Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 109, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 September 1927 — Page 4

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(A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER) Owned and published dally (except Sunday) by The Indianapolis Times Publishing Cos., 214-330 W. Maryland Street, Indianapolis, Ind. Price in Marion County, 2 cents —lO cents a / week; elsewhere. 3 cents—l 2 cents a week. BOYD GURLEY. ROY W. HOWARD. W. A. MAYBORN. Editor. President. Business Manager, •Member of United Press, Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance, Newspaper Enterprise Association. Newspaper Information Service and Audit Bureau of Circulations. “Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own W^y.” — Dante.

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The Persistent Senator The readers of The Times are entitled to all the correspondence of any Senator that this paper can furnish them. Today it prints its iftost recent letter written to its editor by Senator Arthur Robinson. . The Senator answers the three questions asked by The Times on Wednesday, and the answers show that the Senator is both persistent and prompt. < ~ It could not have been the exceedingly hot weather which furnished the heat for this epistle: Indianapolis, Indiana, September 14, 1927. Mr. Boyd Gurley, Editor, The Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Indiana. Dear Sir: In a leading editorial in your newspaper of September 14, you ask me three questions, which I answer herewith: (1) “It (The Times) is fighting to end the , time when a United States Senator will endeavor to influence, for political consideration and expediences, the decisions of its Supreme Court. “Will you tell the people of this State, Senator Robinson, that you did not make such an attempt?” Answer: I have never made such an attempt, and if you make the statement that I did, you utter an infamous and malicious lie. (2) “Will you tell the people that you never knew Stephenson and were not on close and friendly terms with him when he was a political power?” Answer: I knew Stephenson, and have never denied I knew him. He was a client of our law office, and we represented him in several civil suits—never in any criminal matter of any kind. Those suits are matters of record at the Courthouse in this city. My contacts with him were open and above board. (3) “Will you tell the people exactly your relationships with George V. Coffin, the political boss of this county, who is now under indictment?” Answer: George V. Coffin has been my warm personal friend for many years, and I have been his. Now that he is under indictment, he is still my friend. I never deserted a friend in trouble, and I never shall. My relations with him, personal and political, have always been honorable in every respect, and you are at liberty to print any ' and all facts that/may be in your possession concerning such relationships. Your editorial asking the questions answered herein failed to retract your libelous statements of September 12. You still have until Friday, September 16, to make that retraction. Yours sincerely, ARTHUR R. ROBINSON. Without words, the letter really repeats th* statement of the first letter to the effect that Senator Robinson is acting without consultation with Senator James E. Watson. Its tenor indicates this. Senator Watscn is always cautious.

It is unfortunate that Senator Watson i3 ill, more unfortunate for his colleague perhaps than for himself. Had he been in Indiana he might have guided the junior Senator into safer and less hazardous paths than the course on which he seems determined to embark, a course that leads to courts and tribunals of sorts where evidence replaces mere assertion. Because The Times is much more considerate of Senator Watson than is his colleague, it will not press for a revision of the Robinson answer to the first question until there can be consultation between the Senators. Perhaps then the junior Senator may wish to withdraw his short, ugly and un-Christian word, and make exception. It may be that the memory of the senior Senator is more acute than that of the junior is and is able to reach back to a year ago when there was pending before the Supreme Court of 'this State a case which had a very grave political aspect. He be able, even if Senator Robinson forgets, to recall what happened in ton in the early days of that summer and in this city in August, on the sixth day of August and in the evening thereof, to be exact. Poor memory, in these hot days, is excusable, of course. . , Now the State understands the exact relationship between D. C. Stephenson and the junior Senator. The former dragon in his cell will read with interest, as do all citizens, that he was merely the client of the Senator in some civil matters and that the relationship was that hard and fast business one which does not reach th; point where photographs are given in token of deep regard or giffs exchanged at times when the spirit of good will hovers over the world. That is settled now with the Senator’s answer. The Senator’s statement concerning Mr. Coffin deserves, really, the first page of prominence. It is important news. Ka(te, Senator, as you may have read, works in mysterious ways to accomplish i f s purposes. Often it has taken command of that earnest endeavor of The Times to destroy super government in this State, has directed its efforts in a manner that must convince that there is a destiny that shapes our governments and that there is a Providence that ever watches. Perhaps, Senator, when you declare that The Times has but one mo-re day for retraction, and there will be none, it may have chosen you as the instrument, perhaps all unknowingly, by which super government, all super government, will be driven from Indiana. New York has been having a milk graft Investigation. It seftns (some of the politicians were getting the cream. s- - . ■ r ■ --- •

