Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 12 January 1940 — Page 1

THE POST-DEMOCRAT

VOLUME 20—NUMBER 33.

MUNCIE, INDIANA* FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1940.

PRICE: FIVE CENTS

Hoosier Politics Faces Threatened Tax Scandal

Federal Investigations Expected to Hit Several Higher-Ups In Administration Circles' But Should Add Respect to Democrat! Party in Cleaning Own House; Selfish! Leaders May Embarrass Party But Never Underground the Doctrines of Good Government; Republicans Have Often Fallen Into Ranks of Shame,

The prediction a few weeks ago by Walter Winchell, radio and newspaper columnist, that a major public scandal would soon be announced apparently is on its way according to Drew Pearson and Robert Allen, authors of the daily Washington Merry-Go-Round. The scandal is reported to hit at Indiana and involves income tax investigations of several higherups in Hoosier politics. Although not personally included in the trouble, an attempt is made to discredit Paul McNutt, former governor of this state, present Federal Security Administrator, and possible candidate for the Presidency this year.

Without doubt, Republican poli-

CHURCHGOERS BUS BARS RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION Aberdeen, Scotland—Religious arguments are barred on the “churchgoers special,” a bus which carries members of three sects to their own churches in the village of Keiss, Caithness. Members of the Free Church, the Church of Scotland and the Baptist church mingle sociably during the ride, but avoid discussing religious subjects. PURCHASING POWER OF MONEY ON INCREASE Democratic Party Is Bringing Prosperity To The Nation

According to some Republican authorities, Secretary Hull is bent on wrecking the agricultural interests of this country i

with his reciprocal trade agreements.

But, according to the publicity director of the Republican | National Committee—made, however, before he had attained ! his present eminent position and while he was presumably | expressing his own views—the effort to make a campaign is-1 sue of the reciprocal trade agreements is not so hot. For | j this gentleman wrote under his own signature: “Because

Week Named By Governor

TAFT’S SECRET BUDGET

“Senator Taft ought not to’ keep this precious secret from his fellow citizens. What are the specific provisions of his promised “balanced budget”? . . . . Let’s see the proposed Republican balanced budget now. Let’s have a pre-view of this miracle that is to maintain relief, reduce taxes and wipe out a deficit.”—Philadelphia

Record.

EVER RECOMES A COMMUNIST

ny such scandal could md scandal by Republi-

DECLARED ASSET

ticians will endeavor to create campaign issues from the alleged misdealings of would-be Democratic state leaders but it is believed that the house cleaning of several sfelfish and questionable characters who prefer to dominate Democratic politics in Indiana will serve to strengthen the party in the coming campaign and demand greater respect from the public. It may be considered that a multitude of persons throughout the state and nation could be cited for infractions of the federal income tax law so it may also be conclud-

ed that any

•*-- —-never reach

Teapot Dome

can party leaders twenty years

ago.

Treasury Department investigations have been carried on not only in the state but in our own community during recent months. Some of our own greedy officeholders whose incomes have puzzled the public are identified with the same group of party leaders in state politics who are involved in the reported tax scandal. These local suspected politicians who became a detriment to the party were intended to be removed from power at the last election. The sooner such characters are excluded from Democratic* leadership, the sooner prospects for party success are assured. It is entirely possible that because some of his associates are found to be incredulous, the ambitions of McNutt may be hurt but such is just as unfair and unreasonable as any employer being disgraced because of some act of crime by an employee. At least the Democratic national and state administrations are cleaning their own houses without partiality to anyone and this must be respected by the public. The forthcoming scandal is reported to be the result of federal investigations among political machine dignitaries in their tax income receipts

Since March 4, 1933s the one aid ] of President Roosevelt and the [Democratic Party has been to in-

of

ed funds derived from illegal practices and not reported.

Political scandals are frequent j crease the purchasing power throughout the nation especially J the American people as the only during a campaign year and Indi-j means of restoring prosperity and ana is not alone. Furthermore, the \ employment in our country and Democratic party has been far ! lifting the nation from the depths overshadowed in such scandals ] 0 f the disastrous Hoover depres-

by those of the Republican party ’[ sion.

so the public can accept any such | geveral methods have , )een d investigations as being a part ot to accomplish this I)Ur po se _loans politics. It is creditable to the to businesg and indllstry; to banks

Democrats that they are sitting ^ ^ —

out the bad agents and will keep their party program on a level or honest and good goveisiment instead of allowing it to he deterior-

ated by selfish influence.

