Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 22 January 1932 — Page 1

■<0 1

FEARLESS

THE POST-DEMOCRAT “HEW TO THE BLOCK; LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE *rHEY MIGHT”

TRUTHFUL

VOLUME XII—NUMBER 2.

MUNCIE, INDIANA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1932.

PRICE 5 CENTS

POLICE MATRON COMES TO RESCUE

Torment

By Helfur Surton

CALAMITY HOWLERS.

An editorial in the Star avers that there is no necessity of people running to Washington with schemes to cure the depression even though many persons are needing food, clothing, and fuel. The Star is opposed to Federal aid, and it is “sheered to death” of that word ‘‘dole”. Shakespeare said, “A ros • by any other name would smell a.s sweet.” And a dole by any other name would still be a dole. The fact remains that millions of people in this country

SCIENTISTS SAY ANOTHER TRUTH SERUM FOUND? Law About Accused Forcto Give Evidence, Is Obstacle.

The Street Sweeper |

By Dallas Williams Isn’t it funny?—when the rain falls, the river rises; and when it rains hard we get soft water.

Working on the theory that “truth will out,” scientists at the crime detection laboratory of Northwestern University ar^ experimenting with a new drug

are being fed by the dole. But why |known as .< tnith se rum,” which is not Federal aid? How come people saW to ])e so p otent that even the

glibbest liar, when put under its influence, must break down and i reveal the secrets of his soul. When the scientists have concluded their experiments they hope to establish the infallibility of “truth serum” so that it may be

are a part of the state govern ment, and a part of the local gov ernment, but not a part of the Federal government? How com it’s all right to pay presidents, pol iticians, and profiteers out of/Fed eral funds, hut'is “agin’ the Con

stitutlon” to help the people? ...... , . . These people by their labors in !| lsed ™ enminals with a vmw to the past have helped to provide b r, eakins through their lies and Ihese funds. But if the Federal f'lence and getting at the tin government can provide work for ,n ® uc h baffling mysteries, pay, as these hungry millions by the build- Who killed McSwiggin. ing of roads and other public) t)ne big ^obstacle, however, works,, so much the better. What [stands in their way. It is a law the people want and need is food,'that stipulates that the accused

clothing, shelter, and that they must have. To sheol with specious arguments about words. If there is

may not be forced to give evidence which may be used against him. “Truth serum” is a new name

no other way bring on the dole, for “twilight sleep,” an old drug And if that is “calamity howling” whose" chief ingredients are morpmake the most of it. bine and scopolamine. “Twilight

sleep,’ until came into disfavor in

HOOSIER

RADICALISM. Another editorial deplores the fact that Representative Crowe, of Bedford, has seen fit to follow the lead of Senator Norris along certain lines. The editorial laments that Senator Norris has been a continual thorn in the side of Republican administrations. It professes that Hoosiers will be shocked by such conduct About the only Hoosiers we know of that will be shopked are the old-liho politicians who have Constantly betrayed the people, and that other small class who get their pap directly from Wall Street. It is true that many of the people of Indiana have been misled by papers that are owned and controlled by outside millionaires. It true that many have been deceived by editorial writers daily yapping about the tariff. But in these times that try men's souls the people are beginning to open their eyes and look around. They are seeking a remedy for this desperate situation, and they are going to lay the axe to the root of the tree. And if the old-line political papers continue to hand out the kind of dope they have'in the past, so much the worse for these papers. The very fact that these same sheets are yowling about the “radicalism” of Governor Roosevelt, of New York, is a strong point in his favor. The people prefer radicalism to royalty. ’ t

WHY NOT EAT CAKE?

At the beginning ol the French Revolution when the mobs were raging through Paris, the pretty hut ignorant queen of France, Marie Antoinette, asked what was the matter. And one told her, “The people are hungry; they,demand bread; they have no bread!” “W,hy don’t they eat cake, then?” innocently inquired the spoiled darling. The upshot of it all was that later on the beautiful queen lost her head. Now, some of our so(Continued to page eight)

The boys of the Street Department enjoyed a good social dinner at the noon hour last Friday. The hoys occasionally have one of these dinners and get-together meetings. The street commissioner, Bill Daniel in person, claims the credit of preparing the food which was excellent, and of sufficient quantity for all. But we suspect that, if the truth were known, Mrs. Daniel is the real culinary artist. And we congratulate her on her excellence as a cook. Each of the boys contributes a small sum for the purchase of food, an(,d gets more than his money’s worth in the enjoyment and fellowship of these occasions. And if the department had more money to hire more men we could have bigger and bettey dinners.

