The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, November 15, 1956, Image 2
PAGE TWO
THE NEWBERRY SUN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1956
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
The rights of man: we hear a lot about the rights of man.
.The case of the cotton mill in Darlington brings that to us
again. Well, who is the man or who are the men who§e
“rights” are affected by the closing of the mill? We used
to hear that there are two sides to every question. Let’s see
about that. If the owners of the mill wish to close have they
no “rights”? Who are the owners? Unthinking or uniformed
people seem to think that this is an issue between a rich corp
oration man on one side and five hundred employees on the
other side. Even if that were true is it not a sound American
principle that a man may buy as he pleases? If he may buy
may he not sell? But since people oftentimes think in num
bers of people employed, instead of in sound legal principles,
such as the right to employ as well as the right to sell, let us
look further into this. I have no knowledge about the Darling
ton $till; I was even in error recently in thinking that I knew
the President; so I may discuss the case without prejudice.
How many stockholders are there-the men and women who
actually own the Mill; men and women who invested their
savings in the stock of the Mill? Is no one to consider them?
If they are losing money shall they continue to lose money
in order to operate the Mill for the employees?
I know a Company in the gas and electric business which
has 1800 employees, but has 30,000 stockholders. Men and
women have invested their savings in that Company. When
Congress or Federal Commissions trample on these Comp
anies, as is so often done, they seem to forget the sound prin
ciples of justice and equity and old time, cherished basic law
of our fathers in order to carry out some newfangled ideas
that discourage investment and dishearten investors.
We think of The Standad Oil Co. of New Jersey as a mill
ionaires retreat and financial paradise, but it is owned by
nearly 300,000 men and women, hundreds of them right
here in Soufh Carolina.
The American Telephone and Telegraph Co. is the biggest
corporation in the world—a mammoth enterprise high in
the billions of dollars. It is owned by more than a million
stockholders, thousands of them men and women, teachers,
preachers, lawyers, merchants, farmers and others in South
Carolina. Even I once owned a few shares. In every county
in South Carolina you probably will find men and women who
own a few shares of that stock. Now, when a Commission
deals harshly with “A.T.&T.” it is not chastising a million
aire owner or a bloated President but it is tramping on a
million stockholders whose savings are like their life-blood.
Let us apply this to our own neighborhood, in principle:
If you own a house and you are losing money by holding it
may you sell it ? Or must you continue to hold it and continue
to hold it and continue to pay taxes and repair bills—and
lose money—because the tenant does want to move?
If you have lost money on your farm, year after year,
must you continue to lose money because several tenants
do not wish to move? Every man, or most men, with land
have at times continued to hold, though at a loss, but may
any law ,any Public Commission, compel you to hold your
land? . . ..» ,
r No Government or Agency can compel anybody to oper
ate at a loss, as a rule; when we think of the rights of men
let’s think of all the men,the farmer, Ministers, teachers—
and others.
We must not forget that we inherited a law which says
that a clear title to land carries full rights from the lowest
depths to the heavens—usque ad orcum. And that applies,
in principle, to all property.
The Socialism which is enroaching steadily upon us calls
for loud, strong and persistent declaration of the principles
of our fathers; and we should fight for them with all the
courage and valor of our ancestors, for freedom is what
they won for us, and we should defend it and maintain it
as the richest heritage we can transmit to the next generation
Is the Federal Government trying to dominate all the
concerns of our daily living? Some days ago I read in the
daily papers a news dispatch that a Federal body had di
rected The South Carolina Electric and Gas Co. to reduce
the rate it charges The Georgia Power Co. for electric
power. The order would result in a loss of revenue to The
South Carolina Electric and Gas Co. of several hundred
thousand dollars a year! That simmered in my mind for
several days, a matter of wonderment: Why the order?
