The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 23

By Richard Scott Motcrer MADRID. EMOCRATIC-MINDED opponents of the regime of Generalissimo Francisco Franco are discouraged and angry. They are also very worried. Their worry stems from the conviction that the longer the Franco regime en-' dures (and it looks as if it will endure for some time), the more Communist influence is likely to make headway among discontented Spaniards' They fear that in the long run, as discontent builds up, the Communists will benefit, since the angrier people get the more prone they are to go extremist. So, say antitotalitarian dissidents, the chances'of a democratic middle course as an alternative to Franco's authoritarian rule dwindle, whereas the risk increases of today's Right Wing dictatorship being replaced by a Communist dictatorship.

DISCONTENT in Spain is growing, mainly among the country's eight million industrial workers. At the end of 1956 their' economic situation had improved, as a consequence of the 40 percent general wage increase decreed by the Government. They could afford to eat more meat, buy motor scooters on the installment plan. But since then inflation, combined with a recession and loss SPAIN'S democratic opposition is further hampered by an efficient police and a stringent press censorship, a combination which effectively prevents the antitotali-tarians from building up a popular following. Consequently, the non-Communist opposition consists of little more than drawing room gatherings of leaders without followers.

It is so ineffectual that the police are content merely to observe and do nothing. The non-Communist dissident groups are also handicapped by a chronic inability to reach agreement among Up to now 'they have been incapable of forming a workable united front. This weakness was glaringly apparent at the time of the Eisenhower visit. DISSIDENT Monarchists, various Socialist splinter groups, moderate and Left Wing Christian Democrats, Liberals and others met to draw up a collective statement which they were to request the American Ambassador to give to the President. Ambassador John Davis Lodge agreed to receive a delegation representing these groups.

But the dissidents couldn't reach agreement on the text. The anti-Franco Monarchist Union Espanola and the moderate wing of the Christian Democrats backed out. In the end no delegation called on the American Ambassador. A letter protesting American collaboration with Franco Spain was simply handed in at the Embassyv The latest setback suffered by the opposition, Communist as well as democratic, was caused by the recent bomb plot engineered by a wild-eyed group called DRIL (Directorio Revolucionario Iberico de Liberacion). DRIL has Us headquarters In Latin America, presumably Cuba.

Its' membership consists of exiled Spaniards with anarchist leanings and Latin American sympathizers. ON FEB. 18 and 19 two bombs exploded in Madrid. -One of the plotters was killed by his own bomb. -Other explosives were found which had failed, to go off.

One dud bomb had been placed on the window sill of the Prado Museum, near a tree-shaded area where children and their nurses come in the afternoons. The leader of the terrorists, a Cuban, escaped to France, but two collaborators; local Spaniards, were caught They were quickly tried by a military court. One was sentenced to death and shot. The other is serving a life term in jail. Since the vast majority of Spaniards are presently opposed to violence as a means of getting rid of the Franco regime, the bomb plot played into the hands of the Gov- -eminent.

The authorities have given full publicity to the affair, telling the public that opposition to the state in any form adds up to violence and bloodshed, which nobody wants. of overtime for many workers, has cut earnings. Since last autumn an estimated four million Spaniards have lost between 25 and 40 percent of their buying power. This makes for a state of mind which Communist and non-Communist opponents of the regime are seeking to exploit. ACCORDING to non-Communist dissidents, the Communists are making headway but the democrats are not.

The explanation is that the Communists have funds and political support from outside Spain, plus experience in underground organization, infiltration, clandestine subversion and propaganda. In addition, the Communists are aided by daily Spanish language broadcasts from beyond the Iron Curtain. Democratic-minded opponents of the regime have practically, no experience in subversion or clandestinity. They are amateurish, and they ruefully admit it. They complain they are not getting the support they ought to get from abroad.

"Franco is getting democratic support from the Western democracies, we are not," they say. They are angered by the fact that American economic aid has bolstered the regime, and they are discouraged by Franco's diplomatic successes, highlighted, by President Eisenhower's visit here in December. Kniclicrbocfocr A British View Canned Laughter- Paris Socialites Scorn Nikita As Done by British By CASS.WDItA Columnist, London Daily Mirror "LONDON. ONE of the more grisly by-products of this technical age is "canned laughter" and compulsory applause. "Canned laughter" has long been practised by the American radio networks, and compulsory applause has been a melancholy feature of the BBC programmes for I Ian Major and his wife (she was once wed to the late British War Minister, Sir Leslie Hbre-Belisha) entertained in the Embassy Club before flying back to the Virgin Islands.

