THE NOME NUGGET
Ihiblished Monday, Wednesday and Friday by The
NOME PUBLISHING CO.
Nome, Alaska
Telephone: Main 125 P. O. Box 618
$1.50 PER MONTH $16.00 A YEAR
W. A. and EMILY BOUCHER.Editors
Entered as second class matter October 14, 1943, at the postoffice
at Nome, Alaska, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Friday, November 1, 1946
Lewis’ Motive
(Cincinnati Enquirer)
In his own inimitable manner, John L. Lewis inter
ceded in the maritime strike which has tied up Ameri
can shipping and paralyzed rail traffic around ocean
ports. He addressed a telegram of commendation to the
head of the striking union, stating “of course you will
win” over “that economic boar’s nest that calls itself a
wage stabilization board.” A postscript to the wire said:
“If you need money, advise.”
It is characteristic of Lewis that he gives no heed to
the public interest. He rejoices in a strike which makes
upward of 500,000 men idle, ties up 3,000 ships and
freezes 5,000 railway cars needed desperately for the
movement of grain and other vital traffic elsewhere in
the nation. Yet, as always, he is grinding a personal gx.
Lewis welcomes the defiance of the government’s ef
fort to adhere to a wage ceiling. He welcomes it in a
spirit of vengeance because in the past the wage stabil
ization plan has restrained him somewhat in his ever
increasing demands for more money for the United
Mine Workers. But, more practically, he welcomes the
development because he knows if the wage stabilization
program is upset, powerful unions can make the sky the
limit in their wage demands—and he knows that the
United Mine Workers under his absolute domination,
could enforce almost any wage increase demand.
So, let no one suppose that John L. Lewis indulged
himself in an idle gesture of generosity toward the
striking seafarers. Lewis saw an opportunity to invest
-a little money toward purchase of the privilege of goug
ing the nation’s coal users to his heart’s content.
I
i
Self-Perpetuating Veto
(The Denver Post)
Russian agreement has cleared the way for the.
United Nations assembly to discuss the veto rights of
the Big Five in the security council, but it holds no
promise that there will be any radical change in this
power.
If it should actually come to a vote, the United States:
probably would oppose abolishment of the veto as stren
uously as Russia, and for much the same reason. Like
Russia, the United States remains suspicious of any pro
cedure which would permit other powers to “gang up”
against it.
To amend the veto provision of the United Nations
charter would require a two-thirds vote of the general
assembly, followed by ratification by two-thirds of the
member nations, including the five permanent mem
bers of the security council. In other words, the veto
could perpetuate itself.
Complaints concerning misuse of the veto, principal
»y from the smaller nations, are not without justifica
tion, and they deserve thorough consideration. In in
sisting on such a hearing, the United States and Great
Britain have again upheld the cause of world democ
racy.
Short of abolishing the veto power, there is much
that may be done. Australia’s suggestion for a review
of the use of the veto on past occasions could lead to a
healthy clarification.
Russia opposed such a review, fearing it would sub
ject her to the criticism of the world because she has
been the chief abuser of the veto. She fears moral pres
sure as much as force.
i Cutting Two Directions—
i The G. O. P. Formula
1 (The Denver Post)
Interim reports of the House Republican post-war
tax study committee are an index to the fiscal plans of
G. O. P. Congressional leaders, if they win control of the
House in the Nov. 5 election. Within a 32-billion-dollar
budget they propose a substantial reduction in both the
national debt and federal taxes. The current Democrati'
budget calls for expenditure of approximately 39 an I
one-fourth billion dollars.
“The last interim report by the committee, Chairman
Reed of New York says, “pointed out that federal e
penditures should be reduced to around 32-33 billion
dollars. As the report emphasized and because federp
receipts are expected to exceed 40 billion dollars, this
will permit a large enough surplus to apply 5 billions
on the national debt, reduce personal income taxes 20
per cent, and make downward adjustments in federal
excise taxes. The committee noted such a program
should be compared with Canada’s decision to reduce
taxes 23 per cent in 1947.’’
The Republican postwar tax study committee is com
posed of twenty-seven members. It was organized mo e
than two years ago in anticipation of the G. O. P. ’win
ning control of the House and thereby acquiring re
sponsibility for writing a comprehensive postwar tax
program.
The committee’s recommendations and findings are
not necessarily binding upon the rank and file of the
Republican membership of the House. But they will
constitute a blueprint for the tax-writing committees,
if Republicans win a majority of the House seats.
Clearly, debt-reduction is more important now than
even tax reduction. With the national debt around 263
billions, the job of whittling it down cannot be under
taken too soon. That is essential not only to reduce the
tax load for paying interest but to provide a safe bor
rowing margin when another emergency arises that'
makes more borrowing necessary. Even at 5 billions a
year, it would take more than fifty years to retire the
debt now outstanding.
