The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 08, 1955, Image 2
PAGE TWO
THE NEWBERRY SUN
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1955
1218 Collegre Street
NEWBERRY. S. C.
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
O. 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
*
Who killed cock robin? I don’t know, though I recall the
song in which the sparrow, with his bow and arrow, claimed
the credit, or admitted the blame. I’m not interested now
in oock robin; I am wondering what happened to the farmers.
Every week I look about for something to write about.
Sometimes I spend an hour with my versatile and gracious
banker friends, Messrs B. M. Edwards and John A. Camp
bell. From them I draw inspiration and borrow material. I
read many papers, journals, magazines, special articles, etc,
in.search of good material. Sometimes I draw on my own
experience or observation.
I am interested in farming; and I know that something
is out of order; and what is wrong is not entirely the fault
of politicans, nor are they entirely capable of providing a
remedy. All of us, together, are muddling along, but the
trouble lies deep, so here is a study made by the Farm Jour
nal, which is worthy of our attention:
‘The Real Fact About Farm Income. There are two ways
to measure this—by the money you’re taking in, and by what
your tsatement shows down at the bank. The figures on cur-
/ rent income show this:
Farm parity prices have slipped 28 points since February,
1951—19 points under the Democrats; 9 under the Republi
cans—and are the lowest since 1941
Production costs have jumped to 30 per cent above 1947—
and farmers have had only a 1 per cent increase iri cash re
ceipts to meet these bills. The drop in net farm income is
almost entirely due to highercosts.
Typical commercial farmers in 11 of 21 different farming
regions of the country got less than 50 cents an hour for
their own labor last year, after paying expenses and getting
interest in their investment.
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS ON THE AIR
*
middleman latched on to $5.4 billion more (much of this
going to pay higher wages.)
You can say this about people’s food bill. Their money is
buying more than food—it’s buying more processing,'ser
vices, light, sanitation, refrigerating, variety, display, qual
ity, speed of handling, transportation, and higher wages
than ever before. Some of this helps sell more food—some
of it doesn’t.
Fortunately an increasing population—30 per cent larger
than in the early Thirties—is eating better (16 per cent
apiece); and it’s a much higher class diet. People ate an
average of 129 pounds of red meat apiece dqring the de
pression; this year it will hif 160 pounds—the highest in
history except for 1908. *
Its plain to see that farmers aren’t sharing equally in the
bounding prosperity that has touched most other elements
of the economy.
Farm people had an average income per person of $907
last year; non-farm average income was $1,831. Fafm per
capita income has risen 15 per cent since 1947, but non-farm
average income has has gone up just twice as fast.
How come most of the rest of the economy is racking up
strong gains in wages, earnings, and profits While farming
lags? Well here are four reasons: 1. People’s food capacity
is limited, but they can consume as many cars, TV sets,
furniture, jewelry, fur coats, and vacations as they can pay
for.
Farm income reached an all-time high in 1947; $16.8 mil
lion net. But it has been declining every year since except
for 1951. This year it will get down to around $11 billion.
But there are 18 per cent fewer farm people than in 1947;
so even with the drop in net farm income the average farm
er had 15 per cent more money in his pocket last year than
he had, in 1947.
Of course, averages are often deceiving, and don’t tell you
much about extremes. Like the fellow who stood with one
foot in a bucket of ice, and the other in a bucket of hot
ashes. ‘The average temperature was about right’ he said,
‘but I was in an awful lot of pain.’
Farm debt has mounted steadily since 1947. Mortgage deb"
has almost doubled—from $4.9 billion in 1947 to $8.2 billion
this year. Farm debts on other than land has almost tripled,
spurting from $3.6 billion in 1947 to $9.8 billion this year.
This makes a total farm debt of $18 billion.
However, farmers own 36 per cent more (land, machin
ery, livestock, and so on) than in 1947—$163 billion worth
this year. They can more than match the $18 billion they
owe with their liquid assets—$19 billion in cash, bank de
posits, and bonds. These liquid assets are actually a half-bill
ion higher than in 1947. About seven farmers out of ten
have no mortgage debt.
Farm land is selling at prices 25 per cent higher than in
1947-49. And about 70 per cent of the farms are bought by
farmers—^virtually the same as ten years ago. In other
words, town folks aren’t gobbling up farms. This increase
prices i an indcation that farmers have confidence.
But even though farmers’ national ‘balance sheef looks
lid, two things are worth remembering:
Most of this ‘solid foundation’ is tied up in land, livestock,
and machinery—many farmers are having to borrow to
scrape up enough money to meet today’s high operating
»
cosli^s
Farmers expanded during the war for a big overseas and
domestic market. Now they're having trouble slowing down.
