Duke McCale, private detective, li en
gaged by wealthy old Mis* Bigelow, to
guard her niece's wedding presents. Mc
Cale guesses there It something sinister
In the situation, and to accepts. He
meets Mrs. Sybil Bigelow, the bride’s
mother, Victoria and Stephen Bigelow,
the bride’s brother and sister, and Mrs.
Stephen Bigelow, a strikingly beautiful
blonde woman. Later he becomes ac
quainted with Christopher Storm, a not
ed architect, who it too Inquisitive to
suit McCale. Then he meets Veronica,
the bride-to-be, an attractive and Intel
ligent girl, and the bridegroom-to-be,
the extremely handsome Curt Vallaln
court, big and masterful. He gives Ve
ronica a strange, meaningful glance.
CHAPTER IV
When Curt began to take his
leave, he doled himself out. Stephen
he treated like a brother. Storm as
an affectionate friend. It was the
women who bit at his heels most
avidly. Miss Adelaide glowed,
turned coy. Sybil shook herself out
of the sulks, simpered. Victoria
looked at him hotly, and Karen’s
eyes kindled with an icy fire.
Veronica waited tolerantly, as if
she could well afford to do so. He
crossed to her finally In his negli
gently graceful stride. He took her
hands in his big ones and, leaning
over, whispered in her ear. She
laid her bronze head against the
massiveness of his chest for a mo
ment.
Everyone must have heard her
say, ". . , But it’s all right now,
darling. All right. I’m so glad—I
was devastated.”
Victoria's eyes were half-closed,
mere pencil strokes in her Beards
ley face, and Karen’s only move
ment was the tapping of a carmine
fingernail on the arm of her chair.
Curt kissed his fiancee. And then
McCale knew. There was no acting
in that kiss. This was no embrace
in the thundering animal way of a
Tarzan. This was not the selling
power behind perfect merchandise.
In spite of the stories, in spite of
the man’s reputation, he was really
in love with Veronica Bigelow. It
was in his eyes. It was unmistak
able. How could anyone In that
room not know it?
Then the party broke up. It was
after that that Victoria laughed de
risively, and in passing Christopher
said slyly, "You big, big fooll To
give them The Nest Don't tell me
you wanted to.”
Christopher smiled in a depressed
manner, got up and took her arm.
As they headed for the door, Me
Cale heard him say, "Calm your
self, Vicky, my girl. ‘To the vic
tor belongs the spoils'.”
“Rats," she answered. "You’re a
congenital idiot.”
Adelaide Bigelow had been snuff
ing out candles here and there. She
switched off a table lamp and came
over to McCale, who stood in the
firelight, a dark figure, sorting his
Impressions. The old furniture and
trappings seemed to flicker and dis
solve in the half-light The fire
pulsed in the grate.
"You won’t need me tonight?” he
asked, as if it were finished.
“No—I think not—” she faltered.
"Will you telephone me in the morn
ing?”
“Of course.”
”1 shall need you,” she said with
emphasis. She looked older and
more haggard in the gloom.
He nodded as she followed him
to the door.
“I think I should have one of my
operators on duty here tonight”
”Oh, no—it won’t be at all neces
sary.”
"—The wedding gifts.” There was
an oh-so-subtle tinge of sarcasm in
his tone.
bhe smiled uncomfortably.
"They’U be aU right.”
"Very well.”
"He was outside, in the corridor.
"Mr. McCale.”
"Yes."
"You saw the bridegroom. What
do you think?”
He hesitated. "Very handsome.”
He knew that wasn't the answer
she wanted.
"Is that all?”
"Character? I couldn't say. I
•imply recognize him as a type
one over which I’m not enthusias
tic.”
“I watched you this afternoon.
You are so calm. Don't you ever
get excited?”
He chuckled. "I have a very even
temperament."
She looked disappointed, but he
would make no further comment.
"Good night."
"Good night.”
Dinner Date at
The White Abbey
Aa he walked crosstown, he felt
strangely disembodied, like some
one coming from the theater—a
theater where one had seen a queer -
ly disturbing drama.
On impulse he entered the first
drugstore that he saw. He dialed
the Bigelow number, waiting impa
tiently until he heard Miss Ade
laide's voice.