Pittsburgh—When things don’t seem to go right about the middle of the morning and again in the afternoon, it won’t do to go around with a chip on your shoulder in the office or factory, wher-

ever you happen to work.

Instead, try to relax, get your mind off your work for a few minutes, because, says Dr. Russell R. Jones, industrial medical officer, chances are you’re suffering from

“occupational charleyhorse.”

The same thing can happen to industrial and office workers as occurs when an athlete is overworked without supplying his muscles with the proifter nutrition,

according to Dr. Jones.

“For some reason which scientists haven’t been able to determine accurately most people go into a slump somewhere between 10 and 11:30 a. m.. Dr. Jones said. “They’ll repeat during the latter part of the day—usually twice.” Usually, the best remedy is rest or diversion which may subtract from the working day but which usually results in more being ac* complished when quitting time rolls around. One Pittsburgh firm has found that it pays to give

which is supposed to have includ- employes two recesses a day.

A SUCCESSFUL JACKSON DAY DINNER Last Monday night the Jackson Day dinner was held in the Riley room of the Claypool hotel at Indianapolis and was attended by more than 1000 Democrats from all parts of the state. The event was conducted to raise funds with which to redeem a deficit of the party national committee and also to provide for funds with which to conduct the national campaign this year. Tickets for the banquet amounted to $25 each and nearly $26,000 was received which was more than Indiana’s share to the national organization. The principal speaker of the evening was Governor Herbert R. O’Conor of Maryland. Governor Townsend also spoke before the packed audience and introduced O’Conor. Ten or twelve representatives from Delaware county were present at the banquet among whom were Mrs. Mable Young, Tenth District vice-chairman, William Price, Lon Bracken, Earl Everett, Earl Clevenger and others. In the same hotel on the ninth floor, a group of 200 Republicans met to dine on crackers and milk after eating square meals at home and to chide the Democrats who paid twenty-five dollars per plate at the Jackson dinner. The G.O.P. dessert dinner was sponsored by the Marion county youpg Republican club at 25 cents per person. The Republican dignitaries spent the evening spitting forth ridicule and discredit to the Democratic party. Their two-bit party may be considered mighty cute but they must admit that we all became very well accustomed to a bread an<i milk diet during the last rule of a Republican administration in the White House so after all they were not really

pulling a martyr act.

and Building and Loan Associa tions; to farmers and workers and other individual citizens. Building construction has been aided through the FHA and the USHA; putting thousands of carpenters and members of the. Building Trades to work; Great Public J'^Vorks haye been undertaken through the construction of dams and reservoirs, roads and bridges j and thousands of public buildings, putting other thousands to work to build up purchasing power; the great social security program was inaugurated, to aid the masses of the people; old age assistance, compensation insurance! and now old age insurance—all building up purchasing power; the ’agricultural industry was aided through grants, both to build soil, to prevent arosion, to conserve lands and forests, to provide crop insurance and at the same time add purchasing power to the farmers’

pocketbook.

Many other applications of this principle were advanced and used through the power of the Federal Government, aided by the various State Governments. Labor has approved of this policy. Agriculture has approved of it and so have smart businessmen. But throughout the years since 1933 the Republican/ leadership has been poking ridicule and criticism at the “pump priming” and “spending” programs of the Ad-

ministration.

Now the program is bearing fruit. Prosperity is here. Prosperity which has out-prospered the so-called fabulous year of 1929. And still the administration is not satisfied and proposes to boost the national income at least 25 percent over the income of 1929. And at long last a non-partisan voice is Heard putting the stamp of approval on the party’s program— the Alexander Hamilton Institute, an extremely conservative and respectable business agency. Here is the statement of the Institute: “America’s employment problem will be solved only through increasing the purchasing power of the consuming public to a level which will support a national productive activity 25 percent above the boom level of 1929.” That’s what we’re doing. Thanks.