The friends of David Deilkes, a former employe of the street department, itfe congratulating him on falling heir to quite a snug little fortune. Dave believes in keeping money in circulation, and has already bought two automobiles, one for himself and one for his

In the “.list Ilyar and Thar” column of the Star we notice the statement that the recent rains

niccp, until t/cijuc: iiiiii tuoioitit in .have cleaned the streets. f lhe wiitsome quarters, was used requentlyler of that article, like a great in obstetrical cases to deaden the many other superficial observers

pain of childbirth and remove the memory of that pain. Breaks Down Resolutions The effect of the drug, is to deress the nervous system and create a condition of amnesia or forgetfulness. According to Leonarde Keeler, associate in psychology at the crime laboratory, and Dr. €. W. Muehlberger, assistant director, “truth sej’um” removes the in halMtibhs and breaks down the resolutions of patients to tell lies. Actually, says Dr. Muehlberger, it stimulates a synthetic jag, comparable to the condition induced by about U half dozen drinks of gin. Varying the old Latin adage, “in vino veritas,it # may be said of that drug that “in scopolamine there is truth.” So far a dozen patients have submitted to tests at the crime laboratory. For the most . part they have been members of the laboratory staff and youhg students lof psychology in search of a new experience and willing to lend themselves to (he service of sci-

ence.

Administered Periodically The patients come to the laboratory at night. There they are requested to recline on a couch and a mild dose of the drug are administered periodically over the space of an hour with a hypodermic needle. At the end of an hour and a half the criminologists are ready to begin their prying ques-

tions.

Before the test is performed the patient js ; given certain questions and is requested to answer them truthfully and place them in a sealed envelope, so that the experimenters will not know the an swers untjl the test is concluded. The questioner stands over the patient and shouts his questions into his ear in order to penetrate through the patients drowsiness (Continued to Page 8)

does not seem to know that after a rain the streets are always in a worse condition than before, and that more dirt has to be removed. If the Star writer doesn’t believe that, we are willing to buy him a broom, and let him try his hand at cleaning tj>e streets the next day

after a rain,

And here we. want, to pause to say “Amen” to the statement we hear on every hknd that Bill Daniel is the best street commissioner

we ever had.

In these times of depression, delusion' and confusion, we would quote to i President Htoovb* and other so-called leader^ who are fumbling around trying to find a way out, our line ..from William Vaughn Moody’s most searching poem: "Blindness we may forgive, hut baseness we will smite.” LOG CABINS ARE IN BIG DEMAND

“Insufficient Servants”

By W. J. D. We have noticed that some homes in Muncie ) ave from two to three servants engaged to do the work around those homes, and all those servants have to do is wait upon two or three people. Some do the house work, others do the cooking and others take care of the grounds keeping clear of rubbish, and tending the lawn and some do nothing but drive the family wherever they wish to go in their auto. Three servants for a family of two or three surely looks to the writer as a pretty soft snap when compared with the number of people each employee of the street department has to wait upon. The population of Muncie is 46,548 persons, according to the last figures of the government census. The street department has 30 men working, and if you divide 46,548 by 30 you will find that each employe has to wait upon 1,551 persons. This means that each employe must haul the garbage, haul the trash, clean the streets, repair the streets and clean the sewers for 1,551 persons for the whole year. Do you think that the street employees should keep your streets and alleys as clean with this amount of people to serve as the two or three servants do your private home? The street employees are human the same as your servants, and none of you ask your private servants to do the impossible. Then why demand that the employees of the street department do the impossible? The next time you get a little peeved because the garbage collectors or the trash haulers are a little late in getting round to your home just remember that there are 1,550 other people in your part of the city besides yourself that those men must wait upon. Then imagine yourself in the place of these street department employees, and you may think that one employee is not enough to give 1,551 persons the same efficient service as the two or three servants do in your private home.

Fully Equipped for Comfort and Entertainment of Visitors.

