The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, November 12, 1953, Image 2

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1 ( PAGE TWO THE NEWBERRY SUN 1218 College Street NEWBERRY, S. C. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY 0. F. Armfield, Jr., Owner Entered as second-class matter December 6, 1937 at the Postoffice at Newberry, South Carolina, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $2.00 per year in ad vance; six months, $1.25. COMMENTS ON MEN AND THINGS By SPECTATOR Can we talk ourselves into a period of business dullness? W T e speak of it as a recession, sometimes de-flation, then re flation, as compared with inflation. But the words are of secondary importance. WTien a businessman hears or reads predictions of bad times, poor business—and all that—how does it affect him? Apply it to yourself, each one. If a man has ten thousand dollars for investment will he invest it when men predict unfavorable prospects? Now the $10,000 man is just a small businessman, but think of ten thousand men with $10,000 each and you have quite a sum of money. We have more than ten thousand men in our little State who have $10,000 each for investment. That is a hundred million dol lars—quite a tidy capital. If they invest that money it provides work for men and women; wages, sales for stores, money for savings which will be lent again and so continue the good work. But if we freeze it—and if it remains frozen, we become like a man on a very strict slimming diet, one so lacking in essentials that the man becomes a shadow, but isn’t able to carry even his ghostly shadow. I’ve just read the following: “The country’s biggest busi nessmen explored some economic ‘soft spots’ and decided that prosperity will last into next spring at least. Members of the Business Advisory Council of the Commerce Depart ment reported their judgment to Secretary of Commerce Weeks, Secretary of the Treasury Humphrey and a dozen other high officials at a closed meeting. Twelve corporation heads, representing as many key in dustries reported their own business outlook in a round-robin discussion intended to guide the administration on policies which would prevent the post-mobilization ‘readjustment’ from turning into a recession. Some rise in unemployment, a slight dip in retail activity, hotter price competition and a moderate further decline of industrial production from its present near-record rate, were foreseen, according to what information could be obtained from the confidential session. Robert E. Wood, chairman of Sears, Roebuck and Co., was known to expect a drop in retail sales of 2 to 10 per cent, varying from city to city, in the next three months. He based this forecast mainly on falling farm income and tightening credit. Clarence B. Randall, president of Inland Steel Co., w T as quoted as forecasting a further moderate decline of steel production in 1954. Steel output has fallen in the past year from virtually 100 per cent of capacity to about 90, then re covered some ground. Industry leaders here have emphasized, however, that production rates close to 100 per cent are abnormal for the industry—especially in view of its 20 per cent expansion since 1950. They contend that a drop to 85 per cent or thereabouts would make for different operation without adverse effect on industry in general. Before the BAC ses sion opened, John F. Collyer, president of B. F. Goodrich Co., forecast a decline of something less than 5 per cent in rubber consumption next year from the high 1953 level. * Collyer, whose viewpoint was said to be typical of that of the 90-odd businessmen here, held that such a modest de cline would be normal and not alarming. Industry, he ad vised, should follow a policy of caution but not pessimism. Virtually all the members, it was reported, believed that the economy will remain at a high level for six months or more. Continued high government spending, a big reservior of consumer savings, high income rates and good employment are almost certain safeguards against a serious recession in that period, they held. The administration view, it was reported, is that some, easing of the ‘rubber band stretch’ in the economy would be healthy, rather than alarming because it would stimulate competition and improve techniques in sales and production. Some officials said they would not be concerned as long as the business adjustments continue in the ‘serial’ or ‘rolling’ pattern of the past 18 months. While textiles were going down they explained, autos and other durable goods were on the rise; now textiles have re covered substantially and some slippage in the durables is reported. Unless a concerted downward movement involving a number of major sections of the economy develops, they said, no very serious slump can occur.” Did you ever think of the imponderables ? Recently I read that Americans think they can plan every detail and put up the money and all will work out according to Hoyle, as we say. The writer of that says that the British move along, more or less with the current, and take advantage of any and all favorable “breaks.” I can’t answer for the British, nor did I think we Americans were so hide-bound, but cer tainly all life presents, at times, the imponderables, the fact ors not foreseen, not provided for, but powerful and some times conclusive. The Germans might have crossed to England, we