Daily Independent Journal from San Rafael, California • Page 22

MATTER OF FACT It Costs Money To Get Votes "We shall always do the best we can to serve the coinnuitiity that gives us life." a was the pledge set forth in the first issue; ol' the combined Han Rnjael Indepedetit and Marin Journal which made its appearance just three years ago today. The merger of the county's leading a i Tltn Independent with the county's oldest, newspaper The Journal was hiought about by "rapidly rising costs in the newspaper industry," as Independent i Roy A. Brown and journal Publisher Henry W. Jackson stated at the lime. "The raw material of the i i industry newsprint and type a have risen greatly in r.ost and there has been no compensating rise in income," ihey explained.

And today, three years later, the cost situation is still a threat to the very existence ol: any newspaper. recently the independent- Journal was reluctantly forced to announce advertising rale increases, effective next Jan. I. Thus far we a have NOT been forced to raise subscription rates or the single copy price. How long we can hold the i on this front, we don't know.

our readers can take consolation in the fact that like our advertising rate boost we won't raise the price until there's no other way out. On economic front, then, the newspaper publishing industry is, at best, no better oflf than it was three years ago when one of the county's competing dailies threw in the sponge and merged the other, Now let's see how well we've carried out our pledge always to "do the best we can to serve the community that gives us We don't think anybody will disagree with our firm belief that today's Independent-Journal, is a far better paper than either the old Independent or the old Journal. we went to considerable effort to modernize our appearance, obtaining new type faces after consultation with one of the top men in the newspaper design field. Our local news staff has been expanded and we think we are doing a bctter-than-ever job of reporting the news in all parts the county. Through the facilities of both the Associated Press and the United Press along with Associated Press photos, Acme newsphotos, and Central Press pictures we think we are doing a better-than-ever job of covering the highlights state, a i a and world news.

We feel that our women's department, sports department, and editorial page each is fulfilling its purpose better-than-ever. The people of Marin county must agree, for our circulation has grown, from about 12,000 (for the first issue of the combined Independent and Journal) to approximately 15,000 today; 25 percent increase in three years. Jn the San Rafael-San Anselmo-Faiiiax-Kent- ficld-Ross area, the independent long had "saturation" circulation; that is, we have had more subscribers in ratio to the population area than is ordinarily considered mathe'mati- 'tally possible. In the three 'years since the merger, our circulation gains have consequently been greatest in other areas notably Southern Marin (where it has already and in the No- vat.o area. In addition to indicating that the residents of Marin find the I-J a better paper, these circulation gains have had a beneficial effect on the economic life of the county.

Retail businesses can reach more potential customers than ever before i their advertising messages in the I-J. And this is a two- way street. For the more they advertise, the more Marin shoppers get in the a i ol "shopping the Independent-journal first," before they trot off to San Francisco with the mistaken notion that they can buy everything cheaper and better there than here. So we t'cel sure that during these past three years we have have made a sizeable contribution to the retail business of the county which, in turn, means more jobs, larger stocks of merchandise, and numerous other benefits to the community as a whole. More than 90 years ago the first editor of the Journal wrote of his embryo newspaper: "Its chief aim will be to encourage the development of the resources of the county "We shall contribute our advice and support to every laudable undertaking or measure that may be calculated to advance the prosperity of the community; and unhesitatingly oppose every scheme or project that we deem calculated to retard the progress of the county and' its inhabitants." In the 90 years since that was written, this has had its tips and downs.

There have been times in the past when the future looked black, and there undoubtedly will in the distant future be worse crises than we face today. But we have no doubt that just as it has for the past 90 years this newspaper will go right on striving to fulfill its original aims. NEW YORK (AP) Soms army officers retire gracefully, Others retire like Gen. Charles A. Willoughby, i Intelligence for Gon, Douglas MacArthur.