"On second thought," he said,
"I've decided that it is necessary
to have my assistant in your house
tonight. A Mr. Bjorkland. He will
report to you at eight. Good night
again."
He hung up before she could
acquiesce or demur. Then he called
his own number. Rocky answered.
"Hello, Rocky. I want you to
•pend the night at the Bigelows.”
“Okay, boss. What’s cooking?’’
“Something — yes — but nothing
that I can get my teeth into. I
know there’s something wrong,
though.”
"Do you want me to watch out
for anything in particular?"
“No-o-o. Just keep your eyes and
ears open. I won’t even give you
my reactions to the Bigelow clan.
I want an unbiased opinion from
you in the morning. You’re sup
posed to be guarding those precious
wedding gifts. Miss Bigelow will
be expecting you at eight o'clock.
Ask for her. You’d better run along
now and get yourself some grub.
Put Ann orrthe line, will you?”
"The power behind the throne,"
quipped Rocky, “took her royal de
parture at the stroke of six.”
“Just like that?”
“Yeah. She had a wicked gleam
In her eye when she sealed the note
she left for you. I’ll lay odds that
she’s up to some deviltry.”
“No doubt. Well, I’ll be seeing
you in the morning. Don’t let any
of ’em rattle you. Be seeing you.
Night, now.”
The desk light was on in the outer
office. In the small, round pool of
light it threw lay a note from Ann
Lights went down suddenly and a
girl stepped into the yellow oval of
a spot.
Man-lot reminding him that he was
taking her to dinner. She had un
derlined the final word—dress.
He knew what that forecast. It
meant The White Abbey, the sea
son’s socially renowned "saloon.”
He grunted, turned off the desk
light, and went through the quiet
inner office to his bedroom and bath
at the back. He shaved and show
ered, dressing automatically, his
mind busy in a treadmill of its owa
He went over the events of the
afternoon, trying to docket his im
pressions in some way, to relate
them to the dark omen he had car
ried away from there. He wished
Rocky were with him now to talk
it over.
He called a cab and rode cross
town, deep in the groove of his
mood. They drove up to a row of
old brownstone houses which looked
deserted, their flat, unlighted fronts
a deceptive sepia blank. One of
them had an oyster-white door. Mc
Cale made for it.
Ann Sizes LIp the
Situation
j\«er a wan oi less uian nve min
utes. Ann came from behind a door
marked "Powder Room." She was
slender and smart in a green draped
affair that ended in a lot of gray
foam. The gown had no straps that
he could see and it seemed she
might be rising out of it to be with
him minus the surf she was riding
at any moment.
They climbed one of the stair
cases and were bowed into the din
ner room by another interior deco
rator. There was a lot of diffusrd
light in here which made it rather
better, although the white pre
vailed. They sat on one of a num
ber of semi-circular velvet divans
which formed a series of alcoves
around the room.
They imgered over the exorbitant
ly priced dinner, McCale preoccu
pied. bored by the place.
"All right." Ann said finally. "It's
not so hot—but I had to see it"
"What do you really think of itf"
"It's fascinatingly—dull. Howev
er, that’s what it will be like when
you marry me. Your week will be
all mapped out for you. I'll want
to dress up one night and go out
to the place of the moment; a regu
lar night for the movies; then we'll
have to take in all the good plays;
maybe go dancing and—"
"Which leaves—’’
"One night a week for me to sit
by the fire at your feet while you
discuss the intricacies of your lat
est case. Yes, I know. You’re full
of the blasted Bigelows now. Tell
me all."
"1 hope that’s only your way of
telling me that you’re burning up
with curiosity."
“And so I am."
He lighted a cigarette and start
ed to recount carefully the affair
Bigelow as far as it went.
When he finally paused, she said,
"No more?"
"No more.”
"So far as I can see from where
we're sitting then, there isn’t any
mystery unless it’s your Irish
hunch.”
"Have I ever been wrong?”
"Oh, you must have been, once or
twice.”
“But I swear there is something
going on there—some deep trouble.
I tell you, the whole family has the
Jumps. They're shaky, nervy—out
of sorts. It sticks out like a sore
thumb.”
Ann selected a salted nut and bit
Into it with her strong white teeth.
She said, an amused look in her
eyes, "What sticks out is that the
whole family is crazy about the gor
geous Curt. And he takes the one
with the money. He must be quite
a boy.”