Then I wondered just how any Federal authority could
claim to have any such jurisdiction. If a wholesale drug
store in Aiken sold drugs to a wholesale druggist in Augusta,
Georgia, could any Federal Bureau order a reduction in
prices? Even if the States and the National Government ex
ercises considerable jurisdiction over Power enterprises
can you understand just how the rate one Power Co. to an
other Power Co.'should be determined by a Federal Bu-
i^au- And the rate was agreeable to The Georgia Power
Co A Now, then, since the two parties (both Power Com
panies) were in agreement, why did the Federal Bureau
intervene, unless it is a case of downright official (and
SUDDEN THOUGHT ON THANKSGIVING DAY
officious) meddling?
I’ve had some small training in the law and this case
has interested me and puzzled me, too. So i decided to
look into the record. Now what do you think I found, af
ter wading through a lot of water (and mud) ? That the
Georgia Power Co. expresses itself as “still highly pleased
with the contract and are well satisfied with its operations
and the price they pay for electric capacity and energy
thereunder.”
Well, now!
Every one of the thirty thousand stockholders ought to
write to their congressmen about this fresh assertion of a
bureaucratic tyranny.
There is a big lesson in this: If a Federal Bureau can
trample on a Power Co. today, it may romp on you tomor
row.
The time to curb these oppressions is now, and even
now we are late.
We have two Senators and six representatives, so here
is an opportunity for service.
“The finest gentleman who ever sat in the White House
in my time was William Howard Taft,” said the late Sena
tor E. D. Smith to me one day on his front porch. I repeat
ed that in a letter to Senator Robert A. Taft and his reply
was both interesting and humorous.
Said Senator Taft: “My father loved the South and the
people of the South and he thought the people of the South
loved him; they would do anything for him but vote for
him. They wouldn’t vote for him.”
I’ve heard a story about President Taft and a judgeship
in South Carolina. Several groups went to see the presi
dent, each group endorsing a man for the judgeship. The
President, who had been a Judge years before, smiled and
chuckled infectuously, as characterized him, and asked all
the gentlemen present: “Who is the best lawyer in South
Carolina?” All said “H. A. M. Smith.” .Mr. Smith was not
seeking the appointment. “Well,” said Mr. Taft, “Why not
appoint him?” And Mr. Smith was appointed. I’ve heard
that a number of times. Certainly nobody was inquiring for
the best lawyer in any State in filling the Supreme Court
justiceships, eh? I think I may say it advisedly that the
present Federal Supreme Court does not compare favor
ably with the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, Virginia
or South Carolina.
What say you?
After the tumult and the shouting of this political cam
paign we should either reform the National Democratic Par
ty or leave it definitely and definitively.
In America today principles and precedents are lightly
regarded, even casually disregarded. If the National leaders
of Labor are ambitionsly reaching for political power, in
stead of confining their operations to the care of Labor, the
best corrective will be by the members of the Unions them
selves. Most Union men are just like the rest of us and
not seeking political i> wer.
It is true that the Congress has greatly transgressed
against the proper C nstitutional functions of our Gov
ernment by quite a of legislation, much of which is So
cialistic and nearly a of it political and vote-seeking.
It would astonish ail the founders of the republic to read
that Federal legisn im affects work and hours and pay
within a State. The. would have said that no Federal ques
tion was involved. by the same token, American enter
prise is sometimes ..andicapped or hamstrung by Federal
bureaucratic regulate ns.
We have men wnu are far-seeing, progressive and ready
to hazard their time and money freely. That is our good for
tune; but we are iwpidjy developing a restrictive attitude
through a meddlescnie, even oppressive bureaucracy.
Another thing: we read that our Nation will advance or
give to this Nation or withhold from some other Nation.
None of that is properly the concern of our Government.
And we continue to lend and give money all about.
I should like a firm grip on all branches of the Govern
ment : all are running wild, led or advised by a group of
fanciful theorists who couldn’t earn bread and meat in
competition with real producers. Another thing: we lec
ture the Russians—who are very nauseating, over-ripe
eggs—about their wild dreams and imperialistic plans and
activities, but we step in and openly encourage opposition
to Russia while maintaining diplomatic relations with Rus
sia. Why haven’t we the forthright policy of breaking off
relations with Russia? If we are willing to have relations
let us be governed by propriety. Of course we should de
clare Russia outfeide the pale and withdraw all our diplo
mats, sending Russians home by the fastest means.