They carry their mental wounds back Into civil life. General Wl by has a grudge. He la mad at a fair segment, of the American press for the coveraga of the Korean war. Sheathing his sword and taking up his pen, he attacks six correspondents, Including this writer, and throe weekly news magazines in an article In the December issue of "Cosmopolitan," His general charges against the newsmen are that we spread defeatism, "confused an unhappy public," and had "a marked tendency to smear General MacArthur," He even goes so far as to assert: "THE A OF DEFEAT created rui atmosphere of tension, uneasiness, and distrust between Tokyo and Washington. This is believed to have been the major cause of the MacArthiir-TVuman split." I do not know who believes this, unless It General Willoughby himself.

And I don't even really believe he does, except on rainy clays, The general accuses the six war reporters of being "often biased, prejudiced, petu- liuit. Their reporting furnished nid and comfort to the enemy," Perhaps Willoughby, now being free of military duties, ought to set a job as a cub reporter on newspaper anct find out what llic function of a free press is In a democracy. It Is this: to find out the truth--and then print It, The duty of a war reporter on the battlefield isn't to gloss over disaster or hide the mistakes of the top brass. It isn't his duty to hum incense before the altar of two-star, self-inflating ego. It is his duty to find out what is happening in the war--and let the people back home know what is happening.

a is what the The Thrill That Comes; Once in A Lifetime Wt UM soldiers themselves want him to do, His only restriction is this-never to write anything that will threaten a a combat security of the troops. MY OWN I is that General Willoughby has taken up a blunderbuss against the to hide his own blunders, It was--in the opinion of numbers of trained war correspondents on the scene--the reporting of General Willoughby himself that gave "aid and comfort to the enemy" and let down General MacArthur. As top intelligence officer it was his job to give MacArthur an estimate of the enemy's capability under any condition. In the case of the Chinese reds the Tokyo headquarters intelligence staff dismally failed to do this. The White House records of the Truman MacArthur conference on Wake Island on Oct.

15, 1950, show that MacArthur was asked what the chances were of Chinese or Soviet interference In Korea. And MacArthur was quoted in reply: "Very little. We are no longer fearful of their intervention. We no longer stand hat in hand. "THE CHINESE HAVE 300,000 men in Manchuria, pf these probably not more than 100,000 to 125,000 are distributed along the Yalu river.

Only 50,000 to 60.000 could be gotten across the Yalu river, They air force. Now that we have bases for our air force in Korea, if the Chinese tried to get down to Pyongyang there would be the greatest slaughter." Presumably, Willoughby supplied this estimate to his chief. That was his job. Forty days a the N. launched Its "win-the-war" offensive.

On that day Nov. 24 -T headquarters intelligence still put the total Chinese and North Korean enemy in Korea at only 100,000 men. It was an extremely costly miscalculation, Tremendous numbers of waiting Chinese reds rose up, split the allied drive and forced a long withdrawal. On Dec. 2--eight days after the attack began --'MacArthur estimated the enemy at 600,000 men, By JOSEPH ALSOP A I The tax scandals have now succeeded the scandals.

Next will probably come the scandals in the Office of Alien Property. And then, if the congressional Investigators find the guts to stop scratching for peanuts and to begin digging for the big we may see other, Infinitely larger Influence scandals. All these different scandals are widely said to result from a sort of moral relapse in the United States. In fact, however, they result from certain 8 vital changes in the relationship between business and politics. And since this problem, has become very serious and very urgent, the present report is the first of three concerning tha cause and cure of this trouble which is worrying everyone.

THE FIRST CHANGE TO NOTE is the staggering change in the pattern, and therefore in the expense, of modern American politics. As late as the middle thirties, a statewide i a was the natural opportunity of any ambitious young southern politician who owned an old jalopy, picked the right issue and could pay for his own a a and hominy during a year of cultivating the grass roots. In this manner, former Sen. Robert E. Reynolds defeated the late Cameron Morrison, mainly on the ground that the prosperous Morrison had.

become an addict of "red Russian fish in other words, representing the plain people of North a i a in sinful, luxurious Washington. In the north, elections have always been more expensive. Yet as late as the twenties, Truman was expelled from the senate with bellows of indignant horror, because he had laid out a couple of thousand dollars to get. himself elected in Michigan. THOSE SIMPLE, inexpensive days are over now, thanks to the cost of radio, television and other means of mass a a to the voters.

