Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 122, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 September 1927 — Page 4

PAGE 4

•ST-.-T iB-- ' ~:===

StRIPPJ-HOWAMD

An Aroused City The Service Club has demanded action, not words. It has officially demanded that Mayor Duvall get out and in ge#iug out, put someone other than/his wife in line of succession. It asks officially, that there be government, not chaos, in Indianapolis. The significance of the action lies in the fact that these men who have taken this action* have proved their patriotism and their devotion to the country and its ideals by actual military service. They are men whose patriotism has been put to the test. They refuse to permit the things which they defended in foreign fields of battle to be surrendered at home. The action within the Kiwanis Club looking to the demand for the resignation of Mayor Duvall and of his new controller, his wife, is is line with this action. That club has its slogan and its inspiration in the words “We Build.” It is perfectly in keeping with that slogan and that purpose that the club should demand that the city government be so reconstructed as to serve for a foundation for any serious building and progress. The redemption of Indianapolis is not a matter of partisan politics. It is one of morals and business. How can any group of business men expect to build with the security of all business jeop" ardized and with -the city suffering from the humiliation of having at its head a man who has been convicted of corruption in obtaining office? What kind of an invitation can be extended to men of vision, enterprise and purpose, to come here and build? What would be the response if a delegation of citizens, who know that the people are sound at heart, perhaps sounder than most communities, who are proud of the spirit of the people, of their industriousness, their thrift, their progressiveness in education, went to the head of any great industry and asked him to bring his plants here? What is the response now, when citizens of this State journey abroad to meet the jeer that its chief city is ruled by a man under conviction, who seeks to perpetuate his power by naming his wife to the position of succession when he goes to jail? " . x The rules of most of the civic organizations very properly declare that they will not enter into politics. But the club members who ask action have sensed the situation clearly. They know that the matter is not politics but patriotism, not partisanship but preservation. Now the Service Club has led the way the Chamber of Commerce has a magnificent opportunity to justify its name and its purpose by joining. Other clubs should join. For the individual citizen is aroused. He knows. lie understands. All that is needed is leadership and responsible guidance. The clubs can furnish' it.

Cleaning House It was to be expected that the first demand of political machines and of politicians who now seek an alibi for their part in the shame of Indiana should be a demand for the repeal of the primary law. \ Discredited and exposed in their political nakedness, they hope in this manner to retain control of government, through the old tricks of manipulation and trading." The primary fails only when the people are drugged with hates and prejudices, and appeals to partisanship. This State js in the grip of super-govern-ment and secret control. That is responsible for all its ill repute. And the very tricks and devices that were used to control primaries and elactions#re exactly those used in other days to control conventions. • t The same group that long ago demonstrated its ability to control party machinery through conventions has controlled tßrough the primary by secret aliances witln Stephenson, the Klan and the Anti Saloon League. What sort of candidates would the political parties give, if they had the convention system to use next year? Fortunately the answer has been given for the Republican party, which must now admit ,that. it is in alliance with these hateful secret groups. It is openly suggested that there be no candidates in the primary with the exception of man whose voice has never been heard in protest against the corruption of the secret control of government. It is x advanced that the Republican party can only save itself by naming for Governor a man who has made no enemies among the same hateful groups, has never offended them, and whose sole claim seems to be that he can not be shown to have had any definite connection with them. " The politicians have shown that they little understand the morals or the purposes of the people. The time has passed when the people

The Indianapolis Times (A SCBIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER) Owned and published dall.v (except Sunday) by The Indianapolis Times Publishing Cos., 214-220 W. Maryland Street. Indianapolis, Ind. Price in Marlon 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. v PHONE—MAIN 3500. THURSDAY. SEPT. 29. 1927. Member of United Press, ScrlDps-Howard Newspaper Alliance. Newspaper Enterprise Association. Newspaper Information Service and Audit Bureau ot Circulations. “Give Light aud the People Will Find Their Own Way.”— Dante.

