University of South Carolina Libraries
PAGE TWO THE NEWBERRY SUN, NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA THURSDAY, OCTOBER I, 1964 THE “SPECTATOR’S” COLUMN We are a wonderful people, we Americans; and our fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers founded and developed a land of marvels. Let us not forget those remarkable women who walked along with them and worked and prayed and en dured so much. Now I wonder just what the next generation will do, having in mind some regrettable lapses by us. Will the next generation be imbued with the spirit of the found ers, their sodid virtues, or will they be happy-go-lucky, wasteful, casual and ease-loving as we are? As individuals we are harum-scarum so often; and as a nation we are worse. De gustibus non disputandum, as was said long ago. In those early days they liked to quote the poets, even the Latin men of letters. You recognize my quotation: concerning tastes there is no disputing. Omitting a small verb won't affect the case at all, will it? Years ago a dollar was a dollar; today look at us: I quote a dispatch from Washington, headed 30 Billion Dollars for votes. And then follows a few items, as: “You ain’t heard nothing yet’, is Democratic campaign crowing over what they have put through Congress to keep the domestic economy at a high boil. That $947.5 million politics-loaded anti-poverty program President Johnson is doing so much proud tootling about is a whopper in itself, but actually it’s a small part of the stu pendous economic expenditures voted into session—and it isn’t over yet. Appropriations running into the hundreds of millions are still pending, foremost among them $1.2 billion in increased Social Security benefits and the $237 million Appalachia de velopment program. The tidal wave of federal funds that will pour into every aspect of the national economy in the current fiscal year, ending next June 30, will exceed the fantastic total of $33 billion. Democratic chiefs are making no bones they are counting on this having tremendous electioneering impact. It has in the past, and they see no reason why it shouldn’t this time. They are preparing to make the most of it thruout the ballot battle. This astounding spending record—whose size and range is little comprehended by the general public—is spelled out in valid detail in the House minority report on the anti-pov erty bill. Following are the striking over-all totals: Dept, of Health, Education & Welfare $22,567,648,000 Labor department 4,200,929,000 Housing and Finance agency 1,987,034,000 Dept, of Agriculture 1,829,035,000 Interior department 1,051,663,000 Commerce Department 145,000,000 Funds appropriated to the President 30,000,000 $31,811,345,000 GIGANTIC as this total is it still isn’t the whole story. Not in eluded are: $1 billion in increased Social Security benefits—passed by the House and certain to be voted by the Senate before ad journment in late September. $550 million in pay increases for 1.7 million government employees, retroactive to July 1. Big voting centers partic ularly benefitting from this bonanza are Chicago, St. Louis, Baltimore, Sanfrancisco, Washington. $200 million pay increase for 1.8 million military person- ned, effective Sept. 1. States benefitting most from this pre election windfall are Texas, California, Illinois, Florida, Penn sylvania, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado and Wyoming. $1 billion in additional subsidies to feed grain growers, wheat and cotton farmers and others—also before election day. If the $237 million Appalachia and $400 million area de velopment programs are voted—which is doubtful in the remaining weeks of this session—that would add another $637 million to the vast economic outlays in this fiscal year. If the economy doesn’t boom, it won’t be for lack of rec ord-high government spending.” The total appropriations by Congress will probably exceed a hundred billion dollars, if all the hushed up items are in cluded. 1 \Oil and what it means. I quote an article by M. J. Rath- bone: “All through history, the crowded cities in which civilization has reached its greatest heights—from Babylon to Byzantium to London and Los Angeles—have also had to cope with the prosaic but vital work of public health and cleanliness. Today, the more goods we produce, the better we live, and the more fuel we burn, the more steps we must take to guard against excessive contamination of our sur roundings. » - ak 1 All the industries that support this civilization, including the oil industry, must be concerned with cleanliness all the the time. Petroleum, like fire, is one of the great gifts of nature—but, used in huge quantities, it calls for much care and technical ingenuity to avoid damage to the environment as an undesirable offset to the benefits of its use. Industry can do much, but consumers must compete, too. Smog in some cities, for instance, would be appreciably dim inished if all automobile drivers would keep their engines in good condition. One bad spark plug can multiply as much as 25 times the smog-causing hydrocarbons in a car’s ex haust. Yet even if all concerned do their part, there is no such thing as perfect cleanliness. The real question is: How much cleanliness do we need, and how much are we willing to pay for? In the United States today, research