Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 178, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 December 1927 — Page 4

PAGE 4

SCRtPPS-HOWARD

A Fortunate' Decision Os all the citizens of this State, Governor Ed Jackson happiest in the decision of Judge Oscar H, Montgomery* that the statute of limitations does not apply to the indictment returned against him. He will not now be barred from any vindication upon the facts, which it is to be presumed that he desires. It would have been unfortunate had the courts decided that the mere passage,of time prevented a complete and public hearing upon the evidence in a case against the Governor. This would have been not only humiliating to the Governor, but more humiliating to the' State itself arid given Indiana an advertising that would have been, to say the least, undesirable. What the people demand, and what the Governor undoubtedly desixes, is a ‘complete public hearing on the charge that he, when Secretary of State, attempted to bribe Warren T. McCray, then Governor. The charge is most definite -in its terms and details and the names of witnesses who are called to support it have been made public. The Governor in a letter to the editor of this newspaper just previous to the indictment declared that the charge is false. That letter, which figures in the indictment as a detail of concealment, makes the issue plain and clear and no amount of technical argument can destroy the universal demand that the matter be settled upon the issue of truth or falsity and not in any other manner. The decision is fortunate in that it may permit the public hearing of the evidence to be held in a courts for it is most certain that neither the people nor the Governor would be satisfied to permit the matter to end with discussion. At some time and in Sbme place both the people and the Governor are entitled to have the evidence known, and this decision which brushes aside the statute of limitations expedites that event. It is quite certain that had' any legal obstacle arisen to prevent the hearing in the ~couHs, the people would demand, and the Governor shoulchdemand, -that a legislative investigation which is not concei’ned with statutes of limitations, probe into the facts. All that the people want and certainly the Governor can ask no less, is that the truth or falsity of the charge be established publicly. The people are content to let the courts fix any responsibility. But they will not be satisfied until they get the truth, and all the truth, which is much more important than either punishment or acquittal. # > The reputation of the State and the confidence of people in their government demand a public hearing on the facts and that now seems to be much nearer in sight.

What to Do With $3,000,000 What appears to be a large fund, three million dollars, was discussed at a dinner in New York as the goal of the organization leading the light against the prohibition amendment. For the purpose intended the fund is not large. It is intended that a general referendum be held through the mails to take the sentiment of the voters as to what should be done with the eighteenth amenlment. There are more than twenty million voters and it will cost considerable money to send two letters to every voter. But the job is worth doing. The best way to find what the people want is to ask them. That is what Canada did. And former Senator Wadsworth is right that one of the questions should be about tfte Canadian plan. Wadsworth believes that the Canadian plan can be applied to our situation. It has worked well in Canada, doing away with corrupting bootlegging and general drunkenness, and is worth considering as an alternative. f \ It is safe to say "that nobody wants the corner saloon restored. It is safe to say that no considerable number of people want the distillers and brewefs back as political dictators. But is is equally safe to say that a lot of people who fought these influences are now ready to give something a trial which promises to relieve the country of the impossible results of prohibition’s failure. . A clear statement of the issue and a straw vote covering all States would be of great interest and value.

( “Stipulations” “Truthful advertising has one of its greatest allies and servants in the Federal trade commission.” That’s the modest verdict of the commission on Itself. It’s apparently arrived at by tabulating the large number of “moral victories” the commission is winning over purveyors of false advertisements. * These victories are of a very amusing type. The circulator of false advertising agrees not to do it any more. The commission agrees not to disclose his identity if he will be good in the future. There’s hand- ‘ shaking all-around, and the scorekeeper chalks up a victory for righteousness. • It’s much the same as though a chief of police should announce that lie is one of the greatest promoters of law and order because he’s consulted a large number of confessed murderers confidentially and obtained their promises to do no more slaying in the future. Such an arrangement would be what the Federal trade commission calls a “stipulation.” .