The a southern election now costs several tens of thousands of dollars, even for a professional gallus-wearer. In the north, in the Ohio Senatorial a a i in 1950, the friends of Sen. Robert A. Taft are reported to have laid out more than five times the Newberry figure. NATIONAL ELECTIONS, meanwhile, have also come, to cost more'and more millions of dollars, with highly visible results.

In 1948, when the financial plight of the democrats was at Its grimmest, President Truman's campaign was reportedly bailed out by a single corporate contribution of and no one should be astonished that this corporation has since enjoyed an unusual degree of influence, In the republican case, 'moreover, the, shape of the 1948 campaign itself was strongly influenced. Gov. Thomas E. Dewey believed he only needed good organization to win. Organizing cost money.

And it is an open secret that Dewey avoided taking a clear stand on the farm problem and several other crucial issues, in order not to annoy the big contributors, and thus to keep the big money coming in. The increasing need for money tq finance campaigns has in turn produced a situation that may not be new in pattern, but is entirely new in scale, In the later Roosevelt years, in the "clear-it-with- Sidney" period, the labor groups made large political contributions to the democrats and enjoyed proportionate influence. At present, however, businessmen and corporations pay at least 85 per cent of the 1 a political bills mostly under the table. I A hardly to be blamed, for politics have become enormously im- including 500,000 Chinese and 100,000 North Koreans. WHERE BID THIS VAST force mushroom from? Why did allied intelligence no Inkling of it? It should have.

Who really let MacArthur down in the lost battie near the Yalu-a few newspapermen or his own chief of intelligence? General Willoughby's argument is with history, not with newsmen carrying out their responsibilities to the American public. To report the major mistakes of a major general is no criticism of the American army, as such. An army is many men, not one, Even in this odd world, I doubt if Willoughby will be able to prove a man can whitewash himself by daubing the press with a worn tar brush, Surely he must always remember he didn't know what he ought to have when 100,000 American soldiers marched toward anguish and ambush, hopeful that his wrong intelligence was right. Was it only a year ago? Has the general forgotten already? The men who marched haven't. TRIPLE THREAT MAN OF 1951 WHAT OUR READERS SAY Facts and Figures About Marin Coast EDITOR Independent-Journal Your readers will doubtless ba interested to learn some facts and figures -concerning the coastline of Marin County which are presented in the recent report of a Senate Interim Committee.

At the time this report appeared only 10 miles of a total coastline of 81 miles was In the public domain, and no state beaches or parks were Included in the county. This seems unfortunate because, as the report says, Marin county should rightfully be the major iplayground of San Francisco. "Drake's Estero should be publicly owned, as it contains some 12 to 15 square miles of tidal' flats that offer an excellent waterfowl area frequented by many brant. Perch, orabs, Washington and horseneck a are numerous. Just northward of Drake's Estero is an area which the public-spirited, County Conservation League purchased for the public.

This area, made accessible by the county through condemnation proceed- portant to them, and they can purchase political influence that may be worth manytonilllons for sums which they and their corporations hardly feel. The politicians are no more to blame than the businessmen, since the campaign bills have got to be paid somehow. Meanwhile, the results are increasingly In the congress, on the one hand, any informed observer nowadays can show you rows of senators whose votes are controlled when the chips are down by the banks, the local utilities, the mining and mineral interests and other big business which play big parts in state politics, There is even a soft drink company which has a senator, What has alwayi gone on in a small way has now become common; and this has produced the general lowering of standards typified by the senate's bland refusal to be shocked by such episodes as the Lustron Corporation's $10,000 payment to Sen, Joseph R. McCarthy of Wisconsin. IN THE FEDERAL administration, meanwhile, influence born of a a i contributions has tended to the decisive factor in the sectors of the government which have special importance to big business, such as the Civil Aeronautics Board.