They'd been in New York buying a new yacht. The Alfred Drakes were a charming picture of domestic bliss Downstairs at the Upstairs, contradicting those who say that the theater and society don't mix. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor's grueling round of parties in Palm Beach caused them to mistakenly accept invitations to attend two luncheons, one at noon, the other an hour-and-a-half later. They were prepared to go to both in order not to disappoint anyone eating sparingly at each. But the hostesses heard of the predicament and finally tossed a coin to solve the situation.

BON MOT: "There are several good protections against temptations, but the surest is cowardice." Mark Twain. as anonymous gifts. They say that Susan Ford, daughter of the Blue Book's Frank Richards Fords, has ended her engagement to Douglas Sloane McClenahan. Pretty perky Peggy Bancroft will play Lady Hamilton in the Neapolitan court of King Ferdinand and Queen Maria Caroline at the Italian Renaissance for Italian Youth Ball to be held April 19 at the Plaza. Spain's Foreign Fernando Maria Castiella, and his wife were feted by Spain's U.N.

Ambassador Jose Felix de Lequerica at a small luncheon. The guests included Princess Renata de Has-burgo Lorena, Secretary-General Dag Hammerskjold and his executive assistant, Andrew Cordier, and his wife. The Ralph F. Colins are lending their modern art collection to the Knoedlcr Galleries with April and May receipts going to the Mental Health Division of the Musicians Emergency Fund. The Colins will seize the wall-baring opportunity to have their apartment painted.

NEW YORK. EXCLUSIVELY YOURS: Parisian Society absolutely refused to attend the opera gala for Khrushchev and the Government had to fill the house with officials. Likewise, Soviet flags were sent to all the leading couture houses and big stores in Paris, but no one flew the hammer and sickle except official buildings. Ilka Chase will return to the screen in the role of Peter Lawford's mother in the upcoming "Ocean's Eleven." Sultner-Welles, just back from a 22-country State Department sponsored tour of the Orient, has some rare color shots of the few remaining royal personages in the Far East, including the King and Queen of Malaya, the Sultan of Trengannu and the King of Laos. Joan Crawford celebrated her birthday last week dashing from 21 to the Colony to the Stork Club.

Then she went home to find her duplex jammed with flowers. She wrote the name of every donor, described the bouquet and sent most of them to various city hospitals ILKA CHASE Back to screen ft i it NEW YORK. SOCIAL NOTE: Shelley Winters, Tony Franciosa and Harry Belafonte gave a party for 70 members of the Georgian State Dancers. In describing how Georgia differs from the other Soviet states, one Georgian told this story: -ill many years. The first is a broadside of recorded guffaws that is inserted into radio and television shows to make the whole thing a jubilant The second, which we sometimes practice over here, is a slightly more restrained Bffair.

The captive 'audience is given a signal from some feverish master of ceremonies as to when to express their spontaneous delight by giving impulsive applause. "When I indicate we all clap." Ilcstfnl Effects of Silver Screen REMEMBER with de-1 light Chester Conklin, Pearl White, Elmo Lincoln, Buster Keaton, Larry Se-mon and, of course, Charlie Chaplin of the classic 20s. They all gave us the great derisive, escapist joy that has almost vanished from fht terpen fnr 30 vears and is part of what Peter Sellers and his friends are now try- ing to recapture in their latest lovely lark of a film which concerns someone try- ing to scrub a field. It What a change from most rt of the introspective aelf-mu- 0 tilating stuff that tries to distract us in what were once the 9-pcnny seats but 1 are now 9s. and 6d.

f. Let me read you the out- line of the story of Eliza- beth Taylor's latest film "Suddenly, Last Summer" as described by one frenzied critic. i "It is a story of sex, peril version, sadism and cannibalism played out in violence and emotional ex-y, tremes. Miss Taylor is the woman who has seen her Ij rich cousin, a degenerate i poet named Sebastian, torn to pieces by a pack of starv- ing children." Have a nice quiet restful i time all you kiddies who love the silver screen. ij The American I Iloits In London rTMlIS column welcomes J- the London American, a weekly newspaper for Americans in Britain, It aims to "help the British if to understand the un-British- ft ness of Americans." There are at least 70,000 resident Americans in this country and we accept them with all their outrageous, in- fi tolerable faults and their U.

