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Show Scenes and Persons in tlie Current News I 1 v I ll J 4' t VZi'r ! Vf .Strrrrrn, SIIIL'IL'iIIi Dr. Francis E. WASHINGTON. Townsend's fanciful dream for payment of pensions Townsend of $200 per month Plan Flops for everyone over sixty years of nee seems to have gone up In smoke, hut there are developments in connection with the California doctor's unworkable scheme that merit comd ment. Tlie good doctor and his idea have been skidding rapidly since the house investigating committee showed up the plan as a befuddled idea and as I once predicted, the bubble burst in a big way. While I am inclined to believe that Doctor Townsend was honest and sincere in proposing the $200 per month pention, it was the sort of thing that serves as an inducement for racketeers to gather. It was the old molasses barrel for the flies in the world of racketeers. It never had a chance to go anywhere and never will, because it was fundamentally unsound. We chd dismiss it then except for the two phases which ought to be vigorouspeoly condemned by ple everywhere. The two circumstances which I hear discussed most frequently are: The tragedy, the heartaches, that obviously follow In the wake of "movements" such as the Townsend plan that cannot succeed and that draw to themselves thousands, If not hundreds of thousands, of persons who believe they are going to benefit; and secondly, it seems to me that the house committee, headed by Representative Bell, of Missouri, overplayed its hand with the result that it has brought upon house committees the same public disgust and distrust as characterizes 90 per cent of the senate if"' r The GRAPHIC BIBLE By LEWIS BROWNE J McClurr Newspaper Syndicate - OfR 5 bers were afraid, they were too cowardly, to take a definite stand In their home districts against the Townsendites. True they did not know how strong the Townsend movement was. So, as politicians always do, they dodged the issue and moved to expose It through tlie medium of a house investigation rather than fight individually to show how ridiculous, how unsound, the plan was. Having set up the picture showing an utterly Impossible program on the part of Doctor Townsend and his associates and followers, the house politicians were confronted suddenly by Doctor Townsend's arrogance In his refusal to testify. That presented a sudden change In the scenery. To explain the dangers In this new problem, It Is only necessary to say that If the house had acted promptly by voting that Doctor Townsend was In contempt and must spend some time In Jail, I expect the result would have been martyrdom for Doctor Townsend. The house, therefore, has turned over the affair to the courts and the courts, being slow moving as they always are, will not get around to prosecution of the case until It Is too late to have any Influence on the election. So we can see readily that Doctor Townsend Is left out In the cold. He can neither use the Influence that is characteristic of martyrdom nor can he say that his skirts are clear. The house has left him hanging conveniently In mid-ai- r and it was done solely for political reasons. There may be some more hearings on the Townsend plan during the summer but the chances are that Representative Bell will not call the committee together again for some months. Practically, the case Is losed. It has undoubtedly Each of these conditions Is to be stopped to a large measure the drain deplored. Each is definitely destructhat the Townsend organization was tive. There can be no more excuse making on the unthinking, the aged for some of the methods employed and the destitute whose quarters, by the house committee in crucifydimes and nickels have financed ing Doctor Townsend than for Doc- the thing thus far. While the comtor Townsend himself to wreck mittee did a good Job by exposing hearts and hopes and homes by the character of the scheme, I still pushing forward such a miserably am doubtful that it has brought to impossible proposition as his $200 Itself or to the house of represenper month pension program. tatives any fresh confidence in onr The house committee had within governmental structure. its power opportunity to do a magnificent Job In exposing the rackThe national capital, along with eteering that became part and parcel of the Townsend plan. It had many other sections of the country, has been listening within its hands the capacity to to the purring of educate millions within the United hordes of loLocusts States against following such an ilcusts. I use the Towna as the lusion, such mirage, send plan. If it had confined Itself word locusts In quotation marks to that work, Representative Bell because they are not really locusts. and his committee should receive They are cicadas but to the most the plaudits of the nation. But the of us they are and will remain the seventeen-yea- r locusts. sad story Is that the committee unIt Is said that the first colonists der Mr. Bells guidance allowed itself to become an agency of prose- In America, never before having cution, even persecution, rather met with the Insects and believing ban an unbiased Investigating unit, that everything of Gods creation determined only to obtain the truth. was accounted for tn the Bible, concluded they were locusts and the name has stuck. In any event, Since there never was any question that the Townsend nostrum they appear In greatest numbers at Intervals and 1956 would fall of its seventeen-yea- r Committee own weight even-Err- s seems to be a banner year. Back in 1919, trees in manv sectually, it is difii-cu- lt to understand tions of the country were pierced saw-lik- e Instruments which why the committee resorted to the by tiny of Agriculture says the Department tactics It used. I watched some of those hearings. As the committee are part of