Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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■'.V ‘ i « • •' ■ SWBSMf, - r f ' 11 P 4 ' 8k i©:» L> . IS-. Pi'. PAGE FOUR THE NEWBERRY SUN FRIDAY DECEMBER |6, 1952 1218 College Street NEWBERRY. S. C. PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY By ARMFIELD BROTHERS Entered as second-class matter December 6. 1937, at the Postolfice at Newberry, South Carolina, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In S. C., $1.50 per year in advance outside S. C., $2.00 per year in advance. COMMENTS ON MEN AND THINGS By SPECTATOR The law can seem inconsistent at times. I have read in the papers of State Senators and Representatives taking the oath of office in their home counties.. The Constitution of the State says: “The terms of office of the Senators and Representatives chosen at a General Election shall begin on the Monday following such election.” But the term be gins for what purpose? All the Delegation intervention in County affairs is unconstitutional, if the Constitution means anything. “The legislative, executive and judicial powers of the Government shall be forever separate and distinct from each other, and no person or persons exercising the func tions of one of said departments shall assume or discharge the duties of any other.” That is clear enough and no de cision of any court is needed to clarify it. Language can be twisted by devious interpretations, but this provision is perfectly clear. What shall the Delegation do? Well, here is a possibil ity: since each House may “judge of the election returns and qualifications of its own members,” it is legally possible for either the House or the Senate to refuse to seat some one presenting proof of election. In time of great partisan strain that has been done, particularly in Congress. Although I know that our State Constitution abounds in contradictions I cannot share the enthusiasm of those who advocate a new Constitution. Why a new constitution ? Every County Supply Bill, year after year, contains provis ions repugnant to the Constitutton: every year we see the Constitution disregarded otherwise; so wherein would be the virtue of a new Constitution? If we so easily disregard plain provisions of the Constitution we have, why do we imagine a new Constitution would fare better? If, indeed, we should adopt a Constitution which would command re spect and strict observance it would likely be an instrument unworthy the designation “Constitution.” If we reserve to ourselves the right to pick and choose; to respect or disre gard the Constitution, as we do today, of what avail would any Constitution be? It is we ourselves who must change first, or no new document will command respect. - “Can private enterprise take care of the needs of this country in every particular—including the very biggest and most costly jobs? A typical affirmative answer is offered by the nation’s business managed electric companies—and their answer is the more impressive because of the constant political at tacks that have been made upon them, and the ruthless drive to socialize them. In Six years—1946-195L—they spent $10,000,000,000 on new construction and increased their generating capacity by 50 per cent. By the end of 1954, they will spend an additional $8,000,- 000,000 on new facilities—and chalk up another huge in crease in capacity. By 1960, according to present plans, their capacity will actually be three times as great as it was at the end of World War H. This was and will be done with private money—as con trasted with the huge tax subsidies that pay for socialized power systems. And every time some electric company builds a new generating station or transmission line or anything else, new sources of taxation are created for Fed eral, state and local government—as contrasted with the fact that all the socialized projects are wholly or largely tax free. So—can private enterprise do the job? There’s only one answer—an unqualified Yes!” Charles E. Wilson, former president of the General Electric Company advocates the sale of all Federal power plants to private investors. Mr. Wilson says that such a sale would pay off one tenth of the National debt, bring in a billion dollars in taxes and save the Government a half bil lion dollars it now pays in interest on those projects. To my mind as an American the idea of preferred cus tomers of Government power is repugnant. Equality is the ancient maxim and we should all stand on the same plane. . We have laws which forbid preference in prices, special rebates, and a lot of other things. Now those laws forbid private companies to do these things even with their own money, but now our Government has itself declared that a lot of us (I am among them) are entitled to special service from Government power plants, built with taxpayers’ money. If the Government wants to do something really help ful (although entirely wrong, of course) let it sell us food and clothing at special prices. “The farmer and his family may become less ready buy ers of autos, trucks, farm machinery and the many other things which make rural life easier and more pleasant. (EtprtHtnmB 1952 |. Christians again honor the Nativity of Christ. This Christmas, let everyone at tend church to pray and give thanks for the Prince of Peace — whose birth brought new hope and understanding to the world. / . As Americans, let