davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
NRECA Under Fire
BY PETER EDISON

Presidential administrative Assistant Jona-
than Daniels now having told the Senate Com
mittee on Agriculture how he was assigned to
try to bring order out of the Rural Electro
fcaton Administration affairs interest in this
case can again center on what is apparently
the real issue of the nvestgation-the organi.
cation and activities of the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association.
NRECA is non-governmental outfit, found
ed in March 1912 under pretty broad charter
of incorporation, but now functioning prin-
cipally as a service organization to look after
the interests of the 566 out of 800 rural power
co-ops which get their electricity from REA
financed systems. NRECA is, in short, lobby
to protect REA customers. AS the Sc mem
Der co-ops serve 673,207 customers and as the
dues 10 cents per member per year,
NRECA operates its lobby a budget of
about SGT 1000 a year.
Organizers of this coop power lobby in
Washington were Clyde T. Ellis and Steve
C. Tate. Ellis is an ex-congressman from
Arkansas who tried to father an Arkansas
Valley Authority similar to IVA and apparent
ly got licked for reelection to Congress in
1912 because of his cheap-power progressive
ness. Tate is fabulous He belongs to the Tate
marble clan, operating quarries at Tate, Ga.
He runs an II unit farm of 10000 acres;
an auto distributor agency at Jasper, Ga; is
distributor of Texaco products in seven coun-
ties; controls an insurance agency; has halt
interest in general store; is president OF an
REA coop in Jasper, serving 1900 families;
president of the Georgia Rural Power coop
of Atlanta. capitalized at $3,75000O serving
900 farmer customers in IS co-ops; chair
man of the Georgia Highway Commission; an
ex-state senator. He also hunts and fishes.
The question naturally arises as to why the
approximately million rural families receiving
REA power from paternalistic government
also need protection from a trade association
lobby such as the Ellis-Tate National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association. The answer
now seems to be principally two fold
First, REA as a government agency, can't
go before Congress and lobby in its own in
terests. So the organization of customers OF
the government does the job. 1t has lobbied
for lower interest rates and for longer terms
on government loans and secured some con-
cessionS.
Second, relatively small rural co-ons do need
someone to fight their battles against big
power companies which would like to gobble
them up after they become paying PROPOSE
lions keep them from entering into COM
petition with private power.
| Other charges thrown against the outfit are
little hard to prove, but may come out IN
the current Senate investigation. 1t is charged
that the organization was formed for political
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
DR.. Ernest Bullock

The shock of DR.. Ernest Bullucks death is
loss to community that has so many rea-
sons to be grateful for his long and successful
ministrations to the sick. He had become such
a fixture of the medical profession in Will
nlington throughout the years of his practice,
it is difficult to realize that he is gone even
though it had been known for some weeks that
he could not recover
He is as truly war sacrifice as if he had
been struck down on the battlefield. When
the armed services drew more and more
heavily upon Wilmington's physicians and sur
geons, the few that were left had to take
over far beyond their strength. Among these
was Doctor Bullock who, besides the heavy
demands upon him, chiefly as surgeon, had
full responsibility for the hospital he created
and operated. From early morning until late
at night, and often in the small hours of morn
ing, he was at the hospital, operating when
he should have been abed resting for tomor
rows tasks. The wonder of his friends is that
he held up so long. The pity of it is that he
had to go. For Wilmington needs him now as
never before
AS man, modest and genial as surgeon
sure and enlightened, he enjoyed to an unusual
degree the respect and affection of all persons
who had been his patients and others who
cherished his personal friendship Or had only
slight acquaintance with him.
The hospital he built and which bears his
name, is fitting memorial to him. What his
heirs may decide as to its future cannot be
considered now. But its continued operation
under competent staff is to be hopefully ex-
pected.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
Fight Pay

