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The Sunday Star-News Published Every Sunday^ By The Wilmington Star-News B. B. Page, Publisher Telephone All Uepartments 2-3311 £^d as Second Class Matter at Wilming tea N. C Post (Xfice Undei Act of Congress oi March a. 1879__ - STIPSCRIPT^N RATEs"bY CARRIER 8 0*NEW HANOVER COUNTY Payable Weekly or in Advance Con^ii Stai News nation ^im® . * 30 $ -25 $ 50 1 week ..I." 2.15 ... 3 90 3.25 «.5C j Months- 7M g 50 1? 00_ 8 MonJis .. ^ ^ ^.o,, 28.00 1 (Above" rates entitle suoi briber to Sunday issue of Star-News) _ •-SINGLE COPY ~ WUniington News ---— • — • ^ Morning Star - --10c Sunday Star-News - --— Kg’ “vm”*? m» » M”"!1'1 SM 4.» ,7» 8 Months ■ - 10 00 8 00 15.40 1 (Above "rates’entitie subscriber to Sunday Issue of Star-News) -“WILMINGTON STAR (Daily Without Sunday) S as H Months—$3.70 1 Year-»7 40 ' mrvfRFR OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS rS» >« •»ur.5,Siv the use for republication of »U loc,l ne*p printed In this newspaper, as well as «U A news dispatches._____ _ —--li Star Program ! State port* with Wilmington favored in proportion with It* resource*, to in clude public terminals, tobacco storage warehouses, ship repair facilities, near by sues for heavy industry and S5-ioo? Cape Fear river channel. City auditorium large enough ,to meet reeds for years to come. Development of Southeastern North Carolina agiicuUuraJ and industrial re sources through better msrket* and food processing, pulp wood production and factories. Emphasis on the region’s recrea’ion advantages ana improvement of resort | accommodations I' Improvement of Southeastern North I. Carolina s farm-to-market and primary roads, with a paved highway from Top sail inlet to Bald head island. Continued effort through the City’s In dustrial Agency to attract more in dustries Proper utilization of Bluethenthal air port for expanding air service. Development of Southeastern North Carolina s health facilities, especially in counties lacking hospitals, and includ ing a Negro Health center. Encouragement of the growth of com mercial fishing. Consolidation ol City and County gov ernments. GOOD MORNING Nevertheless they did flatter Uim with their mouth, and they lied unto him with tongues.—Psalms 78:36. Engineers Win Again While the country as a whole kept an interested eye on*the monstrous hurricane rushing across southern Florida Wednesday night, the Corps of Engineers of the War department centered its immediate attention on one region—Lake Okeechobee. It was vitally interested because, after man^ years, one of its larger engineering achievments was receiving its first great test. The story goes back to 1928 when a dead ly tropical storm smashed over the lake, west of West Palm Beach, and swept its shallow waters westward and then east ward to drown an estimated 1,500 persons trapped in the surrounding lowland. Dam age to the crops, all in the harvest stage was approximately $315,000,000. Within a few months, plans were under way to ring the large body of water—it is 28 miles in diameter—with a.35-foot dyke. The project also included several flood gates. The tre mendous job, requiring the expenditure of $22,855,000, was completed in 1933. Satisfied that their works would hold, the Army Engineers then began the wait for the supreme test— another great hur ricane. It came last week with winds up to 120 miles an hour, quite comparable to those of the disaster of almost two decades ago. While this storm skirted the southern rim of the lake, its winds reached 100 miles an hour over the water, seven inches higher than ever before. But the retaining wall met the terrific demands and there were no breaks or overflow into the rich lowlands. Only damage suffered by the bean, cane and other crops was from the high winds and accompanying heavy rain Thus, their levy withstood its greatest assault. Although most of the residents of Moore Haven, on tjie west, and Pahokee, on the east, were evacuated, those who remain ed were free of the danger of floods. In expending the millions to effect the theory of protection, the government, through the Army Engineers, enhanced the value of one of the nation’s most productive food grow ing areas. As far as Lake Okeechobee is concerned, the section is now safe from such hurricanes of last week and in 1928. This assurance should encourage its greater de velopin' it. Lake Okeechobee is but one of thousands of projects, large and small, standing to the credit of the Army Engineers as they quietly go about their peace-time assign ments of building and maintaining perma nent facilities for greater national safety and prosperity. Quite A Comfort Nationalization of the coal industry