Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-11

DtlltNOlSllt WIFI S-' -~"N'''
each passing week of his occupation.
Having busted the trusts, some of
which compare fairly we'll for size
with our own, having freed labor
to organize and bargain collectively
having given women the vote, hav-
ing introduced enlightenment into
the schools, he now turns his atten-
ton to the farmers.
With one wave of his riding crop
the general solves the farm prob
lem for Japan.
No more absentee ownership, he
DEGREES; transfer the land to the
horny-handed sons who work tie
soil No more share-cropping; the
tenants must become proprietors.
No more big landed estates; break
EN- up. Information isn't available
as to what constitutes big estate
in Japan, although the principal
island is little larger than some of
our great Western ranches. Any
how they're too big; break 'em up.
Black Market Thrives.
You'd think this news would hit
the rural regions of Nippon like the
discovery that there really is a
Santa CLAUS and that every day is
going to be Christmas. But the
farmers, according to the cables.
have found a catch in it. Their
benevolent dictator proposes also to
stabilize farm prices!
Farm prices in Japan have gone
where all uncontrolled prices go in
times like these-up and up and up.
The black market is f1ouriShing and
farmers have been reaping fortunes.
So when the good general orders
the Shidahara government to guar
antee to agriculture a share of
the national income commensurate
with its contribution" that's Just
hne. But when he says that it shall
be no more than commensurate,
that's something else.
The general may not get the
farmers vote after all! Which is
said merely in fun, since we have
Gen. MacArthurs own word for it
that he has no political ambitions.
Despite frantic efforts on the part
OF friends to interest him in politics,
he has gone his own modest road,
keeping his picture out of the papers
the best he can, while AmericaniZing
the japanese in way which, if it
works, is certain to bring demand
for the Organization of America.
Politics? He can leave that to
Gen. Eisenhower. That unlucky
hero has been tossed in up to his
neck. Senator Capper of Kansas,
who is said to have fewer errors of
political judgment on his record
than most anybody you can name,
has decided that what the Re-
publican party needs is a f1ve-Star
candidate and that KansaS-born
Ike Eisenhower fills the bill. The
Senator nominated him during the
past week end.
Surprised at Himself.
He has come to the conclusion,
said the Senator in a radio broad
cast, that an understanding of the
use of military force as an instru-
ment of world politics is one of the
essentials of national leadership.
The Senator admitted that he was
a little surprised at himself. AS
peaceful man of Quaker descent, he
said, he never had anticipated that
he ever would suggest professional
soldier for the White House. But
somehow he is unable to think of
Kansas greatest contribution to
West Point as a professional soldier.
That makes it all right.
So now Gen. Eisenhower can quit
worrying about his ability to fill
Gen. Marshall's stable shoes as
Chief of Staff and start giving some
thought to the size of Harry Tru-
mans Sombrero. If he runs true to
nature, and other party spokesman
join with Senator Capper in en-
couraging him, his head in due time
should be big enough to meet the
requirements.
OF course, there's always the pos