will accept any mau 'em the theory that nothing can be said against him. The people and the State demand someone for whom something can be said, a man who is known for his hatred of all the enemies of representative government, aryl of such character and cdurage to command inspect. They want men, not mice. Could it be'expected that the Democratic politicians would adopt any'different tactics? Has not that party in this Stave demonstrated that its candidates in the vast have been N ehosen with a fine zeal to gt'- pussyfooters who will not offend and who will invite no opposition from those whos have shewn themselves to be the enemies of real gov ;rnment and the traditions of American institutions?" If there was ever a time when the primary was needed to protect both parties from befng kidnaped and ravaged by super-government, it is right now. The people, when they know the truth, can be depended upon to protect themselves. The demand of the hour is for men who are not afraid, men who dare challenge the enemies of constitutional government, men who will challenge the power of organized fanaticism and bigotry and greed in an unholy alliance. Indiana is still able to rule itself. Its citizenship can still be trusted. What is happening is that a lot of sinners are at the mourner |s bench asking forgiveness, and are still slyly winking at the devil as they pretend to pray. The real clean-up is coming from the people, who are learning fast what the ballot means and who will no be deluded. Is the Navy Over-Officered? Secretary Wilbur has acted wisely ifi sidestepping the issues raised by Rear Admiral Thomas P. Magruder’s criticism's of the Navy, choosing instead to call on the daughty officer to produce his plans for a reorganization. However, the Magruder Incident is far from closed. Chairman Butler of the House naval affairs committee, and other members of Congress have signified a desire to hear more, and almost certainly the rear admiral will be invited to appear before that body. “With some of Rear Admiral's criticisms,” this newspaper remarked the other day, “we can not entirely agree.” We will now try to be more specific, despite our admiration for hlb courageous action in risking public censure to accomplish something which he feels would be for the good of the Navy. The rear admiral charges that the Navy Is ove.*offleered. No doubt this is true. But there are only two ways to maintain the national defense and one Is to keep the Army and Navy constantly on a war footing, both as to officers and men, while the other is to maintain a skeleton organisation of enlisted men, but fully officered and capable of being expanded to war strength on short notice. The United States more or less follows the latter plan. Hence the disproportiorAte number of naval officers and the ridiculously small commands which even our admirals have under them. It takes but a few weeks or months to make a fairly good soldier or sailor, but it requires years to create a really capable officer, one who not only knows how to lead but how to safeguard the lives of his men as well.

The United States has engaged in a major war on an average of once every twenty-five years since our independence. This should make us think twice before junking vast numbers of trained officers, sending them back to civil life whence we have no adequate system for recalling them for annual training. Rear Admiral Magruder cites the 1926 fleet maneuvers in Panama Bay as another example of over-officering. After the, sham battles were ovsr, two admirals, two vice admirals and eleven rear admirals gathered to discuss the lessons the maneuvers had taught. That, in his opinion, seemed too many. But what are Army and Navy maneuvers? They are tests of battle theories, tests carried out under conditions simulating war as nearly as possible. They are to officers what actual laboratory work is to students of chemistry and physios. That being the case It would seem to us that every officer, not otherwise engaged, should be present at, and participate in, the maneuvers. It is not enough to say that there are so many officers each one can have but a very small command whereas in war he would have a much larger one. That undoubtedly is true. Bpt It is also true that a si .dent In chemistry first learns how to mix ingredient to produce guano in a test tube before a manufacturer employs him to produce the stuff by the ton. v We hesitate to take issue with the rear admiral because we believe that fundamentally the bulk of his criticisms are sound. We do so, however, In the same constructive spirit himself has shown and for the good of national defense.

Law and Justice By Dexter M. Keezer

A woman brought a damage suit against a group of people for alienation of the affection of her 17-year-old son. She said that for ter years they had been engaged in poisoning her son’s mmd against her, had succeeded in virtually destroyinghis affection for her, and that she was entitled to damages. In opposing her claim It was contended that a me ther has no legal right to her son’s affections and that consequently there is no legal basis for a damage suit based on alienation of such affection. HOW WOULD YOU DECIDE THIS CASE? The actual decision: The Supreme Court of lowa decided that the mother could not bring a suit for damages on account of alienation of her son’s affections. T3ie court said that the right of a mother is to the services, custody, control and companionship of her minor child, and without alleging that she has been deprived of some of these there is no cause for action.

the Indianapolis times

; m. e. TRA C Y SAYS: t Had Our Forefathers Been Shut Off From the Rest of Human History, 'They Could Have Framed They Could Have Framed the Constitution Out of Colonial ExperU ' ence.

