Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 312, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 April 1927 — Page 4

PAGE 4

The Indianapolis Times ROY \V. HOWARD, President. BOYD GURLEY, Editor. WM. A. MAYBORN, Bus. Mgr. Member of the Scripps-Howanl Newspaper Alliance * * * Client of the Uuited Press and tbe NEA Service * * * Member of tbe Audit Bureau of Circulations. Published dally except Sunday bv 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 3o<)0.

No law shall be passed restraining the freeinterchange of thought and opinion, or restricting the right to speak, write or print freely , on any subject ivlmtever.—Constitution of Indiana.

Help This Movement If you have not already done so. call up Lincoln 4287, the headquarters of the citizens committee in (barge of the campaign for a city manager ft;h of government and get a petition. This city needs the benefits of the model' system of city government more than most cities. It is now burdened with and political government that is brazen and bold and, above all, very costly. Every public action is judged not on the basis of its effect upon the welfare of the city, but upon its political effect. The present administration is the full and complete flowering of the political system of city government. It finally reaches what might be called perfection in boss rule. When it was necessary to go to the State Legislature in order to prevent the people from immediately putting in the city manager form of government, as the law up to a month ago made possible, J,he administration in power confessed that it feared the people and behind that the majority of citizens would prefer some other government than the kind in existence. The city manager form of government, in cities where it is now in operation, banishes the sort of politics which are played at the city hall. It divorces the city government from the national party designations. It permits, without any wrench upon a sense of party loyalty, men and women who think alike in city affairs to vote the same ticket. It avoids the thing which happens in every city election, not only in Indianapolis, but in all cities which have the same system of government. The evil effect of the partisan politics on city government was illustrated in Chicago on Tuesday when a man who had been exposed as unfit and who had allied himself with all the forces of evil was elected by the votes of good people who "stood by their party.” Before his nomination, the outstanding leaders of his own party had denounced Big Bill as a crook, as unfit, as a menace to the welfare of Chicago. But after lie was nominated these same men, who wish to stay in State and national politics, pleaded and used their influence to elect him to office. They did not dare to oppose a man they had denounced as unfit because of the fear of being "irregular.” That happens in this city at every election. There are always a large number of citizens who vote a party ticket without regard to the fitness of the candidate. The machine bosses rely upon this percentage. There is, of course, no real division of parties in a city election except as to what party shall get the plums and the jobs and the soft snaps. The city manager form of government centers interest on city affairs, takes away the national and State interest in politics and permits the voter to get a government he desires and is willing to pay for. The only politics that is possible under that form of government is the sort of politics which appeals to the judgment of voters through performance of duty and the giving of good government. Good streets, law enforcement, low taxes will l)S the issues Instead of tariff and world court, which have nothing to do with city affairs. The movement to obtain an election to put in this city manager government is gaining headway. Get your name on the petitions. The politicians, of course, will fight this movement. It means an end to their power and their pillage. Taking the shackles of political government off Indianapolis will < > more to bring growth and prosperity than could any other one change, if you want to help Isdianapolis, sign these petitions. The Other Remedies When the House of Representatives started to impeach Judge Dearth of Muncie, the attorney general of the State, Arthur Gilliom said that impeachment was not the right reipedy, but that other legal ways of redress for judicial wrongs existed. It is, perhaps, permissible (o suggest that the attorney general now has a glorious opportunity to apply those other remedies. The conduct of the judge who avoided ini peachmen tby two votes, since h3. returned, does not show that chastened spirit which might be expected from one who had so narrow an escape. It is apparent that he does not look at the Senate vote as do the vast majority'of citizens. lie has forgotten that twenty-nine Senators declared him guilty of having tyrannically used his office to suppress the press and that only twentyvoted to acquit. A three-fifths vote in that conservative body is at least suggestive. The attorney general might, in all good conscience, construe the twenty votes for acquittal as an indorsement of his opinion and believe that those Senators voted to acquit not on evidence but because they believed the law gave them no right to convict. If that be true, as if may be if the outside influences at the trial be forgotten, then perhaps the appliaction of the other remedies which the attorneygeneral had in mind would help conditions at Aluncie. When the IVluncie newspaper which consistently defended Judge Dearth and denounced the impeachment proceeding, at last refuses to stand for the Dearth tactics and openly criticises his present attitude, it may be time for the attorney general to hunt up his bag of legal surgical instruments and proceed to operate. Beneath the Chaff It is in some ways the saddest spectacle in the world that million-dollar libel suit being tried in Detroit. No matter which is victor, Aaron Sapiro and Henry Ford are apt to find themselves victims alike of a Roman holiday. For days now Sapiro, the young farm marketing expert, has been treated on the witness stand to every trick known to shrewd attorneys. Within a week Ford, the most homespun plutocrat in history, will face the same ordeal. Virtuous both, these two men will, if possible, be shown to the world as two villains. Such is the law of libel. And yet how much better would the world be were there more men like them. Newspaper writers feel the matter more acutely, per-

