Thursday, August 12, 1937
THE HERMISTON HERALD, HERMISTON, OREGON
Washington
D ig
ig e est
u
s T j j h
l
National Topics Interpreted
By W ILLIAM BRUCKART
NATIONAL PRESS BlOG
W ASHINGTON D C
iin
JoH
PULLETS FED WELL
WILL LAY IN FALL
a b o u t
This Business of Golf.
niììiriiii
Washington.—The government’s a silver certificate occupies exactly
■liver policy again is attracting at the same place in our currency
tention.
Several structure as does a bill that is
backed by gold or one that is is
S tiv e r
th in g s h a v e
Question
caused it. First sued by the Federal Reserve banks.
a m o n g t h e s e Therefore, it seems to me to be a
things is the matter of rising prices fair statement to say that the whole
tor foods and other necessaries of currency structure is tainted by this
life, but attention seems to have deluge of silver certificates now and
centered on the silver question heretofore coming from the Treas
again as a result of the Treasury’s ury. And it is equally a fact
newly arranged agreement to trade that prices of every kind are going
some of its gold for some of the to increase exactly in accordance
or in ratio with the new money that
Chinese silver.
Probably the silver question is not is put out from the Treasury.
I do not know how long it will be
as widely discussed as it might be
because it is a complex subject and until the voters wake up to the ne
there are not too many people who cessity for repeal of the silver act.
It probably will not be long before
understand it and its implications.
I cannot refrain at this time, how there is a wave of public indigna
ever, from recalling that when the tion against the policy if the aver
silver act of 1934 was passed, I age person realizes that the pro
wrote in these columns a prediction gram is actually a tax upon the
that the country sooner or later American public. Surely, if the sil
would regret that legislation. I re ver policy were labeled, “ tax to sup
peat the statement now and I do port the silver program,” the atti
not believe it will be long until the tude of the country would change
average citizen will recognize what overnight. That really should be
the silver policy is doing to most the name of the Silver Act of 1934
of us. I mean by that, it will not because that is its effect. The tax
be long until Mr. John Q. Public results from the fact that the Treas
will understand that the silver poli ury is paying foreign producers as
cy has a lot to do with the high well as American producers prices
prices he is paying for his pound of for silver that are higher than the
bacon, his slice of beefsteak or a value of the silver warrants. This
thousand and one items that he buys means that any article of silver that
at the grocery store. He will feel you buy in a store costs you more
it, too, when he seeks to buy a new than it would if silver producers
suit of clothes or a new pair of abroad and in the United States
shoes. There can be no argument were not being subsidized. The ad
about it: The affect of inflation ditional cost is a tax on every buyer
brought about by a perfectly ridicu just as much as though you had
paid the tax directly into the Treas
lous silver policy is upon us.
Early in July, the Chinese minis ury.
It may be interesting to know that
ter of finance visited Washington
and called personally at the Treas the Treasury has issued nearly
ury to express the appreciation of eight-hundred million in silver cer
the Chinese government for the sat tificates. In addition something like
isfactory conclusion of negotiations seven million silver dollars have
that enable the Chinese to give the been coined, and these still re
American Treasury silver for gold. main in the package in which they
It was the usual diplomatic courte were wrapped at the mints. Be
sy. At the same time, however, sides all these, there is silver bul
the visit of the Chinese minister lion that cost $375,000,000 piled up
served to awaken America to the in the Treasury. Silver certificates
fact that the Treasury has been go can be issued against this.
The silver act of 1934 provided
ing along, buying silver from for
eign countries in order to maintain that the Treasury could buy one
an arbitrary price which the Wash dollar’s worth of silver to three dol
ington administration contended lars’ worth of gold for what is called
should be the world price for silver. reserve purposes. On the basis of
This price is forty-five cents an the gold now held, the Treasury
ounce, and it is a most profitable can buy under that law a total of
price for silver producers in Mexico $4,125,000,000 in silver. At the pres
and Canada and some other foreign ent time Treasury records show we
countries. It is not as profitable, have silver reserves amounting to
however, as the price the Treasury around $2,600,000,000. These figures
pays to American producers—which show, or ought to show, how much
is seventy-seven and one-half cents inflation lies ahead—how much
higher prices may go—unless some
an ounce.
But, one may ask, what has this thing is done to restore a sound
thing to do with the cost of beef currency policy in the United
States.
steak, ham and eggs or shoes?