Proof that the log cabins in the Muncie city parks as recreation centers has been established through the records of the park department which show a total of 46,967 reservations at the cabins during the year of 1931. Not only were the cabins patronized by local residents, but there were 324 reservations made by pleasure seekers from other communities who traveled to Muncie to obtain the use of the cabins The three log cabins are each an interesting rendezvous for indoor picnics, weiner roasts, lodge and society parties and were engaged for 1,704 other affairs. There being a Availing list of reservations at all times. Equipped for Comfort Two of the cabins, located in Heekin park and one in Rose park, have been fully equipped for. the comfort and entertainment of visitors. One cabin in Heekin park and one in Rose park have been built by the funds made available by the Burt H. Whitely fund. Adding to the rustic appearance of the Heekin park cabins, the construction of an old Avooden rail fence, to surround the cabins, has been planned, to he completed by February 1, this year. 1931 was the banner year for reservations for Muncie parks. During the year there were 369 reunions at both McCullouoh and Heekin parks, Avith 36,720 people in attendance, Avith 2,636 tables being put in use for the convenience of the public. To further provide for the greater attendance expected at reunions for the coming year the park department is building fifty new family tables, each having a capacity of twelve persons. o If only I’d had the horse’s part in “Sporting Blood,” what a star I’d be!—Madge Evans, movie act ress.

Muncie’s Y. M. O A. has become the rendezvous of a bunch of hoodlums. Respectable, cleanly people are almost afraid to enter the lobby for fear they will catch something in the way of crawling insects, the seven ear itch or something from so-called federal agents or their local stool pigeons, who have made the Y. M. their headquarters for the hatching out of a conspiracy to ruin- and imprison the mayor of Muncie on charges that have not the slightest foundation in fact. One of the stool pigeons used by the federal hoodlums, who were sent here by God knows whom, and who are now operating from the Detroit branch of what is humorously styled the department of justice, is a fellow by the name of Herschel Rose. This fellow has been living in the same house with a policeman who was discharged for failing to perform his duty. For eight months this man Rose has been living on orders supplied to him by the township trustee. • / • While life has been kept in his carcass by public money paid by you and me in the form of taxation,- his miserable existence- has been further augmented through funds suplied by men here in Muncie who hire him to procure perjured statements reflecting on the honesty and integrity of public officials of this administration. Those who have supplied the money that v is used to procure perjured statements are the crooks who have robbed you during the last administration and who seek my destruction in order that they may rob you again and again make Muncie a paradise for crooked contractors, gamblers, bootleggers and filthy prostitutes. ^ It was on the perjured testimony of this man Rose in the federal court last summer, that Judge Baltzell turned Elmer Gentry loose, after the police had caught Gentry in his robbers’ roost with hundreds of gallons of liquor. Last September Rose was arrested here on a charge of contributing to tjie delinquency of a small boy. He was placed in jail and stayed there thirtyfour days. He was then taken before Judge Guthrie, where he pleaded guilty to the charge of contributing to the delinquency of the boy. Rose is now running loose under a six months suspended penal farm sentence. It was this sweet and sublime character and others like him that the federal agents employ to run their errands and steer so called witnesses to the Y. M. C. A- school of perjury. Another agency of this rotten conspiracy is Clell Maple, known to fame only by occasional contributions to the People’s Forum. Those who know Clell personally will certainly agree with me that the agents of the federal government have a sweet little playmate. During my political contest in the fall of 1929 Clell was one of the walking delegates, in fact I believe he was the top sergeant of the whispering squad that went from house to house telling naughty tales about your humble servant. His masterpiece at that time, as I recall it, was the distribution of a story that Chicago gamblers were to move in in the event of my election and take the town and that they had contributed $15,000 to my campaign fund. You people had such profound convictions concerning the truth and veracity of Clell and the rest of the poison squad that you gave me so many votes I can never cease thanking vou for your generosity, your disbelief in the vile slanders against me and your confidence in my honor and the sincerity of my convictions. It is my profound belief that some one in authority who holds the power of life and death over petty government officials as authoriizng the school of perjury that has found lodgment in the Y. M. C. A. , A day or so ago I talked to Kinney Miller, the big shot at the Y. M. C. A. and expressed some astonishment that he would permit such vile characters as Rose and his companions to make the lobbv of the Y. M. their loafing place where they could mingle with the respectable youths of the city. Mr- Miller disclaimed responsibility for the school of perjury and I told him it would be dangerous now for him to fire the hoodlums out of the Y. M. (Continued, to Page Two)

SANTA GLAUS ROLE ASSUMED BY POLICEMAN

Lends Her Efforts to Procure Release of Father Convicted of Crime—Wife and Children Made Happy.