haps, than newspaper readers. Obliged to report what 'happens, the.writer must emphasize some things that should be ignored. That Aaron Sapiro made money from his farm marketing career is less important surely than the act that in this free land a poor orphan boy still an find his way to fortune. That Henry Ford lias regrettable racial antipaliies may be less important than the fact that the richest man in history considers farmers more important than bankers. And most important of all is the Tact that back of the bickering lies the desire of each man to serve h?S fellow man, and that in each case the wish has led to wealth. This newspaper believes its readers will discover for themselves which parts of this trial are mere sound and sound and fury, signifying nothing. Uncle Sam Will Go It Alone In China It was with profound relief that we lead the following United Press dispatch from Washington: “This Government has decided to hold to a moderate course in *’hina in face of strong pressure for intervention. . . . “Punitive demands apparently will not be made.'’ President Coolidge is to be congratulated, the more so because strong influences have steadily been brought to bear on him, both from within and without the State Department, to use strong arm methods in dealing with China. Such a policy would be as short-sighted as in the Ion,? run it would be ineffective. For while with all our stupendous might behind us we would have no difficulty winning a war with China at this time, the only result would be to stave off the inevitable, postpone fpr a few years China's awakening. No, that would not be the only result. Another result would be to draw down upon ourselves the bitter resentment of the Chinese, who now are inclined to look upon us as friends. Speaking before the National Press Club at Washington yesterday afternoon. Dr. T. Z. Koo, a nationalist and friend of the late Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, said: “The Chinese do look upon Americans differently. *To illustrate: Several of the foreign powers of late have been sending warships, soldiers, marines and other armed forces to China. You will have observed, perhaps, that every one of them has taken great pains to explain it was doing so only to protect the lives and property of its nationals. “Well, the Chinese do not believe some of the others when they say that, but they do believe it when America says so.” Here is a beautiful confidence born of decades of a friendly policy. While the other great powers have never overlooked a chance to grab off a piece of Chinese territory, or a rich concession or a sphere of influence of some other advantage, the United States has not only refused to join in thp spoliation of China but actively used its influence in her behfilf. The time is rapidly coming when that policy will repay this country richly in dollars and cents as well as in other ways. This may be a sordid way of putting it, but after all there is no call to pretend we are blind to this side of the picture. Trade is one of the issues at stake, however much some of the powers prate of working “only in the interests of civilization.” The British and the Japanese are keenly aware of this. In fact it is one of the things uppermost in their minds when they try so desperately to maneuver us into making common cause with them against the Chinese. They want us to get in bad with the Chinese, too. If President Coolidge maintains the course he now appears to be pursuing, the ruse will fail. In so doing lie will be rendering the greatest service to American business interested in far Eastern trade, the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai to the contrary notwithstanding. There are American business men in the Orient who, in their fear of losing a few dollars’ worth of profits today, are blind to the millions which will drop into their laps tomorrow from an awakened China. These the President would save from their own folly.

