuther’s mind, aims at harnessing the “new politics" of community act ion groups that flourish in the big cities. The Alliance hopes to or ganize minority voters in so- called “ghetto" areas, pack them on the voter rolls, and apply di rect pressure on city councils, school boards and businessmen. To beef up its operation, the Alliance is fashioning links to the Southern Christian Leader ship Conference, the Rev. Ralph Abernathy’s street army organi- zation that specializes in com munity disruption. Walter Reu- ther already has made a sub stantial financial contribution to a combined union-SCLC effort to force unionization of public hos pital workers in Charleston, S. C. The Southern States are like ly to be the main targets of the first Alliance drives. Union stra tegists apparently believe that these states, many of them with right-to-work laws, represent a formidable obstacle. If they can be crushed by the Alliance, if their public services are vir tually taken over by unions, then resistance in other states of the Union will rapidly crumple. Thus, in a very real sense, the South ern States are the first line of defense against a new and danger ous form of unionism that threa tens the liberties of all Ameri cans. It should be borne in mind that the United Auto Workers has a long history of industrial strife. The UAW wasat the heart of grave industrial disturbances in De troit a generation ago, when the “sit-down” strikes threatened a form of industrial communism in America. The Teamsters, the other prin cipal partner in the Alliance For Labor Action, issynonomouswith union corruption. Vast quantities of evidence have been produced before Congress and state in vestigating bodies, showing its infiltration by gangster types. The last two presidents of the Teamsters Union have landed in prison. Therefore, the prospect for U.S. cities and states subject ed to AUiance campaigns is not a pleasant one. It Is rendered all the more unpleasant by the in volvement of the SCLC in union organizing efforts. What SCLC can furnish the Alliance are the bully-boys of civil disobedience, the professional militants who abuse the right of assembly and areate a climate of tension and strife while professing “peace" and “non-violence." Cities and states face the dan ger of paralyzing disturbances that require the use of police and National Guardsmen on a large scale and at great expense. Even relatively small bands of march ers, protesters and placard-wav ing union organizers can inter rupt the normal life of a com munity and deflect a state from important business. Small businessmen -- opera tors of retail stores and manu facturing shops with a limited number of employes -- are like ly to feel considerable harass ment from the operations of the Alliance. Merchants may be ex posed to intimidation and to shake-downs for contributions. One trick may be a “request” that a merchant buy advertising in a special “strike" newspaper issued by a union-street demon strator organization. The time to deal with threats is before they mushroom and get out of hand. Business groups would be well advised to care fully consider now what new laws will be needed to assure a wider measure of community peace and handle the more subtle types of intimidation and economic black-mail that organizers and protesters may resort to in the year ahead. State legislatures may find it useful to conduct in-depth inves tigations of alliances between union organizers and demonstra tors and to hold public hearings at which disruptlonists are sub* poenedi to testify. A basic need™ > is public understanding of the new plans being made to disrupt peaceful, progressive states. The ambitions of the Alliance For Labor Action could only hamper the orderly economic and industrial growth of America and retard the progress of our so ciety, which is based on evolu tion rather than revolution. Thus the Alliance is bad news for the American people. Buy Undeveloped Land BY RICHARD GANTT Attorney Presbyterian College Many authorities on money, investment, etc., indicate that the purchase of unimproved real estate is a good financial plan. During times of inflation, real estate offers an attractive method of protecting an investment. The main task in purchasing real estate is to determine the future uses of the land. Certain ly if it may develop into com mercial property the return on your investment will be very worthwhile. There are many uses for land: recreation areas, re sidential property, industrial uses and many others. If you are able to foresee such future uses your investment will be most profitable. President Compliments Cartoonist Editorial cartoonist Bob Zschiesche has received a rare tribute from the President of the United States. President Nixon informed Zschiesche recently that he would like to have the original drawing on a cartoon which Zschiesche drew in April. The cartoon de picted the last six presidents with appropriate initials, FDR, HST, DDE, JFK and LBJ. Under Nixon’s caricature, were the ini tials ABM, noting the anti-ballis tic missile system controversy. President Nixon said, “I found this cartoon particularly ef fective and very amusing. If the original drawing is available, I hope you will let me have the op portunity to add it to my per sonal collection...’ f i- 4 Zschiesche is editorial car toonist for the Greensboro, N.C., Daily News and his syndicated cartoons appear in The Clinton Chronicle. The purchase of land is a long- range investment. You should be prepared to hold it five to ten years. During this time you will not have the use of your invest ment and will have to maintain the land. Never purchase land with money you may need or short notice. If you have to sell quickly, the chances of making a good return are greatly diminished. The United States recently passed the 200 million mark in growth rate. It is possible that our present urban population will double in the next 50 years. It is clear that those who own real estate wiU stand to gain because of the demand for property. When considering the purchase of real estate, keep in mind any benefits derived from special tax treatment accorded farmers. Wish I’d Said That Success and happiness is in meeting conditions, not in evading them. — Alwynne H. Williams, Holmes County (Fla.) Advertiser. So far, no one has devised a way to develop a business without someone putting in hard work.—George C. Keyes, The Oklahoma County News. When you look at the many kinds of taxes we all pay, it kind of makes you realize that the folks running this country haven’t been fools. A bunch of fools couldn’t have thought up the many, many ways to get money out of our pockets.— Doug Colebum, The Courier (Va.) Record.