Ernie Pyle whose column has enlivened this
newspaper for some time, devotes his space
generally to little intimate episodes that bring
the fighting men in Europe nearer to us home
folk But not always. Sometimes he gives us
something of greater import to think about.
This was the case when he suggested fight
gay for fighting men. AS he put it, to dstin-
gujsh between 'the dogface lying for days
and nights under fire and the headquarters
clerk living comfortably in hotel in Rio de
Janeiro.'
You may have forgotten just how he ex-
planned it, or its significance may not have
impressed you at the first reading. Anyway,
it will do you no harm to hear it again.
In his words:
Give the combat soldier some little form
OF recognition more than he is getting now.
Everybody who serves overseas, no matter
where or what he's doing, gets extra pay.
"Airmen get an extra so per cent above this
Ter flight pay and all that is fine and as it
should be, but the idea was toying with is
why not give your genuine combat soldier
something corresponding to flight pay?
Maybe good phrase for it would be
fight pay
'As it is now there is no official distinction
between the dogface lying for days and
nights under constant mortar fire :. and the
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
BOYD ANNOUNCES
HIS CANDIDACY

RALEIGH, March 13-tR-Alla
Ray Boyd, Beaufort county hog
breeder and farmer, today an
nounced his candidacy for the dem
ocratic nomination for governor in
the May q primary by paying his
$105 filing fee and declaring his
party status.
Secretary Raymond Maxwell OF
the State Board of Elections said
Boyd paid his filing fee several
days ago but the fee was held in
allegiance until proper application
could be made with his office. The
completed forms arrived today.
Dr.. Ralph Mcdonald and r..
Gregg Cherry of Gastonia previ-
ously had filed for the nomination
and each has opened campaign
headquarters here.
Maxwell said all constitutional
or elective officers of the state
have filed for denomination and
that all but one member OF the
states 12-man congressional dele
gation also have filed. Rep. John
Folger of the 5th district has not
filed.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
The Literary Guidepost

sounds little phony as I write
1t, but Wakeman can use Whole
book to explain, and l can't)
Ashore they are suddenly out of
adjustment. Those who have wives
don't 60 to them, time being short
They merely raise hell in the face
OF an unguessable tomorrow.
Mr.. W a k m n is interested
chiefly in Ccewson, the handsome
and hard-drinking human magnet
He is irresistible, to women. and
he is quite as ruthless as he is
attractive. He is also lost, utterly
and forever. Mississip is almost as
completely lost He never amount.
ed to anything before he Joined
up, and he knows that if he is
given a medical discharge, he will
return to nothing.
The author plays this enotion.,
1ugue full organ, and he PLAYS
every note on the page even the
1ly-specks. He does not convince
me that his people are typical OF
the flying Navy, but that there
are plenty of Crewsons and Mis-
slsslps is as certain as taxes
"A lew dozen of the seductions
might be left out. too, but I real.
re that this would only be done
ever Crewson's dead body. Crew.
son was driving Mr.. Wakeman to
MS typewriter, make no mistake
about that.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
With Ernie Pyle

i.''- the combat expression for
anyone who has had more than
he can take-that he sits alone
ard doesn't say much, and begins
to stare.
Sergt. Alban j. Petchal OF S'eub-
enviJle, O., and Charles Ramseur
of Gold Hill, N. c., both have
flown their allotted missions, both
nave been wounded, both are true
veterans, quiet and kind and eff
ficient.
Sergeant Petchal, although an
Fastener, is in a way something
Of the same kind of man as my
cowboy friend Sergt. Buck Ever
sole. He doesn't like any part of
war, but he has done his job and
done it well.
Sergeant Petchal never heard of
Buck Eversole, and yet the morn
ing I left he spoke about his place
in the war with the same sort of
sadly restrained philosophy and
even in almost the same words
that Buck Eversole had used at
the front. He said, THE job has
to be done, and somebody has to
do it, and we happen to be- the
ones that were picked to do it,
so we'll go on doing it the best
we can"
And Sergeant Ramseur said, II
don't ever want to fly again, but
if they tell me to keep on flying
then I'll just keep on flying, that's
all. You can't do anything else"
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
Election Of Another
President Said Needed
To Avert A Deadlock

MADISON, Wis, March 13.-R-
Senator Ball R.-Minn.) declared
tonight that Congressional "suspl'
cion and antagonism' toward Pres
ident Roosevelt is so great that the
election of a new President is nee
essary to avert deadlock between
Congress and the executive on
domestic and foreign policies
Ball made the statement on d
statewide radio hookup in opening
a campaign for delegates pledged
to support Lieut.. Commdr. Harolo
E. Stassen, 81 year old former
Minnesota governor. for the Re-
publican presidential nomination
Supporters of Stassen, the Sena'
tor declared: are determined 10
press his candidacy despite staS'
sens absence on naval duties-a
factor which Ball described as
severe political handicap
Ball said that pushing stassen
candidacy now might hurt his pon'
teal career, but added:
I'VE are not concerned with otaS'
sens personal career nor with INC
usual weighing Of political asse's
or liabilities. We are concerned
with what happens to the unl1eu
States of American for the ne"
four years.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
Germany's War ManpOwer