j many years ago the Republicans managed to remain in power j j for a long period by thumping the full dinner pail, they ap- i | parently feel that they can make a winning issue of the pres- j J ent Democratic tariff policies. One would imagine the capital I Republicans would shoot on sight anyone who suggested rais1 ing the question of the New Deal’s reciprocal tariff program.” Nevertheless, the Republican National Committee recently issued an attack on Secretary Hull’s program, in which, for ] example, Representative Knutson states that “imports of

j cattle^ increased from 206,000 head to 604,000 head in the! #%|bi ■■ j first nine months of the current year over the same period j|Jn UfllUjp nWNiR

j I know statistics are boring, but you can only answer ■ statistics with statistics. Therefore let us humbly present that the fact is that only 283,649 head of beef and dairy animals were imported at reduced rates of duties under any trade agreement during the period that Congressman Knutson uses for his sample of injury to the American farmer. The other day Col. Frank Knox, Republican candidate for Vice President in 1936, came out frankly for free trade with all South America, and “prompt removal of unnecessary trade barriers with other countries, as a step toward economic prosperity and world peace.” This was in a speech before the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. And a little before • this, a Congressional committee, considering the U. S. - Argentine trade agreement, was hearing from certain industry because President Roosevelt had authorized the purchase of a relatively small quantity of South American canned corn beef for the army and navy—not because it would cost half as much as the American product but because it was a better product. It was better for the. simple reason that all the best parts of a beef critter are used in the United States by the packers for sale as everything from sirloin steaks to frankfurters, while tbe Pampas cattle, being cheaper and more plentiful and with a’ different kind of market, go into the cans— steak meat, and roast meat, and in fact the meat from the

whole animal.

Col.Knox’s remark caused this comment from the Washington Daily News: “We had a lively commerce with Latin America until the Republicans erected the Smoot-Hawley tariff. Comes now one of the most stalwart of all the G.O.P. guard, blowing his trumpet before walls which we fear will

prove more enduring than those of Jericho.

New Deal Makes It Pos-

sible For Poor Man

To Own Home

American citizens crowded in filthy slum tenements unfit for adult habitation let alone for babies and growing children. We saw share-croppers and farm ten-

ancy on the increase.

And yet, under a Democracy, 'free enterprise means, if it means

The sorrows of the farmers, so movingly described by any th > n §:> th at every man shall not

the opponents of the trade Agreement, may be judged—to get statistical again—by the circumstance that whereas the cash farm income in 1932 amounted to $4,606,000,000, this year the estimated figure of cash farm income is $8,400,000,-

No one, we believe, ever saw a home owner, or a property owner carry a red flag in a parade. And no one who owns property, or owns a home subscribes to the theories of communism. But for two decades, the Republican capitalistic leadership made it almost impossible for a worker to own his own home, or for a farmer to buy or keep his farm. Thus during those periods from 1920 to 1933 we

January 24th to 30th Announced for Charity Fund Drive In Indiana; State Committee Sees Greater Receipts Than Ever Before From Campaign to Save Crippled Lives; President Birthday Parties Will Again Aid Cause to Eliminate Spread of Disease. Infantile paralysis is a disease which must be continuously battled in order to keep from destroying human lives, especially among our youth, since its spreading is known to break out in an unvaried number of cases and medical research for cause and cures for the disease has merely scratched the surface so far. This report was made last Wednesday at a state meeting of county committees for the fight infantile paralysis campaign now under way throughout America. The meeting and luncheon was held at the Indianapolis Athletic club, attended by approximately 200 workers and presided over by Adjutant General Elmer F. Straub, state chairman of the drive.

It was reported that while only two cases of infantile paralysis were handled by the Riley hospital in Indianapolis two years ago, 23 cases have been received in that institution during the past year. Thirty grants of funds were made last year in Indiana by the National Foundation for the purpose

fsaw farm ownership decrease^ of fighting infantile paralysis, from about 70 percent to 55 per- Fourteen of these grants were cent. We saw millions of free-born | made to institutions throughout

the state and sixteen were allotted for research work on tne d-sease. Due to the specializing in child diseases by the Riley hospital, a state institution located in Indianapolis, it was announced that Marion county received more funds to fight this cause last year than was contributed •, fib the na*'

ohiy have the opportunity to work, tional foundation from this area.

