Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 171, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 November 1927 — Page 4

PAGE 4

tmiPPJ-HOWAAD

What Would You Do? Governor Smith of New York is being bombarded with petitions to save Ruth Snyder from death in the electric chair, where she is sentenced to die on Jan. 9. He also receives protests against any mercy to this woman. The power of pardon places upon Governors a rather difficult task, and in this case his decision will indicate whether he believes the people of this country are really more human than their written laws. What those tvho petition for mercy really ask is that the death penalty be abolished; for womeb, at least. The murder for which she was convicted had all the factors of brutal depravity. She had deceived her husband, drugged him and then invited in the man to whom she had turned in passion, to help murder him as he slept. Viewed from the cold facts as given in evidence, here was an outlaw creature who had outraged and violated every law of man and God,.‘had shown herself merciless and cruel; had placed herself beyond the pale. There were no circumstances of extenuation to excite compassion or give explanation to such a deed. The murder was one of passion by a man and woman who had given themselves over to illicit intrigue. Yet there are very many who are asking that the death penalty be not inflicted and that she be given a chance to live and repent behind prison walls, a prisoner secluded from the world, but still having life. The very fact that there are very many who plead for compassion indicates that there is a sentiment against the death penalty, or is it that we do not believe in absolute equality for men and women before the law, absolute equality of responsibility as well as rights? It is an interesting question upon which you may have some ideas that others would welcome. Write them to The Times. Would you reduce the sentence of Ruth Snyder from death to life imprisonment? Or would you, if you had the power, send her to the electric chair? A State-Wide Crusade A State-wide crusade to arouse sentiment for the city manager system of government is now contemplated. * That is fine, of course, if it ends all connection between partisan politics and city and town governments. The best argument for such a change in all cities would be the immediate installation of the system in this city, where power of exampie would induce other cities to follow. One of the fine things about the city manager system of government is that it restores •in a measure, local self-government. There has been too strong a tendency to let Legislatures dictate to the various units on the kind of government they may adopt. The tendency is now in the other direction. The best city governments are those which are under the smallest amount of dictation from State bureaus or Legislatures. . The people of this city understand that they were robbed of their legal rights by last Legislature and for that reason continue under a city council, six of whose members are under indictment. \ The Legislature, through the Sims amendment, took away from this city the right to put into effect at once the city manager system for which the people voted at five to one. The people of Indianapolis were robbed of their right of self-government by this measure and the first State-wide crusade should be to persuade the members of the Legislature. to meet: at once and rectify this wrong. A city manager system in power and giving its benefits to the people for a year, would be the greatest argument to other cities for its adoption. It is possible that in time there will be a complete divorce between party politics and city governments. A Petticoat in Politics Peeved that a petticoat should still be waving above their State Capitol, four Oklahoma legislators, ipore chagrined than chivalrous, have decided to do something about it. \ There can be little doubt that the petticoat is the real reason for their petition to Governor Henry S. Johnson for a special legislative session Dec. 6. The petticoat to Mrs. O. O. Hammonds, determined confidential secretary to the Governor, andl ever since Mrs. Hammonds, in the immemorial way of women, began running affairs to suit herself, the aforesaid garment has been anathema to one , faction of Oklahoma politicians. The quarrelsome legislative quartet admits that the purpose of the special session would be attempted impeachment of Johnston. If' the Governor de-> dines to call the session, they want their colleagues to assemble anyway under “inherent powers.” All this is raucously reminiscent of the days some four years past when Oklahoma legislators assembled on their Own to impeach Governor J. C. Waite*. Jack Walton was an anti-Klan Governor and it seems somewhat retributive that the identical ma-