on air and water pollution, by both industry and government, costs tens of millions of dollars every year; and actual control devices cost hundreds of millions more. A modern city is in most ways far cleaner and healthier than cities of a century ago. If we today are more exercised about pollution, it is because modern science and technology have enormously deepened our knowledge of disease and raised our standards of cleanliness. Moreover, petroleum itself has brought incalculable pro gress in cleanliness and health. Wax coatings, plastic food | packaging, refrigerants, soapless detergents, dustless as phalt roads, clean diesel locomotives—all these we take for granted, as we do the petroleum-driven sanitation trucks, ambulances, and fire engines that protect our cities. Syn thetic fertilizers, pesticides, and other petroleum-based aids to agriculture may indeed do harm if used carelessly; but, properly used, they are indispensible aids to abundant food uroduction—and thus to good health. Not just the oil industry but our whole industrial civiliza tion faces this question: How can we turn the materials of nature into ever more useful servants while also conserving our wildlife, our forests, and beaches—all this is beautiful and healthful in our environment? With ingenious research and good management, this need not be a dilemma. We can and must persue both goals.” Afar cry from splitting “ligh-ud” knots, eh? As the new generation probably never heard of “light-ud” it means “light wood”. Generations ago our ancestors used resinous knots for heat and light; the blaze from the fire served for light, too. So the term light-wood—resinous pine. Great grandmother probably had all the pots over the jblaze in the fire place; today the lovely bride can touch a few button- and have the house flooded with light and heat —kitchen too. Let’s lighten this for a moment. That’s a bit of strategy to beguile those who are weary with all the flamboyant pol itical hypocrisy of the day. So now: “In the 12th Century the tune we know as Yankee Doodle was used as a chant in Catholic churches in Italy. It was lated noted as a popular vinage song in Spain and southern France. It was heard in Holland as a reaper’s song with the words ‘Janker dudel, doodle down.’ Carried across to Eng land it was widely known as a nursery tune for the rhyme: Lucky Locket lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it— Nothing in it, nothing in it, But the binding round it. It acquired words close to those used today when it was used by the Cavaliers at a satire on Cromwell: Yankee Doodle came to town Upon a Kentish pony; He stuck a feather in his cap And called it Macaroni. Dr. Richard Shuckburg, a surgeon in the British army, wrote the present words as he observed the raw rustic Rev olutionary patriots. But the colonists liked the song and soon claimed it as their own. In 1846 a lively humorous weekly magazine started pub lication in New York and lasted just over a year with the name Yankee Doodle.” There once was a man from Nantucket Who kept all his cash in a bucket; But his daughter, named Nan, Ran away with a man, As for the bucket, Nantucket. But he followed the pair to Pawtucket— The man and the girl with the bucket; And he said to the man He was welcome to Nan, But as for the bucket, Pawtucket. Are You Listening? By EARL WILSON With school just recently starting for the new year, many of us are quite familiar with the entrance fees. It cost a lot to get a child through high school. In the political campaigns that are now on the rampage each candidate is required to pay an entrance fee; but thanks be to God, there is no en trance fee to the kingdom of Christ. Thank God, salvation is free: “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ And yet, the decision to follow Christ is a very costly and serious matter. Following Christ carries grave consequences, and Jesus has never wanted anyone to enter into his service blindly. Much of the sin of our world is due to selfishness. Our attitudes and motives ask “What’s in it for me?” One day Jesus came near to Jerusalem and the people wanted to make him their king. They had witnessed his changing water into wine. They had been present when he fed the five thousand with two fish and five biscuits. They had seen people born blind have their eyes opened, and so they would make him king; not so much because of who he was, but because of what he could do for them. Many people today are church members that are not Christians. They are not true followers of Christ because they are not ready to pay the price. Instead of trying to de termine what they can do for the Lord, they are asking: “What’s in it for me?” The Christian life cajmot be a mere spurt—a sudden de cision to follow Christ, and then falling away. The Christian life must be one of hard work and continual battle. It isn’t easy to live the Christian life. It isn’t easy to turn the other cheek. It isn’t easy to love some people who are trying their best to destroy us. It isn’t easy to desert the ways of the world and follow in the steps of Christ. No, it isn’t easy to be a Christian, but it is necessary that we try. Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Are you listening? Looking A bead ?. ...by Dr. G«org« S. 8*n$on PRESIDENT-NATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM S*arcy, Arkansa* Instant Utopia This is the year of the Civil Rights Bill, and also the year of the race riots. The one is perhaps not entirely unrelat ed to the other. The riots have come on the heels of prolong ed social unrest that was partly induced to generate the backing that would force the Bill upon the attention of the Congress and the people. The miscalculated enthusiasm for equality of preferment through political protectionism has found no stopping point. Hate for “Whitey” broke loose in rampages in major cities with tremendous cost in human suffering and property loss. There have been many things wrong with the so-called “civil rights movement.” Not the least is the potential for riot and revolt against authority. The basis in this, w r e pre sume, is the false notion that “equality” is something the government gives a person. Contrast In Goals Most of the Negro civil rights leaders agreed they would curtail mass demonstrations until after the elections. Two of the organizations refused to go along. So will the William Eptons, the Jessie Grays, the Malcolm X’s and any others who want to insist on pushing the revolt they have infiltrat ed. It is not reforms these punks and Communists seek, it is destruction of public order and failure of public responsibil ity. The Communists agitators, especially, look toward com plete demoralization of the individual and dominance of the State. Regardless of how r many fair housing ordinances, employ ment commissions, or registration drives w r e have, our Ne gro citizens are going to have to earn their regard and res pect just like anybody else. The most responsible Negro leaders, like Don Warden of California, are recognizing that the future of their race depends not upon w r hat the white man can give each of them, but upon w r hat he can accom plish for himself. In a speech so widely applauded it was in serted in the Congressional Record, Mr. Warden told Negroes to fight their drop-out rate instead of reinforcing the Ne gro’s feeling of inferiority by opposition to all-black schools. Who Is Misled? Building pride in race is a goal that will give a sense of purpose to Negroes, Mr. Warden insists. He urges Negroes to concentrate on reducing their huge crime rate, on getting off the welfare rolls and acquiring job skills, and on de manding respect for their women. One Southern newspaper commented on Don Warden’s eloquent plea for dignity and achievement. “There was more understanding, more cour- age, more confidence, and more hope in this one man’s speech than we have been able to find in all the rantings and pro grams of the ‘civil rights’ groups put together.” Our Negro citizens are not the only ones who are misled. Throughout the land, our people are confused as to what the values of life are that deserve acceptance. The materialistic approach has strong attraction for youth, and the rioters and demonstrators are often college students. What answer from the White House to stop civil disobedience in Mississippi? Cut off federal funds! And what will remedy things in Har lem? Why, riots are caused by “want, deprivation and lack of opportunity,” and a dole is needed to end poverty. Amer icans, white or black, who swallow this line are the most mis led of all. Emotion and Reason Underlying the trouble in this national turmoil has been the needless inflaming of emotion by men of good will. Re ligious leaders and organizations, including the National Council of Churches, have urged civil disobedience and tak ing to the streets. Negro leaders have demanded immediate redress of wrongs, as if that were possible. Government of ficials and Congressional leaders have encouraged these de mands, raising false hopes and increasing impatience. It is most unrealistic to expect instant Utopia, whether through a bill, a court decision, or an election. White people are being looked to for reform of the black Ghettos in the big cities. Why so? What is wrong with ex pecting our Negro leadership to accept its own responsibili ties, for most of them are decent, law abiding citizens. Slums and crime are not distinguished by color. Poor home training and parental laxity may produce youngsters that make the same mistakes as adults. Respect for law does not follow pat terns, nor is ignorance unknown among any race. Improving and changing America for the better must have a much broader base than a plea for the federal government to spend money or pass laws. • ••••••••••I Z Dean Manton c:,. STOP \|! FIRES ^ SAVE UVES I NATIONAL BOARD OB FIRE UNDERWRITERS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK -OCTOBER 4-10 THE MANION FORUM Our House of Representatives Judiciary Committee is wrestling with a problem which is historic and basic—the judicial invasion of the legislative process. There has been an attack by the Federal courts, led by the Supreme Court, on the integrity, the autonomy and the vitality of the peo ples’ agencies for determining state and national policy, which agencies are the legislative branches of the state and federal governments. Every state entitled to more than one Congressman, and all 50 states with respect to their state legislatures, are now directly or indirectly under judicial edict to apportion their representative legislative bodies on a “one-man, one-vote” basis. Where does the Supreme