EDITOR'S NOTE—~When opinions are
expressed in these columns they are those
of the news analyst and not necessarily of
the mewspaper.
International
Although U. S.-British sympathies
in the Chinese-Jap war have al-
ways been with China, industrial-
ists of both nations have gladly prof-
ited by selling arms to more pros-
perous Japan. In the U. S,, this
activity continued unabated until
last June 11, when Secretary of
State Cordell Hull asked that it be
discontinued. Still later came a se-
rious blow to U. S. prestige when
Japan, having conquered Shanghai,
Canton, Hankow and Nanking, pro-
ceeded systematically to shut Chi-
na’s ‘‘open door’ in violation of the
nine-power treaty. Obviously, U. S.-
British supremacy in the Orient was
at an end unless the two nations
would reverse their soft-stepping
policy and take military or econom-
ic recourse against Tokyo. After
weeks of undercover negotiation be-
tween London and Washington, the
recourse now emerges as economic.
Still acting without apparent co-op-
eration, the two capitals made sim-
ilar news on the same day:
Washington. The government-op-
erated Export-Import bank ad-
vanced $25,000,000 in credits to a
New York company for exporting
U. S. agricultural and manufactured
JESSE JONES
His bank answered Japan.
goods to China. Recognized gs a
very thinly ‘veiled government loan,
most funds will be used for automo-
bile trucks and gasoline to haul mu-
nitions over the new Chinese gate-
way from Burma. To mature in
five years, the loan is guaranteed
by the Bank of China. Chief U. S.
negotiator was Jesse Jones, chair-
man of the Reconstruction Finance
corporation.
London. Now en route through
parliament is an allotment of 10,-
000,000 pounds for export credits to
protect Great Britain's far-flung for-
eign trade from Nazi encroachment.
Already earmarked is an initial
credit of 450,000 pounds for the Chi-
nese government, to purchase
trucks and roadmaking equipment
for the new Burma gateway. Also
under consideration is a British loan
to the Chinese exchange equaliza-
tion fund to help China's dollar.
While Chinese officials hailed the
simultaneous moves as a “‘diplo-
matic victory,” while Tokyo won-
dered what recourse to take, while
Chinese government bonds showed
good strength, Germany's foreign
office commented in its official
mouthpiece, Diplomatische Korre-
spondenz: “The United States’ new
policy furnishes food for thought. It
shows that Washington apparently
pursues aims which go beyond its
old-established policy of good rela-
tions with other countries . . . No
opportunity is missed for directing
attacks or innuendos against author-
itarian states.”
Rumania
Of all the lesser European nations
subjected to Nazi Germany's polit
ical-economic pressure, Rumania
has alone stood up on its feet and
barked back. Reason: Rumania
has been able to buy her imports
anywhere she desires, but Germany
must have Rumanian wheat and oil.
Until last fall this upper hand
served King Carol well, but the
ring of Nazi-dominated nations
around Bucharest has now grown
so powerful that he must bow to
Berlin or risk economic starvation.
Thus Rumania watched anxiously
as German aggression in Austria
and Czechoslovakia threatened to
wipe out her prospering trade with
those two nations. Since most of
Rumania’s Czech imports came
from Sudetenland, now a part of
Germany, the Reich gained an enor-
mous advantage through this ter-
ritorial acquisition.
To woo Rumania successfully,
Germany must only meet the dila-
tory competition of Great Britain,
whose promise to buy part of King
Carol's wheat surplus is overshad-
owed by 'a German offer to buy all
of it. Thus heartened, Rumania
has signed a trade agreement
whereby the Reich will take almost
a third of its exports, meanwhile
buying half its imports from Berlin.
How long Rumania can remain
independent of Germany's beck-
and-call is problematical, Like a
child who wants cake but won't
brush its teeth, King Carol has suc-
cessfully smashed the rising Nazi
party within his borders. Yet he
followed this coup with a totalitar-
ian declaration under which Ru-
mania becomes a one-party country
politically similar to Germany..
Likewise, while begging for Ger-
man trade he has started an inten-
sified program of fortification
against German aggression, :
Spain
On a gloomy November day In
1931, Spain's parliament stripped
King Alfonso of his citizenship and
properties. Already, the previous
April, Alfonso had left for France,
soon taking residence in Italy where
Premier Benito Mussolini has not
been unfriendly to his once-royal
guest,
Since the loyalist government that
ousted Alfonso is now fighting a los-
ing battle to Generalissimo Fran-
cisco Franco, moreover since Italy
and Spanish royalists are on Fran-
co's side, observers have long
thought Alfonso has a good chance
of returning to the throne some day.
