Official Organ Of the Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1837. BEN EVO L ENCE
VOLUME 56 — NO. 30
HUMANITY
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE MST, FOB 100, TEMPLE, TEX 76501
JULY 24, 1968
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK Taxes and Higher Costs. With the passage of the President's 10 percent surcharge, the high cost of borrowing money, increased prices for just about everything, the average citizen will become a cautious consumer for the balance of 1968. These are the conclusions of recent consumer surveys by economic pulsetakers as we go into into the second half of 1968. The National Consumer Finance Association tells us that a wage earner in the $9,000 to $10,000 braCket in 1949 would have to be earning 50 percent more today to just stay even. Prices have gone up 44 percent since 1949, and tax hikes and Social Security increases and deductions have taken care of the rest. • • Crisis in Czechoslovakia. It is not often we deal with European politics in this column, but recent events in Czechoslovakia certainly have focused worldwide attention on the affairs of that beleagured nation. It is by sheer coincidence that since 1949, the CongreSs has proclaimed the third week in July as Captive Nations. Week. It is most unusual to see Czechoslovakia capture the bold headlines in our daily papers. It is even more unusual for a Czech leader such as Dubcek to appear on American television via the TV satellite system. It all has ominous
THOUGHTS . Don't forget that people will judge you by your actions and not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold, but so has a hard-boiled egg. • • No MA II ever did a designed injury to another but what he didn't at 'the same tune do a greater one to himself. e
A recession is a period when you tighten your belt. A depresSion is a time when you have no belt to tighten, And when you have no trousers to hold up, that's panic. historical overtones, The big powerS hardly ever notice the goings-on in little countries like Czechoslovakia until events have reached crisis proportions. The present liberal-reform government of Party Secretary Alexander Dubcek and Premier Oldrich Cernik is walking a political tightrope between instituting social and political reforms at home and maintaining rapport with other satellite nations of Eastern Europe and the Soviet 'Union. Mr. Dubeek and his cohorts have brought about notable reforms in the lives of Czechs in that country, ,much to the consternation of some of their neigh-7
hors, but with the approval of others. "Now you can participate in the life of your country," said one prominent Czech. The Masaryks, the late President Thomas and son Jan, have been honored openly of late. The present government is under tremendous pressure to restrain their liberating zeal. The Czech people enthusiastically support the present movement, A prominent newspaper editor in that country slates: "This is a lovely dream for which we never want to awaken." The Czech people, because of their longstanding democratic traditions, regard their new freedom as something' owed them — a birthright. In the meantime, Soviet and other atined forces have been holding maneuvers in Czechoslovakia. Some of them have left, but according to latest reports (Friday, July 19th), some 16;000 are still there after the Warsaw Pact maneuvers. They are supposed to be withdrawn by tomorrow (Saturday). For the present, Dubcek .6.6 Co. appear to be standing pat and have rejected overt interference in the internal affairs of their country. Some experts predict. that there will be outright military intervention. And the Western Powers, including the U.S., have made it clear they would not