THE NOME NUGGET
Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday by The
NOME PUBLISHING CO.
Nome, Alaska
Telephone: Main 125 P. O. Box 618
W. A. and EMILY BOUCHER .Editors
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Entered as second class matter October 14, 1943, at the postoffice
at Nome, Alaska, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Friday, May 14, 1948.
"I AM AN AMERICAN DAY" - 1948
'FHE PRESIDENT of the United States has desig
nated Sunday, May 16, 1948, as ‘T AM AN AM
ERICAN DAY."
Each year, great numbers of the younger genera
tion come into their rightful citizenship. The ac
quire certain inalienable rights along with, at the
same time, certain duties and responsibilities.
Newspapers throughout the United States and
its possessions are proclaiming, "I Am An American
Day" to the world, to show that we are proud of
our heritage. Those who have come to America from
other lands also are proud to be Americans.
American people decided that it was of such im
portance, it should be recognized by a distinct dem
onstration of national appreciation.
The Day should be one of rededication and con
secration to the ideals of our great nation, those
set forth by our truly great forefathers, in the begin
ning, trying days, of building a new nation of free
peoples, regardless of birthplace.
Today, to each of our new citizens thus installed,
either by birth or naturalization, in the confidence
and esteem of the country's people, the event is of
great personal significance, and it is properly at
tended by a demonstration of national appreciation.
In the quite recent past ,the American people de
cided to give special recognition to the importance
in the event and made it a special occasion. Accord
ing, Congress, as determined by the people, desig
nated the third Sunddy in May of each year as the
annual date on which all Americans could observe
"I AM AN AMERICAN DAY."
This open proclamation and celebration of "I Am
An American" and its sacred observance gives the
youth of the country an example to follow and to
build their confidence and faith in their ability to
become good citizens and to be worthy of our great
land of the free.
This observance of "I Am An American." Day, is
not only an observance for the youth which is be
coming of legal responsibility, but for all Americans
who claim their rightful heritage, the brotherhood
of man.
Our forefathers consecrated themselves to this
objective, as can be clearly seen in their efforts to
place the doctrine of freedom to all in their gov
ernmental masterpiece, the 'Constitution of the Un
ited States.'
The American way of life is equalled nowhere
else in the world. It took the efforts of men with high
ideals and desire for the better way and the will to
attain it. Now it is up to Americans to preserve it.
It seems to us as the only hope and promise in the
world today for any kind of brotherhood on earth
lor all men.
WALLACE SAYS U.S. WILL
NOT WIN THIRD WAR
HENRY A. WALLACE, who does not see eye to
eye with the foreign policy of the United States,
Sredicts that in the event of another war, the United
tates will not have strong allies and, therefore,
"will never win a third world-war."
Mr. Wallace insists that "the reactionary gov
ADVICE FROM MR.WtEEDV i
tomsr,
JDUN9
ernments we are supporting abroad will crumble
with internal revolutions if a great war breaks out
between the United States and Russia." Conse
quently, the former vice president has the idea that
this country will stand alone abainst its enemies in
; the event of another conflict.
1 We do not believe that the United States can
beat the world, but we see no reason to come to
the conclusion of Mr. Wallace. Naturally, if some
future aggressor, or group of aggressor nations,
make an attack upon the United States there will
be no rush of other nations to get into the conflict.
It will be our battle and, for the main part, ours
alone.
A little reflection on the role that the United
States played in the first two world wars will dem
onstrate that the United States did not seek em
broilment into either battle. The plain course of
the United States was to remain at peace, if pos
sible, although in the Second World War there
was an increased appreciation of the menace to
all freedoms and apprehension lest this country
have to take up arms to prevent axis success.
When the third war begins, if it does, the proba
bility is that those with evil design will conclude
that successful strategy requires an initial attack
upon this country. This will be easier to plan than
execute. If the attack is delivered in this country,
the United States ought to be able to give a good
account of itself. If the attack is delivered at some
far-flung place, away from the confined of this
country, there may be some doubt as to our victory,
the doubt increasing in proportion to the proximity
of the fight to the enemy group.
THE SOLID SOUTH
The solid South—strange though the notion may
be to some northerners—has its divisions of opinion
just like any other sector of the globe.
Take a single example. Governor Jester of Texas,
along with other southern governors, has voiced
his uncompromising hostility to President Truman's
civil rights program. Yet delegates to the Texas
Council of Church Women, representing 800,000
members voted unanimously to support that pro
gram—and among the delegates was Governor
Jester's mother.
Differences within the national, regional, or lo
cal "family" do not spell weakness under a system
that thrives on a free interplay of vital forces. Am
ericans of all sections are likely to agree that the
South has never been more "solid," in the best sense
of the word, than when demonstrating the independ
ence, flexibility, and variety of its thinking on issues
that touch its deepest Interests.
LOOKING
r GEORGES BENSON
; Pml4t*t—H*f4i*t CHltft
L S(*rcf. ArktMtat
WHY SAVE MONEY?
In 1776 a Scotchman named
Matthew Boulton risked $200,000
of his savings to help James
Watt* develop a new device known
as a steam engine. In 1948, the
estimated capital expenditures of
the nation’s chief railroads the
railroads grew because of Watt’s
invention, though now steam is
not the only motive power) ap
proaches one billion dollars! Our
Class I railroads expect to spend
$319,958,000 during this quarter
of 1948.
How our nation finances its
industry is an interesting story.
The American way of doing this
explains the high standard of
living we enjoy today. Not all
nations do it as we do. In some
countries everything is owned by
the government. The government
does everything. Of course, the
people foot the bill, but in these
totalitarian countries the rewards
never come. In America everyone
has the opportunity of investing
and sharing in the progress of
, industry.
You May Share
Critics of ‘capitalism,” who say
that government is the only agen
cy big enough to do things that
have to be done in a progressive
economy, really miss some im
portant points. They just don’t
know their American system. Did
you know that over fifty million
Americans pool their savings to
provide the tools for workers?
Perhaps you are one of them.
These men and women have saved
up something for a “rainy day”
and, meantime, have invested it.
Perhaps you have a share in
industry you did not know about.
If you have life insurance, it is
quite likely that your insurance
company invests the premiums
you pay to provide tools for in
dustry. Savings banks likewise
invest deposits. In this way “cap
ital” funds that our' people own
and invest actually turn the
wheels of industry.
Unfettered Growth
Then too, industry itself saves
and reinvests. Every live comp
any or business will find it ad
visable to take a portion of its
income and “plow it back under”
right in the business. Of money
that every industry pays out for
“tools,” only a comparatively
small amount goes to the thrifty
people who really own the tools.
Most of it goes to buy the actual
tools. Industry has constant need
for new investments for expan
sion and new facilities.
The growth of industry has
been tremendous within our own
generation. The American way
of private initiative and invest
ment has made it grow by leaps
and bounds. Unhampered, the Am
erican people have seen fit to put
capital into our industry, to pro
vide it with the life-blood it
constantly needs. That the gov
ernment ought to take over this
function, is not argued by his
tory. Russia is a country where
government has taken over.
Keep Security
I say, let the people do it.
They can provide the savings
to make our industry grow and
grow. That way there’s no ceil
ing on progress. No limit to the
standard of living. Let us re
place old models, invent new ma
chines, develop new methods. Our
population is growing, and our
needs will be tremendous in the