• • •
I hope I may be able to explain
Some
Democrats
who are not too
it as I have watched the picture un
fold and to explain it in a manner friendly with Postmaster General
Jim Farley, along
that those unacquainted with high
Just G ood, with the Republi-
finance may see the thing in its true
Clean Fun cans in congress,
light.
are having fun
• • •
First of all, the policy of the ad these days with the Democratic Na
ministration that has brought bil- tional committee. They are also
lions of gold into succeeding, it appears, in making
H ow It
the Treasury to be President Roosevelt’s political seat
W orks
stored as so much uncomfortably warm. Nothing will
dead weight has come of it except that the subject
resulted in many thousands of will fill many newspaper columns of
shares of stock in American cor attack and defense as the politicians
porations or their bonds being shoot back and forth.
To review the situation, it should
bought by foreigners who gave gold
in payment. President Roosevelt be recalled that the Democratic Na
early in his administration insisted tional committee found itself in debt
that gold should not be in circula to the tune of about $650,000 at the
tion as money. Consequently, the end of the 1936 campaign. Some
Treasury has so much gold that it bright mind in the Democratic Na
has had to build separate store tional committee conceived the idea
houses to protect it. Now, we are of selling Democratic campaign
sending some of that gold to China handbooks to corporations at $250
in trade for China’s silver. I think per book, or more, as a means of
most everyone will agree that the raising money.
To make the book attractive, a
silver is just as useless because we
have no need for it in our currency single sheet bearing the autograph
structure. People do not want to of Franklin Delano Roosevelt was
carry silver dollars around in their inserted. Hundreds of corporations
were solicited, and hundreds bought
pockets.
Assuming that the exchange was the books—theoretically, because of
simply an even trade of two ob the autograph of the President. Mr.
jects, neither of which was usable to Roosevelt stated he did not know
us, one probably could dismiss the he was autographing the blank
matter with a wave of the hand. sheets for the purpose for which
Regrettably, such is not the case. they were used.
Republican Leader Snell, of New
The additional silver frankly is add
ing to our troubles because of the York, introduced a resolution in the
Silver Act of 1934 which permits the house of representatives, propos
Treasury to issue currency—silver ing an Investigation of the sale of
these books to corporations. He con
one-dollar bills—against it.
So, instead of being sterilized and tended that it was a violation of the
■tored away in vaults, the silver ac corrupt practices act.
Mr. Snell remained determined,
cession results in a prompt increase
in the amount of currency in circu however, and sought to harrass the
lation. That action tends to increase New Deal further by asking Attor
the excess reserve—unused money ney General Cummings for an offi
—of the banking system. As this cial opinion. At the same time, he
money becomes available for cir read on the floor of the house a long
culation, its value necessarily and list of corporations who had bought
obviously is cheapened. Or, to say the "souvenirs” of the 1936 cam
it another way, the things you buy paign, together with a list of prices
with money become of greater value they had paid.
These facts cut deeply into the
because it takes more of these
pieces of currency to buy the same Democrats who are seeking to pro
quantity of food or clothes or shoes. tect Chairman Farley and the Dem
• • •
ocratic National committee wiggled
Authorities will disagree with the and squirmed. Nevertheless, Mr.
above statement to the extent that Snell may as well have butted his
w ii
“U *tinds °* cur- head against a stone wall since he
Some W ill rency have not got no further than Representa
D isagree
b e e n expanded tive Rayburn, the house Democratic
(which m e a n s leader, would have gotten, if Mr
inflated) by the issuing of silver Snell had been majority, instead of
certificates That is true. But we minority, leader.
© Western Newspaper Union.
must be realistic and recognize that
AKLAND, CALIF.—As I sit
writing this, I look out
where elderly gentlemen,
tent on relaxing, may be seen
tensing themselves up tighter
than a cocked wolf-trap, and
then staggering toward the
clubhouse with every nerve
standing on end and screaming
for help and highballs.
O
I smile at them, for I am one who
has given up golf. You might even
go so far as to say
golf gave me up. I
tried and tried, but
I never broke a ty
phoid patient’s tem
perature
chart —
never got below 102.
I spent so much
time climbing into
sand-traps and out
again that people be
gan thinking I was
a new kind of her
mit, living by pref Irvin S. Cobb
erence in bunkers—
the old man of the link beds, they'd
be calling me next.
And I used to slice so far into the
rough that, looking for my ball, I
penetrated jungles where the foot of
man hadn’t trod since the early
mound builders. That’s how I add
ed many rare specimens to my col
lection of Indian relics.
But the last straw was when a
Scotch professional, after morbidly
watching my form, told me that
at any rate there was one thing
about me which was correct—I did
have on golf stockings!
