University of South Carolina Libraries
McCORMICK MESSENGER, McCORMICK, S. C.. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1938 Weekly News Review California, Home of Pensions, Tries Another Plan This Year By Joseph W« La Bine Politics Choicest haven lor U. S. old peo ple is sunny California, which an nually beckons retiring farmers who want escape from midwestern win ders. Before Depression, many farmers leased or sold their home steads and went to California expect ing to enjoy old age on this in come. Not expected were drouth and low prices which wiped out this revenue, making California a para dox in whose Utopian climate men were going hungry. Since Utopian climates may pro duce Utopian ideas, 1934 found Up ton Sinclair barely missing guber natorial election with an elaborate pension plan called EPIC (End Pov erty in California). Later came Dr. Francis E. 'fownsend whose old age revolving pension of $200 a month went into eclipse last year when business got better, has since come beck with new vigor. Townsendism’s chief onetime sup porter was 54-year-old Sheridan Downey, who wrote a book called # *Why I Believe in the Townsend SHERIDAN DOWNEY The implications are terrific. Plan.” But a month ago Sheridan Downey won Democratic senatorial nomination on a new plan that gives California’s orthodox financiers a bad case of jitters, that has far greater implications than either EPIC or Townsendism. The Man: Soft-voiced Sheridan Downey attended the University of Wyoming, entered politics at 24 by winning the county attorneyship at Laramie while his wife worked for women’s suffrage. Now living in San Francisco’s exclusive, suburban Atherton, Pensioneer Downey gar nered enough votes to beat Sen. Wil liam Gibbs McAdoo in the primary last month. The Plan: “$30-every-Thursday” springs from a seed transplanted last year from far-away Austria. Original sponsor was one Robert Noble, whose radio lectures urged $25 every Monday for each Califor nian over 50. Later sponsor was Hol lywood Attorney Lawrence Allen who changed payday from Monday to Thursday, boosted payments from $25 to $30. To each, every Thurs day, would go 30 state warrants valued at $1 apiece. On the back of each warrant would be spaces for 52 two-cent state stamps to be purdiased in cash. Once each week, Californians would dig out all war rants in their possession, affixing a stamp to each. Thus at year’s end each warrant would have $1.04 in two-cent stamps, would be traded by the state for $1 in cash. Extra four cents would cover costs. Though *‘$30 - every - Thursday” dares not infringe on the U. S. right to coin money, pension warrants would nevertheless be valid for in tra-state taxes and debts (except gasoline tax and pension stamps). Private business need not accept warrants, but 50 per cent of all state purchases must be paid with them. Biggest stumbling block is that pension warrants would largely eliminate California’s use of U. S. legal tender, yet the state must dig up about $690,000,000 in Uncle Sam’s cash on January 1, 1940, to redeem warrants which would be issued next year to at least 500,000 pen- sioneers. To make matters worse, 1939’s state revenue from stamp sales would be only $322,750,000, pince only a small part of the year’s warrants will be completely stamped. Example: A warrant is sued the last Thursday in 1939 would carry only two cents in stamps at year’s end. But this technicality does not wor ry the 800,000 signers on whose pe tition California will decide next November. Required are 1,300,000 votes, since a majority ballot gives approval. Automatically, Pension eer Roy G. Owens of Los Angeles would be named administrator at $7,800 a year (payable in warrants). Probable immediate result of easy money would be rising prices and in flation, a possibility the amendment would solve by increasing pensions. Where such a vicious circle might end, pension opponents are trying to figure out. By last week, as California politi cians were arguing hotly over “$30- every-Thursday,” the idea began spreading throughout the U. S. In Ohio, where two rival groups planned to introduce an initiative pe tition in November’s election, chief battle was whether $30 shall be paid on Wednesday or Thursday. Foreign Since he became German chan cellor in 1933, Adolf Hitler has held an unknown quantity in his mailed fist, has scared the world with threats that may only be bluffs. A master of psychology, he renounced Versailles when France and Brit ain were worried about Italy’s in- . vasion of Ethiopia. In 1936 his Rhineland coup was staged under similar circumstances. By last spring, when he marched into Aus tria, the bluff had been so success ful that none arose to challenge him. But two months ago when Reichs- fuehrer Hitler began bluffing his way into annexation of Czechoslo vakia’s Sudeten frontierland, Brit ain and France were ready to bluff in turn. Franco-British bluff was a promise to defend Czechoslovakia. Germany’s return bluff was defi ance, delivered at September’s Nazi congress in Nuremberg. Then, weary of whistling to keep up