Indianapolis Times, Volume 36, Number 70, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 July 1924 — Page 4
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The Indianapolis Times EARLE E. MARTIN, Editor-In-Chief , ROT W. HOWARD, President FELIX F. BRUNER, Acting Editor WM. A. MATBORN, Bus. Mgr. Member of the Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance • • • Client of the United Press, the NEA SerTiee and the Scripps-Paine Service. • • • Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Published daily except Sunday by Indianapolis Times Publishing Cos.. 214-220 W. Maryland St. Indianapolis • * • Subscription Rates: Indianapolis—Ten Cents a Week. Elsewhere—Twelve Cents a Week. • • * PHONE—MA in 3500.
FARM ECONOMIC PROBLEMS TyTjHERE are the farmers of tomorrow coming from? This is W a question much discussed by older residents of rural districts. Some folks are even beginning to wonder where our food supply of the future is to come from if the influx of farmers into our cities continues. Bright lights lure pleasure seekers to the metropolis where they live—like their fellow creatures —an artificial existence enjoying modern luxuries which require nearly all of their earnings. Unemployment is inevitable. Agriculture, which is the backbone of all industry, is deserted. After a taste of city “existence” laborers are unwilling to go back to the long hours and low wage of the country. Asa result we have hundreds of acres of untilled land; vacant tenant houses; farmers crying out against the “status quo,” many of them in bankruptcy; small country banks foreclosing mortgages; a tight money market, and shortage of foodstuffs. And all the while some of our country friends are declaring “If they are to live, let ’em come back and help produce food Deducts as we are.” OWNER OF OTHER MEN’S JOBS FyTIHEN HENRY FORD adopted the suggestion of James [WJ Couzens that a minimum wage of $5 be established in the Ford plant. Henry assumed some responsibility for the moral and mental well-being of his employes, thus loaded down with sudden and unexpected wealth. Henry wanted to know what his workmen were going to do with that $5 a day; and if they didn’t spend it as Henry thought it ought to be spent, or save such part of it as Henry thought ought to be saved, why Henry simply didn’t want such workmen around his plant. Now the great manufacturer goes a step further. So far as his employes are concerned Ford assumes responsibility for strict enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment and the accompanying Volstead act. Os course, Henry isn’t a policeman. He isn’t a prohibition enforcement officer. He is no part of the law enforcement machinery of the Government. But Henry is an employer. And he likes the Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead act; and while he can’t arrest an employe caught with the smell of beer, wine or liquor on his breath, or on his person, or in his home, Henry can punish such offender just the same. He can’t arrest him; he can’t imprison him; but he can fire him—which might be more severe punishment than fine or temporary imprisonment. And Henry Ford knows his power. He knows that firing an employe from a good job is tough on the employe—and maybe tougher still on the employe’s wife and children, if he has a family. It is possible, also, that Ford has his own private notions as to how all people ought to live. Having the power of life or death over an employe’s job, Ford is in position to regulate the lives of his employes. And when he serves notice that any employe will be fired who is caught with the smell of beer, wine or liquor on his breath, or any of these inventions of the devil on his person or in his home, Henry knows he is in position to enforce the National laws and his own laws as well. It would be the same if Henry should take a notion that he didn’t like the smell of tobacco, or thought his employes would be better off if they didn’t smoke. While there is no Federal or State law prohibiting the use of tobacco, Ford can make a law of his own and make it effective by firing employes who don’t obey Ford laws. Being the owner of another man’s job carries with it great power over that man’s life; and when one rnan is the owner of many thousands of jobs, which he can take away on any pretense that is satisfactory to himself, makes that man autocrat of a little kingdom, with far greater power over the lives of his subjects than any ruler of a civilized world anywhere in the world.