They’ve increased output 11 per cent since 1950; 34 per
cent since 1940. But people are eating only 3 per cent more
apiece than in 1950, and only 7 per cent more than in 1940.
In the meantime, huge surpluses have accumulated.
One of the most important reasons that we’ve over-pro
duced is that we’ve lost a considerable part of our export
market. We’ve lost it because:
Foreigners are raising more of their own food, and we ve
HELPED THEM DO IT, through foreign aid programs.
Here’s what it has meant to farmers: Since 1951 the num
ber of acres growing crops for export has dropped 45 per
cent down from 55 million acres in 1951 to 30 million last
year. Since 1951 the acreage used to grow feed for horses
and mules has dropped from 18 million down to 12 million
acres. These reduced exports and the drop in horses and
mules have idled the market foi* 31 million acres of U. S.
farm land.
Another reason why farmers aren’t doing better is that
the middleman is taking an increasingly bigger chunk of
the food dollar. Farmers got $17.7 billion in 1950, and $18.7
billion in 1945 for food goods they sold. Middlemen got more
than that for handling it; $21 billion in 1950; $26.4 billion
last year. So while farmers collected a billion more, the
WHAT PEOPLE ARE BUYING (1954 compared with
1949); 3 per cent more food; 15 per cent more cars; 19 per
cent more new homes and 143 per cent more TV sets.
People last year bought an average of only 3 per cent
more food apiece than five years ago—but they registered
15 per cent more new cars; moved into 19 per cent more new
houses; bought 143 per cent more TV sets.
That’s why farm output in 1954 was only 8 per cent
higher than in 1947-49, and we have tremendous surpluses,
whereas industrial production is' 25 per cent higher than
1947-49. / '
2. The demand for ‘gadget living’ has been bolstered by
low down-payments, liberal terms, and increasing wages.
In 'the past five years, people’s spendable income (after
taxes) has gone up a fifth, but consumer credit has gained
more than half. This is a tremendous boost to industrial pro
duction. But when people get loaded with monthly and
weekly payments they often are forced to economize on food.
Hourly wages are up 30 per cent since 1950; transporta
tion costs are 25 per cent higher than in 1947-49* Farmers
can’t keep up. ♦ i
4. Business has passed the increased costs along. Prices
are up 11- per cent since 1950. FARMERS CAN’T PASS ON
THEIR COSTS. .These facts are the crux of the matter.”
— - ‘
^ •
I observe with interest that Virginia is planning to re
sort to private schools. It may be recalled that over the
radio and in my Spectator letter I have urged that course
for South Carolina time and again. The logic of it strikes
one with irresistible force. All our preliminary work, leads
inevitably to that course, but we continue to stumble along.
Let’s confront the condition bravely, resourcefully and in
telligently : that calls for repeal of all school taxes, all school
laws and the enactment of legislation that will meet the
need. Briefly here is what we need, constructively:
An Act levying a State tax for promoting public instruc
tion, the revenue to be used on the basis of enrollment,
course of study, preparation and experience of teachers,
(and administration) in private schools, white or colored.
All this detail can be readily worked out. Suitable .provision
must, be made for colleges.
We gain nothing by weakness, meekness, vaccillation or
procrastination. Since the governor has. qualities of lead
ership this is his opportunity.
This is Bible-reading month, isn’t it? Month after month
the Great Book points the way of life. If you seek a call to
strength, how is this: “I go the wjay of all the earth; be
thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man.” This was
David’s last admonition to Solomon.
If your heart turns in grateful remembrance of the mer
cies enjoyed—let your mind feast on this: ”0 give thanks
unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for
ever.”
If you feel lonely and a bit forsaken in the rush of this con-
petitive era, “The Lord is my Shepherd . . .Yea, though I
walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil; for Thou art with me.”
If it be guidance we seek; “I am the way, the truth and the
life.”
From the Italy ' News-Herald,
taly, Texas—During the past two
Areeks we have had occasion to
be thrown into the company of
m^n from foreign countries both
of whom were able to speak Eng
lish. Yet, we would not so much
as have recognized their language
had they spoken in their native
tongue. This started us t® thinking
and we were impressed with ac
counts we have read of so many
foreigners who can come to this
country—and many others—and
converse freely.
We pride ourselves on being
modem, up-and-coming, with the
very latest of scientific gadgets
and machines; we speak of our
educational system aa being ap
plied to all citizens and consider
our people to be the best educated
in the world. Few of us can speak
more than one language, howev
er, and even those who do study a
foreign language In our schools
seldom get sufficiently proficient
in It to conduct a conversation.