Criminals On the Move The State of Michigan now has an habitual criminal law similar to the Baumes law of New York. As a result the States of Ohio, Indiana. and Illinois, neighbors of Michigan, are giving new thought to the subject of crime. , Other States might well do the same. These nearby neighbors fear they are about to receive an influx of criminals from Michigan, but, \f there is any ground for fear at all, it should not be confined to the three States named. It was reported immediately after the Baumes law became effective in New York that, while there was a veritable parade of criminals across the river into New Jersey, great numbers of them did not stop there, but proceeded on to Chicago. If an exodus now results from Michigan, many of the criminals may be expected to travel farther than Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. Most students of crime are agreed that it Is too early to estimate accurately the full effect of the Baumes law in New York. It has been in effect only a year. But to date law-abiding citizens > ve seemed to like it very well; criminals, not at a' “It has driven crime from the State lid Police Commissioner George H. McLaughlin, win the new statute had been in effect only six months. That was a pretty strong statement, but there seems to have been reason for the commissioner’s enthusiasm. Statistics of his department revealed that the first three months under the new law had seen a reduction of 44 per cent in major crimes, compared with the same three months of the preceding year. Cigar store robberies had fallen off ?3 per cent, restaurant hold-ups 70 per cent, jewelry store holdups 80 per cent, bank messenger stick-ups 50 per cent, payroll robberies 20 per cent and automobile thefts 70 per cent. Insurance company officials reported losses through burglary and robbery greatly lessened. Not all of this improvement could be credited to the habitual criminal law—the* law which provides that any person convicted of a felony for the fourth time must be given a life term in prison. Baumes, the little country lawyer from upstate whose name the law bears and who was chiefly responsible for it, obtained a general overhauling of the State’s criminal statutes at the same time. The whole code was tightened up in a manner to make shifty criminal lawyers despair. But there is no question that it is the mandatory life term- that has thrown the greatest chili into the hearts of professional lawbreakers. The experience of New York and Michigan is certain to be studied by the Legislatures of nearly every State when next they meet. It would probably be useful for those interested in the curbing of crime to start their studies now.

They Ahn Served * The National Red Cross next month holds its annual convention in Washington. Each chapter is being urged to have representation at this gathering which promises to be the most enthusiastic and inspiring ever held by this great relief organization. The meeting will mark the first gathering of tne Red Cross forces since the Mississippi flood, the greatest peace-time disaster the country has ever had. More lives were saved, more suffering was abated and more money was spent than ever before except in war-time. The Red Cross workers will assemble in Washington with a feeling of work well done and all the praise that a grateful nation can bestow on them will be far less than they" deserve for jvhat they have done. The Red Cross in handling flood relief has set a new record for itself in relief work and has built up its organization to a point never attained before. The pride of its officials and Its workers in what has been done is more than justified. But in showering our gratitude on the Red Cross we must not forget that others also served and are entitled to a share of the glory. Foremost among these is Herbert Hoover, secretary of commerce, who personally directed the relief work and co-ordinated with various Government relief agencies with that of the Red Cross. Others entitled to remembrance and to praise are the thousands of individuals who.poured out their dollars that a huge Red CroJ relief fund might be raised. This country can be thankful It has the National Red Cross and it can be doubly thankful that It has a generous-hearted citizenry. Assistant Secretary Lowman is seeknig to weed out dishonest dry agents by placing spies on their trail. Aid who’s going to watch the spies? Scientists are debating whether or not animals can laugh. There’s one for the horse to giggle over. The San Francisco man who shot at the screen just as the villain was about to seize the beautiful damsel must have been firing at the same picture we saw the other night. We are interested in the fellow who shewed 112 sticks of gum only enough to wonder if he did it in an ice cream parlor and where he stuck it afterward.

