The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 4

SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1949 TAMPA MORNING TRIBUNE Published rrery Moralna kr THX TBIBUKS COMPACT. BOS X. L.fretU St, Tampa, Fla. GRIN AND BEAR IT By Lichty MEMBER OF THS ASSOCIATED PRESS Tha Associated Press Is entitled exclusively to the use for publication of all the local news printed la this newspaper, as veil as all AP news dispatches. Member of Audit Bureau of Circulation Subscription Rates by Mall or Carrier year 6 mos.

3 mos. 1 mo. 1 week Daily and Sunday (18.30 $9.10 $4.55 $1.65 3S Daily only 13.00 6.50 3.25 1.10 Sunday only 5.20 2.60 1.30 .80 JO Subscriptions Payable In Advance BIBLE THOUGHT When you are furiously busy evil memories do not bother yon, bnt what If yon had nothing to do bnt think remember? Memory never dies. Evil memories will surely bring- gnawing: torment. Their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched.

Isa. 66:24. MERRY-GO-ROUND WASHINGTON, July 8 Gregarious, whlte-4hatched Congressman Whittington of Mississippi is in a strategic spot as Chairman of the Public Works Committee, to see that his state is not left behind when federal funds are ladled out for water conservation, rivers and harbors, and flood control. Mississippi ranka eighth in getting these improvements. However, the Congressman is a strong believer in economy for other states.

When Washington, which ranks 16th. and Oregon, 18th. and are partly arid, request water-control funds, they get nowhere with Whittington. When Charles Hodde. Speaker of the Washington House of Representatives, testified for the proposed Columbia Valley Authority in the Northwest, Whittington Interrupted constantly.

We know what you're here for," he said, "more federal money. Why can't your state undertake the necessary development?" Testimony by Oregon State Senator Vernon Bull met similar rebuffs. Whittington is a militant foe of the Columbia Valley Authority, though 36 Mlwlsalppi counties benefit from the similar Tennessee Valley Authority. So, as Bull took the stand. Whittington asked if he had testified before the Senate.

Bull replied that he had not. Whittington (to clerk recording testimony): "This is off the record." (Then to Bull): "Good, then well get rid of you fast. Are you ih favor of this proposed CVA legislation?" Bull: "Yes, sir, I am. I believe that the people of the Northwest Whittington (irritably): "Yes, yes, we've heard all that. Now give us your reasons -one, two, three." Whittington 's curt treatment of these witnesses probably won't show up in the official record.

As Chairman, he has complete censorship over testimony, can revise or delete his own remarks. By DREW PEARSON termine who had leaked the story, and eventually pinned down Pika as the source. But since he wa the diplomatic representative of a friendly government, and had been one of those to warn the Russians of Hitler's plan to attack the U.S.S.R., they could takt no action against him at the time. But the memory of Moscow is long. And when tha Communists took over Czechoslovakia, Pika was tried, and a few days ago sentenced to be shot.

The sentence was brief, but it meant a great deal to the few people who knew. It "He was an enemy of the Soviet Union." VINSON'S PUNCHING BAG. I don't know whether Ed Prltcbard, the so-called "wonder boy" of the New Deal, la guilty of ballot stutfing down in Kentucky or not. But do know what Prich was guilty of in Washington during the war and the reason he got cuMed out even more than if be had stuffed ballot boxen. Prich was the right-hand man to Fred Vinson, now chief Jutlc, during thoee grim and hectic days when labor wanted to raise wages, manufacturers wanted to raU prices, the bouMwue couldn't get enough of hardly anything, and when all groups took their grumbling out on the Office of Economip Stabilization.

Vinson, the economic stabiliser, was a rock of Oibralur in that battle. But bis right bower and frequent punching bag was Ed Prlchard. In fact, Prich probably got cussed out even more than Vinson, because Vinson was viewed mistakenly as an easy-going gentleman, a prisoner of the young men around him, chiefly Prich. In Washington, it'a frequenUy the ghost writers and the assistants who have to do a lot of the dirty work and who get the brickbats with none of the credit. Prich was in that category.