• • •
Congressional Boldness.
ARNING to pet lovers: If you
’ ’ own guinea pigs or tame rab
bits or trained seals or such-like gen
tle creatures, try to keep the word
from them that some of the majority
members of the lower branch of con
gress actually threatened to defy
their master’s voice.
The senate always has been
known as the world’s greatest delib
erative body—and, week by week
and month by month don’t those
elder statesmen know how to delib
erate! But these last few years the
house has earned the reputation of
being the most docile legislative
outfit since Aesop’s King Stork ruled
over the synod of the frogs.
So should the news ever spread
among the lesser creatures, hither
to so placid and biddable, that an
example had been set at Washington,
there’s no telling when the Bel
gian hares will start rampaging and
the singing mice will begin acting
up rough and the grubworms will
gang against the big old woodpeck
er.
• • •
Professional Orators.
E HAVE in Southern Califor-
’ ’ nia a professional orator who
long ago discovered that the most
dulcet music on earth was the sound
of his own voice. He'll speak any
where at the drop of the hat and
provide the hat.
What’s worse, this coast-defender
of ours labors under the delusion
that, if he shouts at the top of his
voice, his eloquence will be all the
more forceful. The only way to
avoid meeting him at dinner is to
eat at an owl wagon. But the other
night, at an important banquet, he
strangely was missing from the ar
ray of speakers at the head table.
One guest turned in amazement to
his neighbor:
“Where’s Blank?” he inquired,
naming the absentee.
“Didn’t you hear?" answered the
other. “He busted a couple of ear
drums.”
“Whose?” said the first fellow.
• • •
Foes of Nazidom.
'T ' HE veteran Rabbi Stephen Wise
Careful Summer Attention
Pays Good Returns.
in
By
l
H. H. Alp, E x te n sio n Pou ltrym an, Unl-
v e rslty o f Illin o is.—WNU S erv ice.
Cheapest of all ways to feed
pullets this summer will be to feed
them well. Egg production n e x t
September and October will depend
on the summer feeding. Experience
has demonstrated that worms and
disease thrive best in poorly fed
flocks, and that good pullets are
| never raised by making scaven
gers out of them during July and
August.
Prospects look favorable for egg
prices next fall because many peo
ple will attempt to economize on
feed. Such a practice will make the
feed used doubly expensive.
A ration which has given good
results with pullets after they are
eight weeks old is the one made of
a starting mash and ground grain.
For each 200 pullets two range feed
ers are recommended; one contain
ing starting mash and the other a
coarsely ground grain mixture of
equal parts of corn, wheat and oats.
Grinding the grain has a tendency
to insure greater consumption of it
and less of the mash. Some poultry-
men are making a practice of clos
ing, for a part of the day, the feeder
containing the mash, especially if
there is a tendency toward too early
sexual maturity of the pullets.
This ration in combination with a
good clean green range such as al
falfa, plenty of clean drinking water
and some protection from ex
treme heat should go a long way
toward developing pullets of normal
growth, free from worms and ready
to lay next fall when egg prices
are expected to be high.
Despite the fact that most laying
flocks are laying well at this time
of year, the need for careful cull
ing should be noted. Every bird not
laying and not having any value
as a future breeder will consume
about 20 cents worth of feed a month.
Gully Control Varies
With Local Conditions
Farmers keep in mind economy,
effectiveness, and permanence when
they build soil-saving check dams,
earth fills or diversion ditches to
control gullies, says T. B. Cham
bers of the Soil Conservation serv
ice. Check dams of straw, poles
and logs, woven wire, and loose
rock serve their purpose well, al
though they do not last as well as
dams of well-laid rock or concrete
and earth.
Gullies waste millions of tons of
valuable soil every year. SCS men
on more than 140 demonstration
areas are showing farmers how gul
lies can be prevented and checked.
Control varies because climate,
soils, and cropping methods vary in
different parts of the country, but
farmers will find one or more of
three methods effective.
In practically all sections of the
country gully sides may be plant
ed to grass, shrubbery, or trees.
Once established, the vegetation
slows the flow of “little waters” aft
er rains and holds the soil. Choice
of grasses, trees, or shrubs for such
plantings is a question which may
be referred to county agents or SCS
specialists on demonstration areas.
When gullies drain a fair-sized
watershed, run-off can be retarded
by the right crops and contour farm
ing. Terraces or diversion ditches
take care of excess run-off.
Where the volume of run-off is
high, earth, masonry, or concrete
dams may be necessary. These
dams are most effective where a
gully slope is comparatively gen
tle and where they can be high
enough to prevent further cutting
back of the gully head. These
dams also create reservoirs for live
stock water and irrigation.