Constitution week has come and gone, with its exercises, addresses and honorable mention in the newspapers. What did you get out of it? What do you know about the Constitution that you did not know beforfc? The trouble with designated weeks is that they run to glorification rather than study. So far as the Constitution goes, it has had praise enough. What it needs more than anything else is to be intelligently understood. Still Much to Learn You have been told that you ought to read the Constitution of the United States; that it is the bed rock of the law; that it contains no more than 7,000 words, and that you can get through with it in half an hour. You may have tried. You may be one of the few, indeed, who have actually done the trick. But there is more to the story than that. In spite of its brevity, the Constitution says a lot. Thousands of books have been written about it, and there is still room for more. Jurists and statesmen have been studying it for 138 years, and they still have something to learn. Changes Civilization The Constitution came into being amid a world of monarchy and class rule. It has changed the general course of civilization. There is not a government on earth but has yielded to its,influence. It was the greatest political innovation ever made. You can’t read such a document intelligently without some knowledge as to its origin, without going behind the scenes for a little way at least, without a fair understanding of how it was conceived and put together. You can’t tell what it means by 'following cases in court, by discussing a city ordinance now and then, by getting excited over campaign issues as they crop up, or by the blah-blah of a designated week. There is a spirit in the Constitution, and that spirit is bigger than any of its particular provisions. Each phrase is but part of a section, each section but part of an article, and each article but part of the whole. Produced in Wilderness The Constitution is not a catalogue of independent expressions, a mere enumeration of rights and powers, but the framework of a structure so arranged as to make for strength and symmetry. Precedent can be found for some of its features in other lands and other times, but as a whole it was made in America. Asa whole, it was produced in the wilderness side of the Atlantic Ocean and. as a whole, it could not have been produced anywhere else. Had our forefathers been shut off from the rest of human history, they could still have framed the Constitution out of Colonial experience, but had they been shut off from Colonial experience they could not have framed It out of the rest of human history. Asa matter of fact, they were shut off from the rest of human history to a measurable extent, from its pomp and ceremony, Its inbred habits of thought, its stereotyped ideas, its inflexible systems, and in that lay their great opportunity.

Required New Continent Modem republicanism, of which the Constitution is obviously the great gospel, required anew continent lor its birthplace, required that men be free from the restraint of custom and tradition, that they go back to the primitive wheje they could rid themselves of the slag of civilization and reshape their political faith from the ground up. When our forefathers came to America, they brought with tpem the English law—cant and ritualism on the one hand, rights and liberties on the other—but the type of life they were compelled to lead soon separated the wheat from the chaff. > Aristocracy never took root amnog them, but the ballot box did. The town meeting, and all • that it stood for, grew, v, hile baronet, knight and country squire faded out of the picture. Made in America Long before the colonies thought of independence they had established institutions that made independence inevitable. Long before they perceived the necessity of anew form of government, they had quarried the stone and hewed the timbers with which to build it. When the convention assembled at Philadelphia to write a constitution, it did not have to go to Greece and Rome for ideas or to the writings of Rosseau and Montesquieu. All it needed to do was glance back over the struggles, aspirations and achievements of its own people. Popular sovereignty, representative government, religious liberty, freedom of the press, separation of the .legislative, executive and judicial powers—they were all at hand. Made in America and in advance of the rest of the world.

