Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

Current Events
By Prof. William H. Russell, Ph.D.
BIPARTISANSHIP BEGINS
President Eisenhower is working to disprove his own
campaign prediction that a Democratic Congress and Republi
can administration could not cooperate. In December he
called in twenty-one Congressional leaders for a policy con
ference, and apparently won Democratic support for the most
important parts of his program. In some areas, such as for
eign aid and a more liberal tariff policy, his main problem
will be to win Republican votes. The President promised to
consult Democratic leaders on the details of legislation in re
turn for their help in putting it through Congress. Key Demo
crats in Congressional committees will also have close con
tact with department and bureau heads, even though they are
of oppo-ite parties. If this approach succeeds, the next Con
gress may enact quite a bit of constructive legislation. By the
time you read this, Presidential messages will be
specific proposals before the lawmakers.
McCARRAN ACT PASSES TEST
laying
The U. S. Court of Appeals has upheld the constitutional
ity of the Internal Security Act of 1950, requiring the Com
munist Party to register as a Russian-controlled movement.
This law, commonly known as the McCarran Act, is our most
important piece of anti-Communist legislation next to the
Smith Act of 1940. It requires the Communist party and Com
munist-action and front groups to register with the Justice
Department, list their officers and members, report thpir
finances, and label their mail. The court brought in a 2-1
decision, with one judge ruling that the act violated the Fifth
Amendment by requiring the Reds to give evidence against
themselves. The other two judges decided, however, that the
Fifth Amendment was not involved because the law did not
make party membership a crime. The Communist Party is
still a legal organization in this country
despite all the re
strictions on it, and will appeal the case to the Supreme Court.
PANAMA CANAL TREATY
After more than a year's negotiations, Panama and the
U.S. have agreed on a new treaty
which should remove some
major sources of friction over the administration of the Canal
Zone. This area, 48 miles long
and 10 miles wide, is still
legally part of Panama but is almost completely controlled by
the U. S. Our annual rental payments to Panama will be
increased from $430,000 to $1,930,000 a year if the new treaty
is ratified. Commissaries operated by the American govern
ment will be restricted to U. S. servicemen and Ameri
can civilian employees, to avoid unfair
competition with
Panamanian merchants. Steps will also be taken to eliminate
discrimination against local workers, the most irritating fea
ture of U. S. administration. The State Department will ask
Congress to draw up a uniform wage scale for North Ameri
can and Panamanian workers, and to extend retirement bene
fits to all. The new agreement should do much to promote
good feeling
SPANISH ROYALTY
in this vital spot of Latin America.
Generalissimo Franco may be looking
ual restoration of the Bourbon dynasty
has been empty for over twenty years, since the
toward the event
in Spain. The throne
abdication of
Alfonso XIII. Don Juan, the Bourbon heir, has been living in
exile with his family in Portugal. But dictator Franco has now
reached an understanding
with Don Juan regarding the edu
cation of his 16-year-old son, Juan Carlos. The prince will
finish his schooling in Spanish military academies and uni
versities. This will please the powerful monarchist faction who
have given Franco considerable trouble recently. Franco has
not been favorable to the return of Don Juan to Spain, but
may be grooming the prince as his own successor. In any case
there is little hope for social progress, for a Bourbon king
would be supported by the Church and the landed nobility,
who are mainly
MORE MANGANESE
responsible for Spain's backward condition.
A new American source has been discovered for man
ganese, one of the indispensable metals of modern industry.
Manganese makes steel stronger and harder. The U. S. uses
about 800,000 tons annually, or about fourteen pounds for
every ton of steel. But 90 per cent of our supply has had to'
be imported, from such distant places as India and Africa-
Now a Canadian mining company has found a deposit of at
least 150 million tons of ore, 10 per cent pure, in New Bruns
wick, close to the Maine border. This will be enough to sup
ply the U. S. for twenty years, and more may yet be found.
In northern New Brunswick, less than 200 miles away, there is
also a large deposit of iron pyrites, which will yield sulphur
for refining the manganese ore. Rail and water transporta
tion is already available, and a mill should be operating with
in a year.
BETTER HEALTH
America's health last year was "the best on
record,"
ac
cording to a report issued by the Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company. The national death rate for 1954 reached an alltime
low of 9.2 per 1,000 population, 5 per cent under 1953.
There was no major flu epidemic in 1954, and the death rate
for nearly every disease fell. The tuberculosis death rate fell
by 10 per cent, and influenza and pneumonia by 25 per cent.
The death rate for cancer remained about the same, but heart
(Continued on page 5)
THE COVENANTER WITNESS
Issued each Wednesday by the Publication Board of the
REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
OF NORTH AMERICA
at 129 West 6th Street, Newton, Kansas or
through its editorial office at 1209 Boswell Avenue. Topeka. Kansar.
to promote Bible Standards of Doctrine, Worship and Life
For individuals, churches and nations
Opinions expressed in our columns are those of the individual writers;
not necessarily the views of the Covenanter Church or of the Editor.
Dr. Raymond Taggart, D.D., Editor
1209 Boswell Avenue, Topeka Kansas
Contributing Editors
Frank E. Allen, D.D.
Prof. William H. Russell
Walter McCarroll, D.D.
Remo T. Robb. D.D.
Departmental Editors
Rev. John O. Edgar
Mrs. J. O. Edgar
Mrs. Ross Latimer
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The Rev. R. B. Lyons, B.A., Limavady, N. Ireland, Agent for i)m-
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January 5, 1955