Indianapolis Times, Volume 36, Number 57, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 July 1924 — Page 4
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The Indianapolis Times EARLE. E. MARTIN, Editcr-in-Chief ROY W. HOWARD, President FELIX F. BRUNER, Acting Editor WU. A. MAYBORN. Bus. Mgr. Member of the Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance • * * Client of the United Press, the NBA Service and the Scripps-Paine Service. * * * Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Published dailv except Sunday by Indianapolis Times Publishing Ci.. 214 220 W Maryland St.. Indianapolis • • * Subscription Rates: Indianapolis—Ten Cents a Week. Elsewhere —Twelve Cents a Week. • * * PHONE!—MA in 3500.
THE HIGHWAY CONTROVERSY EHK PRINCIPAL argument of the highway commission in answer to the charges of the State board of accounts appears to be that even if $50,000 was misspent by the department "bf equipment, the sum was so small compared with the total amount spent by the department that little or nothing should be said about it. This is indeed a refreshing point of voiew. The highway commission goes into great detail at the same time to show that the examiners for the board of accounts were mistaken in their charges, at least in some instances. It is pretty hard for a layman to know w T hether they were or not. We do know that they reached their conclusions only after months of investigation. N We remember that in their report the examiners stated that certain individuals attempted to prevent them from obtaining information. In fairness to the highway department and to the examiners themselves, they should reveal the identity of these individuals and should explain the reports current at the Statehouse concerning the methods used to persuade these certain individuals to reveal the facts in their possession. We also know’ that there have been irregularities in the department of equipment, perhaps not illegal irregularities, but at least failure to observe good business practice. We know that thousands of dollars w’orth of old Army goods, utterly useless in the construction of highways, was shipped to the department of equipment and sold by that department at ridiculously low prices to one firm without competitive bids. We know that this firm reaped a golden profit from dealing in this goods. These transactions are being checked up now’ by a representative of the board of accounts in Washington. We have a feeling that we have not heard the last of this highway department matter. COUZENS, OF MICHIGAN mIM COUZENS, of Detroit, is running for re-election as United States Senator from Michigan. Gouzens was first sent down to Washington as a Republican. lie calls himself a Republican, and claims he is a good one. So do his friends. Not so his enemies, of which he has many. The other day, Michigan leaders in the Republican party called upon Couzens to swear unstinted support of Republican platforms and of the so-called* Coolidge policies—whatever they are, or may be. The insinuation w’as that the Republican state leaders would not support Couzens for Senator unless he stepped into the party harness. Couzens answered them in his own characteristic way, by announcing his candidacy as a Republican, but by saying, publicly: “There is nothing in the Constitution of the United States that requires that I say ‘yesi-to everything the President, whoever he may be, purposes, nor do I believe it is the desire of my constituents tjiat I abjectlv promise to follow someone and do his bidding. - - “If complete adherence to the proposals and policies of President Coolidge is the test of Republicanism, there are no Republicans in the national Congress. “I consider the fact that Congress has refused to be dictated to anc£ controlled by the President as a strong element in the safety of our republic.” That’s something for voters to think about. Those who do can not help but ask this question of themselves about the candidates who are asking for votes to elect them to jobs next November l “Will,this man. if elected, represent this neighborhood in Congress, or will he be merely a tool of the party leaders'?” It’s clear what Couzens will be. It ought to he equally clear what some other candidates for Congress will be, if elected.
v RIGHTO, CHARLIE “I t-i JIRST of all,” says General Dawes, “if I’m to say anyIa I thing worth while, I’ve got to study and I’ve got to work,” True as shooting, Charlie. You sure have. Your dilemma is of the usual character and has two horns. One is the President, your running mate, who has been several times repudiated by a Republican Congress. The other horn is that same Republican Congress that has several times been repudiated by the President, your running mate. Thus a situation is created, Charlie, that calls for study and work, and you have sized it up rightly. If you find it possible to say anything on the subject that is worth while, aside from Helen Maria, there are ears that will not deny themselves to a sound so very interesting. THEY SAID women would elevate politics and then came along the Democratic convention, full of them. THE FRUIT of a political victory is not frequently a lemon. ~ , - HARRY THAW has bought a farm, despite the fact that the eourt said he was sane. A CROWD of meteorologists are trying to find out what kind of weather prevailed in prehistoric times and they will probably discover that it was unsettled. DETROIT NEWS says, “Another dubious entertainment these July mornings is whittling out the interior of an early melon,” showing that they still eat with their knives up there.
