AR —— POLITICS: Plan? Whatever his reasoning, Presi- dent Roosevelt has shown political wisdom in refusing to announce his intentions for 1940. But campaigns and conventions must eventually settle the Democratic party's polit- ical stew, and by early June cam- paign time was so near that third- term talk was definitely in the pic- ture. Enough other Democrats had talked to give the voting public their choice of two probable reasons why the White House continued to re- main silent: Resolution, West Virginia's Sen. Rush D. Holt began demanding that the senate vote on his resolution for- bidding a third term. Until that vote was made, Mr. Roosevelt could hardly be expected to declare him- self; if the resolution were passed after he announced his candidacy, the President would go down in history as a villain, not a hero. Contrariwise, if the resolution were SECRETARY ICKES He doesn't like Mr. Garner, rejected, Mr. public would regard the rejection as a vote of confidence from the sen- ate, thus paving the way for renomi- nation. Confusion. Far more pertinent, however, is another reason. While Mr. Roosevelt keeps quiet, all other Democratic hopefuls are scrambling into the exciting political dogfight, knifing each other in a way that can never be expected to bring party harmony. First (and best liked) hopeful to speak was Vice President John N. Garner, whose friends announced he would be “available.” Within 48 hours he was pounced on by: (1) Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes, who called him by inference a “know nothing, say nothing, do nothing'’; (2) Workers Alliance, which adopted a resolution con- demning Mr. Garner as represent- ing a poverty-stricken mass of peo- ple; (3) San Antonio's Mayor Maury Maverick, former congressman, who objected chiefly to Mr. Gar- ner's age (70). Meanwhile Secretary of Agricul. ture Henry Wallace had his name added to a list of second choices already cluttered with those of Post- master General James A. Farley, Indiana's former Gov. Paul V. Mc- Nutt and aging Secretary of State Cordell Hull, who has long been mentioned as a presidential possi- bility. Immediate result was probably just what the President wanted, a recognition by many Democrats that the Garner-Hull-Farley-Wal- lace-McNutt candidacies merely pro- duced an utter confusion which could have but one logical solution HEADLINERS MAURICE GUSTAVE GAMELIN This French general first came to prominence during the Munich crisis, though he a has been chief of the army general staff since 1931. Now 66, he en- tered the World war as a captain and emerged as a major general. His latest honor: Commandership of the combined : French land, sea u and air forces, an unprecedented move to unify the government's defense. The move had been ex- pected, however, since General Gamelin was in 1938 named chief of the general staff of national de- fense, directly under Edouard Daladier, premier and minister of national defense and war. The new task is one of co-ordinating all French forces. Retaining gen- eralship of French land forces, the new commander will have as air chief Gen. J. Vuillemin. Com- mander-in-chief of the navy will be Admiral Jean Darlin, ad- vanced from vice-admiral. Both are under Gamelin’'s supervision. at convention time: Junk them all and nominate Franklin Roosevelt again. If this was not the case, observers at least saw something significant in Mr. Ickes’ article in Look maga- zine, in which he plumped for a third term. Extremely close to the White House, the vitriolic secretary of the interior was not likely to make such a statement unless he knew the President was at least toying with the idea of running again. FAIRS: Attendance Closer to large populations, New York's World's fair would naturally draw larger attendance than its ri- val at San Francisco. By June 1, after running 3% months, the Gold- en Gate exposition reported attend- ance of 3,284,329. In one month, from April 30 to June 1, New York's turnstiles spun to the tune of 5,594,- 770. More interesting to executives of both fairs was the source of at- tendance, for local visitors add little to the prosperity of either San Fran- cisco or New York. At the Golden Gate, a checkup of parking lots re- vealed 85 per cent of visitors were from California. Of out-of-state vis- itors, 55 per cent came from nearby Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Ne- vada, etc. Closest comparable estimate at visited the Judging from New Jersey, 15 per cent; Only states not