Germany is calling for $780, 900 recruits. The
information comes from Underground sources.
This total is understood to be fully twice the
number German Army leaders considered
necessary only two months ago to meet the
expected Continental invasion by the Allies.
Inasmuch as this invasion mean only
defeat for the Hitlerites or the collapse of civil
lzation if it is frustrated, it seems worth
while to look over estimates of Germany S
manpower as prepared by the underground.
Germany's total male population in Septem-
Der of 1889 was Al, 100000. In age groups
from II to 60, male Germans numbered 49,
900, 900. The total deferments from military
service left total of inductable persons of
18, $4,000. Against this the present military
potential is 12,320000
At present the probable distribution of Ger
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
Blockade Fire

Considering the known unsympathetic atti>
tude of Fire toward the Allied cause it prob
ably was a mistake to quarter soldiers in
north Ireland, but that is now, SO to speak,
water over the dam. The soldiers are there
and must have every safeguard, even If strin-
gent measures have to be taken to get Nazi
and Japanese spies out OF Dublin.
De Valeras position is untenable. He could
much better afford to break with the Axis than
with the United States and Great Britain.
Since he refuses to see this or consent to their
demand that he expel their enemy agents from
the section of Ireland he rules, it is imperative
that some effective step be taken to force
him to do So
There are some in this country, and prob
ably in England too who hold that the United
Nations should move against Fire and take
over as a necessary war measure. This view
is understandable in sight of the grave situa-
ton De Valera has created. But war on Fire
would be costly in innocent lives and as a
distraction from the main purpose of the forces
CHARTERED in Ireland which is to invade Hit
ler's Fortress Europe.
There is another way, however, which prom
Uses equal success with a campaign against
De Valera. An economic blockade of Fire,
with all supplies from the outside world cut
off, could be depended upon to bring him to
terms. Fire is far from self-sufficient.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
Education In Mexico

Much thought is being given postwar rela-
tons between this country and Mexico. Fl
nances. economics and industries below the
Rio Grande are finding space in newspapers
more frequently than usual of late despite
the shrinking space available in the daily press
for general news dissemination. And this. in
general, is as it should be. We have waited
over long to cultivate sound relations with
our neghbor republic on the south while Sec
lions OF our business leadership was busy ex.
plotting its resources.
But in all that we are doing now TO make I'm
Tor past mistakes, we are overlooking one
major opportunity to be of practical assistance
to Mexico in her own behalf. While we give
attention to finances and production, we ought
also to be planning how we can helm Mexico
educate her illiterates who far outnurnber her
educated residents.
BY this we do not mean that education there
is similar to the educational task that con-
fronts the United Nations in Germany or ia
pan after the war. In these countries the iob
will be to undo what the war-makers have
done to youth through wrong education. In
Mexico, the task is to carry the simple rudi-
mentary three RS to the masses. We would
but do our duty if we assisted the govern.
ment to establish the equivalent of our Graded
schools in towns and cities, where thew are
now sadly lacking, and set UP primary schools
in rural districts. which are virtually nom
existent.
Ignorance among Mexicos lower classes is
among the country's greatest handicaps. The
nation cannot hope to rise to a position o,
prominence or overcome political upheavals
such as have been too frequent since Diaz ali.
Dictated, until the masses of the people enjoy
average educational advantages.
In addition to what appears an earnest eff
fort to cultivate deeper friendship with Mexico
through trade development, we should not over.
look the opportunity to help Mexico develor
and grow as a nation through a great schoo,
system.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14

