Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 252, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 January 1927 — Page 6

PAGE 6

The Indianapolis Times ROY W. HOWARD, President. BOYD GURLEY, Editor. 'VM. A. MAYBORN. Bus. Mgr. Member of the Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance • • • Client of the United Press and the NEA 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.

No law shall be passed restraining the free interchange of thought and opinion, or re stricting the right to speak, write, or print freely, on any subject whatever.—Constitution ol Indiana.

DEFINITE SENTENCES That trustees of the State prisons and reformatories should oppose the adoption of the determinate sentence is not surprising. Those who have power always hesitate to relinquish it. The indeterminate sentence law was passed under the theory that it would work well in reforming those who offend against society and furnish an incentive for good conduct within the prison. The State Bar Association has reason to believe that the law as It has been administered in this State has failed in this purpose and has worked to the detriment of the whole system of justice. Under this law sentences are passed with a wide range of years. They run from one to fourteen years. Theoretically the person sentenced to this term is able to secure his release at the expiration of one year if he shows by his conduct and attitude that he Is again lit to take his place in society. Asa matter of fact,' the law brings distinctions | etween prisoners and results in grave discontent and rebellion. Those who have friends and lawyers, who have full and influence, are able to secure an easy hearing for their appeals, while others find it more difficult, especially those who become expert in the \arled factories which are in operation in those prisons. ' It. is quite easy to find a reason why capable men in shirt or furniture factories should be kept long. There is some question, in the minds of students c! penology, as to whether severity of punishment produces any real results in curbing crime. If there be anything at all in that theory, and the theory is followed in fixing long sentences for certain crimes, then there is something to be said of a definite sentence, to a fixed period of years, with reward in the form of allowances for good conduct. This country handles its crime problem very badly, under any system. Its chief 1 fault is not in the length of sentence, but in the fact that there is no certainty of punishment for crinie. The power of example through punishment is lost when the fact that only a small percentage of crime i3 punished at all is considered. The chance of escaping arrest reduces the hazard of crime to a minimum. Then the delays in trials, the technical defense formulated by shrewd lawyers, the postponements and appeals, all. work to the benefit of the criminal. No one who commits crime expects to be caught, if it be a premeditated crime. The real criminal looks at the record and finds the business about as safe as any hazardous legitimate trade, probably much safer than that of mining, for example. The one great deterrent to crime would be found to be that swift certainty with which crime is- punished in such countries as Canada or England. There is nothing in crime history in that, country to encourage men to become professional criminals. Tbe indeterminate sentence, theoretically a> humane measure, needs at least investigation when the lawyers of the State, dealing with crime, demand its replacement, with a system of definite terms for definite crimes.

A HEALTHY SIGN Calling of a mass meeting of citizens to advocate the wiping out of the public service commissions at its worst, a healthy sign. It indicates that the people are taking an interest in their own affairs, and to an indifferent, negligent attitude on the part of the citizens toward public questions can be traced most of the evils of Indiana—and Indiana has been cursed with many evils. Only when the people take enough trouble to protect themselves will they obtain the sort, of government they desire. in this particular instance, the avowed purpose of the meeting may be of questionable value. Merely to wipe out the public service commission because of disgust over its decisions may be the very worst way to remedy what may be admitted to be a bad situation. What is aimed at is the control of public service commissions by the utility corporations over which It has jurisdiction. There can be little denial of the fact that these utility corporations of the State have had a great deal of Influence in the naming of the members of the commission. They have had influence because their agents have been busy while people were indifferent. They have been present in the primaries when governors were named. Their dollars and their lawyers have played a great part in the elections. If they have controlled commissions it is because they have been busy while the people have been asleep, and you can generally find traces of their influence in every primary and every election. It Is also true that tho corporations have obtained more generosity in the Federal courts than they have in the commission itself. There has been some restraint in the commissions. The courts have ridden the bugaboo of confiscation to the limit. Perhaps some relief might be obtained by an amendment to tho law which would change the present commission and place some curb upon the appointing power. For If there is political control of the commission, it must be traced back to the power which appoints men who are friendly to utility pleas and utility demands. The trouble goes deeper than tho circumstance of the men who happen to be on the commission. If they are there, there Is a reason for their being there. To wipe out the commission and leave nothing in its place would probably result in a chaos for which the people would pay even more heavily than they have in t,he past. Necessity seems to demand that there be some State body which has authority to act as an arbiter between the people and the utility companies. Otherwise they will run even more rampant than they have. The people will have no place in which they may find a friend or a protector. Perhaps the people, meeting together, will find a solution. At least the very fact that meetings are held and a show of public Interest made will act as a curb upon too. flagrant outrages of public welfare. Qo down to the mass meeting. Go, even if you do not agree. You may have a different solution. At least you can show that you care and that will mean a lot. / Few officials care to run counter to an aroused