regis- North and South Though both surveys showed ear- ly attendance was localized, both fairs also predicted mid-summer vacation season would bring visi- tors from afar. AVIATION: Competition Most huge flying boats like Pan- American's transatlantic clippers took two to three years for design and completion. Last summer, when the new clippers were already under way, San Diego's Consolidated aircraft went to work on a stream- lined, simplified, awkward looking boat (see photo) powered by two 2,000-horsepower, 18-cylinder, twin- row radial engines; capable of cruising 300 miles an hour with a CONSOLIDATED'S BOAT Not graceful, but efficient. cruising range exceeding present types; seating 52 passengers in daytime, and sleeping 28 at night. Its size: 110-foot wingspread, 73- foot length, 22-foot height, 50,000- pound weight. Most surprising fea- ture: an unexpected, ungraceful “reverse clipper’’ cut at the stern, which sacrifices beauty for ef- ficiency. Consolidated lost no time dispos- ing of the boat. Sponsored by American Export Lines, Inc., which operates 18 surface boats between the eastern seaboard and Mediter- ranean ports, a subsidiary known as American Export airlines will this summer make several transat- lantic survey flights with the ship. Each of American Export’s surface ships will maintain a floating weath- er observatory and guard service across the Atlantic, For Pan-American, just getting under way on a two-flights-a-week basis, Consolidated’s flying whale may mean competition. BUSINESS: Unanimity A sample day's comment in this spring's week-after-week demand for tax revision as a means of aid- ing business, and thereby stimulat- ing recovery: Gen, Charles G. Dawes: ‘“The business man is no longer taking things lying down. It is insane to believe that the government can do the job alone. John W. Hanes, treasury under- secretary: ‘The social reforms de- sired by the people can be sus tained and developed only by the recovery of private enterprise, which after all is the backbone of federal revenue." Walter B. Van Wart, Dallas steel executive: “If confidence is to be revived and -term business re- covery prom , punitive and in- centive taxation policies should be abandoned.” NEUTRALITY: Co-operation German domination over lesser European nations need not only mean dependence on the Reich for peacetime manufactured goods. If such was the case last year, Adolf Hitler's aggression this spring add- ed military domination to the al- ready pressing economic leverage. Reason: Already boss of Germany's mighty Krupp works, Berlin cap- tured the even mightier Skoda plants when Czecho-Slovakia fell before the conquerer. Until then southeast Europe's minor nations (like Rumania, Greece, Turkey and Jugoslavia) had Skoda guns and shells to ward off the aggressive Reich. Today Skoda munitions go mainly to Germany and can be free { CZECHIA'S SKODA WORKS It may change U. S. policy. bought by lesser nations only in ex- change for concessions. Aggravating the situation is the Anglo-French rearmament pro- gram, which demands domestic consumption of all munitions pro- duced in those nations’ Lesser countries get none, This forceful argument against current U. 8S. neutrality legislation was apparently saved for the crucial moment. Not offered early this ses- sion during house and senate com- mittee hearings, it was plumped in their laps unexpectedly by Secre- tary of State Cordell Hull just as the two houses seemed likely to give neutrality an airing. It seemed a fairly sound basis for changing U. S. policy, isolationists notwithstanding. Since the Nazi government has become No. 1 source of military supplies, more- over since practically continuous German mobilization aggravates the situation, Mr. Hull joined Ne- vada’'s Sen. Key Pittman in demand- ing repeal of the neutrality act's embargo provision. (This provision stipulates that once the President finds a state of war exists in any foreign conflict, the sale of U. S. arms and munitions is prohibited.) Best anti-embargo argument: That it actually places the U. 8. in a position of co-operating with Nazi Germany in freezing out smaller na- tions by depriving them of muni- tions. On the surface less pressing when war scares have temporarily died down, neutrality revision seemed out of the question if congress is to consider tax revision, relief appro- priations and social security and still adjourn by July 15. TRANSPORTATION: Survey Last winter congress ordered the federal trade commisgion