"I assure you he is. Can’t you Just
see them all from my description?
The old lady at wit’s end; Sybil
drowning something or other in
sherry; Karen cold and lax, taking
it out on the piano; Veronica daz
zled; Victoria cruel and fighting
back; Stephen lost and floundering.
Why—”
“Of course, darling. I see them
all.”
"But what do you think?”
"I think you’re smitten with this
Karen wench.”
McCale roared. “Good Lord, are
you Jealous? Of me? Now, see
here—”
“If course I’m Jealous, you
wretch." She waggled a finger at
him, then pointed. “And here, if
I’m not mistaken, comes another
member of our cast.”
Lights went down suddenly and a
girl stepped into the yellow oval of
a spot. She was dressed in some
silver business so cunningly draped
that it turned her into a shimmer
ing pillar. She had a wide rasp
berry mouth and dark brown hair
with strange lights in it. The saxo
phones wailed and subsided to a
moan. The drums were a tom-tom
accompaniment. She stood perfect
ly still, a cigarette hanging from
the corner of her mouth while she
sang. Her voice was a husky con
tralto and she wrenched the lyrics
from the commonplace into the
realm of the boudoir. It was top
notch old-school singing.
“Wow!” exclaimed McCale.
“That’s showmanship. What were
you saying, my pet, when Love
Walked In?”
"That was Shari Lynn."
McCale raised an eyebrow. The
girl had walked out onto the floor
again to take a bow. She accepted
the acclaim in the same slow, sul
try way she had sung.
“I hope you won’t go into a Jeal
ous rage if I say I think she’s got
something there," said McCale sly
ly.
“Not at all. She’s got something
with her, too, if you'll look where
she’s headed."
McCale turned and saw the top
of a curly black head, the set of
unmistakable shoulders. He whis
pered under his breath.
“Curt Vallaincourt,” he mur
mured.
Ann sighed, "So that’s the boy
himself. I can certainly see why
the girls drop their handkerchiefs
whenever he goes by."
"I’ll admit he’s handsome.”
“Handsome, darling, is not the
word for it."
“Ann, I'm ashamed of you. I did
not dream that girls—"
“You listen to me instead. Al
most any man with a lot of money
is on the hunt for the best deal he
can buy. What’s the matter with a
woman who’s got a few million ly
ing around loose buying herself a
gorgeous piece of freight —like
that?”
He was shocked, even though he
knew she was enjoying his reac
tions.
Curt Goes to the
Highest Bidder
“That’s Just it," was his rejoin
der. "It’s Just the fact that it’s
merchandise that makes it so—so
cheap "
“Well, it’s perfect merchandise,
and any woman—”
“Women are supposed to have
morals.”
“Phooey, darling. What a million
dollars or a real mink will do to a
gal’s morals just isn’t funny."
She’d stuck her chin out with that
last observation, and McCale
couldn’t resist the temptation to
take advantage of it.
“I’ll get you a platinum fox," he
said with a perfectly serious ex
pression.
“You’ll do nothing of the kind,"
she flared up. then suddenly dis
solved into convulsive laughter.
It was true, however, that Curt
Vallaincourt, that highly salable
male, was going to the highest bid
der on Saturday next. McCale
thought of the clairvoyance that had
made him sure only that afternoon
that the man was truly in love with
Veronica Bigelow. It hardly
seemed credible now that he saw
him here in a tete-a-tete with Shari
Lynn. But there they were, a table
or two away, deep in conversation.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
C'OOTBALL is moving in the direc
* tion of its record year. I am re
ferring here to c’iSS and talent from
over 40 footbah states. There has
been no season before that could
show as many fast and powerful
teams, due partly to returning G.I.s
from the various battlefields of the
world. Any one team that can finish
this season unbeaten must call on
a miracle. There are too many who
are good.
For example we might as well
take up the matter of All-America
DacKS. we Drought
this argument up
before a group of
coaches recently.
“That’s simple
enough,” one of
them said. ’’Why
not pick Blanchard,
Davis, Wedemey
er and Gilmer?”
“It isn’t quite
that simple,” we
John Lujack
about Fenimore,
Buddy Young and Trippi? What
about Tucker of Army or Justice of
North Carolina? What about the
best back on Michigan, Ohio State
or Indiana? Or Patterson of Illi
nois? What about the pick from
Notre Dame and Pennsylvania or
Columbia, or one or two from the
Southwest, including Texas and Mis
souri? Certainly Notre Dame
should come up with a challenger
from the group Frank Leahy has
in tow, perhaps Johnny Lujack.”