HIGHWAY FACTS mF 'William H. Remv, Marion county prosecutor, is looking for data for use in his investigation of the equipment division of the State Highway Commission, he would do well to turn to the files of The Indianapolis Times of May and June, 1922, and those of other subsequent dates. In 1922 The Times revealed for the first time that there were irregularities in this division. It did not reveal all the facts included in the report of the State board of accounts, but at the same time it included numerous facts not revealed in the report, many of which are expected to be reviewed in a subsequent ••port. When The Times articles were printed and on subsequent Occasions the equipment division was receiving from Washington large quantities of surplus war materials. Most so these materials had nothing whatever to do with the construction of highways. Nearly all of these articles were sold to one firm in Indianapolis without competitive bids. At that time the highway department tried to explain away the receipt of this material on the ground that the Federal Government required the department to accept it in order to get trucks from the Government. This statement was denied at Washington. There was no explanation for the fact that the material was being sold without competitive bids. For a time, immediately following The Times revelations, bids were asked for and received. But this practice soon was abandoned. The Times at that time failed to interest the State board of accounts and other law enforcement officials. If they had been as interested then as they are now in the operation of the equipment division the State probably would have been saved thousands of dollars. A newspaper can reveal facts concerning public affairs, but it can not make criminal prosecutions. This is a matter for the duly constituted law enforcement authorities. Why the investigation was delayed two years is hard to understand. It was certain the authorities were derelict in their duty at that time. They could at least have investigated the facts when they were handed to them by The Times. Ne\ertheless, it is pleasing to know that such things eventecllx; cqfbe borne to roost.*,
SOME STARS ARE SAID TO BE DYING This Explains One Type of Variable —Others Puzzle Scientists, By DAVID DIETZ, Science Editor of The Times EF you will observe the star Delta in the constellation Cepheus every night for four or five nights in succession you will discover for yourself one of the most interesting facts of astronomy. The star Delta lies just above the fivesided figure formed by the principal stars of the constellation. Delta, you will discover from your observations, does not shine with a constant light. Its brilliance changes from night to night. A star of this sort is known as a F. G. W. STRUVE \ variable star and the time it takes to go from its least brilliance to its maximum and then back again to its minimum is known as its period. Astronomers have made a careful study of Delta and find that it has a period of 5 days 8 hours 47 min utes 39 seconds. It is a remarkable and amazing fact that this star is so accurate in its changes that it could be used as a clock. At its minimum it has a magnitude of 4.9. At its maximum it is three times as bright, having a mag nitude of 3.7. Variable stars are divided into four groups by astronomers today. The first is known as the eclipsing variables. This type of variable is in reality a double star. The change in brilliance is due to the fact that one of the components is a dark oody or a star whose light is slowly dying out. The second type is called the Cepheid variables because the star DelIRIEDRICH WILHELM BESSEL ta in the constellation Cepheus is the most famous one of this type. In. the Capheids the variation in light is believed to be caused by some charge ill the star itself. It is pointed out that sun spots upon our sun increase and decrease regularly through an eleven-year period. Some large scale disturbance of a similar nature taking place rapidly upon the surface of these stars might cause the change In brilliance. There is also an opinion that the Cephelds may be stars in an unstable condition which are expanding and contracting with a regular pulsating movement. This might account for the change in brilliance. However, astronomers are not sure, and the Cepheida are still one of the chief puzzles confronting astronomers. The third type is known as the irregular variable. These vary only slightly and have no constant period. They are all among the largest stars in the heavens, the so-called giant red stars. The last type is known as the long periodic variables. These stars have periods ranging from 65 to 800 days. Some astronomers think that the long period variables are in reality dying stars, that they are growing so cool that a crust is beginning, to form over their molten surfaces. Such a crust would dim the light of the star. However, the gases Imprisoned beneath the crust would rise in temperature and pressure until they broke through. This would cause an increase in brilliance. The study of variable stars was
SIR WILLIAM HERSCHEL begun by David Fabriclus, a Dutch astronomer, in 1596. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, three of the most famous astronomers devoted much of their time to the study of both double and variable stars. They were Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel, F. G. W. Struve and Sir William Herschel. Bessel, a German astronomer, was the first to measure the distance from the earth to a star. Struve was a Russian astronomer. Herschel, of whom we have already written, discovered the planet Saturn. Next Article: King Cepheus. (Copyright, 1924, by David Dietz.) Nature A huge natural garage in the hollow of a great baobab tree was discovered recently by a motorist in Nyassaland, Africa, shortly before nightfall. His car, a Ford, was ac commodated handily by the highsheltered space Despite its great hollow, the tree was alive. Smut-grass' takes its name from the black fungus which spreads over the mature growth, making it unpola:able for cattle. This grass came from the tropics and is common throughout warm regions of the world. When very young it may be used as forage.