are told. They seemed ready and fully prepared, but something hap pened. What was it? Did Hitler have a premonition? Was BEWARE THE DEMON it an urge or an inspiration? At any rate certain destruction was averted. And when the Kaiser’s troops were within reach of Paris, in the First World War, the great army turned at the Marne, near Paris—why? When I went to the Marne River and looked around I won dered why that remarkable army turned around. It was one of the classic questions for military men. When Pizarro and his intrepid, though brutal, men, march ed in to the heart of the Andean heights in Peru, the natives under the Inca Atahualpa might have crushed them to death, even by mere weight of numbers, but they did not. They sur rendered. What an imponderable! Who could have forseen it? In our business life men have been predicting recessions every year since 1945, eight years ago! Why recessions? We have fifteen million more people to feed and clothe since 1945. Fifteen million more workers probably; fifteen million more spenders. All the basic factors seem favorable, in an economic sense. The difficulties are man-made. I am not exactly a Micawber, always expecting some gold en dream to come true, even without work. But our na tion can stand re-adjustments without so much being said. When big men talk they are regarded as knowing, but no one can truly know, so it would be well to keep on an feven keel, operating prudently, instead of rocking the boat all the time. After all, that little squall we think we see might turn out to be harmless. However, if we, all, get scared, we shall make real difficulties. Our American habit of speech-making and giving inter views all the time has its draw-backs. Life has always been full of ups and downs; we are accustomed to that; but the incessant predicting may make the talker seem like a wise man, but it may do more than tickle his vanity; it may cre ate real difficulties, upsetting confidence and promoting stringencies and business repressions. Resources, research and resourcefulness made our fabu lous America, meaning the United States. Many countries have resources; Brazil is opulent; Mexico is potentially rich; but their resources have not had the research of organized science; nor have their resources been developd by a re sourceful people. We are not very superior to other nations, but our three R’s count superbly, in furtherance of other sustaining fact ors, such as basic laws, political institutions and climate. So Hampton County is the most musical County in South Carolina, according to Ashley Cooper, in The News & Cour ier. Charleston, once recognized for music, painting and gen eral culture, seems to have forsaken music unless it be the music of song, unaccompanied. All that deduction is based on the report that there are no musical instruments in Char leston, although Hampton has 1710. Just how Tom O’Con nor will play this up I don’t know, but he can now claim music as well as watermelons. Although I am a native of the coastal region of our State I did not know that music was concentrated in Hampton and Jasper Counties. Not a music box, nor a horn, or fiddle, or piano or organ appears on the tax books of Charleston County. And thirty or more other counties are in the same sad plight. Hampton and Jasper shine with the refulgence of the sun at noon. You know, of course, that if there were a mandolin or guitar, or even a mouth organ, it would appear on the tax books. Charleston has twelve million dollars in merchandise on the tax books, however, in spite of abandoning music. But Edgefield, a county peculiarly precious to me, was in dire straits, with only one hundred and fifty dollars of merchan dise on the tax books, according to this same Ashley Cooper. Of course that must be because the Edgefield and Johnston papers are such fine advertising papers that the advertisers sell out, down to the bone, or to the cord and wrapping paper. Governor Byrnes speaks in support of the United Nations organization. I can go along part of the way, but only a part. An opportunity for the nations to meet and discuss their general problems should be helpful, both informative and stimulating. But I think the United Nations should be just that and nothing more. Unfortunately the United Nations has a vast staff of specialists meddling with every phase of life and living, in every corner of the Universe. As a result of that theoretical and sometimes mischievous exploration we frequently fear for even the sanctity of our American traditions, as well as some of our Constitutional guarantees. The Governor may well endorse the value of friendly meet- From The Canton Independent, Canton, Pennsylvania: The United States Childrens’ Bureau reported recently that accidents kill and injure more children than all dis eases known to man. The Bureau sounded a warning, which we have offered in these columns on past occasion, to parents of the country. Fathers and mothers were told to take the accident problem seri ously and give it as much concern as they do such diseases as polio and tuberculosis. Until they begin to take the problem seriously and use preventive measures, the toll of accidents is likely to more than match the toll of deaths among children from diseases of all kinds. The report of the Bureau covered the period between 1940 and 1949 and showed the death rate due to accidents among