What Price Coal? During the year 1926, 2,250 men lost their lives in American coal mines. This fact, made public by the United States Bureau of Mines, is worth considering for a minute or two. , If someone catastrophe had taken all of those lives the American public probably would be jarred into action. Ffom all sides there would be demands for protective measures to render such a tragedy impossible of repetition. But it didn’t happen that way. There were.a few disasters of major size; the rest of those deaths were scattered —a man crushed by falling rock here, a couple of men killed by a coal car there, another killed by falling down a shaft in another place, and so on. - And so tho price at which our coal is mined escaped our attention. But there are men whose attention this casualty record has not escaped. Those men are the miners themselves. You may be sure that these men know very well the price that is paid for coal. Understanding that fact may help us to understand such things as tlie present coal strike. It may help us to see why these men feel that they would rather enter on a long and doubtful industrial struggle than see their wages cut or their hours of work lengthened. Be that as it may, however, one thing is sure; the death list is disgracefully high. It would be impossible to say just what should be done without first making a long and careful study of the whole situation. But it does seem as if a nation that prides itself on its industrial efficiency as this nation does could find some way of getting its coal out of the ground without sacrificing so many lives in tho process. The busy bee is so busy because he Is so dumb, a French scientist discloses. Dumb, but somehow lie doth it. Dotty people are those continually signing on the dotted line.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

a RaC \ Chicago Without Fear of Booze, Bankruptcy or Politics.

By >l. E. Tracy . At any rate, Chicago has the courage of her convictions. She is obviously unafraid of booze, bankruptcy or politics in the schools. No other construction can be placed on "Big Bill's” triumph. The colored brother helped, of course, and so did the bootlegger, the gangster and the moron who is for “America first" without knowing why. There will be immigrants from the South and moonshine from many places in great abundance. Those who want to see life without legal interference can depend on a cordial welcome and a chance to spend their money. One wonders what effect it will have on business. What About Business While Chicago readopts “Big Bill,” New Y’ork expurgates Broadway. The same front page that recorded his "smashing victory" told how a Gotham jury had convicted those responsible for putting on "Sex.” Again one wonders what the effect will be on business. Will the shoppers, pleasure seekers, department store buyers and others who want to get “next” find a cleansed Broadway or a wide-open Chicago more to their liking? Both Must Pay It is sordid, of course, to put the question on a commercial basis, but neither idealism nor vice lasts very long if it fail to pay. Both Chicago and New York will consult their ledgers in the end, and this writer cannot help thinking that New York is likely to enjoy it more. Boston Has Show Not to be outdone by her greater rivals, Boston also staged a showon Tuesday, as the result of which her great courthouse is under special guard, and likewise the homes of two Supreme Court judges. It was just another chapter in the Sacco-Vanzetti case, though not the last. This case .has been in the legal mill for six years and every State court has had a whack at it. Now it will be taken to the United States Supreme Court. Radicalism Radicalism is and always has been too much of an issue iff the SaccoVanzetti case. But for a Nationwide scare and consequently ruthless round-up of everybody who could be tagged as a radical, the chances *are that these two men would never have been caught, even if they were guilty of the murder for which they were later convicted. But for their connection with radical movements, the chances are that no such effective camt>aign would have been waged in their behalf. Prejudice Lurks The issue of radicalism makes it justifiable to suspect that prejudice played a part in their conviction, especially since the evidence was of such character as to admit of doubt. This issue also makes it possible to believe that the sympathy and funds poured out in their behalf may not represent a wholly impartial desire to see justice done. You can't get away from the fact, however, that though radicals may have raised the cry in their behalf to begin with, it has since been taken up by thousands of people without regard to race, creed or politics. Legal Game Neither is the decision of the Massacahusetts Supreme Court by which their latest appeal dismissed, entirely satisfying. That decision states, among other tilings, that the trial judge was within his rights when he refused to reopen the case; that agreement of counsel as to facts was not binding on him and that failure of the prosecution to call witnesses who might have contradicted other witnesses constituted no breach of duty. You can’t get over the idea that all this amounts to is an ex-cathedra declaration that the legal game was played according to Hoyle. This my be conclusive proof that game turned out all right, but the average layman can’t help wishing that somebody connected with the system could find a way to review the whole proceeding and see whether the right verdict had been rendered regardless of technicality and rod tape. Law and Justice The impression grows stronger and stronger in this country that if our courts didn’t have so much law to fiddle with, they could find more time for justice. This Sacco-Vanzetti case could have been repoened and retried twen-ty-five times during the last six years. If tried rightly In the first place, why should it take so long to find out. If our courts spent one-quarter as much time trying to find out the facts that they do mooning over appeals, motions, briefs and demurrers, the public would feel a whole lot better, even if it didn’t get such a grand outpouring of words and phrases that nobody except a trained expert can understand. Which color Is most restful to the eyes? Green. How near to earth does a large telescope bring a distant object? The moon is about 240,000 miles from the earth, but the great telescope at Mt. Wilson, Cal., brings it in a manner of speaking, within fifty miles of the earth.