"If anyone is trying to pick the
four best,” another coach said,
"why not put eight names in a hat
and pick out the first four?"
"Which eight?" I asked.
“Well,” the answer came, "here
are seven anyway — Blanchard,
Davis, Wedemeyer, Fenimore, Gil
mer, Trippi and Buddy Young. You
dig up the other."
Columbia s Backs
You can imagine how the argu
ment will be in late November. For
example, it might surprise many
:amp followers from the strong
Midwest and the strong South to
enow that Lou Little at Columbia
may end up with a better all-around
jackfield than Notre Dame, Michi
gan, Indiana, Ohio State, Alabama,
Georgia and Texas. The line isn’t
there but the backs are, headed by
Rossides, Kusserow and the bril
iant passer Kasprzak, rated by Lou
)n a par with Luckman and Gover
lali.
With two big tackles, Columbia
:ould give Army, Alabama or Notre
Dame an even scrap. But the line
is still the front wall. It is the ad
vance post. And Columbia so far
wasn’t the line needed to face such
i schedule.
My guess is that Army has the
jest first line backfield in foot
jail, with something to spare. This
jackfield, in addition to Blanchard
jnd Davis, includes a brilliant quar
terback and a fine passer in young
rucker. You’ll hear a lot more
about Tucker this fall than you ever
heard before. He can move right
jp with Blanchard and Davis.
Alabama, Columbia and Okla
homa A. and M. have all-around
jackfield strength above the nor
mal. So has Illinois with an attack
headed by Young and Patterson,
two of the best.
I believe the strongest lines are
at Illinois, Yale, Notre pame and
Alabama. Notre Dame may have
the best of the lot, but Yale isn’t
far behind. Alabama has a great
:enter in Mancha, one of the best
in many years. Illinois possesses
top guards and Notre Dame has the
best looking tackles.
Oklahoma, Yale Lines
It might be added here that the
Oklahoma A. and M. line is one of
the best — a point Wally Butts of
Georgia might remember for their
October meeting. Yale's line is
strong from end to end. Texas has
all-around strength, backfield and
line, and should be hard to handle
in the country's major state.
The two best ends of the year
should belong to Army in Barney
Poole and Foldberg, veterans
around 218 pounds who know what
it is all about. They will have to be
better than good with the tackle
problem Army faces. Some squad
may have two better ends than
Army's big, experienced pair—but
1 doubt it.
Among the major teams the big
guess is Navy. Capt. Tom Hamil
ton, undoubtedly the savior of col
lege football through war years,
is as good a coach as you'll meet
anywhere. But Navy has lost more
good men than any team in the
country. The group of supposed
stars under Swede Hagberg two
years ago have either graduated,
flunked or resigned.
Hamilton has little left from
that old crew—Kelly, Scott, Minisi,
Jenkins, Ellsworth, on and on, are
all gone. Most of the Navy line is
missing But Hamilton still has
good football players left, not too
many, but enough to give any team
a busy afternoon.
Navy took the major rap in post
war football Where most of the oth
ers were getting their former stars
back. Navy was taking a heavy def
icit Navy may lose many games
More than two or three. But these
games will be fought to the last
play with Tom Hamilton in charge.
BUSINESS & INVEST. OPPOR.
Real opportunity for a permanent bust,
ness and Income of your own selling es
tablished line of Health Foods and Vita
mins In this territory. Liberal commission.
Small investment for merchandise re
quired. For particulars write Makers of
KAL, IM North New Hampshire, Los
Angeles 4, California.
DUE to my husband's death I have for
sale a fully equipped blacksmith shop.
Mrs. Bertha Miekels, Panama. Iowa.
_DOGS, CATS, PETS, ETC.
PUPPIES WANTED
We buy puppies of all kinds, also kittens,
canaries, parrots, etc. Give description
and lowest dealer s price in first letter.
GEISLER PET STORE
lit No. 16th St.. Omaha 2. Nehr.. Since ISIS.
