Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 167, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 November 1927 — Page 4

PAGE 4

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ScmPPS-HOWARD

No Time to Stop? With six members of the city council under indictment and the name of a seventh attached to the indictments as a witness, indicating some participation in the alleged crimes, it is inconceivable that the city should remain for two more years under these men as a board of directors. The courts will pass, in time, upon their guilt or innocence. But this has 'nothing to do with their usefulness as councilmen. The city council has lost public confidence and should not be permitted to continue in charge of the city’s affairs. No matter how fine may be the administration of Mayor Slack, the big fact remains that more than 50,000 citizens have voted for anew system which will take partisan politics out of city government and give the people a business administration. It would require a superman to conduct any business successfully as general manager if he had to depend upon a board of directors in whom there is no confidence. The fact which must be remembered is that the people of this city were robbed of the right to the immediate operation of the government for which they have voted. The Legislature in its closing hours, at the dictation of a political machine which is now discredited, amended the City Manager law so that it cannot become effective until the end of the elected term of present administrations. That amendment was designed to save John L. Duvall from the wrath of the people. It could not save him from the criminal courts. It is only because of that amendment, purely political and morally wrong, that the city does not have at this time the government for which the people have voted. The time is right to start right. It is easier now to elect unselfish men who will have no partsian motives than it would be two years hence, when State and national politics have their influence. The spirit which is necessary to make the City Manager movement effective is aroused. A special session of the Legislature now could give the people the government that belongs to them and for which they have already voted. There is every reason why such a session should be held. There is every reason why the 50,000 voters who want this government should have it under the most favorable conditions. It is time to press for this action. It is not the time to stop. Is the Door Banged and Barred? Britain’s adamant stand at Geneva, Viscount Cecil dramatically informed the House of Lords, effectively “bangs, bolts and bars the door” against any hope of agreement with the United States on naval armaments. And so it does if Great Britain continues to follow the leadership of such old tory die-hards as Winston Churchill, Lord Birkenhead and First Lord of the Admiralty W. C. Bridgeman. But we do not believe she will. Rather we are inclined to side with the venerable Earl of Balfour who, replying to Viscount Cecil, said: “I regard the Geneva conference as interrupted, not ended. Nothing will make me believe that the two branches of the English-speaking race are incapable either of understanding each other or coining to a common agreement. Our interests are identical, our traditions are largely the same.” 'Here was common sense speaking—of which Britain has always had an abundance, and we can not believe it is going to forsake her now. Not that an agreement between Britain and America on the subject of naval armaments is going to be the easiest thing in the world to accomplish. But it can be done and must unless both nations are bent upon suicide. Tlfree things were in the minds of the British delegation talking naval limitation with the United States and Japan at Geneva. First, they foresaw troublesome times ahead in Europe, in the Orient and perhaps throughout the world, and they wanted Britain to be able to maintain her traditional role on the seas in the event of a great upheaval. • Second, they wanted a navy able to keep Britain’s long breadlines—all across water—open when the worst comes to the worst. Third, and this, like the first, they did not stress at Geneva, in the event of another great war they not only wanted to keep ships moving to and from British ports, but to prevent ships moving to and from the ports of their enemies. All this requires a vast naval organization. Furthermore, it requires supremacy at sea which, stripped of all camouflage, was what Bridgeman was after at Geneva. The answer to these three propositions must be found, when, and If the United States and Britain meet again to discuss naval armaments. The United States is going to be obliged to recognize Britain’s problems as an island next door to a continent which has always been a breeding ground for war*. It is going to be obliged to recognize Britain’s food problems. And so on. But Britain, on the other hand, is going to be obliged to recognize America’s new position in the world which, among other things, makes it necessary that she maintain a navy second to none. Why this is so is a long story, but it is so and will have to receive recognition. Probably America will find it necessary to shift some of her policies before anew naval limitations conference would be worth while. Perhaps she will first have to change her ideas on her make-believe “isolation” and undertake certain internation obligations, just as she had to do in 1921, before the Washington naval agreement became possible. And per-