SHORE LEAVE by Frederic
Wakeman (Farrar & Rinehart;
$3.50.
If you see Aunt Hepzibah reach
ing for F eri c Wakeman's
Shore Leave slap her wrinkled
old hand and pocket the book. 1t
is not for her.
1t is too raw. But the rawness
does not come from any wish on
the authors part to be shocking
beyond the usual impact of good
fiction on readers mind; it is
just that he is trying to be truth
full about one sort of by-product
from this war of ours. It seems
to me he has succeeded remark
ably, but 1 could understand the
frozen horror on another readers
face. "Shore Leave" is that kind
of novel.
It is about wounded fliers on
leave. The four who are the core
Of the book have been in the South
Pacific, and they have recovered
from their injuries and been trans
feed back to San Francisco for
examination and reassignment, if
fit. They all have a lot of ac-
cumulated pay, great thirst, and
great desire for women. More
now different sort Of man; each
has found himself in the air (this
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
REVISED GROCERY
PRICES EFFECTIVE

Revised dollars-and-cents cell
ings on market basket food items
became effective Monday at all
New Hanover grocery stores.
The new price lists were dis.
tributed last week by the New
Hanover War Price and Rationing
board and were scheduled to be
displayed prominently in grocery
stores Monday.
Dollars-and-cents ceilings are
effective for the first time on nu.
merous staple articles, including
margarine, macaroni products,
peanut butter, syrups and mo.
lasses. IS
Wholesale gTpSers are also plac-
ed under dolla lnd-cents ceilings
on sales to retSilers.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
Daily Prayer
FOR THOSE WHO MOURN

Thy Father-heart, o Goa, mus mus
suffer from the griefs that Ha.s
come to the peoples OF earlh w
cause of this war. The Christ W Wv
wept over Jerusalem, and al W. o
tomb of His friend Lazarus, IS SUI.
iy as compassionate as 'ooa" '
He looks down upon the sorrows
OF the mothers who have los! SUP
Of wives who have lost huSoalu.'
OF children who have lost parflI,s'
Thou hadst but one Son, U nav
emily Father, and Thou gaVe'' llin .n
to suffering and death for the sa~v
of the greatest Cause. So BE Ves'
pitiful and comforting to those WIZ nv
mourn today. Open to them a VS., I'D
Ct the long home Of reunion am
bliss. Draw them near to IhySen
in gentlest comfort. Enable 'nSi4
to find in Thee the strengtn 'i-a'
is made perfect in weaNAes'
Ar1en.-W.T.E.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14

purposes, to influence the vote OF
the million rural power customer
families four million votes or
more. Ellis was New Dealer.
Tate, southern Democrat, Avery
c Moore, their Washington man.
ager, a Republican. 1t will prob
ably be difficult to give the out
fit a politicalcurse.
NRECA is holding its second
annual convention in Chica %
Marcn 2o-2l. Delegates have lots to
talk about.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
interpreting
The War
BY KIRKE L. SIMPSON
Associated Press War All,

The battle of the soutbern Wv ~
rain, all but unrivaled in S IA'
tory for the size of the onnos l4lS'
forces engaged and the vss s0s my
rain over which it has been fo,,r .es'
is virtually at an end in crnsS sn',
Russian victory. 'lils
Kherson at the Dnieper r,o,,,.
has fallen. The Bug River I;au
last potential water-guarded frn le,
in southwestern Russia for the 'S VI
feat-dogged Nazi invaders. iy o oe,
thanked at one end and punct,rs a,
in the center. There is no o+s.'
front short of the wide Dnie ,,ter
that marks the old Russian.BssE.
sarabian border behind which tho
foe can hope to rally. 'e
A German flight into Rum.n;.
proper is on. 1t must force tba
issue Of not only Rumanian h me
Bulgarian continued adherence wv
the topping Axis, and possibly io. W
to Turkish active cooperation W; su
the Allied : Russian war fellow
ship. -'0"'
Moscow advices say panic cor
ditions prevail in Nazi ranks IT.
some sectors, and the speed with
which the Kherson bastion ws W.,
Wrenched from Nazi hands Lends
color to such reports. There csn
be no doubt that its fall adds ~
the already desperate situation a,
anywhere up to half a million NJ
II troops in the Southwestern
Ukraine, particularly those still
east Of the Bug.
1t seems clear that followinp tbo
fall of Krivoi Rog and Nikono, in
the eastern end of the Dnienor
Bend the Nazi high command h..
gan preparations for a general
withdrawal to the Bug line. II had
already been potentially outflsnk.
ed by the Russians far to ths
northwest but still was a powerful
natural obstacle behind which fl
rally, flood conditions due to earlv
thaws adding to its strength.
If that was the German plan
however, the Russian break
through in the center to cross the
Bug on an indicated five-mile front
at Gaivoron disputed it. The can.
ture Of Kherson, the main Big
crossing at Nikolaev at the upper
end Of the Bug estuary is now also
exposed to a Russian pincer al.
tack.
Kherson and Nikolaev were Is.
sential protective bastions for
Odessa, main Russian Black Sea
port. With Kherson in Russian
hands Nikolaev is too vulnerable to
expect it can long be held by the
Germans to prevent the Russians
from closing in on Odessa.
Nikolaev, on the west bank Of
the Bug estuary, is wide open to
frontal assault up the Kherson.Ni-
kolaev railroad and Russian guns
are apt to make the Bug crossing
at that point useless to the Nazis,
It appears more probable that
Nazi evacuation of Odessa will he
reported soon. With the Kherson.
Nikolaev protective barriers lost it
could become a Nazi graveyard,
And that is even now what faces
the German garrison in the Cri.
mea, cut off for many weeks ex.
cept by air and possible night
time sea movement to Odessa to
escape the Russian trap.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
BY ERNIE PYLE