the equipment of the Billions of eggs delved deeper into the activities of female cicadas. Doctor Townsend and his associ- were deposited under the soft hark. ates, it became infuriated. That was A month or two later, grubs on the branches and where it made Its big mistake and emerged it is going to be quite a long time dropped unnoticed to the earth. Through the last several weeks before house committees again can these great beetle-likbugs with have a reputation throughout the like wings Isinglass have been humcountry of conducting unbiased and ming and thrumming and leaving reasonable Investigations. their empty shells attached to trees Doctor Townsend was sufficiently "hard boiled" to Justify the commit- and grasses. During that period, the males tee In making a vigorous Investigahave spent their daylight hours tion. He was sufficiently indifferent singing. The Department of Agrito their offers or hints of to warrant a feeling on the culture is not quite sure why this on because it has committees part that they had to singing has gone ascertained that all of the lady ci"bear down. let it must be said cadas are quite deaf. the committee went beyond all reaI have devoted too much rerhaps son and I imagine that In the end to the story of the seventeen-yea- r It will flare back on the Individuals. space locust. Perhaps the seventeen-yea- r Now, Doctor Townsend surely locust is not Important at all cannot blame anyone other than to the robins and the starhimself for the fact that he Is faced exceptand the and the othlings with proceedings by the United er birds whichsparrows had a feast In have States attorney. It will be remem- lOiK5 that nlmost no other bird now bered, of course, that Doctor Townhas known. But I have a send deliberately walked out of the living about these seventeen-yea- r thought committee and refused to testify. In fact. locusts, a train of That has always been held as con- They lead to this: thoughts, tempt and congress has the right What will conditions be In 1953, to punish for contempt, Iu this inor seventeen years hence when house of stance, the represeatatives those lnimans on earth will hear elected to (urn Doctor Townsends the mating song of the loagain case over to the United States atcusts? torney for punishment In court rathWill the policies and the priner than to employ a house vote Initiated by Franklin D. ciples which might send the elderly Roosevelt and called "the New to dreamer Jail, Deal be firmly Imbedded as AmerFurther, the whole Townsend In- ican traditions or will they be cast vestigation has turned out to be out as Impractical and forgotten? something of a mess like the TownWill the changes In civilization be send plan Itself. such that people will he willing to submit to regimentation, to have Thus, there is every evidence of their government tell them what to a second type of politics In this do and how to do It, or will this The be a nation of Individuals Second Type evidence of pull-o- f nation who Insist upon the rights und the Politics tics lay In the fact privileges which tlie founders of that the house our country believed to be Just and voted the Inquiry largely because right? many of the Individual house mem Western Newspaper Union. V half-bake- t Jx j -- A Ah A i, Here Comes Hazael o! Damascus right-thinkin- g h disturbances. 2 Police clearing a street In Jaffa, Palestine, of riotous Arabs during the Presidential palace at Managua, Nicaragua, In which President Sacasa was besieged by revolting troops of the national guard. 3 Scott M. Loftin, former president of American Bar association, appointed United States senator from Florida to fill out the unexpired term of the late Park Trammell. 1 antl-Jewis- Dog, Cat and Rat Are Close Friend: At A A'v, A "Vi A J A 1936 IIONOR MAN VA v As j I sr OUR story has become dreadfully Involved. it would be better for the reader not even to try to puzzle out the comings and goings of the many kings of Israel and Judah. Perhaps it would be enough merely to remember that for generations there was almost incessant strife in the divided land and, as a consequence, repeated foreign Invasions. The Egyptians were the first to launch an attack, and then came the Arameans, or Syrians, as they were sometimes called. This second enemy proved far more destructive, especially after 845 B. C., when an upstart named Hazael became their king. Thenceforth neither Israel nor Judah had any peace. Hazael defeated the Hebrews in battle after battle, and finally reduced both their kingdoms to vassalage. He annexed Bashan and Gilead Indeed all of Israels territory east of the Jordan. Then he trampled across western Palestine, plundered and ravaged as far south as Gath in Phiiistia, and ravaged at will over the kingdom of Judah. When Ila-zafinally returned to Damascus, he left Palestine prostrate. Israel was so reduced In size as to be no larger than Judah, and Judah was laid under heavy tribute. But with the death of Hazael the whole situation changed. Damascus itself was suddenly plunged into a death struggle with Its neighbors on the north and east, leaving the Hebrews a chance to regain their freedom. But then almost Immediately Judah and Israel again fell to warring against each other. Israel emerged the victor. An army of northerners invaded Judah, looted the palace and Temple, and carried off hostages to Insure future good conduct. And thenceforth Judah remained a vassal of Israel until Israel was destroyed. There followed a generation of prosperity and expansion for the The downfall of DaHebrews. mascus gave Israel a chance to reconquer all the north country as far as the river Euphrates, and gave Judah a chance to retake Edom down to the Red sea. So now the Hebrews were masters again of almost all of the territory that David had conquered. They were Btlll divided Into two