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THE NEWBERRY SUN, NEWBERRY. S. C. Egg Market ‘Rotten* S OMETHING is rotten in the egg market. And Elmer Thomas, the speculating senator from Okla homa, could tell a lot about it if he wished, though he probably won’t. Elmer Thomas (not to be con fused with Sen. Elbert Thomas of Utah, a pious Mormon ex-mission ary) is the man who was exposed In this column three years ago for simultaneously speculating in cot ton and using his influence in the senate to affect the price of cotton. At that time Thomas vigorously denied he was speculating, called this columnist a liar, said all the cotton he owned was on his back. But two years later when a Repub lican congress required the sec retary of agriculture to make pub lic the names of those speculating In cotton. Senator Thomas’s name was on the list. So also was the name of his wife, his secretary. Miss Beth Gage, and his bosom friend. Dyke Cullum. Furthermore, Thomas admitted in a public state ment that Cullum had handled his commodity trading for him. There is nothing illegal about a senator speculating on the com modity market—though his ethics •re something else again. How ever, it is almost unbelievable that a senator—especially the chairman of the senate agriculture committee —should use his prestige and high office to influence prices on the commodity market at the same time he is speculating. Ferguson Outbluffed Therefore, Sen. Homer Ferguson of Michigan, then chairman of a senate investigating sub-committee, was authorized to probe the opera tions of his colleague from Okla homa. But Senator Thomas did some quick investigating of his own —of Senator Ferguson. Following which he wrote Ferguson a letter in longhand, later published in this column, threatening to expose cer tain connections between the Fer guson family and the Chrysler motor company. Eighteen months have passed, and Senator Thomas is now np to his old tricks. Since the Democratic victory last No vember, he has been restored as chairman of the powerful agricnlture committee. But not even waiting for the election, the senator got back into the cotton market last September. Then, about two weeks ago. Sen ator Thomas let loose a significant public statement. He took a sud den, surprising interest in eggs, publicly complained about the price of eggs, and blasted the agriculture department’s egg-price-support pro gram. 10 Carloads of Eggs Now every housewife would like to see the price of eggs come down. But what every housewife does not have is 10 railroad carloads of eggs. And what very few people in the United States knew was that Thomas’s intimate friend. Dyke Cullum, had just purchased 10 freight carloads of egg futures. Therefore, he was vitally interested in the future price of eggs. And Dyke Cullum is the man who, Thomas admits, has handled a trading account for him. Thomas Swings Weight The senator from Oklahoma has been quite brazen in lending his name to Cullum’s attempt to in fluence the egg market. Not only was one letter written to the agri culture department with Thomas’s name signed to it regarding the department’s egg-price-support pro gram, but Thomas started an offi cial senate investigation of eggs. In doing so, Thomas wrote a let ter to Sen. Clinton Anderson of New Mexico, whom he placed in charge cf the investigation, asking that he call certain people as wit nesses. And in listing them he scrupulously avoided the name of W. D. Termohlen, agriculture de partment poultry chief, because Dyke Cullum had told him that Termohlen was not cooperative. Cullum had so heckled the poultry division with letters, phone calls and personal visits ' in which he claimed to repre sent the senate agriculture ' committee that Termohlen fi- i nally challenged him—bluntly | asked whether he was paid by the senate committee. *T’m one of those who don’t get paid,” Cullum retorted. “Do you work for the agriculture committee?” “I represent Senator Thomas per sonally,” Cullum declared. Cullum also wrote, both under bis own name and that of Senator Thomas, asking about and criti cizing the egg program. He did not at any time reveal, of course, that he had purchased 10 carloads of egg futures. Finally Ralph. Trigg, agriculture production and marketing chief, wrote back opposing Cull urn’s Meas. He then received an insult ing letter suggesting that Trigg didn’t understand eggs, and that perhaps a special assistant secre tary should be appointed to relieve Trtgg of his responsibilities. WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS ARMS BILL: Red Delegate Urges U.N. Accord; World Awaits Pound Cut Efiects; Walkouts Plague Major Industry (EDITOR’S NOTE: When opinions are expressed in these columns, they are those of Western Newspaper Union's news