NEWSPAPERS INFORMATIVE

YVfr a r-End Publications Could Be Used As Demo. Handbooks

The year-end editions of the metropolitan newspapers might well be used as Democratic campaign handbooks - insofar as the economic picture of the country is concerned. Yet, in spite of these inspirational stories of prosperity at hand, prosperity reflected in the advertising columns of the news-

000. The price of wheat per bushel in 1932 was 32.2 cents, and in September of this year it was 72.7 cents, the price at the farm. And in the face of the cattle imports so erroneously quoted by Representative Knutson, the farmers got $4.25 a hundred pounds in the last year of Hoover and are getting

over $7.00 a hundred now.

Perhaps the saddest part of the situation from the G.O.P. standpoint is that the farmers do not seem tb know that they are being ill treated, for the other day the American Farm Bureau Federation, at their annual meeting in Chicago, endorsed the trade agreements program. Every now and then somebody puts on mourning for the dairymen. Well, the imported farm dairy products consumed in this country amount to about one-half of one per cent of the domestic production, and the importations are mainly of special and fancy European cheeses. The critics of the reciprocity arrangements love to deal with total figures, when they estimate the size of agricultural imports into this country. These include such products as coffee, rubber, raw silk, and other crop products that are not, raised at all in this country and that consequently have been

on the free list all the time.

“What farmer,” asked Secretary Hull, when he was addressing the American Farm Bureau Federation, “was hurt by the $121,000,000 or rubber we brought in or by the $101,000,000 worth of coffee, or the $75,000,000 worth of raw silk?” He also enumerated the $80,000,000 importation of bananas, cocoa beans, carpet wool, and tea. However, presumably the Republicans must have some issue and obviously have not been able to formulate one yet, although their platform-building outfit, the Glenn Frank committee, has been working at it for two years. Perhaps that is why they are going back to the ideas embodied in the Smoot-Hawley tariff bill, for that is what all this fuss about

trade agreements means.

"papers themselves, their “policy” Stories continue to flaunt and criticize the program of the Dem-

ocratic party.

We read in these newspapers of a record year for American business and industry. We read that there are more workers employed in industry than ever in the history of the nation. We read that the farmers are enjoying incomes comparative to the record year of 1929. We read that industrial and business incomes and dividends have soared above and beyond 1929 and that the index for this year will set a new all-time high. And yet, we read in one such Tory newspaper this description of the Democratic program as “a snake that has risen to strike down American initiative.” We have read in the same press that the Democratic program is stifling business, that it is an enemy to profits. While these Tory journals and the Republican press is cursing the Administration,, .the financial papers such as the Wall Street Journal, are sending out figures which spoil their ;picture. These business statistics are Tittle short

of Administration propaganda and are much more convincing to the average reader than the mouthings of the hide-bound critics. If these Tory editors and these industrial barons can find time out from clipping dividend coupons they can see that there is considerable initiative yet left in America. There is a continuous scramble for orders and the roar of factory machinery drowns the

wails of the pessimists.

If this administration has been trying to cripple business, then it has utterly failed, for the nation today is confronted by more private initiative than ever existed when Herbert Hoover drove the Govern-

ment onto a siding

ago.

o

but that he shall haye the right to own and hold the product of his

toil.

The Democratic party, when it took office under the leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, immediately recognized that if free enterprise and the capitalistic system was to endure in the nation, this free enterprise must begin at the bottom of the economic scale; that those men and women who are so situated that they are unable, by their own efforts, to support themselves and families, must have opportunity to earn and hold

property.

And so great reforms were enacted to elevate the masses of the American people starting from the lowest rung of the economic ladder. And it is refreshing to note that in Indiana alone, the Federal Housing Administration has insured loans for the purchase and construction of homes totaling $120,000,000; it is further gratifying to know that American citizens with incomes from $900 to $1,500 can now buy or build homes on government insured loans up to $2,500 and have fifteen years in which to pay. This great home ownership program has been inaugurated throughout the nation. Slum areas have been cleared for the lower income classes. In Indianapolis, in Vincennes, Evansville, New Albany, Fort Wayne and other cities modest modern homes have been created on the ashes of disease and crime breeding slums. And yet the Republican prate of free enterprise. — o FAMILY IN PAST 32 YEARS HAS MOVED 34 TIMES

Stonington, Conn.—Charity workers are attempting to determine settlements on a family which recently moved into the town and which is on relief. The apportionments are for an expert to decide. The family, they say, moved 34 times in 32 years in a tour of the following towns: Jewett City, Fiskdale, Ballouville, Voluntown, Occum, Glasgo, White Rock, Attawaugan, Pachaug, New London, Goodyear, Norwich Falls, Central Village, Moosup, Passaic, N. J., Pawcatuck and Stonington. The moves took the family back several

tims to ttye same town.

