Pi 4
Capital AJournal
An Independent Newspoper- Estoblished 888
BERNARD MAINWARING, Editor ond Publisher
GEORGE PUTNAM, Editor Emeritus
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THE CAPITAL JOURNAL, galea. Oregim
k ijnnri c it PFAnY?
MENACE TO A FREE PRESS
' Because of the bludgeoning of newspapermen, especially
Intimidation of James A. Wechsler, editor of the New
York Post, by Senator Joseph McCarthy, In his crusade
Gainst communist suspects, the American Society of
Newspaper Eidtors appointed a special committee last
spring to investigate the investigator.
Wechsler admitted that years ago he had Joined the
Communist Youth organization, wmcn was emruuneu
. t. mkit. ttmioa tiv Mm. Franklin D. Roosevelt and
therefore considered respectable, but shortly after real
ized Ita menace and to the years since nas comoaiiea
communism all along the line. But because Wechsler has
criticized McCarthy's unfair tactics, the latter retaliated
by a bludgeoning inquisition in which he reflected upon
the press in general, especially nis cnues.
The Editor and Publisher states that two reports were
made, a majority report avoided conclusions but the min
.'(... mail hv fmir editors, one of them William
M. Tugman. editor of the Eugene Register-Guard, one of
the most virile and able eaiwrs in vregon,
the menace to a free press by McCarthy and his ilk. It is
well worth reading. It follows
"Freedom of the press in these United Stales,- w it been
muSmtDod Ainem tha adoption of the Constitution, could not
Ions survive the repeated exercise by congress of unlimited
Inquiry into tne conduct or newspapers,
TVinffrMilmial lnTonUon. auch aa occurred in the U.S.
senate committee on April 24 and May 8, if frequently re
peated, would extinguish wltnout tne passage oi a single law,
that free and unfettered reporting of events and comment
thereon, upon which th preservation of our liberties depends,
for more is comprehended in tha term 'freedom of the presr
Ssk.!.'
tot
Eft ewlfs MkAn !T 'cWw'aL
mJJ
f in... .tin rsr xxisei
than just Immunity to punitive statutes, it having been tha
intent of the founding fathers to free the press from all re
straints and harassment by government.
Wawanarjera nut to the necessity of explaining to govern.
snent agencies, legislative or executive, their news and edi
torial policies, under oath, would exist in such permanent
jeopardy their their xreeaom to report xutiy ana commem
freely inevitably would be Impaired. They would exist under
an intimidation and harassment wnoiiy lncompauoie wiin
American ideas of liberty. A press that is under the continu
ing necessity of accounting to government for its opinions is
not free press whether the government be a good or bad
government. A press put to the frequent necessity of ex
plaining its news and editorial policies to a United States sen
ator, armed with the full powers of the government of the
United States, is not a free press whether the senator be a
good or bad senator.
"The people suffer some diminution of their right to know
fully and comment freely upon their own government when
ever a single newspaper, however worthy or unworthy, is
subjected' by one senator, however worthy or unworthy, to
inconvenience, expense, humiliation, ridicule, abuse, con
demnation and reproach, under the auspices ot governmental
power. If the spectacle of such an ordeal raises in the mind
ot the most timid editorial spectator an apprehension, a fear,
a doubt and anxiety as to tha safety with which ha may re
port and as to the immunity with which he may legally com
ment, American' freedom to that degree has suffered sn im
pairment "We leave to others the debate over how extensive this
Impairment ought to be before protest is made. We choose to
protest at its very commencement We would sooner suffer
the criticism of hiving exclaimed too soon, too much and too
loudly against an invasion of freedom ot the press than endure
the reproach of having stood silently by when government
took the first step toward the silencing of the free press of
this country." G. P.
DEMOCRATIC FACTIONAL TROUBLES
Factional troubles continue In the Democratic party.
Southern leaden who bolted to Eisenhower last year are
still "off the reservation" determined to make the na
tional leadership come to them rather than they go to it
This fact came to light the other day when Senator
Holland of Florida, who hasn't been one of the extreme
Dbdecrats, announced that he has declined an invitation
to go to tiie party conference in Chicago this month be
cause the south will gain nothing from it in his opinion.