WEEKLY BOOK REVIEW Trying to Answer the Question: *Why Read the Best Sellers? 1 and Then Trying to Prove A Theory ■ BY WALTER D. HICKMAN

Have had numerous letters from readers of this department stating that they are having trouble in keeping up with the best sellers because they are in such demand at the various libraries and circulating libraries at the book stores. This raises the question: “Why Read The Best Sellers?” And the answer is. according to popular report, Is that people talk mostly about the latest books. According to those who WTite me letters, it is nearly impossible to get hold of “We” by Lindbergh and “Grandmothers” by Glenway Wescott. To those who have an affirmative answer to the question why read the best sellers, I submit the following list of the newer books that I consider worth while: “Why *Ve Behave Like Human Beings,” by George A. Dorsay, published by Harper. •We.” by Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, published by Putnam’s Sons. “Witch Wood” by John Duncan, Houghton Mifflin Cos. "The Happy Pilgrimage” by Corra Harris, Houghton Mifflin Cos. “A Good Woman” by Louis Bromfleld, F. A Stokes Cos. “An American Tragedy” by Dreiser, Boni and Liveright. “Revolt In the Desert” by T. E. Lawrence, Doran. “The Glorious Adventure” by Richard Halliburton, Bobbs-Merrill. "Grandmothers” by Glenway Wescott, Harper. Several of these books will be difficult to obtain at the libraries because of the tremendous demand but I feel certain that my list is big enough that at least one will be found in at the libarjrles. I am old fashioned Enough to be-’ lieve that if a book is good book then it is always a good book. The Macmillan Company has the same theory because they are issuing what they call The Modem Readers’ Series. Os this series I have before me “The Essays of Elia” by Charles Lamb. I read some of these masterful essays years ago, but I found even new charm in “The Two Races of Men," “The Old and New Schoolmaster” and “The Praise of the Chimney Sweepers.” The series will include many famous books. Charles Dickens is represented with “Tale of Two Cities”, and "’David Copperfield.” And in considering the name of Dickens, why would it not be a good thing to include in our better reading list this year either a first reading of “Tale of Two Cities” or a rereading of it. I have made up my miny to re-read “Two Cities.” I am sure that “Essays of Elia” will be welcomed by the more serious readers who Will appreciate the efforts of Macmillan in giving us this new series. My more serious reading list will include at least three plays of Shakespeare and two by Ibsen. Think over the idea of having a better reading list or at least mixing the old with the new. An Announcement > Have received the following statement from the Literary Guild of New York: “That Man Heinie," by Lewjs Browne, to be published Octt. 1* by the Macmillan Company, has been selected by the editors of the Literary Guild as the October book to be sent to its members.

Warm Winter B>‘ Times Special y GREENSBURG, Ind., Sept. 29.—Local weather prophets who believe in the snake theory regarding severe and mild winters, declare the coming winter will be warm. An eighteen-inch snake has been killed here by Mike Dupenty, the prophets say that had severe winter been iff prospects the snake weeks ago would have been burrowed deep in the ground.

The Hunting Season Is on

This biography of Henrich Heine is the first important book to appear in English about the great German genius in forty years. Mr. Browne, who is the author of the widely read, “This Believing World” and “Stranger Than Fiction,” points out that Heine was one of the really great prophetic figures of the nineteenth century “so modern that he has been dead seventy years and Europe is only just beginning to grow up to him.” His biography of the poet, which probably will be definitive English life, is said to present Heinie in

(Muncie Press) (Republican) The whole story of the success of Lew Shank, former mayor of Indianapolis, who died suddenly Saturday, was his lack of pretense. In a political

campaign or out of it he told stories upon himself which if related by others would have made him the target of 3 unanswerable criticism, but his very admissions of error were taken as an

