Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 6

By Frank Williams AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER JOHN 8. KNIGHT, PUBLISHER J. H. BARRY, GENERAL MANAGER Publlihed avary morning by Knight Nawtpapara, Ino, 321 W. Lafayette Ava, Detroit 31.

Michigan. Entered a wcond elan matter at tha poatoffioa at Detroit, Michigan, under the act of March 3, 1879. MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1951 As We See It Our National Comic StripRay of Sunshine Inflafhn and Our Arms I cDoe veuve 1 yJfa i IWi 1 One-Fifth Lost HPHE defense program's appropriation of $35 billion last year was, in effect, reduced by more than $7 billion by price inflation, according to Defense Secretary George C. Marshall. As a result, a fifth of the armament for which Congress voted money was sacrificed to higher production costs.

The Secretary of. Defense said to the Senate Banking Committee: "The loss of guns, tanks and planes to a creeping inflation is just as damaging to national security as if they had been destroyed in battle or captured by a more visible and concrete enemy." The struggle we are engaged in, Gen. Marshall went on to say, takes many forms. The enemy would like to embarrass our economy by every possible means. One way "to get us if we don't do it ourselves is to break the back of our economy," the General declared.

Gen. Marshall took "sharp exception" to appeals by various segments of industry and agriculture for exemptions or special treatment in the application of controls. Welcome Back, Harry ALL lovers of fine courage will welcome back Harry Heilmann to the baseball broadcasts. Stricken in Florida with a bad heart and other complications, it was feared Tthat he would never again be able to give forth to Detroiters his cheery voice, his infec--tious chuckle and his remarkable understanding of our national pastime. But now the sport pages tell us that he has sufficiently recovered so that his voice will be with us again.

We salute Harry not alone because of his baseball but personally as a gentleman of rare courage. It took that courage to make him one of the greatest hitters of baseball. But in his new career it took more than physical courage; it took moral stamina. While Harry had a good educational background he spent too many years under his tutor, Ty Cobb, and in the association with ballplayers to be quite precise in his English Jvvben he began announcing. Hearing of that criticism, Harry went back to his books for Ja refresher course so that the double negative eliminated.

Also he took a course of strict discipline in He learned the great lesson not to be hysterical in his broadcasts or to dramatize a situation where no drama really existed. And so he became Detroit's best beloved broadcaster. He had the gift of knowing what he was talking about The rest was left to his innate lovable personality. How he could stand up under the pressure such things as double-headers we do not now. Five hours of talking I But we hope that now that he is back on the job, his sponsors will give him sufficient relief on -the routine details so that such efforts will mot cause him to have a relapse.

Saginaw Income Tax TI TUNICIPAL authorities all over Michi-gan will watch with interest the result of Saginaw's recent referendum, providing for a municipal income or payroll tax. Although the proposal was carried by a substantial majority, it still must be clarified by the courts. If, however, the plan is given legal green light, it will mean that Sagi-naw employers will deduct 1 per cent of the Good Morning The Cost As Others See It ay a sh Lin By uaicoim w. mngay DEAR BING: As a fellow Scot I have been waiting for your answer to that guy who wrote, some weeks ago, in the Voice of the People column challenging you to tell about the culture of the Scotch, after your attack on rPHE Senate committee is holding hearings on the extension of the Defense Production Act beyond its expiration date this month. The Administration asks for its extension, with greatly increased powers.

Yet Mr. Truman has never used the powers the law enacted last September gives him. This is particularly true in connection with organized labor. The big union bosses have been allowed to dictate the terms of wage "stabilization." That's politics. Congress also played politics when it wrote into the law restrictions on ceilings for farm products.

With these two important groups exempted from "equality of sacrifice," all the little fellows demand equally favorable treatment. The wage-price spiral can't be effectively checked if Congress or the Administration first stops to count the votes it will gain or lose by controlling this or, that commodity. French culture. You have said CAPSULE COMMENT, IT CANNOT be said that, tte New Deal hasn't kept its promises. The latest is hamburger and stew for the common herd, and steaks for the upper crust.

believe this is the first time in American history it has occurred. Oh well, didn't Roosevelt promise the common herd the more abundant life JAMES GREGORY; SECRETARY of the Treasury Snyder has denied a report that workers are going to be forced to buy savings bonds, but I've gotten to feel about our Administration heads In Washington the way I do about the Russians. Whatever they say, it convinces me that exactly the opposite is true. MRS. W.

A. THOSE 300 taxi licenses that John Witherspoon advised against would now be welcome to both the and we had it under Harding and we have it now under Truman but the newspapers of America, as a whole, have never deviated in their duty in keeping the people informed. No matter how bad our leadership may be, our Government still lives. There has never been a second or a third or a fourth, or fifth, Republic. We have had one.

