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9S*< D*EW Foundation of America 1 WENT UP to the litUe Pennsyl vania town where I spent most of my boyhood, to help dedicate the beginning of a new town hall a few weeks ago. It brought back a lot of memories. It also set me think ing about what forms the real foun dation of government in this coun try—namely, the small towns of America. Swarthmore boasted about 2,000 people when I grew up there, and it still isn't much bigger now. The houses are of that early peniten tiary, mansard-roof type; solid, a little ugly, but both the hearth stones and the hearts of the people inside are warm. A few things about my town have changed in the 30-odd years since I moved away—but not many. There’s a new movie house—un heard of in my day. And an under pass has replaced the old railroad grade crossing where watchman Mike McCarthy, friend of every kid in town, used to fret and fume un til school was out and all the chil dren had been herded across the tracks. < Some swank new homes have been built in the cow pastures and woods where I once trapped skunks; but Frank Gettz now the town tax assessor, greeted me with the observation: “The skunk-catch- ling isn’t so good up here any more, but I see you're still catching them down in Washington.’’ Pearson’s Police Record Biggest change in Swarthmore, however, is going to be the new town hall, for which—with proper ceremonies—we broke ground. The old town hall, a gaunt, ungainly eye sore, caught fire last year, which reminded me that maybe the police records had burned with it, thereby removing from the clutches of my senatorial well-wishers the criminal evidence t£ey have been so diligent ly trying to find. A certain senator has been eager ly digging into my past of late, and last week an attorney close to the McCarthyites stood up in court and indicated by his cross examination of me that they were even trying to track down an incident in Reids- ville, N. C., where, after taking down a Chautauqua tent, I was ar- i]rested- at 3 a.m., for taking a sponge bath in the murky Southern railroad yards. This is a story which I tell every time I go to North Carolina, the last time haring been to the North Carolina press association in Chap el Hill about a year ago. 1 also get humorous letters from Judge Ira Humphries who presided over the court, and Rev. William A. Lam beth, then Methodist minister in Reidsville, reminding me of my wicked past Grist for Sen. McCarthy Presiding at the town hall cere monies in Swarthmore was William H. Ward, -now a top executive of the Du Pont company, who, like me, worked his way through college by spending his summers on a Chautauqua tent crew. And I couldn’t help but remember how Bill Ward and Gibson Bradfield, now Barnesville, Ohio’s, leading banker, once took advantage of the liquid coolness' Of the fountain in the public square at Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, to remove the all- night grime of taking down a tent. I hope Senator McCarthy doesn’t go after them, too! At any rate, I was acquitted in Reidsville, N. C., and there was even a little lecture by the judge , to the arresting cop that it was the duty of every citizen to keep clean. What Senator McCarthy doesn’t know, however, is that the burned records in the old town hall at Swarthmore would have showed that I was also arrested on an entire ly different charge at an 'earlier age (about 15) and that time found guilty. It was. after a college football game. Swarthmore had beaten its old rival, Haverford. The two Quaker colleges were supposed to practice brotherly love, but didn’t. Afterward, I rang the village fire bell and got caught. Fine: $5. Backbone of America ffl Well, all these memories and a lot of others came crowding back at that dedication eeremony. And among them was the realization that our small towns are the back bone of America, and that if we ever lose our small-town independ ence, and the community spirit that goes with it, then we might really be in danger of going the way of Russia. * The tendency of our modern, streamlined nation is to concentrate too much power in Washington. Most people blamo Washington for this, though actually part of the blame belongs at home. For, when some towns can’t or do not raise enough taxes to build new school- houses or pay their teachers, then they come to Washington for fed eral aid to education. And when states want new roads, they are eager beavers in tapping the pub lic-roads subsidy in Washington. So Washington can’t be blamed for exercising that power. WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS- Government Issues Stopgap Order Freezing All Wages and Prices; AEG Conducts Atomic Experiments (EDITOR'S NOTE: When •pinion* nr* expressed In the** column*, they are those ef Western Newspaper Union’* new* analysts and net necessarily ef this newspaper.) 