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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1941)
Xh Oin&Oll CTATES2.IA2L Sclaa, Oregon Vadaasday Morning. Faferuxrrr 23, 1811 . - I t lAMJ litatesmaii Wo Favor Sic ay t Us; No Fear Shall Awe" From First Statesman, March 28, 1831 THE STATESMAN PUBLISHING CO. - CHARLES A. SPRAGUE, President : Member of The Associated Press The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled to the use lor publication, of all newt dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this newspaper. : Candor - f i This measure means US Intervention in the European war, an end ot US neutrality. It may , not bring war, but it certainly makes war more - likely.What of it? If Hitter and bis axis partners L decide war against this country is to their ad vantage they win declare it. If they decide It " Isn't to their advantage they won't Provocation ? on our part will have little or nothing to do with f . it And If this action which I grant does five the Vf powers ample excuse to declare war - brings war, -well. I am ready for it Sen. Joslah Bailey of North Carolina. The quotation comes at second hand, being1 lifted from a Washington letter of the Medford Mail Tribune from its roving editor, Robert W. ' Ruhl. The accuracy of his stenography is not guaranteed but his ability to anlyze trends is highly rated throughout the west. Of Sen. Bailey's remarks, Ruhl observes that they were the first from a senator supporting HR 1776 who "had the courage to face the facts, and tell the truth." Ruhl himself goes further and says: And it does make war far more likely. For certainly the totalitarian powers are not going to ' let the United States win this war for England if ' they can prevent it And the first step in their effort will be to sink the ships carrying planes, tanks and foods to British ports to make a Brit ish victory possible. If those ships carry Ameri can sailors or are convoyed by American de atroyerS, what will be the result? Don't fool yourself, Mr. Pacifist The loss of i American lives will bring war. If the axis powers ! don't declare it, the United States will ... Sitting calmly here on the west coast where , our principal item of international worry is the orient and that situation is momentarily less gloomy it is not difficult to discount Ruhl's ' conclusions. It is true that if a convoy of i American destroyers gets into a fight with Ger man U-boats, that will be war and not merely another step short of war. But if American ships carry war materials to Britain and thus deliberately court nazi attack, why must we when the attack comes and some of these vessels are sunk, boil over with indignation and declare war? Ruhl has the answer also for that one. It is interesting to observe this war fever in crease It is several degrees over 98.6 now, as the days go by we predict it will steadily grow. There is the real answer; the war fever in Washington, DC, and throughout the east. Out here it Is much less apparent and it is with dif ficulty that we try to visualize and evaluate it, both as to its causes and its probable results. Are eastern people in better position to judge the facts, or are they more thoroughly propa gandized or is it' merely that they are geo graphically closer to the conflict and able to imagine themselves being attacked? Not that it matters greatly; the fever is there and it is mounting . But of one thing we may be sure; it is the fever of fear. And in general, fear '.does not help people to see more clearly; it ' more often blinds them. No difficulty at all about determining in Which direction this war fever is carrying them who are possessed of it and us who are not. There remain but two questions and one is un answerable. How far, how fast? ; The other question is: What about HR 1776; Is it cause or is it effect? Is it a vehicle which will speed us into war, or is it merely the in evitable product of a stampede toward war that already has gathered momentum? We incline to the latter viewpoint. At any rate the bill's passage is a foregone conclusion. Aiid if we are not actually in the war now well-informed people have insisted that we are and have been since the destroyer deal we will be as soon as the bill becomes law. But, at this distance from the fever-ridden east, it does not appear certain that ve will beactively belligerent. That depends upon the course of the fever, and upon the course of the war, and upon what President Roosevelt does with the vast powers soon to be conferred upon him. To keep us nominally at peace is one of those powers if Japan stays within bounds, if Brit ish collapse does not become imminent and if the fever doesn't mount too high. Those are a lot of inter-related "ifs." 