Jr
EMTORIAE : PAGE
La Grande Evening Observer
Frank Schiro, Publifiher
Page Two
Don't Let Him Down
, J its in Your haw
NOW, BUT DON'T EVER
: ' II ( fKOET I WENT THROUGH
.. .
EVENING OBSERVER'S
PROGRESS PROGRAM
IRRIGATION Complete the Grande
Ronde Valley Irrigation project.
LA GRANDE - A city of 10,000 -Extend
the city limits.
TODAY'S TEXT
In all labor there ia profit; but the
talk of the lips leiuloth only to penury.
Proverbs 15:23.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
The least strength suffices to break
what is bruised. Ovid.
,
Presidential Succession
While no, quo knows what eventually
may be doiie with IYesident Truman's
proposed changes in the presidential
succession, the fact that lie has pro
posed it is serviiijr its constructive pur
pose. It is resulting in widespread dis
cussions which cannot do other than
broaden general knowledge of the work
ings of a highly important detail of
government something desirable in
r.ny democracy.
Under present laws, the next in line
for the White House, after the vice
president, are cabinet members in this
order: secretaries of state, treasury
nnd war, attorney general, postmaster
general, and the secretaries of the navy
nnd interior. The departments of agri
culture, commerce and labor had not
been created at the time the law was
enacted.
Mr. Truman's idea is that t lie order
of succession, after the vice president,
should be, first, the speaker of the
house of representatives; next, the
president pro tempore of the senate,
and then the cabinet members in the
present order. Actually, under such a
plan, the succession probably never
would go beyond the speaker. The house
almost certainly would lose no lime m
Funny Business
i fff w&H 3 n&&tei&z&&$8k
electing a successor to any speaker who
might be elevated to the presidency.
It is true that succession to the presi
dency never has gone beyond the vice
president. But M times during Ameri
can history, the secretary of state has
been next in line for the While House
seven times each due to the death of a
president or a vice president. Thus it is
a wise precaution to decide whether It is
desirable for this condition to continue.
One persuasive argument in favor of
Mr. Truman's proposal is that such a
lino of succession would tend to insure
that the new head of government would
represent the party in power. ' This, in
theory, is desirable in a government
which operates under the principle of
majority rule.
On the other hand, American secre
taries of state, taken as a whole, have
been men of such outstanding ability
and distinction that there is little rea
son to suppose that the nation would
have suffered under their guidance.
Among the '18 who have served in the
office were six men who became presi
dents. Others in the list included Cor
dell Hull, Charles K. Hughes, William
Jennings Bryan, Klihu Hoot, James G.
Blaine, Daniel Wabster, John C. Cal
houn, Henry Clay, John Marshall and
John Jay. There is no reason why any
secretary of state ever should be of less
than presidential quality.
However, the decision on this ques
tion is in future. Kcgardless of what
that decision may be, many Americans
likely will know more about their gov
ernment than they did before which is
all to the good.
Ominous Addition
The Japs' npprehensiveness m u s t
have inreased with the redoubtable
General Stilwell's assumption of an ac
tive command in their near neighbor
hood. They must realize that now the
ominous initials V-J stand not onlv for
Victory in Japan, but also Vinegar Joe.
SO THEY SAY
1 would favor a 30 or 40-hour
working week if all llic countries
would agree to such a plan and
thus eliminate the possibility of
unfair competition.
Gen. Francisco. Franco, dicta
tor of Spain.
By keeping his car In safe op
orating condition and by driving
it with the utmost care, every
motorist can help in relieving our
serious transportation problem
and thereby aid further in the
whol.' war effort.
President Harry S. Truman.
tin matter In w hi eft direction
the enemy's next move Is, there
will lie innumerable graveyards
awaiting him.
Kclitorial in "Mainichi," Tokyo
newspaper.
Washington Merry-Go-Round
Side Glances ..
Br DREW PEAHSOH
WASHINGTON Farm-, lobby chiefs,
among the most powerful vin Washington,
were put in their place during a hot, behind-the-scenes
fight inside the war mobilization
advisory board last week over the question
of giving the secretary of agriculture super
power to regulate food prices.
The war mobilization advisory board,
chairmaned by North Carolina's former gov
ernor, O. Max Gardner, is composed of farm
er, business, .labor, and public representa
tives. Usually Gardner has reconciled con
flicts and recently the board passed a reso
lution okaying the extension of OPA for an
other year with no crippling amendments.
