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THE NEWBERRY SUN, NEWBERRY. S. C. T HE HALT of America's new dope craze when manufactur er* withdrew benzedrine inhalers from the market was the culmina tion of a long publicity campaign by Drew Pearson. Working with Congressman George Grant of Montgomery, Ala., Pearson published a series of col umns and broadcasts beginning last February, which pointed to the manner in which prison inmates, dope addicts and even high-school children were tearing the benze drine-treated paper from the in halers and using it as a cheap dope. Simultaneously, Rep. Grant introduced a bill banning the in halers. Final result came when manu facturers stopped the sale of ben zedrine inhalers. Instead they will sell benzedrex, a new inhaler con taining a non-stimulating com. pound. Diplomats Worried One thing the Senate Investiga ting subcommittee is likely to avoid in its probe of Messrs. Vaughan and Maragon is the part they may have played in influenc ing the Truman doctrine for Greece. It seems inconceivable that an ex-Greek federal narcotics agent from Kansas City should have had anything to do with V.S. foreign relations. Yet it happens that members of the Greek embassy in Washington are now as Jittery as sunflow ers in a Kansas cyclone for fear their relations with John Maragon will be probed by the senate. Every administration has its hangers-on, who love to bask in the limelight of the White House. But no administration since Warren Harding’s day has had the benefit of such a weird and apparently influential character as General Vaughan's so-called “Greek ad viser,” John Maragon. Maragen’s Record District of Columbia’s police rec ords show that Maragon once pled guilty of transporting liquor (7/17/20), was three times arrested for disorderly conduct but never prosecuted, and once got into a brawl in the locker room of the Washington Senators where some of the ball players threatened to beat him up. Maragon also got into a fist fight with Don Watson, chief of the state department’s transportation section at the United Nations convention at San Francisco; was fired by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad; got into a street scuffle with Brig. Gen. Wm. L. Lee in Rome, Italy; was found to be distributing anti- Semitic literature at the Demo cratic convention in Philadelphia last year; and was questioned in the death of police detective Ar thur Scriviner in 1926, one of Wash ington’s most mysterious homocide cases. Maragon established an alibi and later married the girl whom Scriviner was scheduled to marry one day after his death. Yet, an top of all this, the amazing Maragon turned up at. the White House 30 minutes after President Roosevelt died to console President Truman, accompanied the Roosevelt fu neral train to Hyde Park; showed up at the Stalin-Church- 111 conference in Potsdam, was the proud possessor of a White House pass, flabbergasted the admirals b y accompanying Truman on the presidential destroyer during the Navy Day fleet review in New York, sat next to the President’s box with General Vaughan during the Army-Navy game, and even had a private compart ment on the special train that carried the President to the game. Maragon’s influence with his old friend, Harry Truman, has been on the wane since first exposed In this column two years ago. But his influence with Harry Vaughan appears just as strong as ever. When Maragon wants to see the presiden ’s military aide, he goes to the east wing of the White House, Truman Doctrine Maragon’s influence was near its zenith in the winter of 1947 when the famous Truman doctrine for aid to Greece was formulated. That the amazing Maragon di rectly inspired Greek policy is doubtful. That he and Vaughan in fluenced it indirectly is more than probable. The Truman doctrine for Greece, it will be recalled, was announced in March, 1947, shortly after Jim mie Byrnes retired as secretary of state. One of the things Gen. Vaughan constantly needled Tru man about was that Byrnes was too much his own boss, that people talked on the “Byrnes policy,” not the "Truman policy,” and that Truman should get more credit for directing foreign affairs. That doctrine, which has now cost us a billion dollars, was pre cipitated when the British notified u»they were pulling out of Greece. WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS Deep Freeze Gifts ‘Chill’ Demos; Senate Kills Welfare Setup Plan; Taft Is Target of AFL Vote Drive (EDITOR’S NOTE: When opinions nro expressed In these eolnmns, they are those of Western Newspaper Union’s news analysts and not necessarily of this newspaper.) DEEPFREEZE: Capitol 'Chilled' To paraphrase an old tune, it was “January in June” in Washington as the story of the gifts of the home freezer units unfolded and expanded. Finally, the sordid angles of the "5 per centers” op erations reached to the White House. WITNESSES before a group probing the extent and results of “influence” obtainable by the “5 per centers” testified that of several deep freeze units