Weighing 300 pounds, he was discharged from the Army for physical reasons, but performed a far more useful service for his country holding the price line in Washington. If the country had followed Vinson's and his urging and kept prices and wages where they were, we would not now be suffering the uncertainty of recession. So, if Prich, in a fantastic flight of political melodrama, did stuff a ballot box, the public should know about it and act accordingly. However, the publlo should also know that there were some qualities on the other side of the ledger. i.c my ITT: 1M9.

Soft Ml Titae All rlfbu Antarctic, which will be more ambitious than Byrd's 1946-47 Operation Highjump, in which 4000 men engaged. Discovery of uranium is said to be the primary objective. Preparations for similar expeditions have been reported from other capitals, including Moscow, but all have been surrounded with great secrecy. Russia, in its evident desire to control a large part of the world, doubtless would not balk at attempting to raise its flag over the vast areas of the Southern Pole. Pugnacious Pcgler Our vigorous and vitriolic columnist, Westbrook Pegler, had his "day in court" before a labor subcommittee of the House.

He was "on the stand" four hours and told the committee and the public plenty. Most of Mr. Pegler's assertions and accusations have been printed in his column. He added little to his printed words. However, he brought directly into focus the charges he has frequently made about the pernicious activities of labor union bosses and agents, and their hook-up with governmental and political influences.

In general, the columnist classified the unions as heavily loaded with "despots, criminals and Communists." He had proof of some of his accusations others were based on unwritten testimony. As it happened, the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Jacobs, of Indiana, is one of the labor union attorneys so bitterly castigated by the witness. Mr. Jacobs, it developed, represented a Baltimore Carpenters Union local in a lawsuit against another union, the AFL Carpenters International.

Pegler wasn't daunted by the fact that one of the "jury" he was addressing was one of the men included in his denunciation of labor lawyers. Jacobs admitted that he got an $8000 fee for his union representation; and Pegler made public his own remuneration for columning $450 per daily column. It isn't likely that Pegler's testimony will have any actual effect on the18 subcommittee's deliberations or report. His identity as the leading anti-labor publicist of the nation's press is so well established that his contribution to the record will be considered mere repetition. However, he will continue his battle through his column which will continue to be interesting reading and "Fair Enough." "We're just planning a pleasure trip to Europe but if there's any spying we could do in the line of duty MARQUIS CHILDS REVIEWING THE ALLING CASE WASHINGTON, July 8.

In this destroy men and women who pro-space recently the details of the loy- test their loyalty and their innocence alty case against Mrs. Anne V. Ailing of any wrongdoing, were told. On the most flimsy hear- One fact emerges that has, it seems say reports, most of it on the level of to me, a direct bearing on efficiency guilt by association, Mrs. Ailing had in government quite apart from con-been found disloyal by a regional siderations of ethics arid Justice.

In loyalty board and removed from her the record of every government worker position in the "blind pool" of the who has been investigated beyond the VICE PRESIDENTIAL HUMOR. Here is one story which Vice President Barkley doesn't tell, but which his friends tell on him. It goes back to World War I when Barkley, then a member of the House from Kentucky, was touring the allied battle fronts with a group of Congressmen. The party included Rep. Jones of Texas, now Chief Justice of the U.

S. Court of Claims: Rep. Randall of Rep. Welling of Utah, and Barkley himself. Arriving in London, the congressional committee found itself booked by the U.

S. Embassy for a trip into the British countryside early the next morning. So, placing their shoes outside the door to be shtaed according to standard British custom, the party went to bed, leaving calls for 6:30 A. M. But about 3 A.

M. the irrepressible Barkley got up, telephoned Welling's room and in a broad English accent announced: "The carriage awaits without." Hastily, Welling dressed, couldn't find his shoes, but rushed down five flights of stairs of the swank Savoy Hotel in stocking feet to ask the sleepy night clerk to find his shoes and meanwhile to hold the carriage. The joke furnished London much merriment and even Welling enjoyed it. To this day, when Barkley and Jones, Randall or Welling meet, their greeting is: "The carriage awaits without." routine of a standard check, details NATION'S BUSINESS. Despite depression, tha special congressional committee appointed to keep its finger on the nation's business pulse reports that "employment is higher than at any previous year in history except 1948." In fact, "recent data show an increase of nearly one million in June." The committee staff hastily compiled this report over the Fourth of July weekend even while President Truman was preparing his economic message aboard the presidential yacht Williamsburg.