But when the board session opened last
week war mobilizer Vinson immediately
challenged 1 barren-beaned Ed O'Neal, head
of the farm bureau federation, and Albert
Goss, head of the National Grange, for go
ing counter to the board's resolution and
favoring the crippling OPA amendment by
which the secretary of agriculture could
override OPA prices on food.
Ed O'Neal murmured something about not
having favored such an amendment, but
Judge Vinson immediately challenged him.
"Oh, yesjj'you did," he shot back. "You
sent a telegram to the hill (Capitol Hill)
supporting fhat amendment."
"It seems o me," reproved Eric Johnston,
president ot the U. S. chamber of commerce,
coming to,i Vinson's support, "that if any
group represented on this board agrees to a
resolution aUoptcd by the board, it should not
go out and1 inform congress to the cntrary
without coming back and telling us that it
has changed, its mind. That is the only fair
way of doing things."
v Farm Bloc Defeated
"We passed a resolution that the economic
stabilization act should be continued for one
year without any crippling amendments,"
reminded Nathaniel Dyke, who represents
small business on the board, "and then you
turn around and urge congress to pass a crip
pling amendment."
"We didn't propose a crippling amend
ment," replied Albert Goss of the Grange,
who by this time was getting a little huffy.
"We just wanted to see the OPA act was ad-
"Ho was a window trimmer!"
Small business Is in the most
precarious position It ever has
been .... I view the future of
small business with apprehension
inn. K. S. Wherry of Nebraska..
tno i nurlf iiov Ylbnoht s H
ministered more efficiently." '
At this, non-farmer members of the board
snorted, but kept their tempers.
"How would you like to have business go
over the head of OPA and set its own
prices?" replied Eric Johnston.
"Yes, how would you like the U.: S. cham
ber of commerce to be able to override OPA
when it comes to 'setting business prices?" '
asked Nat Dyke. "And how would ydu like
to have Phil Murray over there set wages,
regardless of the stabilization act?"
That ended the argument. Except, Fred
Vinson put the same general thought before
congress and finally succeeded in eliminat
ing the amendment whereby the secretary
of agriculture could put farm prices lh a
preferred position. Vinson has done more
to cement relations between congress and
the executive branch than any other one
man, not excluding Jimmy Byrnes.
Churchill's "Memoirs" :
Friends of the late president who are
anxious for Truman to go over big at his
forthcoming Big Three talk tell this story
about the Yalta and Tehran conferences.
Roosevelt, when he returned, told friends
how, in discussing different topics with
Churchill and Stalin, he would usually make
the first presentation of the case. This took
three to five minutes. Then Stalin would
give his views, which also took three to five
minutes.
"Then," said Roosevelt, "Churchill would
present his memoirs lasting 30 minutes."
White House advisers are wondering how
Truman can avoid the Churchill "memoirs"
when he goes to Berlin.
Capital Chaff
Maj. D. C. Jernigen, commander of U. S.
base post office one at Sutton-Coldfield,
England, has been relieved from duty as a
result of publicity given to the army's burn
ing of packages sent to U. S. killed and miss
ing soldiers. ' The packages were burned
Instead of being returned to the U. S. A.,
and according to British papers contained
cigaret lighters, canned goods, chocolates,
biscuits, cakes and other delicacies in such
"staggering quantities" British children car
ried many of them home ... , ,
WE, THE WOMEN
Br RUTH MXLLETT
The man who said "Never expect grati
tude" was talking to and about individuals.
But women should realize that the advice
also holds good for a class. When the war
came women pitched in and took over all
of the jobs left empty by men who donned
uniforms. They have played an important
role, not only in keeping the machineiy of
war going, but in keeping civilians fed,
clothed, and many a businessman from hav
ing to closedown. i; i
Early in the war they reaped a lot of
praise and got their pictures in the paper for
the unusual jobs they were doing and do
ing well.
They've been well treated during the war
and their services have been fought for.
But unlss they want to be bitterly disap
pointed they had better not expect any grat
itude not even from the employers who did
the most toJ(coax them to work.
As soon as the men are back these women
are going to find out once again that the
world of business is a man's world. And
that few men really believe that women
should be given equal breaks when it comes
to pay, chances at promotion, responsibility,
recognition, etc. tVj..i.v:i '..vi .!