is the cause of the “present unrest’\ among British miners, according to an editorial in the United Mine Workers Journal. The UMW paper states further that John L. Lewis’ union has voted down all pro posals for nationalization in this country, and that all it asks is “improved safety legis lation.” It is a comfort to knew that private, ownership can be thanked for Mr. Lewis’ I’anquil contentment and modest demands t eontract-negotiating timt. i Should Change Position Only obstacle between Wilmington and establishment of vitally needed east-west air service is the Civil Aeronautics Board s decision as to whether it will re-open this part of the now-famous Southeastern case and, if so, what changes it may order in the franchise granted Piedmont Aviation, of Winston-Salem. A temporary certificate of operation was awarded Piedmont over State and other air lines but actual issuance has been held up by appeals for review of the case. After months of costly preparation, Pied mont is now ready to place its planes in the air on regular schedule between Wilming ton and Cincinnati. But it cannot ao so until final temporary certification is granted. State Airlines has been the leader in the fight against Piedmont. It carried its re quest for dissolution of the original CAB decision as far as the U. S. DistrictNCourt of Appeals in Washington. There its petition ivas denied and now its attorney says the Charlotte company will not continue to the Supreme court, as earlier threatened by H. K. Gilbert, Jr., president. Wilmington City Council assisted State in its campaign by joining in the petition for a review and new hearing. Now that State has failed in court, shouldn't the city with draw its participation in the plea, reverse its stand and, because of extensive prepa ration by Piedmont, request CAB not to deviate from its original sianar neteuuj, the board of County Commissioners called on the Federal agency to make its decision as soon as possible and, in view of the fact that three years have passed since the controversy began, continue to favor Pied mont. Wilmington is essentially interested in adequate air service. As to which airline provides it is a mat ter of secondary importance. And since Piedmont is ready to start—date of inaugu ration of flights was set for early this month but later suspended because of State’s entry into court—why not forget the past in the interest of the community solidarity in seek ing the service? Because the community has been ignored so long, CAB is definitely obliged to an early ruling on a matter so important to 'Wilmington and other North Carolina cities. If it should1 re-open the case and sub stantiate State’s plea for the franchise, it would be many months before the service would be available. The City had everything to lose and com paratively little to gain by siding with State, Since that fact is clearer today than ever before, it should change its attitude and join in urging issuance of certificate to Piedmont, the airline whose actions have proved its sincere interest in our air trans portation welfare. Took A Long Time, Didn’t It? Henry Morgenthau, Jr., joining the grow ing group of retailers of behind-the-scene reminiscences of the Roosevelt administra ;ion, has disclosed that Henry A. Wallace cassed out so much money during the Hew Deal’s high spending days that the former Secretary of the Treasury told him he was ‘getting away with murder.” Mr. Morgenthau declared the then Secre ary of Agriculture spent more and got less or it during 1934-37 than either Mr. Hop rins o. Mr. Ickes. Mr. Wallace’s department “gave away” wo and a half billion dollars in three years, ■’or one nine-month period, his overhead vas $130,000,000 to distribute $516,000,000. Mr. Wallace has always liked to do things —with other people's money and safety, of ;ourse—in the grand manner. No sir, noth ng half way for Henry. And he hasn’t :hanged since the days he was riding high, vide and handsome under the late Mr. itoosevelt. Even after the advent of the Truman ad ninistration, he tried to continue on a big ;cale, illustrated best by his flight into 'oreign policy. The famous New York speech which cost him his job was another ncident of pulling out all the* stops. De manding a complete reversal in foreign policy, he called for acceptance of the Rus sians through full appeasement. Yes, one world, a Communistic one, for Henry and his followers. Fortunately, the strength of American public opinion cast him out of public life. He was just as determined to endanger the United States by having it bow to a power known to have but one aim, the demolition rf Democracy, as he was to throw away millions handed him during the Roosevelt