“Ley” Shank—His Success

indication of the rugged virtue that actually was his. Shank never disguised motives nor denied the means he had used to accomplish the thing he intended to accomplish. Thus he deprived his opponents of the very weapons they would have liked to use against him. And one might look the nation over without finding anybody who knew human nature so well—at least the human nature that dwells within the ordinary man or woman. The way he could foresee the popular reaction to any given public matter under discussion seemed almost uncanny. If he had lived a little bit earlier he would have made one of the greatest horse traders the world ever had known. And this is a compliment, for in his day the horse trader was the best judge of humanity. If Shank had anv special pride in one thing more than another it probably was that he was one of the plain, every-day Hoosier “folks.” And it was not a pose. There are political leaders who place their arms about a voter’s shoulders that they may the more easily reach his pocketbook, but/ Shank was not one of these, whatever else may be said of him. He may have wanted a vote, but there never was a hint of financial dishonesty in connection with his public sefvice. * “Lew” was at home in any company. He had no regard for dignity and his greatest delight in a speech was to poke fun in his stingless, laugh-pro-ducing way, at any of the supposedly great or neargreat men that happened to be on the platform with him. There were no “misters” in his language, for to him everybody 'lbs “Cal,” “Albert,” ‘Tom” and “Harry,'’ unless he had a more intimate nickname that he could use. Many a "high hat has assumed the proportions of a plebeian cap under the good-natured banter of this humorous 'philosopher. He was a puncturer of pomposity. Shank was not averse to the use of the common tricks of politics by which .votes were obtained, but you could be well assured that he would admit their use and tell all about them to anybody or everybody at the very first opportunity, giving names and dates and not sparing himself. Shank sometimes was wrong and he knew the experience of defeat, but not its bitterness, for nothing embittered him. The Republican party tago hung loosely upon him. He knew/the value of party organization, and he used the organization when he could, but when he cou and not ha-went upon his merry way without it. In a world that takes itself all too lugubriously, Lew Shank was needed and his like always will be needed.

You can get an answer to any question of fact or Information by writing to The Indianapolis Times Washington Bureau, 1322 New York Ave.. Washington, D. C., inclosing 2 cents in stamps for reply. Medical, legal and marital adylce 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. Is oil a conductor of electricity? All materials conduct electricity to a greater or less extent. However, metals are immeaauracly better conductor! than oils, which are generally considered to be nonconductors. What were-the treaties-that ended the war of the Spanish succession? * The Treaties of Utrecht (1713) and Rastadt (1714). Do the words “sea” and “ocean” mean the same? Both words may be used to mean the great body of salt water that covers about two-thirds of the

his significance to present day Europe as wejl as the author of the most popular lyric poetry ever published, and the most famous and most feared wit of his time. Indianapolis theaters today offer: Tiny Revue at the Lyrfc; “Flaming Youth” at the Colonial; Nan Halperin at Keith’s; “Chang” at the Apollo; “The Blood Ship” at the Ohio; “Hard Boiled Haggert” at the Indiana; “What Price Glory?” at the Circle; movies at the Isis and the Rivoli and “The Band Box Revue” at the Mutual.

What Other Editors Think

Questions and Answers ' '

earth’s surface. The oceans are separately named (as the Atlantic and the Pacific) and the word “sea” is also used in a restricted sense for particular bodies ,of water not so extensive as oceans, but larger than lakeST as the Caspian Sea. the Black Sea, the Yellow Se&. Was Sir Harry Lauder born in Scotland? Is that his real name? He was born in Portobello, Scotland. His real name is MacLennan. Has “Abie’s Irish Rose” been produced in the movies? 1 The Paramount Famous-Lasky Corporation, has purchased the screen rights, but it has not yet been produced. What were the decisions in the fights between Gene Tunney and Harry Greb? Tunney lost his first fight with Harry Greb on a decision in sis-

Thumb-Nail Sketches

Are there still any unsophisticated girls left? There are! Ona of them boarded a train at a small town in Illinois on her way to Cincinnati not long ago. She squeezed herself into her corner and tried to remember everything she had been told about changing trains in Indianapolis. After a while a well-dressed young man boarded the train. There were some old ladies and some plain ladies with whom he might have sat. There were even some men sprawled over two seats on, whom he might have intruded. But —well —he sat beside the young girl. Before log he had picked an acquaintance with her; had bought fruit and candy for her; had convinced her that she was the very typ* of old-fashioned girl for whom his heart was yearning; and had persuaded her to stop over between trains at Indianapolis and take th midnight train to Cincinnati so that she might meet and dine with his mother. What she didn’t know was that there was not only no mother in the offing—but that there was no midnight train, to Cincinnati. However, the travelers’ Aid Society worker knew it. A fellow passenger was kind enough to report the flirtation to the worker and at the latter’s approach to the couple, the nice young man took to his heels. This story would undoubetdly have ended in wretchedness but for the Travelers’ Aid Society supported by YOUR COMMUNITY FUND

Times Readers Voice Views

To the Editor: Did Robinson give you an extension Os time? ‘ SUBSCRIBER.