Senator Byrd of Virginia and Governor Byrnss of
South Carolina said they had not been invited and did
not plan to attend. Byrnes takes the view that the Demo
cratic party of South Carolina is not affiliated with the
national organization of the same name and is a free
agent as to who it supports in national contests. He
came within an eyelash of putting Eisenhower over in
South Carolina last year and Byrd played a major role in
ike s sensational victory in Virginia.
The fact that these and other southern Democratic
leaders who bolted Stevenson last year show no siririt
of repentence strongly suggests that they feel confident
oi general support in their states, without which they
would not long continue as leaders.
They and the large number of southerners who think
as they do intend to compel the national natty to meet
their views as the price of any future support for the
national party. Unfortunately for the national party, it
cannot meet these southern demands and carry northern
states it must have to win future national elections.
The factional situation within the Republican party is
about as bad, raising a question of whether either party
. can again win a majority vote in the electoral college, or
whether the U.S. is destined to join the European system
with a batch of "splinter" parties, none of which can ever
command a majority.
POOR MAN'S PHILOSOPHER
Why Do Beautiful Women
Make Admirers Kerchew?
By HAL BOYLE
AGREEMENT ON SUEZ
Reports from Cairo are that Britain and Emrot are near
an agreement in their dispute over British occupancy of
the Suez canal zone and that a formal agreement may be
expected before the end of the month.
The agreement it is scarcely necessary to add, will be
on Egypt's terms, else there wouldn't be one. Britain,
though headed by a man "who didn't become the king's
first minister in order to preside over the liquidation of
the British empire," is doing just that
Britain is to withdraw her 80,000 men from Suez, leav
ing the most powerful troop marshalling point in the
Middle East to a country which is far from friendly to
the western cause, depending on an agreement that the
British may come back in the event of a general war.
There is no assurance that Egypt which may by then
have a Communist government will honor such a pledge
if war comes. The British and their allies could probably
reoccupy the base by force, but the Egyptians could de-
' stroy its installations first.
- A weakened, discouraged Britain is giving up first one,
' then Another of her possessions rather than fight for
them, depending on the United States rather than her-
aelf. This purported agreement is a heavy setback to
' the western cause and might result in the loss of the
vital Suez route) in case of war.
It will be Interesting to watch Turkey's reaction to
a afcisj move, whlcirxpiacea ner in a more exposed position.
New York VP) Odd facts
from the oddity almanac:
Do soma beautiful women
make you sneeze?
Maybe it's their face powder
that does it. It Is estimated that
some 7,000,000,000 American
women suffer from cosmetic
allergy. Must be that many
men victims, too.
But it was worse in the old
days when many a gal powd
ered with cornstarch. In a ten
der clinch she could never be
sure whether her beau was
wheezing from love or sneez
ing because of her kitchen
beauty dust . . .
Some people insist they do
their best thinking while lying
flat ota their backs. A depart
ment store here has come up
with a special thinking bed for
them. It has a canopy embel
lished with famous portraits
and great thoughts. It also has
an automatic phonograph
which dins ideas and informa
tion Into sleeping ears, so env
bltlous folk can go on learn.
ing while slumbering.
The same "sleep shop" for
merly featured a heart-shaped
bed for romantic wives and
husbands. Racing fans also can
buy circular beds and chase
the horses around the track in
their dreams . . .
Are you neurotic! The odds
are about lB-to-1" you aren't,
so why worry? The best and
simplest way to avoid nervous
troubles is to' Inherit money.
And do it early in life, while
you can still get more enjoy
ment out of spending it than
counting it . . . but if you must
fret about something, fret
about the motor car. It now
takes a toll equal to tha com
bined deaths from flu, ulcers
polio, war casualties and the
contagious diseases of child
hood . . .
Jobs-we'd-all-llke - to - have
department: Stan Anderson is
Inspector ot dougnnut holes for
the Doughnut Corporation ot
America. He measures to see
they are now only a quarter
inch across instead ot three
eights of an inch, the old
standard. The industry is also
launching a new midget or
"small fry" doughnut the size
ot a four-bit piece. Progress
never halts in this restless.
OPEN FORUM
ever-changing field. ...
Where does your money go?