'Promise By far the major portion of Herr "Hitler's speech on Monday was the recording of his tri umph over the Versailles dictate. He told the German people for the umpty-umph time how they had been viciously robbed of their free dom and their national integrity by the Paris peace conference, how he had emerged from obscurity "Then I decided to become a politi-' dan" and had rescued his people from their slough of despond. An hour or so of that, which always serves Hitler as a warm-up, and the fuehrer got to the piece de resistance, or what the Germans would probably prefer to have called the Hauptsache. He told the British that he had not been idle during the winter month, that submarine crews had been training, and were ready to pounce in March or April. Jjs make it even more thrill- Ting, he arranged to have the ministry of marine telephone him an hour or so in advance and re port a toll of 215,000 tons of British shipping taken over the weekend. .With raw meat like that, the fuehrer must have thought, you can't lose."' - '. - .. - : As an oratorical production Jhe speech was in the best Hitlerian tradition, including the whole catalogue of breast pounding,-fcoasting, and casting ef dire threats which make Hitler a sort of comic representation of a convention to which Superman and Tarzan are the only delegates. It merely placed Hitler more than ever in character as the "Old Boney," the child's terror., of this present age. One should not, however laugh. ; - T 1 . : - Hitler did say one thing with truth. He re marked, "We never had the idea that on March 1 or June 15 or September 17 this or that must be done. -Such -things are known only ,to jour- . nalists of -our-opponents.-.-. V Ignoring the Comment on foreign journalists, it is perfectly true -to say that Hitler has no pre-conceived date in mind for the invasion of F-ngTar, or the attack on the corner bastions of Europe, Gibraltar and the Straits. : He is a man who prefers feeling to thinking, who acts when his blood rises to his head,; and not when he has mastered his emotions and de cided from rational Investigation that the time is ripe for movement. He lives in a welter of half-mystery, of Wagnerian gods strangely touched with Prussian determination and pre cision, of high mountain lodges and the deep waters of Niebelung legend. Out pf this there is no possibility of simple, logical-choice of the time for attack. When the moon is high, when Hitler's demonic blood flows hot through veins alien to common sentiments of mercy and re straint, the flotillas will be loosed in the sky, upon the sea and under the waters, and in his queer, contorted mind, the Germanic legend will live again. But not for long. : ?- ii i i m Representation Fate of Sen. Cornell's proposal to give Klam ath county a senator of its own, via a formula which involved little other than liquidation of Sen, Ellis along with the district he represents, serffei chiefly to illustrate the futility of hoping that the legislature will ever effectively reap portion itself. It must be an effort for a group of men, sit ting together in a room Munich lacks even win dows through which they may see a bit of the outside world, to keep it in mind that they are there not as individuals but as representatives. When issues involving the persons present arise, it becomes doubly difficult or, as this incident suggests, impossible. Klamath, Lake, Deschutes. Crook and Jeffer son counties are entitled to two senators. That is an incontestable fact in involving justice to 55,000 Oregon citizens. That the northeastern corner of the state Is the place to make the ad justment, is debatable though population figures indicate that as the equitable solution. But against these indisputable factors the senators permitted their association with Sen. Ellis to carry greater weight. If the state is to be reapportioned apparently it is up to the voters to do it by initiative ballot. News Behind The News By PAUL MALLON (Distributed by Kia features' Snydlcate. Inc.. re production In whole or la part strictly prohibited.