administration. Mr. Wallace is incapable of evaluating the ultimate returns on his grandiose schemes, either in the field of financial re lief for domestic agriculture or world poli tics. He got away “with murder” of Ameri can dollars but revealed himself before he could deal the same sort of fate to our in ternational position. But it did take the American people a long time to find out just how impractical Mr. Wallace is, didn’t it? Next Year’s Ballot Despite the most active early season cam paigning by major state candidates in our memory, the heights of North Carolinians’ present interest in next year’s primary and election could be measured best with a micrometer. Those to whom politics have a direct bear ing on their livelihood are doing some talk ing and quiet work. But average citizens, whose votes will decide the winners, are coolly indifferent. Maybe they’re reading what the candidates are saying (but back in their minds is the thought that there are really are no big issues. And with the first primary day more than eight months away, there’s plenty of time to decide how they will mark their ballots. Then, too, the higher office seekers have been appearing before their “own” audi ences. They’ve said little new or unexpected. It will be many weeks before they’ll move into the open field and start the kind of sparring, maybe releasing an occasional left jab, which makes the public pick up its eyes and ears. Interest in possible local races in 1948 is even quieter than that accorded the state ones. Only evidence of concern we’ve noticed was not in possible candidates but the of fices to be filled through the primary and election. Those who have given any thought whatsoever to their next year’s ballot know it will be a lean one from the standpoint of places to be filled. First, New Hanover will join six other Southeastern North Carolina counties of the Seventh Congressional district in selecting their Democratic nominee for the national House of Representatives, a position now held by Rep. J. Bayard Clark, of Fayette ville. New Hanover and Duplin, two of the four counties in the Ninth State Senatorial dis trict, will not ballot on a nominee th^s time as selection of the two senators will be up to the remaining counties, Pender and Sampson. This party agreement has pre vailed for many years. Present senators are Alton A. Lennon, of Wilmington, and Rivers Johnson, of Warsaw. The county will, however, vote on a mem ber of the State House of Representatives. Rep. Robert M. Kermon has said he will seek re-election. Only offices remaining to go before next year's local electorate are Register of Deeds, with Adrian B. Rhodes incumbent, and three of the five positions on the board of County commissioners. Board members whose four year terms expire early next December are Chairman Addison Hewlett, Sr., James M. Hall and Louis J. Coleman. Some minor listings for constables and justices of the peace will complete the ballot. And for those who like to jot down such dates, the first primary will be on May and the second, if necessary, on June 26. The general election will be on Nov. 2. Yes, the number of positions coming up for decision is small in New Hanover. But that’s no indicator that public indif ference will prevail, especially as to the Commission posts, after the first of March, usual date for the temperature of politics to turn upward here. Showdown In UN The remainder of the family of nations has notified Russia and its satellites that they can either cooperate in peace or live alone in two worlds with a continual threat of war. That is the essence of efforts to liberalize the veto in the United Nations. Used by the Russians in their general policy of obstructionism so often that we've lost count, the majority members of UN appear determined to remove the greatest of obstacles to it becoming a practical, work ing organization. Complete abolition of the veto is the ultimate goal so that majority rule will prevail among the major powers. As long as one may say “no” to any proposi tion, UN is powerless. The Soviet union has lost the first round, an effort to prevent a special UN conference on the veto issue. The steering committee passed the proposal on to the assembly by a 9 to 2 vote. Thare will be other rounds and as each is fought, tempers and talk of war will mount. But the feeling is growing fast that either Russia or the veto must go. If it is the former, it will be because the remainder of the world is disgusted with Russia’s continual bluffing, tired of its ever present spirit of non-cooperation. Accom panying this will be the sentiment that the democracies, in fact, all except Moscow’s vassal states, may eventually have to