Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 87, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 August 1927 — Page 4

PAGE 4

The Indianapolis Times | (A SCKIPPS-OOWARD NEWSPAPER) Owned and published dally (except Sunday) by The Indianapolis Times Publishing Cos.. 214-230 W. Maryland Street, Indianapolis, Ind. Price In Marlon County, 2 cents —10 cents a week: elsewhere. 3 cents—l 2 cents a week. BOYI i J ?. ORLEY - ROY w - HOWARD. W. A. MAVBORN, Editor. , President. Business Manager. PHONE—MAIN 3300 SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1927. Member ol United Press. Scrlpps-Howard Newspaper Alliance. Newspaper Enterprise Association. Newspaper Information 8e; vice and Audit Bureau of Circulations. “Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way" —Dante

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Our Ridiculous Laws Those who believe that human conduct, morals and mentality should be regulated and controlled and directed by the Federal Government will applaucFthe seizure of prize fight films by Federal officers. Others who have some idea that States still have some powers and that individuals can be safely left to find their own paths to heaven or elsewhere as they may choose will not be so happy. There happens to be a Federal law against transporting films of prize fights across State lines. There is no law against sending photographs of the same events and newspapers employ airplanes to get the first flashes to their readers. The menace, in the Federal view, is in the moving character of the pictures. It is a matter of common knowledge that the law was designed to prevent the showing of pictures of one fighter who happened to be very black and very successful/ Congress, yielding to the pleas of those who added race hate to their own desires to control the habits of everyone else, enacted the law so that the victory of this big black man couldn't be seen. He has long since gone the way of those who rely upon brutal powers for glory and fame, but the law stays. While the Federal officers are turned into guardians for the public morals, the big railroads are advertising low rates for those who wish to travel to Chicago and see not a picture of a fight, but a real fight. These railways are looking for business and will get plenty of it. They want to carry those who are foolish enough to pay S4O to see two big brutes maul each other for an hour. Just why a moving picture of a fight is illegal and a fight itself legal is one of the mysteries. It is one of the absurdities that comes from the passion to regulate people into being good. Incidentally very many people lose respect for all law every time the law makes an ass of itself. That is one reason that those who are preaching a return to the old theory that the individuad has rights and responsibilities and that neither happiness nor progress comes from law are receiving a wider hearing. Every time the Federal Government encroaches into the habits of people, the sooner will come the revolt against the present tendency to destroy all rights of the individual and minimize the control of States and smaller units over their own affairs. Do you happen to need Congress to regulate your appetites, your habits, your particular amusements? If you do, you should be satisfied. If you think you can be safely trusted to work out your own destiny, you should revolt against such absurdities as this.

The Pen vs. the Sword Without flourish or fanfarade, one of the most Important conferences yet staged at Geneva will be ealWd to order there the middle of next week. The late lamented naval arms parley created something of a furore around the world, but it is extremely unlikely that one American in ten has any idea of the significance of the international press conference scheduled by the League of Nations to begin Wednesday, Aug. 24. Nevertheless, this meeting may well have a more far-reaching effect upon the lives of ordinary people In this country than the widely heralded arms conference which all of us followed so closely. At the naval conference it was merely a question of Just how much of a navy America, Britain and Japan might maintain pending a possible war. At the coming press conference the principal question will be whether the news of the world—the raw material out of which war-or-peace-making public opinion is made—shall reach the public through free and untrammeled channels or through subsidized or otherwise controlled agencies. Stripped of all camouflage, that will be the main issue; shall governments exercise dangerous and discriminatory control over official news of public import and over its distribution by telegraph, radio and such, or shall both the news and th? means of distribution be open to all on equal terms? This issue is vital if the greatest force in the world today—public opinion—is to be able to function sanely. It is no exaggeration to say it could easily mean the difference between peace or war. In the past, rulers made war when and how they liked. Today the ruler of no modern, civilized state would dare attempt such a thing unless and until he had public opinion behind him—nor, for that matter, could he put across any major enterprise involving or requiring popular support. It can no longer be a question for debate; the pen has become unquestionably mightier than the sword. Thus do we find many foreign government clinging tenaciously to their “offlcial” press associations which they control by subsidies or otherwise. To a greater or less degree, therefore, depending upon the particular country, such governments are able to send out, or withhold, or color the news to suit the occasion. In short, they can more or less mold its public opinion to order. , Against this vicious system the independent press associations of the world arc staging a stubborn, continuous war. Last year, at a preliminary conference at Geneva, they scored the first half of a reaj victory. In spite of everything the aubsidized and allied press associations could do to prevent it, a resolution was .. . ...