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 There Is much glib talk about the United States 'joining the war in sixty .days, three months or aix months but not among the people who would know. No evidence inside or out indicates that Mr. Roosevelt or those close about him have any def inite period of time In mind. A small number of officials in various departments are coolly advocating an early declaration of war solely to awaken the country to its utmost energy. But they are not in the ma jority. Most of the top men seem to be pursuing their day to day course fatalistically, ready to join the war if that too is eventually required, but without any thought of 'definite time. - Predictions, therefore, seem only to be guesses. They are based on surmises that the Japs will move and drag us in when Hitler attacks Eng land, or that convoying of ships will have to be started within six months. Good guesses they are, but not conclusive. Don Nelson, director of defense purchases. Is gaining an inside reputation as the shrewdest of all defense dealers. It was he who put over the deal for army-navy purchases of Argentine beef, without a ripple of protest from the livestock dealers who broke up a comparatively minor pur chase by the navy a few months ago. Nelson did it apparently by promising capacity purchases from domestic producers who were also amenable this time because prices are high. Truly objective information on the progress of the war has been missing from official quarters since the lend-lease debate started. Most of the official comment on the. progress of the war has been devoted to propagandizing for the legislation proof that Britain will win, that Lindbergh Is wrong, etc, etc. . But one point which will require some official clarification when the political debate Is over Is how Britain is ever to reach equality of plane production with Germany this year as prophe sied. American plane production will reach 18, 000 this year. We produced 1000 in January end will have a monthly output of 2000 by the end of the year. , General' Marshall has said the Germans , out number the British 4 to 1 In the air, and the Ger mans are supposed to be producing 4000 planes a month right now twice as much as we will be doing by the end of the year. Tightest, most accurate figures on the two armies also credit the Germans' with three and a half to . four million men under arms; Britain with only two million regular, one million home guardsmen, and one million troops outside the British Isles, including the Australians. ' f , - The Jap offer of mediation to Britain has been . clouded by nazi diplomatic horseplay but every- . one here knows it was a Hitler move to sound out Britain on peace. It will take more than an "out- -raged protest' from the German ambassador to the Japanese foreign office to dislodge that conviction. The axis just does not work that way. ; . j Mussolini failed to lather himself up to his best ferocity in denouncing bombardment of Genoa. It may now be told that embarkation facilities and . equipment had been arranged there for transporta- , i tion of a German army to Africa. The British got ' wind of the move and smashed the Genoa water-' front so severely ft could not be used. There are .other ports further -south, but Mussolini did not want large bodies ct German -troops Twnrrh.ng throughout- the length of the land. By smashing ', Genoa, therefore, the British warded off the whole -move until the opportunity closed. ? - j By FRANCIS GERARD f- tre a moment he said .hesitantly, "Suppose you - should happen quite by aeddent to be near the Chapter IV Continued. Sir John was punctual to the . a. m 4V, m hnnm Of Big Zrseccl strokt rolled awharge ; room at Cannon , Row. Bens secona. ... c,mnQSmtf TOU were1. WWt down the river as ne w the inspector's office. "Huh!" grunted Bradford. "Right on the dpt. What's the matter? . Murder, arson or abduction?" ' ' "Ever heard of a cove called Slimy Hart?- asked Meredith by way'of reply. "I have. You took him in over that business of the post office; you gave-him plenty before you pulled him. Remember?'' r -yes, and he got seven years, said Meredith. "How much of it did he do, and how long1 has he been-out?" " , For answer, Bradford tele phoned the records office and when he hung- up, said; "Two months out." "Two months out," repeated Meredith. He made a rapid men tal calculation. "Then he's on ticket-of-leave," he ended. "Whafs this all about?" quer ied the chief inspector. "like to pull him In?" coun tered Meredith. -' "Of course I would. He's a bad one; he ought to have hang ed for that last job. Yes, I should like v to put a rope around Slimy's neck. Have you got any thing on him?" "He's carrying a gun," said Meredith. ' "Lovely," said Bradford, and once more reached for the tele- ,phone. "Give me Cannon Row. Supposing", you . wefe Just 'nort of having, a chat with the ser geant who U old Btrtrun, and v supposing the door should be open . I'm not to know you're there, tm'Wm. Thanks, 1' man.! fill be at the? dub the Maple . Tree. I cad be down in ten minutes." That evening' George "Slimy" Hart was enjoying ; a double whisky . and soda (microscopic) at jthe Bush and Pelican when two f large men, wearing large boWler hats, came into the bar, walked up, and touched him on the! shoulder. One said ' gruffly, "AH right, Slimy, We're taking . avails. p-'v "It! don't think, Hart "YouVe not nothin' on me. ' Run- along." . j. j "You're- a convict on leave," replied the other detective pa tently. "I'm j requestiin you to accompany us to a; police sta tion." He dropped lus voice to a ' jwhisper: "Are you coming, ( "Slilay? Or do I !have 'to take yoti to a . 