children in this period of years was reduced only 16 per cent. The death rate from all other causes in this same period was slashed by an impressive 45 per cent. In this period children under one year of age died at the rate of 72.1 deaths, more than half of them were caused by home accidents. The report showed that until chil dren are between the ages of five and nine, the greatest death threat tc them is an accident in the home. After that age. the greatest threat of death comes from motor vehi cle accidents. / From the Sooth Pasadena Re view. South Pasadena, California: One of the most interesting and amazing segments of American economic life is small business. Say what you will about big corpo rations. acknowledge their vital role, praise them for their achieve ments. but you can’t escape the fact that it’s the millions of little fellows who are the very heart of the American enterprise system. By this we do not mean that small business is a simple thing, some thing easy to succeed in. Actually it is rough, for the small merchant or manufacturer is most quickly affected by economic changes. If this fact were more clearly seen by those who want to set up a business of their own. there would be fewer failures. Too often, the would-be proprietor thinks that buying a stock of goods and open ing the door is about all there is to it. Too many ex-proprietors know that isn’t so. It needs to be said, and said often, that before anyone launches a new business he should thoroughly study the field, carefully consider his own experience and qualifications and analyze the financial needs. It’s well to talk to others in the same line of business, consult with the chamber of commerce officials, discuss it with the local bank man ager who is especially well equipped to give sound advice. , T HE Potomac Emporium’s re volving doors will spin more slowly if the current trend con tinues toward abandonment of the federal super-market idea in favor of specialization in the craft of “pure” government. Gradually. President Eisenhower and his Re publican Congress are turning over Uncle Sam’s manufacturing, sales and service activities to private enterprise, a Congressional Quar terly survey indicates. In the days of silk knee breeches and for a long time thereafter, the federal government confined its labors primarily to fighting In dians and coining money. In re cent decades, spurred by war and depression. Uncle Sam has become the nation’s biggest business ty coon. The circle is turning back on itself as the controlling party interprets President Eisenhower’s campaign pledges to strike from business “the great shackles that government has fastened upon it” and to “curb the unjustified ex pansion of government. ” During its first session, the 83rd Congress ordered the sale of 28 government owned synthetic rub ber plants to private industry, es tablishing a negotiating commis sion and reserving the right to veto proposed sales. In another sale, the government realized $9 million on its barge system, the Inland Waterways Corporation. Additional sales may be in the offing. The Joint Congressional Atomic Energy Committee has held hearings on a bill “to promote and encourage free competition and private investment” in the fed eral-monopoly field of atomic en ergy. Reduced appropriations curtailed government operations in several fields coveted by private industry, including housing and power—the latter through cuts in funds for the Tennessee Valley Authority. rural electrifications, and synthetic fuels. Next session. Congress is sched uled to decide whether the Niagara River power project will be under taken by the federal government. New York state, or private utili ties. Recognizing the importance of credit to the economy. Congress whittled at federal lending, creat ing the Small Business Administra tion to replace the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. The SBA has less money to lend than its predecessor, and the Administra tor calls his agency a “last resort” to be relied upon only when pri vate credit it unavailable. He is promoting a system of private credit pools to reduce the need for loans by the government. False Teeth To Fur Sealing. In June, a House subcommittee listened sympathetically as busi nessmen complained of federal competition with private enterprise, in many instances claiming they could do the job more efficiently and cheaply than Washington and its field offices. The Subcommittee listed 86 com mercial and industrial activities pursued by the federal govern ment, ranging from manufacture of false teeth through operation of fish hatcheries tc? fur sealing. Another committee rejected re tailers' protests against competi tion by military post exchanges, and still another currently is con sidering demands that the armed forces stop operating aluminum salvage plants. In the 1954 Congressional elec tions, the nation’s “stockholders” will have their say on the re trenchment policies formulated by their Republican “board of direc tors.” From one stump, the GOP claims the virtues of efficiency and individualism. Just across the fair grounds. Democrat* cry “give away.” fK’&td. INTELEIGRAM Check correct word. 1. Statistics show (men) (women) live longer. 2. In 1951 the (Yankees) (Giants) won the World Series. 3. The submarine was invented by (Holland) (Preece). 4. (Idaho) (Wyoming) was the last state ad mitted into the Union. 