The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, October 07, 1949, Image 2
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.
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WNU-7
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