Law and Justice By Dexter M. Keezer

In a suit for damages on account of breaking a 99-year lease, the trial judge gave the jury incorrect mathematical instructions about how to compute the damages if they 6hould find that damages should be assessed. The jurors did not follow the judge’s instructions in this regard; but figured the damages according to a cbrrect formula and rendered their verdict accordingly. The party against whom the damages were assessed appealed the case, on the ground that the verdict was improper because not in accord with the trial judge’s instruction. In opposition it was contended that the verdict should stand because the jurors had corrected the judge's mistake and properly computed the damages which they thought due. HOW WOULD YOU DECIDE THIS CASE? The actual decision: The Appellate division of the New York Supreme Court held that the verdict could not stand, although the jurors did not follow the judge’s erroneous instructions, but based the verdict on the correct rule for competing damages. The reason given was that “jurors must follow the law of the court as laid down,” even if that rule proves to be incorrect.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

M. E. TRAGY SAYS: "Whether It Is a Banana Peel on the Sidewalk, German in the Public Schools, or U Per Cent Beer, We Think We Can Make Men Wise and Moral Through Legislation.

One invention leads to another. now pump air into the brain to get clear X-ray pictures. The fluid in which the brain is suspended looks much like tissue in ,an X-ray photograph. This makes it difficult to locate and detect obstructions. Someone had the idea of draining out the fluid and substituting air. which shows black. G. Elmer Wilbur, Florida public schools superintendent, was subjected to that treatment at Johns Hopkins on Tuesday. He came .to the institution suffering from some kind of an obstruction in the brain, but the doctors could not tell what or where it was. They tried the X-ray, but without satisfactory results. Meanwhile, the man was gradually dying, so they drained out the fluid and pumped in air as the last hope. The clarified pictures may reveal a hopeless condition, or one that is amenable to surgery. Such is life. Insurance Growth

Life insurance is one of the most original and worthwhile institutions of the modern world. It came into existence about 200 years ago. It was an outgrowth of marine insurance. Seventy-five years ago, only 20,000 Americans carried life insurance < Now jthere are 20,000,000. Seventy-five years ago there was not sucn a thing as industrial life insurance. Now more han 60,000,000 Americans are protected by it. Big Purchasers One hundred eighty-seven Americans carry life insurance of more than $1,000,000, according to a survey made by the Spectator Company of New York. Rodman Wanamaker heads the list with $7,500,000. while Gloria Swanson leads the women with $2,000,000. Things have certainly changed since dad was a boy. Where Money Goes Many of those carrying heavy life insurance are to be found in the ranks of professional entertainers — movie magnates, theater managers, actors, dancers and baseball players. This reminds us of how stupendously the earning power of such callings has increased. Genu Tunney will get a cool million. for defending his title as heavyweight champion of the world, while Jack Dempsey will get nearly half as much for trying to take it away from him. What would the great John L. think of that, or even Jess Willard, who fell before Dempsey? Saving of Lives President Coolidge gives his attention to the idea of regulating trans-oceanip flights. One can hardly blame him, considering the hue and cry that has been raised, yet it seemfc a futile bit of sensationalism. If common sense cannot be depended on to correct such a situation. what is the use of law? During the last five months, a sccr'e of Americans have lost their lives trying to fly over seas. It is not the number that appalls us, but the percentage. During the same five months, two or three thousand were murdered in this country while an equal number were killed by automobiles. During the same five months, also, 200 or 300 were drowned in the Mississippi flood, not to mention the half million that were made homeless, while our marines accounted for about as many in Nicaragua. If it is the saving of life that President Coolidge and his associates have in mind there are problems outside the field of aviation to which they could well give their attention. Grand Old Game When it comes to aviation, we are suffering 'more from an exploded dream than from anything else. We thought trans-Atlantic flying had been made safe when Lindbergh reached Paris and we are terribly blue to learn that It had not. If the first fifteen or twenty trans-ooeanic flights had been successful, we would now be yelling for some brave'lad to try for the moon in a skyrocket. • Instead of that, however, ws weep for law. The big idea L to beat the game with statutes and ordinances. Whether it is a banana peel on the sidewalk. German in the public schools, or 4.per cent beer, we think we can make men wise and moral through legislation. Safety First Bunk Let us take a second thought before we become too seriously infected with the law bug, especially with regard to our ancestors, who made heroic self sacrifices and achieved great results, principally because they had no uplifters, reformers and safety first boys to save them from their folly. One hundred and two pilgrims' landed at Plymouth In December, and by May less than fifty were left. In two years, Jamestown shriveled from a settlement of 600 to ope of sixty. Y Os the first 12,000 who embarked for America it is estimated that two-thirds perished either on the way or soor afterward. The history of this Nation would have been different if lawmakers had squelched the desire for adventure in the interest of safety iflrst.