analysts and not necessarily of this newspaper.) Meddling Feared The 1.33 billion dollars arms-ald- bill had a stalwart supporter in Sen. Arthur Vandenberg (R., Mich.) who termed it a bargain-price peace insurance policy against Communist aggression. He said he feared that any "med dling” with the bill might impair its force and effect. RUSSIA: A 'Sweet' Note The Russian theme in Internation al accord was growing a little sweeter, if Andrei Y. Vishinsky, Soviet foreign minister could be taken at his word. WEARING a broad smile, Vish insky had urged United Nation members to cooperate. The gesture was made by the chief delegate as he arrived in New York by plane to attend the fourth United Nations general assembly sessions. Disdaining the usual brusque “no comment” for reporters, Vish insky was almost voluble. “The Soviet delegation,” he said, "is fully confident that the United Na tions is—as the head of the Soviet government, Stalin, said—a serious instrument for the maintenance of peace and international security.” Then he added: “There can be no doubt that the general assembly would be able to solve the impor tant problems before it providing the nations of the U.N. show a sin cere desire to cooperate with each other and in accordance with the principles of the U.N. charter. Other delegates, advised of this and remembering the almost in numerable Russian “vetoes” in matters where cooperation might have been most valuable, decided to await development at assembly sessions to see just how far the Russian affable manner would go. DEVALUATION: Wait and See To say that reaction to Britain’s devaluation of the pound sterling was mixed, would be an under statement. Instead, reaction ranged from hope to fear, from confusion to jubilant “I told you so’s” from all those who had held that devalua tion was the only answer to Brit ain’s current economic crisis. AND that was the chief rub—was the solution one that would solve just the current situation, or was it the entire answer? The bulk of the thinking on that angle was that it was not the long-range panacea, with most observers preferring to “wait and see” before committing themselves to any analysis of the devaluation effect. Meanwhile Canada had joined the parade of English-connected nations devaluating the pound. THE DEVALUATION move was a two-edged sword in the British dollar crisis, for just as it might result in increased buying of Brit ish goods by Americans because of lowered costs, it would mean, too, that the English would have to pay more for the items they bought at home. The pound value was cut from $4.03 to $3.07, an action which alarmed most im porters. While expressing fear the move would cost them a great deal of money, most traders said they “didn’t know a thing” yet and couldn’t speculate until they had some word from British manufac turers. SOME DEALERS and importers declared they would take a beating on the reduced values of their in ventory of British goods already bought and paid for at $4.03 to the pound. Fire Hazards Of course one can live in a fire- trap—but the question is: How long? The National Fire Protection as sociation, calling attention to Fire Prevention Week October 9-15, poses this question and points out that 11,000 people lost their lives in fires last year. More than twice Dry root is vulnerable. that number were seriously In jured. One-third of that number, the association reported, lived on farms. Reporting that a few structural hazards account for at least half of all farm fires, the NFPA urged farmers to take steps now to elimi nate such hazards. These steps were listed as: checking of wiring systems; wetting down of inflam mable roofs in dry weather; in specting heating plants and chim neys, and protection of main build ings with lightning rods. New Justice Judge Sherman Minton, of U. S. circuit court at Chicago, was named by President Tru man to succeed the late su preme court Justice Wiley B. Rutledge. WALKOUTS: Cars, Coal,. Steel American industry, fighting to re gain pre-war stability, was facing parlous times. John L. Lewis’ coal miners had left the pits. The United Automobile Workers union had handed the Ford Motor company what amounted to a strike notice, and now the steel industry was next. WITH these basic U.S. industries all down, production suspended, millions of workers out of jobs, the national industrial and economic picture appeared dim indeed. President Truman was coming in for some blame in the steel indus try dispute, with critics charging he had “fumbled the ball” in ef forts to prevent a strike. Four days before the deadline for start of the strike, federal con ciliator Cyrus Ching had reported no progress in negotiations. Neither side would budge on the key point in negotiations. The union