us ever be mindful of our great privilege to worship God, without fear. Let us pray for those less fortunate who are not so endowed. Through Christ’s teachings, let us strive to be better men and to be charitable to all. Let us pray for the sick and those weighed with grief—for our brave men and women in our armed forces—for the unbelievers, that they might see the Light and join the fellowship of man. Let us pray for divine guidance to our. country’s newly chosen leaders that they may govern with wisdom, foresight and courage and promote unity and peace among all nations. • » • ######•##••# + ••## Farm purchasing power is trending downward, with some small farmers having difficulty making ends meet, say bankers who act as financial advisers to the nation’s agri culturists. Wheat in Kansas City, for example, is bringing $2.42 cents a bushel, a dime less than a year ago. Cotton is worth about 34 cents a pound at Memphis, compared with 43 cents a year ago. Hogs at- Chicago are bringing the farmer $17 a hundred pounds against $18.50 a year ago. And overall, prices received by farmers for their pro ducts during November were down 8% from a year ago, according to the Agriculture Department. Meanwhile, prices they paid slipped only 1%. ‘Farmers in our area are netting about 8% to 10% less than they did last year,’ says Luther C. Taylor, executive vice president of the Rockville National Bank in Rockville, Ind. ‘Our farmers don’t haye any net this year. There won’t be enough income to pay costs for the crop,’ declares J. E. Smith, vice president of First National Bank in Childress, Tex., in a region where the cotton crop was 30% of normal. ‘Cattle feeders are really taking a rap,” adds Clemn A. Sherman, executive vice president of First National Bank in Fairfield, La. The huge purchases made by farmers in recent years are, of course, another reason why they may be less inclined to spend money. For example, the Agriculture Department reports that in the five years 1947-1951 the farmers spent an average of about $1,378 million on motor vehicles, compared with $376 million in 1939. They also spent for the five years 1947- 1951 on other machinery and equipment an average of $1,- 643 million. That compared with $318 million in 1939. The conventioning bankers emphasized that the overall farm financial situation isn’t serious by any means, except in a few hard hit drought areas. Although the trend toward lower purchasing power is well defined, most farmers still are prosperous by historical yardsticks , and in some areas are doing better than ever before—in the Florida orange region, for example. ‘The good farmer in our area is making money all right— he’s just finding he has to work a little harder,’ says E. A. Ebersole, vice president and cashier of State Central Savings Bank in Keokuk, la. William Stern, president of Dakota Na tional Bank in Fargo, N. D., allows, facetiously, that any prosperity decline in his area means the agriculturist with three autos is thinking of getting by with two. Department of Agriculture figures indicate that farmers will reap a hugh dollar harvest this year, even though the amount they have left over for spending is shrinking.Farm gross receipts are expected to hit $33.5 billion, up 3 % from last year# In pre-war 1939 they totaled only $7.8 billion. Studies by the Agriculture Department nonetheless show a purchasing power decline. ‘Farmers’ purchasing power is not only less than it was in 1951, but lower than in any of the previous ten years, except 1950,’ says one Department spokesman. Bankers here noted a big increase in farmers' costs for interest during the past year—up 11%, This, they say, indicates the extent to Which farmers have had to borrow as their purchasing power has declined. ‘Our farm loan volume is up 15% over last year,’ says Clark Weckbach, president of First National Bank in Ord, Neb. ‘Farmers in our neighborhood are hit hard by the slump in cattle prices.* M. G. Addicks, president of Citizens State Bank in Don- nellson, la. reports farm loan volume is up 20% while the Bank of Elkin, N. C. finds volume up 10%. Garland Johnson, president of the Elkin bank, says: Farmers are coming into our bank and asking for exten sions on their loans, too.’ A. J. Sather, who is a director of the Union Bank of Blair in Blair, Wis., reports that dairy farmers are borrow ing so heavily^ on their cream checks due from creameries that some don’t have much left when payments are made. He tells of one farmer with $1,200 due who had borrowed F ARM and cooperative leader* over the nation generally ex pressed approved of the selection by General Eisenhower of Ezra Taft Benson of Salt Lake City to be secretary of agriculture. A native' of Idaho, Benson has been closely identified with agri cultural marketing, including co operative marketing, for a num ber of years. A former extension l economist and marketing special ist for the University of Idaho, he also has served as secretary of the Idaho Cooperative Council. He was elected executive secretary of the National Council of Farmer Cooperrtives in 1939, and served in that capacity until he resigned in 1943 when he was named a mem ber of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints. He cur rently is chairman of the board of trustees of the American Institute of Cooperation. In a statement issued immediate ly following announcement of Ben son’s