The Tax Outlook Magazine
says a fellow earning $4,500 a
year now spends 2 hours and
40 minutes out of each 8-hour
working day just to earn
enough to pay his taxes, only
an hour and 38 minutes for
his food bills. But the high
cost of red tape isn't the vil
lain. The federal government
spent only $4,700 for Ted tape
last year to tie up documents.
Almanac health note: Some
doctors believe that victims of
heart trouble and high blood
pressure may shorten their
lives by habitually taking bi
carbonate of soda and water
to relieve stomach distress . . .
the safest form ot exercise af
ter 40 is going to the funerals
ot other people over 40 who
insist on taking too much ex
ercise . . .
'What do you know about
fathers? Dad is younger and
taller today . . . The average
age ot a first-time father was
28.1 in 1890 but 24.7 in 1049.
The modern dad has, 3.2 chil
dren as compared to 8 tor the
average father in 1800 ... In
terms of occupations, farmer
fathers lead. ... It is ertl
mated American families spent
$250,000,000 for Mother's Day
gifts, only $150,000,000 for
Dad on his day . . . but that's
the way Dad wants it . . .
Ever yearn to have a book
dedicated to you? Well, it's no
avenue to fame. Dale Carnegie
dedicated his famous best-seller,
"How to Win Friends and
Influence People." to a fel
low popular author. Homer
Croy ...
"The book sold over three
million copies," recalls Croy
wryly, "But only four persons
ever mentioned the dedication
to me and one of them want
ed to borrow money." . . .
The almanac's regular long'
range weather forecast: All
present signs Indicate that the
current widespread heat wave
will subside, in most parts of
the nation, with the arrival of
the first killing frost
The original 99-year concei
ston under which the Suet
Canal was built expires In 1988
Note of Thanks From
Newcomer to Salem
To the Editor: We would like
to thank the city of Salem for
the wonderful welcome we re
ceived a few days after mov
ing into our new home the
Welcome' Wagon hostess, the
letters of welcome from the
mayor of Salem, the chief of
police, the city manager, the
Chamber of Commerce, the
Willamette University pres
ident the YMCA, the YWCA,
gifts from the business men
of the city, speckled mountain
trout and vegetables from the
neighbors, the flowers from the
neighbors' children and the
help from our friends who
helped us get comfortably lo
cated. .
Mr. and Mrs. K. I. Franfclln,
Ex-Mayor of Bandon.
WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND
Columnist Sees Mystery in
White House Paneling Job
By DREW PEARSON
Washington A' contract for
$41,814 worth of new paneling
for executive mansion corri
dors was let at the White
House the other day under
peculiar circumstances.
The company that got the
contract didn't have its bid
opened until one day after the
8 p.m. Aug. 17 deadline when
the other four bids were in.
This is highly unusual. Bids on
government contracts are sup
posed: to be opened simultane
ously in the presence of all
concerned.
But In this case the success
ful bid, that of tha V. J. Miller
Construction Company, was
rushed in at the last moment
remained unopened all night
and when opened the next day
turned out to be the low bid.
The next highest bid, that of
the Davis, Wick, Rosen gart en
Co.. was for $43,255.
What added to the unusual
circumstances wss a mysteri
ous phone call by the chief
White House usher, Howell G.
Crlm, one hour after the first
four bids were opened, to a
Bert Matthews telling him to
get his bid in right sway. How
ever, Crim called the wrong
Matthews.
Bert Matthews is with the
Tuckman-Barbee Construction
Company which did not bid on
the White House contract And
when - he protested that be
didnt know what it was all
about but perhaps Crim want
ed another Matthews who was
with the V. J. Miller Com
pany, . White House Usher
Crim abruptly ended the con
versation. The contract negotiations
occurred when President Eisen
hower was in Denver. The
White House usher is the top
permanent funtionary th the
executive mansion, and Mr.
Crim has served there some
years with a good record.
However, attempts by this
column to get to the bottom
ot the contract award resulted
in one ot the most unusual
run - arounds in run - around
Washington.
WHITE HOUSE EXPLAINS
White House Usher Crim,
asked by this column for an
explanation for the delayed
bid, at first said he had noth
ing to do with the Miller con
tract that he was on vacation
and that the bids had been
handled by Roger Steffan, spe
cial assistant to the President.