And hand in hand with this growth in the power of money influence, has gone the. general lowering of standards typified by the scandals now engaging the a i a attention. The Independent-Journal welcomes contributions to "What Our Readers Say." letters must he signed, but names will be withheld on request. The editor reserves the right to delete malicious material. Ings, will constitute the only point of public entry between Bolinas and Tomales Bluff, a distance in excess of 40 miles.

Between the sportsmen-acquired county park and Lands End, Chimney Rock is a fine fishing area that a one point of entrance," Throughout the report constant emphasis Is laid on the need of more access roads and a greater mileage of i beach. The stretch between Point Reyes and Point Tomales is described as an unbelievably beautiful strip of sandy shore i offers fins perch fishing, i the rocky northern portions provide abalones, cockles, rock fish and clams. The need for additional small boat harbors is also emphasized and the report notes the fact that the Army Engineers have approved Point Reyes bight and Tomales Bay for development as small craft harbors, In short, it is evident that the Senate Committee was greatly impressed with the varied recreational of Marvelous Marin and felt that no time should be lost in making them available for the enjoyment of the general public. Sincerely, Geoffrey P. Morgan President Shoreline Planning Association of Calif, Santa Monica TODAY'S BUSINESS MIRROR High Cost Of Living Is Felt In Steel Wage Talks By SAM DAWSON NEW YORK (AP) The cost of living may be the unseen third party at the debate in Pittsburgh over steel wages.

The seventh round of wage hikes since world war II ended is the first item on the agenda. But what that will do to the cost of living-already at record high--is the public's stake In the negotiations. LABOR. THAT the rise In the cost of living since the last pay contract justifies at least a 12-cent an hour boost in wages for steel workers. Under the wage stabilisa- tion board's present rules only a five-cent hike is permissable, And some believe that the union will ask for wage hikes and fringe benefits totalling from 20 to 25 cents an hour.

If granted, such increases would shatter the present wage ceilings, and give the chance for a general seventh round of wage increases throughout many industries. The steel companies contend they cannot wages without raising prices on steel products. These products are part of the basic costs in countless items you buy and in maintaining the services you use. Other industries, if they go a with a seventh round, are certain to make the same claims for the right to raise prices, THE UNION AND SOME government officials contend that steel company profits are high enough for the industry to absorb as much as 15-cents an hour wage boosts without raising prices. But the steel industry says that so far this year their earnings have shrunk by about 20 'per cent, compared to 1950's boom-time profits.

And price director DiSalle tells a congressional committee that he may have to raise price ceilings some unnamed products to allow for wage raises as approved by the wage stabilization board, The steel industry is in much better position than the soft goods industries to raise prices without losing customers. In spite of warnings that there may be too much steel making capacity iu another year or two, the shortage of many types of steel continues acute. And the mills continue to expand, The steel industry is operating at a record rate, turning out more steel than ever before without being able to satisfy every one who wants it. More is promised for schools, highways and hospital's next year, but meantime many projects are being held up. TRY AND STOP ME BENNETT CERF U.S.

Gift Parcels Still Go To Germany FRANKFURT are still sending about 250,000 gift parcels to Germany every month. Since the war more than 45,000,000 gift parcels worth about $390,000,000 have come here from the United States. The peak was in November, 1947, during Germany's severe food shortage, when 1,700,000 were received, EDITORIAL 30, I.951, The i a ttea'ch looked beautiful, and the waves broke gently over it but the tourist from Philadelphia noticed that nobody was venturing into the "Are there a i a around maybe?" he inquired a native. "Ain't seen one in night on twenty years," averred the native. Reassured, plufiged into.