'ospikttf I 'limy" Hart frasfro fool; hef knew that further refusal would: empower- the police! . to "take1 such steps as the officer deems nedessary." Loudly j j protesting his Innocence,? "SUxktf, was,esl va vv v iy a-' w a vu leiud j As Hart was 'hustled into the charge-room at Cannon Row, hef replied Mr. That Ail-American Fever Hits Salem Soon, Too Bitts for Breakfast By R. J. HENDRICKS Margaret Cosper, pearl 2-26-41 of Salem teaching forces, reprinted from this column for, Tuesday, May 28th, 1935: S "Margaret Cosper was fortu itously given a name appropriate to her career when the time came for bestowing it. "Margaret means pearl, and Webster gives as bne of the defi nitions of the word 'a fine speci men.' S "In two generations of teach ing, all that 32 years in the Sa lem public schools. Miss Cosper has so impressed her Influences for good and growth In the at tributes of well developed youth that thousands of men and wo men In scores of countries and states look back, to their days of training under her hand with pleasant memories and hearts full of gratitude and love. "Every one of the trooping thousands would testify that Margaret Cosper was 'a fine and noble specimen' in the field of teaching, giving many and great lessons not found in books, as every good teacher must. m " 'God could not be every where, so He made mothers,' some one has written. 'And teachers' should be added. Ev ery mother should be a teacher, and every teacher stands in many ways in the place of a good mother. "Fifty-two years is not a large section of eternity, but it is more than half the life oi Salem, counting from the time of the first platting, or even from the first white settler. "Since Margaret Cosper began teaching in the fall of 1883, ev ery public school building now standing in Salem has been erec ted. The oldest one is Washing ton, Center and 12th streets, first named the East school and sometimes called the high school, for the upper grades were first taught there. "When her teaching career-began she was one of the 11 teach ers of the Salem public schools. There are now 217 regularly -employed men and women on the forces of the Salem public schools. S "She has been for 33 years of her teaching years a princi pal, 19 a teacher. She has been the only principal Garfield school has had, in the 27 years since it was built She has served under 14 Salem city superin tendents. "There is a movement to have the Garfield school changed to the Margaret Cosper school. If the decision were left to all the men and women who in their youth were in her classes, the vote would be unanimous. "She has chosen to retire vol untarily with the ending of the present school year, and take a rest, which she has richly earned. "On Wednesday evening last, the 22nd, her friends tendered her a banquet, and a book of remembrance has been made up with tributes to the honored guest, spoken there and written or wired from the four corners of the earth one cabled mes sage from Ralph Barnes, Mos- With the Troops FORT LEWIS, Feb. 25.-JP)-Answering the charge made in the Oregon state legislature by Rep. James A. Rodman, to the effect that Oregon national guardsmen are required to do "menial work" at Camp Murray f of incoming draftees, officers connected with the public rela tions department at the fort sug gested that the Oregon legisla tor "might be a little misin formed." Staff officers of the 41st divi sion admitted it was true that draftees were occupying the new buildings while the guardsmen were still living in their tents, as Rep. Rorinym charged, but the situation existed, they said, only because there were no tents available for the newcomers, and not enough buildings were fin ished at the cantonment to house the entire division with the draf tees. "About three thousand men have been taken from the 41st division and-housed at the new cantonment to help train the 'draftees when' they come in," said Major Gen. George A. White. "The rest of the division will spend its time In field prob lems until the hew men are ready to be absorbed into the units. of the organization, then the entire division will move Into the new cantonment." - -. . : Staff officers pointed out that the guardsmen