passed declaring “official news emanating from government or state institutions can not be made the subject of any exclusiveness.” This resolution comes up for ratification this year. Seeing their hold on a highly important section of the day’s news slipping, the “official” and allied agencies will doubtlessly try to kill it. Failing in that, they will probably attempt to nullify it with reservations. Every American citizen is interested In what hap- j pens at Geneva next week. Led by the United Press, 1 which sponsored last year’s resolution, the independent agencies will demand the elimination of all discrimination in the handling of governmental news and complete impartiality in the matter of transmission. It is a fight for honest journalism. Never in our history has it been as necessary as now for the people of the United States to be certain ; that they foreign news is honest and not colored by j subsidized propaganda. Never have we had more important dealings with foreign peoples than now. And if these fast increasing contacts are hot to lead us into infinite trouble, if not tragedy, they must be placed as soon as possible upon a basis of truth. Senator Borah Is Right, But Miss Jane Addams, famous Chicago humanitarian, telegraphed Senator Borah seeking to enlist him in the effort to prevent the electrocution of Sacco and Vanzettf. Senator Borah, in replying, said: “It would be a national humiliation, a shameless, cowardly compromise of national courage, to pay the slightest attention to foreign protests or mob protests at home. . . . Neither humanity nor peace can be served by deferring to foreign criticism or mob violence in the execution of our criminal laws.” Senator Borah is right. He is right in the main at least, although the point made by the President of Portugal in his message to President Coolidge deserves consideration # * The Portuguese President appealed for commutation of the death penalty in the case of Celestino Madeiros, a Sacco-Vanzetti witness, on the ground that in Portugal, Madeiros’ home country, life imprisonment is the most severe sentence permissible under the law. Portugal has treaties with many countries excepting Portuguese subjects from the death penalty, but happens not to have such a treaty with the United States. The Portuguese President believes electrocution of Madeiros will have a bad effect on public opinion—toward the United States—in the home country. It is hot an unreasonable view. But, as said, Borah is right In the main. There can be no justice if mob clamor is permitted to upset the decrees of the courts. Yet this newspaper believes the sentence of Sacco and Vanzetti should be commuted to life imprisonment. It believes that by persisting in the decree of derth, the courts of Massachusetts are not Increasing respect for the courts, but decreasing it. This is so because the evidence on which the conviction was obtained is utterly unconvincing to thousands of fair-minded men who have studied it painstakingly with rito other object than to ascertain the truth. It is so because the whole course of proceedings in Massachusetts have seemed to be based on a determination to carry out the court’s decree, regardless of a possible mistake. It is one thing to say that courts should not be i by popular clamor. It Is another to say that courts must go through with mistakes just to prove that they cannot be intimidated. Any system of justice that follows the latter theory is laying the ground for its own destruction. Who among our readers will say that any man should be put to death while there remains reasonable doubt of his guilt? None, we trust. Yet the doubt concerning the guilt of Sacco and Vanzetti in the minds of many careful students of the case is so great that it amounts to a conviction that they are innocent. The Governor of Massachusetts srtould commute the sentence to life imprisonment. Suppose, after the death of Sacco and Vanzetti, there should be revealed—as is quite possible—evidence to prove their innocence ,beyond question. What will be the feeling of Massachusetts concerning its system of justice? What will be the feeling of the country? The world? How many more anarchists will have been created? The Italians have renamed Mt. Blanc Mt. Mussolini, but it would have been more appropriate to rename Mt. Vesuvius, which is famous for the hot stuff it shoots off. Coolidge waited till Wall Street was closed before "choosing” not to run. It was also considerate of him to wait till the straw hat season was nearly over. The Russian anarchist who was captured in a New York barber shop probably thought that was the last place police would ever look for him. There are only two kinds of people In the United States: Those who believe Coolidge will not runyri 1928 and those who believe that he will. * Lindbergh has been made a policeman in Chicago. Just what is the honor of being a cop in that town? Break into song if you will, but keep out of strange flats.