. The Indianapolis Times (A SCBIPFS-HOWAKD NEWSPAPER) Owned and published dally (except Sunday) by The Indianapolis Times Publishing Cos., 314-220 W. Maryland Street, Ipaian&polls, Ind. Price in Marlon County. 2 cents —lO cents a y week; elsewhere. 3 cents—l 2 cents a week. BOY ?LS URLEY * ROY w ' HOWARD. 1 W. A. MAYBORN. Editor. President. Business Manager. PHONE—MAIN 3500. SATURDAY. DEC. 3. 1927Member ol United Press, Scrlpps-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.

What About That Anti-Trust Law? Congress, tys Senator Walsh of Montana asserts, should either strengthen or repeal the Clayton antitrust act. Enacted thirteen years ago, the act Is today almost a dead thing, due to rulings of the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court decided in two cases in 1926 that the act gave the Federal trade commission no authority to compel any corporation to give up physical property or business assets of a former competitor, even if these are obtained by illegal acquisition, of stock. . . N Combination is the trend of the times according to a current and common claim. Here is a chance for Congress to determine whether the claim is correct. And there is none better fitted to demand a showdown than Senator Walsh, who in the last Congress asked for an investigation of ail important industrial mergers of the last four years. If combination really is the trend of the times it is that only because of the will of the people. The people, therefore, should not be hoodwinked into believing that this law, merely because It continues to stand on the statute books, affords them a protection available when needed. The people must understand just what the Supreme Court said the day it decided the Clayton act issue. They must realize the full portent of a sltuatioh in which the* court ruled that the trade commission was without power to dissolve a physical combination once it had been completed, but asserted in another case, where such combination was merely in prospect, that “the purpose which the law makers entertained might be wholly defeated If the stock could be further used for securing the competitor’s property.” It Is impossible, of course, as the trade commission points out 'ln its annual report just published, for complaint to be ruled in many cases before the acquisition of property Is consummated. This leaves any control and remedy to the justice department. Complete repeal of the act would at least make plain that the justice department is the one source of relief, and in which case there might be more forthcoming from that quarter. Strengthening the act to give the trade commission power would be better than repeal, however. Two watch dogs are always better protection than one. States Rights—and Duties There's an enormous volume of oratory about the necessity of preserving States rights. There’s much less activity on the part of the States to make these rights effective. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the case of hydroelectric power, which everyone Is agreed is one of the most important developments of. our time. The job of controlling water power development so that it may be made to serve the people instead of exploit them is one primarily for the communities -where power is located. There are interstate complications, to be sure, but a great majority of the problems involved can be handled locally. What are the States doing to handle them? The Federal Power Commission says “very few of the States, otherwise than through general public-utility legislation, attempt to exercise control over the dis j position or use of their water power resources.” They’re asleep at the switch, apparently. Unless the States get busy there will be an Increasing demand for Federal control through the Federal Power Commission, It won’t be usurpation of States rights. It will be a case of enforcing rights of the people which the States have neglected. And It won’t be something that the Federal Government has greedily reached out to do. That’s Indicated by statements by the Federal Power Commission that It "would welcom j passage by the States of laws under which the States could take a far greater part than any of them now are taking in the control and regulation of water-power development and use.” In its annual report the Commission "urges the passage of comprehensive State water power laws based on the policy of full public control over this most lmp<|'tant of natural resources.” If the States accept their responsibilities and pass such laws they can make effective States rights for which there Is such widespread present.If they don’t, the Federal Government will inevitably be drawn further into the field to protect the public interests. As in so many other cases of Federal “usurpation.” it will be failure of the States to do their duty that will be primarily responsible for the loss of States rights.

