Southern Oregon Miner. Thursday, July 4, 1946 BAUKAGE DISCUSSES OLD 1944 ‘FIGHT’ ¡JStag Reads Right Meaning Into Barkley's Break With FDR While They Wait By W ALTER A. SH EA D W N I' ('•r r « » p » n 4 * n l (EDITOR'S NOTE: This dispatch u a i filed from the atomic bomb testing area only shortly before the fin i lest bomb urn scheduled Io be dropped.) By BA VK H A G E Veit» ,4no/y»f and Commentator. W N l Service. l« t$ E ye Street, N .W .. W ashington. O. C. Continually I encounter evidence of the importance of semantics, as I have mentioned FT before in this col­ umn—the impor­ tance of words, of their mean­ ings, and of the necessity that the meaning in which the speaker or writer uses them is the same at­ tached to them by the listener or reader. A few days ago Baukhage I r e c e iv e d a letter from a listener lamenting what she called “one of our greatest troubles today”—lack of faith in our leaders. She then described her "conster­ nation” when she heard Senator Barkley’s “gushing and flowery talk” nominating Franklin Roose­ velt for President in 1944. after hearing the senator's famous “re­ volt” speech sharply criticizing the President’s veto message in the tax bill the previous February. To Washington, there was nothing inconsistent in those two perform­ ances at all. What happened was this: two persons who had worked together in a common cause fell out Amends were made, and still loyal to that cause, the man who had been affronted registered his complaint and then, feeling that the virtue of his position had been recognized, took up his labors in the common cause again. Perhaps that explanation would satisfy my disillusioned listener, had it not been for the fact that she not only misinterpreted the significance of Senator Barkley's speech, but actually put into his mouth words that he didn't use. She said that Barkley had said that the President was dishonest, and that he (Mr. Roosevelt) knew he was dishonest. Now, by interesting coincidence, something had recalled that speech of Mr. Barkley’s to my attention only a day or so before I received the let­ ter. A loyal toiler in the Democratic party had remarked to me that the senator from Kentucky, having served as majority leader longer than any man who has held that job in the senate, had increased tre­ mendously in stature in the eyes of supporters and opponents. And, my friend explained, it was his “re­ volt” of February 23, 1944, which marked the moment when Barkley began to wax in the favor of op­ ponent and supporter alike! As a result of the coincidence— the letter and the remarks of my friend—I reread the revolt speech. Nowhere in it did Senator Bark­ ley accuse the President of being dishonest. But it is easy to see how a listener might have missed the shades of meaning in the speak­ er’s words. However, those words, correctly interpreted, I feel cer­ tain. reflected precisely the feeling of the senator. Had he wished to go further, he could easily have done so. • • • R eaent P e r io n a l S la p a t C o n g r e u There were two especially sharp passages in Barkley's talk. The President had charged in his mes­ sage (vetoing the tax bill) that “it is squarely the fault of the congress of the United States in using lan­ guage in drafting the law which not even a dictionary or a thesaurus can make clear.” There was a biting, personal fla­ vor in that sentence which congress as a whole, and Barkley individually and as majority leader, could not help resenting. Barkley said: “If it (the above statement) was made by anybody who ever sat in a tax committee meeting, it was a deliberate and unjustified mis-statement in order to place upon congress the blame for universal dissatisfaction with tax complexities and in order to pro­ duce the illusion that the executive departments have in vain protested against this complexity.” Here one can see that Barkley is defending the integrity of the con­ gress. He did not spare his anger at the affront. But, since he knew FDR had never sat in a tax com­ mittee meeting, he wasn’t placing the onus entirely on the President. There was one other sharp riposte in which Barkley came still nearer to making, but did not actually make, the “dishonesty” charge. He said the President used a method of calculation “which obvi­ ously was handed to him by a mind more clever than honest.” It was natural to assume that some White House advisor had pro­ duced the data, and in all likelihood, that some literary aide had written the veto message. Indeed, one of the columnists omnisciently an­ nounced at the time that it was the work of Judge Rosenman. As a matter of fact, I can state with absolute certainty that that was one of the few speeches which