haw and Justice By Dexter M, Keezer

In applying for life insurance a man made false statements concerning his age, health and the doctors he had consulted in previous illnesses. Shortly after the policy was issued the man died of tuberculosis. The company refused to pay his wife the insurance on the ground that the application for insurance had contained false statements of important facts. The wife contended that the insurance should be paid because the statements had been made in good faith by her husband who had not guaranted them to be true but had simply asserted that they were true to the best of his knowledge. HOW WOULD YOU DECIDE THIS CASE? The actual decision: The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania decided that the wife was entitled to payment of her husband’s insurance. The court said that if the man’s representations concerning his age, previous health and doctors were made in good faith the policy of insurance should not be forfeited.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

WUy the asTalman Weather? Meteorology

TORNADO CELLARS There is no absolutely safe refuge from a tornado above the ground. The tornado cellar, if properly constructed, affords complete protection fro mthese most vicious of storms. A tornado cellar should not. be located under a house or other building, unless it has a ceiling of exceptionally strong construction, which will not collapse under falling debris in case the building is wrecked. Every when detached from the house the cellar must either be buried so deeply underground or so strongly roofed that heavy objects faling on it will not cause it to cave in. More than forty years ago the Burlington Insurance Company, of lowa, offered a prize of S2OO for the best plans' for a tornado cellar. There were 122 competitors and the prize was awarded to John R. Church, an archietct of Rochester. N. Y. His plans and drawings are published in Col. J. P. Finley’s wellknown book on tornadoes, which appeared in 1887. Since that period the universal use of concrete has provided a building material well adapted for the construction of these refuges. A concrete tornado cellar is a valuable adjunct of a farmhouse, eyen though it may never be needed as a retreat from tornadoes, because, on account of its even temperature, it provides a good place for storing fruits and vegetables. Plans for constructing tornado and storage cellars have been published by the Portland Cement Association. All rights reserved by Science Service. Inc.

Times Readers Voice Views

TO the Editor: Indianapolis wasynce a business town. What is it today? The Waterloo of this once honest city has not yet reached that point, but retribution is sure to follow. Child’s play cannot last successfully. We don't have to be shown by persons who can't prove their own showing. There are some persons who like to hold down a swivel chair and order the public to pay. What is needed in this city is system operated by systematic men, old experienced men in their special line of conservation, without any assistance from grafters. For instance, factories are needed —the city should buy the land and put up the factory ard give the land and building to the industry that will move here and occupy the building. At the end of ten years give them a deed for the land and building and the iryome from those pay rolls goes to stores and other lines of business. Money will eventually get Into circulation Instead of in storage in empty apartments, high rents, high wages and graft. Why induce people via strategy or otherwise to put up money only to kiss it good-by? Get factories, then more factories! Would advise engaging such men as George W. Goethels, a reconstruction expert. One man alone would change this dead city into a progressive city via a systematic way. A READER OF THE TIMES.

Band Concert

The following program will be given Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock at Garfield Park by the Indianapolis Military Band with W. S. Mitchell directing: “Egyptian March" Strauss "Grand Selection from Martha ....Flotow "Euphonium Solo"--Selected. N. P. Howard. "Polish Dance No. i" Scharwenka Excerpts from "It Happened in Nordland” Herbert Overture, “Mignon” Thomas Soprano solo—Selected. Eleanor Sothern. Suite de Ballet, "Antony and Clcopatra” Gruenwald "A Hunting Scene," descriptive. .Rucalossl “Star Spangled Banner.”

Brain Teasers

Answers to today’s-questions are on page 14: 1. What incident from the book of Judges is pictured in the sketch below?