38TH PARALLEL v SEOUL Japan —Sea— HOI -suwe^r ONJU OSAN« YON$WOL— vO ■YeMow- WAEGWAN v 'SOUTH KOREA PU! The mystery of the vanishing Chinese armies who failed to tajee advantage ef their breakthrough Into South Korea remained unsolved as U.N. forces advanced toward the 38th parallel. The advance was not an all-ont push, but a probing action by U.N. forces in an effort to locate the enemy. WAGES-PRICES: ( \ A Stopgap Order A stopgap order freezing wages and prices was issued by the gov ernment. Although unsatisfactory as far as the average consumer was concerned, the measure at least was a stab toward stopping the wage-price spiral that had swept across the nation in the last few months. The main effect of the order was that it brought to a standstill hun dreds of collective-bargaining ne gotiations in Industry. Prices on a number of goods and services were frozen, but there were also a num- ber^of exemptions, the most im portant one being the price of food. According to administration spokesmen the price freeze would be replaced as fast as possible by specific ceiling prices, industry by industry. Such a procedure could go on forever. The wage freeze would be wiped out as soon as a flexible wage policy could be compiled, it was 'announced. This “flexible policy” was considered necessary to per mit lagging wages in some indus tries to come up to a certain stand ard. The price order was complex and confusing, especially with respect to farm products and food. First of all, there was no freeze of any food prices at the farm level. • But on the processing, whole sale, and retail levels, food prices were frozen if the farm prices of those foods were above parity. Thus, beef, veal, pork and lamb prices were frozen. (Parity is a sliding scale designed to keep farm prices at a fixed re lation to the farmer’s costs. The law prohibits price ceilings below parity.) Most farm products at the time of the wage-price freeze were be low parity. Poultry and eggs were examples. If and when the farm er’s prict went up on those things, the wholesaler and retailer could -not raise prices to increase their margins. The increase, however, would be automatically passed along all the way to the consumer. Other things exempt from price controls includ.d communication and publication fields—like news papers, books, magazines, radio, television and theater admission. AEG Tests HI Controls ... a* MMi mit Price administrator Michael V. DiSalle (right) looks on as Attorney General J. Howard McGrath administers the oath of office to 13 officials who head regional and district offices of the economic stabilization organization. These men will direct the price-wage freeze laws. im mJm n Captain Carroll Tyler, man ager of the AEC Santa Fe op erations office at Los Alamos, N.M., announced test detona tions at the atomic testing range near Las Vegas. Tyler gave no details of the tests. His announcement was a warn ing to residents of the area that such tests were scheduled. A-BOMB: Tests Rock Las Vegas While most of the world waitei with apprehension at/the result ana announcements of the first atomic explosion in this country in a num ber of years, residents of Las Vegas, Nevada, 40 miles from the atomic testing range, were irked about the whole business. The atomic energy commission shrouded its experiments in silence. It was known, however, that three explosions took place. Las Vegas witnesses reported a tremendous white flash in the sky, closely fol lowed by another flash, orange in color and not as bright. Las Vegas residents reported windows shook, houses trembled and burglar alarms in business es tablishments were set off. The last explosion was felt and seen in Boulder City, about 65 miles from the test range. EUROPE: Time for Co-operation In the last few weeks, especial ly since General Eisenhower made his tour of Europe, there seems to have developed a feeling of mutual co-operation between the United States and our allies. The reluctance to arm and speed up production that was evident only a few months ago disappeared. Britain has launched a production speed-up and rearmament program. And now France has announced plans to take her place beside the U.S. and Britain. To further this co-operation, French Premier Rene Pleven ar rived in Washington for conferences with President Truman. After a series of meetings it was announced Pleven and Truman were in agree ment as to policy in the far east, especially in Korea and Indochina. Most observers agreed the talks would open the way for greater co-operation among the western nations in the