depraved habits, with juke boxes and ice cream. They, in return, accept us Today's Peter Lisaiior WASHINGTON. VICE PRESIDENT Richard M. Nixon enjoys an advantage given to few candidates for the Nation's top job, with the exception of a President running for re-election. Nixon can tap the brains, experience and administrative know-how of several Cabinet officers, including three who preside over issue-laden departments and are known to be close to him.

Attorney General William P. Rogers is a key adviser of Nixon dating back to the Vice President's 1952 campaign ordeal. Rogers is the President's chief adviser on civil rights legislation, and nobody doubts that be shaped the voting-referee plan in close consultation with the man who must campaign on the GOP record in' that field: Nixon. Secretary of Labor James P. Mitchell rides herd on labor measures and, in tandem with Nixon, helped to settle the steel strike.

He is frequently mentioned as a Vice Presidential possibility on a Nixon ticket. Mitchell wouldn't alter a comma in Republican labor policy without Nixon's indorsement. The Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, Arthur S. Flemming, is responsible for an area with a high potential for influencing voters. Flemming's recent vain efforts to get President Elsenhower's acceptance a bill to help aged citizens pay for health and hospital care can be put down as reflecting Nixon's ideas on that issue.

Being from California, a State filled with retired oldsters, Nixon is reported to have been willing to go further than the President. Flemming apparently fought the battle, with, among other things, Nixon's political position in mind. These men provide Nixon with a kind of informal "Kitchen Cabinet. It's a safe bet that anything they may propose doing in the final months of the Eisenhower Administra- tion will be Nixon-oriented. I Jfl in csMcdirt it ij WASHINGTON.

PREPARE to meet the "new" Symington. I This is the Symington that his image makers are going to try to create as the Senator from Missouri pushes his Presiden- tial aspirations. The campaign to build the new image is aimed not at vot- ers, at this point, but rather at delegates to the Democratic Na- tional Convention. I They hope that by the time the convention opens in July i they can convince rank and file Democrats that their candidate I has two principal attributes. I First, the image must be of a scrappy, aggressive candidate out to "lick those Republi- cans, and make 'em like it." This, of course, Is a leaf from the Harry Truman notebook.

It is aimed not so much at the big city sophisticates as it is at the farmers in the Midwest who helped Truman over the top in 1948. Symington has displayed an aptitude for this sort of campaigning. He is trying to develop it further. He wants, apparently, to be a relaxed "whistle stop" type who can stir the deep-seated desires of Orthodox Democrats to blast Republicans in the Truman "give em Hell" tradition. Symington's approach, on the whole, is likely to be more earthy than any of his rivals.

At least part of this tactic is designed to try to correct the wide-ly held opinion that he is a dull speaker. The second part of the new Symington image will be built around the thesis that he can bring "party unity." This is an attempt to capitalize on his cutivated reputation as a moderate, standing midway between party extremists in the North and South. SHIRLEY MacLAINE "Can-Can" Comedy Called Tiresome (See Mike Connolly) Mike Connoilg 1' ti i Louella Parson HOLLYWOOD. i uunci ricrmj Krv win be able to attend the Acad-, emy Award presentations. She's the most disappointed girl in the world, but her doctor put his foot Since her' baby is now expected in June, a month sooner than predicted, -he didn't think it safe for her -to make the long trip from Europe and then back again.

Audrey and Mel Ferrer are in Paris for a few days. On the brighter side, Eliza- bpth Tavlnr n1n FsMij irch will be here for the big night. Both Audrey and Liz are nominees. One wiseacre who always likes to prophesy the outcome of the awards, believes that Audrey has a pretty good chance for "The Nun's Story," but who knows. Judy Holliday and Gerri Mulligan get to hold hands in "The Bells Are Ringing." He plays Judy's blind date.