If debt and taxes can be reduced simultantously, that
will delight taxpayers. But skepticism will exist until
that actually is done. Such a slash in the federal budget
as the Republican committee proposes does seem feasi
ble. And while no informed person sees any prospect of i
getting federal spending down to prewar levels in the,
near future, it has not been forgotten that at the begin-'
ning of the present Democratic era, back in 1933, the
government was getting along on a budget of less than
5 billions.
It is a Republican boast that after World War I, when
they got into power, they cut the national debt 1 billion
dollars a year for nearly a decade and reduced taxes at;
the same time. The debt then was only about a tenth of
what it is now, but taxes and national income and the
federal budget also were only a fraction of what they
are now.
By GEORGE S BENSON
President of Harding College
Searcy. Arkansas
II
A
A HERITAGE
Phrase-makers who refer to
Dixie as the Bible Belt have
missed an important point. With
out ignoring anything, I should
like to appraise the whole of
America as a Bible Land. This is
done humbly, for Americans have
sometimes failed to follow the
light of truth when that light
burned brightly before them.
Despite efforts of some modern
historians to interpret the facts
differently, our forebears devel
oped this nation with religious
principles in mind. They read
their Bibles. Regardless of how
many Americans have forsaken
these fundamentals, it remains a
nation that has been blessed boun
tifully by God. Heathenism has
been synonomous throughout his
tory for supersitition, ignorance,
and poverty. The nations today
whose citizens recognize God are
the very nations which are most
sincerely seeking peace.
Our Best Seller
Where in the re>alm of recorded
human experience can you find a
land so blessed with liberty and
opportunity, as in America? And
where in history has there been a
land so prosperous, where mate
rial blessings fit only for kings of
I the past may be enjoyed by each
man and his neighbor? In 1939
our national income was n<
merely the highest in the work
1 it equaled the total incomes of th
next six highest nations on eart]
Let it be remembered that Amei
ica’s best-seller is still the Bibl
a phenomenon which is cause an
not effect.
National Bible Week was ceh
brated this year from October 2
to 27. Where else among the nc
tions can you find a land so dedi
eating itself? In calling Amerip
a land of Bibles, I affirm that tm
religious people of this nation con
stitute its greatest asset. Ther
now would be no hope for wort
peace, there would be no prosper
of good citizenship at home, wer
this not so.
Practical Application
For example, the Bible offer
us the perfect formula to put ai
end to industrial strife. In fact,
could never expect fair play in in
dustrial relations to come abou
in a land where the Golden Rul
is unknown. We must not forge
it, here in America. Shall labo
forget this rule of action and be
come a pressure group so deter
mined to apply pressure upon in
dustry that investment capita
will be driven out and become un
available to buy and replace tools
That is exactly the way to cu
production and achieve lower an
lower wages.
Industry aims at profits: i
wants dividends for stockholder
and capital for expansion. Shoul
industry withhold fair wages an
seek specialized legislation?. Nc
that is the road to bankruptcy. In
dustry’s first objective should nc
be its own welfare, but the we!
fare of labor and of agriculture.
Back To Fundamentals
Agriculture wants high price
for all it can produce. How sha
it obtain these high prices
Through selfish, class legislation
No, that’s the road to failure. A?
riculture wants a prosperous max
ket, with many people eating an
living well. This it cannot attai
by selfishly looking to itself. 1
must be more interested in th
welfare of other groups.
Wherever we have strayed fror
God, and from His laws and Hi
formulas, that is exactly the poir
where we must return. Harmon:
prosperity, and peace will surel
follow. If we loved one another £
we love ourselves, we should hav
no fear about what use might b
made of atomic bombs. Neithe
science, nor so-called “civiliz£
tion,” nor any of the humar
“isms,” offers a sure cure for th
world’s ills. A return to God an
the principles found in the Bib!
is our only hope that we shall n<
literally destroy ourselves.
NOME DRUG MOVES
TO NEW LOCATION
The Nome Drug Store moved 1
a temporary new location toda
on the Eagle lot which was occi
pied by the Red Cross club durir
the war.
"20-40" CLUB ENJOY
HALLOWE'EN PARTY
Last evening a group of your
people who are temporarily cal
ing themselves the "20-40” Clt
held a Hallowe’en dance at the#£
Joseph’s Hall. To the peppy mus
of Bobby Whitten and Fred Hy<
the group danced until midnig
and stopped reluctantly to partal
of box lunches prepared by tl
ladies. George Beecom, chairms
of the group, assisted by Frar
Jones who called the Paul Jon
dances, kept everyone on the
toes. Clyde Kammerer handl
the auctioneering of lunches li!
a professional. Another party
scheduled next month.