oppose Communism’s expansion with force. But the danger must be risked if the United Nations is to survive. Time for its reconstruction through elimination of the veto is overdue because use of this parlia mentary weapon by Russia has done more than anything else to damage public confi dence in the potentially great organization. If Russia must talk war, as Deputy For eign Minister Vishinsky did so vigorously last week, it must be prepared to realize that more and more of the world’s people are approaching the conclusion that if we must fight eventually, why not now? It is showdown time and the United Na tions is the logical location for it. Double Damage The Grand jury’s place in the machinery of justice has been questioned recently with one North Carolina Superior court judge going so far as to suggest its abolition. We do not agree but the conduct of two juries, one in Northampton and another in Warren county, in recent weeks certainly gives cause to wonder whether prejudice sometimes prevails over reason in acting on presentments. That a crime was commit ted by a mob in removing Buddy Bush, a young Negro, from a jail with intention of lynching him goes without saying. But both juries found themselves unable to indict the defendants. Whether the would-be lynchers will ever be brought to trial depends, as we see it, not so much on the quality of evidence as the attitude of the Grand-jury considering it. The ones which dealt with Bush’s case cer tainly did nothing toward substantiating the prestige of the Grand jury system. They damaged it as badly as they did justice as a whole in North Carolina. A resident of a Michigan town reported radio programs coming in from his stove. Well some programs sound like blazes. THE SORE THUMB ■■ ■■ "—** ■■ ■ ■— I The Gallup Poll Public Anger Over High Prices Not Concentrated On Any Certain Group . __i_ No Major Section Blamed By More Than One-Fifth, Of The Voters By GEORGE GALLUP Director, American Institute of Public Opinion PRINCETON, N. J., Sept. 20— A senate committee last week began a series of hearings em bracing 12 cities in an attempt to diagnose the cause of today’s soaring living costs. If the oommittee visited every city in the nation and asked all citizens to name the group or groups responsible for skyrocket ing food and other prices, they would not find the public’s ire foccused on any one scapegoat. What this means is that, while there is a lot of talk and great exasperation about prices, it is going to be very difficult to make political capital out of the high cost of living. If it were true that a major proportion of the public blamed any single factor or group of the population for high prices, a pol itician could no doubt dig pay dirt out of the issue. But at this statge certainly no evidence exists of any such unanimity of opinion among voters. The Institute has polled a na tionwide cross-section of voters on this question: “Do you blame anyone for present high prices%” Yes . 50% No . 36 No Opinion . 14 The voters who said they did hold someone responsible were then asked whom they blamed. Their replies: Government . 17% Business and Industry - 14 Labor .f-. 9 Everyone . 7 Republicans . 2 Farmers . 1 Miscellaneous .4 54% (Adds to more than 50% be cause some gave more than one answer.) Thus, the largest sinble bloc of opinion in the jountry (36%) holds no one responsible. The next largest group places the blame on the government, which could mean either of the major political parties since they share power in Washington. Those blaming business and industry are similarly divided among vot ers who name “retailers,” (Continued on Page Seven) Letters To The Editor Wants Police To Control The ‘Scooter’ Situation To The Editor: Wilmington now has “scoot ers”. There are dozens of the darn lttle “Putt Putts”. Also along wth this innovation, the city has a new type of traffic problem. As Isit in my office over looking the intersection at sec ond and Chestnut streets, I have the opportunity to see, at first hand, the many and va rious traffic violatons and fool hardy stunts indulged in by the teen-aged d ri v e r s of these wasp-like mechanical fleas that aspire to the realm of inexpen sive transportation for the aver age American wage earner. Definately’ that is what they were invented for. However, unfortunately the original has gone awry and has resulted in a lot of over-indulgent parents listening to the pleas of their offsprng and buying them a “scooter”. So what has happened? They “beat” the stoplights. They ig nore them entirely. They cut in and out through traffic. They endanger the lives of not only their drivers but also the lives of everyone using the streets of Wilmington. in