The Indianapolis Times (A SCRIPPS-BOWARD NEWSPAPER) Owned and published dally (except Sunday) by The Indianapolis Times Publishing Cos.. 214-220 W. Maryland Street. Indianapolis, Ind. Price In Marion County. 2 cents —lO cents a week: elsewhere, 3 cents—l 2 cents a week. BOVD GURLEY. ROY W. HOWARU W. A. MAYBORN, Editor. President. Business Manager. PHONE-MAIN 3500. FRIDAY, NOV. 25. 1927. Member of United Press. Scripps-Boward Newspaper Alliance, Newspaper Enterprise Association. Newspaper Information Service and Audit Bureau of Circulations. “Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way.”— Dante.

chinery used to lay him low should now be put in operation against Henry Johnston, a Klan Governor, nominated and elected as a direct result of the anti-Walton reaction. To impeach Walton the legislators had to face the muskets of the State militia, not to mention sundry auxiliary southwestern gunmen. To impeach Johnston, assuming that they ever assemble, they will have to breathe powder traditionally asserted more dangerous. Mrs. O .O. Hammonds is anything but a clinging vine. From the day she hung her bonnet on Governor Johnston’s official hatrack she told politicians where and wh&i to come and go! The personages thus treated, including more than one legislator, demanded that the Governor hire anew secretary. Johnston refused and the politicians began America’s strangest war of rumor and innuendo. Among other things it was whispered that Johnston was a Rosicrucian and that Mrs. Hammonds dominated him by supernatural means. Possibly the special session never will be had. Its promoters failed a month ago to secure a legal petition signed by the number'of legislators legally required. The failure was hailed as a victory for Johnston and his secretary. Refusal of the promoters, now or then, to make public their complaint against Johnston indicates a certain weakness of position. Unless more strength develops, the petticoat may continue to wave for some time to come. Another Job for Big Bill Mayor “Big Bill” Thompson of Chicago should have a talk with that Chicago citizen who is agitating against adoption of the metric system of measurement in America. The said citizen is unanimously in favor of the old-fashioned foot rule system now in use and is urging Congress strenuously to be wary of any changes. But, if tradition is right, the Anglo-Saxo*h foot measurement was a right royal and kingly thing. It varied from age to age, according to the actual measurement of the king’s own pedal extremities. Perhaps the tradition is wrong, but there is certainly record that King Henry ordained in the twelfth century that the yard should be the distance from his royal nose to his royal thumb, the foot to be onethird of that regal distance. It is something that “Big Bill” should look into at any rate. * If the foot rule has anything to do with British royalty, he surely won’t want his fellow townsmen, agitating in its behalf. A Disappearing Japan Just a flashing peek at a Japan which tomorrow will have altogether disappeared. Last Saturday, so trans-Paciflc cables tell us—now that the censorship has been lifted—the young Emperor Hirohito was reviewing his troops at Nagoya* As he drew near the columns standing at rigid attention, a common soldier, belonging to the eta, or outcast class, stepped forward a pace, knelt, bent forward until his forehead rested on the ground and thrust forward a petifton asking better treatment for his dwindling people. Instantly a group of officers surrounded* the emperor and called his attention to something more pleasant going on in another corner of the field. Just as quickly the offending soldier was hustled off to prison to await the punishment which will surely be his. The emperor never knew anything had gohe amiss. But every officer connected with the regiment concerned promptly handed in his resignation. Here is a glimpse of the old Japan. a a tt The eta are considered the lowest of the low. According to legend, the aboriginals of Japan were a race, half human, half dog, and the ainus, or hairy folk of the northern islands, are their degraded descendants pushed north by the conquering Japanese. The eta are believed to be the dregs of these dregs. In feudal days these pariahs performed all the degrading tasks—they cleaned up the common execution grounds, tanned evil-smelling skins and did all the chores considered too dirty for anybody else to do. O tt tt But somehow or other the picture is not nearly as depressing as it might be, pathetic though it certainly is, and dramatic. A hundred years ago the soldier with his paper would have suddenly discovered his head rolling on the ground, lopped off with one blow of a twohanded sword, and the officers of his regiment probably would have committeed hara kiri in a body. As it 18 the soldier will get perhaps a year in prison for his temerity and the resignations of his officers will not even be accepted. For Japan has gone forward two thousand years in less than a century. Colorado Last week it was Ohio. This week it is Colorado. The Anti-Saloon League staked its reputation for political effectiveness on an election in the Denver district Tuesday. The Denver district is normally Republican by 5,000 majority. The Anti-Saloon League backed the Republican candidate and assured its cohorts he was as dry as the dusty desert. It declared its opposition to the Democratic candidate, who openly announced his desire for modification of the present prohibition laws. The Republican candidate also had the support of Senator Phipps and his organization, and the support of the remnant of the Ku-Klux Klan. The district voted down the league’s candidate by almost 5,000 votes, reversing, thereby the usual situation by almost 10,000 votes. Government estimates reveal that a record crop of'rye was grown this year. And still some people say Americans are not senimental. Woman suing for divorce says she can’t live on less than SI,OOO a month. Lots of people who would like to can’t either. Few men command universal respect, but there’s one to whom we all take off our hats. Yeah, he’s our barber. * Propagandists say we ought to give Russia credit for good intentions. No matter how good its intentions, no American business man is in favor of giving it credit.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Mr. Fixit East Side Youths Ordered From Streets Are Advised to Stay Home, and Police Won’t Bother Them.