He added that he had gone to
the bid-opening only as a spec
tator. "I went down out of per
sonal interest because I had
never seen it. I was only a
spectator," Crim said.
But when asked why was
the J. V. Miller bid not opened
with the others, Crim seemed
to have more than a spectator's
knowledge.
"We wanted to get this work
dene while the President was
away," he replied. "So we in
vited four contractors to bid,
and we specified the time the
bids were to be opened. Mil
ler came in the last minute.
He had not been invited to
bid but asked for permission
to submit a bid. We decided
to take it under advisement."
"Why wasn't the Miller bid
opened on the spot?" Crim was
asked.
"We wanted time to decide
whether to consider the bid at
all," Crim explained.
Asked about the mysterious
phone call to Bert Matthews
an hour after the first four
bids were opened, Crim ac
knowledged that he made the
call and had cut the conversa
tion short when he found Mat
hews wasn't the right man.
"I was simply calling to find
out if he waS the agent for
the V. J. Miller Co.,1' he ex
plained. "We didn't know any
thing about the company, and
I was calling to check on the
bid."
"But I thought you attended
the bid 'opining only as a spec
tator and that Roger Steffan
handled the whole thing," Crim
was asked. "It now looks as if
you were taking a very active
part in the whole matter."
Crlm then reversed his pre
vious statement that he was on
vacation, said he had come
back to work for a day or two.
Thursdsy, September 8, 195
ral details of the White Rot
contract He finally put GarU
sioe oacx on tne pnone.
Cartside explained that th
unusual delay in opening Mil.
ler's bid was due to the fact
that Miller had not yet in.
spected the White House.
"But Miller tad insoected
the White House and the secret
service knew it"
"I realized that," GarLida
replied, "but my chief, Mr
Horn, didn't" ,
"Who finally made the de
cision to open the Miller bid?"
"We received instructions,"
"What do you mean,
reccivea instructions 7 -
"The White House says that
you were in charge of the con.
tract arrangements. Why did
you neea instructions?"
(Can tinned Tf 5. Colama 1)
THE MERRY-GO-ROUND
Roger Steffan, when Ques
tioned, flatly denied that he
had anything to do with the
contract He said it I had been
handled by F. T. Gart&lde of
National Capital Parks at the
interior department.
Gartslde, upon questioning,
promptly stated that the con
tracts was a White House mat
ter and he had been instructed
to refer all inquiries to the
White House..
"We just talked to the White
House," Gartslde was told,
"and they referred us to you."
Gartslde thought this over,
then asked for time to check
with the White House.
A second call" to him was
met with instructions from his
secretary to talk to Larry
Smith, Interior department
public relations officer. Mr.
Smith was obliging but lrank
ly unfamiliar with the technl-
you
Salem 62 Years Ago
By BEN MAXWELL
September 3, 1891
new. u. tt. Yrnue naa or
ganized St Paul's African
M.E. church in Salem and was
pastor. Membership consisted
ot A. Bayless, Mrs. Bayless, R.
T. Starkey, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. H.
t. sneppard, ueorge r. Rey.
nolds and William Gorman.
Steamer Three Sisters had a
schedule that took her down
river from Salem on Tuesday
and Friday. , , ,
There had been only raoder-'
ate attendance at the park
Wednesday to witness a ball
game between Salem and Port
land that resulted in a score of
13 to 1 in favor of the visitors.
Field fires near Eola had
destroyed several thousand bu
shels of grain. William Putnam
alone had lost 300 bushels.
Space in the grand pavilion
at the state fair could be had
by addressing William H. Sav
age, superintendent
Beardsley at Eola had about
half of a normal bop crop.
Other crops in the neighbor
hood were so poor that they
would not be picked. .. ,
Oregon Pacific railroad had
steamers Farallon and Willam
ette Valley on the run between
Yaquhu and San Francisco.
J. A. Rotan, undertaker, had
purchased the Minto hearse
and had advertised that here
after he would sell caskets,
coffins and all undertaker's
supplies cheaper than anyone
else in Salem and would furn
ish the hearse free of charge
in the city.
E. M. Goodell, city recorder,
had advertised that the city
would receive bids for grad
ing, gravelling, draining and
curbing State street between
Capitol and Commercial
streets. -. ,
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