President Roosevelt, who was good and mad because congress had re­ fused to give him the tax bill he wanted, wrote himself, inditing the entire philippic with his own hand. Whether Senator Barkley would have replied with greater or less vigor had he known the actual au­ thorship, I do not know. The fact remains, however, that he said what he meant and meant what he said. Nowhere did he call the President dishonest He did establish his own independence, and that of con­ gress, and probably did the Presi­ dent a favor by warning him against allowing his emotions to get the bet­ ter of him. In Barkley’s delivery of the speech, and his nomination of Pres­ ident Roosevelt less than six months later, there was nothing inconsist­ ent. Certainly nothing which, when understood, should shake the pub­ lic's faith in the public man. W H IT E S A IL S . . , San F ran cisco ’s skyline furnishes the backdrop for trim little c ra ft about to compete In a re gatta. These c ra ft c a rry such nam es as C u rlew , Robin, Puffin, Swallow, Alcyon, Loon and W idgeon. NEWS REVIEW When Japs Strike They Take Over Plant Profits JA P A N : L ab orers Strike At least one President was forced to change his automobile habits. President Hoover had a fishing lodge at Rapidan in Virginia, some 85 miles from the Capital. Hoover believed that time was money. He was always a hard worker, and when he’d finished fishing, he want­ ed to get away from there and back to his desk. It was a job for the Secret Service men and newsmen to keep up and keep on the road. Those mad chases were the sub­ ject of considerable conversation by the correspondents and also their wives. It was not considered a choice assignment. Finally there was a bad accident that sent one reporter to the hospital. After that, the presidential car proceeded at a more normal pace. • • • The Alexander Hamilton institute says savings during 1946 will be considerably lower than last year’s. Fine, if it reduces inflation pres­ sures; but if it goes too far and the consumer doesn’t consume, the pro­ ducer can’t produce, and we are back to 1929 once more. and they declined to $4 a dozen. A large food company noted a type of buyers’ strike in the fresh fruit and vegetable market. The price of such items as plums, pota­ toes, cherries, cantaloupes, lettuce and other fresh produce appear to have gotten “too steep,” a com­ pany official stated, with the result that sales of these items fell off sharply. Japan's* new democracy is bring­ ing strikes to many manufacturing plants. But even in labor trouble the Japanese give an Oriental twist to their methods. In 26 of the larger industrial plants in Japan the laborers have struck. But instead of quitting their jobs and forming a picket line, the workers have merely tossed out PO ULTRY : all management personnel taken over the entire operation and will Cull H alf Goal Poultry producers culled their pocket whatever profits are made! flocks of about 28.000.000 birds in May and accomplished half of the H O U SES: culling urged by the department of To Be P refa b rica ted Préfabrication today, according agriculture as a national goal dur­ to Walter Harnischfeger, Wisconsin ing May and June. The 55.000,000 culling program, manufacturer, “is one of the new basic industries in the country." urged early in May, is an attempt Word comes from Washington and to rid the nation's flocks of low pro­ other lumber - producing states, too, ducing birds and reduce poultry that plants to build prefabricated production in line with reduced feed houses are increasing steadily. Sev­ stocks, officials said. Last year, pro­ eral plants are reported operating ducers reduced their flocks by 40,- in the New England states. Har- 000.000 birds in May and June. nischfeger estimates that from 8 to 10 per cent of ordinary building 1946 MEAT: costs can be saved by préfabrica­ P eop le E at More tion. At least 3.000,000 more pounds of It is estimated that a builder can meat and meat products would be erect two or three prefabricated consumed, if available, by the houses in the time required to build American public this year, accord­ a conventional house. With a crew ing to R. C. Pollock, general man­ of four men, the builder can get a ager of the national live stock and new house under roof in less than meat board. two days, according to Harnisch­ Official estimates point to a per feger. capita meat supply of 145 to 150 pounds in 1946. While this is larger BU YERS: than prewar consumption, the pub­ Go on Strike lic would buy from 165 to 170 pounds When prices get too high, the pub­ per capita, according to Pollock. He lic won't buy. For instance, when attributed the demand to greater controls were removed