public opinion and the more mass meetings which are held on public questions and public matters, the better chance the whole have of getting a square deal, which is all the people ever want or demand. An intelligent, informed, virile public sentiment is the final safeguard of public rights. STREAM POLLUTION While the movement to clear the str.eams of Indiana of tho pollution of cities comes from the organized lovers of outdoor life, it should have the backing of those who believe that sickness, disease and discomfort are not essentially a part of civilization. It is no longer necessary to cling to the habits of savage tribes. It is no longer necessary to sacrifice comfort to easy methods of industry. The habit of permitting all waste to flow into the rivers and streams dates back to the very earliest stage of life, when men built their villages along river banks because of the easy means of transportation. The matter was not important in these days when streams purified themselves before the water reached the next settlement. The first factories were built along the streams for the sake of water power and the refuse from them had little In common with the waste of the modern factory. Mostly they were grist mills and saw mills. They did not poison or pollute. Today the problem is different. Chemicals are in use in most factories. When they reach the water, they furnish a menace to those cities which receive their water supply from rivers, and give off disagreeable stench that ruins property values for homes. Many, of the cities are the worst offenders byusing the streams as an outlet for sewage. There is, of course, a reasonable use for rivers and streams and an unreasonable regulation. But in these days of congested living, there is need of some sort of regulation that will end pollution when it becomes dangerous and menaceful. The demand of the Izaak Walton League for regulation should have the backing of other organi- : zations which are interested in health and in decent living conditions. While its purpose may be the restoration of natural conditions and protection of fishing places, there will be accomplished much more If the State can solve in a reasonable way the protection from pollution. Science understands how to handle these things. It should be a crime for any city to empty its sewage into a river. The cost of reduction plants is not prohibitive and the people should be willing to pay for this form of insurance against disease and death. Any law- which is passed on this subject should be so safeguarded as to prevent any autocratic, or arbitrary, policies of supervision.

BUSINESS, POLITICS AND THE I. C. C. A vacancy -occurred on the Interstate Commerce Commission. Coal operators of Pittsburgh sought to fill It with a man from their section. That was business. A Pittsburgh member on the I. C. C. would see certain freight rate questions from the Pittsburgh viewpoint. Good business. Senator David Reed of Pennsylvania presented Cyrus 6. Woods’ name to President Cooltdge and demanded that the appointment be made. 1 hat was politics. It was also business, perhaps, for David Reed's economic Interests are the same as those of other Pittsburghers. President Coolidge made the appointment to please the Senator, who had been getting out of control. That was politics. And nothing else. Coal operators of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee saw a menace to their business in Woods’ appointment. Their interest in certain freight rate questions conflicts with the interest of the Pittsburgh operators. They protested to their Senators. That was business. The Senators from the tour States fell in line with their operators and organized a Senate fight on Woods’ confirmation. That was politics. ( }rus E. Woods’ nomination was rejected by the Senate. Reasons: Business and politics. (Os course, the opposition made a good case against Woods. They proved pretty well that he was unfit for the job. The country, no doubt, lost nothing in losing the services of Cyrus E. AVoods. He was not a railroad expert, nor experienced in tho regulation of public utilities.) The fight just ended was not a national light, but a sectional fight. It was a battle between one coal district and another. A business battle. ( It was bad business, so far as the rest of the country is concerned. The Interstate Commerce Commission was intended to be an impartial body, serving all sections. In theory, it is composed of experts capable of carrying out this intention, in practice it is being packed with sectional representatives. There are only eleven members of the Interstate Commerce Commission. There are forty-eight States. It is impossible to provide a member of the I- C. C. to serve the special needs of each State. It is impossible to serve special sectional needs at all—with fairness to the rest of the country. It is time this kind of business and politics ceased to dominate the I. C. C. It is time the President began picking disinterested experts, without regard to geography. Under present conditions, Pittsburgh can not be blamed for trying to put her man on the commission. A irginia, W( st Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee can not le blamed for working to keep him off. There is sound, though selfish, business behind their action in each case. There is only politics, however, behind the action of the President, and the reform should begin at the Vv'hße House.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Tracy Oil and Religion Mixed to Cause Trouble in Mexico.