Though the committee's report has not yet been made public, here are the highlights: Hardest hit by unemployment has been New England, where industrial jobs have dropped considerably. The most substantial declines were reported In New Bedford, Providence, Bridgeport and Waterbury. Seasonal gains in construction work have been offset by the down trend in manufacturing. But the locality worst hit of all is Muskegon, Mich where, according to the report, "by curtailment of factory production, unemployment reached a level higher than that of any major area in the country." The most favorable conditions were found in the West, where Jobs actually increased in eight out of 11 major areas and held the status quo in one Salt Lake City. A slight decline in unemployment was reported in Los Angeles, and a moderate decline in San Diego.

The committee on the economic report found that unemployment had fluctuated around the two million level during 1947 and 1948. An unusually low figure for peacetime economy, this has risen to 3.8 million during the first six months of 1949. Showdown On Air Force A SHOWDOWN in the long controversy over a 70-group Air Force is expected when the Senate gets to work on the House-approved military appropriation bill, which carries $15,909,116,800. The House added more than a half-billion to the President's military budget, with most of the increase to go toward the 70-group program. Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee are seeking a cut of one billion in the House total for the military establishment.

On the Senate floor the size of the Air Force will be the big controversial issue. The chief argument of the Senate proponents of the 70-group plan is the one used successfully in the House that the Air Force appropriation could be increased with no addition to the President's total jnilitary budget simply by diverting to the air branch the 600 million Truman proposed for universal military training. As was pointed out in the House, these earmarked funds cannot be used for their intended purpose during the fiscal year 1950 because there is no possibility that Congress will pass such legislation this year. Economy-minded Senators cite the fact that Air Secretary Symington and Air Force Chief of Staff Vandenberg indorsed the Truman plan for a 48-group when they recently appeared before the Senate military sub-committee on appropriations. However, Symington previously had been the outspoken champion of the 70-group plan, and only last January 31 suggested to the House Armed Services Committee that the universal training funds be diverted to his branch of the service.

Of the President's $14,765,000,000 proposed for the armed services, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, the Air Force share was about $4,600,000,000. This would provide for 48 full-strength combat groups, the limit Truman wants for the next 12 months. Although Air Force officials have stated that 70 groups is the minimum that will provide adequate defense, the President has held that so large an air program would unbalance the whole military establishment. Last year, although there was no basic law authorizing 70-group strength, Congress, over opposition from the Army, Navy and the President, appropriated money for a start on the 70-group program, adding 822 million to the amount the President had requested for the Air Force. In approving that bill, Truman directed special attention to the provision which said that "the funds shall not be spent without a finding by the President that the contracts are necessary in the national defense." As a result the Air Force got only $1,300,000,000 of the approved $1,900,000,000 appropriation to make purchases during the fiscal year just ended.

A strong and sufficient Air Force is an essential requisite of armed power. The question is if the nation can afford to risk national defense on an air arm inadequate to meet possible emergencies. Veterans Administration where she did routine typing having nothing to do with secrecy. It is good to be able to report that the top loyalty board has now cleared Mrs. Ailing and ordered that she be restored to her position, presumably she will be compensated for the eight weeks that she was suspended on a finding of the fourth regional loyalty board that she was disloyal.

While it is good news that what was so obviously an injustice has now been corrected, the fact remains that there should never have been an "Ailing case." The cost in time and money of government officials, to say nothing of the misery endured by the principal in the case, must be put down as a total loss to democratic government. If Mrs. Ailing had been everything that was alleged and a great deal more the front and center of a Communist "apparatus" she could have done the government not the least harm. Nearly blind from a series of eye operations, she transcribed dictaphone records of letters relating to veterans' insurance. As the record of her case showed, Mrs.

Ailing is a woman of independent and inquiring mind. Her religious of the investigation are set forth. That is to say, no matter how completely he has been vindicated nor how absurd and baseless the charges were shown to have been, the investigations trails after him throughout his government service. It is a stigma stamped on the individual for his entire government service. Take the case of a government employe vindicated after a preliminary loyalty investigation.