Franco hinted as much last spring,
indicating that he might retain for
himself the premiership and thus
make the throne a puppet post.
This theory is now strengthened
by action of rebel Spain's council
of ministers, not only restoring Al-
fonso's citizenship, but his lands as
well. How soon—if ever—the ex-
king will return to Spain is still a
secret, but pessimists regard Fran-
co's gesture as merely an insincere
bid for continued royalist support
which has been dwindling in recent
months. Still others think Alfonso
would never return to the throne,
that his job would be taken instead
by Prince Juan, compromise candi-
date of both royalist factions—the
Carlists and Rennovacion Espanol-
ists.
Politics
paign groundwork well in advance,
swapping favor for favor, smelling
out the trail that will most likely
lead to success. Thus official Wash-
ington has started buzzing with ru-
mors following (1) resignation of
Commerce Secretary Daniel C. Rop-
er and Attorney General Homer
Cummings, and (2) Vice President
capital. That -Mr. Garner visited
zest to the game,
While both the President and vice
president look to 194
ference but it is quite obvious that
Mr. Garner looks fearfully on the
projected appointment of WPA Ad-
ministrator Harry Hopkins to suc-
ceed Mr. Roper. The Roosevelt pro-
gram: To strive for more New Deal
ganization, and to give Harry Hop-
gram: To consolidate the adminis-
tration’s position, to unite arguing
factions and make a record in con-
gress which will win public approval.
Both programs lead to 1940, but
ezch goes down its own trail. In the
inevitable compromise, it is expect-
ed that Mr. Hopkins will be named
revision of relief administration.
VICE PRESIDENT GARNER
He also looks forward to 1940.
How this solution could clarify the
1940 presidential issue is not appar-
ent; moreover, conservative ele-
ments in the Democratic party
doubt that the commerce depart-
ment’'s immediate charge, U. 8S.
business, will like the man whose
job has been to dispense $9,500,
000,000 since 1933.
While gossiping over this morsel,
Washington's politicians have let
pass almost unnoticed an equally
important bit of groundwork lead-
ing to 1940. John L. Lewis, C. 1. O.
chieftain, has spoken publicly
against a labor-sponsored third par-
ty, choosing instead to broaden his
Labor's Nonpartisan league. Its pro-
gram: To elect delegates in the
presidential primaries who will as-
sure nomination of *“‘progressive
candidates.” This means that C. I.
O. endorses continuation of the New
Deal, and that a move to the right
would cause the Lewis front to bolt
from the Democratic convention.
Trend
How the Wind Is Blowing . .
HOLIDAYS--This year's Christ-
mas mail has been the biggest
in history, requiring 3,000,000,000
postage stamps.
MEDICINE California's medi-
cal association has approved a
health insurance plan for doctor
and hospital care, the first of its
kind undertaken by a state medi-
cal organization.
WELFARE-—Changes in social
security laws head the list of
business before 44 state legisla-
tures convening in January.
SAFETY Detroit, fourth larg-
est city in the United States, cut
its automobile death toll 42.9 per
cent during 1938.
Pan-America
WASHINGTON .—If it were possi-
American friendship and stave off
totalitarian influence in the Western
hemisphere, she must at once con-
vince her southern neighbors (1)
that the U. S. no longer seeks to
dominate this hemisphere, and (2)
that the U. 8S. must nevertheless
continue in the role of guardian
angel over Pan-American nations.
The difficulty of this
After the
manner of the circus hawker, one
might shout that the greatest show
it has two ‘big tops,” and one
might, without stretching the imagi-
gates in the face long before the
Pan-American conference opened at
Lima, and after three weeks of con-
sultation it still remained evident
that nothing more concrete than
resolutions would
emerge from the meeting. Secre-
tary of State Cordell Hull realizes
that without absolute unanimity of
opinion, Pan-America’s attempts to
in-
__. REPUBLICAN LANDON
His word carried more weight,
ant AH TL gant,
flueéhce will carry little weight.
Such unanimity cannot be reached
Argentina insists
As the conference neared an end,
sult would be perfection of consulta-
tion machinery under which minis-
But Secre-
President Roosevelt to
choose Republican Alf M. Landon
Far more
than any resolution,
intentions which the U. 8S.
could offer, was Republican Lan-
tarian countries that Washington
would always stand pat on its Mon-
roe doctrine.