Dangerous Pilots “Quack flyers are as dangerous as quack doctors, and flimsy planes as dangerous as ships with rotten hulls. There are certain ‘schools of learning’ long on promises and short on ethics, known as diploma mills in aviation. Their graduates constitute a distinct menace to real air progress. So far it has not been possible to stop him-at the field. Beware of the pilot who has no license and steer clear of the plane that lacks registration numerals on its wings.” This % is testimony of F. Trubee Davidson, Assistant Secretary of the Navy. There are scores of these dangerous fliers throughout the country, at summer resorts and at roadside aviation fields. Mr. Davidson’s remedy, forbidding unlicensed pilots to fly and calling for rigid inspection of machines, sounds like the best possible safeguard. Whatever else may be said of Chicago, give credit where credit is due. The aims there are pretty good. Did you know that Shylock was only making a play for human interest? Maybe all this talk about Russia cutting her army in half is only intended tp be disarming. After all, the bickerings about evolution seem to be only gorilla warfare after all. A Texas girl, asleep two months, has awakened. The dispatches failed to mention what opera she attended. Mexico’s chief executive certainly seems to be earning his salary these days, executing.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

M. 3. TRACY SAYS: “Though Stiff Competition May Be Expected From the Japanese, There Is Little Reason Why This Country Should Not Play an Important Part in Financing the Develop.ment o} the Orient.”

San Francisco faces a real fight to get next year’s Republican national convention. Her natural beauty, pep and hospitality are fully appreciated, but a rival has entered the field with inducements which she can hardly hope to duplicate. That rival is Detroit, and Detroit promises an opportunity to get legal drinks within five minutes and for 10 cents. It is an opportunity not to be lightly disregarded, especially by delegates who are foresworn to Indorse the Volstead act, and who may neeed stimulants to work up a proper degreee of enthusiasm. * m • Pink-Tinted Dream Karl A. Bickley, president of the United Press, who arrived in San Francisco on Thursday after making a toyr of European and Asiatic countries, dismisses the much talked about Pan-Asiatic League as just “a pink-tinted dream of Chinese, Japanese and Russian idealists.” Instead he finds a tendency toward a partnership between Russia and Japan, with the latter disposed to take the lead in financial affairs while the former furnishes raw material. As to opportunities for American Investments, he says that though stiff competition may be expected from the Japanese there is little reason why this country should not play an important part in financing eastern development. m n Islands Key to Orient Mr. Bickel’s observations with regard to democracy in a world supposed to have been saved for it only ten years ago may displease those whose faith Is fathered by the wish, but he speaks from firsthand knowlege. The Philippines are a key to the Orient. They are the hub around which China, Japan, the East Indies, Australia, India and the Americas roughly lie in a’ circle. Thus we confront the necessity of finding a solution which will riot only satisfy the proper aspirations of the islanders but will provide us as well with a legitimate foothold on the other side of the Pacific. #* m V

_ Only One Solution Apparently the only solution which would do both, is to set a date, say ten years or more hence, when the islands would be given a status similar to that which Cuba enjoys. This would satisfy the Philipinos. It would open the way for capital. It would give the United States all necessary power to safeguard our own and the islands’ security as far as this can be done. It wou'l give us a naval base in those waters as strong as the Washington treaty permits, and a trade base with a friendly people to work with, instead of a hostile one, in that comer of the earth. nun Redeemed Promises Left under the protection of the four pact of Washington, the Philippine Islands would be at least as safe with a Cuban status as they are today. Our own interests would be conserved and our promises, from President McKinley down the line, redeemed before a sceptical and watchful world. Here, then, is another of the vital policies of which this and other Scripps-Howard newspapers spoke when, on Thursday, Oct. 13, it published a general statement of principles having to do with the coming presidential campaign. Inevitably it is a problem for which our next President, whether Republican or Democrat, must find a permanent answer. nun Excited Over Execution A Buffalo salesman is so anxious to see Mrs. Ruth Snyder die in the electric chair and so apprehensive that the regular executioner may get cold feet that he volunteers to turn on the switch. A New Jersey woman, on the other hand, wants to die in Mrs. Snyder’s place because she bebelieves that such a sacrifice would end capital punishment. It does not appear that either has any cause to be Interested in the case, except as they have worked themselves into a state of excitement by thinking about it. Yet one is willing to play the part of executioner and the other to be executed to satisfy their convictions. nun Defense of Chicago Mayor Thompson’s reply to the New York World as to why he took so much more Interest in pro-British propaganda than in Chicago's alleged crimt WK9 was certainly enlightening. Reiterating that George Washington was not a rebel and that Chicago had be£n maligned by a subsidized press in a few brief sentences, he extended himself to tell how the police quartet had captivated the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and how a better tenor would have been present if the regular one had not been sent hewn to New Orleans for a murderer*, i Such utterances can only be described as statesmanlike.