defense of Europe, with much greater participation on the part of France. CASUALTY LISTS Nation's Traffic Deaths Top 966,000 Military deaths in all American wars, including Korea, reached a total of 994,000 near the end of Jan uary. And it appears likely, should the Korean conflict continue for several more months, that the total could climb well over the 1,000,000 mark. Americans in every walk of life, from the big cities to the home towns of the nation, shuddered at the thought. But right on the home front there is another casualty list just as startling. At the end of Jan uary the 50-year toll of traffic deaths in this country topped 966,- 000, or 28,000 fewer than the aggre gate of all war deaths up to the present time. In addition, between 29,500,000 and 30,000,000 have been injured since 1900 KOREA: Mystery Unsolved The mystery of what happened to the Chinese armies that pushed United Nations forces south of the 38th parallel and seriously threat ened to cut them off from Pusan remained unsolved. An unexpected lull swept ever the Korean battle front as Chinese pressure ceased. Then probing at tacks northward by U.N. forces failed to i^ake contact with the main armies of the enemy. Latest reports told of continued movement of U.N. troops northward and only minor resistance. The situation raised a number of questions and possibilities. For one thing, it raised the question of whether or not the Communist armies had bean hurt to the ex tent they were unable to continue a strong attack. „ The possibility seemed unlikely in view of the numbers of men available to the Communists. There were also rumors to the effect the Communists had suffered severely from cold and disease. There were other reports that the Chinese would not fight below the 38th parallel. The mystery was still unsolved after two weeks of minor fighting. 4he battlefield hill also relieved the tension on the political front. The urgency of branding China the aggressor in Korea was lessened. POLITICS: Republican Policy The drums of politics, which'will grow louder in the next few months, were sounded by Sen. Robert Taft of Ohio when he called on Republi cans to meet head on any Truman “truckling” to Communist sympath izers or any appeasement of Russia. Taft made it plain that he thought the Republicans could defeat the Democrats in the next presidential election on the issue of foreign pol icy. Whether or not the campaign shapes up along these lines depends greatly on events in the next few months. On the surface it appears that Senator Taft may face some opposition along this line from with in his own party. Senator Taft's influence with Re publicans . is tremendous, however. He heads the senate G.O.P. policy committee and has been called the leading Republican contender for the v 1952 presidential nomination. In his own words, this seems to be the core of Taft’s policy: “We must meet head on any truckling to Communist sympathizers, any appeasement of Russia which la likely to lead to more aggression, and any waste of our resources with the idea that we can buy the support of nations.** DRAFT: Bitter Controversy The all-powerful house armed- services committee stepped into the bitter controversy over draft ing 18-year-olds for armed service duty with an order to the defense department to consider raising the top draft age from 26 to 30 as an alternative. The move virtually put a stop to the department’s plan of drafting 18-year-olds. Congress may still act on the measure, however, which the defense department reports would provide between 350,000 and 450,000 men during the first year. Also in the draft news was the announcement by the defense de partment that non-veterans 19 through 25 who have married since the Korean war began Jun^ 25, 1950, should be drafted. Only single non-veterans now are being taken. Plans also were underway to lower the draft standards. This move would provide perhaps 150,- 000 men now barred for physical and mental reasons. ECONOMISTS: Urge Stiffer Taxes Four hundred economists, mem bers of 30 institutions throughout the country, recently urged the gov ernment to increase taxes and tighten controls. , Their views were interesting in that they all believed that emer gency fiscal and credit policies, rather than price-wage controls, constitute our primary defense against inflation. They recommended: V Scrutinize carefully all gov ernment expenditures and postpone or eliminate those that are not ur gent and essential. 2. Raise tax revenues even fast er than defense spending grows, so as to achieve and maintain a cash surplus. Merely to balance the budget is not enough. 