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2. At what age did Adam die? 3. What was the name of Adam’s third son? 4. Os what wood was Noah’s ark made? 5. What miracle did Christ perform after Herod had beheaded John the Baptist?

Do You Know — That 2,349 girls and young women are finding recreation, character-building activities, pleasurable study classes and wholesome interests through the Young Women’s Christian Association, a Community Fund agency?

Edward Resener to Direct Indiana Symphonic Orchestra in Great Overture Starting Sunday

I IHE Sakuntala Overture will IT be played all next week at | * | the Indiana theater the Indiana Symphonic Orchestra with Edward Resener directing. Karl Goldmark is one of the most popular of modern-day composers, a Hungarian Jew by birth. All his compositions have an Oriental coloring and charm, which is as individual as it is attractive. This conceit overture was inspired by the Oriental legend found in Kalidassa’s famous Indian drama. “Sakuntala,” the story of which is inscribed - on the fly-leaf of the score: “For the benefit of those who may not be acquainted with Kalidassa's famous work, ‘Sakuntala,’ we here briefly outline its contents: Sakuntala, the daughter of a nymph, is brought up in a penitential grove by the chief of a sacred caste of priests, as his adopted daughter. “The great king Dushianta enters the sacred grove while out hunting; he sees Sakuntala and is immediately inflamed with love for her. A charming love scene follows, which closes with the union (according to Grundharveri, the marriage) of both. The king gives Sakuntala, which is to follow him later to his rapital city, a ring by which she shall be recognized as his wife. A powerful priest, to whom Sakuntala ias forgotten to show due hospitalny, in the intoxication of her love, revenges himself upon her by depriving the king of his memory and of all recollection of her. Sakuntala loses the ring while washing clothes in the sacred river. “When Sakuntala is presented to the king by her companions as his wife, he does not recognize her and repudiates her. Her companions refuse to admit her back into her home as the wife of another, and she is left alone in grief and despair; then the nymph, her mother, has pity on her and takes her to herself. Now the ring is found by some fishermen and brought back to the king. On seeing it, his recollection of Sakuntala returns. He is seized with remorse for his terrible deed; the profoundest grief and unbounded yearning for her who has disappeared leave him no more. On a warlike campaign against some evil demon, whom he vanquishes, he finds Sakuntala again, nad now there is no end to their happiness.” The overture follows the customary lines of the sonata form. Beginning with a slow introduction in which the atmosphere of the eastern legend seems clearly discernible, we hear at first a theme typical of the loving Sakuntala, while the war-like second subject tells us of the hunter king, who woos her. The themes are given a simple and charming development in the free fantasia, and are brought to our notice again in the recapitulation, aftr which a short code, based upon the theme of the intro-

(Anderson Herald) At the Republican State central committee meeting at Lake Oliver, near La Grange, Governor Ed Jackson said: “No amount of slander or vituperaThe Truth tion can lon S silence the voice of . truth.” IS What we do not know just to what this We Want statemnet referred. We wonder whether it referred to the charges of an Indianapolis newspaper that Governor Ed Jackson, while secretary of State, offered a SIO,OOO bribe to Warren McCray, then Governor, provided that the latter would name a certain man Marion County prosecuting attorney, assuring McCray that he would not be sent to prison. McCray was man enough not to accept the alleged bribe. Does Governor Jackson consider these charges as mere slander or vituperation? If slander, then why not sue in the courts for damages? For surely such charges are damaging, at least to the State of Indiana, and to the high position of the governorship, even though Governor Jackson does not consider them damaging to /him. “The voice of truth.” That is what we are listening for, Governor. There was a distinct and studied effort to gloss over the charges made against Governor Jackson by State officials and members of the State Republican

Going, Going, —/

duction closes the movement with the same mysterious character with which it was begun. IT. LOUIS, Mo., Aug. 20.—As a climax to its most successful season in the nine years of its history the Municipal Theater Association will present next week a gala production of Offenbach’s grand opera, “Tales of Hoffman,” for which a special cast cf grand opera stars will be brought to sing the leading roles. In open air stage of the Municipal Theater in the heart of Forest Park and with magnificent local chorus of ninety-six boys and girls and an orchestra cf sixty-ffve the production of the colorful Offenbach opus is expected to transcend any previous presentation of the work. Marion Telva, a st. Louis girl who has recently become a star of the Metropolitan Opera Company, is again returning to her home to take a leading role, while Louise Lerch, another Metropolitan Opera Company prima donna, and Beatrice