As a plain man I don’t understand the smart twists and
squirms of our policy.
L AST June at the National Acad-
-'emy of Science Building in
Washington a committee of scien
tists composed of geneticists,
Pathologists, Physicists, Meterol-
ogists, Oceanographists, Agricul
turalists and. Biologists issued
their now controversial report on
the Biological Effects of Atomic
Radiation, as a result of bomb fall
out, peace-time uses of atomic
energy from nuclear reactors,
by-products, to the use of X-rays.
These men agreed on just one
thing. That is that atomic radia
tion whether from Bomb fall-out
or whether from peacetime uses,
if it penetrates the human body,
is genetically undesirable and that
even small quantities have the
power to injure the hereditary
organs or gonads. But just how
undesirable, just how dangerous
and just what unfortunate results
would follow over-doses of atomic
radiation, they could not give pre
cise answers. And actually these
scientists will not know in any pre
cise terms, until they have tested
and checked several generations
of humans who have absorbed
this atomic radiation.
About the testing of the big
atomic and hydrogen bombs, this
is a calculated risk, if they are to
be continued. The report says that
if the testing of these bombs by
the Atomic Energy Commission
is continued at present levels, the
risk may not be too great. But
this report is essentially a United
States report and it refers to fall
out in the United States only. This
fact was brought out in the press
conference which followed a per
usal and discussion of the report.
“The scientists cannot say with
exact precision just what biologi
cal risks are involved in various
levels and sorts of radiation ex
posure; nor can any one precisely
evaluate the over-all considera
tions of national economic
strength, of defense, and of inter
national relations,” the report
says.
But, the scientists are so con
cerned about any increase in the
volume of radiation in the air
over and above that from natural
causes, such as the cosmic rays
of the sun, they have set a so-
called “safe” average amount a
person could take into his body
cumulatively at 10 roentgens, in
sofar as his hereditary organs are
concerned. A man can take much
more of a dose than this without
damage to his own person, but,
says the report, “ a concept of a
safe rate of radiation simply does
not make sense if one is con
cerned with genetic damage to
future generations. What counts,
from point of view of genetic
damage is not the rate; it is the
total accumulated dose to the re
productive cells of the individual
from the beginning of his life up
to the time the child is conceived,”
Therefore extreme precaution
should be taken by persons up to
30 years old at which age about
half the children in the nation
are born; up to age 40, when about
90 per cent are bom.
“This is one reason why we
must be cautious about increasing
ihe total amount of radiation to
which the entire population is ex
posed, for increased and prolonged
radiation might so raise the death
rate and so lower the birth rate
that the population, considered as
a whole, would decline and even
tually perish,” the report' said.
Q—Will there be any tax hearings in Congress this Fall or winter?
A—Yes. As a matter of fact the House Ways and Means subcommittee
on Internal Revenue taxation has a hearing under way now. It
opened Nov. 12, on a 52-section bill to correct grammar, punctua
tion, speling, phraseology and to remove ambiguities in the
Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
Q—How much surplus commodity goods has been sold under the 1954
aot passed for the purpose of selling our surplus commodities
abroad?
A—The Department of Agriculture recently announced commitments
of $2.2 billion according to Commodity Credit Oorp., values. How
ever since we are getting foreign currencies instead of dollars
for the surplus, the export value will amount to approximately
$1.5 billions. Most recent sale was to Spain, a total of $49.6 mil
lion in com, cottonseed or soybean oil, tobacco, tallow, beef,
linseed oil. Transportation costs which are paid by USA cost $5.8
million and since cost of the commodities was $52.5 million the
government will lose $2.9 million on the deal, taking into account
difference in Spanish currency.