Best Sellers The following is a list of the six best sellers in fiction and non-fiction in Brentano’s New York stores: FICTION “Something About Eve,” J. B. Cabell. Mcßride, “Death Comes for the Archbishop.” W. Cather, Knopf. “Dusty Answer,” R. Lehmann,, Holt. “Grandmothers,” Glenwav Wescott, Harper. “A Good Woman,” L. Bromfield, Stokes. ' Barberry Bush,” Kathleen Norris, Doubleday-Page. * NON-FICTION “John Paul Jones,” Phillips Russell. Brentano's. “The President’s Daughter,” Nan Britton. Elizabeth Ann Guild. “Mother India.” K. Mayo, Har-court-Brace. "Napoleon," E. Ludwig. Boni & Liveright. “Joseph Conrad: Life and Letters,” G. Jean-Augry, Doubleday-Page. “Land of the Pilgrim's Pride/' G. J. Nathan. Knopf.

His was a kindly character and a lovable one. His heart he wore upon his sleeve for hypocrites to wonder at. His was the leaven that does much to lighten a Sometimes sad human loaf. (La Porte Herald-Argos) (Independen:) Mayor Duvall is not the man to be awed by a conviction for corrupt practices. He proceeds to strengthen his political fences wherever they need it

the most. Apparently the Indianapolis mayor is one of these brazen persons who glories in disgrace and ignominy, for to increase tire enmity of the honest citizens of Indianapolis he has named his wife city controller, succeed-

The First Woman * Mayor

ing a man who resigned by request. We have had women governors in this country, and even women mayors, but if Mrs. Duvall ascends to the station of mayor she will be the first woman mayor in Indiana and in any city of great size in the Middle West. Mayor Duvall, knowing his precarious situation in which he stands, has no otner thought in mind but that his wife will step into place when he falls. For effrontery, for sheer audacity in the face of thousands of honest citizens who are demanding that “Duvallism” be .removed, this act must be labelled as unsurpassed. It is astounding that a mayor who is undoubtedly unfit for fiis office should make such a desperate effort to retain the reins of power. Without regard to her competence, her sex or any other consideration except that Mrs. Duvall has been named the virtual successor to an incompetent mayor, her husband, establishing a situation which savors strongly of the succession of kings in old monarchies, it can only be said that the situation in the capital becomes more disgraceful, if it were not slightly humorous, every day. (Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel) (Republican) Mayor Duvall’s selection of Mrs. Duvall to wear the mayoralty mantle in event of his retirement betokens the early dawn of an era of Hoosier Fergusonism in the capital city. This action also furnishes 1 fresh evidence of the fact that Duvall deserved to be ousted from the mayoral throne. Shumaker’s attempt to evade service of his sentence on the penal farm through tye avenue of elaborate technicalities must provoke a smile upon.the lips of him who recalls with what ardor the holy czar of fanaticism has berated bootleggers for evading sentence when their plain constitutional rights had been disregarded by unscrupulous enforcement agents". A democratic contemporary sneers at the fact that republican speakers spoke at “emancipation day” at the Shelby Ville fair, given in special honor of colored citizens. Us this a Bourbon bid for Klan suffrage?

teen rounds. The next two fights resulted in decision victories tot 'Tunney, also in fifteen rounds. The last two battles were ten rounds, with no decisions. * Is Sarah Bernhardt still living? . She died in Paris, France, March 26, 1923. Is Cleo an abbreviation of the name Cleopatra? , It is sometimes used as a given name, but usually is a short form of Cleopatra, from the G>eek, meaning “celebrated.” Clio is the Greek muse Os history. - What does it cost to stop a railroad train? Estimates show that it costs from 30 60 cents. What was the amount of loss by fires in the United States in 1925? Property destroyed was valued at’ ♦570,255,921.

SEPT. 29,1927