Its significance: Whereas dicta-
torships have profited through
Great Britain's vaccilating foreign
policy, torn by a “Chamberlain
bloc,” “Eden hloc,” ““Cliveden set"
and ‘‘peace-at-any-price bloc,” Re-
publican Landon’s support of Dem-
ocrat Roosevelt's foreign policy
showed clearly that the U. 8. is
united on at least one subject.
Miscellany
In Philadelphia, New Year's
Eve revelry after midnight was
banned because Mayor S. Davis Wil-
son reminded citizens of a 144-year-
old law banning ‘‘the practice of
worldly employment in general” on
the Sabbath.
‘Quotes’
VERMONT'S GOV. GEORGE Db.
AIKEN, on Republican obliga-
tions: “The party has got to real-
ize that it must be liberal if it is
going to get anywhere. Those
elected to congress have got to
realize that if they professed to
be liberals from expediency, they
must back up their words with
actions.”
PRIME MINISTER NEVILLE
CHAMBERLAIN, warning Ger-
many against war: ‘‘When Ger-
man statesmen reflect on the pos-
sible consequences of conflict they
think not only of our armaments
but our great financial resources,
which, in a war of long duration,
might prove the deciding factor.”
GEORGE McLEAN HARPER, U. 8.
educator, reviving a dead issue:
“I regard the severance of the
American colonies from the moth-
er country as one of the most la-
mentable mistakes in history.”
understand what is happening, or is
about to happen, you had best keep
your eyes trained on both tents.
Yes, in all seriousness, there are
two shows this winter. One of them
has many actors, many voices. It
is to be found in the halls of con-
gress on Capitol Hill. The man on
the flying trapeze never excelled by
comparison with members of the
house and senate. Never were there
better clownish acts than are staged
annually in those chambers. Instead
of vocal applause and much clap-
ping of hands, however, the actors
in the Capitol Hill circus want ap-
plause in the shape of votes; they
prove,
Now, concerning the other tent,
there is only one actor. But he
controls many Charlie McCarthys.
He used to operate a puppet show.
He made his actors perform so well
that they became known as rubber
stamps. But an election has inter-
vened.
ken, others have become knotted,
and the master actor probably has
somewhat more critics in his audi-
ence than he formerly had.
National Defense and the
Railroads Serious Problems
President Roosevelt will
congress in a few days his program
for building up the national defense.
As a third great problem,
probably the most difficult as well
as of concern to every one of us,
there is the question of what to do
to save the railroads of the country.
proper or sane solution, but to me
it appears that the time has come
when national action is called for
in a much more concrete form than
the “intellectual liberals’ surround.
ing the White House are accustomed
to advance in bringing about the
more abundant life. Trains run on
money, as well as steel, and if the
owners do not get some money very
soon there won't be more than half
a dozen rail lines in the country
that have escaped bankruptcy.
In addition to these problems, we
are likely to see competition be-
tween the two shows for some very
juicy jobs. Of course, these con-
cern largely the north ring of the
Capitol Hill circus, namely, the sen-
ate, which must confirm presiden-
tial appointments before the act is
It is not too much to
a good many of these selections.
There is always the annual mess
of appropriation bills. Work has
been started on many of them by
it should be remarked that the work
has been only started. It is by no
There are not
majority vote if, as and when want-
ed, like it has been for the last sev-
eral sessions. In other words, in
the forthcoming session, unless all
signs fail, there will be close scruti-
ny of appropriation bills,
Congress Won't Vote Money
Just to Please the President
From present indications, I be-
lieve it may be said that Mr. Roose.
velt will get money out of the cur-
rent session of congress only when
the congress decides it desires to
vote money. It will not vote money
just because the President says
money shall be voted. Further, it
appears certain that there will be
no more “blank check” appropria-
tions. The end has come for that
sort of thing. Hereafter, one may
expect that congress will have its
say as to what is done with the
money, where and how it will be
spent. In other words, there is such
intense hatred of Professional Re-
liever Harry Hopkins that the bulk
awaiting an opportunity to clip
Harry's wings as the world’s great-
est spender. And it might be added
just here, too, that there are cer-
tain senators and representatives
who would rather welcome a chance
to take a slap at the whole new deal
relief setup, not to mention a side-
be given the President. It must be
remembered that Mr. Hopkins is
Mr. Roosevelt's closest friend and
adviser,
This national defense program
about which the administration has
been doing so much talking has its
merits, I believe.
happy about the prospect. It is a
racies of the world that has been
waved by Hitler, Mussolini and the
others. Dictatorship is feeling its
oats. With Communism on the one
hand and Fascism on the other,
there surely is need for prepared-
ness, and that is what Mr. Roose-
velt is proposing.