to survey the automobile industry for concen- tration of control, competition, man. ufacturer-dealer associations. Inspiration: Sen. Jo- seph O'Mahoney’'s monopolies in- vestigating committee. Just submitted, FCC's report both praised and blamed the auto indus- try. Chief praise was that, although in 1938 there were only 11 manu facturing firms and that three of these (Ford, General Motors and Chrysler) controlled 80 per cent of sales, the public got its money's worth, FCC found that ‘‘consumer benefits from competition in the automobile industry have probably been more substantial than in any other large industry studied by the commission." Chief blame was that certain manufacturers impose ‘“‘unfair and inequitable conditions on their deal. ers, forcing them to accept con- tracts favoring the manufacturer. Recommendations: (1) less restric. tion on dealers; (2) placing of quota requirements for dealers on a mu- tual basis. TREASURY: News Notes June 15 1s quarterly U. 8S. treas ury refinancing time, Only re financing this June is an offer to exchange $426,554,600 in 1% per cen: notes maturing next September fo new five year, % per cent note: maturing June 15, 1944. No new money will be needed until Septem ber. Other treasury news: €l. During the first 11 months of the 1938-36 fiscal year the U. S. operate. with a deficit of $3,240,467 002 which will probably hit $4,000.000, 000 by year's end on June 30 4 Secretary Morgenthau revealeo only 49 Americans had million-dol lar incomes in 1937, compared with 61 in 1936. Yet 6,350,148 people fileo 1937 income tax returns, compared with only 5,413,499 in 1036. @ Okayed by the senate was a meas ure to remove the $30,000,000 Liman on federal bond insurance, though the total debt limit of $45,000.000,00( (to be reached next fiscal year) re mains undisturbed, WASHINGTON .—Public investiga- tions always hold some fascination 1 i i § i i lies in the sensational testimony or The thing that attracts me to these in behalf of the pee-pul. I do not mean to impugn the mo- it. But whatever the results the public interest, it re- two who are seeking to capitalize upon the reputation they can build something that does not make for good government. It is a species of demagoguery, this campaigning on a vehicle set up for other pur- poses. So, we come to the case of Casa zen, and an attorney for the power commission which is a federal agen- From all appearances, Mr. He the next few years. Prosecution of cal horse that will gallop far and well the plains of the great state of Texas. Of course, Mr. March would be aboard that horse. I understand that he even has a campaign slogan. He would herd over and-drag-out investigation. Now, it may be that this is just a by-product, like some of the poisons that come from beautiful flowers. But it does come, and that is why I always want to smell around a bit for a look-see at the full story of an investigation. There is no doubt, for that the federal power cor restigation of the use of Niagara 5 water for generation of elec- ic power may produce some new facts. that kind should not be allowed to become a thing in which public in- terest is ignored. But there should be, and there is, a limit to public in- limit beyond which private control should not be allowed. In the Niagara case, however, the power commission is made to appear as the spearhead of a loud- speaking, rough-riding minority which, for years, has sought to sad- dle public ownership on the whole United States. That group makes no bones of ils purposes. public ownership, a socialist ven- tion want it or not. Indeed, a good upon the country despite the refusal ner with h March.” “Forward March, With to the Mr. office I am not .informed March's qualification for of governor of Texas. as Sometimes these young whippersnappers what it takes and Mr. March In any event, hes be one e power coms- may of them. ags “those four have amided one un- be The four March the another” til Niagara Falls crushed under the b families are named by Morgans, Mel Schoellkopfs and the Carlisles. £ 138 ter must as the the Wonder if Private Persons One look at the stenographic rec- ord of the hearings in the Niagara case rather causes one to whether private persons any longer have rights even under our constitutional form of govern- There were apparently no and the statement is the same re- garding the usual congressional committee investigations. The fel- in one of these cases is worse off than the Negro boy behind the can- at the county