given away by the manufacturers, one went to Mrs. Harry Truman, wife of the President of the United States. Others who apparently re ceived a similar gift were Chief Justice Vinson of the U.S. supreme court, James K. Vardaman, Maj. Gen. Harry H. Vaughan, Mr. Tru man’s military aide. In fact. Gen eral Vaughan got two, so the wit ness said. • In connection with that develop ment, there was a question which it seemed should have been an swered long ago by the man most’ concerned. The man was Presi dent Truman. The question was: Why hasn’t the President declared that White House influence and prestige are not for sale, cannot be wheedled by favorite hangers- on, and cannot be swayed by any thing except the best interests of the people of the United States? ANY FAIR-MINDED citizen will concede that there is no reason to think the acceptance of the gifts mentioned involved any law viola tion. Even though the company which paid the bills for the home freezers is linked with the ubi quitous John Maragon and the in quiry into the activities of “5 per centers” the mere fact of receiv ing personal gifts does not consti tute legal offense. In any sense of the word, it seems to be an offense against propriety. It is further evidence of a downward trend in political mor als, a not too new development in these changing times. On the evi dence at hand thus far, the deep freeze affair is not important—it is merely symptomatic. ELECTIONS: Taft Is Target The American Federation of La bor, looking to the 1950 congres sional elections, set plans for rais ing a million dollar war chest with which to knock off candidates ob noxious to the organization. THE MILLION DOLLAR figure was the “minimum” officials said, with a voluntary contribution of $2 a head to be asked of the federa tion’s members for work in the 1950 campaign. It was no secret that Ohio’s Sen ator Taft was the main target of AFL efforts, with the second tar get being Senator Donnell (R., Mo.) who was described by AFL’s Wil liam Green as “more like Taft than anyone in the senate.” The per capita contribution, double that of the organization for the 1948 elections, will be split evenly with the state federations whose share is to be used in work ing at the precinct level. AFL’s election activity will have an important bearing on the future of the Republican party in the na tion. For irstance, if Taft should be knocked off in his race for re- election to the senate, it would mean that Dewey would remain as a top figure in the GOP hierarchy. On the other hand, if Taft should win and Dewey were defeated in a bid for his third term as New York’s governor, the party would be all Taft’s. SYRIA: New Cabinet The fighting, the blood-letting were over. Peace of a sort reigned in Syria after a lightning like army coup that overthrew and executed President Hossni Zayim. The army committee which took things into its own hands was replaced by a new coalition cabinet which was organized by Col. Sami Hennaui who headed the revolution. IT APPEARED that civilian rule would predominate, inasmuch as the new cabinet was composed mostly of civilians. The new gov ernment represented three politi cal parties and various independ ent groups that opposed both Zayim and the constitutional regime which fell last March. The premier is Hashim El Atas- sy, head of the national bloc and a former president of Syria. Slim Pickings It will be slim pickings for holdup men who go after Frank B. Tippins’ store in Miami. Twice within one month hold up men came and got a total of |513. Smartened up now, Tippins will no longer be a lure for robbers. WELFARE: No Cabinet Status The senate was having none of President Truman’s proposal for creation of a federal department of welfare with cabinet status. A coalition of Republicans and south ern Democrats dealt the project a pulverizing blow by a vote of 60 to 32. WITH a constitutional majority in either house able to veto any such plan, the senate action meant complete and final defeat of the plan to transform the federal secu rity agency, which handles the na tion’s education, health, and social security functions, into a depart ment of welfare. This proposal stemmed from the recommendations of the Hoover commission whch spent two years seeking ways and means to make government more efficient and eco nomical. OHIO’S Republican Senator Taft, denying the Republicans were re pudiating Hoover in opposing a plan they believed ran counter to the Hoover commission recommen dations, declared: “I believe very strongly that Mr. Hoover was misled.” This led Senator Lucas, Illinois, Democratic floor leader, to state that he was both “shocked and sur prised that the good Republican from Ohio would deal with Mr, Hoover in this manner.” 'THOUGHT LAW: Held too Broad \ The fallacy of attempting to deal with ideologies through laws has been highlighted by a Maryland circuit judge. The judge, Joseph Sherbow of Baltimore, ruled that the state cannot punish a person for what that person thinks. The opinion was given in a case involving a state law against peo ple who join or work with subver sive organizations. It was the first courts t: st of the new law that re quired loyalty oaths by public em ployees and candidates for office. “The supreme court,” Judge Sherbow said in Jiis opinion, "has made it clear that laws may punish acts and conduct which clearly, seriously and imminently threaten substantive evils. “They (the laws) may not in trude into the realm of ideas, re ligious and political beliefs, and opinions. The law deals with overt acts, not thoughts. It may punish for acting, but not for thinking.” The law which Judge Sherbow tossed out did not specifically ban the Communist party. Its preamble said communism is a dangerous, world-wide conspiracy that fits the definition of subversive activity. Anything that aims at the over throw of this government by force was deemed subversive. Justice Sherbow said the law was too general. Declaring it violated the first, fifth and 14th amend ments to the constitution, and Maryland’s declaration of rights, he added: “As stated by Justice Jackson (in a West Virginia case before the supreme court): “If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be ortho dox in politics, nationalism, relig ion or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.” TOO MUCH WHEAT? Problem of Form Price Support Mounting It might be an unpleasant task, but an inescapable one—the de mand for wheat was falling off. That was the conclusion of the National Industrial Conference Board. This organization reported that total domestic consumption for the year beginning July was expected to be lower than at any time since 1941. At the same time, wheat stocks in all storage positions on April 1 were greater than in any other April with the exception of 1942 and 1943. In addition, the 1948-49 wheat har vest may be the third largest in history. With the U.S. already hold ing more than a quarter of last year's wheat crop, farm price sup port was becoming a major nation al problem. BARKLEY: "Much Ado . . .* Although he had declared it was “much ado about nothing," the nation wasn’t dismissing Vice- President Barkley’s seeming ro mance with a pretty 37-year old widow so lightly. RECEIVING almost as much publicity as the Rita Hayworth— Aly Khan love story, Barldey’s at tentions to Mrs. Carlton S. Hadley, St. Louis, was second only to the “5 per center" probe as a topic of national speculation. The “Veep”—as Barkley likes to be called—didn’t seem too dis tressed by all the furore. He was smilingly posing with the widow for pictures; he had taken her to “meet the folks” in his home town of Paducah, Ky., and he had squired her to some baseball games and social affairs. WOULD HE and the widow get married? Most folks seemed to think so. And, if that were current opinion, it was touched off by the “Veep” himself. Newspaper read ers would remember that, crown ing a beauty queen at Culpepper, Virginia, Barkley had declared that one day he would crown a "queen” of his own. The fact that later, at Puducah, he referred to his granddaughter as being the “queen” to whom he referred, few people believed him. MacARTHUR: Problem for Truman No matter how the Truman ad ministration plays It, Gen. Douglas MacArthur is a tremendous public relations problem. THE GENERAL has twice de clined the invitation to appear be fore senate committees, the second refusal being in connection with a bid to come home and tell a probe group what he thinks about the Chinese situation. The general re plied that he thought he could do better staying in Japan. Of course. President Truman could order the general home, but if he did so, and MacArthur ac cepted the order, both the White House and the state department would be in a constant case of jitters over what the 69-year-oJd prima donna might say in speeches throughout the country. If the President chooses not to order the general home, then his critics will have fuel for added clamor that MacArthur is being isolated and persecuted. APPARENTLY, no one seems to know the procedure in the event MacArthur refused to come home if ordered. There seems to be a prevalent conviction that Mac Arthur can stay in Japan forever, if he so chooses. There are those who say for the general to make that decision would be a typical MacArthur gesture and that it would fit in superbly with his fine sense of th« dramatic. STALIN: Very "Courteous" The delayed report on how U. S. Ambassador Alan Kirk made out with Russia’s Joe Stalin in a talk in Moscow held nothing more im portant than Kirk’s report that the Soviet ruler was very "courteous and pleasant.” However, anyone who might have expected anything else was indulging in wishful think ing. SOME EXCITEMENT was stim ulated by Kirk’s refusal to com ment immediately upon his inter view with Stalin. He told reporters following the conference that he’d have something to say later. The ambassador, a retired ad miral and former envoy to Bel gium, held the first meeting with Stalin that any American official has had in nearly a year. He de scribed his visit