The Candidates
Coolidge. Davis or l.a Foiiette? Who will be the next President? Or, if no choice is made, and the House of Representatives cannot elect a President, perhaps one of the vice presidential nominees will become President. You want to know the life stories of all these men. Our
POLITICAL EDITOR. Washington Bureau. The Indianapolis Times, 1322 New York Avenue. Washington. D. C. I want a copy of the bulletin THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, and enclose herewith 5 cents in loose postage stamps for same. NAME tET and NO. or R. R ’ STATE
Washington Bureau has a bulletin ready for distribution covering the biographies of all the candidates for President ami vice president. It will answer all the questions you want answered about them. If you want it, nil out the coupon below and mail as directed:
YOU’LL FIND GREAT BEAR ON HIS NOSE Animal of Stars Resembles Performer in Modern \ Circus, By DAVID DIETZ Science Editor of The Times SHE stars of the Great Dipper form part pf a large constellation called the Great Bear. There is a wondrous story of love and jealousy and hate, with the chief roles played by the ancient gods of Greece, woven in this constellation. But let us find the constellation in t,he sky before turning our attention to this story. The accompanying illustration
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A DIAGRAM OF THE PRINCIPAL STARS IN THE CONSTELLATION OF THE GREAT BEAR IS SHOWN ABOVE. BELOW IS A SKETCH OF THE IMAGINARY BEAR WITH HIS “IMPOSSIBLE TAIL.” THE PICTURE MUST BE TURNED SO THAT THE BEAR IS BALANCED ON HIS NOSE TO SEE THE STARS IN THE SAME POSITIONS AS THEY ARE TO BE FOUND IN THE EARLY EVENING SKY IN SUMMER.
shows the stars which form the constellation. The four stars which form the bowl of the dipper are on the flank of the bear. The three stars in the handle of the dipper form the tail of the bear. This has been called the “impossible tail" because of its great length. But the ancient legend explains why this particular bear differs in this respect from earthly bears. A curving row of stars to the right of the dipper represents the head of the bear. Below the dipper will be found three pairs of stars. These indicate the positions of the claws on the right- forefoot and'the two hindfeet: Other stars to be observed between these and the dipper flrdnto the body and legs of the bear, none of them, it must be confessed, adding anything very definite to the outline of a bear. Used Imaginations But as we have pointed out before, the reader must remember that with the exception of the dipper, no constellation resembles its name. The ancients used their imaginations in tracing out pictures in the sky and then fitted the stars into these imaginary pictures. Early in the evening in the summer time, the dipper is to the left of the pole star. Consequently you will find the Great Bear balanced on the tip of his nose like an acrobatic bear in a circus. If a telescope is turned upon the constellation of the bear it reveals many stars that are so faint as to be invisible to the unaided eye. There are about 130 stars to be seen in the telescope. Among those are two very Interesting stars. One is the star in the northern skies which is closest to the earth. The star which is really the closest to our earth is in the southern skies and so not visible upon our side of the equator. It is the brightest star in the constellation of the Centaur. It is not so close to us that we can very well call it a neighbor, being just 275,000 times as far away as the sun. Move Rapidly But all the other stars are still farther away than that. And of all the others, the little star in the Great Bear, invisible to the naked eye, is the next closest. It is 505,000 times as far away as the sun. The other interesting star in the bear is the one which of all the stars visible in the northern hemisphere has the fastest proper motion. The stars are not fixed in place but moving with speeds ranging from twelve to twenty miles a second. It is only that they are so very far away that they seem fixed in place. Astronomers sometimes call this fast-moving star in the bear the “run-away star,” because it is moving so much faster than the other stars. Neither of these two stars have been 'given names, but are merely known by the numbers which astronomers have assigned to them in their great catalog of stars. The star which is nearest to us is known, accordingly, as Lalande 21,185. The run-away star is Groombridge 1830. NEXT ARTICLE: How the Great Bear got its anme. (Copyright, 1914, by David Dietz) A Thought Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well-advised is wisdom. —Prov. 13:10. * * * Nothing is more shortlived than ! pride.—Ben Jonson.
Nothing New “Did you hear about Mrs. Fastleigh’s motor accident?” “No What happened?” "She ran down her own husband.” “But she's been doing that ever since she was married.” —Boston Transcript.