By Mary Early

Father Had Lost Leg— Mother Was Trying

to Carry On.

The story of how Patrolman Christopher Mitchell, of the Fouth avenue station, Brooklyn, listened io a hungry little girl, took pity upon her, and then, with his own money, bought a l^g Christmas dinner for her and her family, might never have come to light if Peggy’s grateful father hadn’t written a letter to Police Commissioner Mulrooney recently telling him all about it. - • As a result, Mitchell, who refused to divulge his name to the recipients of his bounty, but Avhose identity Avas determined later, was summoned to police headquarters, Mr. Mulrooney said, there to receive the commissioner’s personal and official thanks. Having worked the same heat for almost five years, Mitchell had known little Peggy slightly since she was two years old. He also knew that her father had had his leg cut off a few" years ago and had been out of Avork since. And he knew that her mother, who Avas ,not well, was hard pressed to keep up the tiny apartment under the elevated tracks on Third avenue and to provide food for the three

children.

, iAccordingly, the Wednesday (Continued to Page Eight)

UNITED STATES BURrAU OF MINES

As the years come and go, we may well ask the question: “What has brought more sorrow and distress into the lives and homes of our people than crime?” Rarely is it possible for any person to be guilty of law violation that it does not reflect directly upon the lives and happiness of one or nfore persons, thereby making those persons the innocent victims of the wrongs of another. Many outstanding cases of this nature are brought to the attention of the police matron in the regular perform-

ance of her duties.

One case in particular is that of a young husband and father, having a splendid little wife and two children, 1 and 3 years old at the time he became involved in trouble. Having appropriated an automobile not his property, to his own use, he was arrested, found guilty anti was sentenced to serve time in the Michigan City prison. Following his imprisonment, great hardships were brought upon his wife and little ones, yet with that true mother love, known only to those that are mothers, she struggled bravely. Although odds were strongly against her, she continued to maintain a meagre little home for her two helpless children, hoping for the dawn of the day when her husband would be released. When the expiration of the minimum time was reached, and it was apparently evident that her husband’s case would be brought to the attention of the board of pardons, there was begun an effort to get favorable action in his behalf. - The police matron added her efforts to obtain his release, by sending forward a lengthy explanation of the needs and desperate condition of his loved ones, adding that in her opinion, she was confident that society had been satisfied and that this man would be serving a far better purpose were he released and permitted to return to his family. The board of pardons paroled the man and the police matron says she is happy to state that she has had no cause to• regret th£ part she played in securing his release. This is but one of the doztens of stories’the police matron hears daily and convinces her more and more that - honesty,, is the best policy,” and the “ways of the transgressor is. hard” e aud, beset with many difiiculties. .

Gives Warnings and Suggestions Against Carbon Monoxide.

FINGERPRINTS AND REVOLVERS

Prints Should Be Govern-

ment Record, Says

Domingo Saa.

The season Avhen the death toll, due to carbon monoxide mounts rapidly, leads the United States Bureau of Mines, Department of Commerce, to call attention to the

hazards of this insidious poison M „ „ .. . ^ gas and points out ways of'com- The FolloWin S letter written by bating these dangers. Despite the Domingo Saa, was recently pubmany warnings sounded, hundreds lished by the Noav York Herald

of people are ,killed yearly from Tr : h . „ ;

exposure to carbon monoxide, pres-i

ent in automobile exhaust gases, I “ wll Q are these, pistol seekers manufactured gas, and in other,that complain about having their gases. The Bureaq of Mines is fingerprints recorded because such cooperating with an automobile procedure is used on criminals? manufacturing company, for the Were the millions who served in express purpose of helping to re-^ho late war criminals? Are taxi duce the heavy annual death rate cab drivers, tourists, commuters, from this cause. Jetc., looked upon as criminals be mu Dan 9 ep ^ ,osec * Door. (cause their photographs are tak ey show the extreme dangerJ en ? win some people ever grow o running an automobile engine in up! j wl u give my fingerprints at