Let Mr. Fixit. The Times’ representative at city hall, present vour trouoles to city officials. Write Mr. Fixit at The Times. Names and addresses which must be given. wIU not be published. East Side youths today appealed to Mr. Fixit to “save an east side gang” from being, broken up by police. Dear Mr. Fixit: I wonder if you can put your magnetic power to use in helping to solve a question which confronts youths of the east side. It so happened that I was standing on the corner of State Ave. and Washington St. last night with a group of boys and a police officer strolled up; took our names; inquired as to our means of livlihood and then told us we must migrate from that vicinity. We strolled down to Oriental St. We had hardly been there two minutes when we were again ordered to depart by an officer. Now. Mr. Fixit, we are too young to be able to hang out in poolrooms and we are compelled by law to stay off the corners. Just what are we supposed to do with ourselves. Hoping you can remove us from the exile. We remain EAST SIDE YOUTHS. Mr. Fixit is sorry that he can not help your situation. Personally, he feels that police are right in preventing young men from congregating on street corners at night. Crime often breeds in such “gangs,” police say, and they are trying to stop the wave of banditry. Mr. Fixit would suggest you try spending some evening at home or at the branch library if your time is not required to prepare school lessons. Dear Mr. Fixit: I live on the Kessler Blvd. and own several pieces of property there, and for the past three years have been paying city taxes. We have no sewer, gas or water. Have to have garbage hauled and pay for it. Nevertheless, we are compelled to pay city taxes and live on a rural route without being jjc corded any city accommodations. Would like to know who causes all this convenience and what can be done about it. Any influence you may have with the proper .uthorities will be greatly appreciated. OLD RESIDENT AND TAXPAYER. Wayne Emmelman, works board secretary, advised that you file a petition with the board of works to install gas and water connections. Get a petition at the city hall and have majority of property owners on the street sign it.

Old Masters

A rose to the living is more Than sumptuous wreaths to the dead: In filling love’s, infinite store, A rose to the living is more— If graciously given before The hungering spirit is fled— A rose to the living is more > Than sumptuous wreaths to the dead. —Nixon Waterman: A Rose to the Living. What is a “Ring” in politics? It is the inner circle of a party machine; that is, the men who dominate the distribution of favors in return for political support. Os what denomination is “The Little Church Around thtf Corner,” in New York. Protestant Episcopal. What is the meaning of the name “Calvin?” Bald. | When will the next census be taken by the United States? In 1930? What are the chief coffee producing countries in the world? Brazil, Central America, Venezuela, West Indies, Columbia, Dutch East Indies and Mexico.

EARL __ IdiWkTe

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 and n’t count. 4. The order of letters cannot be changed.

s 1 o I l| e‘ SIOL.D. H I O L. D ±LJLJ^D_ ±L_E__E H ♦hielell

Sure, Son, We Believe It!

