Milford chronicle., 1947-01-24
THERE ARE FIVE CITIES in the

pIOAllldJoly lO,OUUOOU. NINE places nave Il
total population of approximately $500, 900.
There are twenty-three cities with tota
population of 100000. From there the
ratio drops to 157 cities with population
ranging from 100000 to 25O,00O, total of
approximately 100000 people. On the
face of the totals the metropolitan districts
rank very low as major powers of import
ance in the Nation as a whole
On election days the metropolitan areas
stand at the bottom of the list as vOterS-for
the reason that New York and other cities
are ruled by political bosses who control the
elections. A number of States, including sew
eral in the South, do not support the Ameri-
can system of Government. All the founda-
tions of our National system are declared to
be in favor of 1--WE, the People,"
A casual look at the map of the United
States shows that nearly all of the States
are free from the influence and control of
these handful of big cities that pose as "cocks
of the walk"
You don't need to look twice at that
map, or study it for more than fifteen min
utes, to be convinced that the power, intell-
gence, loyalty and strength of the American
nation is located over millions of rich acres
of land a few hundred miles West of the
Atlantic Ocean.
The local daily and weekly newspapers
throughout the United States represent the
intelligence of the vast majority of people in
the United States; whereas the influence of
the metropolitan papers in the four centers
of population cut very little ice outside their
own limited districts.
THE YEAR WHICH HAS ended was
the worst in our history in the matter of loss
of life and property by fire. When the final
figures are tabulated, the total waste will
probably touch $60O,OO0,O 0,OOO-and the de-
struction of life will approach 1000.
There can be no alibis for this 1t is too
late for excuses. What we can do is to af-
firm that 1947 will tell a different story when
the year closes.
Our first realization, as individuals.
must be that almost all fires are the result
OF the human element. A man is careless, a
man is ignorant and destructive fire strikes
The fire which could not be prevented is ex-
tremely rare
We must understand, secondly, that the
prevention of most fires is the simplest of
tasks. new lamp cord, clean attic a
MINOR repair to a heating plant, fire ex-
tlngulSher or fire eScape-Such attentions as
these would have prevented very large part
OF last years terrible loss of life and ma
tellals. This comes straight home to the
individual, and no one can escape his share
of the responsibility.
Third, there is obvious need for educa-
tlon OF the individual in what to do if he is in
a building attacked by fire. ignorance in this
held was the cause of many of the deaths
III the recent hotel disasters In Atlanta
men and women jumped to destruction from
window ledgeS-in the face of pleas by fire
men who were preparing nets and ladders.
In both Chicago and Atlanta people threw
open doors and windows thus creating
drafts that simply famed the flames.
All of us should feel shame at 1946's ter
rble fire record And all of us should re-
solve that it will be improved in 1917.
<SSo&>
NO MAN IN RECENT YEARS has
performed better services for his country
than James Byrnes, who resigned as Secrc
tary of State Month after month he has
been arguing in the interests of confused
World crying out loud for World peace. He
has been firm and as patient as job Natur-
ally, he feels that he has gone the limit with
huSsla and other countries, and in view of
poor health he has retired.
The appointment of General Marshall
has been loudly acclaimed and approved bv
all political groups in Washington. He is re-
garded as worthy successor to Byrnes be-
cause OF his magnificent record as head of
military affairs and as a statesman. Mar
snail was picked because he is able. fOrceful
vigorous and persistent.
Senator Vandenberg, who served with
Byrnes, recently made an important address
IN which ne predicted that General Mar
snail would designate representatives in the
State Department to carry on the battle with
Mootov and other "dumb-bells."
There is considerable anxiety about the
relations between the United States and Ar
gentna, but Washington believes Marshall
hammer N nat TO
cluSlOn. At the same time he will diroct d.
mands of our Government on Russia and it's
COmmunistic allies.
THERE is NO USE REPEATING the
Welrd W story of the turnover in the Supreme
Court OF the United States during the Roose-
welt Administration, because nothing is to he
gained by discussing the weak spots that
nave existed in that Court for many years
Senator Alexander Wiley of Wisconsin
IS the new Chairman of the Senate Judiciary
N RI hO L