to Stalin as a “courtesy call.” In for Year Seeking to win a bet of $1,000 against $25,000, Don Haynes, Ashland, Ore., is to spend a year in this deluxe cam He made the bet with rancher D. M. Mauldin, a neighbor. The year will be up next February. Haynes holds a girl’s picture he found in the read and she was to be given a new car if she identifies herself. SAILORS: Pockets, Mac! The navy has relented at last. Harkening to a complaint stem ming from 1797, the seagoing branch of Uncle Sam’s forces has promised sailors they’ll have pock ets in their pants—but not until June, 1952. But, having waited this long, sailors could wait two more years. And that wasn’t all. Prom ised, too, was elimination of the 13-button front on sailors’ trousers, to be replaced with a zipper. ONE THAT GOT A “WEIGH” . . . This blue marlin weighs 370 pounds and is believed to be the largest fish ever landed in Bermuda on rod and reel. It was caught by Durham Stephens (left) of Bermuda who, with his guide, Roy Taylor, displays it. The huge fish measures 11 feet and four Inches and was brought to gaff after a fierce two-hour battle. It was caught off St. David’s Deep, Bermuda. DOWNCAST . . . Gun-shy Mickey Cohen, Los Angeles gambler (right), emerges from self exile at his barricaded command post to take stand at the Inquest into the “rubout” of “Neddie” Herbert, his chief lieuten ant. Cohen was one of the victims of the ambuscade from which Her bert was felled by gunfire, but the gambler’s wounds were not serious. With Cohen is his henchman, Johnny Stompanato. Passersby did not recognise Cohen. Several Los Angeles policemen were arrested in con nection with the Cohen shooting. GREETINGS . . . Admiral Louis E. Denfeid, chief of U. S. naval opera tions and spokesman for three U. S. chiefs of staff who visited Europe to discuss Atlantic pact military organization, is greeted at Northboit airport, England, by RAF Marshal Lord Tedder (left), chief of the air staff after the London conferences. Denfeid told newsmen all that was sought at the conferences was an exchange of views, and he said the talks were highly satisfactory. LOOKING FOR PASSES . . . Many girls are indignant at "passes” from soldiers, but these two girls ask most every GI they meet for his pass, or permission to be away from post. Happily wearing their M. P. brassards, Sgt. Beulah Jackie Coates (left) and Pvt. Marjorie Shspherd are among the first seven members of the WAC to become military poUce. Pvt. Shepherd of Seattle is stationed in New York with Sgt. Coates of New York. AT HOME ABROAD . . . Content ed and secure are these two stubbed-tail monkeys and a black gibbon in the jungle of seaman letzen Elslnga’s hair and beard. They are arriving in New York from Java. SHE WAS ROBBED . . . The Begum Aga Khan, wife of the Moslem prince, smiles a few days before armed bandits forced the royal couple’s car to the roadside near Cannes, France and robbed them of $600,000 in jewels. Police officers suspected American criminals. ATOMIC COCKTAIL ... 1. 8. Randall drinks radioactive mix ture at Bronx, N. Y., hospital. He said one cocktail of the radio active iodine per month changed him from a stretcher case (can cer) to a useful member of so ciety. GOOD DEBTOR . . . World bank president Eugene R. Black an nounces at Washington, D. C., press conference that the bank has approved loan to Finland. CONCEDES BEDS’ VICTORY C. S. ambassador-at-large Phillip Jessup says “U. S. Relations with China,” state department white paper, concedes that China is lost to the Communists. Chinese ra tionalist officials denied this. House Dress Cut On Princess Lines 181 344* Princess Lines H NEAT-as-a-pin house “ cut on slim princess lines, i easy to sew and trimmed with bright ric rac. J the side closing, the shaped ets. Pattern No. 1891 is a sew-rite ] ed pattern for sizes 34, 36, 38. 46. and 48. 5ize 36. 4% yards i The Fall and Winter a wealth of sewing ideas for desi FASHION makers. Special designs, i free pattern printed inside cents. fab SEWING CIRCLE PATTERN 680 South Wells SL Chicago 7. Enclose 29 cents In coins for pattern desired. Pattern No. Stas «■ ■■ Name - - Address — FIRST AID to AILING by Roger C. WfaitBM QUESTION: Our houseke rooms are sandwiched bet unheated, uninsulated attic i unheated, poorly vent damp basement. Cos rooms are damp and we won’t adhere to the plaster Painting them poses this pr After the warm, dry summer i son is over, the painted ce and walls flake profusely. Becau 1 must paint every year, I has gone down the paint scale—£ semi-gloss finish to the types of paint. But 1 find the pense ol doing four rooms exor tan; these past two years. Can ; suggest an even cheaper wall < ering? ANSWER: Instead of putting i the money into paint, why not do something to dry up the dam; basement and insulate the attic roof? This would cost more money than paint, but it would definitely make a big improvement and you would have healthier living con ditions than what you have nov in those damp rooms. 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