MY GRACIOUS- RuSifk

(Muncle Press) (Republican) Those addicted to football without any great technical knowledge of the game are raising the question: What’s the matter with Notre Dame? After a splendid in the fashion of the famous Four Horsemen of 1924 the Rocknemen struck a snag in Minnesota and came a cropper against the Army. To the football layman this is equivalent to a total collapse. Notre Dame suffers the misfortune these days of every team it meets preparing carefully to defeat the south Bend team; it has no easy spots because there is a welcoming committee of eleven or more determined and wellcoached players at every field to meet Rockne’s boys. Notre Dame is a victim of a heavy schedule, which calls for hard games Saturday after Saturday. No team in the country has been called on to meet teams of the calibre of Minnesota and the Army on successive Saturdays. In the street vernacular, the South Bend team bit off more than it could chew. To keep his team at a high pitch every Saturday is the hardest job Rockne has, for although the bumps and bruises of hard games hurt, they do not affect the eleven’s playing like its mental condition. The victory pitch is hard to maintain for a schedule of ten / games, whether the team concerned is Wheatfield Corners or the best in the land. (Marion Chronicle) (Republican) The factional political fight at Indianapolis with the ousting of a Republican mayor and the installing of a Democrat seems to have settled down along partisan lines. What reaction that may have on political fortunes Jn Indianapolis and the State at large remains for the future to develop. One factor, however, is certain. As matters now stand the State capital municipal control of the Indianapolis political machine is transferred to the hands of the Democrats. Mayor L. Ert Slack has made that clear in his appointments. But as for the political future of Mayor Slack, if Indianapolis politics runs true to fu he may have to be content with his present commanding position as the head of the newest Indianapolis Democratic politica machine, for it is a matter of municipal history that the mayor’s office in Indianapolis has been the political graveyard of every man,

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 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 ate the requisites for obtaining the compensation paid by the Veterans’ Bureau to men who served in the World War? To be eligible for -compensation, a World War Veteran must be suffering from injuries received or disease contracted or accelerated in the service in line of duty that causes a reduction in his earning capacity of at least 10 per cent. He must have an honorable discharge from the service. What salary is paid to the governor general of the Irish Free State and to members of the executive council? Timothy Michael Healy, governor general of the Irish Free State, receives an annual salary of 10,000 pounds. With the exception of the president, who receives 2,500 pounds, the ministers who are members of the executive council receive 1,700 pounds a, year. From whom are the Welsh people descended? -The earliest historical knowledge of the people of Wales dates from the invasion of Britain by the Romans in 55 B. C. At that time the

What Other Editors Think'

Republican or Democrat, who has held it in recent years. Mayor Slack because of his coup in getting into the mayor's office, despite a Republican majority in the council that elected him and the “pick of five” made by the “civic bloc,” may be able to tell his critics where to head in for the time being. But sooner or later after the “outs” recover from their amazement and get their second wind it may only be expected that the pack will be at his heels. (Goshen News Tribune) (Tribune) ~ It is natural for most humans to make mistakes which involve them in difficulties of one sort or another; it is also natural far them to make more mistakes in seeking to extricate themselves. This would appear to be what happened to _ the Rev. E. S. Shumaker, head of the Indiana Anti-Saloon League, in his controversy with the State Supreme Court. In stating his reasons for calling upon Senator Robinson for the purpose of discussing the contempt proceedings against himself the Rev. Shumaker said: “The friends of the cause (prohibition) were asking me continually what was behind this prosecution. I did not know my rights and was worried. I wanted him (Senator Robinson) to clear it up for me.” It is well known and general cohceded that the AntiSaloon League has the service of the best lawyers in the State and nation, therefore any doubt that Dr. Shumaker may have entertained as to his legal rights could have been eliminated by consultation with the able legal counsel at his command. Taking his case before the United States Senators would naturally be construed as an attempt to gain advantage outside of the law and at the same time prove embarrassing to these officials whose friendship to himself and the cause he represents is a matter of public record. There was nothing that the Senators could have done for Dr. Shumaker in his court case that would have been ethical or legal and he was so advised by the Senators, according to their recollection of the conversations they had with him. Then, Dr. Shumaker admits, he expressed the opinion that unless there was a letup in the charges against him the Republican party would be made to suffer the consequences, or words to that effect. This statement was made during the period of a State political cam-

