EDITORIAL PAGE
Washington Merry-Go-Round
Side Glanev
La Grande Evening Observer
Frank Schlro, Publisher
TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 9, 1945
Page Two
Honorable Deflation Now a Fact
EVENING OBSKKVEK's
PROGRESS PROGRAM
IRRIGATION Complete the (irunde
Rnnde Valley irrigation project.
I. A GRANDE A city 0f 10.00(1
Eitend the city limit-
After the Deluge (
Keal(!fs whose memory of tho thea
ter or movies spans 10 years or so may
recall a play called "The Deluge." ft
was the story of a jjroup of people, a
small-town jrroup full of social, political
and personal animosities, who took re
fue from n flood in a water-Unlit base
ment. Though in temporary safety, all faced
death from suffocation in their uiivcn
tilated refuRC. And as breathing be
came more difficult and death drew
nearer, their enmities seemed less and
less important. Two by two they resol
ved their differences, admitted the jjood
points of their opponents' view and
characters, and composed their souls to
meet their imminent fate.
At last the oxygen in the room was
nearly exhausted. Preferring quid;
drowning to suffocation, one of t Jit
characters threw open the door in ex
pectation of a torrent of water. Hut the
flood had receded. And, with peril past,
the bad feelings returned. All departed
for home as bitter as when they en
tered. The point of that play is uncomfort
ably applicable to the present state of
this country und of the world. The
tragic t in t h is that it takes the dire
peril of war to bring out the best in
men. Only in the midst of deatli and
suffering, apparently, can they learn
the lesson of tolerance.
So in this war nations forgot ambi
tion and jealousy and ideological differ
ences, and pooled their strength to crusii
the forces of tyranny. Here at home
workers and employers found a way to
t-cttle disputes and work together in
turning out the arms that made victory
posible.
But now that the flood or war nas
receded, the differences are with us
again in greater intensity. Selfishness
and stubborness have returned. The
domestic front is threatened with econ
omic war. In London, the first postwar
meeting of diplomatic representatives
of the great allies was a deadlock of
opposing views which ended in discour
agement and general frustration.
The knowledge that classes and na
tions cannot gel along together unless
they face extinction may not be new.
But it is shocking to have to make that
discovery again. Somehow, after the
bitter buttle to cleanse the earth of the
fascist scourge, everyone hoped that
perhaps the world might become a bet
ter and happier place. That seemed to
be the reason for fighting.
Yet, though we made great scientific
strides during the war years, wc did not
keep pace in human relations. Though
we attained a high level of prosperity,
we find the continuation of that pros
perity endangered by disputes involving
a few thousands of our multi - million
population. Though we spread the doc
trine of democracy far, our destinies
are still shaped in the secret meetings
of a few world statesmen.
As of today, there is precious little
evidence that this country or the world
has learned much from historys most
terrible, war.
Fun ny Husincss
O'AlUS I I .
V--' m
o SO THEY SAY
fiy the time the Christmas rush
is at its height, wc . . . should
hv in a position to supply our
dealers with enough merchandise
to meet the most urgent of the
anticipated radio demand.
Paul I.. CliHmhcrlHin, radio
manufacturing sales executive.
"AU I WU4 to 1Mb, Wow ntij yoo iifc melhlng In krt&kl color?'!"
Tax rcvisiun IcKislniion should be
written immediately. This is ncc
csmiv to stimulate husinrss.
Hep. Joseph W. Martin, jr., of
Massachusetts. House Republi
can leader.
Prosperity is either here or just
around thai mythical rower wc
once heard so much about.
Helena. Mont, Independent
Record. We n.-c nil appalled with the
Minnie bomb and it klllirg effect,
yet w kill thousand each yrr
with avaj aowcntlv without
flnjMne seT)fftjiy (totting excit
ed. - Vyke Johnson, v'c.utenl, Ailtit-)
motive SMety FoitinJatum,.,
By DREW PEAHECN
WASHINGTON Inside story of what hap
pened at the big five conference is now leak
ing out. Actually, from the moment the five
foreign ministers sat down, they were in
trouble. They never had a single profitable
session. At time the atmosphere became so
ragged both Jimmy Byrnes and Ernest Bevin
threatened to walk out. Toward the end, is
sues became so befogged that these men,
supposed to be the top statesmen of the
United Nations, engaged in wild, irresponsi
ble statements.
As usual, the American delegation didn't
know exactly what it wanted or how to get
it. American diplomats were content to play
a defensive game. The British knew what
they wanted, but were afraid to make moves.