By M. E. Tracy Senator Lenroot, supposedly voicing the views of President Coolidge, says that if Mexico fails to fulfill her just obligations recognition of the Calles government should be withdrawn and the embargo on arms lifted. Senator Robinson, minority leader, says that relations with Mexico have become strained and that arbitration is needed to slacken the tension if hostilities are to be avoided. * Every one with whom I talked along the border, whether American or Mexican, whether pro or antiCalles, agrees that Washington holds the immediate fate of Mexico in the hollow of its hand. Revolt Leaven Works Oil and religion have mixed to produce a theratening state of affairs. As in most Latin-Ameriean countries there is always the leaven of revolt in Mexican sore spots—soldiers of fortune, local grievances, crooked politicians and general strife. The religious controversy offers a common background and a common issue for all these, while the oil controversy creates a hope that the United States will erase to help < 'alles to tho extent of recognizing him and preventing the shipments of arms to his enemies. It is eommonely believed along the border that if the United States were to sever diplomatic relations with Mexico and permit the unrestricted export of war supplies revolution would break out overnight. The important question is would American rights be made more secure or American oil companies be helped by another revolution? Publicity Oh Publicity! What crimes are committed in thy name! Browning wants it, and Charlie * haplin wants it. Asa matter of fact, both of them have gotten too much of it, and tho country suffers. Things have come to a point where some people regard the details of a nasty divorce case as good press agent stuff. Law lends aid to the game of tittle-tattle. Grave jurists and high-priced attorneys mouth over incidents that would te censored if put on the stage. All sorts of sophistries are advanced to justify the vulgar show. Common sense is smothered by a deluge of legal lore which, when all Is said and done, amounts to very little bift a windy excuse for mouthing sordid incidents. In England they hate virtually barred the divorce case from publicity, and England Is not noted for Squeamisliness. Sport Persists Red-blooded men will have sport, no matter what the climate or conditions. At Bingham, Utah, which occupies a mountain gorge and which doesn't boast a sufficiently large piece of flat ground within its ltmits for baseball or football, they play basketball, and usually produce the champion team of the State. In the frozen North, which Is unsuite.l 1 o ordinary gunip* and pastimes, they have made the dog races famous. Tho annual dog derby Is now on in Manitoba with the thermometer at 40 below zero and everybody furclad. . •

Poincare Wins When Premier Poincare entered office, six months ago, he said he would stabilize the franc at about 4 cents. Most people thought it could not be done, and if it could a bad reaction would follow. For a while rampant speculation and a curtailment of trade seemed to jusify the foreboding. At one time loud cries were raised for Poincare to stop. France was being ruined by inflation of the franc, said the timid ones, but Poincare went right on. Yesterday he told the Chamber of Deputies that the franc had been stabilized at 3.95 cents, which is close enough to his original mark. What Reason? Opposition of twelve Western States seems likely to induce the Government to abandon its attempt to hike grazing fees in natural forests. What puzzles the average man is why any such hike was considered at this time. Hasn't the cattle business been hard enough hit without this? If Uncle Sam needs pittance of revenue things would be different, but Uncle Sam wastes more every day than these grazing fees represent in a year. Bad Company Failure of the Senate to confirm Cyrus E. Woods as a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission is described as a rebuff to President Coolidge. It was more of a rebuff to the Pennsylvania Republican machine, with which Woods has been identified. Pennsylvania has had a fine time with her Camerons, Quays, Penroses and A ares, but she has not made herself popular with the country at large. According to all reports, Mr. AVoods. is an able and upright man, but, like old dog Tray, he suffers from the company he keeps. Was Marietta ever the capital of Ohio? No. It was the seat of government of the Northwest organized by Governor Arthur St. Clair in 1788, which included the present State of Ohio.

A Tough Time Deciding Which One to Mother

The Son of Steele Gives Six Drawings of His Father to Herron Art Institute

A portrait painter who is a master of his artfc puts on his canvas no casual imitation of his sitter's external form, but rather an Interpretation of the character and mood within the flesh and blood envelope before him. the whole saturated with his own emotional personality. , •lust as the landscape artist paints not so much the scene that meets his eye as the surge of joy or loneliness. exultation or despair or wonder that rises within him as he works. In the present exhibition of American oils at the institute not all of the figure studies are portraits. • “At Breakfast," by R. Sloan Bredin depicts a mother and three charming daughters, but these are hardy portraits. They are units in a group with the emphasis on the group and there is no evidence of an attempt to preserve individuality in any one face or figure. Pleasant people breakfasting out of doors is all that they, as persons, amount to. “Miss Murphy" by Frederic Clay Bartlett, may he a portrait, and it may not be. Whether it portrays anything of the real Miss Murphy is of little moment. She lent a physical presence from which the painter built up the solid pattern of his composition indulging himself in a mannered style of expression. This is pre-eminently a problem In technique. Marie Danforth Page would have made a more gripping success of her large mother and child group if the woman had been developed into a more Interesting personality, or if she had been conventionalized into a closer likeness to the accepted Madonna type. The fluent handling, the delightful color and drawing—all the charm contributed by the artist are not sufficient to make this a great painting, for it is too near an approach to a vital and compelling portrait without being one. On the other hand Robert Henri has achieved a great portrait in “La Gitana,” and “VI" by Sidney Dickinson has the qualities of true portraiture, as has also “Woman In Red," by Adolphe Borie and “In the