There is going to be very little gratitude
for the thousands of women who helped to
keep the country going in war time once
the war is over.
If they face that fact now, then they won't
be disappointed.
There is only one place where women have
the say about how things are run or stand
on an equal footing with men, and that is
in the home.
It's still a man's world outside the home
as women will discover, when they again
start to compete with men for jobs. And all
the thanks they can expect for the hel they
gave their country during the war is the
personal satisfaction it gave them to have
a chance to serve. '
Behind Scenes in Washington
Bj PJSTER EDSON, La Grand Evanlng Obsamr Washington Correspondent
WASHyKJJTON, July 3 When American,
British, French and Russian supreme com
manders iti the allied control council get to
work in Berlin, one of their first concerns
will be to found up and wipe out the Ger
man general staff. In the declaration of
Yalta, it wtib stated that this was one of the
primary obectives to insure Germany would
never again be able to threaten war.
This highly specialized job will consist of
settling the fate of what's left of a select
corps estimated at 2,200 to 2,500 officers,
most of whom are believed to be still alive.
In the World War I period, they would ail
have come from the old German Junkers
class. A few of the top men, the generals
in the staff corps, are still hangovers from
this old aristocracy, but for the most part,
the young men, who might be considered
dangerous enough to start World War III,
are soldiers who have come up from the
ranks.
Before any soldier could become an offi
cer in the German army of World War II,
lie had first to pass a week's psychological
examination which was intended to show
his fitness as officer material. If he passed,
he then spent his first year as a private, his
second as il corporal, then eight months in an
officers' candidate general service school and
six months in the school of the army for
which he was best fitted. After this train
ing of three years, he was second lieutenant.
When he rose to the rank of captain, he
could become eligible for the general staff.
First, however, he had to pass a competi
tive examination which was a stinker. Many
candidates failed.
If he passed, the young captain went to
general staff school in the Institute of Tech
nology at Bcrlin-Charlottcnburg. Here his
courses vyeic highly specialized. His class,
es were small. Tlicre was one instructor de
tailed to every 10 men, and this instructor
stayed with his charges all through a stiff
two vear course, coaching them, cramming
them, making out their efficiency reports.
Those who passed became members of the
select general staff corps, or life, entitled
to wear a red stripe down their pants legs
and be the envy of all the army.
, First assignment of a general staff officer,
.hiiueuApjiras with troop... Two out of cv-
www
... V ''' ir.il.
m. t.m. aw.ii.awT.eff. , . 1
'.powynw vt wa. vi. n
"If General Eisenhower could see how these kids behave, he'd
send Gorge home instead of keeping him over there to discipline
the Germans!"
O McKENNEY ON BRIDGE
By WM.,E. McKENNEY, America's Card Authority
DONT TRY FINESSE
IN SPOT LIKE THIS
Today's hand, played by Miss
Constance 'Little, helped her
team tie the winners for the
eastern states mixed team-of-tour
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MU Little I N .
AK9 yj FA 5432
V K J 5 4 ' s A72
A 8 3 h.ol.r 7 2
AKQ I P""" A643
South
Pass
Pass
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4 K J 9 4
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West North East .
2 N T Pass 3 N T
Pass . Pass
Opening 7
championship. Miss Little real
ized that she had received a very
favorable opening, so she counted
hev;tricks. ShMiad three eliibs,
one diamond, two hearts and two
spades eight, tricks. Therefore', '
Questions & Answer t
Q Has helium any other uses
than for filling balloons and diri
gibles? A Aviation engineers say this
lighter-than-air gas saves weight
and is satisfactory for inflating
huge tire of airliners. Air re
quired to fill such tires weighs
180 pounds, as compared with 2(i
pounds of helium.
she had to bring iVi dno more
heart to make her contract. The
average player would take the
heart finesse, but this is wrong.
If the hearts break three and
three it is easy to make the con
tract, but if they break four and
two, you can guard against the
queen and one on the left. Miss
Little made the correct play when
she led the king of hearts and
then returned a small heart to
the ace. Of course, when North"s
queen dropped, it established the
jack.
O IN FORMER
YEARS
30 Years Ago
John Walden, deputy game
warden, Fire Chief Benham and
P. A. Foley drove to Union yes
terday to catch some: of the big
salmon that are running.
i,(Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Donohue: -i
are planning to leave soon for
San' Francisco and San Diego.
