Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1951-04-28
The Return of Macarthur
The Biggest Story Since?


Washington, d. G. = The double
| pot, one part in Tokyo-the other
IN Washington, really wasn't boil
ing at all. What you have been see
ing is merely the stream from a
pot which could not reach it's boil
ing point until Douglas Macarthur
brought his part home.
So far, however, you have seen
the biggest story ever-it's a story
bigger than either of the stores
announcing the open or close of
both of our two previous universal
conflicts. AS President Truman put
1t, the firing of General Macarthur
was for one purpose-prevention
Of World War Ill.
Unfortunately, only history it.
self can tell il this END has been
achieved. For the time being, this
we DO notwithstanding is home
Tor the first time in fourteen years.
lie has been recalled by his COM
mander-in-chief and has returned
anna the biggest public ovation
ever extended anyone.
No other national hero has re-
celved the press notice thus far ac-
corded the fabulous but contro-
verslal Macarthur, who ends an
illustrious military career at an
age at which most figures of note
would have long since retired to a
position of elder statesmanship.
Then there are the sidelights.
Early President Quirino of the
Philippines urged the General, the
considered liberator of the Islands,
to accept haven there at least long
enough for a deserved rest" Muir
freesboro, Tenn, the home of Mrs.
Macarthur, wants the General to
settle there. While Milwaukee re-
members that it's the adopted home
of the General.
In Little Rock, the flag on the
building where Macarthur was
born went to half-staff, because the
superintendent of the park in which
the building is located thought the
General got "a raw deal". Flags
were also lowered in GAINESVILLE,
Ohio, and Eastman, Mass. And
there's extra honor and dough in
store, too.
The General can run up to Cam
bridge almost any day and collect
the Harvard doctor-of laws degree
awarded him in 1946-that is, if he
can voice his acceptance after Adj
ministration leadership has had
him in the committee rooms. Voice
permitting, there's a million-dollar
lecture tour waiting. And a Holly
wood-movie contract.
Regardless of what happens,
General Macarthur, as . five star
general officer, viii receive salary
tor life-$18,761, including base
pay, quarters and subsistence, and
$4,000 annually in personal allow
ances. Since he is considered to be
a man already of considerable
means, he could see the world with
which he may have lost contact.
Instead, the General may become
another voice of the Republican
Party, which, some will tell you,
needed what has happened to Mae
Arthur. Already the Macarthur
tor-President" headquarters has
opened here in the Nations capitol.
This may be an indication that the
disposed General considers his
views of November significance.
On the other hand, no one actual
ly knows what. political interests
the General has. The Washington
Post commented editorially recent
ly that he ''has become more of a
politician than general" and it
will be recalled that he reached for
the Republican nomination in 1913,
while playing a cool hand from the
Far East.
Other things are remembered. It
was this same Macarthur, as chief
OF staff, that marched upon the
bonus army in 1882, evacuating
and burning three District of Col
umbla encampments. With respect
for Washington and Grant. Ameri-
cans fear the placing of profession
al military men in the White
House. They love civil rule and
civilian authority.
Seven thousand miles removed
from the States, Macarthur had
apparently forgotten this great
American trait-that was his mis-
giving, his mistake. Another thing
forgotten was the first order of the
soldier-"you will take ORDERS" So
as the General said, on leaving
Bataan-"I will return" He has.
When the steam has cleared a.
way, Truman, Texas, may be glad
that it did not change it's name to
Macarthur, who knows. Yet we all
hope that this big story replaces