their courage, Paris and London offered peace via capitulation. Terms: (1) Berlin’s annexation of Sudeten areas 75 per cent German; (2) pleb iscite in Sudeten areas from 50 to 75 per cent German; (3) German promise to guarantee Czechoslovak ia’s independence. Fortnight ago, when British Prime Minister Neville Chamber- lain delivered these terms at Godes- berg, democracies called it a “sell out.” But to Adolf Hitler even this was not enough. He wanted more land, moreover refused to guaran tee Czechoslovakia’s future. His deadline for Czech agreement: Oc tober 1. If Der Fuehrer had bluffed too far, if Democracies had scored a point and made Germans wonder about their chancellor’s wisdom, it was no stroke of genius on Neville Chamberlain’s part. Upshot of Godesberg was a vindication of the British prime minister and swift turning of world sentiment against Germany. But greater upshots were Czechoslovakia’s amazingly fast mobilization, France’s decision to fight, and London’s offer to fol low suit. To London, where only a week before he had helped draft the first proposal, went French Premier Ed ouard Daladier. Still anxious to keep peace, Europe’s last two great democracies offered a new agree ment. Terms: Transfer without plebiscite of areas over 50 per cent German; (2) exchange of popula tions in other areas; (3) interna tional guarantee of Czechoslovakia’s independence. But Adolf Hitler was still ready to bluff. Facing rising anti-war sen timent, forced to show his hand, he summoned countrymen to Berlin’s vast Sportspalast, told them his Godesberg terms were final, that Germany’s bluff has been backed all along by real strength. Excerpts: “I can tell you now that I have spent billions for arma ments . . . We have created an un paralleled air force and tank force. I want to declare regarding the Su deten problem, that my patience is exhausted . . . The Sudeten Ger mans will now take the liberty de nied them for 20 years.” But at the very moment Der Fuehrer spoke, a world moving swiftly to war knew the eventual REICHSFUEHRER HITLER Would No. 1 bluffer be outbluffed? lineup of European power would place Germany at disadvantage. Prague, virtually shut off from the world since her mobilization, heard that Russia’s lumbering, un tested military giant was poised to bring aid. Thoroughly scared, France called almost every reserv ist to the colors, had 1,500,000 troops along her Maginot line, advised Pa risians to evacuate. Also scared, Britain called Parliament, inspect ed ARP (air raid precautions) equip ment, finally ordered partial mobi lization. With October 1 but a few hours away, Europe wondered whether her No. 1 bluffer would be outbluffed by rank amateurs. Business Simpler than ill-fated NRA, the wage-hour law which goes into effecl October 24 decrees minimum wages of 25 cents per hour, maximum work week of 44 hours for industries deal ing in interstate commerce. But to U. S. employers seeking the law’s application to their business, wage- hour regulation has become complex through its simplicity. Since NRA’s greatest weakness was its iron-clad system of regula tion, the new act repents, places compliance squarely on the shoul der of industry. Though Adminis trator Elmer F. Andrews will issue opinions guiding employers in de termining their status, he has also pointed out that wage-hour regula tions will offer no “pat definition” of interstate commerce. Thus, last week, firms engaged partly in interstate commerce, part ly in intrastate commerce, were at their wit’s end. At Chicago, ,the National Hardwood Lumber associa tion devoted much of its convention time to wondering if sawmill and yard superintendents were subject ADMINISTRATOR ANDREWS Less bluster . . . less coercion to the law’s provisions, if computa tion of hours begins when a logger starts to the scene of operations or when he starts actual work. Special industrial wage standards committees will eventually be es tablished for most trades, but lack of funds prevents formation of more than three or four committees this year. Already requested is a de ficiency appropriation to expand this work. Meanwhile, each employer’s inde pendent decision on his compliance requirements looms important. Should a low-paying, long week manufacturer decide his business was mainly intrastate, therefore not requiring compliance, his employ ees might later prove otherwise and collect back wages. But, counteracting this iriton- venience, employers know that Ad ministrator Andrews’ tendency to proceed cautiously will help avoid NRA’s bluster and coercion, would probably result in reducing the act to a workable, successful basis. White House “If you will forgive me for saying so, the United States has been a veritable fortress of silence.” Thus scolded by Beverly Baxter, member of the English parliament, U. S. radio listeners were still con tent to remain aloof from Europe’s boiling cauldron (See FOREIGN). Though Franklin Roosevelt’s do mestic policies might find 50-50 ac ceptance and refusal by his constitu ents, most citizens were agreed that his treatment of Europe’s