snort, tne teen-age drivers of these strange contraptons, constitute a menace to the life and safety of all Wilming tonians, 24 hours daily, every day. Members of the Wilmington Police department, what about doing something about this situ ation? NORMAN R. RING. Wilmington, N.C., Sept. 19, 1947. SEES LIMIT TO CREDIT To the Editor: I attended Sunday school out of town last Sunday, which was a helpful change, as I get new ideas from different teachers, though they use the same texts. Good will or how to live with other people was the theme, and the discussion included the Marshall plan or aid to Europe. Well, as usual, 1 stepped in where angels dare not" t^ead and suggested that in our eval uation of the situation . we should take into consideration the per capita indebtedness of this Country as against such in debtedness of the countries we are called upon to help. I thought such was just common sense, but I was promptly ask ed if I would be wiling to ex charge places with these dis tressed countries of Europe for their lesser per capita indebt edness? Of course, that, was not the issue, but my interrogator thought it was the test, and, if I were not so willing, I wras stopped to further object to the plan, which I had not objected to, but merely suggested that we should take out time to con sider our ability to further aid Europe, and, if so, to wnat ex tent. However, the foregoing illus trates our approach to matter of vital importance, which is emotional rather than intellect ual I have no disposition to discredit- the emot'onai element in cur lives, but I do insist that we were given intellects for at least seme use. Now if I could forget the past. J might view the Marshall plan more favorably. But the Dawes and Young plans, parts of World War I aftermath, for the rehabilitation, not of Eu rope. but only of Germany, still stick in my memory. We then failed miserably to prevent the collapse of Germany and the rise of Nazism Maybe we can improve upon those plans but I am skeptical. Since VJ-Day we have poured 23 billion dol lars into Europe and Asia in an effort to prevent starvation and disease. Notwithstanding all this, we are now told that the situation is worse than at any time since the end of the shooting war; and in addition to that, we are now called upon to prevent the spread of com munism, something more diffi cult to do than the rise of Nazism 25 years ago, at which we failed utterly. Don’t get me on wrong. I Behind TheN^ Reds Promoting Unrest In Ita|y By DEWITT MACKk\7t. AP Foreign Affairs Where will the Rn,/ "j'st strike next? “Sailing , That’s a natural qu„q.v . view.of Soviet Deputv a in Minister Vishinsky’s r-;, ,re‘®» tions speech which bv £",**■ tion made it clear t'm, p a' intends — come hell' , ,51a water - to pursue bs V1* of world revolution for th * Jablishment of Communism W may have our answer in j critical situation. tUi' * That war-shattered on' . treading close to a left-wm£n tical upheaval. The life r8fpo!l' government under Premier Ai cie de Gasperi, leader nf , ' slightly right-of-center Chmti Democratic party. js ;n _;,an danger from a powerful and Z* certed attack by the Comni l' ists and Socialists, who^S sentatives were ousted from th ’ cabinet some time ago. But this is no ordinary flu* tuation of political fortunes „ vqlving merely tenure of off, . under the same form of g0Ve,l ment. The extreme left is reach! ing for power. The situation is complicated by economic chaos which h-, provided fertile ground for til lage _ by the Communists and pinks, and they haven't nes lected their opportunities. Anion* recent activities they have been cooperating‘in planning a huge country wide demonstration for today against the cost of living and against Gasperi’s gov ernment — “Against the specu lation and egotism of privileged capitalistic groups.” Some Italian newspapers hav* described the demonstration as a “prelude je revolution.” Pal miro Togliatti, Russian trained Italian Communist leader, yes terday denied this. However! he did say that “there is a will for revolution in large strata of the Italian people.” Meantime, for the past twelve days there has been a strike of 1,000,000 farm workers, egged on by the extreme leftists, in north ern Italy. This strike, which finally was composed yesterday, placed crops in jeopardy at t time when the Italian peninsula is suffering grievously from food shortage. This, of course, has added to the discontent of an al ready distressed population. In this stormy atmc iphere Italy has moved toward a cli max which the extreme leftists intend shall involve the down fall of the Gasperi government in one way or another. The Com munist - Socialist combination hopes to achieve the