Amar Nandi of Calcutta, India
apologized profusely last week for
his accent, but we assured hi™
that we had no difficulty in un
derstanding him and wished that
we could be sure of doing one-
half so well if we visited India.
“You would have no trouble
there,” he said, “because prac-
^Hally everyone speaks English.”
If we are to properly hold ouy
position as world leader, it seems
to us that more attention should
be paid to this language situation.
Our people need to know more
languages if they are to properly
understand those with whom they
are dealing.
• • *
From the Etowah News-Journal,
Attala, Alabama: Everything car
ries a price tag. You can’t get
away from it. And what you get
is worth just about what you are
willing to pay. Low price is often
the lure to the most expensive
kind of economy.
Do you want to be skilled in just
one job—a small part of a trade
or profession? You can do that,
too, and it will not take nearly
so much preparation.
Do you want to be a handy
man, a janitor, a stevedore, or a
laborer? You can be—very easily.
No training is required. The price
of preparation is exactly nothing.
The world is full of laborers with
strong backs and untrained brains.
The opportunities are few and the
pay is at bottom of the wage scale.
The difference between salaries
paid the janitor and the chief
engineer is great. The difference
is what it costs the janitor to be
a janitor. He was not willing to
pay the price of being an engineer.
The engineer 4id pay the price.
T. KEARNS, 140 Old Winston Road, High Point, North Carolina,
T • was with an ice cream company when one of the salesmen quit
without notice. The regular relief man was relieving men on vacation.
Having had previous experience, Mr. Kearns was called on to take the
vacated route. This was during the rush season and the hours were
long and the work hard.
He taught the route to another man who stayed
on It three weeks and quit. He had to pick up
where that man left off. He began to worry, then
to gripe and complain to other employees. From
the long hours and worry he lost 22 pounds in eight
weeks, and he was looking down hie nose. The
boss heard about his fussing from the other em
ployees, so when the summer was over and he
was relieved of the route, the boss called him into
the office, and if he had not left it as he did he
would have quit If he did quit he would be a mouse
and not a man. So he is still on the job.
CARNEGIE
'T * wpcneuce wouia oe duplicated. But
he assumed a different mental attitude and he enjoyed the work, found
lJ i V^~ beCaUae h ® wasn,t wor nring. He sold more Ice cream
and felt better, and Jie lost no weight When it was over one of the
Wm and taw him he appreciated the job he had done,
wid starting the first of the month there would be a raise krhls salary
(he year before he did not get a raise.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
ACKosa
1 Printer's
S Embrace
8 By
10 Blowsun
missile
IS Employs
14 Lure
10 Confederate
general
1? Dropsy
18 Lubricating
liquid
15 Former
Russian rulers
31 Directs
S3 Decay
34 Entice
36 City of
38 Aided
33 Tree
34 Burmese
viol (pi.)
36 Compass point
37 Maori: food
38 Plates made
from matrices
41 of
43 Polish
marshes
44 Japanese coin
45 ‘ 1^^
age (pL)
51 Ducks
03 Tree yield
ing caucho
83 Badgerlike
animal
South Ameri
can animal
Palm leaf
(var.)
boon*.
novel by_
Blackwell
Parcel of
04 First name of
Persian poet
08 Of Lake Erie
60 Walk
08 Prefix: down
00 Perch
70 A direction
DOWN
1 Man’s nick
name
S Germinated
grain
material
3 Stale joke
(colloq.)
4 Cover
8 Form of
“to be”
• Son of Noah
(yar.)
T ReligJ
eligious
songs
8 Troubles
0 Size of shot
11 Thing In law
13 Rips
14 Vessels
18 Assist
SO Part of plant
<PU
flntal
No. *71
34 Lingers
38 City of
Germany
38 City of West
Africa
37 For sale
38 Low sound, as
of rustling
30 Tantalize
31 Compound
ether
33 CoUege
officials
35 To thrust
hack
38 Kissing
.40 Dexterity
46 Oil of roses
47 Female ruft
48 Higher
BO Transaction*
53 City of Italy
84 Wing
56 Bright saying
57 Sweetsop
60 Gold in
Spanish
American
countries
82 River (Sp.i
62 National
Academy o,
Science
64 A.»>-
'ttOI
Answer te Fsssle Ne. 870
If you ponder about the spiritual depths and think they
are beyond your reach, remember the man who sought help
for his son. The Great Teacher said to him “If thou cans’t
believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” The
man cried out “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”
That was not confusion but the cry of a soul seeking to
wrench itself from the harsh everyday so-called practicali
ties of routine living in order to be imbued and endued and
regenerated until he could grasp with his feeble, finite mind
the unfathomable riches of the Redeemer.