crisis was satisfactory, that his Secretary of State Cordell Hull was doing an ad mirable job. But as the Old World veered into what was almost certain war, Pres ident Roosevelt thought it was time for the fortress of silence to speak. Alone in his study from 10 o’clock to midnight, he drafted a message to Reichsfuehrer Adolf Hitler and Czech President Eduard Benes, then jerked sleepy correspondents from their beds. Excerpts: “The fabric of peace on the continent of Europe, if not throughout the rest of the world, is in immediate danger . . . The Unit ed States has no political entangle ments . . . But in the event of a general war (the American people) face the fact that no nation can escape some measure of conse quences . . . “It is my conviction that all peo ple under the threat of. war today pray that peace may be made be fore rather than after war ... On behalf of 130 millions of Americans and for the sake of humanity every where I most earnestly appeal to you not to break off negotiations looking to a peaceful, fair and constructive settlement ... So long as negotia tions continue, difficulties may be reconciled. Once they are broken off, reason is banished and force as serts itself. And force produces no solution for the future good , of hu manity.” Next day, a German spokesman said the President’s message “was sent to the wrong address. Prague is the proper address.” Miscellany In 1918, Private Bert Fenning of the famous “Lost Battalion” lost his arm in the Argonne, became a hero. Twenty years later, day before the “Lost Battalion” assembled to com memorate its feat, Private Fenning became a hero again, drowned try. ing to rescue a swimmer in Nev* Ywk’s Long Island sound. BruckarPs Washington Digest > Co-Operation of Business Sought By Wage-Hour Law Administrator Andrews Pictures Industry of Country as Mainly Decent Will Depend on Citizens, Not Inspectors, to Make Law Work; Warns Against Chiselers. By WILLIAM BRUCKART WNU Service, National Press Bldg., Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON.—Mr. Elmer F. Andrews hasn’t been in Washington long enough yet to become either widely praised or cordially hated, but he has started on his job as ad ministrator of the new wage and hour law, and so it will not be long until the country knows him. He has a tough job; one of the toughest, indeed, since Gen. Hugh Johnson tried to run NRA. Thus, it seems proper to review and examine some of Mr. Andrews pronouncements since he came into thd adminis tration. His main theory of proceeding with a new and wholly untried policy of law is to gain co-operation of busi ness, the business which the law is to effect. He pictures the industry of the country as mainly decent, as willing to do the right thing, and to that extent cegainly he is entitled to commendation. For, all too often in the last five years, all business has been grouped by first one New Deal-* er and then another, as being crookedr Mr. Andrews feels appar ently that business is honest until its records show it to be dishonest, and then to apply the lash to the in dividuals, and not the whole indus try, as wrongdoers. “We are going to depend upon the citizens of the United States, not an army of inspectors from Washing ton, to make this law work,” Mr. Andrews said in a recent speech. The administrator further es poused the policy of giving the states the job of enforcement within their jurisdictions as far as that can be done. To this, he added that the law enables a worker to sue for dou ble the amount due if any employer fails to pay the minimum wage, ex plaining that this provision takes one enforcement phase out of the hands of the federal government and creates watchmen of every worker. Since the law, with its minimum of 25 cents an hour becomes effective October 24, (where interstate ship ments of products are concerned) Mr. Andrews obviously believes that individual workers will get pretty well acquainted with their rights be fore the effective date. Asks for Co-Operation To Minimize Crookedness Mr. Andrews warned against chis elers. He took the position in an interview that chiseling was to be expected and added that “chiselers will get rich and fair employers will go broke in the short run” of things, but he seems to believe that there can and will be sufficient co-opera tion to insure the minimum of crook edness, undercutting and cheapness. At least, it is hoped the condition will work out that way. Although I never have believed that a federal wage and hour law would prove sat isfactory, it is entitled to a fair chance to show whether it can or can not be worthwhile as national policy. And Mr. Andrews is surely entitled to the co-operation for which he has asked unless he develops like so many other New Dealers to whom extraordinary power suddenly has been entrusted. From a quarter of a century of observation, I am inclined to the be lief that the great majority of busi ness concerns will “come clean” in their relations with the new federal office. Obviously, some will not, but the bulk will try to abide by the law as they