taken to the new cantonment are being used as instructors, that they are the pick of the men of the division, and their work can hardly be called "menial." V. . by Lieut CoL Walter DeLong, ex ecutive officer in charge of train- ing. During the first week of the draft calL only 319 were brought to the new cantonment. These came from Fort McArthur at Long Beach, Fort Douglas In Utah and Fort Monterey, Cali fornia. A few more were brought in through the reception center at Fort Lewis. Major General George A. White, commanding general ef the 41st division, estimated at the beginning of the draft call, that nearly 7000 draftees would be brought into the 41st division to bring it up to war time strength. This would mean near ly 500 a day would need , to. bo brought here during the remain der of the two weeks of the call, unless some large body of pro cessed -men or finished troops was shipped In from another area. Staff officers do not know from where the draftees are ar riving until they receive official word from the Ninth corps area in San Francisco that they are already on their way. cow, a former . pupil; Barnes, dean of the fourth estate of the United States In that far field, where anything may happen and nearly everything has happened. m m "Many beautiful tributes were paid to Miss Cosper, all worth reading In fuIL "Excerpts from one of Os wald West, Salem boy and young man, former Oregon governor, from the Portland hospital, where he is recovering from a serious operation, follows: " Time Is said to be a flowing river, and memory a bridge for our convenience in returning to the scenes of our childhood and our experiences in life. "'I can see, as if it were but yesterday, the entrance of Mar garet Cosper, a mere wisp of a girl, upon her professional ca reer a teacher in your public schools.' " (Concluded tomorrow.) Your Federal Income Tax DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCE . The amount to be recovered by depreciation Is the cost of the property, if acquired by .purchase after February 28, 1913. If ac quired by purchase prior to March 1. 1913, the basis is the cost of the property, less depre ciation sustained prior to March 1, 1913, or the fair market value on March 1, 1913, whichever is greater. The proper allowance for de preciation is that amount which should be set aside for the tax able year In accordance with a reasonably consistent plan (not necessarily a uniform rate) whereby the aggregate amount so set aside, plus the salvage val ue, will at the end of the useful . . . Hello. Sergeant! Put out aiw caqght sight of Bradford leaning; all-stations call. Pull in George Hart, known as Slimy. . . . . What charge? " Use your imagi nation. What d'you suppose you are drawing -your pay for .... Oh, all right. On suspicion of be ing in possession - of firearms contrary to the Act He's to be held at the 'Row and put on ice until I get there." When Bradford finished speaking, he looked at Meredith and said, "I've taken your - say so, ol' man. Hope you're not putting anything over on me. Are you?" "Why?" asked Meredith inno cently. "Oh, nothing, gruted the oth er. "Except that Sergeant Blew . itt of the Special Branch got it in the neck after your little party the. other night" "Blast!" said Meredith. "1 didn't mean Blewitt to get in Dutch. Choked off about it, was he? Sorry about that 111 go over and have a word with him and make my peace. Oh, by the way, Bradder, any chance of my being' present when you question Slimy?' The other looked doubtful. Af- life of the property equal the cost or other basis of the pro perty. The depreciation fate of a building is not based upon the number of years it will stand be fore being condemned and razed but on the number of years it will remain habitable or service able, for the purpose for which constructed. If the taxpayer builds anew building, the period over which depreciation may be claimed be gins at the time the' building Is completed and capable of being used. Buildings under construc tion are not subject to a depre ciation allowance. If it is clearly shown that, be cause of economic or other con ditions, property must be aban doned at a date prior to the end of its normal useful life, so that depreciation deductions alone are insufficient to return the cost or other basis, a reasonable deduction for obsolescence may be allowed in addition to depre ciation. No deduction for obso lescence is permitted because, in the opinion of the taxpayer, the property may become obsolete at some future date. FORTY-FIRST DIVISION CANTONMENT, Feb 25Pr" The 7000 draftees that are ex pected to come into . this area during the third draft call, which lasts two jnore weeks, have scarcely started to trickle, ac cording -to official records kept. CAMP MURRAY, Feb. 2S-&h Five men and one officer were transferred within the 41st divi sion this week. Pvts. Merlyn EL Howard and Denton W. Howard, both of Independence. Ore., were : changed from the lS2nd Infan try to the 118th Quartermaster. .Promotions In the 41st division announced this week by Major General George A. White in-, eluded: -' . . . ; . . 