5. Florida was purchased from (France) (Spain). 6. Hitler became German Chancellor in (1932) (1933). 7. The Yalta Conference was held in (1945) (1947). 8. Methirsela was the son of (Enoch) (Lantech), according to the Bible. 9. Chop suey is an (American) (Chinese) dish. 10. The tomato is a (fruit) (vegetable). Check your answers, scoring yourself 10 points for each correct choice. A score of 0-20 is poor; 30-60, average; 70-80, superior; 90-100, very superior. Decoded Intelligram •tiruj—oi 'ueopauiv—6 *M30ua—8 'SH5I—L ’8861 —-upeds—S •3uiui<lCm—* 'pueilOH—8 *soa3i««A—Z uauiOM—l ings, but the United Nations organization as it stands, and in all its ramifications, is a disturbing and unwholesome med dler in the affairs of Nations. • 1953 THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 0—Do federal judges have to be lawyers? A—No. Article III of the Constitution does not require federal Judge* to be attorneys. According to the Administrative Office of the U. 9. Courts, there is no federal statute on the subject. Precedent ha« decreed that all federal justices be attorneys, but many magistrate* and justices of the peace—appointed or elected under local or state law—are not attorneys. Q—How old is our primary system of nominating candidates? A—A popular vote system of nominating candidates for local office wa* first adopted by Crawford County, Pa., in 1866. In 1868. New York and California passed laws giving their states’ counties the option of adopting the “Crawford County system.” At the present time, only two states—Connecticut and Rhode Island—choose all state-wide candidates by the convention method. Q—When were U. S. Senators first elected by popular vote? A—In the election of 1914. The 17th Amendment, providing for the direct election of Senators, was declared ratified by the Secretary of State (William Jennings Bryan) on May 31, 1913. From 1789 to 1914. Senators were chosen by state legislatures. Q—1 noticed recently that the Interparliamentary Union met. What does the Union do? A—Its primary purpose is the peaceful settlement of International dis putes Formed in 1889 in Paris with nine member nations, the Union now has 34 members. Thirty-two nations, including the U. S., were invited to this yea'rs’ conference. The two countries uninvited wer* Poland—the only Iron Curtain country member—and the Republic of Spain (in exile.) PaieCarimecie ★ AUTHOR OF “HOW TO STOP WORRYING AND START LIVING'’ . ft A PRIL 21, 1945, the Fifth Division of the U. S. Marines was half way up the hill to Ml Suribachi to plant, at the top. the Stars and Stripes. Suddenly there was a terrific explosion!! Hundreds of our young men lay dead and bleeding. One of those boys was Gerald Burns’ son— to him just a baby. For six months his son lay In a hospital on Guam, with half of his hip shot off while his father was lonely, worried and fearful of that telegram from the War Department. He prayed to God every day to bring his son back safe. In December, 1945, they put the injured lad on a boat where the temperature was 80 degrees—and shipped him to Tientsin, China, where the temperature was 20 below. He had a nerv ous breakdown and spent two months out at Mercy Wood Sanitarium. But Gerald kept on praying, never losing faith in God. Then one horrible night he couldn’t stand it any longer. He was going stark mad. He cried out to God please not to forsake him. In the darkness he reached up on his bureau to grab a bottle of iodine. He was going to end it alL Then the telephone rang. He didn’t have the strength to lift the receiver. It seemed as though there was some one in the room holding it to his ear. He heard the operator saying San Diego calling. Then he heard a voice very faintly saying, “Hello ” It kept coming in stronger, until at last he recognized the voice. His son was back home again. He got out of bed and switched on the light, and raised his arm to smash the bottle on the floor, but as his arm was half way down he felt something pricking hi* hand. He opened the hand to find that he didn’t have the iodine in it—but a small crucifix CARNEGIE WEEKLY CROSSWORD PUZZLE - ] — —. i.. n.» Here** the HORIZONTAL 1 Pictured 1948 Olympic champion Gretchen — 7 She is America’s first individual •— champ in Olympic history 13 Venerate 14 Dyestuff 15 Compass point 16 Rate of climb 19 Born 20 Sound 22 Canvas shelter 23 Bold 24 Rubber tree 26 Armed conflict 27 Lose blood 29 Property item 32 An (Scot.) 33 Tone £ (music) 34 Street (ab.) 35 Preposition 36 Bootlace 38 Harmonized 40 Answer (ab.) 41 Before 42 Civil wrong 44 Horse’s gait 48 Brother of Jacob (Bib.) 51 Arrive (ab.) 52 Son of Chaos (myth.) 54 Transposes (ab.) 55 She is a — 57 Trustee 59 Long seat 60 Exit VERTICAL 1 Chafe 2 Nevada city 3 Thoroughfare 4 Symbol for selenium 5 Age 6 Pause 7 Dispatched 8 Land parcel 9 While 10 Steamships 11 Heavy blow 12 Encounter 17 Symbol for cerium 18 Half-em 21 Substance 23 Grazing land 25 Redacts 26 Disused 27 Balance (ab.) 28 Meadow 43 Shield bearins 44 Woody plant 45 Musical note 46 Siberian rives 47 Pipe 49 War god 50 Employs 30 Summer (Fl\) 52 Dutch city 31 Fox 37 Vegetable 39 Cuddle 42 Small flaps 53 Droop 56 Symbol for niton 58 Irish (ab.) 1 X 3 4 T 7 & 9 16 II a 13 14 l£ i ia‘ 17 18 I ' 2* 2T & - 2.1 23 • 24 2* 27 24 36 ST“ 32 v''/// 33 34 It 36 36 37 40 4> 42. 43 75 y 44 45 44 4^ 4s 4^ 50 51 52 53 ppi *4 S5 56 57 53 5V 60