The Indianapolis Times (A SCREPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER) owned and published dally (except Sunday) by The Indianapolis Times Publishing Cos., 214-230 W Maryland Street. Indian spoils, 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. PHONE—MAIN 3500. MONDAY, NOV. 21, 1927. Member ol United Press, Bcrlpps-Howard Newspaper Alliance, Newspaper Enterprise Association. Newspaper Information Service and Audit Bureau of Circulations. “Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way.”— Dante.

haps the influence of the Churchills and the Bridgemans will need to wane in Britain before she can profitably meet with us again. But as Lord Balfour remarked, “Our interests ae identical,” fundamentally and, unless one or both are mad, the two countries must eventually come to an agreement. The Morrow Idea At Work The Supreme Court of Mexico has just handed down a decision which may well prove the beginning of the end of the bitter Mexican-American feud which, more thgn once, has almost verged on war. By a vote of nine to two the court declared that the much-discussed oil and land laws founded on the equally famous constitution of 1917, cannot be used to deprive the Mexican petroleum CO., an Aj lericanowned concern, of rights acquired prior to IM7. Thus was created a vitally important precedent likely to become the basis for settlement of upward of a score of similar cases. Since 1917 Mexico’s new oil and land laws have been denounced in this country as both retroactive and confiscatory. Under them, it was charged, American oil and land concessionnaires in Mexico might find themselves ousted from their possessions. There were demands for intervention. Hotter and hotter waxed the notes between the capitals until abeut a year ago, when further note-writing was sharply broken off with a thinly veiled warning from Washington that Mexico would enforce the new laws at her peril. ' On her side. Mexico denied the laws were calculated to deprive Americans of their bona fide rights and concluded by suggesting that until they actually proved confiscatory, as claimed, there was no just, cause for complaint. In due time, it was pointed out, they would be tested in the Mexican courts and their meaning clarified. Now comes this first decision in what has been regarded as a test case. Overwhelmingly it would seem but to uphold American rights in Mexico and sustain the Mexican thesis that such rights would be protected without the necessity of intervention from Washington. Furthermore, despite the astounding efforts now being made by certain interests to interfere with the work of Ambassador Morrow, at present engaged with President Calles in trying to find a way to restore cordial relations between the two countries, the hands of both our ambassador and the Mexican President would seem to be strengthened. The contention of President Calles all along has been that, given patience and a little good-will on both sides, the dispute could be settled. While as for ambassador Morrow his idea is clearly pictured in the following incident: Speaking some time ago before a mixed audience amongst whom were President Machado of Cuba, and a number of American magnates with holdings worth tens of millions in Cuba, he said—very pointedly: “It is of the utmost importance that American business men who have property interests in Cuba should assist cur government in every way to keep its pledge (of ‘no interference and no meddling’ made by Secretary Root), to the Cuban people. American business men who have differences with Cuban people should first seek remedies for their alleged wrongs through the ordinary channels in Cuba. They should not look to Washington.” What the ambassador said about Cuba then is equally applicable to Mexico today and there is no reason to doubt he is living up to his convictions. “The ordinary channels” would seem to be yielding results for Americans “seeking remedies for their alleged wrongs” in Mexico. That would seem to be one moral to be drawn from Supreme Court decision above referred to. Incidentally but for the right-minded mass of American people, a column of American boys might be fighting and dyi:.ig right now below the Rio Grande in a mistaken attempt to force Mexico to do exactly what the nine justices of‘her Supreme Court have just done of their own accord in “the ordinary channels” of their duty. Admiral Robinson’s New Job John K. JEtobinson, u. S. N., retired, has anew job. This is the Robinson who first became famous during the Senate investigation of Naval oil scandals. He had been young E. L. Doheny’s commanding officer, and had thus become a friend of young Doheny’s father. Later he figured in the transaction by which Doheny senior became lessor of Elk Hills Naval Oil Reserve. ' Robinson broke into the news again when it came time for him to retire from active duty. There was some comment on the fact that he was), retired as a captain instead of rear admiral. Last year Robinson was called to Washington to testify for the defense in the trial of Doneny senior, with Albert B. Fall, on charges of conspiracy. Robinson Injected the “war scare” angle into the case, intimating that grave Naval secrets concerning the national defense were involved. This “‘war scare” angle, used by the defence to indicate Doheny acted from patriotic motives, was one of their strongest reliances in obtaining an acquittal. Now Robinson is in the news again. Today’s dispatches say: “John K. Robinson has been retained by a syndicate of French and American capitalists to solve the oil-storage problem of Franc 3." 1 The farmers are at odds over what sort of relief they want to protect them from the laws of supply and demand. More proof that the farmer is a poor business man—nobody ever heard of large corporations squabbling in Washington over the tariffs and other protections they desired. Now that Ambassador Morrow has been seen talking to President Calles, a few broad-minded Americans in Mexico City may condescend to speak civilly to Mexican officials. There are many detective agencies in the United States and some of them get away with murder, but somehow William J. Burns seems to be the impresario most often caught and exposed. Charles M. Schwab, aspostle of sunshine in industry, says he is wearing a 1912 overcoat. The rest of us who make such heart-breaking attempts to keep coats looking well through their third year wonder how many other coats Charlie has worn out in the meantime.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