GERMAN SHORTHAIR POINTER PUPS
4 and 5 months old, $15.00 without papers,
$35.00 with papers. Best of breeding. CUf’s
Kennels, Brewster. Nebraska,
FARM MACHINERY & EQUIP.
VEE-BELTS AND PULLEYS
for all farm machinery. Sheller and ham
mermill belt drives. Pillow blocks and
take-ups.
J. H. NICHOLSON SUPPLY CO.
til S. 18 St.. Harney 2776, Omaha. Nehr.
HAY, GRAIN, FEED _
WANTED—NEW OR OLD ALFALFA
FRANK HOWLAND, 6220 8. 44th St.
Phone Market 1806 • Omaha, Nebraska.
HELP WANTED—MEN_
PAINTERS. Established shop of 50 years
can use experienced white A. F. of L.
building painters for all types of work on
year-round employment. Ideal shop con
ditions. Inquiries by mail Invited.
RAPHAEL CO.
270 Tehama St.. San Francisco 6. Calif.
AUTO MECHANICS WANTED—Work In a
new building with new equipment. Attrac
tive proposition. See Mr. Powers.
SCOTT NASH CO.
AT 4664 2920 Farnam St., Omaha. Nehr.
WANTED
Registered Pharmacist or assistant to
work in one of the better drug stores in
Nebraska as assist, manager, top salary
Greene's Drng Store, Falls City. Neb.
_HELP WANTED—WOMEN
WE NEED SEVERAL WOMElCto work
In the Home, Ladies who know how to
work and are interested in children. Hav
ing had children of one's own. teaching
experience, etc., are good qualifications.
Pleasant surroundings, good wages. Lady
with husband working or in school could
work, both having accommodations. Write,
giving work exp. education, age, etc.
HOME FOR CHILDREN
5903 Walker Ave. - Lincoln 4. Nebr.
WANTED—YOUNG WOMAN for generTl
housework. Help with children. Private
room and bath. Best wages. 6425 Cuming
St.. Omaha. Tel. WALnut 9181.
_LIVESTOCK
Hereford Hogs. We are breeders and ship
pers of better Hereford hogs, tried sows,
fall gilts, weaning pigs, fall boars.
Write for prices.
Hanses Implement Co.. BloomQeld, Nety.
DONALDSON’S SHORTHORNS
Several bulls ready for service. Priced
right. ED DONALDSON, Albion, Nebr.
WlSCELLANEOUS
For Sale—Prairie hay, truck or car, at all
times. Write for prices. Frank Keller,
Newport. Nebr.
_ HELP WANTED—-MALE
BRICKLAYERS wanted immediately on
project at Boystown. Nebraska. Approx
imately 18 months' work. Inside work
for winter. Scale. $1 825 per hour work
ing 45 hours per week. Double time for
all overtime. Apply Peter Klewit Sons'
Co., Boystown, Nebraska.
194« CERTIFIED Pawnee wheat, by the
sack, truckload, or carload, at $2.25
f. o. b. Polk County, bulk sales. Polk
Countv Crop Improvement Association.
Box T. Osceola. Nebr.
AND SAVE MONET
with Fresh Long-Life
Midget ft Standard Batteries for most
HEARING-AIDS
—Mailed Direct To You—
Write for Booklet—or Batteries
Sonotoae 618 World-Herald Bldg. Omaha
Relief At Last
ForYour Cough
Creomulsion relieves promptly be
cause it goes right to the seat of the
trouble to help loosen and expel
germ laden phlegm, and aid nature
to soothe and heal raw, tender, in
flamed bronchial mucous mem
branes. Tell your druggist to sell you
a bottle of Creomulsion with the un
derstanding you must like the way it
quickly allays the cough or you are
to have your money back.
CREOMULSION
for Coughs, Chest Colds, Bronchitis
IMP KD MOW
TO GET MORE
STMN6TH
If your blood LACKS (RON!
Tou girl* and women who suffer so from
simple anemia that you’re pale, weak,
"dragged out"—this may be due to lack
of blood-Iron. So try Lydia E. Plnkham’s
TABLETS—one of the beat home ways
to build up n;d blood—In auch case*
Plnkhani’B Tablets are one ef the great
est blood-iron tonics you can buy I A t
all drugstores Worth trying!