With the Farmers
Large eggs do not hatch so well
1 as small ones.
• • •
Nearly 900,000 tons of wheat was
grown in Great Britain last season.
• • •
The University of California con
ducts a large horse breeding farm.
of New York has been reason
ably outspoken in his views on Nazi
treatment of his own co-religionists
and the practitioners of other faiths
as well. And one of the most ven
erable prelates of the Catholic
♦ • •
church in Europe, while discussing
Poultry raising in America is
the same subject, hasn’t exactly
1 rightly called "a billion dollar busi-
pulled his punches, either.
So what? A friend just back from i ness.”
. . .
abroad tells me that in Berlin he
Non-layers of all ages should be
heard a high government officer i carefully culled out of the flock un
fiercely denounce these two distin til September 1.
guished men. About the mildest
• • •
thing the speaker said about them
The Department of Agriculture
was that both were senile. Some says that the cost of keeping a farm
how or other, the speech wasn’t horse, including cost of deprecia
printed in the German papers— tion, is approximately $100 per year.
• • •
maybe by orders from on high.
A summer shelter provides cheap,
Well, far be it from this inno
cent bystander to get into religious comfortable quarters for housing
arguments and besides I have no yearling layers at the end of the
first-hand knowledge as to the Chris I first laying year.
• • •
tian clergyman’s state of health, al
The Rose Comb White Leghorn is
though, judging by his utterances,
there’s nothing particularly wrong | identical with the Single Comb
with his mind. But I do know Rab White Leghorn except in the matter
bi Wise, and, if he's in his dotage, : of the rose comb.
• • •
so is Shirley Temple. And I risk
Eggs are imported into the United
the assertion that he would be per
fectly willing te have one foot in the States in the form of shell eggs;
grave if he could have the other whole eggs, dried; whole eggs, froz
en; dried and frozen yolks; and
on Herr Hitler’s neck.
dried albumen.
IRVIN S. COBB
© WNC Servlr*.
Malaga, Spain, before shot and shell marred its beauty.
Civil War Makes World Conscious
of Modern Changes Felt in Spain
survival of many local ways and
prejudices that bend or break but
IVIL war in Spain signal slowly.
Irrestibly, however, the cities
izes the startling changes
put on a more modem dress and
which have swept that ancient
quicken their pace. Consider, hasti
land in recent years.
ly, some of the cities and towns
In the swift rush of daily that have figured in recent war
news, more is said of military news.
leaders and their campaigns, of
The New York of Spain.
Take a look at Barcelona, the
statesmen and changing gov
ernments, than of the deep so New York of Spain. It is the largest
city in the country, the most im
cial and economic transform a portant
financial and industrial cen
tions behind the news, or the ter and by far the busiest seaport.
character of this land and its
The sun shines in air crisp and
exhilarating as you stroll down the
people.
Long before King Alfonso fled, Paseo de Gracia, Barcelona’s most
these changes were of course under important thoroughfare and indeed
way, and because of them his mon one of the most interesting and
modernistic streets in the world.
archy failed.
These transitions have gathered Fine motorcars (no trucks allowed
momentum, until today this once on this wide avenue) stop and go
romantic land of duennas, monas at modern American traffic signals.
At the foot of the Paseo is the
teries, bullfights and leisurely pas
toral life has written a new and very heart of Barcelona—the Plaza
dramatic chapter in its long history. de Cataluna—a large open space
Where centuries-old country lanes filled with statues, fountains, flow
and mountain trails used to wind, er beds, paved paths, and benches.
Always animated, human streams
fine new concrete roads now streak
over the hills. To a large degree, flow in and out of its subway en
men have exchanged their saddle trances. The Plaza, too, is the cen
mules for flivvers, and the high ter of fierce turmoil in every politi
wheeled, clumsy oxcart yields to cal upheaval. It is surrounded by
large, ornate structures—banks, ho
the whizzing motor truck.
tels, and new telephone office build
Señoritas Bob Their Hair.
ing with copper-green tower, a Yan
From the Bay of Biscay down to kee skyscraper indeed in a Spanish
the blue Mediterranean, traditional metropolis!
peasant costumes are being dis
Flying at another corner is a wel
carded and men are dressing in come sight for American eyes—the
plain blue overalls. Black-eyed señ Stars and Stripes—indicating t h e
oritas today lay away the time-hon splendid offices of the United States
ored mantilla, get their hair bobbed consulate general.
and hunt city jobs as typists, tele
Use American Cash Registers.
phone girls and shop clerks, as do
Big
signs advertise American au
their sisters in many lands.