kingdoms, but one dominated the other. Judah, the southern kingdom, still had Its ruler, a young man named Uzziah; but he was counted a vassal of Jeroboam II of Israel. Uzziah was a person of considerable ability and be devoted himself to the task of strengthening his own kingdom. lie fortified Elatli. the port on the Red Sea, and colonized the coast region which until now had belonged to the Philistines. New resources were developed and for the first time In generations there was a measure of prosperity In Judah. el Midshipman 17-Ye- ar Frederick August Weinel of Columbia, is the honor 111., man of the United States Naval Strange indeed Is the friendship Detween Monty the dog, Damon the academy at Annapolis this year, cat, and Pythias the white rat, recent visitors at the California Pacific having the highest marks in the International exposition in San Diego, with their master, Beverly B. graduating class. The state of Illinois is proud of Frederick. Dobbs. They have visited many parts of the world together. Destructive Storm Hits Detroit NEW MODERATOR v;' -V .''lyyn VAfi K v f fed i. Vf"! f ' vg-' t V'Va V e A A V fj. ? ' i . Rev, Dr. Henry Buck Master of Philadelphia, general secretary of the Presbyterian board of pensions, who was elected moderator of the general assembly of tlie Presbyterian church in the United States. ,;J A iTAfc...tt,r ........... - w 'WS ...vow.x tp "ft Two lives were lost and much property damaged by a wind storm which swept the city of Detroit. Tlie photograph shows a large barn wrecked by the sixty-milgale. e Oxen Come Into Their Own on Kentucky Project "V The Great Prophets Appear VNLY T- 0XCi ftStMi. I ' f' - if Ky 8733-- R v i A I ' r' r i t - : . y Tzr,' -- f h 2 '-- 15' - x , ( (v- . - ... .. A . . I ' In (he construction of a new high adiool by tlie Tublic Works admlnisrntlon at Whitley City, was found convenient to revert to old methods anl make use of oxen ns Cruft animals. Ky., It outwardly was all well with Israel. Beneath the surface of prosperity and peace there was deep misery and hatred. As was almost inevitable, the wealth of Israel had gone Into the coffers of a few nobles, and the rest of the population was reduced to serfdom. These aristocrats no longer dwelt on the soil but In the capital or the other large cities, where they could live In luxury and show their wealth. The rest of the inhabitants were sad and sodden, crushed by the corrupt ruling class. And the tragedy of It was that this unjust state of affairs was as right and godly. The rich were quite certain they were also virtuous. They imagined that so long ns they attended all the festivals and brought rich offerings of sheep and other animals to the temples at Bethel and Dan, so long they were doing all that the U required of them. The fine pliclty of their ancient desert liglon was no more. The Cans ites and Phoenicians had had tl influence, and the Hebrew festi? had become little more than to en debauches. But then there came the gr prophets, men of godly spirit dared to raise their voice in test against the prevailing nick ness. In the beginning the proph were more magicians than anyth else. They consulted oracles the people, and told fortunes.; later they changed In character, became preachers rather soothsayers. They were a courageous lot, th prophets. They were not afi even of kings. When David drunk with power and stole mans wife, It was a prophet nan Nathan w'ho dared go to the and tell him to his face he an accused criminal. It was prophet, Ahljah, who stirred the one attempt at revolution wl Solomon was on the throne. Eh as we have already seen, it prophet, Elijah, who alone kej wicked Jezebel from ruinii, husbands race. Unhappily, however, we ha ord of exceedingly few sci preached by prophets befor middle of the Eighth century Not until the coming of that at character named Amos do tl literary prophets make thi! pearance. It Is significant though Amos preached In Ism came from a village. His soul was revolted a wickedness of the rich IsrtSit So one autumn, during the flti Bethel-w- as time, he went over to fre only about twenty miles dmj his home In Tekoa and beg speak Gods word In the temp leu t there. Bitterly he denounce? 3ebe drunken throng, and lottd !jd cry that despite the present pri be ten perity there would soon theG: In all Israel. For Jehovah, of Justce, would no longer the waywardness of the peop' awUr-- j j, ,ea vs demanded righteousness t gave him only burnt offorinc?; Jus!hM! wanted them to practice fp Indulged In wtl. Instead they Israel fw Therefore, tlvities. doomed. Thus did Amos, a simple p ant from Judah, dare to the drunken lords and huhf their temple at Bethel. would not hearken, and But ; tw some P h,fh fulfilled. Aw through the utterly destrowa. later the. doom was prophesied came ravishing and Israel was oc'Brr But before that calamity In another prophet appeared : Ilosea was his name, am the dared to protest against is In the land. According to aw home was In Gilenn, he. haps that was why northern the of subject 'e was capable of perceiving edness of its ways. Gilead ', ldlly region east of the Jor1f' L, shared to a degree the Pr f ness of Judah. a f Uoaea seems to have been tie and cultured man, and ink was JAM then of his preaching drastic and unforgiving could s of Amos. He, too, dim certainty of Israels cour evil Its In persisted powith It be could see the " of repentance and forgiven prophet this Jehovah to .... i. only a God of Justice tni-h- God of Mercy. Despite aHB i In Israel that the mighty Jehovah would the:a mltted, He would forg ' them. t, dared Hosca, and save would If only the people D'1"' But the mighty In continued repent. They the poor, to exploit the P to conduct themselves ' v-In the shrines of their so the doom foreseen Amos and Hosen. the land and Israel ? ' htrn Co lull! Hi ain tl f i 4 |