overthrow of the government next week on a vote of no-confidence in the constituent assembly. If that fails — what? are we witnessing a “prelude to revolution?” i Whatever the answer may be, this much we do know: Italy is high on the list of coun tries which Moscow badly wants to bring under its control. This would be a mighty step toward conquest of Western Europe and, what is even more to the point, would provide an invalu able base from which the Mus covites could continue their campaign to secure control of Greece, Turkey and the Darda nelles and thereby achieve their ambition of becoming a Medi terranean power. That is the impulse back of Togliatti’s powerful drive to put Communism in power in Italy. hav^ no brief for Communism. In fact, we are too Commu nistic already; but there is not much to choose between Com munism and national bank ruptcy. We today actually owe the equal of our total wealth a decade ago, and the fact that we owe it to each other does not make us in reality more solvent than if we owed it to outsiders. The only difference is in the prospect of soon being called upon to settle But settle ment coukl come with astonish ing swiftness, either W repudiation or violent inflation, and we are rapidly approachmg the latter method of settlement. The point that I am trying to get across is that there is * limitation to our ability to ex tend national credit. The fer* eral government is at present in worse condition with respec^ to its finances than any othe* governmental unit, state, coun ty or municipal, with which am acquanited; yet we go mer rily on asking federal aid tor (Continued on Page Seven^ Around Capitol Square Young Democrats’ Meeting Attracts Candidates By LYNN NISBET RALEIGH, Sept. 20—Raleigh was almost as full of Demo crats Friday and Saturday as it is for meetings of t'ne regular state Democratic convention. The occasion was the second— actually the first full-scale — meeting of the North Carolina Young Democratic clubs since end of the war. The “young” designation was applicable only in the sense that most of the attendants were youthful in spirit and optimistic outlook. Many gray heads, even more bald ones, were much in evi dence, and the conventioners included a large percentage of the men who have been and are now running the state govern ment. POLITICS — To perhaps greater extent than at regular party conclaves the early arri val* among the YD’s were con cerned with internal politics — who should be president, vice president, etc. — for the next year. The positions are more than usually important this time because it is generally conceded the 1948 campaign will be one of the hardest fought in a long time. YDC offi cers elected at this convention will be in office during the pri mary and' until the fall cam paign gets well underway. SERIOUS — There is a serious-mindedness about these younger citizens that indicates real concern for the future of the state. But there is no evi dence of despair or lack of faith in the ability of the people to come through any sort of trou blous times. A big percentage of those attending this meeting came through the Hitler-Tpjo difficulty all right and while readily confessing the problems now are different they refuse to admit they are any more challenging. Along the same line there is apparently more inclination than before the war to co-ordinate YDC activities more closely with regular party affairs—and to demand larger voice for younger men and women without necessity of widening the breach between two organizations. That is per haps due to the fact the real leaders are on the age border line. DOUBLING — Many of the conventioners are killing two birds with one stone. The com mission on the administration oi justice set a meeting for Fri day so its members could also attend the YOC convention. A Yancey county delegation fixed an appointment with the gover nor to discuss road problem* on the same date for the same rea son. A dozen or more lawyers and former members o general assembly were er.' - tered around Capitol -qu3 e “on business with state dep< * ments,” but also mixing witn the convention crowd aroui the hotel. AMBITIOUS—One little sfory illustrates this point, b - ‘ Whitener is' solicitor p! ’j Mecklenburg - Gaston iuau a‘ district, retiring president the Young Democrats ann » member of the justice adrnn'uS tration commission. He was <> costed in the hotel loboy r Fred Helms of Charlotte, also a commission member, vi" - question: “Are you trying improve the administration - justice, or are you atternr' * ’ to run the politics of the sta ■ “Well,” replied Wliitener reckon I’ll have to do sona . both.” He later admitted tne program was probably too bitioua.