Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

Current EventsProf. William H. Russell, Ph.D.UNITED GIVINGNearly 1,900 American towns and cities conductedCommunity Chest or United Fund drives this autumn, withrecord-breaking success. In 277 cities to report their receipts by the beginning of December, a total of $193.6million was collected. This represented 99.7 per cent ofthe total goals set, and was 11 per cent better than thecollections for 1954.One-third of the contributions nowcome through labor unions, and employers also makelarge donations. Another factor in the increased total isthe tendency to combine different charities in one drive.This year the American Red Cross, for the first time, gaveits approval to local chapters which wished to join infederated drives, and almost 600 out of 3,713 chaptersdid so. In some communities the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society also joined in a UnitedFund, but their general policy is in favor of independentcampaigns. These groups feel that they can collect moreby separate appeals, and that participation in united driveslimits the future expansion of their programs. In any case,it is pleasing to find that America's unprecedented prosperity is matched byATTLEE STEPS DOWNnew records in giving.Clement Atlee has resigned as leader of the BritishLabor Party, which he headed for twentyElizabeth immediately made him an earl. Attlee,be 73 in January,years. Queenwho willretired in order to end speculation aboutthe party's future leadership. A quiet, unassuming man,he nevertheless has gained a good reputation for statesmanship. As prime minister after World War II, Attleepresided for six years over the enactment of Labor's socialist program and the loosening of the ties of the BritishEmpire. Of the three candidates for succession to Attlee'sposition, Hugh Gaitskell is favored by most Labor politicians. Gaitskell, now 49, was Chancellor of the Exchequerin Attlee's cabinet and has been party treasurer. HerbertMorrison, deputy leader and an experienced administrator,also has a great following, but at 67 he may be consideredtoo old. Aneurin Bevan, head of the Labor Party's leftwing and an outspoken critic of Attlee, also aspires toleadrship but has little chance of success. Whoever thenew leader is, he will have a difficult task in uniting theparty's battling factions.AUTO DEALERS COMPLAINA Senate committee headed by Joseph C. O'Mahoneyhas been investigating charges that General Motors, producer of half of America's automobiles, violates the antitrust laws. The hearings were dull until O'Mahoney broughtin fourteen G.M. dealers who testified that they were underfantastic pressuse to sell cars, and that their franchisescould be revoked at any time. G. M. executives not onlydenied these charges, but pointed out that their dealershad made record-breakingprofits in the past ten years.General Motors claims that it does not ship dealersany cars which they do not order, but the dealers apparently feel that they will lose their franchise unless they sellheavily. One result is "bootlegging," by which the authorized dealer sells new cars to a "used-car" outlet at a veryDecember 21, 1955small profit. The great question for 1956 is whether carsales can keep upwith the record-breaking productionwhich is planned. Some believe that the peak of the demand has passed, and that the price increases on mostnew models Will make it more difficult than ever fordealers to handle cars at a profit.INDONESIA VOTESAfter six years of independence the Republic of Indonesia, formerly the Dutch East Indies, recently completed its first national elections. The campaigning and theelections were orderly, despite the danger that the military,who are strongly anti-Communist, might try to take over.Unofficial returns show that two moderate parties, theMoslems and the Nationalists, have slightly more thanhalf the seats in parliament. Next come the Radical (extreme orthodox) Moslems, with the Communists fourth.A new coalition government will soon be formed, but thecombination is hard to predict. Indonesia has more thana hundred different political partiestions a Protestant group gained twelve seats,in the recent elecand a Catholic party five. Indonesia has 80 million people and is plaguedby serious political and economic problems, but is suspiciousof any outside help. Its orderly development is of theutmost importance for Southeast Asia.ALUMINUM BOOMAluminum, one of America's fastest-growing industries,is rapidly creating new products and displacing othermetals. Alcoa has announced an aluminum dry cell batterywhich may replace a large amount of the zinc. Aluminumalready has displaced copper and brass in many itemsof electrical equipment. America's primary capacity nowis about 1.5 million tons a year, double what it was fiveyears ago, but by 1958 it is expected to reach 2.2 milliontons. Experiments are being made in the casting(Continued on page 408)THE COVENANTER WITNESSIssued each Wednesday by the Publication Board of theREFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHOF NORTH AMERICAof alum-at 129 Wpst fith Strpet, Newton, Kansas orthrough its editorial office at 1209 Boswell Avenue, Topeka, Kansasto promote Bible Standards of Doctrine, Worship and LifeFor individuals, churches and nationsOpinions expressed in our columns are those of the individual writer,not necessarily the views of the Covenanter Church or of the Editor.Dr. Raymond Taggart, D.D., Editor1209 Boswell Avenue, Topeka KansasContributing-EditorsFrank E. Allen, D.D.Prof. William H. RussellWalter McCarroll. D.D.Remo I. Robb, D.D.Subscription rates: $2.50 per year ; Overseas, $3.0010 cents.The Rev. R. B. Lyons, B.A.,British Isles.Departmental EditorsRev. John O. EdgarMrs. J. O. EdgarMrs. Ross LatimerSingleCopies,Limavady, N. Ireland, Agent for theEntered as second class matter at the Post Office in Newton, Kansas,under the Act of March 3, 1879.Address communications to the Topeka office.403