contended that since it had agreed to forego its demands for a pay raise, the steelmakers should accept the presidential fact finding board’s recommendations for a company-financed welfare fund. While this seemed to satisfy steelworkers, it didn’t please the UAW. ON the other hand, the steel in dustry was buying newspaper space to claim that it was agreed at the outset that the presidential board’s findings would not be binding on either party, and that if a strike re sulted, the union would have to assume the responsibility. Steel leaders took the position, too, that the workers should con tribute to the pension-insurance plan costing 10 cents an hour for each man. BOMBERS: Gives Reds Pause The declaration came from a man whose qualifications entitle him to the rating of expert—Gen. Henry H. Arnold, wartime chief of U.S. air forces. The statement, made in a book, “Global Missions,” was that it isn’t armies or navies that Russia fears, but only far- reaching bomber strength. “Let’s put it this way,” the gen eral wrote. “Russia has no fear of an army, she thinks hers is just as good and bigger than any other in the world; she has no fear of a navy since she can’t see how it could be employed against her; but she does fear our long-range strategic air force which she can not as yet match, or as yet under stand. In the strategic air force, coupled with our atomic bomb, at this writing we hold the balance of power in the world.” “But,” he warned, “by tomorrow the picture may change.” Arnold minced no words in the dim view he takes of the Russians. “The Russians,” he says, “would have none of the American propo sal that the American air force be allowed to build B-29 bases in Siberia to attack Japan.” Similarly, he recalled that agreement for bases in Russian territory to be used for shuttle bombing of Ger many, was ended after a short time by Moscow. The air force, in the current squabble over armed-service pres tige as a result of the unfication bill, could take much solace and encouragement from General Ar nold’s statements. Vandenberg, chief Republican spokesman in the senate on foreign policy, declared that the arms-aid program might be regarded either as life insurance or fire insurance and said that in any case it is a bargain policy as far as peace is concerned. Referring to the North Atlantic de fense pact, he said that pact included a pledge to maintain forces that can resist armed attack. Too, he pointed out, European allies have weak nesses that the arms bill would help overcome. Vandenberg declared that it would be in “honorable keeping” with U.S. treaty obligations to adopt the arms bill. “I think it is definitely and specifically in the interests of our own national defense,” he went on. “I think it is a discouragement to war ... I think it is prime and vital peace insurance.” He argued that the plan to send American tanks, guns and planes to Europe falls squarely within the commitments of the North Atlantic pact which the senate ratified by a vote of 82 to 13. He denied sending arms abroad would mean the start of an arms race between the East and West. Vandenberg’s active support for the measure was expected to help it materially in winning final adoption in the senate, since many dissident Republicans would probably go along on the basis of Vandenberg’s admitted stature in the field of for eign policy and because of his pres tige in the senate. U.N. TOP MAN: Soviets Object Over Soviet protest. Brig. Gen. Carlos P. Romulu, anti-Communist campaigner from the Philippine islands, was elected president of the fourth United Nations general as sembly. Only the five nations of the Soviet bloc opposed his election. IGNORING the Soviet attitude, Romulu’s first act was an appeal that the delegates make this gather ing a real “peace assembly.” According to newsmen, Yugo slavia apparently voted against the Soviet bloc for the first time, in the secret ballot for president, but de clined to admit it publicly. The new president, acknowledg ing that many obstacles to peace still exist, said the danger of a new war had abated and that the delegates must press this advan tage. HE CALLED upon them to move forward boldly in the spirit of in ternational cooperation called for by the Mexican resolution approved unanimously in Paris last year. Romulu’s choice as chief of the assembly was seen as indicating friction in debate on issues as the Soviet bloc could be expected to fight the anti-Communist leader at every turn where opposition could be maintained. Top Russian dele gate Vishinsky had also spoken out for harmony, but on the basis of past performance by the Russians, his attitude was open to doubt. Anti-Red Karl Peyer, one of the most courageous oppositionists to de fy communism in the Hungar ian parliament. Is