SOUTHERN OREGON MINER, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, »941 SOUTHERN OREGON MINER Published Every Thursday at 167 M ain Street, Ashland, Oregon Carryl H. & Marion C. Wines, Editors-Publishers Entered as second-class m all m atter in the post office at Ash­ land, Oregon, February 18. 1935, under the act of Congress of March 3, 1879. ______________________________________________________ _____ - J W ILL WE HAVE CONSCRIPTION? We heartily approve oi a recent statement by President Truman, that he thought the National Guard should be enlarged and reactivitated for the national defense, rather than to go in for an all-out peace-time draft to keep up our defense. There has been a lot of discussion in the papers, magazines, radio, etc. about this much contended question. Surely none of us want to set the United States in the position she was in 1940, with no army, no planes, tanks, guns, etc. We had a fine navy, but not large enough to stave off attack. Such a position is an open invitation to attack by an aggressor nation, and we suffered the consequences of such a position at Pearl Harbor. Only the blundering of the Japs in not pressing the attack, permitted us to recover to go on to victory’. Since that time, there has been considerable sentiment in favor of a full peace time draft to keep up our army. As we see such a plan, it fosters a military setup that in a few years would lead to imperalistic aims, or the government would in time become militaristic. With a huge army, some one sooner or later would like to try out its strength. We have always made the boast that we are not militaristic minded in the United States. But a generation or two of young men brought up under a military setup could easily change us. Personally we think that under war conditions as at the present time, is no time to decide such a fundamental policy as incorporating a per­ manent draft plan into our constitution or national laws. If such a law was adopted it would be a complete reversal of our ways of national thinking. It is a subject that would require a lot of deep reflection, and under war time conditions is no time to make the decision. We do think some plan should be made for maintaining a peace time standing army, enlarged National Guard, or something. We are not sure what would be the best, but we are "agin” having an all-out peace time draft. It is not necessary and is against the principles of our con­ stitution. OUR NEW BOMB The announcement this week of the new Atomic bomb, claimed to be the most destructive on earth, makes us deeply gratified that the weapon is in the hands of British and American rather than under con rol of German or Japanese army men. When we read that one small bomb has the destructive power of .20,000 tons of T N T , we realize what a terrible weapon has been brought into being. We are told that it was a race for time against the German scientists who had nearly perfected a similar weapon, which would have been used against great Britian and the United States. In the hands of the German demons, who controlled the army, there is no telling what use would have been made of it. They would have had little mercy on any of their enemies had they had the use of such a weapon. We shudder to think of what could happen with the uncontrolled use of this newest of war machines. We have been told that it could utterly destroy mankind, and we sincerely hope that proper safeguards are set up against its falling into the hands of those who would like to dominate the world. Used in the right channels, it can be a blessing to all civilization: in the wrong hands it will blot out that civilization. The United States and Great Britian have a tremendous responsibility placed on their hands with the invention of this new weapon. OUR WILD BLACKBERRIES The time of the year has come again when the wild blackberries arc beginning to ripen. Now this may not mean much to the native Ore­ gonian of this region where most people consider the wild blackberry’ a nuisance and classed along with the wild morning glory, bind week, etc. But to us, only a year in Oregon, they are wonderful. Even those who disdain them as a nuisance, will admit that they make mighty fine pies, cobblers, jell, etc. Certainly we had no such abundance of wild fruit in the interior where we came from and we could hardly believe that such existed. But abundant as the berries are, and as easily gotten to, they still are a problem to pick. Like most wild fruit the berries are amply protected by a mass of thorns. The long rambling runners, cling to ones clothing, so that picking the berries is no cinch. But we are sure that the pails of luscious berries are worth the effort of getting them. WE ARE LEARNING The net result of all the comment and investigation relating to sugar shortage, butter shortage, cheese and milk products shortage, beef shortage, poultry shortage, pork shortage, lamb shortage, egg shortage, dry bean shortage and shortage piled upon shortage, is as clear as mud to the average citizen. He is told that cattle on the range number approximately 30 per cent more than ever before in history, but he can’t eat cattle on the range. In the butcher shop he sees horse meat, colt meat, much fish that was never before used for anything but crab bait, various insides of animals which are now sold for human consumption, bare bones sold for several cents a pound, and all manner of substitute? for legi­ timate food. The OPA, the War Food Administration, and the Department of Agriculture are blamed for this situation. In all fairness, it should be stated that no one agency is to blame. A world war upsets any domestic economy. But it is safe to say that the "planned economy” which we ac­ cepted as a war and anti-inflation measure, had a great deal to do with the disorganization and shortages in our normal sources of supply. U n­ controllable elements in a planned economy create shortages in many instances. Holding down the hog supply or the wool market may help some producers while it hurts the consumers of lard and wool shirts. The people must remember that the idea of a controlled economy is no different than the philosophy of socialism which puts government into business to the exclusion of private citizens. Are we going back to a free economy with the risks and rewards which ie entails, or will we the city, ffum which everyone commutes to offices in the city by big army trucks. Two of us shared a tent ubout 15 feet square just wooden framework (much of and eves with a shnp of thin and eves, with a shnp of thin ed when the ships of other coun­ burlap ubout 4 feet wide around tries have disintegrated. We must the sides; that’s the walls—even support the boat of our way of a more open uir und public way By Ruth Taylor life, for if it capsizes, the urgosy Many centurnes ago a Chinese of the hopes and dreams of com­ of living than we’ve ever had. philosopher wrote of government; mon people the world over will There wasn’t a stick of furniture, shelves or anything, we were is­ "The king is the boat; the com­ go down with it. sued a canvas cot, 2 blankets, and mon people are the water. Tne a mosquito net (for over the bed), water can support the boat, or S O U T H SEA E X P E R IE N C E S and each tent had one canvas capsize it.” (Continued from Page 1) bucket, one wash basin and one What was said then of ancient 5 gallon water can which wus fil­ tion I had seen since leaving San China is true today of our mod­ led once a day. At first the only Francisco, California. All evening ern democracy. Our government drinking water available was at long we sat on deck and watched requires the support of all the the mess hall but later, lister the hundreds of lights in the people - or it sinks. "Government’ bags were placed in our ureu. harbor and on shore, a most wel­ does not mean particular leaders Also showers were on anly a few come sight. - but it does mean the republi­ hours a day, two or three days a WAC’S were unloaded first, on can form of rule and the demo­ week; although water is still a the following morning. Due to cratic way of life. It is up to us critical commodity, the showers to support the boat of our own the great number of ships and are on, at least part of the time lack of docks, our ship was un­ building - to abide willingly and cheerfully by the laws we nad a loaded out in the harbor. We most every day. The tents are unmercifully hot part in making, and to carry our were jammed into LCM’s with all our equipment on us (pistol t