Because of his special skill and excellence he is to be transferred to a more responsible position in another government department. But the division chief in the other department takes due notice of the loyalty investigation and being timid or prejudiced he decides against what might be a risk in a time when suspicion and fear are rampant. So the government employe does not get the transfer and his abilities are not used to the best advantage. This is not theory. It is happening in government today as a result of the intense preoccupation with the loyalty search.

The time has come, in my opinion, quickly to wind up the loyalty program except as it covers employes in secret background gave her an idealism that or restricted work. This last would Economy And Surpluses be a small fraction of the whole. At MOSCOW'S LONG MEMORY. The story can now be told of how the Soviet government schemed to dismember Czechoslovakia following the war. It can be told because Gen.

Heliodor Pika is dead, executed last week by a Communist government firing squad. But the story was not buried with him. Pika, recently deputy chief of staff of the Czechoslovak Army, had been military attache in Moscow "during the war. It was there he heard of the Soviet plan to reduce his country to a group of small states, as it had been before the Masaryk-Wilson concept of a union of the Czechs and Slovaks. Immediately Pika got word out of Moscow to President Benes in London.

Benes promptly cabled Molotov and Stalin, asking for an explanation. The Soviets then started an investigation to de- ROBERT C. RUARK STANTON, July 8. The old man who says he is Jesse James speaks of his past, from boyhood on, with the firm surety and tremendous attention to detail of a man who is speaking of his own life, not somebody else's. He is still a cagy old man.

He will admit directly to no robbery or murder, but he can give you some magnificent first-hand details that would be pretty hard for a man 102 years old to parrot for the purpose of carrying off a hoax. When Uncle Jess now I'm calling him Uncle Jesse, too speaks of the past, he sounds exactly like my Grandpa used to sound when he was telling of his life in the Civil War. Uncle Jesse told me one story of his beginning as an outlaw that is not part of the general James legend. That was the incident which prompted him to run off to join Quantrill's raiders when he was 15. It is the only killing he will admit, because he does not construe it as murder.

He says that he and the boy Cole Younger rode over to Independence, at the start of the war, to file with the register of deeds some papers on a piece of property Jesse's mother had sold. He said Younger, who was his elder, went into the courthouse to file the papers, leaving Jesse sitting on his horse and holding Cole's. The old man says that a Union Army Captain and two Lieutenants approached him and demanded that he give up the horses, which Uncle Jesse says they accused him of stealing. In a fit of boyish panic he says he hauled out his gun and shot the Captain, as the officer attempted to pull him from the horse. He also got one of the Lieutenants.

He and Younger then took off, and Jesse joined the celebrated raiders. His hatred of the "damyanks" is still immense, even in his anclence. He says that when he tried to surrender, at the end of the Civil War, he was ambushed, and he still curses heartily at the mention of the name of Pinkerton. It is a matter of record that Allen Pinkerton's men came from Chicago to knock off the outlaw, and they hand-grenaded the James the same time it should be possible for the Civil Service Commission to order a purge of the files of individual "employes, removing so-called loyalty data that is obviously irrelevant and even downright ridiculous. In the Judith Coplon case the gov more conventionally minded people might have considered fuzzy and sentimental.

Even before the top loyalty board, she maintained her independence of thought, refusing merely to recant a political heresy with the proper words and phrases. That may have been misguided in view of the fact that her ernment proved it has ample resources livelihood and her reputation were at for apprehending an employe engaged, IDENTIFYING JESSE JAMES house, blowing off Jesse's mother's hand. I asked the old gent why he waited so long to unmask himself, and he said it was pretty simple. Ha just says that he was waiting for time to kill off anybody he might be able to implicate him in any of his illegal doings. Now, he says, he wants to correct history.

"I guess we was bad enough," the old boy says, "but we had some reason to be. We got a lot af credit for things we didn't do, and I guess we done a lot of things we didn't get blamed for. I will tell you just enough truth to convince you, but I ain't admitting a thing about murders." As James, or Dalton, call him what you wish, speaks of his past life, he salts it with details that must either be true or else a magnificently learned and polished script. In describing how he got one wound, he does not say that he was riding along when somebody shot him. "I was on a long legged roan mule," he will tell you.