Q—How much special restorative training may a handicapped per
son receive under the War Orphans Education Program?
A—As much as necessary to overcome or lessen the handicap of the
disability to the extent you may pursue a program of education,
but not to exceed 36 months.
Q—How can a birth certificate be obtained in an area where official
records are not available or have been destroyed?
A—You may apply to the United States Census Bureau in Washing
ton. State Boards of Health are often able to supply birth certi
ficates.
ACROSS
Secretary ot
defense
part of book
(pi.)
Paradises
Seed coating
Spoken
Serous fluid
(pl.)
Scheme
Trunk of
body
Philippine
peasant
To spill over
Troubles
1050 (Rom.
num.)
To cut, after
snick
Storage
containers
Spanish
for yes
Ox of the
Celebes
Frees of
Transfix
Very rich
person
kgers
irt
Part of
Ladder
Killed
Prong of
fork
Mass of
floating ice
Fhe sesame
To joust
Opposed to
aweather
French for
“and’*
Spool
PUZZLE Ne. 421
42 Footless
animal
43 A thorough
fare (abbr.)
44 Wild pig
45 The dill
46 Combining
form: sea
47 Line of
Juncture
48 Shacks
49 Sonora Coast
Indian
50 Asterisk
51 Cord
52 Warning
signal
53 Cooking
vessel
54 Spanish
artist
55 Disliking
intensely
56 Cooled lava
57 Probes
down
X . . . . •••••eeef
Abbey
2 Utopian
3 Dodecanese
island
4 Nahoor sheep
5 Bone
6 Harvest
7 Stage
success
8 Mulberry
9 Implements
of trade
10 Goes astray
11 Ethiopian
title
12 Retarding
14 Succulent
plant
17 Entreaty
18 Metal con-
containers
20 Supercilious
person
21 Assists
23 Frozen pre
cipitation
24 Seize with
teeth
25 Warble
26 Cain’s
brother
27 Lease
28 Unadulter
ated
30 Came to
earth
31 Bird’s beak
32 Tall marsh
grass
34 Row
35 Smear
37 Group puUing
together
38 Mimics
39 Cords
41 Bellow
42 Poker stake
48 Peaceful
44 Flog
45 Female
relative
46 Deserve
47 Portico
48 Employ
49 Wife of
Ra may ana
50 Mineral
spring
51 Bulgarian
coin
52 Sink
54 Symbol for
tin
55 Greeting
exclamation
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Answer te Pasmle No
From the Harvard Herald, Har
vard, Illinois: The charge that the
family farm is dying and Is des
tined to be almost entirely re
placed by gigantic corporate
farms has no basis in fact. Every
objective study shows that the
family farm is the solid founda
tion on which our agricultural
economy rests—and that there is
every indication that this will con
tinue to be true.
However, the character of the
family farm has changed.
The change was made inevita
ble by agriculture's technological
revolution. The tractor, symboli
cally, utterly transformed farm
ing. It will put it on a business
basis. A substantial investment is
now necessary,-as is a high degree
of operating efficiency. Number
less family farms have adapted
themselves to new conditions—to
their enormous benefit. These
farms have grown larger, too—
primarily because modern equip
ment gives each man a far great
er productive power than he had
before.
In modern agriculture, there is
less and less room for marginal
farmers, with poor land, or the in
ability or lack of desire to deal
with the conditions of today as
against those of the past. Many
of these farmers have left agri
culture to enter industry—and
they are better for it. The good
farmer, on the other hand, has
stayed with his land, and en
larged, improved and conserved
it. Like everyone else, he's had
his ups and downs. But over the
years he’s done very well indeed.
# • »
From the Canton Independent-
Sentinel, Canton, Penna.: The
schoolhouse, in our opinion, is the
bulwark of democratic process,
which should be understood, re
spected and appreciated by par
ents, school officials and teachers,
as well as by students themselves.