Mrs. Henry Schurmann Announces Plans for Radio Auditions for Young Singers Who Want to Study

Enrolling of ambitious singers of Indianapolis and other Hoosier cities in the National Radio Audition, undertaken by the Atwater Kent Foundation to make' musical careers possible for unknown but promising young vocalists, will begin immediately, Mrs. Henry Schurmann, Hoosier musical leader, who has been placed in charge of the audition organization in Indianapolis, announced today. Cash awards totaling $17,500 and free musical instruction at a leading American conservatory are offered by the foundation to those who excel in this audition, or national singing contest, and entry blanks for Indianapolis’ young men and women 'who wish these prizes will be furnished from Mrs/ Schurmknn’s home, 1827 N. Talbott St., beginning today. The Indianapolis elimination contest, to determine the fortunate young woman and young man who wilt go higher into State, district and national auditions, will be held in this city during the last week of September, Mrs. Schurmann said. Although it will be in an auditorium before a public audience, voices of those singing in the Indianapolis contest will be broadcast all over Indiana by WKFB, the

Pitt Called U. S. Constitution Marvel of Ages

This story tells how the problems ot the Constitution were met by its framers. It ts the fourth ot a series of twelve articles in keepu.i with the spirit of Constitution Week. Tomorrow: The Constitution’s Purpose and Plan. BY HARRY ATWOOD President, Constitution Anniversary Association. Prior to the writing of our Constitution it had been the custom of mankind throughout the ages to approach the problmes of government in terms of protest against conditions and to indulge in superlative declarations as to rights and privileges without working out a definite plan for meeting the situation. Most of the contents of such documents as Magna Charta, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, etc., could be classified under the two headings—Protest and Assertion, but all lacked a definite plan. Fully aware of the great opportunity which confronted them and conscious of their mighty responsibility, the men who wrote the Conslitution undertook the difficult task of working out a plan of government in the same calm, deliberative and analytical manner that characterizes the physician in making a diagnosis, the engineer in making a design, or the scientist unfolding a law of nature, and they worked with consummate skill and crowning achievement. One of the chief essentials to. an understanding of the Constitution is to have in mind A clear definition of what it really is. To say that the Constitution is an “organic law,” which is a common definition, simply suggests the question: What is .vn inorganic law? To. say that it Is the “fundamental law,” which is another common definition, simply suggests the question: Are all other laws unfundamental? To regard the Constitution 'as merely a statement of principles and an enumeration of rights and guarantes simply results in confusion and a false concept. * The Constitution of the United States is a statement of purpose, followed by a .plan for settii g up and maintaining a mechanism to administer a Federal representative Government in harmony with the purpose set forth in the preamble. N The supreme test of the Constitution, then, is: Are the purposes to which It is dedicated beneficent, comprehensive, correct, and practical? Is the plan for setting up -and maintaining a mechanism to administer a Federal representative Government In harmony with the purposes set forth in the preamble well conceived and clearly stated? 1 The test of the advisability cf f