WHAT’S^

Is “Elmer Gantry’ Just a Mere Myth? And Has Lewis Libeled the Ministry?

Sinclair Lewis has thrown the monkey wrench into the machinery of tbe literary world. And at the same time this n?an, by writing “Elmer Gantry,” announced as the “preacher novel," has upset the ministers and church people all over the country. To my way •of thinking, “Elmer Gantry” challenges the review writer as no other novel has for many seasons. The subject matter actually demands that the reviewer answers two questions which are not naturally in the provience of a review of a novel. The questions are: “Is Elmer Gantry” as a minister who drifts from denomination to denomination, just a mere myth?,” and, “Has Sinclair Lewis libeled the ministry?” To answer thes" questions, one must know the Itev. Gantry as pictured by Le.wis. He is pictured even in a Baptist si minary as a man who yielded tu both drink and to women. He went nto the ministry because he thought lie was a spellbinder and because he thought it was easy work. When lie was just “preaching" before being ordained lie had an affair with a woman, a serious one. But he went into the ministry and was kicked out of the seminary before he got his doctor’s degree. Under the Spell He became a. traveling salesman. Then he fell under the spell of a woman evangelist. .Joined her troupe and lived "mighty high” with her as they “invited” the public to accept God. When tlie woman evangelist and soul companion of Elmer dies in a tabernacle fire. Elmer goes into one of those thought cults where it was explained to “unappetizing elderly ladies how they might rouse passion in a football hero.” Then Elmer saw dreams of a big

Will Be Seen in ‘Prunella’

vv

Photo by National Studio.

Upper—Gertrude Matthews will be seen in "Prunella,” which will be presented Friday night in the Manual Training High School auditorium by the school players. Lower—Berniece Noerr will be seen in the same play Friday night.

A Easter Greetings

By Walter I). Hickman

future as a Methodist minister and he becomes a big gun. Elmer, as pictured by the author, takes on a good girl as a wife and then mistreats her on the bridal night. Elmer gets wise to his "oil” and is transferred by a bishop to a big city church that was rusty. Elmer then applied sensational tactics and became the talk of the town. But he never forgot women and one nearly blackmailed him into utter ruin. But a “good” clever lawyer saved the day. And Elmer goes on his way as the high salaried head of a Nation wide movement to bring heaven into this country. Two Answers Now back to the questions. First: Gantry is a myth. About every crime but murder was done by this man. It seems that all of tlie nasty vices are to be found in this clever man. Elmer Gantry does not exist in tbe flesh. He would have been found out long before the blackmailer got busy. The second question: states in his book, “No character in this book is the portrait of any actual person.” As far as I am concerned if I were a minister, 1 would laugh mentally at Elmer Gantry and 1 would read it seriously, several times. The real ministry and the real minister has not been harmed or libeled. Asa novel it is to me “knockout entertainment,” and nothing else. I see many situations which are true in some instances, especially the way high-powered evangelists may sell religion.

M Os

Today’s list of questions was designed especially for children—although that doesn’t mean that there may not be a question or two that will stump the older members of tlie family. Y'ou’ll find the answers on page 16: 1. What is wrong with this ,picture? 2. What is Chief Justice Taft’s middle name? 3. In what year did Calvin Coolidge become president? 4. Commissioner Kencsaw M. Landis of baseball held what position before lie took bis present post? 5. Who wrote the historical novel, “Ivanhoe?” 6. Who is Bulto? 7. Where does the League of Nations hold its meetings? 8. Who is the chief legal advisor of the Anti-Saloon League of America? 9. How long is the term of a UYlited States Senator? 10. In what game is an implement called a "niblick” used?