shown beam ing happily on his arrival in New York. RAILROADS: One Fireman The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen wouldn’t like it, but nevertheless, there would be only one fireman on diesel locomotives. The presidential emer gency board had ruled that a union demand for a second fireman on these locomotives was out of line, rejected the demand. THE BOARD said simply that there is no need for an extra fire man on diesel-powered locomotives now in use. MARSHALL PLAN FUNDS Money Helps Fight Disease in Europe Critics of the Marshall plan could find little fault with one phase of it, at least. For the record showed that through this means the United States was throwing the full weight of modem medical science into Europe’s battle against war-spawned disease and malnu trition. This was disclosed by EGA officials in Paris. countries and areas taking part in the European recovery program were being supplied with new lab oratory and hospital equipment. Penicillin and streptomycin, as well as radium and literally tons of other medicinal products had been put to work in Europe by dollars provided by the economic cooperation administration pro gram. TRADE BODY: Carson Okayed Despite some vigorous Republi can opposition, John J. Carson was confirmed by the senate as a mem ber of the federal trade commis sion. The Truman appointee was confirmed by a vote of 45 to 25. Carson’s economic views came under heaviest fire from the Repub licans, with many charging him with lack of sympathy for the American free enterprise system. Carson, 59, is a former newsman. FROM ONE QUEEN TO ANOTHER . . . Miss America 1948, Bebe Shoppe (left), places the crown on the head of the new queen. Miss America 1949, .Miss Arizona Jacque Mercer. Miss Mercer, pert little brunette from Arizona’s desert country, said her ambition is to be a “real dramatic actress.” She said she once ran her father’s tractor for 75 cents an hour to earn enough money to see a play. She already has been offered movie contracts but is undecided whether to accept. DIVORCE? WHO? US? . . . “We are not taking this marriage lightly. We have put everything into making it a success, and we are going to make it work.” That’s Wanda Hendrix speaking as she hit talk she and hubby Audie Murphy, America’s most decorated war hero, are contemplating divorce. Audie, co-starring with wife in “Sierra,” was equally emphatic. DIPLOMAT .. Robert D. Murphy, 54, Milwaukee, Wis., was nomi nated by President Truman as ambassador to Belgium, succeed ing Admiral Alan G. Kirk, now ambassador to Russia. Murphy served as Eisenhower’s political advisor in the Mediterranean. VANISHES . . . Missing since he was last seen cycling into the Soviet zone of Austria, Sidney Schwartz, former G.I. from Brook lyn, may have been interned by the Russians, who take a dim view of Americans who sneak be hind the “Iron Curtain.” CARRIES WEIGHT . . . Support ers of Mrs. Helen Mecum, grade teacher at Oglesby, HI., won first round from school board at tempting to discharge her be cause of her weight, she claims. She still holds job, but board presi dent and three members resigned. FROM THE WALLS OF CHINA . . . The first Chinese-American girl to be admitted to the ranks of the United States women marines tries on for size the cap of Maj. Louie N. Casey after she was sworn into the military organization. The miss of Chinese blood, Evangeline L. S. Lyau, who is 29 years old, took the oath of allegiance recently at a United States courthouse ceremony in Chicago. MARRIES FORTUNE HEIR . . . Esme O’Brien Sarnoff, former wife of Robert Sarnoff, recently married John Henry Hammond, Jr., descendent of the first Cor nelius Vanderbilt and heir to a large fortune. COCHINO SURVIVOR IN REUNION ... Commander Rafael C. Benitez, Groton, Conn., gathers his wife and children into his arma in a joyful reunion at the submarine base in Groton following arrival of submarine Tusk which brought survivors of submarine Cochino home. He was in command of the Cochino when she exploded and sank in Arctic waters recently. The youngsters are Peggy, IK, and Crissle, 3. Six of the crew of the rescue ship Tusk were swept overboard and drowned. PERPLEXITY . . . Lieut. Samuel Ingram examines document he denies peddling to congress. Docu ment concerned R-36 and was authored by Cedric Worth, navy clerk. It sought to discredit the army’s purchase of bomber. K««p Posted on Valuos By Reading the Ads For Little Fellows With Big Colds... Mother . . „ the best-known home remedy you can use to relieve dis tress of ms cold is warming, com forting Vicks VapoRub. If you rub It on at bedtime. It works even while the child sleeps! And often by morning the worst miseries or his cold are gone. Try It. 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