M. E. TRACY SAYS: “All the World’s a Clinic These Days; Whether in the Operating Room or Divorce Court, We Study People as We Used to Study Ants.”

Kaiser Bill’s sister did it just like she said she would, even a little sooner—marrying a no-ac-count Russian young enough to be her grandson. What ever else one may think of it, the absurdity of such a union is grimly illustrative of the change that has come over Europe. Ten years ago the Russian would not have dared so much as raise his eye to a Hohenzollern princess. If he had the Kaiser would have annihilated him, and, perhaps, the princess as well. The fall of a great house gives this ne’er do well courage, while the wealth it salvaged supplies the motive. * tt Dictator in Russia While the Hohenzollerns have fallen so low that the commonest adventurer may hope to get into the family, and while the Romanoffs have Become so poor that no one is left to pay them homage, Stalin sets up a dictatorship in Russia which matches that of Mussolini in Italy, though originating at the opposite end of the social scale. The same week that finds Mussolini purging the fascist party of universal sufferage finds Stalin purging the Bolshevist party of all its opposition leaders. It is the same old game though played from a different standpoint, despotism rises on the ashes of despotism, tyranny taking the place of tyranny, anew order of ruthlessness and oppression ascending the same throne from which it drove the old order. a it n Europe Losing Liberty Unless the people, especially those of Russia and Italy, are prepared to give up all they have fought for during the last three centUries and much they have won, war is in the making. Not international war as Kenworthy and those like him predict, but revolution, civil strife, an explosion of pent up ideals and aspirations. Europe has not only sunk back to the old order of diplomatic intrigue, but to the still older order of oligarchy and class rule. a * tt Rich Man's Fate Fate appears to have cast T. Coleman Du Pont for a most sensaUonal role in his declining years. First, she blesses him with fame and fortune: then she visits him with an affliction calling for the removal of his larynx, and then she summons the modern doctor to gamble with her for his life. To make the game still tenser, she trots forth an invention which promises to produce words artificially for Mr. Du Pont when he can no longer produce them in a natural way. tt n a Tortures of Hiccough No sooner is this difficult situation nicely met and the plot put in shape for a happy ending than fate comes on the scene once more with that most insidious of all maladies, an unyielding attack of hiccoughs. The lowly hiccough, from which most children and many grown people suffer at frequent intervals, is not always the innocent, harmless annoyance it appears. Men have not only suffered the torture of the damned with it, but have died. In Plato’s “Symposium," a physician told Aristophenes, who had hiccoughs from eating too much, to hold his breath or gargle with water, and if that failed, to “tickle your nose with something until you sneeze.” tt tt tt Cure by Hypnotism With what remedies the doctors have tried to cure Mr. Du Pont of hiccoughs, we do not know. The chances are they tried all they knew before calling in a hypnotist, since hypnotism has been regarded as of great therapeutic value. \ Be that as it may, they ultimately resorted to hypnotism, and it worked, which brings the case to a most astonishing climax. To sum it all up, Mr. Du Pont has had his larynx removed, which would have been considered impossible a generation back, has suffered from what promised to develop into a fatal attack of hiccoughs, which is almost a distinction in itself, and is finally relieved by such an exhibition of hypnotic power as' was hardly equalled by Joseph Balsamo even when he dressed up and made respectable by that master of dramatic fiction, Alexander Dumas. tt a u World's a Clinic Few will give a passing thought to what Mr. Du Pont has gone through, or is still going through. To a great majority, he remains just one more pawn in the game of life and death which fate and science ceaselessly play, to be won or lost without concern, to be . remembered only in connection with some novel achievement or startling discovery. All the world’s a clinic these days, instead of a stage as It was in Shakespeare’s time. Romance has thrown off the garments of personal feeling to drape herself in the robes of accumulated , km.wledge. Whether In the operating room op divorce court, we study people as we used to study ants.