WNU—U_40—46
May Warn *f Disordered
Kidney Action
Usdera life with its hurry and worry,
f Irregular habits, improper eating aad
drinking—its risk at exposure and infec
tion—throws heavy strain on th* worh
of the kidneys. They are apt to become
over-texed end fed to filter exceee acid
end other impurities from the life-giving
blood.
You msy suffer Begging backache,
headache, dlxaineee, getting up nights,
leg paina, swelling—(eel constantly
tired, aervous, all worn eut. Other eign*
| of kidney or bladder disorder are iom«
timei burning, scanty or too frequent
urination.
Try Don't Pills, Doan’e help the
kidneys to pass off harmful excess body
sraste. They have had more than hall a
1 century of public approval. Are recuse
mended by grateful users everywhere.
Ask tour neighbor/
Life in Soviet Russia
Lacks Utopian Promise
By BAlfKHAGE
News Analyst and Commentator.
WNU Service, 1616 Eye Street, N.W.,
Washington, D. C.
WASHINGTON, D. C.—As rela
tions between the western world and
Russia grow rap- pmii i <■
luiy uu ueiici,
many reports are
coming in to
show that Com
munism, which
reached the peak
of its prestige
with the end of
the war, is losing
some of its popu
larity in Europe.
The lack of proof
provided in the
eating of the So
viet puacung has ^™
had its effects, Baukhage
and many a wail
of anguish is dimly audible behind
the iron curtain which stretches from
the Baltic through the Balkans.
This, of course, doesn’t prevent
our own little family of loyal Amer
ican “Commies” from screaming
the praises of all within the Soviet’s
gates.
I have been looking over some
facts concerning two of the great
postwar American problems—hous
ing and union labor demands—with
an eye on similar conditions in Rus
sia.
Nobody but an optimist with rose
colored glasses and a five-year lease
would say that we have no housing
problem in America. But Stalin has
one in Russia too. And how, To
varish! (Don’t answer me now,
there’s a plain clothes man behind
the samovar.) I know about that
letter workers wrote to Uncle Joe,
pledging their tireless work and a
promise to “liquidate all shortcom
ings” on the housing industry. That
word “liquidate” has an unpleasant
sound. And when Russian papers
are allowed to criticize production,
putting the blame on “local Sovi
ets,” it means—the situation needs
criticizing!
But what were Russian housing
conditions before the war?
According to a recent Library of
Congress report, "Communism in
Action," even before the devasta
tion of western Russia the aver
age floor space in Moscow was only
15 square feet per head. But the
privileged (workers with high rec
ards on the speed-up plan) had
much more. Hence, the ordinary
Russian worker had much less. By
way of contrast in Washington, D.
C., under the National Capital Hous
ing authority, the smallest housing
jnit (a one-bedroom apartment)
must allot 165 square feet to the
living room alone, and the total
space must be 250 square feet.
In Russia the usual arrangement
Is one family per room in a six
room apartment with common use
af the kitchen and bathroom.
Figure Out Floor
Space Per Person
This was the situation before the
war. Today, in the Ukraine, ac
cording to an article in Harper’s by
John Fischer, who spent some
months in the Ukraine and Byelo
Russia with UNRRA, conditions are
such that the Russian press may
well be allowed to criticize—if that
will do any good.
In Kiev, says Fischer, a person is
supposed to have six square meters
)f living space, which is a strip of
Boor about ten feet long and six feet
wide. Less than that is available in
Kharkov.
If you want to know how a typical
tamily in the Ukraine lives, Fischer
:ells you to imagine you and your
wife and children occupying the
smallest room in your house, with
:he clothing, beds, furniture and pos
sessions that are absolutely indis
pensable. You’ll have a brick stove
instead of a radiator or cooking
range, < a bathroom with no hot
water shared by several other fam
ilies — and probably a few rela
lives to share all that!
Probably you could stand this if
you knew it was temporary. But in
Russia, according to Fischer, be
cause of the five-year plan for the
expansion of heavy industry (said to
be a part of Soviet war preparation),
Russians are going to have a bitter
ly hard life as far as consumer
goods and facilities go. for another
10 to 15 years.
I can’t verify Fischer’s views, but
l know that authorities agree that
Russia cannot possibly do much to
raise the standard of living of the
less privileged even if she doesn’t
continue the present military prep
aration
And what has Communism done
for the laborer as such?
