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Show WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS 1 Truman Proposes Keeping Pledges In State of Nation Congress Talk; Mercy Killing Has Public Support 'EDITOR'S NOTE: When opinions are expressed In these columns, they are those of Weitern Newspaper Union's news analysis and not necessarly of this newspaper.) HARMONY: So7te Question Congress was off to a rough start. The hope of general "harmony," expressed by President Truman and some congressional leaders, grew dim at the start. Republican Senator Vandenberg charged Democratic collengues with violating the spirit of bipartisanship biparti-sanship in foreign affairs. Committee assignments provided the spark which set off the blast of discord. When the Democrats decided de-cided to take eight of the 13 seats on ! the foreign relations committee, the Republicans cried "foul" and uttered their protests. SENATOR VANDENBERG, who will be replaced as committee chairman chair-man by Senator Connally (D., Te.) called it a "political decision." Senator Morse (D., Ore.) was less restrained. He charged that the implications im-plications are that the Democratic party proposes to play politics with war and peace." Democrats denied any partisanship, partisan-ship, claimed they were entitled to more seats because they have a bigger majority than the Republicans Repub-licans had. Vice-President Barkley regretted the "controversy." He told reporters report-ers that the bigger Democratic majority ma-jority will in no way affect the bipartisan bi-partisan course of the committee. CHINA REDS: . . .mi umy t i ii. mi. Jr.......v.L, j.m.M.w. .vmw,,'.w "w.wwm"J'W f : ." f ,:. "... : fch -iTitr frill li itiA'iMj.l -ly-;. . A-li i. . .. J. v. Ak-.-.-Afi a- fMU,. j av. ( liio jXmjr.:( :v. - rtT. t" f -1 il ill 1Mb t CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS PARLEY These are the men who will chart and develop legislation to implement the Democratic party's platform pledges. Shown in a prc-congress opening conference are, left to right, President Truman; Rep. John V. McCormack (D., Mass.) house majority leader; Sen. Scott W. Lucas (D., 111.), senate majority leader and Speaker Sam Rayburn (D., Texas.) No Comment "The winners tell the funny jokes the losers holler 'deal!' " But the apparent winners in China's civil war weren't saying a word, and the nationalist government's govern-ment's peace offensive appeared stalled against a wall of Communist silence. From the government side ;arne a rising tide of clamor for a truce and a negotiated settlement. The Communists, Com-munists, who have been winning, continued to say nothing. Nanking reported growing anxiety anx-iety among Chinese who hod predicted pre-dicted quick Communist response to Chiang Kai-shek's New Year offer to mediate. It was predicted that the Red answer, if and when it came, would be a demand for ihe government armies to lay down their arms. In Peiping, a group of delegates to the national assembly ent tns Communist leader a message urging urg-ing an immediate cease fire order because, they said, "the people cannot can-not endure any further suffering " Meanwhile, American position, as indicated by two statements, seemed uncertain, or divided. Vice-Admiral Oscar C. Badger, commander of U. S. naval forces in the western Pacific, denied rumors of a withdrawal with-drawal of "American forces from China." He declared the rumor was based on reports the marines had terminated their lease on Shantung university campus where they maintain main-tain their barracks." "Wishbone" Magic CONGRESS: Big Order In calm, unhurried manner, President Truman outlined to the Blst congress his legislative proposals. pro-posals. To the surprise of no one he asked legislators to enact virtually vir-tually every recommendation he made during his election campaign. He called for more taxes, authority to restore economic controls, a broad program of social legislation. ALONG WITH corporations, individuals indi-viduals in the middle and higher-income higher-income brackets would share in the task of providing the four billion dollars more annual revenue which Mr. Truman says the government must have. These are the major recommendations recommen-dations made by the President in his "state of the union" message: INFLATION Widen government control over bank and consumer credit, exports and transportation allocations; extend and strengthen rent control. Grant authority to regulate reg-ulate commodity speculation, allocate allo-cate scarce key materials, control certain wages and prices, if necessary. neces-sary. TAXES Raise four billion dollars additional revenue for the government, govern-ment, mainly by taxing corporations, corpora-tions, but also by boosting estate and gift taxes; consider increasing income taxes for the middle and upper pay brackets. LABOR Repeal the Taft-Hartley law and re-enact old Wagner act-but act-but with bans against jurisdictional strikes and secondary boycotts and some provision for avoiding strikes in general industry. Boost minimum wage from 40 to 75 cents an hour. BUSINESS Strengthen antitrust anti-trust laws by closing loopholes that permit monopolistic mergers and consolidations. FARM Use price supports to keep farmers at a fair economic level. OTHERS Extend social security; set up system of pre-paid medical insurance. Aid