Court find the power to assert judicial domination over the legislative branch of govern ment, by undertaking, in private citizens’ suits, to determine the composition of legislative bodies, that, in effect, issue a wTit of mandamus to the respresentatives of thesovereign people that they should be organized as the court decrees? One of the Supreme Court Justices said in a dissenting op inion in the reapportionment cases “ . . . judicial entry into this realm is profoundly ill-advised and constitutionally im permissible.” All can agree that there have been inequalities in legisla tive districting. Over the years the United States has been gradually transformed from a predominately agricultural economy to a predominately industrial economy. Legislative districts which may have been fair for rural America have not been altered in keeping with the shifts and concentration of population. The needed reforms, however, must come from the people in campaigns for legislative bodies. The fact that the people have not seen fit to do so may proceed from a satisfaction with the system as it exists, to indifference, or a lack of interest on the part of the people. The power of the people is not alone to decide rightly or wise ly; it is also the power to make mistakes or decide erron eously. These “re-apportionment” decisions are an arrogant usur pation of naked power at the expense of the people and of the legislative bodies by a majority of the Supreme Court—not elected by anybody and in no way responsible to the people for its actions. We may hope that the people of the United States will recognize this judicial invasion of the legislative process for what it is and demand that the Congress and the state leg islatures take appropriate action to restore to the legislative bodies their complete control over the legislative process. If such remedial action is not taken, a system of government which has provided not only the maximum of happiness and well-being, but the maximum of liberty and self-determina tion of any system of government in history, will be a thing of the past. TRY A TRICK ON YOURSELF AND HAVE A NESTEGG AT 65 Y OU MIGHT FEATHER your nest for retirement if you will adapt a technique used by some of the stores that sell you mer chandise on the installment plan. George W. Evans, who did it— and thereby was able to swap a cold apartment for a house beside an orange tree at 65—tells how it’s done. “When some of the stores sell you a bedroom suite, a piano or refrigerator,” he says, “they set up a time payment plan for you calling for payments of something like $40 a month. Then they put a yellow tab on your credit card that will pop up just two months before your last payment. “A salesman is notified. He in vites you to the store, and makes a big pitch to sell you something else for $40 a month. You’re al ready budgeted for it. You’re ac customed to paying it. After a year you hardly miss it anymore. “It’s good psychology on the part of the store, and it often works . .” Mr. Evans made it work for him when the last of his three children finished college. He was 56 at the time. He made it work again two years later when his mother died. “For almost 10 years Mama and I had been skimping to get the kids through college,’’ he ex plains. “Skimping had become a way of life. We started out paying $900 a year for the first child, jumped to $1600 when two of the kids doubled up on us in college, then wound up with the last child at a flat $1200 a year. “Suddenly we were free of the long burden. It was like getting a $1200 raise. And we were so used to getting by without this particular $1200 that we didn’t really need it. . .” So Mr. Evans, assured of basic security in retirement with pen sion prospects of $345 a month, decided to tab the $1200 a year for investment in stocks. “I made a deal with a broker- to turn over $100 a month to him, on the same basis I had been supplying it to the child in col lege, and he was to put it in specified Blue Chip common stocks. Mama and I never missed it because things just went on as they had for so long . . .” He picked a good list of stocks. And it happened at a good mo ment in history—from the mid fifties stocks were doing fine. When dividends started coming he turned them back into more stock. And when his mother died, the $50 a month he had been giving toward her support for seven years went the way of the college money. The Evans household didn’t miss that either. In the nine years from the time Mr. Evans bought his first stock until he retired at 65, he had put roughly $15,000 into the pot. Thanks to the dividends that he reinvested, and the strong growth of some of the stocks, he reached 65 with slightly more than $34,000. “It was now time to stop taking chances, which you do when you buy common stocks,” says Mr. Evans. “So I sold the entire lot of common stocks and put the $34,000 into bonds and preferred stocks, for an average return of 4Ti per cent. “Now I had a reasonably safe income of $120 a month from here on, in exchange for giving up $100 a month for nine years, and $50 for seven. And to boot I had $34,000 to leave my chil dren, or spend if I wanted to...” Iff GOLDEN YEARS 3S-pa*« bookUt now ready* Send 504 In coin (no stamps), cars of this newspaper, to Dept. CSPS. Box 1(72, Grand Central Station, Now York 17, N. Y.