(Normal Advance) (Terre Haute) What’s wrong with history teaching? What’s wrong with history text books? These questions might be answered by one who probably thinks he has solved them. This person, Mayor William Hale Thompson of Chicago, is drawing nation-wide attention for conc.usions he has drawn on these questions. Mayor Thompson has in mind certain aspiratons which he wishes sometime to achieve, and believes that by appealing to the true American to save his country from kings of bygone days, he will draw together a more united people with none other than our “Illustrious Bill” at the head. Probably this kind of sentiment will draw those who have not given the question thought, but the reasonable individuals of the country can see that historians are attempting to get at the truths of history in their textbooks. No doubt this will help us keep away from putting too much stress on certain events that carry the wrong inferences. Mayor Thompson seemingly does not realize that today we are attempting to get natons to agree. By his action, he aims to punish England because a king of nearly two centuries ago was opposed to a group of her revolting subjects. That quarrel was ironed out and an agreement was reached by which anew nation sprang into existence. These people were Englishmen at heart and were unable to drive out the characteristics that were born within them. They copied the English forms of goverment; kept the English language, and have until this time kept these things which are necessary. How can we as a nation forget these English people and what they have done for us. Chicago’s mayor is certainly taking a great task into his hands in removing all books from the city libraries that are sympathetic with the kings. He had only thought of the writting of the modem historians in the beginning, but it seems that writers of

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The Rules 1. The idea of letter golf is to change one word to another and do it in par, a given number of strokes. Thus, to change COW to HEN, in three strokes, COW, HOW, HEW, HEN. 2. You can change only one letter at a time. 3. You must have *a complete word, of common usage, for each jump. Slang words and abbreviations don’t count. 4. The order of letters cannot be changed.

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Eliza Eludes the Hounds

What Other Editors Think

the past have also given some space to them. It is truly an insult to our people to have one of our number try to reform the world by such a magic method. It is an inquiry to education as a whole that has been committed. This is only the opinion of one man who has done little or nothing on the matter. It was a thought that came hastily into “Bill’s” mind, and now it appears that it shall hasten away in the same manner. If not, some steps should be taken to squelch the little thought and let peace reign supreme. (La Porte Herald Angus) (Republican) The announcement in the report of Special Prosecutors Johnson and Holtzman, made to Judge Collins of Marion County Criminal Court, that incriminating evidence found in D. C. Stephenson’s “little black boxes” cannot be used to prosecute those guilty of misconduct, is not very good news for the large* and growing number of Hoosiers who hoped to see the political corruption investigation result in a first class house cleaning.' The chapters of the inquiry dealing with the "little black boxes” provide an example of miscarriage of justice that would not be believable, had it not been enacted right here in Indiana, with the knowledge of officers who were sworn to enforce the law.