Questions and Answers

tribes of Wales consisted of a mixture of primitive Iberians with the later invading Celts, and were called the Decongi in the north, the Ordlvices in the center, the Silures in the southeast and the Demetar (Dimetae) in the southwest, all bearing the general name of Cymry. After a long struggle.the subjugation of these tribes was accomplished under Vespasian. The Welsh of this period were closely related to the Celtic inhabitants of Britain and the latter tribes (ocqupying what is now England) fleeing before the wave of Anglo-Saxon invasion in later times, took refuge in the Welsh mountains, where in time they became merged with their native kinsmen. Who was Dempsey’s manager at the time of his first fight with Tunney in September, 1926? He had no manager then. Gene Normile was his personal representative, but Dempsey acted as his owrt manager. From what does the name “Ura” come? • It is from the Greek and means “heavenly.” . Where is Honduras and where is the city of Puerto Cortez? Honduras Is a republic in Central America having on the north the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Honduras, on the west, Guatemala, on the southwest, Salvador, and the

paign in which the two Senators were candidates for election, and a few weeks prior to the election. This opened the way for another inference, that Dr. Shumaker was attempting to use the voting power of his league organization as a means of forcing political assistance. Dr. Shumaker denies any such motive, but he must now admit that his attitude at the time was subject to serious misinterpretation. At the time of his sentence to pay a fine and go to prison this newspaper expressed the opinion that Dr. Shumaker should have been spared the treatment of a common felon. It is still of the same opinion, but recognizes the legal right of the court to punish him as it sees fit. There can be no justification, however, in Dr. Shumaker’s involvment of the United States Senators in a matter of this sort. This phase of his activities has resulted as such things usually do —embarrassment for his friends and further trouble for himself. Marion Loader Tribune (Republican) It seems more and more as if Indiana will have to go back to the old McGuffey series of school books, and this might be well. Almost every day some claim is made that those educated under the McGuffey system were the best and noblest Romans of them all, admittedly so. Now, comes Louis Ludlow of country-wide fame, this fame being fnade largely after he left his native State, and claims that the McGuffey series of books was practically responsible for the formation of his character and the basis of the education he has acquired. Henry Ford is collecting the books of the McGuffey series and is having some of them reprinted. Why not put the McGuffey series back into the schools, and especially at Chicago, where there is claim of British propaganda, and where it can be admitted that much is the matter in the formation of the Chicagoese character? If a series of books would establish morals and manners, mold character, form habits that last for life, and at the same time teach patriotism and religion, make citizens who never faltered in their support of the church, the home, the school, the flag, then why not go back and see what such books would do for present generation? Louis admits he was a hard nut to crack, and see what he has done, all credit being given to McGuffey.

Bay of Fonseca, and on the southeast, Nicaragua. Puerto Cortez is one of the principal ports on the north coast of Honduras. Who is James Hall, who played the leading male role in “The Campus Flirt’!? He is twenty-eight years old and is the son of William F. Hall, wellknown vaudeville actor. He was formerly a musical comedy star, and had leading roles in “The Matinee Girl” and “The Passing Show of 1923.” He was also a juvenile in "Merry, Merry.” Hall has been signed by Paramount. He played the leading male roles in “The Campus Flirt,” “Hotel Imperial,” “Stranded in Paris” end “Love's Greatest Mistake.” He has auburn hair and blue eyes. His address is Paramount Famous-Lasky Studios, 5451 Marathon St., Hollywood, Cal. What are the birthstones for the different months qf the year? There are two or three different groupings but the one suggested by the American Jewelers' Association is as follows: January, garnet; February, amethyst; March, aquamarina or bloodstone; April, diamond; May, emerald; June, pearl or moonstone; July, ruby; August, moonstone or peridot; September, sapphire; October, opal or tourmaliTo; November, topaz; December, turquoise or lapislazuli. k