On the trip he will attend the ..
Elks conclave at Los ingeles. .
Mrs. L. M. Hoyt entertained ,
children of her neighborhood at a i
surprise birthday party on the .
occasion of the birthday anni
versary of her 11-year-old twins,
Mildred and Myrtle.
cry six years of the staff, officer's life had
to be spent in command of troops, and his
efficiency rating and advancement, though
on promotion lists separate from those of
the line officers, were rated on ability to
command in the field.- The theory was that
if a staff officer could not command, he
could not plan for others to command.
Actually, the war planning grand strategy
was not the work of the entire general staff
corps, but of the wehrmachts oberkomman
do, a group of not more than one percent
of the total.
Keitel was the man at the top during most
of the war, but towards the end, Guderian,
Wenck, Krcbs and Jodl headed this ober
kommanrlo. Weak spot in the German general staff
set-up, according to U. S. military authori
ties, was that it was never able to keep
ahead of Hitler. The German general staff '
took Hitler to its bosom when he became
political leader of the reich, but thereafter,
it was never able to keep him in control.
He nAoved into Austria, before the general
staff was ready, he moved against France
before the general staff was ready for the
next logical step, an invasion of England.
To find where the once-proud wearers of
the red striped pants are now will take some
searching. Some arc In Russian, British and
French hands. Those taken prisoner by the
V. S. arc kept segregated in Germany, can
easily be treated as they deserve.
What their potential is for making another
war is unknown. Some U. S. staff officers
consider this potential nil. The war minis
try has been bombed to dust, many of its
records destroyed. Some moved to Silesia,
have been captured, and German industry
has been wrecked.
The one possibility for a German come
back in war will be for sonic other govern
ment to create it. That is what happened
the last time U. S. loans helped Germany
firancc a new start after World War I, and
Great Britain and France, sold Germany
many of the raw materials they needed. All "
three and Russia helped German industry
to prepare for a new war. As long as one '
remnant of the German general st.aff corps
personnel or spirit ii kept-nhvar free tn'
Plan such a conic-back, it rsn M'pif Stfl'
f. 1 t. ,(Mi
Q What is the value of re
verse lend-lease received from
Belgium?
A The foreign economics ad
ministration reports reverse lend
lease has been more than four
times larger than direct aid re
ceived. Figures reported by FEA
were $66,500,000 from Belgium as
compared with $14,166,000 ex
ported to that country.
15 Years Ago
Marcus C. Jones, professor of
botany at Pomona college in
California, is in La Grande do
ing research work and also vis
iting at the home of Mr, and Mrs.
G. C. Headley. Professor Jones
is a national authority on botany
and is doing considerable re
search work in this stptf.
Mr. and Mrs. John Stoddard
are making a 10-day trip to Yel
lowstone national park.
Q How many volumes are in
the library of congress? ,
A On July 1, 1S43,' it con
tained 6,822,448 volumes and
pamphlets, 1,503,819 maps and
charts, and 1,641,651 volumes and
pieces of music.
Q How many peaks of more
than 25,000 feet altitude are
there in the world?
A Seventeen, all in Asia and
14 of them in the Himalayas.
10 Years Ago -
Kenneth Flanery, who turned
in 230 crows feet during the two
weeks of the contest, won first
prize of $20 cash in the annual
La Grande Gun club predatory
bird extermination campaign.
Miss Dorothy Mills, Cove,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E.
Mills, is said to be the first girl
to win a master's degree in chem
istry at Whitman college. Miss
Mills has been a student at Whit
man for six years, theVlast two
years having be-on .spent in part- fj
time teaching at tlie college. f
This Curious World
, A CHINESE STEWARD
1 ON THE TORPEDOED
I S.S. BEMLOMOND,
WORLDS CHAMPION I
AFT SURVIVOR;
OF THIS WAR.
HE DRIFTED ALONE
3 DAVsS-
IN THE ATLAwric
BEFO?E RESCUERS
PICKED HIM UP.
1. M. REC U. S. PAT. OFF.
NorAJA
IVOOO alcohcu
IS MACK FROM
ifVOOO.
OOF. 1I4S IV NtA URVtCL MC.
"Persons who talk through THtiR
NOSES OOHT'Satv
BARBARA WELLINSTOrj!,
NEXT; Spoiling wild animals. rfZTCi p"V-
in 1 p i i, ' t-i i