You can get an answer to any question ol (act or information by writing to The Indianapolis Times Washington Bureau, 1322 New York Ave.. Washington, D. C„ inclosing 3 cents in stamps for reply. Medical, legal and marital advice cannot be given nor can extended research be undertaken. A'l other questions will receive a personal reply. Unsigned requests cannot be answered. All letters are confidential.—Editor. What does it mean to dream of birds? According to one superstition, birds of prey denote presence of enemies, but to dream of other birds means good luck and many friends. If the dreamer catches one it is a sign of early marriage. If the birds fight the dreamer will have ill luck in business. To shoot or kill them means false friends and bad news. If they sing, unexpected pleasure: if they fly toward the dreamer, good news; to see them at work is a good omen. What is the standard unit of money value in the United States? The gold dollar is the standard unit of value in the United States. It weighs 25.8 grains in the proportion of 900 parts of pure gold to 100 parts of copper alloy. Did President Roosevelt entertain a Negro at the White House? Yes, he entertained Dr. Booker T. Washington at luncheon.

What was the attendance at the opening baseball game of 1927 that of the New York Yankees and the New York Giants at their home grounds? It is estimated that the paid attendance at the opening game at the Yankee Stadium was 62,000 with an additional 10,000 invited guests and persons admitted on passes, making a total attendance of approximately 72,000. The estimated attendance at the Giant’s opening game at the Polo Grounds was 50,000. Can a child born of American citizens in Europe claim American citizenship? A child born of American parents is an American citizen regardless of the place of birth. What was the cost of the stadium at Indiana University? What is Its seating capacity? It cost $250,000 and seats 22,000 persons. What was the Conway Cabal and what were its results?'' It was a plot hatched by General Conway, a foreign officer of great pretentions, General Gates, General Mifflin and Samuel Adams, with two or three others of the New England delegation in Congress, and one of the Virginia deputies, to remove Washington from JJie chief command of the continental forces, and / . V v

The quest of the “little black boxes” was a tragedy of errors. Stephenson, the life prisoner who boastfully threatened to punish those who owed him for their political lives, one day appeared to be a willing aid for the prosecution, and the next day a dangerous foe. Perhaps the truth will never be known* how the wire-pullers managed to keep the information contained in the black boxes from the grand jury, but the people of Indiana do know that the law was flouted and that evidence which rightfully belonged to the people’s representatives was successfully hidden until the statute of limitations became effective. It has now becomes the wolf’s hide that saves the guilty ones from deserved prosecution. Likewise, it will probably never be known in what degree the people’s representatives in office connived with the guilty persons in seeking to prevent the evidence from coming to light. Certainly there was some official assistance, or at least some flagrant disregard of duty, else the incriminating evidence could not have been so well concealed. Th' “little black boxes” episode is a most disgraceful one in Indiana politics. Whether any one will ever suffer for the misdeeds that have been revealed, remains to be seen. At any rate, all will agree that someone should have been punished.

Questions and Answers

put Gates in his place. It resulted first in the appointment of Gates as head of the board of war and the promotion of Conway to the rank of major-general, but in a few months the scheme fell through the Conway was virtually forced to leave the service. Os what is coal smoke composed? Smoke is the visible product of combustion carried away by the current of gases and heated air formed in the process. Coal smoke consists chiefly of fine carbon or complex hydrocarbon particles. The more bituminous the coal the greater the volume of smoke that may be emitted. Os what nationality is Jack Sharkey? American of Lithuanian descent. * What becomes of the unexpended balance of the President’s annual allowance for traveling expenses? It reverts to the general funds in the Treasurv at the end of each fiscal year. What are the Democratic and Republican theories concerning tariff? The Democratic theory is that a tariff should be levied for the purpose of providing revenue for the Government; the Republican theory is that it should be levied, not only to provide revenue, but also to pro-

Hot, Dry Air Is Called Cause of Winter Colds

(This is the eighth of a series of interviews with J. A. Buchanan, city combustion engineer, appearing exclusively in the Indianapolis Times.)