Questions and Answers

How much of the world’s production of pig iron is mined in the United States? Which State of the United States leads in its production? In 1925 the output'of pig iron in the United States represented nearly one-half of the world’s production and was about equal to that of • all the producing countries of Europe combined. Minnesota has furnished 61 per cent of the total ore mined in the United States in the last five years. Who designed the Brooklyn bridge in New York City? John A Roebling, an engineer born at Muhlhausen, Prussia. He studied civil engineering at the Polytechnique School of Berlin. In 1831 he came to America and settled near Pittsburgh. What are the chemical constituents of duralumin? About 4 per cent copper; 0.4 to 0.8 magnesium; 0.2 to 0.8 silicon; generally 0.4 to 1.0 per cent manganese and about 0.4 to 1.0 per cent iron; the balance is aluminum. How much gas and oil did Commander Byrd carry when he left New York for Paris? One thousand three hunderd gallons of gas and 54 gallons of oil. How many women bankers are there in the United States? The census of 1920 reported 4,226 women bankers and bank officials. W’hat salary did Charles Steinmetz receive from the General Electric Company? What was the value of his estate? Charles P. Steinmetz lets a life insurance policy of $1,500 and a

What Other Editors Think

Belkin, still another artist from the Metropolitan, are also numbered among the cast. Joseph Royer and Joseph Wetzel, both members of leading grand opera organizations, will also participate in the production of “Tales of Hoffman.” In spite of the pretentious production that is planned for the Offenbach opus, the Municipal Theater Association has ruled against any increase in price, and will hold to the usual low admission prevailing throughout the season. Accordingly, St. Louisans will be able to view this celebrated grand opera offering from reserved seats for as little a* 25 and 50 cents, while there are other seats available at sl, $1.50 and $2. In view of the scale of presentation and the popular prices of admission the Municipal Theater Association is expecting to end its season ‘with a record breaking week, anticipating as large an attendance as greeted “Rose-Marie,” earlier in the season to create anew Municipal Opera record for receipts.

ten year old automobile. His arrangement with his employers was that when he needed or wanted money he was to ask the cashier for it rather than receive a fixed salary. He "wanted large sums for his laboratory and was provided with what he asked for. For himself, since he lived simply, and had no dependents, he asked very little. What causes the glow of an electric lamp? The metal filament in the lamp becomes heated to a white heat. Can it be said that water is tasteless? No. It depends upon its purity or lack of purity. Salt water tastes salty; water containing iron or other minerals has their characteristic taste. When a man is walking with two women should he walk between them or on the side nearest the curb? A man always takes the outside, no matter how many women are accompanying him. Are Hindoos, natives of India, and American Indians entitled to citizenship in the United States? Hindoos are not eligible to American citizenship. American Indians are citizens and can vote provided they meet the requirements of the State voting laws. How does the number of white people in the world compare with the number of people of the black The white race of, the world is estimated at 821,000,000 persons; the black race, 139,000,000.

central committee that attended the meeting. They attributed the present situation in Indiana as due to a peculiar state of mind which has seized the people, occasionally manifesting itself in criticism. May that state of sanity in the people prevail! May their minds continue to be acute enough to pause and consider when grave charges are made against the Governor of the State, and these charges go for weeks unanswered. May good judgment continue to be exercised by folks who know truth when they see or hear it, and sham when it parade) under false colors. The voice of'truth, forsooth! What a travesty to present to the reading public following the flaunting of charges that would shame any man of character into demanding nothing but the truth, and the whole of it. Come, Governor, take your tongue out of your cheek and tell us all the facts about the SIO,OOO bribe offer. (Washington Democrat) In Indiana Jim "Watson is again being mentioned as a likely candidate for president. The Hoosier State has a habit of doipg that every four years. It is intended for local cpnsumption, to make the hillbillies think the senior is really one of the nation’a big men. Soinehow or another Jim’s boom is never heard beyond the boundary of his own State.

AUG. 20, 1927

M. E. TRACY SAYS: We Suffer From a Tendency to Get Excited Over Particular Incidents and Disregard Everything Going on Around Us All the While.

CLEVELAND. Aug. 20.—The Supreme Court of Massachusetts has made a unanimous and sweeping decision in the SAcco-Vanzetti case. As the record now stands, every official and semi-official tribunal called upon to review this case has upheld the original verdict. So far as the law is concerned, Sacco and Vanzetti have only one more chance to be heard, and that is by the Supreme Court of the United States. In order to avail themselves of that chance they must first obtain a writ of certiorari. That writ; however, would do no good unless they also obtained a stay of execution. The only authority that can grant a stay of execution lies in the State of Massachusetts. If the Supreme Court of the United States were to issue a writ of certiorari and mark the case for review, it would mean nothing to the two men whose lives are involved unless Massachusetts postpones the date of their execution, which is scheduled to take place on Aug. 22. What It Proves This case has led to one of those peculiar kinks in the legal patch which illustrates what the doctrine of State rights can mean. Sacpo and Vanzetti were charged with murder unde? State law. They were tried in a State court. They have exercised every right of appeal under the State constitution. In every instance their appeals have been overruled. They now come to a point where they must show they have been denied their rights as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution in order to get a hearing before the Supreme Court of the United States. If the Supreme Court of the United States granted them such a hearing it would be called upon to find whether a trial which had been declared fair by every State court were unfair. This would place the legal system of Massachusetts rather than Sacco and Vanzetti on trial. If they have been denied their rights after exhaustnig every privilege allowed them under State law no other construction can be put on the case. Obviously, such an issue involves more than ’heir lives, and saving them from the electric chair would not settle it. If the laws and courts of Massachusetts have failed to provide a fa’r trial in this case, it naturally follows that they are not sure of providing it in any case. The Sacco-Vanzetti defense has either proved that the Massachusetts system of jurisprudence is capable of injustice and ought to be changed, or it has proved nothing. Our Responsibility f'nee Sacco and Vanzetti were arrested, 70,000 or 80,000 people have been killed by automobiles in this country. Practically all of these people were innocent. If it is our duty to protect life against ruthless law why is it not our duty to protect life against ruthless speed? If the nation is responsible for the fate of Sacco and Vanzetti, though they were tried in Massachusetts courts and under Massachusetts law, why is it not" responsible for the vast multitude that perishes under the wheels of its automobiles each year?

How One Boy Died Little Roger Shaffer of Lima, Ohio, was a good boy. , He did as his mother told him, and played in his -own front yard. If society is obligated to protect anyone, it is obligated to protect children of that kind. But little Roger Shaffer is dead. A motorist swerved from the street to avoid a collision and killed him. Merely Fairness I do not quarrel with the extraordinary effort that is being made in behalf of Sacco and Vanzetti. • It is not my disposition to quarrel with anything that bespeaks human sympathy. But if these two men deserve public attention, so do the little Roger Shaffers. But Who Cares? We suffer from a tendency to get excited over particular incidents and disregard everything going on around us all the while. We are a nation of 110,000.000 people, and we must learn to think in numbers. Hundreds of capital cases come before our courts every year, and many of them are decided on circumstantial evidence. Who pauses to give a thought to the average defendant, or who cares whether he was proved guilty beyond the “peradventure of a doubt?” Thousands of people fall victims to murder annually, but who is raising funds or stirring up public interest to make the number less? Christmas is barely four months away, but 7,000 or 8,000 people, many of them little children, are marked for death by carelessness or brutality before Christmas dawns. We could prevent a lot of it if we had the will, but who cares? Who was “Pegasus?” In Greek mythology a winged horse, a blow from whose hoofs caused the fountain of inspiration called Hippocrone to spring from the mountain Helicon. When did. Elia*. Ho wo,, the inventor of the sewing machine, die? Oct. 3, 1867.