from straw­ buying power, increasing interest in berry preserves they jumped to $6 better nutrition, and a growing ap­ a dozen jars wholesale, but the shop­ preciation of meat in an adequate pers wouldn’t buy them at that price diet. There is doubt that the demand for sewing machines can be met be­ fore 1947, in the opinion of Sir Doug- i las Alexander, president of the j Singer company. His company will not reach production before the end of 1946, he declares. The Singer factory at Bonnifres, France, was seriously damaged during the war and will not be able J to supply the French market for some time. The company’s German factory has been taken over by the Russians, and the Italian plant is having labor trouble. Only the Sing­ er plants in England, Canada and the United States will get into full production this year. PO TATO ES: C alifornia Crop P O LITIC S . . . M rs. Olive Rem­ ington Goldman, Chicago, is a candidate for the house of repre­ sentatives. A speech instructor at the University of Illinois, she Is the mother of four children. Department of agriculture official forecasts indicate that California potato growers will produce a super­ bumper early crop of more than 30,- 000,000 bushels and achieve the big­ gest acre yield on record. California was expected by the department to turn out nearly three times as many potatoes as New Jer­ sey, second ranking early producer. California’s average yield is expect­ ed to be 370 bushels per acre. The nearest rival to that mark was ex­ pected to be Nebraska with 210 bushels per acre. PA Y MORTGAGES Farm Debts Lowest Since 1915 WASHINGTON.—American farm- ers are getting out of debt at the most amazing rate in the history of this nation. The department of agriculture has reported that the United States’ farm mortgage debt dropped this year to the lowest level since 1915. The total debt was estimated to have been approximately $5,081,- 000,000 on January 1 or less than half the record high of $10,786,000,- 000 set back in 1923. A department statement said the debt had decreased $1,500,000,000 or 23 per cent since 1940. This reduc­ tion is in sharp contrast, it pointed out, with developments during and ----------------------------- ------------------- j after World War , when farm ! mortgage indebtedness increased 43 , per cent from 1915 t„ 1919 The department said, however, that developments during 1945 sug­ gest strongly that the long cycle of decreasing mortgage Indebtedness which has been under way since 1923 is now approaching its end.” "During 1945,” the department said, “the net reduction In debt was about $190,000,000, or less than one- half of the average annual reduc­ tion that occurred in the two pre­ ceding years. In addition to the slower rate of decline in the U. S. total, there were 20 states in which indebtedness showed an increase for the year as compared with eight states showing an increase in the preceding year.” No prediction of prospects of fur­ ther reducing the debt was given. Many farmeis may find it necessary to purchase additional farm ma­ chinery and other equipment In 1948 or 1947. While much of this might be paid for with savings, some addi­ tional debt might be expected. Like­ wise, numerous returned veterans will go Into debt for farms of their own. I F YOU need u fold uwuy serving • tuble or if you like to loud a truy and carry m eals to some cool spot, here is the combination with the special features you have been looking for. rcaksv n»«» ANO STAND TO R O A C H OS T ia s A c i ABOARD USS APPALACHIAN- BIKINI ATOI.I, (Via Navy Radio) — This reporter does not Intend to delve into the scientific aspects of this atomic bomb test, leaving that to the scientific writers and the sci entists themselves. This test is pri­ marily a military experiment to do termine how the United States navy and other armed services can flgu ratively "keep Its powder dry" In the face of any future atomic war­ T h e folding stand It the rig h t height to fare. use w ith co m fo rta b le c lia lis and the p ly ­ The experiments however by their wood tr a y w ith a g a lle ry around threw very nature and the various tests tid es and hand.hold openings. Ilia secure­ ly o v e r this base. Th e construcUon of which are to be made of atomic en­ both pieces la to sim p le th a t you w ill ergy will produce by-products of w an t to m ake a n u m b er of them . • a a knowledge in the fields of biochem­ An actual-size p a tte rn fo r sides of tra y , istry, biology and medicine. w ith dlu strated direc tio n s lo r cu ttin g and Further knowledge will be gained assem bling tra y and stand Is a v a ila b le to also in the fields of radio, photogra­ read ers fo r tSc postpaid. Ask fur p a tte rn J