162nd Infantry, to sergeant: James A. Oleman and Wyatt Q. -Warrick of Dallas, Harry A. Bry son of McMinnville. To first ser geant, Roy W. Davis of McMinn- vffle. ., To corporal, Chester v B. Healy of Dallas, Vance H. Bos- ' well. Otto E. Boy lan and Ernest . A. Lokbert of McMinnviUa. Tractors aad tanks symbolize modern American defense. Farmers. eperaUag tae ssackiaery at top are earring eat terraces which daftad their sail frm erosion. Seldlers operating tfcs U. 8. army tank In lover picture are practicing tnaneurtrs which strengthen tae nation's armed defense, americtw farmers, earrrtsg en soil protection work mndtr the AAA Farm Program, last year baUt mors than 7jC&9 miles ef tsrraces, enough to reach mors than ttre and a half times around the world. - against the waH chatting to the! desk sergeant " I fiaio!" he exclaimed. "Ol' Bridford 'imself." ! !A11 right" said that individ ual? "Frisk him." ( j j 'Ere, I say," exclaimed Hart as pie was searched.JMWhat are you ! looking for? . flow, now, don't tickle me, Sergeant" fNo gun?" asked : Bradford when- they were through. fGun," echoed Slimy Hart "Of course, not Where d'you think we are? Chicago?" f fGeorge Hart," said Bradford with commendable patience, "I hajre received information to the effect that within the j Week you have been seen in the possesion of I a lethal weapon,; j the A same being an automatic pistol." Whb says so?" asked the crook, his narrow eyes wary. "Sir John Meredith." f What that busybody 'at's re tired and 'as a 'andle on his naine now? I haven't! seen him foif years. He's a liar. I'd say it toihis face." ! f Do so," said a quiet voice behind him and John Meredith walked into the charge-room. T'Ere, what's 'e doing 'ere?" exclaimed the crook j edging be hind Bradford. "I know the reg ulations just as well as you do, and; 'e's no business j'ere. You " turn me loose or there'll be questions asked in Parliament" fNo guns?' queried , Meredith, hut eyes turned to Bradford. The other shook his headland John went on, "Too bad. You'd bet ter turn him loose, as he says, Bradford." He swung j round to Hart and stood over him. "Re member this, Hart, I'm not a policeman now and I don't have to I think about regulations. D'you want me to give you something that will balance that bad eye of yours?" . -;l j VYou can't do nothing to me, Meredith. What about your ca pers the other night? I know the laiwr. Assumin' false identity for your own ends." M j Meredith jerked his head to wards the door. "Use what little brain the powers-that-be gave you and get going, i Slimy!" "When the crook i; had taken himself off, Bradford stirred "Well, where has that got us?? and, looking up, asked; Meredith. sSir John Mepedith shrugged. "Nowhere far," he , said. "But I c4uld bear to know -what sUmy Mr. Hart Is doing forla living." l"Oh, I know that" replied Bradford astonished.. "He seems td be going straight"! I "Ha, ha," said Meredith. Me, too," nodded Bradford. "None the less, he's got a bona fide job with a bona fide firm. He's driving a lorry for the Maxyn Road Transport Com pany .. . ... , . , . ) rMakyn Road Transport . rei pfated John. "Thanks a lot .uraaxora. uood-nlghtf "11 alt - m , .t , . H1U Inspector. "I've done When do I know why It?" j , fGive me three or Jour days, Bradder," replied John. "And I hope IH have a lot to! tell you." When Meredith woke the fol lowing morning , in his room at the club he wondered, for a mo ment, what he was doing there. He rang for tea and picked up the telephone. ) f . f"May I speak to Captain Tra cy, please?" he saked. "Sir John Meredith speaking, i - A moment later, a voice, evi dently still husky with sleep, said, "This Is Geoff; o man. IVerythlng all right? or all Wrong?" -'tV-' Hv- :"Look here, Geoff, 'haven'fyou some sort of relation who's a big noise at Somerset House?!. "Oh, absolutely. Jolly old cou sin what's-his-namel" j "Well, what Is his f name?" injlysses?" replied Geoffrey. S"Uylsses?" echoed John. Tact, 'ol boy." "And is his surname Tracy?" "No came Geoffreys I voice hollowly. '(-'-' 9 ."Well, what is it?" 1 !"Boote," said Geoffrey. i "Ulysses B-o-o-tlf exclaimed Meredith Increduously, spelling; t out the last name. f U the chief my side. I've done ;.; To Be Continued)