Two years was the longest period

seven vears> in an y town - The department deJ ‘ dined to reveal the family’s name.

o

DOG’S BITE LEGAL ISSUE

BILLFOLDS IN MAILBOXES.

Pasadena, Cal.—Judge Frank C. Collier has been called upon to answer one that Solomon had the good luck to' escape. He has been asked to rule whether if a wife’s dog bites someone, her husband can be held liable for damages.

j St. Louis, Mo.—Empty billfolds figure prominently among non-mail matter emptied from mall boxes by postmen here. Postal authorities say it apparently is a professional touch of pickpockets to place the pocketbooks in the boxes after removing the money but

•The damage suit is for $5,000. leaving identification cards

The program at the state meeting began with an announcement by the state chairman that Governor Totvnsend has issued a proclamation designating the week from January 24th to the 30th as Fight Infantile Paralysis Week in Indiana. The Governor attended the meeting and predicted a much greater record in raising funds for the^ cause in Indiana this year. The fund raising campaign is centered around the celebration of President Roosevelt’s birthday which is January 30th. This is the seventh campaign throughout the nation to raise funds for fighting

infantile paralysis.

Mrs. Meredith Nicholson, Jr., who is state vice-chairman of the committee gave a report of an open forum conducted at the White House in Washington which was attended by women representatives from thirty-six states. Mrs. Roosevelt, Mrs. Stanley Reed, wife 6f Supreme Court Justice Reed, Mary Pickford, and Dorothy Thompson, newspaper columnist, took part in the meeting to spon-

sor the campaign for fighting the dreaded disease. The local campaign is being led by Donald Swartz, county chairman, and will be brought to a climax with the holding of a public dance at the armory on January 27th. Approximately 100 coin boxeg have been distributed in business houses throughout the county to collect contributions from small public donations. A large number of tickets have been circulated for sale to attend the dance. One-half of the net proceeds will be sent to the Warm Springs foundation and the remainder will be kept locally for use in assisting such cases. A check amounting to over two hundred dollars will be presented TO EfeL Robert Butterfield, local officer of the Delaw'are-Blackford Medical Association, this week end to be used by this organization in all such cases necessary in this community. The funds were raised last year from the proceeds of a benefit basketball game held in honor of the President’s birthday and for the purpose of raising money to fight infantile paralysis. It is urged that each county in Indiana should establish a permanent chapter in the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis so that Ideal funds could be handled directly through such an organization in each community. o BIT OF JAPAN TO BLOOM

Marysville, Cal.—The famous Japanese flowering cherry trees that have attracted mililons of tourists to Washington, are soon to have rivals here. One hundred of the trees r aave been presented to the city by the Japanese-Amer-ican Citizens Lague of the four surrounding counties who imported them from Japan.

WHY NOT INCLUDE TOTAL COSTS? At the last regular meeting of the city council, it was requested by Otto Sellers, local photographer, that an investigation be made of the purchase last year of lights for the baseball park. A committee was appointed from the council to make an inquiry of rumors that the lowest and best bid was not accepted by the park board. The lights were bought from C. J. Priest, local dealer, and installed last spring at the McCulloch park diamond. More than four thousand dollars were expended to provide for the lights which were used last summer during the night baseball games. The council committee met with the park board on Thursday evening to gather information for a report to be made at the next regular meeting of the council. It was contended that the lights bought were the best of those submitted from bids and that there should be no reasons for objections by anyone. The principal issue seemed to be concerning the purchase of the lights which was less than one-half the total costs of the project. It is reported that the greatest expense was for installation and the purchase of poles. Poles upon which the lights were placed are said to have been purchased for an amount exceeding $70tO and that some of them were allowed to float away in the high waters of last spring before installation was authorized. The costs of labor and materials for installing the lights is considered excessive by some who have commented upon the subject. It might be well for the council committee to make a full report on the complete costs and detailed expenses of the lights as long as they are making such an inquiry. This would establish facts upon which the public might conclude their own opinions. It may be mentioned that the same type and brand of lights purchased from the same seller for the Tuhey park swimming pool several years ago have given commendable service to the city.

I

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