"Crack in the Mirror," which Darryl Zanuck previewed at an invitational sneak in New York, was so well received that Dar- ryl is going into two other movie projects. He's bought a completed screen play by John Fante, titled "The Devil Is a Woman," based on the Carlo Blanco novel about Mediter ranean Gypsies. Juliette Greco will star as the Gypsy girl with three men fighting for her love. Zanuck planked down $125,000 for the Fante property, and he'll film the entire picture in Corsica. He also owns "The Big Gamble," which he has planned to make in America with Brad Dillman as the rtar.

Darryl says, however, that he may be -forced to make it abroad if the strike isn't soon settled. Maria 1 .1. i 11 uivuitc, iUdsmuiidD oiucu, nas been given a role with Spencer Tracy in "The Nuremberg Trials." A marital mix-up that could be the basis of a paperback thriller exists between movie starlet Rebecca Welles and her ex-husband, Barton Goldberg, New York hosiery executive. Although Goldberg is married to singer Sheila Bond, who ex-w pects her second baby, Rebec ca says that Goldberg divorced" her in Mexico without her knowledge or consent several years ago. And, since she has-been paying income tax for a number of years on a joint I basis, she is forced to him her legal husband because -a problem has arisen over her taxes.

She has complete sympathy for Golberg's second -wife, but because of the tax payments, for which she would -be liable, she has to think of herself. Kecnan Wynn, who has been recovering from chicken pox at home, is consoling himself with-the certainty that he's going to Italy next month to make picture with Anna Magnani, ELIZABETH TAYLOR Different with all our abominable habits, wicked prejudices and unforgivable lack of central heating. But if the London American can draw South Dakota closer to Suffolk, then well and good. 'night to Read Fees Are Sought A GOOD book," says John Milton, "is the precious life-blood of a master-spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life." Lofty stuff. But not good enough for Sir Alan Herbert.

He wants the life-blood to yield a little more treasure here on this poor earthly plane below. Sir Alan is to introduce1 a Parliamentary Bill creating a public lending right for authors similar to that enjoyed by musicians through the Performing Right Society. He points out that for royalties from a lending library he received only 3 over 20 years for 3600 borrowings of his two most widely read books "The Water Gipsies" and "Holy Deadlock." It would be a pity if Sir Alan, who has fought and-won some of the best fights of the century for freedom, should go down as the man who made reading more expensive in lending libraries. The burden would ultimately fall on the public. i What's in a artie As Long as This? I MOURN the passing of the smallest of all Brit-" ish Trade Unions "the piano punchers union" or, to give it its full bib and tucker title, the Amalgamated Society of Lace Pattern Readers, Correctors, Press and Piano Punchers.

It had only 12 members. Laugh JitJ Gardner VAVIER CUGAT and Abbe Lane, before flying to Pittsburgh en route to an engagement at the American in Miami Beach, recalled that when Abbe Lane first joined his band the billing read: "Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra" and in tiny letters at the bottom, "Vocals by Abbe Lane." A year later Abbe got featured billing, then, when they became Mr. and Mrs. they got equal billing, and on their current tour. all the signs and ads a d.

"Abbie Lane and Xavier Cugat." "Two more beeg moofies for her," Cugic told Kollmar, "and the act will read 'Abbe Lane and Scott Brady, who jumped from playing the villainous cowboy in "Destry Rides Again" to TV fame as "Shotgun Slade," came up with a dandy Iron Curtain story at Billy Reed's Little Club. It goes as follows: A Russian firm sent its star salesman, Tchernov, on a tour of satellite countries. Before leaving he promised to write his boss from every From Bucharest came a postcard reading: "Many greetings from liberated Rumania. Tchernov." A second card read: "Many greetings from liberated Hungary. Tchernov." This was followed by a card from Prague: "Many greetings from liberated Czechoslovakia.