state educational systems. Pass same civil rights proposals pro-posals made to 80th congress. Push power, flood control and navigation projects on the rivers. Maintain armed forces "sufficient to deter aggression." Pass universal training train-ing legislation. MERCY KILLING: Has Advocates Euthanasia, a euphemism for New Star Dorothy Malone, in typical Hollywood garb that Is fir picture releases such as this was the first film player to be accorded ac-corded stardom In 1949. Warner Brothers, her bosses, elevated her to filmland's top pinnacle for her performance in the film "One Sunday Afternoon." sored by the Euthanasia Society of America, declareS that the "ending of the physical existence of an individual in-dividual at his request, when afflicted afflic-ted with an incurable disease which causes extreme suffering is under proper safeguards not only medically medical-ly indicated but also in accord with the most civilized and humane ethics and the highest concepts and practices of religion." The safeguards: The sufferer must submit a petition, duly attested at-tested by himself and his physician, asking for euthanasia. This must be presented to a court of records which will appoint an investigative committee of physicians. If this committee agrees, the court may permit euthanasia. CASTE SYSTEM: Officers Adamant The superiority which many army officers feel and affect over the G. I. came graphically to light in Berlin. Ber-lin. There, in the biggest American club in the citv. U. S. enlisted men i "mercy killing", gained important support in New York state where hundreds of Protestant and Jewish religious leaders petitioned for legislation legalizing the practice. THE QUESTION has agitated humanitarians hu-manitarians and sociologists for centuries and there are many ctses on record where mercy killings have been committed. Despite legal barriers and penalties, the record in such cases, for the most part, shows that juries are inclined to look with some leniency on the person per-son who kills another to put him or her "out of his misery." On an appeal to the emotions alone, much convincing argument for euthanasia may be presented. But, considered from all other angles with individual rights, possibility possi-bility of crLninal intent and other such factor! involved, the practice could become higlily dangerous. The New York group advocating the measure included 379 Protestant and Jewish ministers of the Empire state, the largest group ever publicly pub-licly to advocate euthanasia. The practice is now punishable as murder mur-der in all the 48 states. The petition was sent to every member of the New York legislature. THE MINISTERS' petition, spon- were barred but German frauleins were admitted. G. I.'s and civilians got hot as the proverbial two-dollar pistol, fin-listed fin-listed men won a temporary victory when the board of governors of the club suspended the month-old ban pending a special meeting to thresh out the matter. One lieutenant-colonel epitomized the officer viewpoint. Ninety per cent of enlisted men were all right, he conceded, but it was the other 10 per cent which caused the ban. "THERE ARE 10 per cent of the enlisted men," he said, "who do not know how to behave." Then he added the clincher: "We don't want these enlisted barbarians with officers offi-cers and ladies." Evidently possessed pos-sessed of the power of his convictions, convic-tions, he asserted he would resign from the club if enlisted guests were permitted. Significant was the reaction of the German civilians. In effect, they asked if such tactics had any place in the teaching of democracy. As one employe put it: "Ihe ban simply means that everybody in Berlin can come into the club except ex-cept an American enlisted man. That is not our idea of being American." Puzzling over the amazing power of a chicken wishbone that's going to make someone's fondest wish come true are movie stars Dan Dailey and Celeste Cel-este Holm. The trio call attention atten-tion to the nationwide "Wishbone "Wish-bone Contest" being sponsored hy by the Poultry and Egg National Board. WISHBONE: Send It In Perhaps you've never thought about it, but there must be a particular par-ticular reason you like chicjien every Sunday. Now, if you'll only think about that reason, tell it to a judge, and it happens to be declared the best submitted, you will find your fondest wish coming true. THERE IS a big "Wishbone Contest" Con-test" going on in these United States and the national prize is the granting of the winning contestant's own "most-desired" wish. The contest con-test is sponsored by the Poultry and Egg National Board of Chicago, and the only requirement is that a chicken wishbone a real one must accompany each entry. Anyone in the United States is eligible for the contest. Contestants must write, In fewer than 100 words, their reasons "Why I like chicken every Sunday." Tliey can send entries in the form of an essay, limerick or slogan but each entry must be accompanied by a real chicken wishbone and the contestant's con-testant's "most desired" wish. THREE REGIONAL winners will receive a trip to Hollywood to witness wit-ness the final judging, which will take place at a gala ch.'cken di'iner celebration. During the Hollywood stay, tne regional winners will be honored at the "wishbone premiere" of "Chicken Every Sunday." |