As Carl Schurz said so nobly on the floor of our Senate: "Our Country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right; when wrong to be put right." ONLY a free press can make such things possible. The radicals, especially the French left bank aesthetes, sneer at our "capitalistic" press. Well, this is a capitalistic Country under a democracy and no other Nation had grown so powerful, so prosperous and so idealistic as has the United States. We are the rational people of the world because we have learned under our Constitution to keep alive individual freedom, a free press and free speech.

As, for Scotland, it is a poor country without natural resources but its sons have gone forth to all the world to give every land nothing. Is there no answer? J.L.T. ANSWER: You are strictly Brooklyn in your thinking. You are stealing third with the bases full. In the first place I never made any criticism of French culture.

What I resented was the bald statement in The Saturday Review of Literature one of my favorite publications that the French were the only completely rational people on earth and that "Paris was the center of the world's culture." Now that word "rational" means having intelligence and common sense and integrity to one's intellect. And all I asked was, if the French are the most rational people on earth, why they have never been able to govern themselves I would not have resented even that ancient bromide if, by independent, that it had to be maintained by subsidies. Which is a contention that answers itself. It is America with its fiery competition that makes the press of the -United States free. A newspaper that does not fight for what the people want has no circulation.

That is why all the radical press fails unless it is subsidized. Circulation alone is what brings in the advertising and advertising is the lifeblood of American journalism. The bigger a newspaper's circulation, the more successful it is, and the more successful it is, the more independent it can be. Mr. Doakes, the big merchant, may hate its liberal or, let us say, popular policies but he feels that he must use its columns because he does not want his competitor to have such an advantage over him.

Nobody, no group, can buy the editorial opinion of any American newspaper, as they do always in France. That would mean the death of'that paper. At our beginnings there used to be newspaper "organs" for vested interests. They died because they did not march with the mood of the people, in keeping with the soul of our Country, The Declaration of Independence. "Better," wrote Thomas Jefferson, the author of that Declaration, "newspapers without government than government without newspapers." YES, we have had corruption in our Government.

And pusillanimous leaders. But, always there has been the free press, in competition with its rivals, to sound yearnings of each employe, and turn it over to the city tax collector, along with 1 per cent of their own business profits. There are, of course, many arguments pro odious comparison, we of the Unit and con, on this type of municipal taxation. It has been used successfully, we understand, in Toledo, and a few other places, but perhaps not extensively enough to determine its ed States were not put down as in ferior, the broad intimation being that we lacked both culture and intelligence. i -ii i of Gasoline BY FRANK B.

WOODFORD As candidates for statues in the Pious Wing of the Hall of Fame, we nominate the heads of the oi( companies who sell, gasoline in fairly substantial quantities to Michigan motorists and get reasonably rich in the process. Last week, in the face of a 1.5-cent increase in retail gas prices, resulting from the application of the additional State gas tax, Gov. Williams sought to have the companies absorb the boost Instead of passing it on to the public. The new total Is -comparable to what gas users in other states pay. But in some other states, part of this tax' is absorbed by the companies, Gov.

Williams was only trying to do for Michigan what is done in other states, and with that in mind, he called for a conference of gas company officials to discuss the matter. They him idown cold. THE REASONS, they would not attend such a meeting, they said, was because, by-getting together td discuss prices, they would lay themselves open to charges of price fixing in violation of the State anti-trust laws. And that, dear friends, is one they had to reach way, way out for. In the first place, neither Gov.

Williams nor anybody else suggested any talk about price fixing. All the Governor sought was to have the companies pay the extra tax without passing it on to the public. Whether the companies could do that or not, we aren't prepared to say. Maybe it would knock their; profits over to the wrong side of the ledger, but that's a charitable way of looking at it. What does amaze us, however, is this sudden and righteous concern of the gas companies on that little matter of fixing prices.

Can you think, off hand, of a set of retail prices that is already more firmly fixed than that of Can you take your jalopy and shop from one station to another of any of the major companies and find prices at the pump that vary as much as 110 of a cent a gallon? You know better. There's just about as much price competition in the gas business as there is hope for the Tigers grabbing the pennant in 1951. 'Along with the gas tax law, the Legislature passed another one authorizing the return of the one-man grand jury. We recommend to Gov. Williams that he sign it, if he hasn't already done so by this time, arid then invoke it; and let the first job of a new one-man grand jury investigate the price arrangements of the gasoline industry.