Therefore they tried to act as mediators,
keeping friendly with both the U. S. and
the U. S. S. It. and coming off fairly well
except for blustering foreign minister Bevin,
who lost his temper repeatedly. President
Truman, after Potsdam, described Bevin as
"the rudest man I ever met."
The Russians knew what they wanted, and
prepared to sabotage and obstruct until they
got it.
Discussion got so bitter that at one time,
Molotov proposed that Russia play a part
in governing the Panama Canal. Near the
end of the conference, Molotov sarcastically
remarked to one English diplomat, "Byrnes
wants to push democracy in the Balkans to
see how it works there before he tries it
in South Carolina."
Troubles Began al Once
Trouble began over procedure. At Pols
dam it had been definitely decided the Lon
don conference was to concern itself with
peace treaties for Italy, Bulgaria and Ru
mania. However, the Russians came prepar
ed lo discuss problems all over the world.
When Molotov opened up on other subjects,
Byrnes and Bevin brought him up with a
sharp reminder of the Potsdam agreement.
But, countered Molotov, t h e Yalta and
Moscow conference agreements also called
for regular meetings of the foreign ministers
to discuss all mutters not merely Italy and
the Balkans. So, he said, he proposed to dis
cuss other questions at London.
Finally, however, they began with Italy.
No real difficulty arose. They reached the
question of Italian reparations. Then the
Russians said they wanted the Italians to
pay $600,000,000. The British chimed in, said
they also wanted large reparations from the
Italians. At this point, Byrnes cracked down,
said the U. S. A. would be footing the bill
in the long run and flatly refused to go
along.
As a result, all reparations plans for It
aly were left unsettled, except the U. S.,
Britain and Russia agreed to retain for the
time being those portions of the Italian fleet
and merchant marine which they had seized.
First blow-up came when the Russians
tried to do some horse-trading on Italian
colonies. After Byrnes had suggested the
Italian colonies be put under some sort of
trusteeship arrangement, Molotov came out
for an individual Russian trusteeship over
Tripoli, and he frankly admitted Russia de
sired a sphere of influence in the Mediter
ranean. But Bevin and Byrnes flatly refused.
Molotov hinted broadly he was prepared
to make certain Concessions in the Balkans
to the British and Americans in exchange
for a Russian sphere of influence in North .
Africa, but Byrnes refused to do any horse
trading. Instead, he began hammering at the
way the Russians were dominating their
Balkan satellites.
In the course of this deadlock, Byrnes
brought up the question of the Dardanelles
which locks the Russians up in the Black
sea. Byrnes said the U. S. and Britain were
against the harsh terms which Molotov
sought to impose upon Turkey.
Panama Canal Questioned
Molotov replied that Russia must have
complete and free access to the Dardanelles
both in war and peace. But Bevin and
Byrnes remained adamant.
Whereupon Molotov sadi, "how about dis
cussing the Suez canal and our relationship
to it?"
This made foreign minister Bevin furious.
But Molotov proceeded to add fuel to the
flames. Turning to Byrnes, he said:
"Well, let's discuss the Panama canal and
ils relationship to the United States."
This enraged Byrnes, who indicated to
Molotov the Panama canal is none of Rus
sia's damn business.
To this Molotov replied if the Suez canal
and the Panama canal were none of Rus
sia's business, then the Dardanelles was
none of the United States' and Great Brit
See WASHINGTON . . . Page 4
WE, THE WOMEN
By RUTH MILLETT
One of New York's more elegant depart
ment stores has mailed order blanks to its
charge account customers for nylon stock
ingsso that the first arrival of the long-
awaited nylons can be mailed out to pre
vent riots in the store.
Sissies!
So they're afraid of a bunch of women
with a nylon gleam in their eyes.
They are afraid to put the stockings out
on the counters and let the women pull off
each other's mink coats fighting for a pair
of the flattering sheers.
Can't New York City that can handle a
crowd waiting for a glimpse of a national
hero handle a bunch of women ready to
do or die for a pair of nylons?
The sporting thing to do, of course, would
be to say "Here they are; come and get
them" and let the best women win.
If Nellie the waitress can outshovc and
out-push Park avenue then Nellie is the
girl whose legs deserve to be encased in
the first nylons.
After all, this is a democracy, isn't it?
We have had gold rushes, and rushes to new
territory to stake out homesteading claims.