It Pays to Advertise

Hoosier Athletic Club radio station, according to Carl B. Watson, general manager of this station, who also is Indiana State manager for the National Radio Audition. The exact date and place of the Indianapolis audition will be announced within the next few days. Similar contests in cities throughout Indiana will be held this month, and are being arranged now, in Bloomington by Mrs. Edward Bailey Birge, president of the Indiana Federation of Music Clubs; in Connersville by the Rev. William R. Burton: South Bend, M:ss Effie Harmon: Veedersburg, Mrs. Alfred J. Hesler; Rensselaer, Mrs. Merle Gwin; and elsewhere by other local sponsors under the general direction of State Manager Watson of Indirnapolis. Watsc n and Mrs. Edward Franklin White cl Indianapolis, Chairkian of the Indiana State committee for the National Radio Audition, are appointing local sponsors as rapidly as Hoosier communities manifest their best singers for the Audition prizes. All women and men of Marion County between the ages of 18 and 25, may enter the Ind’anapolis audition this month, provided they

placing an amendment in the Constitution should be: Is it necessary in order to improve the statement of purposes or improve the plan? To realize something of the attitude of mind that characterized the authors of the alphabet as a basis for solving the problems of language; the scale of music as a basis for solving musical problems; the ten digits as a basis for solving mathematical problems one in acquiring an adequate conception of the attitude of mind which guided the delegates in their successful efforts toward working out a basis

Do You Know — ' That the Community Fund supports the social service department of the Church Federation, whose workers are big brothers and sisters to unfortunates fresh from prison or court? It has served to guide 131 individuals since March.

V v Special Train Service TO DMS>sey*TuttK<y Fight Sept. 22, 1927 Lv. Indianapolis.. 12:00 Nn. Ar. Chicago 4:55 p.m. (5:55 p.m. City Time) Lv. Chicago 11:00 p.m, (12:00 Mn. City Time) Ar. Indianapolis.. *4:ooa.m. Train will arrive and depart from 18th Street Yard, two blocks from entrance to Stadium. Pullman reservations will be made for the round trip and baggage may be left in the cars. Dining cars serving luncheon, dinner, and a midnight lunch on return trip. Big Four Route is in a position to secure seats in all sections of Stadium at box office prices. Additional Pally Service Lv. Indianapolis. 12:00 Nn. 2:45 p.m. 5:00 p.m. f 12:40 a.m. Ar. Chicago 4:55p.m. 7:59 p.ifa. 9:40p.m. 7:06 a.m. Lv.Chicago.....lo:loa.m. 1:00p.m. 5:00p.m. 11:25p.m. Ar. Indianapolis. 3:10 p.m. 6:05 p.m. 9:45 p.m. *4:25 a.m. ♦Cars may be occupied until 7JO a.m. t Cara ready for occupancy 9.00 p.m. Pullman cars on all trains. Dining cars on all d iy trains. Chicago terminal i* located three block* from the Stadium. For reservations and detailed information call or address: J. N. LEMON, Division Passenger Agent 112 Monument Circle Telephone Main 0320 BIG FOUR ROUTE

have not sung as paid principals outside of Indiana. Following the Indianapolis hearing—a youth and young woman from each city—will be brought to Indianapolis for the Indiana State Audition, which will be broadcast from Station WKBF in October. Winners of this—a youth and young woman—will compete in district finals in Chicago, and the two winners there will go to New York for the national finals, which will be broadcast through a large hookup of radio stations. ,All ten participants in the national finals will receive substantial prizes—first prizes, one for a young man, one for a woman—being gold decoration, $5,000 cash and two years’ tuition in a leading conservatory; second prizes, $2,000 cash and one year’s tuition; third, SI,OOO cash and a year’s tuition; fourth, $500; fifth, $250 each. Indianapolis theaters today offer: “The Unkissed Bride,” at Engiish’s; Seven Personality Girls at the Lyric; “Dimpled Darlings,” at the Mutual; Charlie Davis at th€ Indiana; “The Bugle Call,” at the Apollo; "The Gingham Girl,” at the Ohio; “Camille,” at the Circle, and movies at the Isi^.

for the solution of the problems of government. Shortly after the Constitution was written a copy of it was placed in the hands of the world famed William Pitt. He was prime minister at 24 years of age and is still regarded by many as the greatest prime minister England ever produced. It is said that he read the most difficult works of science and philosophy with a high degree of intelligence when he was nine years of age. He held England steady during the French Revolution. After Pitt had read our Constitution, he exclaimed: “It will be the wonder and adand the model of all future constimiration of all future generations tutions.” WANT TO STUDY LAWS? Nineteen hundred copies of the Indiana Insurance laws, including the 1927 revisions, are now ready for distribution at the office of Insurance Commissioner Clarence Wysong. The text was compiled by Deputy Commissioner Zell Swain and printed by the State.