New thinking, as well as new tomobiles. Indeed, three-fourths of
machines, changes the way of Span all cars in the Plaza are of familiar
ish life. Bullfighting still goes on, make. There is a large American
but now the intrepid toreadors be bank a few doors up the street; in
long to a labor union! You may still bookstores are displays of American
find guitars and fandangos, for Span fountain pens, and in the tobacco
iards are ever a music-loving peo shops even chewing gum!
All these business houses use
ple, and possibly you may find
here and there a lovesick couple American adding machines a n d
mooning at each other through an cash registers, and the offices hum
old iron-barred window. More and with American typewriters. Many
more, however, the radio super of the fine new apartment buildings
sedes the guitar and the girl has are equipped with American doors
come out from behind the historic and electric refrigerators. Here
grillwork and gone to the movies “foreign trade” is a pulsing thing
with her sweetheart—or to the street far removed from the dry statistics
of our commerce.
barricades to fight with him’
“ Rambla” really means a dry
One fact to grasp, in understand
ing the social muddle here, is that ravine, but in Barcelona the word
Spain is divided into 50 provinces; is used to designate a wider street
and not so many years ago it was or boulevard. The original fascinat
commonly said that it also had 50 ing Rambla of Barcelona is like no
different national dances and cos other thoroughfare in the world! It
tumes, together with almost as is a long, straight avenue with a
wide promenade for pedestrians in
many dialects.
Comparatively sudden advent of the center and is lined with tall
new high-speed roads, faster vehi plane trees.
Busy stores flank the Rambla
cles, speeches and news broadcast
by air, and the breakdown of church from end to end, interspersed with
influence, all combine now to dis theaters, cinemas, an ancient
sipate this old conservative provin church or two and a large number
cial spirit. Thus has Spain been of cafes. Under bright, wide awn
turned into a milling, restless land. ings that canopy the sidewalks and
For the first time country and town shade the little tables, idlers sit and
life are freely blended, and the watch the lifeblood of the metrop
peasant can hear the exciting talk olis stream up and down its main
of city radicals and revolutionaries artery—streaming at a much quick
that yesteryear came only as a tempo since recent shooting started!
Like the Paris boulevards, each
remote murmur.
Spain is now becoming so mod section of the Rambla bears a dif
ernized that busses of every kind ferent name. First come ornamental
and color race along from village kiosks displaying an amazing va
to village, from town to city. Till riety of newspapers and magazines
a few years ago, many country in every European language. Then
people never journeyed more than comes the bird market. Arranged in
20 miles from home in their lives. cages of all sizes along the prom
Now by cheap, or even free, rides in enade is a bewildering show of yel
war times, they travel all over the low and brown canaries, gray par
rots from western Africa, green
country!
ones from Brazil, tiny parakeets,
Political Parties Are Many.
all setting up a lively chatter..
With the rise of the republic
New World Gives Way.
came, of course, more liberty of
The next section is the brightest
speech and action; but, bom of the of all—the Rambla de las Flores.
50 provinces and their 50 different Here open-air flower stalls, bossed
ways of thinking, came also wide by black-haired peasant women, of-
division of opinion and action.
er flowers of every color and shade.
Political parties of all shades Love of flowers is one point at least
sprang up in great variety and num upon which all divergent political
ber. Certain factions held that prog parties can agree!
ress should be attained gradually
Following the flower stalls come
through education of the masses— more kiosks where one may pro
masses as yet untrained in the art cure ice cream or soft drinks. Build
of government. This is obviously a ings begin to look older now—the
slow process and one would suppose New World gives way to the Old—
that in a romantic "land of manana” and finally we come out into the
a slow process would be accept wide water front, with its ornate
customshouse, the tall statue to Co
able.
But the manana idea is another lumbus, and the palm-lined Paseo
of those old Spanish customs so de Colon. To the right, in the shadow
rapidly disappearing; many now de of the huge, somber stone barracks,
mand a quicker approach, a faster is a long double line of bookstalls.
Sloping up on the right of the har
progress.
Thus a peek at Spain of today bor is the high hill of Montjuich,
reveals a startling modernity of with a sinister old fort upon its crest.
thought, civilization and up-to-the- In turbulent days of riots and
minute comforts and contrivances, strikes, executions of ringleaders
superimposed upon the stubborn take place here.
Prepared by National Geographic Society,
Washington, D. C.— W NÜ Service.
C