Surely, we can face a rush for nylons.
So why not give women an equal chance
at those precious stockings? And let the
women with the sharpest pair of elbows
win. Why not make it a purely sporting
proposition? And maybe even sell bloacher
seats for masculine spectators? It would be
better than a wrestling match no doubt
about it.
Behind Scenes in Washington
Br PETER EDSON, La Grand Evening Observer Washington Correspondent
(0
WASHINGTON What docs it mean ?
Secretary of Labor Lew Schwellcnbach
announced the rules of procedure for the
forthcoming labor - management conference
late Friday aftarnoon, and for about an
hour thereafter everybody ran around in
circles trying to figure out how to interpret
rule number six.
The lack of agenda and the blank spaces
to he filled in later with names of the chair
man and secretary were perfectly under
standable. These missing parts simply meant
that the committee on arrangements hadn't
yet been able to agree on the agenda and
hadn't been able to get an acceptance from
the man they wanted to preside.
Rule six was something else again. It
read:
"It is recommended that negotiated agree
ments of the members present of the labor
group and the management-employer group
be required for adoption by the conference
of any resolution or recommendation."
A do;:en reporters gathered in the press
room of the labor department read that one
over three times and then started paging
a grammarian to parse out the sentence and
tell what it meant. Leslie V. Eichel, labor's
new and efficient public relations officer
read it over and he didn't know. Eichel
put in a call for John Dietz. secretary to
Major Paul Douglas who is chairman of the
conference arrangements committee. He did
not know too. Major Douglas had gone
home. Secretary Schwellcnbach had left his
office.
Diet finally supplied the information that
this was the third draft pf rure six. It had
been very carefully revised tnd it said ex
actly what the commute wented it to say.
In the original draft it hod id that agrvf
mcnts would to reached ty majority vote.
But the arrangements committee recognized
trial would never do. That VAiukl have been
loo simple. ux clear. And upt all 18
of the management jtoup inrl two members
of the lalHT gnnip had voted for a propo
sition, against the other 10 members of the
laber girmp. !t w.mld have been a majority
decunn, a,'l figit. but the M who voted
W woulit, Unv hwm dissatisfied and sore,
,at),l Wigl t have Woken up tt coSfc-rence.
Ai; this point the icpoviarrs got to specu
la (a) l-
com. im ev we service, inc. t. m. wto. u. s. pat, off. ' 10-10
"If a griping soldier comes along and wants to get in the railroad
business, I'll be glad to co-operate and let him have my job!"
O McKENNEY ON BRIDGE
By WILLIAM E. McKENNEY America's Card Authority
BLACKSTONE BID
REQUIRES STUDY
For every convention under the
sun there is a particular hand
that fits it. Here is one I have
seen used lately. When you bid
the Blackwood four no trump,
the response of six clubs by your
partner shows one ace and an
empty suit, while the response of
?; Q J 9
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08732
fc A 10 9 2
A A 10 7 4 N A 0 6 5 2
3 WE V?543
VQJ6 5
J 106 J843
75 Dealer
ie
V ti 10 9 8 2
A KQ4
KQ6
Rubber Neither vul.
South West North Basl
2 V Pns 3 pass
3 Pass 4 $ Pa.s
4 N. T. Pass 6 Pass
6 V Pass 7 v Pass
i Opening A A. lo
six diamonds shows two aces and
an empty suit. In today's hand,
the three-club bid over two hearts
shows the club ace, while the
four-diamond bid is an a'Jlual
support of the diamond suit.
When North bid six clubs, South
knew that in addition to the ace
of clubs and diamond support,
North had an empty suit, which
must be hearts. With South de
void of spades, the opponents
would in all likelihood have been
in the bidding if they held 13
spades between them. With seven
no trump impossible because they
were off the ace of spades. North
and South reached the correct
contract of seven diamonds. In
the play, West made it easy for
declarer by laying down the ace
of spades. South ruffed with the
four of diamonds. Three rounds
of diamonds picked up all the
adverse trumps, and South had
more than enough tricks.
o IN FORMER
YEARS
Thirty Years Ago
Tennis fans and sharks are
competing this atternoon in the
La Grande tournament on the La
Grande club courts, which was
thrown open in Eastern Oregon.
The 83 scorecards measured
from entries in the eugenics con
test at the fair grounds yesterday
afternoon, will be mailed to the
respective mothers as soon as
completed.
e BARBS
By HAL COCHRAN
The devil finds work for idle
hands let's not let our idle go
lo the devil!