Guess His Name

v \ p Ci :

The name of this man and the correct answers to the questions appear on page 14: 1— AVho is shown in the accompanying picture? 2 Which is the most northern of the United States? 3 What word are represented by the letters “R. S. V. P.”? 4ln which of Tennyson's poems does this verse appear: ’’ ’Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all." 5 Who sponsored the Catalina channel swim? 6 A\ T ho defeated Paavo Numri, distance runner? 7 What is the capital of Roumania? 8 — AVhere is the University of Illinois? 9 Does Mademoiselle correspond to Mrs. qr Miss? 10— Who is 18.2 billiad champion?

This Man Sure Can Play a Harp

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Here is a man who doesn’t say a word during a show that lasts nearly three hours. His name is “Ilarpo” Marx and he is in “The Cocoanuts," now at English’s. And how this man can play the harp. And how.

Ghetto.” by Sigurd Skou. Gerrit A. Beneker has accomplished his purpose of producing an effective portrait of “Katherine” and the seated woman in AVayman Adam's group portrait “Three Generations” is as charming a thing of its kind as will be found in many an exhibition. Tho etchers who have contributed to the exhibition at the Herron Art Institute of “prints by twenty-five American etchers,” now in Gallery 11, have drawn their inspiration from many sources, and have brought a variety of techniques to the task of self-expression with the etcher's needle. The studies of child life are among the most charming of the prints. The three children in the pool by Sears Gallagher are faithfully drawn with a delicacy of line fitting to the subject, and with a sure feeling for form and solidity. A child's portrait and a sketch of a little girl with her dolls are the work of F. E. Baehr, both pleasant bits of characterization. The youthful figures employed by Clea Demianakes in two decorative etchings have the quality of child studies, the untouched bloom of innocence. The graceful poses of the figures, the carefully considered spaces, the firm, clean lines, all add to the beauty of the definite patterns. There are several good architectural drawings. AVilliam Sherwood has pictured the canals and palaces of Venice with the touch of romance that Venice demands. There is a San Francisco custom house by Loren Barton, and interior and exterior views of cathedrals and churches by other artists. The etchings of sporting subjects are well executed. Nice drawing and clever spotting distinguish the horsemen taking a hurdle and a polo match by Edward King. Birds and dogs are portrayed with sympathetic insight, and there are landscapes that have something of the richness and atmospheric quality of paintings. A group of paintings from the permanent collection, most of them recently acquired, has been hung in Gallery X. This gallery has recently been redecorated and the light covering on the walls is particularly effective as a background for the high note of modern painting. “The Art Jury,” by AVayman Adams, the purchase of which by popular subscription has just been made, and “A Painter Man,” by William Forsyth, presented to the Art

School at Christmas time by Mrs. J. AV. Fesler are included In this showing, as is “The Man in Armor,” by Theodore C. Steele painted by Mr, Steele during his v early stay in Munich and presented to the Art Association at the close of the feteele Memorial Exhibition by tjie artist’s son, Brandt Steele. Other pictures that appear in this group have been acquired during the year through the p. P. Erwin, James E. Roberts and Mary Milliken Funds and the Alice Finch Bequest. “The Friends of American Art,” society is represented ly its first gift to the Art Association, the portrait of Alexander ErnestinofT by AVayman Adarns, and by a large portrait head by Abbott Thayer. The gift from Mr. Brandt Steele to the Art Association includes in addition_to “The Man in Armor” six drawings made by his father, Theodore C. Steele. # Indianapolis theaters today offer: The Marx Brothers in “The Cocoanuts” at English’s; Nazimova at Keith's; Amoros and Janet at the Palace; Boyd Rowden at the Lyric; “The Potters” at the Ohio; “The Auctioneer” at the Colonial; "The Kid Brothers” at the Apollo; Paul AVhiteman at the Circle; new show at the Uptown: “Desert Valley” at the Isis and burlesque at the Mutual. How did ihe number of automobile fatalities in the United States In 1925 compare with the number of automobiles in use? There were 19,828 automobile fatalities in the United States in 1925. The motor vehicle registration for the same year was 19,954,347. How much did Gerald Chapman get in his mail robbery in New York City? \A as any of the money recovered? The amount was estimated by post office officials at approximately $1,000,000 in cash and securities. How much- he was able to realize on the securities no one knows. The Government has been unable to recover any of the proceeds of that robbery save a few thousand dollars in cash found on Chapman and his confederates and a very small proportion of the bonds. Where can I get Ihe cartoons “The Doings of the Van Loons” in book form? It was published by the Ball Publishing Company, J 55 Boylston St., Boston, Mass.

