Milford chronicle., 1959-01-09
WHAT NEXT IN CUBA?

When a dictator is deposed, anywhere in
the world, that is' good from the standpoint
of democracy. When a dictator falls in Latin
America that continues a recent trend of
special interest to the United States. But
when dictator falls, whether in Latin
America or anywhere else, there is always
the question: What next?
That question applies most emphatically
to the situation in Cuba. A vacuum was left
when Fulgencio ,Batista, who had been the
nations strong man for so many years, de-
parted one jump ahead of Fidel Castro's
rebel forces. How this political vacuum is
filled, now and in the months ahead, is of
crucial Importance.
Even at this stage, there are some clear
entries on the credit side of the ledger. The
downfall of Batista is one of them. Another
is the prospect that now, after more than two
years of bloody rebellion, the fighting will be
at an end. 1t also seems to the good that the
man chosen by Castro to be provisional pres
ident of Cuba is Manuel Urrutia, respect
ed Judge who opposed Batista because the
latter took over the presidency at gunpoint
in 1852
Though the circumstances are quite diff
ferent, there is a certain irony in the fact
that Urrutia is in turn becoming president
by force of arms The question of key i'm
portance is whether he, and those backing
him, can and will lead Cuba away from
strong-man government to government re-
sponsive to the popular will.
@~@&%
MORE FOR PROCESSING
. A letter recently printed by a rretropoli-
tan newspaper illustrates a common flaw of
reasoning on the subject of where the food
dollar goes. The writer observed that where
as food cost an average American. family
about S767 in 1896 "that same basket of
food" cost about $1,010 in 1857. The point
he stressed was that farmers share of the
roL JniI cIs rrh& arsva hot
decade in comparison with the share taken by
food professors and distributors.
The fact is valid: professors and distri-
butors do receive an increasing percentage
of the total amount spent on food. The flaw
lies in the phrase, that same basket of food"
The contents of the American consumers
food basket today are substantially different
from what was consumed just after the end
of World War Ii. Food has been undergoing
a swift evolution. Although some staples are
the same as in the past, big changes have
come about in the processing and handling
of many foods.
There is no mystery about this; one has
only to visit a grocery store to see the evil
dence. Scores of items-from green peas to
chicken livers to complete meals featuring
delicacies scarcely known by name to many
Americans decade agO-now come frozen.
Mixes for all sorts Of baked goods are avail
able. The makings of many dish are hard
er to obtain, in some stores, than the dish it
self, prepared and packaged and ready for
quick use.
The American consumer, in short, is buy
ing not only food but convenience. Food pro-
cessors are doing many things that used to
be done in the home kitchen, and they are
receiving proportionately greater share of
the food dollar for performing these SER
vices.
ER-ORGANIZED CHARITY
When charity begins at home, it is likely
to know where it is going. We, like so many
other editors, are flooded with appeals for
money from the big charity outfits The ap-
peals grow each year and the flood of mail
increases.
1t seems that these huge charity organi-
cations must perpetuate jobs, and keep peo-
pie working year-round. The other day we
got special release with blufb about MAX
ing New Years resolutions. They come all
the time.
+ We are not against any worthwhile char
ity organization. But these do-good outfits
could save lot of money, via rent, postage,
salary and other economies, and much time,
both of the organizations publicity staff and
editors, by hitting hard during the annual
donation drive and pairing down to the bone
at other tines.
For our money, we would prefer to give
to local causes, and know who is handling
the money, what is being done with it. and
how much Organization" is "fussing about"
spreading the light
Too many charity organizations have be-
come huge fixtures in metropolitan areas,
providing jobs for people who might other
wise have to find job. This is bad, but the
worst part is that this leech-work reduces
the amount of money left over for actual
charity of rehabilitation work, which the or
ganization is primarily concerned with
sEs