understand it. So, I think it is not from the bulk of business interests that Mr. Andrews will get his load of trouble. There will be cheap skates who try to take ad vantage of any and every situation to gain an advantage on their com petitors. That will be one kind of trouble that can be traced home rather quickly. Then, there will be another kind of trouble that will not be so easily untangled. It will come from “reports” of alleged violations —some from the “watchmen,” some from the chiselers who will geek to cause trouble for or suspi cion of violation by, competitors. There will be some labor racketeers who will try to force union organiza tion by threats of “reports” of viola tions which reports obviously would be damaging even though they may not be true. All of these things are due to come, and it is under this test that we can best judge Mr. An drews as a public official. Doubts Value of ‘Watchmen* In Enforcement of Law As to the sources of information upon which the staff of the admin istrator may subsequently act, there is some reason for doubt. I men tioned some of them above. My doubt as to the value of a “watch man” in enforcement is based upon what we all saw during the early days of prohibition. “Stool pig eons,” they were called then. And stool pigeons operated everywhere; some were just plain busybodies, and others were fanatics. The re sult was that gradually a disrespect for law grew up, and this disre spect was blamable to a considera ble extent upon the fact the early provisions of the law encouraged “squealing” and “squealing” more times than not is used as a means of vengeance, of “getting even” with someone who is disliked. It has been many years since busi ness, generally, was said to have a policy of “the public be damned.” There can be no doubt that business conscience has changed immeasura bly since those days. It is apparent, for example, that two of the really great sins of employers, namely, op pression of labor and defrauding of labor, have largely passed out of ex istence. Competitors seem .to be watching each other in that regard and union labor officials have lent a hand. An employer no longer is re ceived among decent people once it is learned that he has cheated his workers of their wages. Now, Mr. Andrews says that one of the things he hopes to accomplish is to “clean out dark corners.” That is to say, to finish the job of helping industry get rid of that low level of humanity which, by virtue of its momentary power as an employer, oppresses labor or refuses to pay wages earned. Surely, the co-opera tion of employers and workers alike is required in this effort. Honest employers have much to gain by having the “dark corners” cleaned out and disinfected with a good grade of roach powder. But again, it is being pointed out in many con versations, the administrator must be on guard as to the‘sources of his information. Irreparable harm can come from missteps in filing charges of violation because of the trend in public consciousness towards gener al fairness—of which the wage and hour labor is an evidence. Job May Make Andrews Either a Hero or Villain Summed up, then, it seems to me that Mr. Andrews has a job in which he can turn out to be either a hero or a villain. A very great deal will depend upon the type of individuals with which he surrounds himself in administrative work. An illustration of what I am trying to say is to be found in the setup of the national labor relations board. I have watched that outfit through many of the cases it has handled and I simply can not believe it in tends to do otherwise than play the game of the C. I. O. and John L. Lewis as against the American Fed eration of Labor. Time after time, the A. F. of L. has charged discrimi nation and, to an outsider, most of the claims and protests seem to have been justified. The board’s staff is full of radicals and quacks and individuals whose government salaries are larger than they ever before drew in their lives. * The question of federal supervi sion of wages and hours takes the federal government quite closely into the lives of millions of workers, just as many other new activities of the government under President Roosevelt has done. One of these instances has just come to fruition and is worthy of reporting because it shows the fallacy of a national government interfering everywhere. This story relates to the effort of the farm security administration, (which was once the resettlement administration that was founded by the former Braintruster Rexford Tugwell) to reform the lives of some of the residents of the Appalachian mountains. These people were moved out to a model town to clear the Shenandoah National park. They were to have nicer homes and enjoy greater opportunities in life. The trek started three years ago. Bought Liquor Instead Of Paying Grocery Bill Only lately, however, it has come to public notice that the governmen tal agency in charge had evicted one of the families—moved them out on the sidewalk, so to speak. “Ida Valley,” the community’s name, was shocked. They were all “hiil billy” families, and they could not understand such treatment. Well, the crime the man commits ted was that he had used his WPA check to buy liquor instead of pay ing his grocery bill. He had been warned, of course. But the warn ings went unheeded, and finally, the government, like a private landlord, moved him and his family outside. Obviously, no person is going to condone the failure of this man to pay his debts. But there is some thing more to the incident. What I am wondering is why a government, anybody’s government, should at tempt to “make over” a person who does not want to be reformed in his living conditions. This family had lived, its ancestors had lived in the Appalachians for years. It had its habits, its traditions. It got along pretty well and from what I have seen in many trips through those mountains, they do not care much about the “more abundant life.” They want to be left alone, and I think that is a pretty sound philoso phy of life—just to be let alone as far as government is concerned and as long no harm is done. © Western Newspaper Union. Rug From Old Coat And Scraps of Felt By RUTH WYETH SPEARS 'T'HE directions for making the rug in my book—SEWING, for the Home Decorator, have brought many letters from read ers describing rugs that are new to me and very interestng. The reader who shares with us this idea for using pieces of heavy woolen and scraps of felt, tacked her rug to the side of the house and took a snapshot of it which she sent me. The finished rug is 34 by 23 inches. Half of it is shown here at the upper left. The foundation (1) is made of the back width of a very heavy old coat. An allow ance was made for a hem to add weight to the edge. The founda tion may be pieced if a large sec tion of heavy cloth is not avail able or felt purchased by the yard may be used for it. Next, circles of felt in two col ors, cut from old hats and dis carded school pennants, are sewn together with heavy black thread as at A. These are then sewn in place as at B beginning at the center of the foundation. The large circles in the three center rows are two inches in diameter. Those in the next two rows are 2% inches. All the small circles are one inch. You can make slipcovers, all types of curtains and many other things for the house with the help of Book 1—SEWING for the Home Decorator. v Just follow the pic tures. Step by step you learn to make the lovely things you have been wanting for your home. Book 2—Gifts, Novelties and Embroid ery—illustrates 90 stitches; also dozens of things you, can make in your spare time to use or to sell. Books are 25 cents each. If you order both books leaflet on crazy- patch quilts will be included free. Address: Mrs. Spears, 210 S. Des- plaines St., Chicago, 111. NERVOUS? Do you feel so nervous you want Are you cross and irritableT those dearest to you? If your nerves are on edge and you feel you need a, good general system tonic, try Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound, made especially for women. For over 60 years one woman has told an other how to go “smiling thru” with reliable Pinkham’s Compound. It helps nature build up more physical resistance and thus helps calm quivering nerves and lessen discomforts from annoying symptoms which often ac company female functional disorders. Why not give it a chance to help YOU? Over one million women have written in reporting wonderful benefits from Pinkham’s Compound. Obedient First He who obeys with modesty ap pears worthy of being some day a commander.—Cicero. - CONSTIPATED? Don’t Let fins, Nerve Pres sure Keep You Miserable. When you are constipated two thinas happen. FIRST: Accumulated wastes swell up the bowels and press on nerves in the diges tive tract. This nerve pressure causes head aches, a dull, lasy feeling, bilious spells, loss of appetite, and (Ussiness. SECOND: Partly digested food starts to decay forming GAS, bringing on sour stomach, acid indigestion, and heartburn, bloating you up until you sometimes gasp for breath. Then you can’t eat. You can’t Bleep. Your stomach is sour. You feel tired out, grouchy, and miserable. Adlerika gives you the DOUBLE ACTION you need. This efficient carminative cathartio relieves that awful GAS almost at once. It usually clears the bowels in less than two hours. No waiting for overnight relief. Sold at all drug stores Firm Teaching Experience teaches slowly, and at the cost of mistakes.—Froude. BLACKMAN / STOCK and POULTRY Medicines are Reliable • Blackman’s Medicated Lick* A-Brik • Blackman’s Stock Powder • Blackman’s Cow Tonic • Blackman's Hog Powder • Blackman’s Poultry Tablets • Blackman’s Poultry Powder Highest Quality—Lowest Price Satisfaction Guaranteed or your money back. BUY FROM YOUR DEALER , BLACKMAN STOCK MEDICINE C0t ^ Chattanooga, Tonn. •Your Town •Your Stores Our community includes the farm homes surrounding the town. The town stores are there for the accommodation and to serve the people of our farm homes. The merchants who advertise “specials” are merchants who are sure they can meet all competition in both quality and prices.