i JAN. 26, 1927

Work Some Simple Questions About Bridge Ironed Out,

By Milton C. Work The pointer for today Is: The player who first for his side names the declaration that becomes the final contract is tlre Declarer. In spite of the fact that Law ;’9 clearly prorides who should be the Declarer, there are continual questions asking who should play the hand under circumstances similar to the following: South (Dealer) one Spade, West pass, East two Diamonds. South two Hearts, West pass. North two Spades, which obtains the contract. The contention is then made that South “having abandoned" his Spade declaration and the final bid in it having been made by North, that North should be the Declarer, and In spite of the fact that all Laws of the game ex pressly statb that in such case North becomes the Dummy, letters come to hand stating that the practice in certain communities is to the con trary. It does not matter in the least what declarations may have intervened, nor who makes the final bid it is the player who first for his side names the declaration that becomes the contract who is the Declarer and who has the hand of the Dummy faced opposite to him Another popular question is: Can a player who is “doubled out" score ! game and count a bonus for it? Some of my readers may find it hard to take this question seriously, but It means to ask whether a doubled De clarer can go game with tricks count ed at double value, w’hen he would not have gone game had his hid not been doubled. For those who are in doubt upon this point the answer is He can and does. (See Laws 36 (b) and 50.) In Progressive and Duplicate he gets the 125 bonus for win ning a game in one hand. Another oft. repeated question is whether “easy Aces” count twenty for each side. The answer Is that. Aces count only when partners hol4 three or more. Three in one hand or divided count thirty for the partnership: four divided, regardless of whether tho division be 3-1 er 2-2, count forty for the partnership: anfi four held In one hand count 100 for the partnership, Law 40 Is explicit on the subject of ‘tho “easy Ace< question: “One or two honors held by a side are not counted " (Copyright, John F. Dille Cos > Work, the international authority on Auction Bridge, will answer questions on the game for Times readers who write him through The Times, inclosing a aelf-ad-dressed, stamped envelope.

Times Readers Voice Views

To the Editor of The Times: In regards to the increase of pay for the members of the Indiana Legislature from $6 to SB, I noticed in Friday’s issue that the Assembly adjourned before noon Friday until 2 •p. m. Monday, an act that seems to be a weekly occurrence. Do Representatives get $6 for each day of eight hours (as I believe eight hours is a legal government day), or do they get straight six or sevenday a week pay? Taking a. seven day straight pay for this week is would figure about $9.90 per day for time in session. AVe factory workers are all checked up very closely as to time we work and most, certainly are docked for time off duty. It seems that these lawmakers should be treated as other men who are paid so much per'day, that is, paid for time in session. Is it not a fact that all members get sixty day’s pay for the session and are off duty one or two full days each week, which does not extend the time, for the Legislature’s term begins and ends on given days, disregarding time out? Am I right about this? Are the members paid for absent time? A TAXPAYER.

Questions and Answers

You eon act an answer to any question ot fact or information by writing to The Indianapolis Times Washington Bureau. 1322 hew York Are.. Washing ton. P. C.. inclosing 2 cents in stamp* 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. For whom was the St. Lawrence River named? The river takes its name from the gulf. The gulf was called St. Lawrence because it was discovered upon the feast day of that saint. How can a woolen sweater bp shrunk? AAfash it in hot water for about ten minutes. Take it out of the hot water and immediately place it in very cold water. The change of temperature should cause the fibers to contract. AVhere does caracul fur come from? The caracul is a member of the sheep family. Its habitat is Tashkent and some of the provinces of southern Russia, where they are called Russian Caracul. The Tashkent Caraculs vary in color. Caraculs are also found in China and Mon golia. These pelts are generally white, are heavier and have a looser curl. Caraculs are bred to some ex tent in the United States and Can ada. AVhat is meant by the undertow of the sea? It is the flow of the water at the bottom of a shallow sea in the op posite direction to- the surface cur rent produced by* the wind, or the backward under-current on the beach when the waves of the surf break on the shore.