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
Post Curds By HAL COCHRAN. When people go out on a vacation trip, they plan on a good loaf and rest. All worry, it seems, quickly loses its grip as they shake off the bus'ness-time pest. A trip to a lake or a surnrrier resort just calls for a soul to relax. You turn from your work to a session of sport and you gain as your system reacts. There are no set rules .that are holding you down; you do as you like through the day. The sun turns your skin from a white to a brown when the beach is the scene of your play. The people back home wonder just how you are! they hope you’re enjoying your trip. You send them a postal from near or from far, an act that you mustn’t let slip. And what do you say, ere you’re signing your name? Just what is your message of cheer? On eVfty vacation the cards are the same. You scribble, “I wish'you were here.” (Copyright, 1924, NEA Service, Inc.)
“SMITH DID NOT RAISE KLAN ISSUE” Charles P, Tighe Declares Responsibility Rests With Underwood, i To the Editor of The Timet mAM WRITING with reference to your observation in the editorial columns of your ! publication regarding the radio in : politics. Much of which you have said in your article is not subject !to contradiction or objection. How- | ever, I feel that you have missed the I real point intended by attributing to the Smith forces the raising of the Kian issue. Every radio fan in the country well knows, as you should, that the Kian issue was raised by Mr. Oscar Underwood of Alabama and Mr. Moore of Ohio, who was backing former Governor Cox, and that the majority of the opponents of the Ivlan who spoke from the rostrum were Protestants. It was but nat- | ural that those prescribed by the Kian would follow the lead of •Protestant opponents to the organ! zati >n. 1 here is much food for thought in your editorial affecting the impartial dissemination of actual event* through the radio as contrasted with the colored interpretations imposed by some newspaper agehcics. The writer does not impugn the motives of your paper nor does lie classify your paper as one likely to abuse the confidence of its readers by indulging in propaganda. Asa matter of fact, your editorial policy has been much admired, but in matters of this sort there is, sometimes, a non-understandable bias. Asa Democrat, I am very well pleased with the nominations, although I strongly favored Ralston and confidently believe him the winner. Mr. William Jennings Bryan and Mr. McAdoo very likely would have objected to Governor Smith s alleged Wall Street connections, whereas now, these objections seem to be removed. CHARLES P. TIGHE. Answers Postal Argument To the Editor of The Times Please allow me to answer N. R. B. apropos of postal employes. The politicians have been justly accused of many things, but they are not guilty of exacting a portion of our salary. I have been a clerk in the Indianapolis postoffice for over four years and that has not been my experience. I belong to a political club and have never given as much as a nickel to any oolitician, any party or any campaign fund. I have never been requested to do so. I have never asked another man to vote for any candidate and have never worked at the polls. My political experience is nil except for casting my ballot. N. B. R. starts out with a determination to enlighten the poor misguided and uninformed correspondents to the “Viiws of the People” and then hands them some half-baked and erroneous ideas. I wonder where he was in the service and in what capacity? About two years ago several officials of this office were removed who were charged with soliciting money for a political party. When I entered this work I saw no one except the Civil Service sec rotary, the examiners and a doctor for an examination. I agree with N, B. R. that we would have plenty if we could keep all we get. Who wouldn’t, if they did not have to spend part of their salary to live? AN INDIANAPOLIS POSTOFFICE CLERK.
MOTHER OF KING WAITS FOR FINALE Glories of Empire Are Dust and Ashes, Alexandra Reflects, By MILTON BRONNER. NBA Service Correspondent. EONDON, July 15.