It’s true that “boys will be
boys”, but parents can very often
avoid tragedy by using more care
in teaching their children the dan
ger of commonplace things.
Every so often we read in the
newspapers of children who try to
start fires with gasoline, with re
sulting explosions and tragedy.
These children were not taught the
danger of such action.
It is not unusual to read or hear
of youngsters who find firearms
which belong to their fathers and
probably without understanding
the nature of their act, kill some
body. We recently read of two lit
tle boys who got into an argument
and one shot the other with a pis
tol. The killer was only six years
old.
'C'OR FIVE years George Waters
F had been in charge & a de
partment for his firm that had
kept his mind occupied day and
night, even in his dreams. Naturally
after some 60 months of constant
application to one subject, he had
got to the point where he neither
lived, ate nor slept like a normal
man. In fact, he had little appe
tite, slept fitfully, and hardly knew
whether or not he was living. His
disposition, too, suffered, and
through it, his wife and children.
He was fast becoming like the
man whom he had replaced in the
job, an<f who when he retired was
known by his neighbors as “that
Old Crank Patterson.”
One day he saw “that Old Crank
Patterson” and there came to him
this thought, “There unless the
Grace of God intervenes, am L”
But he saw no solution to the solv
ing of his problem. As he came
near the old man, he stopped and
talked to him, finding him, as al
ways, interested to know how
George was getting along in the
job. George found that this worn-
out older man was proud of one
thing; when Jie had retired, he
hadn’t had a vacation for twenty
years!
Now that he had stopped, he
not only didn’t know how to en
joy bis leisure, but he wasn't
physically able to enjoy it if he
had known. He was a very dis
gruntled man.
George left him with the deter
mination that he was not going to
be like his predecessor. He
chanced to pass a flower shop. He
had always liked flowers, so he
stopped and gazed at the potted'
plants, decided he'd buy one. He
also bought some plant food.
Every night he looked at that
plant, feeding and watering it at
regular intervals. Spring came
shortly and he put his plant out
of doors and gave it some neigh
bors of its own kind. Before sum
mer was over George had a love
ly flower garden. And for some
reason, he was sleeping better,
his appetite had returned and his
wife was taking a most pleasur
able interest in his flowers.
Then, all of a sudden, he realized
what had happened. Working in
his garden had brought relaxa
tion, a change of scene and
thought.
Not only that, but his business
acumen had increased because of
his absenting himself from the
thought of business for at least a
part of the time.
SPORTS
SOR/tSR
This an # That
LEADS SOX . . . A1 Lopes, -re
signed manager of Cleveland
Indians, signed one-year con
tract to manage Chicago White
Sox at $40,900. A catcher with
Dodgers, Braves and Pirates
(1939-1946), Lopes won one pen
nant and finished second five
times with Indians.
One clause found in the con-
acts of A1 Lopes* two predeces-
trs, Marty Marion and Fan!
ichards. Is missing in the agree-
ent between the new White Sox
i a Hager chib owners. Lopes
ets a straight salary. Marion
id Richards both had a pact
Uling for a bonus based on at-
ndance. Lopes, 48, broke into
S aseball in 1925, as a catcher with
rampa. He later set two major
eagne records—for most games
caught, 1,918, and more seasons
catching 100 games or more. He
pUyed with Brooklyn, Boston and
Pittsburgh .. . Gerald Cote, famed
oigar-emoking mars then runner
from St. Hyaclnthe, Quebec, has
hong up his track shoes at 43
years of age . . . The University
of Tennessee this year relaxed
the rule against spectators taking
cameras to Tennessee football
games, but Athletic Director Bob
Neyland said that the rule against
I bringing radios would stfll be en
forced . . . Former heavyweight
boxing champion Jack Dempeey
recently entered a hospital for
treatment of an old knee Injury'.. •
Herman Hickman, onetime Yule
football coach and now a TV per
sonality, won the New York Touch
down Club's 1956 award, which
goes to the person contributing
| the moot te football over a period
* of years.