"Somehow I hung on until I reached Dave Poole, my doctor." Or, when speaking of Kansas City, "that was when Tom Crittenden was mayor." He challenges history on the death of Quantrill, the celebrated raider. He says he was around when Quantrill allegedly was killed. "When him and Bill Anderson (Bloody Bill Anderson, under whom James served) was shot, we hung a blanket sling between two hosses and swum 'em across the Mississippi River. Quantrill later went to Texas and taught school under a different name." James has told Lester Dill, owner of the vast Meramec Caverns, of several secret entrances to the caves that Dill himself has verified. He has one verifiable story of a schoolhouse fire when he was a child that is not part of the general James legend.

Bit by bit, he has convinced all the people around him of authenticity, and I suppose that includes me. Tomorrow I can tell you what did actually happen if J. Frank Dalton of Texas is, as he says, the outlaw Jesse James. stake. But it seems to me to be a as the trial demonstrated, in traitor- decldedly American trait and for ous acts.

The voluminous evidence one, am glad that it still survives. broke down the defendant's frantic Letters have come to me indicating effort to find an alibi for her action, that the Ailing case is not an isolated With such safeguards as were shown instance. They recite similar examples in that case, we should no longer feel it is necessary to look nervously over in which trivialities, gossip and malicious tale-bearing have been magni every government employe's shoulder every day. fied put of all proportion and used to WALTER LIPPMANN CRISIS IN EUROPEAN RECOVERY AS TRIBUNE READERS SEE IT Nothing could be more unwelcome and inconvenient than another international crisis. A tired and uncomfortable Congress is hoping to adjourn, and everyone would like to take a vacation from the heat and from trouble.

But during the past few months a world-wide crisis has been in the making which threatens the postwar reconstruction and could jeopardize our foreign policy. This crisis is now disclosed by the British Treasury figures showing the rate at which the gold and dollar reserves of the sterling area are being exhausted. Though the exact figures, which are published every three months, have been a top secret until Sir Stafford Cripps laid them before parliament, it has been evident for some time that Britain and the sterling area ware in very serious trouble. The figures show that even with Marshall aid they are moving rather rapidly not towards recovery but towards insolvency. That is the least alarming language in which this crisis can truthfully be described.

The crisis must bring with it unemployment and a declining standard of life in the most sensitive areas of Europe. There is no reason to think that a Socialist government in Britain, or the working people of the continent who are predominantly Socialist, will accept passively the disappointment and the suffering. They are in the fifth year after the ordeal of the war, in the second year of the bright promises of the Marshall Plan. The governments, their backs to the wall, will not be passive. They will be bound to make a determined, indeed a ruthless, effort to equalize the sacrifices and to find substitutes for the supplies that they can no longer buy in North America.

They will use all their power and influence, as sovereign collectivist states, to monopolize the markets and to promote cutthroat competition. They will discriminate against American exports not only to Britain and the sterling area but to any other country, like the Argentine for example which can be forced by its own necessities to collaborate with them. The world, already divided by the Iron Curtain, will become subdivided further by the sterling and the dollar curtains. Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee have been for the second time in a fortnight reminded that the nation's foreign aid programs 'directly benefit large segments of American agriculture and industry. Such reminders have a way of diminishing enthusiasm for cutting foreign aid appropriations.

In mid-June a Senate drive to cut Marshall Plan funds by one billion received a sharp setback when ECA Administrator Hoffman produced figures to show that the cut would force cancellation of ECA plans to purchase 818 million's worth of American cotton, wheat, tobacco, fuel and other commodities. At the end of June Assistant Secretary of Army Voorhees told the committee that two-thirds of the one billion the Army has requested for government and relief in the occupied areas would be used to buy foods that are surplus here principally grains, sugar, fats and oilseeds. Voorhees is the Army's food administrator for the occupied areas. The sum asked for the fiscal year just beginning is about one-fifth less than the $1.3 billion approved for the fiscal year 1949. Recovery of Germany's economy made the cut possible, Voorhees said, adding that German exports have exceeded all expectations and Germany may later be able to aid other European countries.