It might be revealing. This I 'could not stand as one people of Detroit and the Detroit war. veterans who applied for they touched the glory of their who has given a half century of my life to journalism. And, believe it or not, I hold the profession of pounding a typewriter in a newspaper office as high as that of the clergy, the law, medicine ucen argueu uidi dui.ii iia wumu uc juow because it would fall equally on suburban dwellers use our public facilities, but do not have to pay for them by reason of their residence elsewhere. The adoption of the proposal in Saginaw, and the interest in it displayed elsewhere, is an indication that present municipal tax methods are becoming inadequate and often inequitable, and that new sources of income, in the face of rising city costs, have to be love of freedom.

It conquered no other people to fill its museums with their art as did the French at the Louvre a glorified second hand store. And not in all the world of literature was there ever such a songster for the freedom of mankind as was Robert Burns. and all the allied arts and sciences, in the development of a real cul ture if we stick to the dictionary meaning of that word. the alarm. We had it under Grant I risk immodesty in saying that at the beginnings of Detroit's industrial growth I could have quit journalism and I could have been them.

A DETROIT VETERAN THERE IS nothing to get excited about in the fact that the Navy fired an officer who criticized President Truman's handling of the MacArthur case. It says right in the military justice code that officers may not criticize the President, governors or even members of Congress. I think it's a rotten law, but since it is one the Navy authorities would be wrong if they did not enforce It. GERALD JANNAWAY THE MORE I read about India's Nehru, the more I begin to feel that the world is stuck with another dictator. Let's not get too clubby with a man who wants to muzzle bis people.

-T FRANCIS HUTSEL Merry-Go-Round The Feud Still Simmers studied. Votinq Machines wealthy indeed. But perhaps a note of Scottish mysticism or plain bullheadedness kept me to my typewriter. It was the work I terms can be arranged," re liked better than any other. rITY Auditor General Benjamin J.

Tobin, V1 makine a survey of the cost and efficiency or not the DPA is extended, with or without increased Executive authority, the fact will remain that ALL segments of the economy must be treated alike or none will respect the law. The law must be fair to begin with and then it must be administered impartially. As experience has shown too much can't safely be left to the "discretion" of a politically-minded Executive. The alternative to straightening out this matter before the full impact of defense production hits our economy is to play directly into the hands of Moscow. Jake Malik Is Back THE president of the UN Security Council for the current month is none other than Jacob A.

Malik, the Soviet representative who boycotted the Council for seven months last year. While he was on strike the North Korean Reds launched their attack. When he returned in August, as presiding officer, the way had been opened to transfer the Korea situation to the Assembly. What will happen now that he again has the gavel is anybody's guess. The excuse he gave for walking out in January, 1950, was the Council's refusal to seat the Chinese Communist delegate-designate.

Will he try to use his position as president to oust the Chinese Nationalists and bring the Commies into the Council? Communist China has been openly fighting the UN in Korea since November and has fixed the price of a cease-fire too high for any but the weakest-kneed members of the UN to consider. Yet the well-informed reporters of The New York Times at the United Nations state: "A majority in the United Nations almost certainly will vote to admit Communist China if and when it carries out a ceasefire in Korea." All the Communists have to do to get into the UN, that is to say, will be to stop shooting, while still in possession of all Korea north of the 38th Parallel. While vowing he will never agree to admitting the Chinese Reds to the UN, Secretary Acheson is equally firm in refusing to use the veto to keep them out. The Soviet representative thus has an interesting situation in which to display the art of diplomatic intrigue, at which he is an experienced hand. of voting machines for the Common Council, has reached some rather obvious conclusions.

TTa lint? rAAtvimanlA1 tV 4-Vt a r'd This was made possible because, despite that Scottish background, I was born without an acquisitive sense. 1 1 I GLORY in journalism and its am a LKa i-i arh omt toH ISt power to make democracy function, as much as any missionary or doctor or philosopher in law responds to the call of his chosen profession. marked Vladykin knowingly. "What would be the terms of a cease fire in Korea?" the American pressed. "The cease fire would have to be on the basis of a unification of country," replied Vladykin.

Then he launched into a propaganda speech about how Russia wanted peace and how Russia was economically behind the West and needed peace to catch The Russians often use informal and unofficial channels to drop diplomatic feelers to the State Department. However, there is no way of knowing whether Vladykin was dropping a peace hint, or had too many vodkas. Now, then, France has never acquiring 3,000 voting machines which he says will cost in excess of $4,000,000. He advocates buying these machines and spreading their cost over a six-year period. While the outlay may appear great, Tobin's report concludes that once the City is completely equipped, the money will be returned in savings from reduced costs of personnel and printing.

been able to have an honest or a THE FOLKS in Oakland County who can no longer play bingo because gambling is illegal need not mourn. They have one race track in their own county and another in Wayne just across the line. They can bet all they want at those places when they open. Trouble is with bingo, you see, it's hard for any political hack to cut himself in on the gravy. T.