New Show at Palace Today

Pillard and Hiller, called the doctors of comedy, are presenting their cure for all blues in .the shape of laugh pallets coated with songs and dances when they offer their "Gerber's Giggles” at the Palace theater the last half of this week. Four young women help the men administer the pills to the patrons. Mimi and Pomme, an (internationally famous dancing pair, are presenting their series of Spanish dances which they claim have never been staged before on any American stage. With the dash and color so characteristic of Spain they feature their steps to the tunes furnished by Feeley’s Famous Gatins, a six piect* maritime orchestra which comes from the small Latin republic, Guatemala. McCormick and Wallace ara ventriloquists who have an act entitled "The Little Red School House.” A school room full of noisy children are given final instructions by their teacher in preparation for the visit by the inspector, but the pupils fail to carry them out. “We Better Sing,” is the act offered by Kranz and Walsh. The

To me “Elmer Gantry is knockout entertainment.” I like it better from an entertainment standpoint than 1 did either his “Main Street" or "Babbitt.” As I write this, Harcourt, Brace and Company have the best non-fic-tion seller in this country. I know that I got all warmed up mentally and really angry at times and then J wofild yell at the sharpness of the fictitious character of Elmer Gantry. Roar at it if you wish, hut do not roar until you have actually read it.

Best Sellers Following is tho list of tho six best sellers in fiction and nonfiction in Brentano’s New York stores for the week ending April 2, 11*27: FICTION “Elmer Gantry,” Sinclair Lewis. Harcnurl Brace. “Tho Bead!**." Paulin* Smith. Derail. “The Delectable* Mountains. Stmt hers Burt. Scribner. “The Allingrhams.” May Sinclair, Macmillan. “Doomsday.” Warwick Deeping:, Knout. “The Plutocrat.” Booth Tarkington, Doublcday Page*. NONFICTION “The Revolt ill the Desert.” T. E. Laurence. Doran. , “Napoleon: The Man of Destiny,” Emil Ludwig, Boni & Liverifrht. “Ask Me Another,” Stafford & Esty. Viking Pn ss “The Story of Philosophy,” Will Durant. Simon & Schuster. ‘•Wilhelm Hohenzollern.” Emil Ludwig. Putnam's. “Palmersten,” I*. Gucdalla. Putman's.

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Three Silvers are male gymnasts whose "Versatile Doings” embrace many unusual and difllcult stunts. William Boyd and Slinor Fair, the stars of "The Volga Boatman,” are seen together again in the film “Jim the Conqueror.” Pathe News, a comedy, and topics of the day are the short reels. Other theaters today offer: “Lilac Time,” at English's; Rae Samuels at Keith's; Dave Vine at the Lyric; “Venus of Venice,” at the Circle; “Children of Divorce" at the Ohio; “The Demi-Bride” at the Apollo; new show at the Uptown, movies at the Isis and burlesque at the Mutual. Ilow long did the Philippine insurrection last? It broke out on the night of Feb. 4, 1899. On July 2, 1902, President Roosevelt proclaimed the insurrection at an end everywhere except in the Moro territory. What was flu* date of (lie Knickerbocker Theater disaster in Washington, I). C. The disaster occurred oh the night of Saturday, Jan. 28, 1922. The snowstorm which caused it started at 4:20 p. m. on Jan. 27, 1922, and ended on the night of the 29tta.