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
Lullabies By HAL COCHRAN The world's known a million, or maybe a trillion, of songs in the past fifty Som'e tunes make you glad or perhaps sort of sad as they move you to laughter or. tears. Consider the list of the ones you’ve not missed. No doubt there are thousands you’ve bad. But there ne’er was a song half as sweet (am I wrong?) as the lullabies sung by a dad. He snuggles a tot and he sings tommy-rot, but his chanting is .ever so sweet. Such music, it seems, lulls a child into dreams and though foolish, it’s really a treat. It's “ta, de, de doll” and it’s “foi, do, roll, roll.” The words every little child knows. Dad sings it by choice at the top of his voice and he makes up the tune as he goes. It’s certain it’s pretty, most any old ditty, though music and words may run wild, The words he may sing never have meant a thing, but the song means a lot to & child. , (Copyright, 1924, NEA Service, Inc.) MELLON CALLED EVASIVE Senator King Charges Treasury Secretary Fails to Obey Law, Times Washington Bureau, 1322 New York A re. ASHINGTON. July 30.—Secretary Mellon and Treasury officials will be taken to task for attempted evasion of the publicity feature of the new tax law by a Senate committee left on the job when Congress adjourned. In the new tax bill Congress provided anew board of tax appeals to handle tax disputes. The sessions of this board were to be open to the public, thus ending secret rebates to rich taxpayers. Mellon and Treasury’ officials objected. They are organizing the new tax board, but to avoid the publicity feature, have revived an ancient tax board, renamed it the division of tax review, and plan to settle tax cases before it, in secret. King Makes Charge Senator King of Utah, a member of the special Senate committee investigating the Income tax bureau, branded this move as an evasion of the new tax law. So secret were the movements surrounding the creation of the old board that, although tho actual revision was made on July 1, King did not learn of the action until last Thursday. "Setting up the old committee again will simply perpetuate some of the evils which Congress remedied by creating anew board of tax appeals and by providing for publicity,” King declared. Under Mellon’s scheme-of procedure all tax appeals must first go to the revised committee before an appeal can be taken to the new board provided In the new tax law. Gives Excuse One excuse Blair gave out for recreating the old board was that unless protests on tax assessments were first reviewed by that body the new board would be swamped with work. Senator Jones of New Mexico, another member of the committee, branded this explanation as a mere subterfuge for continuing tho old secrecy methods. “How does the Treasury’ Department know that the new board will be overworked without even giving it a trial.” Jones stated. Both Senators declared when the special committee resumes its hearings about Sept. 1 that an investigation of Blair's action will be the first thing taken up. Senator Couzens of Michigan, another member of the committee, is known to share their views. Couzens was one of the strongest advocates of publicity' for income tax hearings.
Family Fun Then Dad Quit “Son, have you been smoking?” “No.” “But your breath smells of tobacco.” "Mother just kissed me good-by." “But your mother doesn't smoke.” “I know, but the butler does.”— Annual Cruise. Teacher Defied Teacher—“lf you don’t tell me who drew that caricature on the blackboard I’ll give you a whipping." “Whip ahead! It won’t be nothin’ to what that boy'll gimme if I tell on him.”—Boston Transcript. Ala’s New Maid “Disgraceful! Not a thing touched since I left the room this morning. And you have tne impudence to call yourself a lady’s maid!” “Oh, no, mum; not since I've been ’ere, I haven’t.”—Passing Show. Detachable He watched his bride remove her false hair, her teeth, and her complicated make-up. “I am so tired,” sighed she. “I have not been able to get off my feet all day.” “Gracious!” he cried. “Do they come off, too?”—Whiz Bang. One by the Family Dog “Mother, there's somebody at the front door.” “Who it it? “I don’t know—but here's Fido with the seat of his britches,”.— Judge. Son’s Career “Now that your son is through college what’s he going to be?” "Can’t tell for a couple of years. You see, he went to -a co-ed institution, aid he’s booked up for two years solid to act as usher at weddings.”—Boston Transcript. A Thought He that refraineth his lips is wise. —Prov. 10:19. Lying is the strongest acknowledgment of the force of truth.— Hazlitt.” , ■ r ■ -nr**
U. S. PATENT OFFICE IS IN LIMELIGHT Inventors Charge Irregularities Commissioner Makes Denial, By LARRY BOARDMAN, NEA Service Writer. Tyrl ASHINGTON, July 30.—The \Y United Stat'es Patent Office . ..-I —serio-comic vaudeville act, always good for a smile or a sob, headline Government attraction since 1836—is in the limelight again. Charges of favoritism, discrimination, inefficiency and domination by a ring of outside patent attorney's, have been made on the floor of the Senate by its Committee on Patents. The commissioner of patents, Thomas E. Robertson, is described in the charges as “an arbitrary czar, not interested in justice, but only in dealing out his favors to special attorneys.” These charges are hotly denied by Robertson and his supporters. But his enemies claim they don’t tell "the half of it!” Since its establishment., the Patent Office has issued 1,500,000 patents. It has turned down others and tied up still more. All these present some strange contrasts. Patent Delayed 16 Years On Dec. 11, 1895, for instance, A. M. Herring applied for a patent on the first airplane. It was rejected on the ground that “no airplane could possibly fly.” Two years later Herring built a plane according to the specifications contained In his patent application, and made the first successful airplane flight on record. But his patent was never granted. Yet one was granted to C. R. E. Wulff, a Frenchman, for a device designed to propel and guide balloons with harnessed eagles. George B. Selde.i applied for a patent on the first automobile on May 8, 1879. He referred to it as a “road engine’’—a motor-driven wagon. The patent was held up for sixteen years, not being granted until Nov. 5, 1895. Senator King of Utah outlines the case as follows: “A number of reputable patent attorneys have complained to me of the capricious arbitrary and despotic conduct of the commissioner of patents. “There is an organization of patent attorneys, within which are found the favored ones, and outside of which are the ones against whom the commissioner discriminates.’' King is backed up in his charges by Senator Shipstead of Minnesota, who introduced the patent office Investigation resolution. Present procedure for securing a
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ABOVE, THE PATENT OFFICE IN WASHINGTON. LOWER LEFT, COMMISSIONER ROBERTSON. I.OWER RIGHT, ALEXANDER J. WEDDERBURN.