—1n her eightieth year and feeling that she is very close to the grave, Queen Alexandra, mother of the present King of England, has gone into practical retirement in her palace at Sandringham. And this has made a special lm press ion, because the other day— Alexandra Day—for the first time in over forty years, the Dowager Queen failed to drive through the city, while an army of maids and matrons sold roses for the benefit of her pet charity—the public hospitals. The rest of her life will be a sort of dying, a waiting for the end, while she dreams over her marvelous career, perhaps something like this: "1854—Ten years old. Was I ever so young as 10? Semes almost impossible. An<j yet I remember my happy, happy childhood when father was merely the poor heir to a poor little Danish throne. ”1863—Nineteen and the papers and the poets said I was supremely lovely—as beautiful as a princess ought to be. England's great poet. Tennyson, sang of me so and the people echoed it. It comes back to me now—my arrival in England with my father and mother for my wedding day—my wonderful reception by the people of Eondon, withal! the joy-bells ringing and countless tens of thousands cheering me as we drove through the packed and befogged streets—my fright of the great Queen Victoria and her kindly reception of me—the. chivalrous tenderness of my husband-to-be—Ed-ward. Prince of Wales. “1869—Twenty-five—a mother—the laughter and the calls of children making the palace a real home—- ! something to come back to after the I glitter and the boredom of State balls and functions—something earnest and real. “1901—Fifty-seven. The wonderful queen, she who ruled so long and so wisejy is dead. Never such | a career before. Never such mourn ing as I have seen in the streets of London. “1902—Fifty-eight. What a contrast to last year! Now London is all a glory of flags and flowers. Ed ward, my husband, has this day been crowned king of England and I his queen consort in time-ha!!owed Westminster Abbey. "1910—Sixty-six and a widow. They have laid my husband to rest. I have sent a message to Parliament thanking the members for their message of condolence. In all truth I have said it was balm for my poor broken heart. I meant it. "1924 Seventy-nine and very lonely. I have just lost my oldest and beat, friend • -Gen. Dighton Probyn, jrtfty years faithfully served my- husband and me. Through my tears I have just written a card to
- /S’’’ / / ■
TWO OF THE MANY ROLES PLAYED BY ALEXANDRA IN HER TIME. AT THE RIGHT, THE QUEENLY MATRON, MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL ROYALTY. ON THE LEFT HEll MOST RECENT PHOTO, AN OLD HAGGARD WOMAN AWAITING THE LAST FANFARE OF ROYALTY, THEN—
go with the wreathe I am sending to place on his coffin: "I am ready to go. No one needs me now. My son, growing gray himself, a his own duties and responsibilities to pre-oc-cupy him. My favorite grandson—the Prince of Wales —a bonny lad—• promises to win all hearts like my husband. Ho is very tender arid chivairous to me, but he, too, is busy.. Well—there are still my dogs and my horses that I have always loved—and my gardens—and a few more days—and then —rest. Yes — rest. That is good. Life becomes a great weariness—most things mere Dead Sea iruit —dust and ashes.***” Right! The teacher was trying to impress upon her class the importance of doing right at all times and. to bring out the answer, “Bad habits,” she inquired: “What is it that we find so easy to get into and so hard to get out?” There was silence for a moment and then one girl answered, “Bed.”—-Flashlight.
Fine, but Why Not Enter the Big Event, Too
Science Over 40,000 books have been found in a cave in China, these books dating from the fourth to sixth century, A. D. This is probably the most important scientific find of recent years. Many of the hooks were printed from wooden type, the most ancient of all type. Europe was far outdistanced by China in the invention of type, as it was in many other things upon which modern civilization is based. The books deal with history, religion and philosophy. They are now being worked on by scholars at several universities. The result will be a close understanding of this littleknown period of the world’s history. China, the world's jeader in education, fell behind because it had no alphabet. Every word was a picture and it took the Chinese student nearly all his school years to learn some 10,000 word characters. Chinese scholars, teachers and diplomats are nearly :ways of extraordinary ability and keenness of brain. The mass of the people, hampered by the lack of an alphabet, remain in ignorance.
Nature The barnacle is a great slowerdown of fchip speed. If our Navy sailed for Japan it would soon be necessary to go into dry-dock to scrape off the barnacles. This cri - tre is an example of degeneration from leading a sedentary life. Ju3t hatched from the egg, it is a poor swimmer. In its second stage, i! has developed six pairs of swimming feet, compound eyes, and lives an independent, free-swimming life. As an adult, however, it attaches itself to something, as a ship’s bottom, loses its eyes and power of locomo tion, its swimmers become grasping organs, and it develops a hard shell. You can pick plenty of humans wh<% have gone precisely into that same condition after they have attached themselves to something—money, for Instance.