IN ITALY,-(by wireless)-As I
got to know the A-20 gunners bet
ter and better, they gradually be-
gan to tell me their inner feelings
about a life of flying in comoat.
Several had just about complet-
ed their missions, yet they said
they were willing to stay if need
ed and fly extra missions.
In any squadron you'll find many
men willing to fly beyond the stat
ed missions if it's put up to them,
but you'll average only about one
who is actually eager to 60 on.
In our squadron / found such a
gunner in Sergt. John D. Baker,
of Indianapolis.
Sergeant Baker is 81. He has
flown more missions than anyb ody
in the squadron, men or officers.
He says it is his ambition to fly
a hundred.
Many in our squadron have gone
beyond the required goal. Some
are still flying, and others have
gone on to the breaking point and
had to be grounded. The flight sur
geons try to sense when the strain
is beginning to get a man.
Some of them seem to have
nerves that are untouchable. One
of my pilot friends told me that
on mission earlier in the day,
when the flax was breaking all
around, he didn't think much of
the danger but kept thinking that
if a fragment should break the
plexiglass globe, and let the below
zero air rush through the plane
he would be one mad pilot.
Another one told of the funny
reflexes you have up there. For
example, every combat airmar
knows you needn't worry about the
flax you see, for if you see i!
the danger is over and you haven't
been hit. Yet this pilot, after a
but had Actually become afraid to
him, goes around it.
One of the gunners-a man with
fine record-told me he had not
only become terrified of combat
but had actually becom afraid to
fly at all.
He said that when the genera.
tors came on that morning, and
the radio in their tent started
cracking, it made him dream they
we're being attacked in the air.
He dreamed that bullet came up
through the fuselage and hit him
in the throat.
Another one told me he felt he
just couldn't go on. He had COM
pleted his allotted missions, and
nobody could doubt his coura &c.
He wanted to 60 and ask to be
grounded, but just couldn't bring
himself to do it.
So I urged him to go ahead.
Afterwards 1 got both sides Of the
story. The officers told me later
that they were kicking themselves
for not noticing the gunner's ner-
vousness in time and for letting
it go until he had to hurt his pride
by asking to be grounded.
But those are mems innermost
feelings. They don't express them
very often. They don't spend much
time sitting around glooning TO
each other about their chances.
Their outlook and converse ton
is just as normal as that Of a
man in no danger at all. Thew
play jokes, and write letters. and
listen to the radio, and send gifts
hcrne, and drink a little vino and
carry on just like anybody else
It's only when a man has 100
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-03-14
CAFES RESTRAINED

DURHAM, March 13-lR-Opera-
tors of five Durham eating places
today in Federal court were re-
strained from the sale of food and
meals at prices above the April
1943 price ceiling in decisions hand
ed down by Judge Johnson ].
Hayes. Cafes affected by court S
order were the Plaza Grill, R &
M, Jeans Luncheonette, A. B. C.
Lunch and Crystal Luncheonette
All were charged by the Office of
Price Administration with charg-
ing from five to IS cents per item
above the ceiling.