patent is to employ an attorney to file proper application. Under normal conditions the application comes up for investigation by a patent office examiner in about eleven months. It may then be rejected because the examiner decides it coincides too closely with a patent already granted, or tha't it will not be practicable. It is then up to the attorney to file an amendment to the application in an endeavor to prove the examiner wrong. If the attorney is successful, the application is again placed on file and another eleven months roll by. The examiner may then reject the application a second time because of some other point, not mentioned in his first report. One complaint against patent office efficiency and delay, made by the League of American Inventors, through President Alexander J. Wedderburn, is that this performance may be —and often is—continued indefinitely. “All Nonsense”—Robertson Commissioner Robertson, however, doesn’t appear the least bit worried about all the fuss. “Why,” he says, "I requested the secretary of the Interior quite a While ago to appoint a committee to investigate conditions in the patent office and recommend any changes it saw fit. “We always have been glad to receive suggestions. And we always give them careful consideration . "This talk about favortlsm and Intimidation is all nonsense. There is none of it around the patent office that I know of.” Dad’s Dog Gone “What became of that coach dog you used to have?” “An automobile came along one day and knocked the spots off him.” -r-.youngatown Telegram.
This Seems to Be Quite the Sport This Summer
In New York By STEVE HANNAGAN
NEW YORK, July 30.—Any statement that mentions “poor fish” Is good for a laugh any place in New York, except the Aquarium, in Battery Park. The chamber maids who .care for the fish, on display take their work seriously and resent all fish jokes. The Aquarium, by the way, does a big business during the summer. Admission is free. The visitors, for the most part, are tourists, those intensely interested in fishology from a scientific standpoint, and park bench-warmers who have nothing else to do. A Californian sea lion has held the center attraction bowi at the Aquarium for eighteen years. Oq many occasions I have seen the lion, and never once have I seen him rest-
ing. He just keeps plowing through the water of his circular tank. The fish fed him are cleaned and dressed. The shark sucker, a small fish that clings to the side of the maneating sharks, by suction and friction, is the laziest of fishes. They will not swim a stroke, making the shark pull them along. Funny fish are the angels, who are made up like black-face comedians and circus clowns. After one glimpse at them you’ll be convinced that although “fish may not perspire," as a vaudeville song goes, they do have circuses. The most conceited fish evidently are the red and blue parrot fish. They have a mirror in their tank and they spend most of their time adjusting their fins before it. There may be many “poor fish" In New York, but none of them are at the Aquarium. Those fish have hot and cold running water in their hotel rooms, equipped wdth electric lights. Their meals are served promptly. They don’t do a bit of work and are never teased with hooks. - * Mike, misnamed tabby cat favorite of the Brooklyn postoffice, is dead, a victim of poisoned cakes strewn about for Mike’s aged enemies, piice. Six years ago the cat appeared at the postoffice and displayed signs of remaining. A thoughtless postal cleric named the cat “Mike.” A few weeks later Mike led a troop of kittens in defiance to her name down the corridors of the postoffice. In sig years of revenge Mike has produc4d ninety-nine in seventeen Jitters.
HE HAS NO FAITH IN PREDICTIONS Reader Gives Some Sound Facts on Pre-election 'Dope,' To the Editor ol The Times .„ J E SEE in the papers that \>y some political writers are alVT ready predicting thus and so in regard to the next election. A few years ago, just before a presidential election, two Democratic and three Republican pre election so to speak, w r ho “never had failed" to predict just how the election wa3 going that fall, utterly failed to predict correctly. Large crowds coming out to hear the candidates —especially new' ones —speak don’t count for anything either, Just think of Hughes’ and Bryan’s crowds. Straw votes don’t count for anything either, as some communities are this way or that way politically just as some communities or some States are settled politically. Neither do “early election returns" always foretell who is winner. Just think back in 1916 or to Hayes and Tilden in 1876. The' Democrats in some places had bonfires to celebrate in the fall of 1876. In reading political news of any kind one should always consider who writes the piece, to what kind of political editor it is sent, and that it is printed in a paper corresponding with the views of the writer and the editor. What is the use of predicting or guessing? It takes the final count of the votes to decide who is winner. A TIMES READER.