.NOV. 25, 1927

M. E . TRACY SAYS: “Those of Us Who Could Not Count a Friend or Acquaintance in Jail, or Who Had Not Been Victimized by Some Crook or Scalawag During the Past Year, Might Claim a Special Right to Be Grateful”

Thanksgiving day broke ir. a deluge of crime news. People were privileged to enliven the fe> tivities of the day by discussing a lot of tragic events—Henry Judd Gray and Ruth Snyder, who had just lost their appeal and been sentenced to die Jan. 12; the trial of George Remus still going on at Cincinnati; the four bandits who were electrocuted in New Jersey last Friday; the Colorado labor war, in which half a dozen already have been been killed and four times as many injured; the renewal of ructions in Chicago, with a regular wild west battle between a carload of policemen and a carload of thugs; any one of the twenty-six murderers now waiting trial in New York; the Fall-Sinclair case, in which a millionaire, a great detective and several lesser lights are charged with contempt of court. a u tt Millions of Crooks Those of u£ who could not count a friend or acquaintance in jail, or who had not been victimized by some crook or scalawag during the past year, might claim a special right to be grateful. The increase of crime is reflected by nothing so vividly as the indifference which familiarity with it has brought about. It is no longer a distinction to know someone who has been convicted, much less arrested, or to be burglarized, blackjacked or defrauded. We have arrived at a point where we make three or four million arrests in this country each year, where our prison population has reached 110,000. with a turnover of three times that number, and where ex-convicts could form a gigantic fraternity if they felt so inclined. tt a Land of the—Yegg Passing over such breaches of the peace as go with Volsteatiism and traffic regulations, America has no rival worthy of the name when it comes to murder, theft, banditry, arson and similar manifestations of the anti-social complex. Our wealth, prosperity and boasted educational achievement are more than matched by the production of plain thuggery.

Golden Profits of Sin Easy enough to paint in the foreground of the picture, but what is*the background? What has happened in America to breed such a flock of criminals? The National Crime Commission, according to the United Press, says that crime has become a billion dollar industry. A distinguished writer declares that the turn-over of crime amounts to no less than $3,000,000,000 annuallly, with a profit of one-half that amount. What is the explanation? ts an Age Is Poor Remedy It has become the fashion to excuse crime in this country on the ground that we ave a mixed and pioneer people; that we have not settled down to that orderly manner of life which goes with older communities. One hundred years ago the United States did not have onehalf as many prisoners in proportion to her population as she has today. Murder, as reported by our larger cities, increased from a rate of 3.4 to each 100.000 people in 1900 to a rate of 11.1 in 1925. Apparently, we grow worse, and not better, as we grow older. # a Spare the Melting Pot When you talk with the average man about the number of crimes committed or the number of people in jail, he is more than apt to tell you that there is no cause for worry and that the situation will be remedied when we have Americanized our foreigners. Asa matter of record, the na-tive-born maintain their end of the criminal game with surprising efficiency. In 1923 they represented 84 per cent of all prisoners, while the foreign-born represented 16 per cent. a t> u Excuses, Only Excuses / The chances are that we have devoted too much time to making excuses and not enough to study, that we have busied ourselves trying to forget the situation instead of trying to correct it. If the average American suffers from one weakness more than another, it is a disposition to avoid disagreeable facts. u an Everything Bright—rh? The average American prefers to be optimistic on all occasions, to see the bright side of things, to dismiss obstacles gs of no account and to hug the notion that he can make things right by simply believing they they are right. In nine cases out ot ten he does not know what the crime situation really is compared to that in other countries, because he has not studied it, and he has not studied it, because he has an idea that he might get a disagreeable shock. - His attitude is one source of trouble, and, perhaps, not the least important source.