3. Restrict the amount of credit available to businesses and indirid- n uals for purposes not essential to the defense program. The recommendation to achieve a cash surplus would require a tax increase of more than $16,000,000,- 000, the minimum required to bal ance the new budget. BRITAIN: One Bite a Day While the housewives of this country were grumbling about high prices and hoping price controls would help the situation, British housewives were protesting a dras tic new cut in that nation’s fresh meat ration. It was the third cut in three months and this time amounted to 20 per cent. It shriveled the ration for each person in Britain to about a bite a day. SIFII RTMENT CATS, PETS, ETC enepherds, PeklageM, Fo® Terrier. Cockers. COLLIES ler, Cocsers. . .. . Pete Mdjer. Wedley. AUke COL old re| tered N. C. ^•»fes Fer 8el*. One ^ '• ' FARM MAC USED Portable SET A EQUIP. rat SsaS ham, Alahaa S inches. Ope: 750# t HELP m -MEN, WOMEN 1 LAST VOYAGE i. . . Her flight decks charred and buckled, the 10,000 ton carrier Independence starts her last voyage beneath the Golden Gate bridge, San Francisco, headed for a rendezvous with death. Veteran of World War n and victim of two atomic bombing tests, the gallant vessel will be towed out to sea and sunk by the Navy. The ship was deemed of no value as scrap because of the radioactivity which still clings to her warped plates. Wm mm Mi iin MIDDLECOFF WINS ... Dr. Cary Middlecoff, Memphis den tist, approaches the 18th hole to win Long Beach, Calif., Lake- wood Park open golf champion ship with a 72-hole mark of 271, 13 under par. The win was worth $2,000 to Cary. MAN •» went** Interested In branch soen- agement future, will jig to learn and not afraid of direct telling. can earnJC- monthly while a 3 to 4 xnont • ‘ 'kt >rognim. Write ’ackeoavtlle. INSTRUC IN Learn Diesel ; ■ previous exp. needed. W* Ditwl Tralninc Inc., PROt — epportu- ve ter ana * erans. No lor Info. Reward, salad. Me. LIVESTOCK 40 HEAD ehelee Helatatai be en In January and Februa Holstein cowa. We ship on or< Canning, M arisen, mint to fresb- Several r. J. *• MISCELLANEOUS r-TASTE-TREATr IS. Set “Oet-Acc JLT REAL ESTATE—MlSC. BIO Berne Lets and Business town. Churches, school, stores. Only 5 miles of Orlando. Owner, A. Hay, Lockhart, Florida. SEEDS, PLANTS, ETC. Plant CERl SD Strawberry a rings *:/ STI NEW GUN AIDS AIRMEN . . . The survival gun, which breaks down to 14-ln. Is part of the sur vival kit of the strategic air com mand. The folding rifle fires a small .22 cartridge and will be handy for downed airmen to stalk game. nor. n $2 00 = 300 1 .gssr AZALEAS: * e at-humua. Sixteen var hundred, postpaid : $45 the lect. W. E, MsLesd, R#4, Orlande, Planning for the Future? Buy U.S. Savings Bonds! SEE NO RATIONING IN NEAR FUTURE . . . Defense Mobil!zer Charles E. Wilson, (left) confers with Sen. John Sparkman (center), Alabama, chairman of the senate small business committee, and William Henry Harrison, chairman of the national production authority, just before Wilson testified before the senate group. He said he does not expect rationing to be ordered “in the near future.’’ He said the present price freeze Is temporary, to be amended later. wiM-M with FAST t-oftor action of PENETRO NOSE DROPS i • WANTS WOMEN FOR WAF . , . Col. Geraldine May, director of the WAF, stresses the need of more women In the air forces. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr college and the University of California and is the air forces’ highest ranking woman officer. . N •im SORETONE Liniment’* Meeting Red Action Gives Quick Relief! WmfWmM , . : : •;* like glowing wsnath from s suract fresh surfaos Mood to be yours or sin SI .00. * for Athlete’s Fool MBs si I ■ Mm mm mm r 3*5 , g§ l l - i CHILD ACROBAT . . . Reggie Rosales, 18-months-old, with a talent for acrobattcs. Is the star entertainer in his parents' small restaurant In San Francisco. Reggie chins himself on a water pipe, polls himself on counter stools and dances torrid Latin American rhythms to the delight of customers here. Here he indulges himself In a few acrobatics In the kitchen of the restaurant while his mother’s hands wait to eatoh him if he falls. DROPS TROOP VSZ DEMAND . . . Sen. Kenneth S. Wherry, Nebraska, accepted a counter^ proposal to refer the issue of the President’s sending troops to Europe to the senate foreign re lations committee. Other Repub licans concurred. fast, long-lasting roUef but helps ebsek tho irritation and break q Buy Mustarolof MUSTEROLE WNU—7 07—51 : INF ST kUllU NEHRU MEETS RED ENVOY IN PARIS . . . Homeward-bound from the conference of commonwealth ministers in London, India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (right) chats with Soviet Russia’s ambassador to France, Alexis P. Pavlovx, in Paris, France. 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