Under the five-year plan industri
al workers’ pay is supposed to go
up to 500 rubles a month. Fischer
estimates the present rate at be
tween 300 and 350, which he says
amounts in terms of American pur
chasing power to about $30 to $35.
Labor Unions Under
Government Wing
According to “Communism in Ac
tion” (the U. S. government docu
ment I mentioned earlier) the Rus
sian labor unions started out under
Trotsky as independent, fighting or
gans of labor. But when Trotsky
was ousted and made his very hasty
departure from the Utopia he helped
found, one lap ahead of the liquida
tors, things changed. As in the case
of Nazi Germany the union became
a limb of the party.
And no one would say that Amer
ican unions, like the Russian vari
ety, "are not organized to conduct
strikes.” This is reported by “Com
munism in Action,” which says that
there hasn’t been a strike in Russia
since 1921. The document further
points out that unions in the United
States have as their primary pur
pose the privilege of their members
to deal on equal terms with their |
employers on all matters of mutual
interest.
In the U.S.S.R., on the other hand,
the unions are a part of the appara
tus of the employer (the govern
ment) and since the government!
is supposed to act in the interests of
all, the workers can’t complain
against any of its decisions.
V ’
Tough Sledding
For the ‘Ins*
There seems to be agreement be
tween some of the political leaders
of both parties that the voters are
going to indulge in a good deal of
indiscriminate hurling of brickbats
next month and it is entirely likely
that many an innocent, bystanding
congressman is going to suffer for
the sins of his colleagues. Clarence
Brown, No. 2 man in the Republican
national committee, admitted to me
that he was counting heavily on the
“throw the rascals out" vote. In
other words people are going to take
out their various personal grouches
on the incumbent, regardless of rec
ord or party affiliation. This view
was reflected on the Democratic
side by that experienced politician,
Senator Russell of Georgia. He said
to some of us the other day:
“It’s always like this after a
war. A great many people have
complaints of one kind or another.
It’s a natural thing for many of
them to decide to vote against the
people who have been in office.”
That line of reasoning, when pur
sued by a good Democrat, might be
wishful thinking if he were casting
his eyes at the gubernatorial con-j
test in New York state. Many peo-,
pie take for granted that Governor
Dewey, if he wins, will try to use
re - election as a stepping stonei
toward the presidential nomination.
In any case, the way the issues are
being played now, if Dewey is re
elected, it will strengthen the argu
ments the Republicans are empha
sizing that the next presidential
campaign will be “safety and solid
ity" versus "wild-eyed radicalism."
Issues will be joined on this point
by the National Citizens Political
Action committee (CIO-PAC’s twin)
when the latter makes the following
statement at the conference of “pro
gressives" In Chicago at the end of
the month:
"The November elections will de
cide the nation's future—the inde
pendent voters . . . will determine
whether the voice of privilege, of
hate and bigotry will dominate the
80th congress, as they did the old,
or whether the progressives whoi
fought against great odds in the
79th congress will find new allies.”
The Republicans are offering
themselves as “new allies" by mak
ing the claim that they represent
true liberalism, and telling the “pro
gressives” that they must either
choose the Republican brand of “lib
eralism" or support the so-called
“radicalism” of the Democrats.
Evidence to support the view that
the “ins,” whether they are Demo
crats or Republicans, are going to
get the brickbats from disgruntled
voters was contained in a letter re
cently received by two Democrat
"Ins ”
"There just aren't any diapers,”
an expectant, incensed father wrote
to his congressman, “and it's some
one's fault Regardless of where and
how you place the blame, you rep
resent us in our government which
has allowed this national disgrace to
come about and are, therefore, to
a greater or a less degree, person
ally responsible for it”
BARBS . . . by Baukhage
A Kentucky physician received a
tribute from his townsfolk the other
day for delivering 5,492 babies in
47 years. And not a wrong address
in a pram-load.
• • •
An 84-year-old mountaineer whose
31-year-old wife had a nine pound
baby wants the government to in
crease his old age pension. Not with
those young ideas!
Terminal leaves end just like the
ones that grow on trees.
• • •
A short circuit which tied up the
telegraph line in Lombard. Mont.,
was caused by a big fish lodged on
the cross-arm of a telegraph pole.
Probably dropped by a flsh-hawk
which didn’t realize there were some
currents even a fish couldn’t swim
against