BY EDWIN V. O’NEEL “Dry air in the house is the incubator of ‘wet colds,’” says J. A. Buchanan, city combustion engH neer, prefacing advice on how to correct this condition. “Physicians tell us that most colds and troubles with the nose, throat and lungs are caused by breathing air that doesn’t contain enough moisture,” he says. “Steam radiators should be equipped with an attachment, easily procured, to liberate steam in the room. - If stoves are used, kettles of water should be kept on them. Water pots well filled help in case a hot air furnace is employed, but they do not entirely settle the problem. A can of water should be placed on the registers in rooms not used very much. “A thermometer with a dry and wet bulb, is, of course, the best device to indicate moisture in the room, but the window panes offifr a

NOV. 21, 1927

Times Readers Voice Views

The name and address of the author must accompany every contribution, but on request will not be published. Letters not exceeding 200 words will receive preference. To the Editor: The statement by two deputy prosecutors that there was not sufficient evidence to show that those who were subject to indictment had tried lu hide the evidence against them to keep the statute of two years limitation from obtaining causes me to ask: Who caused the witnesses to run away? Who had the black boxes kept in secret until the two years were up? What of the first two grand juries? What about not letting the six State senators talk to Stevie? Why after the time limit was up, could most anybody talk to Steve? Were all these things caused by innocent persons? Let the public ponder on these questions. A SUBSCRIBER. To the Editor: The Indianapolis Times should be commended for its wonderful fight for good government and for t}ie throwing out of those persons responsible for our civic condition, but the recent editorial on “The Mayor's First Duty” advising Mayor L. Ert Slack to make a prompt, vigorous and persistent crusade for a special session of the Legislature to put in the immediate working of the City Manager plan of city government, is, we believe, the very thing he should not do. Mayor L. Ert Slack was elected to the position of head of the city government, which right now is a big job, and not elected to play any kind of politics. This has been the trouble with all of our former mayors who have not made good, too much politics. Let’s give Mayor L. Ert Slack a chance to run the city as he sees fit, with no political entanglements nor aspirations, but in a business manner, and should the Times think such a fight as suggested would be a good thing, let The Times do it, as The Times seems to be successful along that line. Keep up the good work. A TIMES READER.

Old Masters

God save our gracious king, Long live our noble king, God save the king! Send him victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the king! O Lord our God, arise, Scatter his enemies. And make them fall. Confound their politics, Frustrate their knavish tricks; On Thee our hearts we fix. God save us all! The choicest gifts in store, On him be pleased to pour. Long may he reign. May he defend our laws, And never give us cause, To sing with heart and voice, God save the king! —Henry Carey: God Save the Kina.

i vide protection to domestic indus- | tries. Do snakes have feet? No. Did Alexander, of the St. Louis Cardinals, pitch to Babe Ruth in the last game of the 1926 World Series? Alexander began pitching after two outs in the seventh inning and faced Ruth only once, walking him in the ninth inning after the count had reached three balls and two strikes. Has the time expired for filing a claim for the soldiers adjusted compensation, or bonus? No, but application must be made on or before Jan. 1, 1928. Is there any way to take the shine from the back of a woolen skirt? Sponge the skirt with hot vinegar or ammonia (one ammonia to one quart of water. Cover with dampened cloth and press on right side. Remove cloth and brush. What is the value of a United States silver dollar dated 1801, fillet head large eagle? $1.50 to $2.00.

good practical indication of this in cold weather. “Housewives may not like to see frost on the windows, but its presence indicates that the air is moisv enough to be healthful. “The house that doesn’t show* frost on the wondows in cold weather is the place where the in* habitants are most likely to take cold. “Flowers afford another index of humidity in a room. If growing plants begin to die, the reason probably is that the temperature is too high and the humidity too low. “Sixty-eight to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and humidity of 40 to 50 is best for both plants and human beings. “With this temperature, persons indoor perspire less and are therefore not so likely to be chilled by a draft. If there is somepne in the family who feels he must have the thermometer up to 80 to be comfortable, advise him to put on more clothing rather than cook the rest of the family into sickness.” I