* voV, ' p|J| /-iEoKar \ A r ( CHOOSER \ ®i A <3rvitiio * I ( - IKK 3/. ✓ ■

(LiPortc Arrus-Herald) (Republican) Not one bank sooth of Indianapolis closed Its doors this year, according to the State banking commissioner, and only one in this geographical division closed during 1926. This is food for thought, for the centarl and northern part of the State, where slightly less than 3 per cent of all banks were forced to close their doors. This is something to give pause even if most of these closed voluntarily to merge with larger institutions. 1 Indiana’s record, however, is nothing to worry about, inasmuch as in some States in the agricultural district 40 per cent of the State banks have been compelled to close. However, the strange fact remains that bank failures in Indiana were confined to the northern part of the State. Southern Indiana takes life leisurely, hurry means nothing to the typical Hoosier, the kind found in the hills of southern Hoosierdom. People earn less money and earn it less rapidly down “along the river.” They hold It after it comes into their hands and invest it with great deliberation, if at all. Difference in temperament with the hustling, aggressive northerner attracts the attention of the traveler in any southern Indiana community. / The northerner cojnmands more money, spends easily and is prone to rush into reckless expenditures or investments, making for greater risk taking and resultant failures. The north in bustling, noisy, reaching out, building, growing, the south part is slow, methodical, unaccustomed to taking a risk. Explanation of some of the bank failures can be found in this difference of human nature. (Bluftton Banner) (Democratic) Quite & bit of propaganda comes out "of the East, especially in and around Washington, to the

Questions and Answers

Is there a "tree climbing fish?” The climbing fish is found near the island of Coram, in the Malay archipelago. It is about nine inches long and spends most of the time on land chasing insects upon

f| i liaiE i siallie.

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.

ClOlAlT' COOT _R O. _O_T Ji-P-Ok ROCK WA"cTk ;

Why Mothers Get Gray

What Other Editors Think

effect that the Democrats of Indiana are not pleased at the prospect of Albert G. Stump being the candidate for United States Senator in 1928- There may be Democrats, many of them in Indiana, who believe someone other than Mr. Stump should be nominated—that is to be expected—but this supposed opposition comes from so far off, and mainly in Republican newspapers, that the thing looks funny, to say the least. However, if anyone around the seat of national Government thinks Mr. Stump is not a strong candidate, let him come forth and to battle. In a primary—in Indiana—Mr. stump can poll some votes, probably enough to land him the winner against nny man who might conclude to swap wallops with him.

(Resitvllie Republican) (Republican)

Men with a taste for intoxicating liquor seem to have the idea that no holiday is complete without a “spree.” They apparently hold to the view that holiday and hilarity are synonymous. If this opinion is strong enough In a man he will have liquor regardless of its present state or its origin. According to the Federal prohibition director for Indiana, the sale of real whisky, beer and wine in this State has been practically stamped out. What is true of Indiana is true in large or small degree in every other State because the supply of real “pre-war Stuff” is gradually being reduced. Consequently the man who insists on a “holiday drunk” is running a bigger chance than he ever 'did. Tests of all liquor confiscated by Government officials show Ah&t less than 1 per cent of the whole is bona fide, chemically pure whisky. The public is slowly awakening to the fact that most of the liquor the bootleggers are