Chief contributing factors to the recovery were last Summer's currency reform in the west- ern zones and the European recovery program. Senator Dulles Governor Dewey exercised excellent judgment in appointing John Foster Dulles to the Senate seat vacated by the resignation of New York's aging and weakened Wagner. Mr. Dulles is a recognized authority on international affairs, closely in touch with the nation's foreign policy, and admirably able to give both the country and his state distinguished representation in the Senate. Mr.

Dulles will add one to the GOP membership of the Senate; but his appointive term extends only to Nov. 8, when the voters of New York will, in a special election, name the successor to the unexpired Wagner term, which ends Jan. 3, 1951. It is regarded as certain that Mr. Dulles will not offer as a candidate in the election; he will be content to serve during the brief interim.

He will prefer to return to his chief work as a diplomat. In the election, there will be Democratic and Republican candidates, and the party division in the Senate will be affected by the result. SUGGESTS SUING GOVERNOR PUNTA GORDA. Isn't it time we taxpayers were doing something about our Governor and other government agencies spending our tax money for services rendered them before and after election and paying for services that are of no benefit to the state. Why don't we request our legislature to pass a the state and sue Governor Warren for every dollar he has spent or paid out not getting value received for the state and sue every person that has received any money that has been paid them by the Governor for services rendered him towards electing him or since election where the state has not received full compensation.

I am ready to pay my part of the lawyer' fee for this service. Why don't we request our legislatures to pass a law putting a heavy fine on any person running for office who solicits votes by promising jobs at good salaries if elected. Any of our representatives who fail to do this we will not ever vote for them again. I certainly do appreciate The Tribune giving us this information about what is going on in Tallahassee. It certainly is opening our eyes and will change our votes in the next election.

Mr. Taxpayer, are we going to 1 stand for our tax money being spent as it is? If we don't do something about it we can expect it to be spent more freely every day. Let us go on a stampede right now and demand a change. What do you say, Mr. Taxpayer? We taxpayers can organize as easily as any other group.

Why don't we? A. M. MATHISON. THE TRIBUNE'S FIGHT BELLE GLADE. All honor to The Tribune for the good fight it is putting up, in laying bare before the public the wasteful yes, criminal spending of the public funds.

The wonder is that, these sucking parasites have left anything whatsoever to carry on the functions of government, much less having anything left for the aged and needy. Now they are fixing to cut the assishtance to the blind, who, from the very nature of their affliction, are the most helpless and most worthy of recipients. Mayo, I see, makes no apologies neither does The Tribune. I side with The Tribune; so I am satisfied will every taxpayer who sees his hard earned money spent by a set of profligates. The explanations of the beverage officials are weak.

Why should Schott have the power to create a second assistant director's post. And Mayo has the power to appoint. Who is authorized to pay these funds? Here I confess my ignorance. As for living in comfort, they live as do millionaires. If this money came out of their own pockets they would be somewhat more reticent in their expenditures.

I will venture to say that not one of these reckless spenders of other people's money could earn a salary commensurate with their spending ability. As for Warren; as a grandstander he stands preeminent. As to ability (except for false promises) he is non compos mentis as witness h'is 2000 Colonels. His desire for notoriety as exhibited in his automobile deal, stamps his mentality as something from the dark ages. As to his government economies his savings compared to his expenditures are infinitesimal.

During the days of reconstruction the Negro legislature bankrupted the state of North Carolina. If Warren appoints a few more Colonels, and another assistant governor, he bids fair to fellow in their footsteps'. The Tribune is doing a great service. It is amazing how ignorant we "publicans" are as to the doings of the men we put in office. The right kind of publicity will surely have its effect.

It will be an education to the taxpayer and it is to be hoped that other papers will follow the commendable course set by The Tribune. Keep up the good work. Give the taxpayer his innings. F. A.

LE GETTE. Who Found Antarctica? The Soviets have been making all sorts of claims about inventing and discovering things. Among the numerous "firsts" claimed by them the only one likely to give any concern to western nations, now or. in future, is that the Antarctic Continent was first discovered 130 years ago by two Russian explorers. They were Admiral Fabian Bellinghausen and Mikhail Lazarev.