selection, D. W. Brooks, pres ident of the National Council, de clared the appointment "is to be commended by all of agriculture, including farmer cooperatives.” He added: "Mr. Benson has a sound agricultural background and training. A man of wide vision and thorough understanding of and ex perience with the problems of farm ers, he is willing at all times to face up to the day-to-day develop ments which confront American pgriculture.” At Chicago, Allan B. Kline, presi dent of the American Farm Bureau Federation, termed Benson's selec tion "a top-notch appointment.” He said: "Mr Benson has an excel lent background in agricultural eco nomics, in farm marketing, and in actual farming, coupled with ad ministrative ability of a high order ... I have every confidence that Mr. Benson will prove thoroughly capable of the exceedingly impor tant position of Secretary of Agri culture.” In a telegram of congratulations to Mr. Benson, Herschel D. New som, master of the National Grange, said: "President-elect Eis enhower is to be commended in his choice of a man of your caliber, integrity, capabilities, interests, and experience for the post of Sec retary of Agriculture.” Charles W. Holman, secretary of the National Milk Producers Fed eration said: "Mr. Benson’s train ing and experience fit him to as sume the great responsibilities of this post.” • • • Former Price Director Mike Di- Salle was called back to Washing ton to seek to brace what appears to be a crumbling structure of price and wage controls. Selection of the former price director as special control consultant to Eco nomic Stabilizer Putnam was an nounced by Putnam as the climax to a long series of events, most all of which would indicate that the end of OPS is not far off. Support ing this view was the action of DiSalle himself. He was asked by Putnam to take over the job for a period of 60 days, but he accepted fo* a period not to exceed two weeks. The former price chief was called back to service to replace OPS chief Tighe Woods, who suddenly sub mitted his Resignation to become effective as soon as possible. Woods told reporters he whs quitting be cause of the "weak” price control Irw. He is considered a strong ad vocate of firm controls over prices and wages, and it was rather wide ly known that he fast was becom ing “fed up” with his job. He said, “About all I have done since I have been here has been to sign orders for price increases. I have not particularly enjoyed this.” He said he expects congress to pass a direct controls law, and that he hopes the “special interest amend ments” will be removed. He added, however, that he will make no recommendations to congress about a revised price control law unless asked to do so, but added that it is his firm conviction that a strong er law is necessary. '"isjiygS OSS ideas from other editors 'm From The Addison County Inde pendent, Middlebury, Vt.: Recently there came into our possession a delightful little vol ume entitled “Main Street, USA” as selected by John Henry from the wit and wisdom of’'America’s country editors. It brings to mind that more and more is being written these days .about the grassroots press re flecting the small communities of our nation. These editors are men who write 'the news, retype per sonals, handle advertising, pass the time of day with those who ramble in and out of the office, attend as many meetings as time and strength will allow, and at all times are busy getting out a paper while making a job shop function in order to keep the paper going. His hands are always stained with ink, and he must write some thing editorially every week. Some how he sandwiches in his com ments at the typewriter just as h": observes life as it passes by. We pass along our heartiest com mendation of a compilation of grassroots thinking a credit to a compiler and to the men and wom en whose voices can be heard out side of their own communities be cause of this. From The Jackson Journal, Jack sonville, Fla.: With due and sincere respect for other people’s majesties, there is still something faintly amusing about the furore in London over photographs of proposed new coins. A portrait of the new queen is to adorn the coins and, say the Brit ishers, it is so drawn as to make her neck too long. Since the new Elizabeth is a great and genuine beauty in com parison with Elizabeth of Shake speare’s reign, one may wonder why the quibble over an inch or two on her neck. After all, the situation parable with that which have arisen, according to saw, if Cleopatra’s nose an inch longer. From The State Journal, fort, Ky.: The New York Times recently pu*d a well-deserved editorial trib ute to the splendid safety record established by the American roads. “The gain ip railroad safety been a remarkably steady the Times said. “It is seei clearly when one contrasts performance with say, of 10 and 25 years comparing 1951 with 1941, ber of fatalities de cent and of non-fatal per cent. This was per cent more 18 per cent more pa ice . . . “In the first half of fatality rate has been best in railroad history, the astonishingly low mark per 100,000,000 passenger-miles The nation’s railroads gratulations for their emphasis on safety—a mark shot at by all other means of portation.” . Like all such achievem one was earned by hard work. SAeCar ★ Al |V TO STOP WORRYING AN $1,000 on the check, and of others with $200-$300 checks coming who collected $5 or $10 cash after advances were taken out. Farm mortgage debt jumped from $4.9 billion in 1945 to $6.3 billion at the start of 1952, while non-real estate debt skyrocketed in the same period from $1.6 billion to $4 billion. Bankers predict tabulations for next January 1 will show another sharp increase for 1952. Farmers have been borrowing heavily from the govern ment on their crops this year, too. Small farmers are most affected by the decline in purchas ing power. ‘A lot of these little fellows are selling out to the bigger boys,’ says a Missouri banker. ‘The trend is toward larger farms in our area,’ states A. E. Anderson, president of Clay County National Bank in Spencer, la. He explains that some of the smaller farms are being merged to form a big ger operation which can be handled on a mechanized basis. The average farm in our area now is 200 to 240 acres,’ de clares H. H. Phahl, vice president of Citizens State Bank in New Ulm, Minn. ‘Before the war the average was 120 to 160 acres,’ he adds. ‘Smaller, marginal* cattle raisers are getting out of the business,’ says George Thompson IH, assistant vice president of Continental National Bank in Forth Worth, Tex. ‘Today, it is difficult for a man to make a living on any orange grove of less than 40 acres,’ adds Linton E. Allen, chairman of First National Bank in Orlando ,Fla. Earl Schoen, vice president of First National Bank in Tampa, Fla., agrees: ‘Most of the citrus farms are big operations now.’ Department of Agriculture statistics show that a trend toward fewer and larger farms started about the time heavy mechanization got under way on American farms.- Today, there are around 5.3 million farms in operation, compared with 5.9 million in 1945 and 6.8 million in 1935, although the Humber of acres of land under cultivation is about the same as before the war. The average farm today comprises over 215 acres against 195 acres in 1945 and 155 acres in 1935. Farm bankers anticipate that declining farm purchasing power will accentuate this trend for the big farmers to be come bigger and the marginal operators’ to be squeezed out.” JT ARLY IN HIS career as a salesman Tell B. Wehrle, Sioux , Iowa, found that Fear was his greatest enemy, and so greatest handicap. Sometimes he would walk around a bui‘ several times because he hadn’t the courage to go in and a prospective customer. At other times, he would go toward the prospect’s office with a silent prayer that the man would be out. * Occasionally when he got an order, he would be so nervous he could hardly write it up. By and by, he knew something had to be done about it. Either he had to conquer his fear or give up his selling job and enter on a new and untried field. He began wondering about other men; surely he didn’t stand alone in his fear of people. He began a research into the lives of other men, particularly salesmen. The man whose ex periences impressed him the greatest was one who came his fear by a deep faith in God. Then his * A. "t J it . .. ■.’V he verted to the faith he was taught as a child; he could stances of calm and peace he experienced when he felt j trust in God. He began reading the Bible and it came « forcibly that man was created in the image of God. He this did not mean in the physical sense but rather thoughts and deeds are concerned. When he came following from the New Testament, "Behold the Heaven is within you,” he decided that he wasn’t pei of Heaven in his life. If he were made in the image of should he be nervous and jittery when selling a bill of goods to a man who needed them? . After letting these constructive thoughts permeate his . he found when calling on a customer that he was not in the jittery. Once he got started on the right track; it wasn’t d to continue on it, and it was only a short time before he actually to enjoy selling. For he now realized he was a man a chance to get what he wanted; he wasn’t just a chance, to make money for himself. HAPPY DUO Colleen Kay “Gov. Byrnes suggested that the Democrats comprising ‘South Carolinians for Eisenhower* maintain and expand their organization. ‘You should invite into your county or ganizations,’ he said, ‘all South Carolinians who are will ing to place loyalty to country above loyalty to any political party ... as long as the future is uncertain, we. should preserve and strengthen the organization of South Carolin ians for Eisenhower. We should keep in touch with the in dependent voters of other Southern states. We would preserve our independence ...” This is sound advice. We really have little in common with rabblerousers who have made the Democratic Party a special ally of self-seekers of the narrowest selfish in terests. All of us are Americans and the board, national interest must be paramount, but every group is entitled to certain rights: even the individual has rights which no group, how ever numerous, has the right to disregard. And we of the South do not mean to bow the knee to any lickspittle politician or political group. SHOW BULL . . . Prise bnU "Target” gets acquainted with Naney Miller upon arrival at Uvestock exposition in Chicago. He is owned by Dick Smigle- woki, Cheyenne. Hutchins, Miss America of 1952, and New York Knickerbocker basketball star Ernie Vande- weghe form a happy duo as they watch a game in Madison Square Garden recently. It has been re ported that the couple will be married soon. BIBLE FOB STALIN . to