APRIL 7, 19271

CvT"\ cJltuiion Oflffrfp Mjmion AA CWbrii KJ Case Where YoiW’lay Small From Ace— Jack in Dummy,

The pointer for today is: •*. At a No-Trump Contract, witlil •lack-x in Dimimiy and Ace-! Ton-x in Closed Hand, playl small from Dummy if a small! card be led. This is very much In line with ! pointer given a few days since, i! which, with the same Ace-Ten-* holding in Closed Hand, Dumm] held Queen-x, and the small pla! from Dummy was advocated. If an;! tiling, the play in this case is morl obvious than in tlie other. It will bl noticed that tlie Jack lie playel and it be covered by a Third Han! honor, the Declarer, winning th| first trick, will lie left with till guarded Ten, good for a second trie! if Uie next lead of that suit lie mad! by the adversary on the left, bul probably worthless if tlie lead he b! tlie adversary on tbe right. But i! the Jack be kept in Dummy and th! small card be played on tho firs! trick, Declarer must win two trick! in that suit, no matter where th! adverse high curds are located, <>! from which hand the suit is led sul! sequently. The following deal show! how this play work:;: H

* J-7-4 A-8-6-2 O K-J-7-4 * J-S aq-io-5 i * kW t? 9-4 J 5T V J-10-7-J 0 Q-5-2 £ ' 0 A-6-3 K-9-5-4-2 South_ jh Q-7-J A A-8-6-3 K-Q-5 0 10-9.8 A A-10-6

South, playing a No-Trump, woul! be confronted by the lead of till Four of Clubs from West, on which! in accordance with tlie above point! er, lie should play tlie Eight, not thJ Jack, from the Dummy. East woulil play the Queen, and South woula win tlie trick with the Ace. I Please note the result in this dea if Dummy' play the Jack on trick . and East, after winning a subse quent trick with the Ace of Dia monds, lead a Club. With tlie correct play of trick 1 liow should Declarer plan bis cam paign in order to make his game! Answer* tomorrow. (Copyright, John F. Dilie Cos.)

of Pvk>ex> fj Daily Lenten Det)olion%> Prepared by Rev. 1 Emerson Barton, I Commission on Evangelism c of Federal Council of the I Churches of Christ in j America. Copyright IM7

Tonic for the Week “THE SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE” Thursday “There are Allies of the Good” SCRIPTURE; Read—Ephesians 3 “That ye may be strengthene( with power through his Spirit it tiie inward man” (Eph. 8:16). “Am behold, angels came and ministers unto him” (Mt. 4:11). “But I mad supplication for thee, that thy faitl fail not" (Ll<. 22:32). "Fear not: so they that are with us are more that they that are with them" (11. Kin 6:16). See Revelations 3:10. MEDITATION: The living Chris is our great ally. We sense withlr us the influence of our true friends even when they say nothing to us and not infrequently when they are absent from us. What, then, of tin presence of unseen spiritual friends' Call them angels, if the word hai not grown too strange. Speak rev erently of the Holy Spirit. What ever our names and explanations let us welcome the reinforcement oi the influences welling up within us which prompt us to noble life. "Sin is a spirit and spirit can onlj be conquered by spirit.” HYMN: Sun of my soul. Thou SaHB dear It is not. night if Thou be near; O may no earth-born cloud arise To hide Thee from Thy servant’s eyes! When the soft dews of kindly sleei My wearied eyelids gently steep; Be my last thought, how sweet t( rest Forever on my Savior’s breast! Come near and bless us when w< . wake. Ere through the world our way we take. Till in the ocean of Thy love We lose ourselves In heaven above —John Keble (1820). PRAYER: Thanks for friends human and divine. ’Pray for—spirit of goodness; weak of will; husine.-s men. Collect —O Lord our God, Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Thy love is unsullied, full and free Thou are conquering the hearts o men by the surrender of Thyself Thou art shoeing tygh trust in us can we not truts Thee. We prais* Thee for the life, death and resurrec tion of Thy Son in whom we see th< Father. Give us to know the fel lowship of Ilis suffering and th< power of His resurrection with it: pledge of our ongoing life. We be sceeh Thee to ho ou> ally in the eon diet with evil. Give us the lovi that triumphs. Use us for the trans formation the world into the king dom of Christ. Seal within us oui purpose to live for eternity and t Thee be all the praise, Where does (lie greatest si rail come in a train of cars'? The location of the greatest strair depends entirely on the make-up o the train and the position of th empty cars. No definite answer ca be given.