Western geographers concede that the Bellinghausen expedition of 1819-21 was the first to sight land within the Antarctic Circle, but they deny that Bellinghausen discovered the Antarctic land mass. The land sighted, they say, was the tiny Peter Island, in what is now called Bellinghausen Sea, and the larger Alexander Island, just off the Antarctic Continent. The United States has made no specific claim to land in the Antarctic region. A year ago it suggested to other nations having claims there Great Britain, France, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile the possibility of establishing an international regime for the Antarctic. Russia does not appear to have been among the nations receiving the American proposal, which anyway has made no progress.

If the United States does not recognize the Russian claim, neither does it recognize the competing claims of western nations, for, in 1924, Secretary of State Hughes declared that this country considered permanent occupancy necessary as the basis of any claim to sovereignty. No nation has established a permanent settlement of the Antarctic Continent, though the Byrd expeditions have probably come closer to it than those of any other nation. It has been repeatedly rumored during the past three months that the U. S. Navy is planning another expedition to the There is no likelihood, it seems to me, that we shall be able to ride out this crisis cheaply and easily.

All the choices abroad and at home are painful. All the remedies abroad and at home are hot to handle. The risks which have to be chosen deliberately and very soon, are inordinately difficult to calculate. But the Truman administration and the country cannot avoid making the initial and fundamental decision which is whether, we can and should intervene with special and extraordinary measures. The alternative, which is nonintervention, is to confine our own efforts to controlling the recession in this country, leaving the United Kingdom and the nations of Western Europe to deal with the world crisis by their own separate devices, by such measures as each government itself is able, willing, or compelled, to take.

It will be tempting to feel that if after the World Bank, the monetary fund, UNRRA, the British and the French loans, interim aid and the Marshall Plan, the crisis is breaking out once more, then the solution will have to be found in Europe and not here. But I do not believe that we can afford to risk the consequences of nonintervention and of letting nature take its course. The political and the economic risks are too great. Yet all these measures will be defensive. They will be undertaken, even by convinced Socialists, not for the love of planning as such but in order to save their dwindling reserves of dollars and in order to eke out enough food and raw materials to avoid a catastrophic fall in the popular standard of life.

But the net result will be to set in motion a vicious spiral of deflation. Trade will contract. Productivity will decline. The depression will become deeper and more unmanageable. For there are no important and effective measures which any British government, Socialist, Conservative, or coalition, can take at this time by its own powers and with its own resources alone, that are not defensive, restrictive and deflationary.

AU the reforms that must be undertaken to reduce the British costs of production, to develop the unused resources of Africa and the colonial empires, and to expand trade by liberating it are reforms that take a long time. They cannot resolve the crisis of 1949. To insist on them as the only remedies is like asking a man to start learning to play the violin tomorrow morning in order to give a violin concert at the end of next week. MORE EDUCATION NEEDED LAKELAND. I have always been in favor of taxes for schools, as having had no public schooling myself due to living on a frontier where there was only one teacher for two dozen pupils and having only attended for three months each in two years I have often suffered a feeling of an inferiority complex and wanted every child to enjoy advantages which I had no means attain.

I hope with the millions voted by our law makers for education I shall live long enough to avoid hearing this conversation which is standard in my favorite lunch stand or bar: "Have you saw Jeff this mornin'?" Proprietor, 'No I haven't saw him this mornin' but I seen him yestiddy. I heard he got took by the law last night, if he'd took my advice he'd have went home when I told him to." I hope some of these dollars will go toward better knowledge of grammar. Spinoza said: "Speak always in a language intelligible unto the people," but if a self-educated scholar forgets to do this he is regarded with suspicion and dislike. So education! "that's for me" A. C.

HOOKS. PARASITES AND OLD FOLKS PUNTA GORDA. Let the old folks die, they are Americans who built this country to what it is. Pay the political parasites in Washington, who receive $1200 a month, and the old folks $41 a month to live on. The Tallahassee parasites on Warren's payroll received for June $4310, while the old folks starve.

N. C. HEWITT..