/SEPT. 15,1927

Why the Weather?

By Charles Fltzhugh Talman Authority on Meteotology

LOOKING OUT FOR SQUALLS One of the hardest problems of applied meteorology is that of giving prompt warning to aeronauts of the imminence of squalls and thunderstorms. These disturbances generally cover such limited areas and are so sudden in their onset that they can not be definitely predicted from the ordinary weather map. They ofter assume the character of a “line squall,” which moves over the country as a narrow strip of squally weather, with or without thunder and lightning. The strip may advance along a front hundreds of miles long. It travels at a moderate speed, and if its existence is once known its progress can be predicted with reasonable accuracy. During the international aeronautical exposition held at Frankfort-on-the-Main in the summer of 1909, Dr. Franz Linke organized a special storm-warning service for the protection of the aircraft that made flights in connection with the show. He engaged the services of fifty-five observers, constituting a picket line of 150 kilometers radius around Frankfort. These persons were requested to send an “urgent” telegram to headquarters whenever a squall or thunderstorm appeared in their vicinity during the daytime hours. The only compensation paid for this service was a free entrance ticket to the exposition. The result of the arrangement was most gratifying, as, with one or two exceptions, all the storms, thirty-seven in num-. ber, that reached Frankfort during® the three months of the were duly heralded an hour 01; more before their arrival. Similar intensive systems of reports and observations were organizzed during the World War for the protection of military aircraft. All rights reserved by Science Service. Inc.

Mr. Fixit Help Asked in Ending Illegal Eagle Creek Fishing.

Let Mr. Pixit. the Times’ representative at city hall, present your troubles to city officials. Write Mr. Fixit at The Times. Names and addresses which must be Riven, wiU not be published. Aid of Mr. Fixit in prevention of alleged illegal fishing in Eagle Creek at the Kentucky Ave.-Belmont Ave. bridge was sought today by Times readers. Dear Mr. Fjxit: Attention has been brought repeatedly to the State offices concerning illegal fishing in Eagle Creek at the Kentucky Ave.Belmont Ave. bridge. There is a gang that has a 120-foot trammel net and seines below and above the bridge two and three times a week. A gang of boys also puts fish berries in the stream. A man buys these fish from them. Veteran fishermen who pay for licenses are enraged. Will you present this letter to thsd proper authorities and help us? 1 READERS. Your complaint has been turned over to George N. Mannfeld, State fish and game commissioner, who promised an investigation and arrests if they are warranted. POLICEWOMEN TO GET PAY CHECKS THIS WEEK | Pay to Come From Accumulated Salary Fund Fifteen policewomen probably will receive pay for the first six months of 1927 this week, Ira M. Holmes, attorney, said today. Holmes said City Controller Cjaude F. Johnson was expected to issue the checks from about $14,000 which had accumulated in the police salary fund. The 1928 budget item providing •back pay for policewomen, who served months without salary, was cut by council with the understanding the $14,000 balance was to go to them. Policewomen obtained a court order preventing their discharge without cause.

Week-End Excursions TO Culver sesis "Cl JP HOUND TRIP Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until October 30, inclusive, from INDIANAPOLIS Tickets sold and good going on any regulur train beginning with 11:56 A. M. train Friday; regular trains Saturday or Sunday. Good returning until following Monday inclusive. PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

EXCURSION TO CINCINNATI $0 7E ROUND TRIP Shelbyville ... $ .75 Greensburg . . . 1.25 Batesville .... 1.50 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Special train of all-steel equipment will leave Indianapolis 7:00 a. m., returning leave Cincinnati 8:00 p. m. a eastern time, same date. BASEBALL Cincinnati v. New York For tickets and full particulars call at City Ticket Office, 112 Monument Circle, phone Main 0330, or Union Station. BIG FOUR ROUTE