A. WEBLEY Moreover, machines will reduce the margin of error which showed up so ingly last year in the State gubernatorial election, and thev will matenallv sneert un lasting government because it has U1C 1U1 WUlllUkUlg ItlUlllO TzAWord for Mr. McGregor never had an honest press since ths days of Waterloo. It has been venal and corrupt to a degree be BY EDGAR A. GUEST yond all understanding of the I- 1 average American citizen.

Hitler walked through France because BY DREW PEARSON i WASHINGTON Ex -Senator Scott Lucas o- Illinois moodily walked out on the Duke and Duchess of Windsor at a Stork Club dinner the other night after Tennessee's crime-busting Senator Estes Kefauver walked in. The baffled host, New York businessman Charlie, Cushing, didn't know it, but Lucas has been nursing a bitter grudge against Senator Kefauver. He blames his defeat and loss of his potent position as Senate majority leader on Kefauver's crime probe which came during the Illinois elections. Kefauver had been at another table In the Stork Club, but was Invited to join tne exclusive party given for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The embarrassment started when Senator and Mrs.

Kefauver showed up in street clothes, since everyone else was wearing "black tie" evening dress. To make matters worse, Cushing seated Mrs. Kefauver at the Duke's table, but crowded Kefauver In at the Duchess table, where Lucas also happened to be sitting. The naive New York business man apparently thought that all Senators were pals and didn't realize that feuds can be bitter in Washington. Eyeing Kefauver sourly, Lucas popped up from his seat, muttered something about catching an early train and stalked out of the party TOO MANY VODKAS? The diplomatic significance can only be guessed, but Soviet Military Counselor Nikolai Vladykin dropped a Korean peace hint at a Washington embassy party the other evening.

The No. 3 man in the Soviet Embassy was chatting amiably with an American, who asks that his name not be used. But as the subject got around to the Korean war, Vladykin commented that it was "very bad." Ke admitted that the destruction in Korea was even worse than Russia suffered in World War H. "There must be an end. How can we end it?" asked the American.

It seems to me that the Time was, before putting the youngsters to bed his Nazi supporters owned practically all the newspapers of Paris. fetes Kabbit adventure I frequently read, That is why the much touted Maginot line was like so much cheese to him. And when after Peter in anger he ran Called Mr. McGregor a very cross man. A great free and courageous press would have saved France since the very beginning of the First Republic BUT, SAY the defenders of that country, our panty-waist dilet That no one should ever drive rabbits away.

Now, my children are grown and my hair has turned white -Y ZrE Iffy the Dopester 7 ana i ve learnea inai oia Mr. McGregor was right. Some rabbit has come in the ninht thiof -U Altogether, Tobin's report suggests that the over-all benefits will justify the capital outlay and, in the long run, reduce costs to the taxpayer. Earned Reward rpHE British Government has arranged appropriately we feel for Ernest Bevin's ashes to -be placed in Westminster Abbey. The Abbey is a national shrine and to be buried there, a recognition of service to King and Country.

A dozen or more kings, several queens and numerous statesmen have been so honored. Very few of them served to better purpose than Ernest Bevin, the man of humble origin, who rose to power and influence fighting labor's battles and then stood shoulder to shoulder with Winston Churchill in Britain's "finest hour." While he- was Foreign Minister in the' Labor Cabinet the world knew what his country's policies were. Regardless of where the chips might fall, Mr. Bevin spoke his mind, often bluntly, but never equivocally. The ancient Abbey and its honored dead will acquire added distinction when Ernest Bevin ioins-thenr.

tantes, the French press was individualistic, that it did not carry sufficient advertising to be ii ii One of our highbrows just remarked that Plato contended that nothing of human concern matters pa-j WW Mit-VI And eaten my tulips bulb, blossom and leaf. Not one of them left of the hundreds I'd had. LrlM INTERCEPTED LETTERS And I know now why Mr. McGregor was mad. a f.

We pitied poor Peter who fled in dismay, Rtit fVc Mr Mrn much. I wonder how many of our politicians have been reading Plato? Somehow or other, that little guy with the taxes to pay seems to think what happens to him is a matter of great concern. I can remember in my youth when the public officer who kept down the tax rate was quite a hero. Now the more a politician can spend, the bigger he seems to loom. King Frederick, of Denmark, poses with his chest bared to show how beautifully he is tattooed, He Is what you mjght can a marked man.

I JUDGE H. EDGERTON Circuit Court of Appeals Washington Dear Henry: VOUR court's decision ban- ning radio broadcasts in buses is purely academic as far as Detroit is concerned. riFELIN'E PETE Could I meet the rabbit who caused such a loss, As Mr. McGregor, I'd be just as cross. I was once all for Peter.

Now sadly I state: McGregor was right, but I've learned it too late..