fair. The boy duck. He has that sporting chance, even though his head is as has been established paris of the South under the creep- ing paralysis of TVA. This conclusion is borne out, as far as I am concerned, by the pub- lic pronouncements of those charged er policy of the Roosevelt adminis- tration. The conclusion is accepted by many also because of the unend- ing efforts of Secretary Ickes of the interior department. Mr. Ickes, as Not so with a witness in a public Nor does there seem to be any of charges a person or The constitutional provision seems You are proved inno- you are submit proof. Of course, such names as the Alu- licly owned electric light plants. He lions out on the plains, agricultural areas, as he did in Nebraska, where Such a value of private plants which did not have a bottomless treasury from which to make up op- erating losses. When one has a knowledge of all of this background, the Niagara siderably. The power commission Sud- They are too technical to In other words, power and has done so by the simple process of enforcing its views rath- congress. Clearly Illustrates How Investigations May Turn Out Thus, it seems that the Niagara Falls case can be used as an illus- tration of what investigations may turn out to be, even though such an inquiry is properly conceived in the public interest. The use of them for the purposes that appear in this one surely must be deplored, for it is bureaucracy run riot, There is yet another phase of the Niagara Falls case to which atten- tion should be drawn. It relates to he ui tion ot an Ohi 1 ng Toe pe i» there is no crime in promoting one's self, or one's political ambitions. Anyway, 1 do not infer any crime. I am merely criticizing the thing as ers are well known. They are “big” names. Without them, most investi- gations are a flop. Being wealthy and well known, when those people Almost anything that is done about them or by them is printed. Be- sides, many, many speeches can be made about trust busting! Perhaps such tactics pay. Think of Hugo Black. He rode roughshod over anybody and everybody in his ago, an investigation conducted by him as a United States senator. Mr. Black now sits as an associate jus- tice of the Supreme court. It will be a long time, however, before most people will forget how Mr. Black used powers of the securities and exchange commission to force sands of personal telegrams to his tion, Jackson Tried It Too, See What Happened There was Robert Jackson, too. Mr. Jackson, as chief counsel for the bureau of internal revenue, bat- tied the late Andrew W. Mellon over his income taxes. He was appoint- ed soon thereafter as the assistant attorney general in charge of anti- trust prosecutions. Promptly, he started an anti-trust suit against the Aluminum Company of America, but his political star was not in the right transit. Anyway, he did not get to be governor of New York. He did not even get the nomination, as did Thomas E. Dewey, as a pub- lic reward for striking at malefac- tors of great wealth or racketeers— one type being as good as the other for political purposes. Or, we may advert to Senator La- Follette's crusade with his senate civil liberties committee. Now, I am none too sure of the eating of the phrase, civil liberties, but ator LaFollette surely tried to con- vince the union workers, especially the C. 1. O. members, that he was protecting them against those sinful employers who would grind workers into the grime and grease of their overalls, as well as obtaining much publicity for the senator. (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) 1 ¥ . TH . For Smart Fashions FF YOU want to look slimmer than you are, and do it in the coolest, smartest way possple, bb. slenderizing. The the v- Make ie of chiffon, georgette, or voile. You'll be delighted with its softness, coolness and chic. and deep 15 iinen Three-Piece Sports Ensemble. 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Gingham, No. 1756 38, pp 92. “x 39- FEEL GOOD Conditions Due to Siuggish Bowels If you think all luxstives J act alike, Just try this HH not deligh refund ihe Fie Phat rice at air, xk today. Empty Task In general those who nothing have to say contrive to spend the longest time in doing it.—Lowell. A wonder{ul 2d for boils where 8 drawing agent is indicated. Soothing and comforting Fine for children and grownaepa, Practical Ecomnamicsl It is not wide reading but useful Aristippus. DAISY FLY KILLER
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers