Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 15 September 1939 — Page 4

<> ji

THE l>OST-DEMOCRAT FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1939. — 1 ——

THE POST-DEMOCRAT Jl Democratic weekly newspaper representing the Democrata of Muncie, Delaware County and the 10th Congressional District, The only Democratic Newspaper in Delaware County. Entered as second classc matter January 15, 1921, at the Postoffice •t Muncie, Indiana, under Act of March 3, 1879.

“DEMOCRATIC WOMANS' DAY"

PRICE 5 CENTS—$1.50 A YEAR

223 North Elm Street, Phone 7412. MRS. GEO. h. DALE, Publisher

Muncie, Indiana, Friday, September 15, 1939

Plan Is To Raise Money To Aid During The Campaign

Can the United States Be Neutral? By J. E. JONES

Washington, D. C., Sept. 12.—This second World War finds the United States definitely more sympathetic with France and England than we were with those countries a few months before we joined their war in 1917. Nine persons out of ten apparently hate Hitler. Hatred hurled us into the last World War. A few weeks ago Congress and the President were in disagreement over the question of what would insure a system of “Neutrality.” Everybody wanted a plan of neutrality that would be air-tight in the great object to “keep us out of war.” The administration is using the tools Congress gave it to establish American neutrality. It is just as impossible, in Washington, as anywhere else, to predict, or perhaps even to guess, what’s going to happen, next. The air is full of “reassurances.” Bombing planes are ready—in the United States, as elsewhere. The assurances that we will “keep out of war” are offset by noises that show every evidence that the United States has been “preparing” for the past two years. The stock markets are having the usual booms. Food and other prices are rising. The same peaceful thousands of miles of the Atlantic Ocean that once helped to protect this hemisphere from “entangling alliances” are still separating the United States from war-distraught Europe. Nevertheless, the symptoms of 1917, are not to be disregarded in 1939. Nations that go to war must necessarily withdraw their man-pov/er from factories and fields, and buy food and industrial supplies from neutral countries. A population like ours, in which millions are unemployed, and on relief, a nation of farmers who are selling their products at low prices naturally thinks of the richness of another “war boom ” Ypu may be sure of it. “Neutrality” is sensible. Big war markets have their attractions. The financial itch quickens our interest in the wars, and it is easy to recall that commumties that enjoyed boom times in 1917-18 did not conceal a hope that it will last another year or two.” If you can remember what happened 22 years ago-then you can remember a lot more: How America went into the war. How the United States thought it could not, and did not, stay neutral. J h , aV M he wa >\ matters ^and in the Capital of the United States, this nice day in early September, 1939.

RADIO AND PAPERS

The newspaper has keenly felt the broadcasting of th war news, since the average citizen has heard the lates events hours before he gets the newspaper. The situatio presents a serious challenge to the press. Some may sa that since radio gets nearly all of their information from th press one way to handle the situation is to deny the broac casting stations the telegraph service. However, that woul seem to be cutting off a nose to spite one’s face. The radi would get the news anyhow and nothing would be gained b the lack of cooperation. We believe, however, that the situg tion is a serious challenge to the press, and when televisio comes and both the news and pictures of the event are give the problem will present an even greater challenge. On wonders what the future holds. As a newspaperman, we ac mit a feeling of anxiety. Progress cannot be denied, and th newspaper of the future may become a radio broadcastin station. Have the newspapers passed their best days ? On would so believe.—Marion Times.

No Restrictions in Hatch Law Against Political Contributions

Restrictions on political activity of employees in the executive branch of the Federal Government, under the Hatch Act, are not as severe as indicated in the metropolitan press, according to Senator Carl Hatch. His explanation, based on rulings made by the Civil Service Commission, whose regulations he said were broadly followed in the Act, was made to the Senate Aug. 5 and appears in the Congressional Record of that date, page 15,570. There had been, said the Senator, widespread misunderstanding and also considerable misrepresentations as to its meaning. Among prohibitions on political activity, as now applied to persons in the classified lists, he described: candidacy for or service as delegate, alternate or proxy in political conventions; service on or for any political committee; organizing or conducting political rallies or meetings or taking part therein except as a spectator; organization or leadership of political parades, but marching in them is permitted and attending conventions as spectators is permitted. Also an employee may attend a mass convention or caucus and cast his vote. Reading from the established rulings of the Civil ' Service Commissoin, Senator Hatch explained that “voluntary contributions to campaign committees and organizations are permitted but an employee may not solicit, collect or receive contributions.” In a circular to all officials and employees of the Department of Justice knd to the Federal courts, Attorney General Frank Murphy stated: “Civil Service employees are required by the civil service rules to confine their opinions on political subjects to private expression. From the corresponding provision of the Hatch law, on the other hand, the word ‘privately’ was omitted. Accordingly,” continued the Attorney General, “as stated by the President in his message to the Congress approving the Hatch bill, non-civil service employees would not violate the act ‘if they should merely express their opinion or preference publicly, orally, by radio or in writing, without doing so as part of an organized political campaign’.” # “It was this administration which saved the system of private profit and free enterprise after it had been dragged to the brink of ruin by these same leaders who are now trying to scare you.” —President Roosevelt.

A report that “Democratic Women's Day” celebrations will be held Saturday evening-, September 16, in nearly every county of fortyone states to raise nickels, dimes an dollars for women’s x political work was made today by Mrs. Thomas F. McAllister, Director ot the Women’s Division, Democratic National Committee. The high spot of the celebration will be a message broadcast by Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt over all networks at 9:30 p. m. E.S.T. to the rallies throughout the country. Following her talk Mrs. Roosevelt will interview several women prominent in government on issues facing the country today. Among those who will be heard are former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Josephine Roche; Mrs. Ellen S. Woodward, . Member of the Social Security Board; Mrs. Florence S. Kerr, Assistant 'VyPA Administrator and Miss Helen Fuller, NYA Administrative Assistant, who will represent the point of view of youth. The President’s wife was the “idea woman” for the event. She suggested a nation-wide money raising day for Democratic women in her daily column some time ago. Later she said: “We have always waited for Anancial help from the men. We probably cannot finance ourselves entirely in the beginning, but I should like to have a money raising day such as the men have to enable us to get into the political field on a 50-50 basis, which extends even to finance.”

Mrs. McAllister explained that each state has been assigned a quota to be sent to national headquarters for the work of the Women’s Division. Ten per cent of the amount received will go to the Wonian’s National Democratic Club. All amounts garnered above the quota will remain in the states and counties for political work there. “We hope to raise enough money to lay the groundwork for effective service in the 1940 campaign,” Mrs. McAllister said.

Picnic and county suppers seem to be the most popular type of entertainment planned for “Democratic Women’s Day”, but countless dances, teas and bridge parties have also been scheduled. In Washington. D. C„ Democratic women are holding radio rallies in their homes, inviting guests to attend and pay a stated amount.

RIVER SMELLS MIGHTY GAD

When Sewage Disposal Plant Will be Finished No One Knows

A week ago, one of the staff of supervisors over»,the Muncie sewage disposal plant construction advised that someday, somehow, and perhaps some way, the local system may be completed and ready for use in solving the city sewage problem. This project has been talked about, begun, and tinkered with for many years. It has never been a question of being needed for that fact was known to everyone who either lived here or visited in this city. It was a problem of financing that continued active work on the project. After the federal government had provided for funds to be used for such projects, the Muncie sewage treatment works began to attract earnest consideration. Six years ago, the opportunity came to make it possible to build the intercepting sewer and disposal plant. An application was filed with the federal government to receive project. The money was allocated but the project was not begun because of a lack of cooperation between city officials and because of political prejudices. The allocation of federal funds was finally withdrawn and later another request was made for WPA funds with which to build the treatment works with federal relief employment. The sewer was started over three years ago and the project remains an uncertainty as to its completion to date. Besides, the expenditure of money for construction has cost many times more than it would have cost if it had been built six years ago. The city has sold nearly threequarters of a million dollars in revenue bonds to complete the job and also spent several hundred thousands of dollars from the sale of general obligation bonds. Interest is accumulating on these bonds and still we have no sewer but are paying enormous sums for one. The local sewage problem could have been solved years ago at much less cost to the taxpayers if politicians had not been permitted to bawl up the whole works. The taxpayers may expect to pay, pay, and pay, before they are ever to benefit from a completed sewage treatment works. The present low water and hot weather convincingly impresses the citizenry of Muncie that there %hpuld be no more delay in the placing into actual use, a completed sewage system.

Work on Middletown Garden Project Will Start Next Monday

The county housing authority has announced that the local project to be known as “Middletown Gardens” will start under construction next Monday. The project includes the building of 112 dwell-' ing units on a 13 1-2 acre tract of ground purchased several months ago by the local authority. The general contract for construction was awarded a few weeks ago to J. B. Snyder and Sons of Muncie on a bid of $288,788. The contracts have been given final approval by the United States Housing Authority in Washington. The purpose of the housing project is to provide for better living conditions to numerous families ( who cannot afford such under present conditions.. Slum areas will be eliminated and sanitary homes built which can be rented cheaply to families of a' low income. The project is expected to pay for itself within a long period of years. There are two units locally, the .county authority and a city group. \The city housing authority is expected to begin work soon on the construction of new homes south of the railroads between Walnut and Elm streets. This project will bo known as “Munsyana.” Considerable discussion has been made during recent past months concerning the advisability of spending money for such projects. The original purpose of the program is not to be criticized inasmuch as it is conceded that better housing conditions are needed in numerous locations. It is often wondered whether or not the proposed buildings here will really benefit the class of families for which such were intended. Also, it has been mentioned what will happen to those persons and families whose present homes will be demolished in order to build new structures during the period of' construction. At least, the area which will be built up with new construction will add to the cleanliness and beauty of our city and no doubt a number of deserving families will benefit from the better homes. The employment furnished will aiso add to the welfare of Muncie workers. o PRISONERS LIKE THE LIFE

Johannesburg—Tanganyika has a prison with no bars, no cells and no walls, and where prisoner’s don’t try to escape, because they prefer to stay where they are. Legal Notice

AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING PROTECTION SERVICE AT CERTAIN RAH.ROAD CROSSINGS AND RKGUIATNG THE SPEED OF TRAINS WITHIN THE CORPORATE I.IMITS OF THE CITY OF MUNCIE, INDIANA. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCID OF THE CITY OF MUNCIE. INDIANA: * Section 1. That there shall he furnished and maintained by the New York Central Railroad System, its lessees, successors and assigns, protection service to the general public thi-oughout the twenty-four hours of each day at the crossings of its railroad tracks with South Liberty Street, South Council Street and Perkins Avenue in the City of Muncie. Indiana. Section 2. That there shall be furnished and maintained by the New York Central Railroad System, its lessees, successors and assigns, and by the Indiana Railroad, its lessees, successors and assigns, either separately or in cooperation with each other, protection service to the general public throughout the twenty-four hours of each day at the crossing of its or their tracks with Batavia Avenue, in the City of Muncie, Indiana. . : Section 3. That there shall he furnished and maintained by the Nickel Plate Railroad, its lessees, successors and assigns, protection service to the general public throughout the twentyfour hours of each day at the crossing of its railroad tracks with South Liberty Street, in the City of Muncie. Indiana. Section 4. That there shall be furnished and maintained by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, its lessees, successors and assigns, protection service to the general public throughout the twenty-four hours of each day at the crossing of its tracks with East Eighth Street, in the city of Muncie, Indiana. Section 5. That it shall be unlawful for any steam railroad locomotive, or any such locomotive and railroad car or cars, to be driven over or moved at a greater rate of speed than forty-five miles per hour at any point along railroad tracks extending between the westerly corporate limits of the city of Muncie and Perkins Avenue in said city of Muncie: and that it shall be unlawful for any steam railroad locomotive, or any such locomotive and railroad car or cars, to be driven or moved at a greater rate of speed than thirty miles per hour at any point along railroad tracks between said Perkins Avenue and the easterly corporate limits of the city of Muncie, Indiana. Section 6. Any railroad corporation whose duty it is to provide protection service as required by this ordinance, which shall fail to do so shall be liable to a penalty of two hundred dollars per day for each day of part of day it shall fail to provide such protection service after the taking effect of this ordinance, which penalty shall be recoverable at the suit of said city. Section 7. Any engineer operating any locomotive or train, and any conductor having charge of any train permitting arty train to be operated, at the rate of speed in violation of any provision of this ordinance, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than three hundred dollars. Section 8. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. (Section 9. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor and its publication as required by law. Passed by the Common Council of the City of Muncie, Indiana, this 11th day of September, 1939. ORVAL L. SUTTON, President Presented by me to the Mayor for his approval and signature this 14th day of September 1939. J. CLYDE DUNNINGTON City Clerk Approved and signed by me this 14th day of September, 1939. IRA J. WILSON Mayor Attest: J. Clyde Dunnington, City Clerk Sept. 15-22

Armageddon has come to Europe again. More ominously prophetic than ever, seem the words of Lord Grey, Premier of Britain, spoken on that fateful night ip 1914 when the start of the first World war was but a few brief hours away. “The lights hve going out one by one over Europe. They will not be lit again in our lifetime.” And uppermost in the mind of every American is the role that our nation can and should play in world affairs in this time of disaster abroad. The President has appealed by radio to the people to maintain neutrality. He has officially proclaimed a state of neutrality, and has, as required by law, declared effective the general arms embargo imposed by the neutrality act. Going by all available evidence, the American people, sympathetic as the bulk of them are with the cause of Britain and France, are vigorously determined to remain neutral in fact if not in thought. The disillusioning lessons learned from our participation in-the last war have not been forgotten. Press polls of members of Congress indicate practically unanimous opposition to again sending an A. E. F. to other lands. So do the editorial expressions of leading newspapers. The President h?s called a special session of Congress to re-ex-amine our neutrality legislation. The Administration firmly believes that we should sell arms and anything else to warring powers on a cash-and-carry basis, to be transported in their own ships. The principal conflict between White House and Congress last session was caused by this. The isolationists won and the in toto embargo was retained. Up to the very moment when Europe went to war, isolationist feeling was apparently on the increase. But in these tragic and stirring times change in sentiment can and does come with lightning-like rapidity. Late information indicates that a number of Senators and Representatives who opposed the Roosevelt-Hull plan have now changed their position. The vote was extremely close when the bill came to the floor last session, and it is possible that the cash-and-carry plan now has a majority. . Theoretically, the cash-and-carry system is a neutral one—any nation can come to our shores, get what it wants and take it home. In actual fact, as everyone knows, it would be of Immense aid to the democracies. England absolutely dominates the seas and the trade lanes. In the first few days of the war England captured several German merchantmen, and forced others to seek haven in neutral harbors where they must remain indefinitely. British warships, in the view of military experts, will make it possible for the allies to carry on trade with this country on a near normal basis. Any German ship seeking to make a run here and back would face almost certain destruction or capture. There is one less favorable phase of the cash-and-carry plan so far as the British and French are concerned—and that lies in

the belief held by a number of qualified men that we will be able to give the democracies relatively few military supplies—that our own rearmament program will swallow practically all the arms and munitions and planes we can produce. That remains to be seen. Looking at Hie war generally, there is one note of hope the opinion that it cannot last a very long time, because of Germany’s great economic weakness, and the clear desire of the masses of her people for peace. One of the best experts says that Germany might last two years if the French fight a defensive war, and not more than one year if the French take the offensive. First reports indicate the French have chosen the latter course, and are carrying the war to the enemy on the Western Front. The United States News observes, “One certainty in an uncertain world now it this: Prospect of any return to ‘normalcy’ at home or abroad is gone.” Thus the hazards of forecasting business become even more acute. One thing seems to be true: We will continue to re-arm on a gigantic scale and that is naturally a strongly favorable temporary factor. Building up the military establishment means more business for practically every industry and trade. We are better prepared for trouble abroad than in 1914. . Plans have been made for imposing controls on the stock exchanges, to prevent disastrous rises or falls in security quotations. Other plans have been made to help stabilize industry. Bad economic factor is that a lengthy war would undoubtedly result in a British blockade of Central Europe, thus cutting off our trade there.

LOCAL (Contmued From Page OnM fare of the Democratic party which has given greater opoprtunities to the workers of this country. It is expected that a large delegation of local labor groups will attend the meeting to welcome Mr. Bays and to be his guests for the program of entertainment. It has been advised by local labor leaders that their organizations have been looking forward to a visit from the state chairman for several weeks. Mr. Bays and a large group of Democratic editors together with a crowd of party workers will attend the Democratic Editorial sessions at French Lick, Ind., this week end. Next Wednesday night will be the first public appearance in Muncie by Mr. Bays. The meeting is scheduled to start at 8 o’clock. j o DOLLAR ALIMONY ASKED

Visalia, Cal.—It is believed that an all-time low in alimony demands has been established here v Mrs. Margaret Saylor in her suit for divorce asks alimony of $1 a month.

vacation days are over there are usually many things to be done about the house in preparation for the fall and winter months. Household Helper No. 1 at such a time is the telephone. Let it shop for you, make appointments, order the product or service you want. This able assistant will save you many steps—lighten “after vacation M duties. y&u elo not /uire a fv/efi/ionv gef In lottcA im'/A Mt/t, ^Bubinete (Office /oday.

INDIANA BELL TELEPHONE (jik^ COMPANY

EMPLOYMENT INCREASING Pronounced Upward Surge Noticeable All Over the Nation

Most of the Indiana manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries studied by the Indiana State Employment Service in cooperation with the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expanded employment and pay rolls from mid-July to midAugust, according to an announcement today by J. Bradley Haight, acting director of the state agency. His statement was based on a tabulation of early reports made available by 2,198 establishments employing 169,199 wage earners in August. This was an increase of 3.9 per cent from the July employment in identical firms. Pay rolls increased 6.9 per cent during the month. A pronounced upward surge was recorded for manufacturing industries when reports from 876 plants with 127,035 wage earners in August showed advances of 5 per cent in employment and 8.6 per cent in pay rolls. Although an upturn is normally expected in August, seasonal indexes for Indiana manufacturing employment show an increase of .5 per cent is the seasonal average. Bureau of Labor Statistics indexes for the United States show an average increase of 1.9 per cent from July to August for the 20-year period from 1919 to 1938, inclusive. Although these figures are of a preliminary nature, the increases were so wide-spread and of such magniture as to leave little doubt but that the filial tabulation also will show a general expansion of manufacturing activity from July to August. All of the 14 major groups of manufacturing industries studied expanded pay rolls and all but the textiles and their products group increased employment from July to August. The textiles and their products group showed little change during the month, decreasing employment .8 per cent but increasing pay rolls .4 per cent. Employment increases from July to August in manufacturing ranged from .5 per cent in the chemicals and petroleum refining group to 2.3 per cent in the food and

kindred products group. Nine of the 14 groups studied expanded employment one per cent or more. Pay roll increases for the manufacturing groups ranged from .4 per cent to 24 per cent from July to August. Two groups—textiles and their products and chemicals and petroleum refining—each increased pay rolls .4 per cent. All of the other 12 groups of manufacturing industries expanded pay rolls more than 2 per cent. Pay roll gains of more than 10 per cent from July to August were shown for machinery, transportation equipment, railroad repair shops, non-ferrous metals and' products, lumber and allied products, and leather and its manufacturers groups. The greatest single factor in the current employment expansion, aside from the general cyclical trend, was the seasonal increase in the canning industry. The fact that July pay rolls were curtailed by the Fourth of July holiday was a factor in the gains recorded from July to August. The preliminary August index for all manufacturing employment in Indiana reached the highest level since December, 1937, and was 17.9 per cent ahead of August, 1938. The preliminary pay roll index for all manufacturing was above that for any month since November, 1937 and 30.4 per cent higher than a year ago. Employment in plants manufacturing durable goods expanded 3.9 per cent from July to August and 26.1 per cent from August, 1938, to August, 1939. Pay rolls for this group showed gains of 11 per cent in the monthly comparison and 45.1 per cent for the year period. In the non-durable goods group of manufacturnig industries, employment expanded 7.1 per cent from July to August and 5.5 per cent during the 12 months ending in August. Pay rolls gained 3.3 per cent during the month and 5.7 per cent for the year. Reports for 1,322 non-manufac-turing establishments employing 42,164 wage earners in August showed increases of .8 per cent in employment and 1.7 per cent in pay rolls in comparison with July. Retail trade, wholesale trade, and laundries experienced contra-seas-onal losses while quarrying and non-metallic mining showed contraseasonal gains in employment and pay rolls. The other non-manufac-turing industries adhered closely to the normal seasonal pattern. Germany purchased over 40,000 tons of American lumber last year.

In a Few More Days It’ll Be Gone for Another Year..

The Annual Old Stove Round-Up has long been known as a bargain harvest for thrifty homemakers. Hundreds of them have already bought during the 1939 Round-Up. You’re invited to join the ranks by turning in your old stove now on a modern CAS range . . . but you’ll have to hurry, for Round-Up days are numbered. ' Prices are low . . . terms are easy . . . and you get as much as $20 for your old stove. Better in 22 Important Ways

This Round-Up special contains 22 super-per-formance standards established by the American Gas Association. These features mean that you will cook easier, cook better, cook quicker with a Certified Performance GAS range than with any cooking device ever made.

Model No. 1436, Made by Roper Introductory *4 no cn Round-Up Price iillUU.OU

LESS—

Trade-In »i Allowance ......

20.00

You Pay Only 89.50

Cash Price — Terms Available