rnov." Then came eight weeks of silence, and finally a souvenir postcard showing the New York skyline with a written message: "Many greetings from liberated Tchernov!" At the Liborio, Cuban-Spanish restaurant where the delicious arroz con polio, black bean soup and other delicacies you used to enjoy at La Floridita in Havana are reprised, Henny Youngman saw 4 foot 3 comic Jerry Bergen stroll in. "Gosh, Jerry," he said, "you've been losing height lately." A 4 4i fa 4 no SHELLEY WINTERS Recompense (See Lyons) The Lord handed out, to petitioners, the land they One man who came too late explained: "I'm late because I was praying for you." The Lord, pleased, said: "In that case you can have the land I was saving for myself." And that land, said the Russian, was Georgia. MOVIES: Miss Winters, leaving for Hollywood to attend the Academy Award ceremonies, said: "I hope I can make it; frankly, if only because of the weight I had to put on for my 'Diary of Anne Frank''role." REALTY NOTE: Mary Martin and Richard Hailiday, who bought an estate in the Brazilian jungle, are being hailed as brilliant investors. They confide, however, that they bought it only as a retreat and had no idea that Brazil's new capital would be built nearby, and that the ensuing road-building would enhance the value of their now-accessible property. THEATER NOTE: Albert and ranees Hackett, who won the Pulitzer i for "Diary of Anne Frank," have been commissioned to write" a musical based on the credit card way of life.

They discussed the plot problem with Edward" Chodor-ov, the playwright, who said: "But it's so simple, Diners Club 'flVM 111 boy meets American Express Card girl, and they dance the Carte Blanche Conga." BUSINESS NOTE: Evelyn Page, the singer now appearing at No. 1 Fifth worked as an understudy for Carol Chan-ning in "Wonderful Town." In describing her routine as an Understudy she said: "I used to come to the theater every day, and check over my lines, my songs and her temperature." TRAVEL NOTE: Darryl Zanuck, flying back to Paris from N. was delayed two hours in landing because Khrushchev's plane was arriving. Then, because the customs and immigration employes were busy with Khrushchev's group, there was another seven-hour delay. "Oh, well," said Zanuck, when he was cleared, "Khrushchev finally got even for Can-Can'." Correction It was incorrectly report- ed in Burt Boyar's column on March 15 that band it leader Pupi- Campo was beaten up because he ignor- ed a warning to get out of 'II Miami.

We regret any em- barrassment he may have p. experienced. SMI HOLLYWOOD. rolling along merrily in Holly- if anything in Hollywood can tVioco caH Have Tho twA ora World" at Fox and producer he really was the director of the picture that put MGM on the map back in the silent days, the original "Ben-Hur." Imogene Coca, who's been co-starring with King Donov in at the Pasadena Playhouse in "The Fourposter," will marry Donovan in October when his divorce from Ann Thomas is final. Kaffeeklatsch at the Cloister Club: "C'mon, Daddy, gimme a diamond wristwatch for my birthday, willya huh and daddy, make it HOCK-resistant, huh?" r.

1 i If 1 JUDY HOLLIDAY Holding hands (See Parsons) rnwo pictures have been I wd despite the strike a nollot morru Hiirinor producer Irwin Allen's "Lost Jack Harris "Dinosaur" at U-L They are shooting, around their striking "live" stars, un-. til the strike's over and the actors return to work, by training their cameras on the dinosaurs and other monsters that play important parts in the pictures. Believe me, this strike isn't funny. It may seem funny to Eastern columnists who kid about smuggling champagne and caviar to the "starving stars" who've been sitting out the strike lolling by their pools. A little lady who owns a newsstand said to me: "Look around you.

Two shoppers in the store. It's been like this ever since the strike started. We may have to close down. I tell you, it's a disaster for every merchant in town!" Funny? I don't think so. I'm surprised at Shirley Mac-Lalne.

She "mugs" all over the screen in "Can-Can." It's funny at first but it gets tiresome. As a result, Frank Sinatra "relaxes" the picture right out from under Shirley, who has plenty to learn about the art of underplaying parts. Silent-screen queen Corinne Griffith, divorced in 1958 from George Preston Marshall, owner of the Washington Redskins football team, has devoted a good deal of her since then to raising funds for a memorial to Hollywood's greats. The statue finally went up, at the corner of Beverly dr. and Olympic blvd.

in Beverly Hills, amidst much civic fanfare. Beautiful statue, too, with sculptures of such stars as Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Tom Mix, Harold Lloyd, Rudolph Valentino, Will Rogers, Conrad Nagel and Fred Niblo FRED Too late, the statue's up and Niblo is shown as a movie star instead of what 1 ft "The treasurer went out for a coffee break yesterday morning and we've just learned he's sipping it in Brazil!".