Fifteen Years Ago "
Announcement has been made
of the resignation of Mrs. C. F.
McPhorson, as fifth vice presi
dent of the Oregon Congress of
Parents and Teachers and the ap
pointment of Mrs. R. C. Alexan
der, of La Grande, who will now
serve as general chairman of the
regional conference to be held
here on Oct. 30 and 31.
Final arrangements for the
Grange Fair-Home Products show
are being made today, and tomor
row evening at 6 o'clock, the
doors will be open to the public
at the Sacajawea Inn.
lating on what rule six meant. One came
up with the suggestion it meant that if la
bor and management couldn't agree by ne
gotiation, the government might seize the
conference and operate it. That couldn't be.
Finally Eichel got hold of Ted Silvey, who
is CIO president Phil Murray's stand-in on
the arrangements committee. Eichel and Sil
ver talked on the phone for about five min
utes, with Dietz listening in and Eichel tak
ing copcous notes. It meant, the reporters
heard Eichel repeating back to Silvey, that
the conference would try to achieve unani
mity with validity but without rigidty.
That made everything crystal clear and
dandy, like mud.
But when Eichel hung up. he was able
to announce beamingly that he had the an
swer. What it meant was that the confer
ence planners had realized there would have
to be unanimous agreement on any recom
mendations, or they might as well not have
any conference. In short, they didn't want
this conference to come in with majority
and minority reports which would settle
nothing and really make things worse than
they are now, if that's possible.
So they agreed that the conference will
try to reach agreements in subcommittees
by unanimous agreement. If, however, a mi
nority of sub-committee members can't agree
on any proposition, that proposition will not
be killed but will be referred to the main
committee or the full conference "to nego
tiate." Ttw problem will then be hashed over
in full committee, may be revisions that will
enable the sub-committee to bring in unani
mous recommendations.
Phil Murray is responsible for suggesting
this idea of agreements by negotiation, thus
breaking up a deadlock in the arrangements
committee. The difficulties in praising this
agreement are not reported here to heap
scorn on the forthcoming conference and be
little its efforts, but to show what a tough
problem the conference has ahead of it in
writing a few simple sentences that will
bring industrial peace and be acceptable to
all elements of labor and management,
throughout the country. They need a sixili
grade teacher of English grammar, but wish
'cm luck.
If you hate to break in a new
pipe, leave it on top of your desk
where the office boy will be sure
to see it.
A ruling that William Joyce,
notorious Yord Haw Haw who
broadcast nazi propaganda, owed
allegiance to the British crown,
gave England a chance lo dish out
his just dessert. Guess who had
the last haw, haw!
Ten Years Ago
City planning commission voted
last night to extend the fire lim
its to include block 110 and the
north half of block 108 of Chap
lin's addition, blocks 4 and 8, a
portion of block !) of Coggan's
addition. This is in the section
through which the new under
pass is being constructed.
The first year's work of a five
year program to replace 14 miles
ol the Beaver Creek pipeline was
completed yesterday, according
to City Manager Angus McAllis
ter. The work of hooking in 11,
000 feet of new metal pipeline in
the Whiskey Creek section was
completed yesterday and all that
emains to be done now is a little
backfilling.
This Curious World
HAVE MADE USE S !
( OP A TYPE OF ( r i''TRi
V SZAGACZ XV-J I WAS
( FOR CENTURIES ' fit 1
!( THEy ARE ABLE ) t, ''! I
1 7 TO PLV IN PITCH ( ttf , NSft f J, I
i DARKNESS WITHOUT ( s&Ml l' 'Hf I ,
collisions by ; m Ji 'lflffiwA
It SENOIMG OUT5HRILL S Safe, hIWA
7 iSJEAKS THAT ECHO ( ' ' JvJr
i) BACK FROM AW I ,'i'fijMrt&Serf
OBJECT DIRECTLY ) ' UlTjMr S
!( AHEAD, THUS I '' (JlllMOy f
,) warning or (1 A t i ifljJfP J
DAN6ER.. 1 Alf r'fl)
UARVfeREATfY IN SIZE, BUT Tr
avera6e len6th is about
one five-thousandth
op an inch. q
'you HAE TO CHEW JOR FOOD
TO MAKE IT (SO DOWA, "At,
PVT. EDWARD F. BECKER., '
F fE
1 I)
'VU'iA .ccmE
NEXTt Where did America's clothes moths come from?