Big Navy Helps to Keep
Foreign Statesmen Rational
It looks like a tremendous waste
of money, because hundreds upon
hundreds of millions will be spent
for ships, for aircraft, for fortifica-
tions. 1 always have felt that a
big navy—the mere presence of it
—helped keep some greedy and ag-
gressive foreign statesmen in their
right senses. The change in war
methods that has come about from
development of the airplane re-
quires that our air force be
strengthened. All of these things
must be considered. But if they
two other reasons for believing the
President is on the right track. 1
witnessed the terrific waste in the
1818. If it is built up ac-
by
people who know their business, we
will at least get something for our
money—which we didn't in 1817.
Those who have ever visited the
James river in Virginia surely will
agree with that statement after they
the water's edge without ever hav-
ing been used.
to be
The second reason men-
for this type of construction is go-
ing to mean jobs. It will take many
people off of relief. Again, surely
it is worth more to have something
substantial built than to have strong
men raking up leaves or building
Before the debate on the defense
program is over, of course, there
will be charges that Mr. Roosevelt
has set up a hobgoblin of fear. He
will be charged with having pro-
posed the defense program to dis.
tract attention from his failure to
help business out of its slump.
There is some truth in that But
there is truth in the reports that we
are not protected, as a nation, and
that our army and our navy would
be like a terrier fighting a police
dog if we should have to mix it with
any foreign power.
Railroad Picture Important
As Is the Defense Program
tant in a domestic way as is the
defense program. Indeed, I can not
help wondering what our defense
program would be like if the rail
lines break down. I am told that
the war department has figures
showing that if the railroads were
called upon to haul
in 1937, some of the freight trains
creeks,
their rights of way.
foolish to me.
backs with added debt. They have
all of the debt that they can stand
now.
I have about reached the conclu-
sion that an actual subsidy to the
railroads may be the best and the
cheapest thing to do. Give them
cash; treat them as other means
of transportation have been treated.
There is no use denying it, for the
government has subsidized water.
ways. It is giving cold cash to the
merchant marine. It has subsidized
IEEE
piles
BW LI A8
DEPARTMENT
BABY CHICKS
MILFORD HATCHERY
Milford Road nr. Liberty Rd., Pikesville.
F. 0. ROCKDALE, MD. Pikesville 541-3,
wv;
BEAUTY CULTURE
HOLLYWOOD'S BEAUTIFUL STARS
NADIRE, 23 Famous Beauty Secrets
Bend 25¢ Biiver
NADINE, Box 990, Hollywood, Calif,
Real Stuff
Actor—I must insist upon hav-
ing real food in the banquet scene.
Manager (fed up)—Just
have real the
poison in
The boss to his secretary:
“Now, Miss Jones, be careful
when you write to Messrs. Grif-
fons. Don’t lose my temper!”
Lesson in Short Division
“May 1 have pieces
chocolate, mur
“Certainly, my dea
what you
Stories.
of
two
wee
ust break
J Stray
Miss Hedgehog, going t
he"
liss Hedgehog—No, none of the
boys will ever dance with me.
Family Man
Joan—Eisie, may
my cousin?
Elsie—How interesting!
week he was my cousin.
Off and On
Ishka—They say a fat person
may reduce by dancing the mod-
ern fast dances.
Yagke—Yes,
may put on
fat people trying to do them.
Changing Dances
From 1776 to 1911, American so-
cial dancing was virtually con
fined to six dances: the polka,
reel, square dance, minuet, waltz
and two-step, reports Collier's.
From 1811 to 1938, more than 25
new dances have been introduced,
among them being the turkey trot,
grizzly bear, Texas tommy, bunny
hug, hesitation, maxixe,
one-step, Castle walk,
Charleston, black bottom, Lindy
hop, rumba and the big apple.
Beware Coughs 4
from common colds
That Hang On
Fo matter how many medicines
you have tried for Common
cough, chest Sai, oF foi ial eri
tation, you get relief now
ly droubie Buy
brewing and you cannot 4 OT
take a chance with any remedy
t than Creomulsion, which
to the seat of the trouble
Spd
TOL,
BEyERSRINC
Lo BR
Ui
you can depend on the
special sales the
merchants of our town
announce in the columns -
of this paper. They mean
money saving te our
SPECIALS