Q—Are Senators elected on a basis of population?
A—No. The constitution provides that each state shall have two United
States senators. Nevada with a population of some 250,000 and New
York state with more than 15 millions have equal representation.
Q—Has a negro ever served in the United States Senate?
A—Yes, two. Both were from Mississippi Senator Hiram R. Revels
served from February 1870 to May 1871. and Senator Blanche Kelso
Bruce from 1875 to 1881. )
Q—Who picked the sites for the White House and the Capitol Building?
A—George Washington.
Q—Was any President a bachelor?
A—Yes. President James Buchanan never married. President Grom
Cleveland was a bachelor at the time of his first election. During
his. first term he married Frances Folsom, of Buffalo, the daughter
of his law partner.
Q—Did a Speaker of the House ever become President?
A—Yes, James K. Polk of Tennessee, who was speaker from 1838 te
1839 became president in 1849 to 1849. Two speakers became vice-
president—Schuyler Colfax and John Nance Gamer.
Q—When was the first national political couveatlea to nominate a proa*
. Meat?
A—In 1832 at Baltimore. It was called by President Andrew Jackson.
Nominations prior to that time were made by Congressional cau
cuses. Jackson, who was unpopular in Congress, contended the
people should choose delegates for nomination of presidential candi
dates instead of the nomination being made by congressmen. Since
1832 all presidents have been nominated by convention.
t> ACK during the 1870s the farm-
ers of the nation, spearheaded
by the National Grange in the so-
called Granger Movement, re
belled against extortionate railroad
freight rates. They forced the es
tablishment, state by state, of Com
missions which could curb in
trastate freight rates, .and the bat
tle continued through the years
culminating in the first national
regulation of the railroads as a
transportation monopoly setting up
the Interstate Commerce Com
mission in the National Transpor
tation Act of 1920.,
It appears today that the farm
ers of the nation through their na
tional organizations may have to
do battle all over again ,to pre
vent the railroads from again
boosting freight rates almost at
will under the provision of a bill
now before the Congress. This
measure is S-1920 with an iden
tical bill H.R. 6141 in the House.
Operating under the philosophy
that they are no longer a “mon
opoly” in the transportation field
and have competition from the
Trucking Industry, the Airlines
and the Inland Waterway Barge
system, the railroads prevailed
upon President Eisenhower in the
Spring of 1954 to appoint a com
mittee to survey tire transporta
tion system of the country. This
the President did, naming Secre
tary of Commerce Sinclair Weeks
as chairman of a Cabinet Commit
tee on Transport Policy, with the
Secretary of Defense, Charles
Wilson, and Arthur Fleming, head
of the Office of Defense Mobiliza
tion, as principals. Other cabinet
members, which joined the com
mittee on specific problems af
fecting their departments included
George Humphrey, Secretary of
the Treasury, Arthur Summer-field.
Postmaster General, Ezra Benson,
Secretary of Agriculture, and Row
land R. Hughes, Director of the
Budget. The committee set up
a working staff recruited largely
from railroad and business inter
ests. There were no members of
the staff from agriculture, from
the trucking industry, from the
airlines or from the Inland Wa
terways Association.
The farmers of the country are
collectively probably the largest
users of freight transportation in
the nation, so would be most
vitally affected — grain shippers,
livestock raisers, orchardists, cit
rus fruit producers, dairymen,
vegetable growers, cotton raisers,
poultry and egg producers and
many others—face increased
freight rates, or will be caught
in the squeeze of freight rate wars,
shbuld the legislation pass this
next session of the Congress.
The crux of the legislation is
that it would take away from tbs
ICC tbs power to “preserve the
inherent advantages of all modes
of transportation and to prevent
unfair < and destructive competi
tive practices,” and would sub
stitute. “tha creation of a system
of dynamic competition.” This
would virtually give the railroads
similar advantagas to fix rates
they had prior to the passage of
the 1920 act For. the proposed
legislation would also take away
from the ICC tha power to fix
exact rates, limiting the regula
tion to minimum and maximum
rates, and would further remove;
from the ICC its traditional role
as a protector of the small freight
user and ttye consuming public.
eii
(•) to repeat; (b). to fret; (cl te avert.
ANSWERS
. *teJU«X *S I
ii««s«a *s
si**s 1
This an' That
Jack O'Conner, general
of the Milwaukee
it was In tk »
of the Pert
(Tex.) Sea Hawks of
ACE BASKETEER . . . Tom
Geia, former La Salle college
haakethaB star and rated as one
of the greateat players of all
ttasa, tigaod contract te play
wMk the Philadelphia Warriors fta
the National BaakethaB League.
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te steal