which it feeds. In pursuits of its prey, it is said, the flsh sometimes climbs forty feet or more up the aerial roots of a kind of fig-tree that grows along the island’s marshy shores. It lives in a burrow in the muddy shallows. It climbs with a pair of ventral fins, suggesting legs, and highly developed pectoral fins, like arms. Its usual method of getting over the ground is jumping. Tiny gill slits, conserving moisture, allow the fish to stay out of water. " How many home-runs did Babe Ruth hit in the 1926 World Series? Four; three in the fourth game, and one in the last. How far did Gertrude Ederle swim across the English channel? It has been estimated that due to the strong tides she swam between thirty-five and forty miles. What is the value of a Columbian half dollar? / It commands no premium. What is the title and the author of the poem that begins “A garden is a lovesome thing—God wot?” It is entitled “My Garden” and was written by Thomas E. Brown. Is there a law in Mexico compelling priests •of the Roman Catholic Church to marry? No. * What is meant by a 30-30 cartridge? The first figure indicates that the bullet fits a .30 caliber rifle, with a rifle bore of thirty hundredths of an inch. The second figure usually indicates the number of grains in the cartridge. In some cases the last figure, as in a .30-06, the 06 indicates thfe year model which is used by some manufacturers. You esn 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. AU other questions will receive a personal reply. Unsigned requests cannot be answered. All letters are confidential.—Editor.

now peddling is synthetic stuff and may be loaded with dynamite. This is attested by the decline in the price of bootleg whisky according to enforcement officials, who are authority for the statement that labeled and stamped imitation whisky which sold for sls to S2O a quart in 1923 and 1924 now goes begging at $8 a quart. N The prohibition agents are making every effort to prevent the manufacture and sale of synthetic liquor, but they cannot be actually successful until they get the cooperation of the man who thinks that he must get hilariously drunk on every occasion that he imagines demands such conduct. Not until the drinkers realize the word of the chemist and doctor is better than the whispered advice of the bootlegger, will any great headway be made in stamping out the illicit traffic.

Announcing — THE FLETCHISR AMERICAN Christmas Jbabtngsf Club for 1928 ? jrn CHRISTMAS SAVINGS Accounts for 19 2 8 can now be opened at the Fletcher American National Bank. Last year we welcomed practically all of our old Christmas Club savers and almost as many new ones. Christmas giving will not be a burden to these saver# this year. Resolve to solve now the problems of next year’s Christmas shopping N v by opening a Christmas Savv ings Account on one of the many attractive plans that we offer... Indiana’s largest banking institution will welcome your account. The Fletcher American \ National Bank Southeast Comer Market ami Pennsylvania Stree ft V' • h

_DEC. 3, 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: I have the honor to transmit herewith a resolution adopted by the board of directors of the Indianapolis Community Fund at their meeting Nov. 25, 1927. May I add that it is a great pleasure to transmit this resolution. , Resolution Resolved that the board of directors express its sincere appreciation of the constructive and public spirited handling by the Indianapolis Times, of the publicity in connection with the recent Community Fund campaign: And that in the sincere Judgment of the board this support was a very important element in the achieving of the goal; And that the board express its recognition of the many competing news events which occurred during the period of the Community Fund publicity, and which doubtless would hove interfered very greatly with the presentation of the Community Fund campaign had it not been for the public spirited attitude of the Indianapolis Times and its editors in this matter. Yours sincarelv. HOMER W. BORBT, Executive Secretary. To the Editor: While one drop of Ink on a solitary thought has saved the minds of millions, why not give a few drops of whisky and save the lives of millions? Orange county has a corps of doctors that advises the use of whisky as a medicine which is an easy matter to get without so much mileage and time. I have in mind a family of several members that had typhoid fever this past; year and all were saved by the use of whisky according to a doctor’s advice. Our laws are so stringent trying to make a man out of a brute that we are a seething mass of law violators of God and man, and as long as the will power cannot be taken from man there always will be a way to get booze. A READER.

Old Masters

Mother wept, and father sighed; With delight aglow Cried the lad, “Tomorrow,” cried, “To the pit I go.” Up anil down the place he sped— ‘ Greeted old and young; Far and wide the tiding spread; Clapt his hands and sung. Came his .cronies; some to gaze Wrapped ,in wonder; some Free with cottnsel; some with praise; ( Some with envy dumb. “May he,” many a gossip cried, “Be from peril, kept.” Father hid his face and sighed, Mother turned and wept. —Joseph Sklpsey: Mother Wept. In what year did the United States coin the fewest number of dimes? In 1810 dimes to the value of only $635.50 were minted.