the briny. After he had paddled out about a hundred yards he suffered fresh misgivings, and hollered, "Are you absolutely sure there are no alligators here?" "Of course I am," hollered back the native. "They wouldn't dare come around here. They; are scared to death of the sharks." A smug socialite once boasted to Dorothy Parker, "I've held my husband now tor seven years." worry, my dear," rasped Miss Parker, "If you can only hang on long enough, he'll c6me back in style," THE WORLD TODAY Tax Honesty Must Start With Citizens By JAMES MARLOW WASHINGTON (AP). One question keeps poking Us head through the scandals in the Internal revenue bureau: how to prevent a repetition when this mess is finally cleaned up? There's no single answer.

The bureau's machinery for collecting: taxes and checking to see that the arithmetic is right and no fraud Is concealed Is extremely complex. This presumably will be Improved. And the bureau will have to find a of double- checking on its employes, cheeking on one another, to keep crookedness to a minimum. BUT THE BEST MACHINERT can't change people. Some are crooks, inside the bureau and outside among the people who pay taxes and want to cheat and defraud.

Now and In the future any crookedness by a bureau employee will be impossible, no matter what kind of machinery is used, without connivance by a crooked taxpayer. The only foolproof remedy is complete honesty by the public. And even with all the Improvements being talked about, lot of taxpayers will be able to get by with some loot since there still won't be enough bureau employees to check every return thoroughly, The commissioner of Internal revenue is boss of the bureau's 55,000 employees. But you, as a taxpaying citizen, will rarely have dealings with him, directly. When you file a return, you send it to the collector of internal revenue for your district.

There are 64 district collectors, and all are political appointees. THIS MAKES THE collector! different from the bureau's other employees who are the government's civil service system and theoretically at least, are making government work a career, They're not supposed to have any outside interests. But it's been all right for the non-civil service politically-appointed collectors to have outside interests. Since the scandals broke six of the collectors have quit or been fired and two have been indicted. Because of their prominence and political tie-ups they've received a lot of attention and the general.

public may have overlooked the fact that many more other employees of the bureau have been cut off from their Jobs. There's been a strong cry: take Hie i out of politics; make it a law that only civil service people, coming up through the ranks, can get collectors' jobs. And when congress returns In January President Truman will formally recommend that. And congress undoubtedly will carry out the idea. But that will be only a minor adjustment.

THE COLLECTOR, NO matter how he's appointed, will need some checking since, so long as ha haa the power of doing pretty much as he pleases in his own office, can still "fix" a case. And here's another example of how a fix for a fee can continue unless some way is found to check and double-check; An agent goes over your return and decides you've pulled fast one. He goes to see you for explanation. If you're crook, you try to bribe him, If he's crooked, he'll take it, Then, if there's no double-check on your return and his audit of your return, no one will be the wiser. The bureau, because of the tremendous load of work on its hands, probably never can devise a fool proof system.

Honest taxpayers are the final, most effective assuftuice of honest tax collection. REMEMBER WHEN? 10 YEARS AGO Mounting pressure of war-borne inflation became evident when the Mill Valley Forum lined up as guest speaker Frank L. Kldner of the University of California economics department. Kleiner was to speak on the topic "How Can We Help To 1 Control Inflation?" About 150 volunteers from the Tomales area turned out to comb the countryside for Rev. George P.

Haerle, pastor of the First Presbyterian church in Tomales. He had been missing since 9 a.m. when he went out to repair a fence at his home. 20 YEARS AGO Mr. and Mrs.

J. C. Wayne of BJack Point returned from a fishing trip on the McCloud river. Marin county was rejoicing over a rainfall of two inches in two days. In an address before San An; aelmo city council Robert realtor and sportsman, asked tha 'council to disregard the wishes of property owners who would indiscriminately slaughter deer to save their gardens and to find some other way of protecting flowers Rndishnibs.

1 lEWSFAPESr iEWSPAPE'RI.