The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter., 1962-03-30
GREAT PROSPERITY AHEAD;
CHALLENGES EVER GREATER
HODGES TELLS ROTARIANS
Former Governor. Now Sec. Of Commerce.
Principal Speaker atFayettevilIe conven-
+ion Highlighting Term Of Belhaven Man.
Now District Governor: Held on Week End
With Large Attendance.
By PREP SPARROW

all history has there been q time
when Rotary or something Like
it has been more needed in the
world" Secretary of Commerce
Luther H. Hodges declared Sun
day night.
Speaking before some 800 Ro-
tarians and guests at the open
ing dinner meeting of the 77Srd
District Conference of Rotary
International, Secretary Hodges
took note of conditions and prob
lens that exist in a new African
state and of the wealth and in
fluenee Of the United States.
"This is indeed a world Of OPP
portunity," he declared, "and
our challenges have never be-
fore been 50 great"
Secretary Hodges had come
to Fayetteville in accordance
with a long standing promise to
his friend and admirer, DIR. w.
T. Ralph Of Belhaven, who is
rounding out q distinguished
career as Governor of the 773rd
District, which held its annual
in the past week end.
Secretary Hodges is widely
known as q Rotary leader, hav-
ing been q former president OF
his District, as well as holder
of other important posts in Ro-
tary. DIR. Ralph, former-presi-
dent of his Belhaven Club has
distinguished himself In Rotary
service and last year, with Mrs.
Ralph, ne attended the mterna-
tional Rotary Convention held
in Tokyo, Japan and which was
attended by some 1900 Rotar-
ians from all over the world.
Secretary Hodges talked plain
ly, and well informed, on the
situation IN the world today, and
the challenges it offers to men
of character, vision and cour-
age. He dwelled upon the OPP
portunities now available. and
predicted q tremendous degree
Of prosperity and economic
growth in the immediate future
that lies before us.
He reviewed briefly some
highlights OF history since Ro-
tary was founded in 1900. AT
that time most countries Of the
world were ruled by dictators
or kings. In 1910 he said ne was
working, at the age of IL, for
five cents an hour and for 30
hours a week. In the early thir-
ties he testified in Washing
ton for a S0-cent hourly wage
and at that time many business
men contended that the S0-cent
hour would destroy American
industry.
American Prosperity
But America has prospered
beyond our dreams, he declared.
last spring when there was
much talk about 9 recession, I
took the position that conditions
would improve. And they have,
primarily through private effort
with government encourage
ment.
@During the first quarter Of
1861 the United States had q
total income OF $6Ol billion. In
the fourth quarter OF the same
year the total income has risen
to $642 billion. This was an m
crease IN 10 months Of $4l bal-
lion, more than the total income
OF Japan or Canada.
If you get discouraged about
our future, think Of what we
have done and the challenge TINS
is to other countries o. the
world" !"
Secretary Hodges said World
War y brought Americans N
contact with peoples throughout
the world ana punched holes IN
our provinciaaism ana isolation