Startlllg any time to anybody because 1

the family cai Avithm the garage, j^jjy e nothing to conceal Tire‘fact the doors blow to and, while the iJ to oneeai. lire, ta f; engine is being warmed up, the car- * t . 1 ha i nv e '"? 1 ^ b ° < f y S print ^'. shou ^ bon monoxide fumes in the ex-! be a S ov einment leeord F< irearms haust gases overcome the imsus- i may . ( aiise ca ty s - 11 • peeling driver. The family, Avail- ^ ew weeks aK ° ^ heard some-

ing for the car, become uneasy over the delay, and son, is sent to investigate. The boy, finds his ‘ father prostrate. A doctor is summoned and the local fire department rushes to the scene with an oxygen inhaiator. By the application of these prompt measures, the man’s life is s^ved. Other instances of exposure to carbon monoxide fumes in closed garages in Avhich the victim is not. so fortunate are also related. “Never run the engine in a closed garage!” and “Keep the doors open!” are the

warnings given.

Mother and Children. j The hazards from carbon monoxide likely to be encountered in repair shops and service stations are described. A heedless mechanic,'

gets beneath a car while the en- 1

gine is running. Never get under the car while the engine runs! | Headaches and half-sick conditions, are often due to the presence of; carbon monoxide in garages andi service stations. Methods of proper ventilation of such places are

shown.

The dangers to which the mother and the children in the home may be subjected by leakages of carbon monoxide. Children playing with their toys are suddenly affected by fumes escaping from a defective gas heater and the mother and the children at luncheon are attacked by carbon monoxide when, in the kitchen beyond, the coffee pot bolls over, extinguishing the gas and thus liberating the carbon monoxide fumes present in the flow of unburned gas from the stove. “Never sleep in a room with a gas appliance burning!” is another warning.

body in my cellar and I’ phoned the police quietly. It developed that the “culprit” was a youth whe was playing craps and ducked in to the cellar to avoid a policeman If I had had a gun available J would never forgive myself. The presence of firearms in a moment of temper or excitement may cause a calamity that can never be corrected. "We read of banks, jewelers, etc., being held up and robbed Dori’i the robbers know that then victims hqve guns? Of course, but they get ,tl>e “drop” on them. If a robber should gain entrance to my house armed with a gun he car take what he wants for I have bet ter sense than to make a bolt for a gun if his g,un is leveled at me. I don’t believe robbers Avill shoot un necessarily, but they Avill if inter fered with. “Incidentally, if all motorists were fingerprinted Ave Avould not have so many cases of criminals operating motor cars—and motoi cars ,are used in the majority ol robberies.”

Radio controlled apparatus ha been invented to enable an aut< mobile owner to open the doors c his garage as he approaches it b pulling a knob on his car’s instn ment board.

“A Lesson From Birds”

By W. J. D.

The birds know how to get their eats, But man in hunger walks the streets;

While stores are filled Avith food they crave,

They starve until they fill a grave. The alwise creature is man they say, Who puts great stores of food away; But birds fill their stomaems every day", And for food never ha\&e to beg or pray. They live on that which nature grows, Sometimes on grain the farmer sows; They’re not bfeund down by laws of man, But get their food Avhere e’re they can.

From place to place, great flights they make,

To gather food for their stomach’s sake; Each must gather the food it craves,

For in the world of birds there are no slaves.

But man, the creature who knoAvs it all, Must heed the cry of a master’s call; And furnish the food the masters eat, And live on crumbs that fall at his feet. Man now worships the golden calf,

Birds at his folly sing and laugh;

As they Avatch the slaving human mass, Give masters grain while they live on chaff. In this world there’s abundant, food for all. The creatures who fear not a master’s call; But as long as we bow to the golden calf, Some will live on grain and others chaff. This lesson from birds we all should learn, Each person by Avork his food should earn; Food should be raised for the stomach’s sake. And not for profit for masters to make.

Charity, thou art a disgrace, To all of the human race;

We hope justice will take your place, Then smiles Avill come hack to the human face.