LOW RATES WOULD HELP THE FARMER Cost of Transportation Is One of Greatest Rural Problems, By GEORGE K. FAVROT U. S. Representative from Louisiana MANY plans have been suggested for the relief of the *——* farmer, some feasible, some not feasible, some sound, some unsound. But there is one burden, one handicap borne by the farmer that could be and should be lightened. and that is the burden of excessive freight rates . upon farm products. The interests that control the railroads would have us believe that these freight rates are the result of a high wage scale. Such is not the fact. The net return per man hour of most Class A roads is nearly double what it was in 1915 prior to the time the Government forced an increase in railroad wages. Attempts Blocked Every attempt to secure a reduction in freight rates on farm products and upon the necessities of the farm is blocked by that provision of the interstate commerce act under which the Interstate Commerce Commission fixes rates so as to provide the railroads with an adequate return upon a value fixed by the Interstate Commerce Commission. That return has been fixed at per cent. And freight rates must remain excessive in order that the weaker roads mt-iy earn that return upon that fixed value. We al] realize the need for railroads. We all recognize the part of the railroads in the development of the country- But some railroads should never have been built. Some railroads have been so grossly mismanaged it has been a public scandal. Some roads are valued at severe,! times more than yieir actual value. Weakest Rule But the American farmer must pay in freight rates: there must be taken from the selling price of his product sufficient to permit the weakest, the most over-valued and the most mismanaged of these roads to earn that net return upon its fixed value. t The farmer must bear this burden, not that the properly located, the properly managed roads might earn this revenue, but that the most mismanaged. the weakest among them, might earn it. And in order that the weakest, the most mismanaged roads might earn, this revenue, the sound roads, the properly managed roads, are permitted to earn a revenue that is excessive. During the past year the earnings of the railroads were greater than they ever have been. Their net operating income was greater than it ever has been. Yet there has been r.o reduction in freight rates. The farmer continues to bear the burden, of transportation charges that are almost prohibitive. Should Be Fair I recognize that an adequate transportation system is a necessity I believe that the railroads should be dealt with justly and fairly. But the farmer should not be made to bear the burden of transportation charges admitterly excessive in jrder that all railroads might prosper, per. The great body of the American people, producer and consumer, should not be made to bear the burden of freight rates almost prohibitive in order that the stockholders and the bondholders of the most mismanaged roads might receive a fair return upon securities that cost them, in most instances, practically nothing. These public utilities, these public necessities, should be conducted n the interest of the public. Freight rates should be so regulated as o aid industry and agriculture. Transportation charges should be so fixed as to aid the farmer in the remunerative marketing of his products: not so fixed as to maJte impossible that remunerative marketing.
TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1924
Ask The Times You can get an answer to any question of fact or information by writing to the Indianapolis Times Washington Bureau. 1322 Sew York Ave.. Washington. D. C., inclosing 2 cents in stamps for reply. Medical, legal and marital advice cannot be given, nor can extended research be undertaken. All other questions will receive a personal reply. Unsigned requests cannot be answered. All letters are confidential.—Editor. Is any other place beside the National park3 of the United States famous for geysers? The hot-lake district of Auckland, New Zealand, is famous as possessing some of the most remarkable geyser scenery in the world. What is the “Flying Dutchman?” A phantom ship said to be seen in stoimy weather off the Cape of Good Hope, and thought to forfcode ill luck. One form of the legend has it that the ship is doomed never to enter a port on account of a horrible murder committed on board: another, that the captain, a DutchnjG.il, swore a profane oath that he would weather the Cape though he should beat there until the last day ’Me' was taken at his word, and there he still beats, but never succeeds in rounding the point. The Flying Dutchman is the subject of an opera by Wagner. Why are fiddler crabs so called? The male has one claw of immense size, the other being quite small. The, big claw is brightly coir ored. and when he runs he waves it about as if he were energetically beckoning or playing some very stir ring tune on a violin; hence it is often known as a “cabling crab” Or a “fiddler crab.” The Latjn n,ame of this species is gelasimus, w’hich means laughable.
A reader of this column asks for information on how to make sealing wax beads. This is too long to print, but any other reader interested may obtain a mimeographed bulletin on the subject, on request to our Washington Bureau, enclosing a 2-cent postage stamp for reply.
What is an “apostle spoon?” A spoon with the image of an apostle as a handle. As there were twelve apostles, there could be a full dozen of these spoons in a set. These spoons were popular christening presents many years ago. Sometimes a thirteenth spoon bore the image of Christ and was called the “master” spoon. What were some of the varieties originated by Luther Burbank? > White blackberries, spineless cactus. the plumcot (made by combining the plum and apricot), new varieties of potatoes, cherries and apples; stoneless prunes. How did the word “cowboy” originate? It was first used during the Revolution, and was applied to a band of Tories in Westchester County, New York, who stole cattle from both the Americans and British. Os recent years it hgs, of course, been applied to the skilled horsemen on the cattle ranges of the West. Tom Sims Says Things are so quiet over in Ireland now many of the small children think every day is Sunday. A boy of 9 who drove off in a stolen auto in Louisville, Ky., was going in the wrong direction. China isn’t as much of a yellow peril to most of us as sunburn. We don’t know who lost the war, but Eurppe seems to be hunting for it. Every time taxes take a jump they land on the consumer's neck. Some of the college graduates have the polish of a college education without the education. Evidently some of the buzzing presidential bees were considered humbugs. No woman is as bad as she looks when you tell her age. What makes a skinny girl madder than a bathing party?