Tom Sims Says When a bootlegger is seized with the grippe it keeps him in longer than when he is seized with a suitcase. Some men are too cautious even to make a success as a failure. There is more parking space around a library than around a movie. The real modern parent promises his son an auto if he doesn't smoke or drink until he is 12 years old. In St. Louis a musician lost his fortune playing poker, which is much harder to play than a piano. Divorces are caused by Cupid’s orders to shoot on sight. Never worry if a boy hates to get his hair cut. He may grow up and become an orator. Nothing takes a man off his feet like seeing a place to sit down. Seeing her with her face dirty is a fine cure for love sickness. Lots of people will interrupt a phonograph record to tell you how much they are enjoying it. When a man shoots himself he gets the one to blame for his troubles. Tongue Tips Anthony H. Gueting, Chamber of Commerce, Philadelphia: “I found that Germany, where an inflated currency is rapidly becoming stabilized, is the highest market in Europe, and Paris, in a great many respects, is the cheapest.” Senator James Couzens, Michigan: “Lots of times I think I am a rotten Senator from the letters I receive. And, from some of the editorials I read, I am convinced that I am .a rotten Senator.” Henry Collins, in a Detroit hospital with a fractured skull: “I jes got behind my balky mule and pushed. What happened? I dunno. Here I is.” R. A. Elward, farmer and cattleman, Reno County, Kansas: “There are barns in Kansas that have not been painted in nine years.”
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30,1924
Ask The Times You can get an answer to any question of fact or information by writing to the Indianapolis Times Washington Bureau, 1322 New 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. What is the total area of the L?nited States, including Alaska, the Canal onZe and the island possessions of the United States? 3,743,448 square miles. A reader of this column asks for information or growing dahlias and gladioli. Any other interested reader may obtain, on request to our Washington Bureau, a mimeographed bulletin on ! the subject. Enclose 2 cents in postage for reply. What type of valves does the Rolls Royce engine have? Poppet valve type. How can I make modeling j clay that can be used over and I over again? j Knead dry clay with gylcerine, \ working thoroughly with the hands. | Moisten and work at intervals of I two or three days and In order to i prevent evaporation and keep the | lay soft keep covered with an old piece of rubber cloth or similar material. What is the per capita wealth and per circulation of money in the United States? Per capita wealth was estimated in 1920 at $2,689.34; the amount of circulation per capita May 1, 1924, was $42.33. Which one of the northwestern States produces the most apples and when does the harvest season begin there? Washington State. The harvest season begins as early as the last of July, and lasts through the latter part of October; September and October are the busiest monttth What rank does a graduate of Annapolis Naval Academy hold when he Is graduated into tho Navy? He enters the navy with the rank of Ensign. What is a good preparation to put on a leather belt to make It hold on & small cone pulley? The'lnquiry is indefinite since the fact is not stated as tc whether the bolt is simply slipping cr comes off tho pulley. If the latter is the case it may be due to pulleys out of line, improper design of pullcvs, cr crooked belt. If the belt Is slipping, temporary relief may be obtained by treating with some sticky dressing. It may also afford temporary relief if the belt is turned the other aide out. Science Newspapers all over the world are now printing articles about how the earth will attempt to communicate with the planet Mars next month, when Mars will be closer than at any time since 1909. Since that date there has been great progress in science and the possibilities of communicating with Mars, assuming that it is inhabited, have greatly increased. If a race of reasoning beings does exist on Mars, they are not likely to he similar to those of the earth. There Is a great difference in the atmosphere of the two bodies. A Martian would find the world’s atmosphere so damp that he could not live in it. There* is nothing unreasonable in the theory that human beings live on Mars, and the question of how to communicate with them is the scientific topic of the day. Many plans are being proposed. Some of these *will be tried. The first signal recognized as such, from Mars to the earth will be the most thrilling event of all history. Accommodating A big darky was being registered during the draft. “Ah can’t go t’ wah,” he answered, in re exemption, “foh dey ain’t nobody t’ look after mah wife.” A dapper little undersized colored brother stepped briskly up and inquired: “What kind of a lookin’ lady am yo wife?”—Smile*.