Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 212, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 January 1928 — Page 4

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SC* I PPS - H OWAMD

Forged Documents It is now definitely established that the documents published by the llearst papers, designed l<? prove that the President of Mexico had plotted with bolsheviks against this country, were forgeries. Aside from any comment as to the purpose or objects of publishing these documents, the incident does call to attention the duty of newspapers to be very careful in the verifiea- . tion of their sources of neivs. * Had the documents been genuine, the duty of the llearst papers to publish them would have been plain add clear. The people are entitled to know all the facts concerning their governmen land concerning any incident which may affect their government. In the pursuit of facts which relate to government and to officials, there is a special duty placed upon every newspaper. This State during the past year has had its attention centered upon documents of various kinds and sorts and the people have been veyy much interested in the contents of these cfoeuBt nienis. The Times has had Very much to do with the production of some documents and in the procuring of facts which later were found to be of interest to grand juries. The situation called for unusual caution and unusual care in the establishment of every fact. For just as the duty of newspapers to discover conspiracies against their welfare and their government is great 1 , so is the duty of preserving respect for government and confidence in government against false attack. In the past year The Times has produced and published many documents. It has published very many news stories relating to government and to public officials. It is a matter of some pride that during this year the authenticity of no document published by The Times has been challenged. The reason that they were not challenged was because The Times went to very unusual lengths to prove the authenticity of every document before it was published. The same rule applied to its articles which were not based upon documentary evidence. Before those articles were published The Times was in possession of evidence which it believed would convince, beyond any reasonable doubt, any group of citizens as to the truth of its statements. < „ Forgeries of documents relating to officials are not unusual. They are not often easily detected. But their falsity can ordinarily be discovered if there is a determination to discover the truth and no desire to publish anything but the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. , The Course of Empire Less than a year ago, when the Nationalist army was headed toward Peking, many of our more optimistic idealists were in ecstacy over the expectation that the long-suffering Chinese were about to establish for themselves a strong, united and progressive nation. That fine dream months ago went blooey. China remains divided and not far from chaos. The war lords still rule their various spheres. It is an interesting matter of speculation whether China will ever pull herself out of the mud or not. We recall that famous line of Bishop Berkeley’s, “Westward the course of empire takes its way.” China had developed a high civilization while Europe was still a wilderness, thousands of years ago. Empire and civilization have gradually come west and now make their abode in these United States for all Britain’s desperate clutch on their coat-tails. How many centuries before these twin forces will desert us and cross the Pacific? Or will they stay here forever? Many now- living have seen Japan rise to the status of a world power—a dead nation, it would almost seem, risen again. George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, the old German philosopher, said that “China and India lie still outside the world’s history, as the mere presupposition of elements whose combination must be waited for to constitute their vital progress.” Hegel named Persia as “the first empire that passed away” while India and China “perpetuate a natural vegetative existence even to the present time.” Perhaps Hegel felt that China's real chance at the game of empire lay in the future and not the past. One recalls what Berkeley said along with warnings In recent years about “Yellow Peril” and “Rising Tide of Color.” But Aristotle said. “The genius of the Europeans is different from that of the Asiatics, who of all nations are the most patient of despotism.” Historian George Rawlinson reported that “Slow conquests, long struggles of race against race, amalgamations, insensible growth and development of political systems, to which we are habituated in records cf the east, are unknown to the countries lying eastward of the Hellespont .... Rapid, conquest causes no assimilation.” Events of this century have indicated, however, that China, tinder foreign domination, has begun the slow process of assimilation and it may be that the next few hundred years will be most important. Empire and Civilization have been traveling at a fast clip these last two or three hundred years. Corporation Control Many economists, notably Professor Ripley of Harvard, are much concerned about the concentration of corporation control in the hands of small groups not sufficiently responsible to the stockholders. *JThe Senate, by authorizing an investigation' of the Continental Trading Company, is placed in a

The-Indianapolis Times (A SCBIPFS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER) Owned and published dally (except Sunday) by The Indianapolis Times Publlshlnf Cos,. 314-230 W. Maryland Street, Indianapolis. Ind. Price la Marlon County. 2 cents —lO cents a week; elsewhere. 3 cents—l 2 cents a week. BOT^.x°. tRLEY ' ROY W. HOWARD. PRANK O. MORRISON. Ecutor. President, business Manager. PHONE—MAIN 3500. THURSDAY. JAN. 12. 1933. Member of United Press. Scrlppe-Howard Newspaper Alliance. Newspaper Enterprise Association. Newspaper Inlormation Service ana Audit Bureau of Circulations. “Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way.”— Dante.

position to get some evidence on whether or not this C9ncern is well founded. According to the court records, this dummy concern was set up by a small group of' men who used it in such a way as to exact a toll of about $3,000,000 from oil companies of which they were officers. They had the Continental Trading Company, which they controlled, purchase crude oil at $1.25 a barrel for sale at $1.50 a barrel to companies of which they were officers. The Senate investigation is directed primarily to the question of what became of all of the profit from this transaction, a part which appears to have reached former Interior Secretary Fall. The Senate committee may discover what the stockholders of the corporations who were being milked by the Continental Trading Company did about it when they found out about it. If they did nothing, that fact and the reasm: are decidedly worth knowing in view of the persistent alarms about the trend to corporation control. Favorite Son Politics In Ohio That the “favorite son” is one of the popular methods employed by politicians in getting what they want at national convention time has been previously emphasized in these editorial columns. A striking case in point is now developing in Ohio. Senator Frank B. Willis, self-appointed favorite son of that State, is vigorously opposing the idea of Hoover being named as second choice. The Senator takes the position that such an arrangement would be an admission on his part that he cannot be nominated, and is adamant in his insistence that he be given complete control of the Ohio delegation in tile Kansas City convention, his being the sole authority to release that delegation to some cither candidate if and when he chooses. That Willis is not actually taken seriously as a .presidential candidate is one of the plainest phases of the present situation. Despite a notoriously higl seif-appraisal, it is doubtful whether even Willis himself believes lie has a chance—although the memory of how Harding was put over, coupled with the mother-of-Presidents tradition, may have stirred imaginings that the lightning may strike twice in the same place. * However that may be, no political authorities in the party or the press have yet ventured to admit that Willis is even in the running. Serious contenders to date are limited Hoover, Lowden and Dawes. Yet if Willis gets away with his plan of complete control of the Ohio delegation he will possess tremendous power in the national convention—power that in all likelihood will do Willis no good as a presidential candidate, but will make him a large figure in naming the one who is finally nominated, and in matters of patronage that go along with such a nomination. • * So there is what is going on in Ohio. We have a splendid example of professional politics, as the game is played, and of how the professional politicians are ganging against the man who unquestionably, if the general public were left to decide, would be nominated hands down—Herbert Hoover. There is just one corrective—in Ohio and in other States where dog-in-the-manger politics are being played. And that is for the rank and file of voters, the non-professionals, to wake up now, take an interest In who is trying to be President and, by their activity in primary or pre-convention affairs, prevent control by the professionals. Revising the Tariff Those who want to cherish the cheerful view that the United States had made progress toward political intelligence during the last century would do well not to follow the Senate debate on tariff revision. It is a painfully disillusioning performance. Also it is something of a waste of time because the same speeches which are being delivered in the Senate today about the tariff can be found, somewhat better phrased, in the records of Congress a century ago. First, there is a wholesale eulogy of protection, such as that delivered by Senator Smoot. Then there follows a blanket condemnation of such a speech address to a blanket resolution that there should be general downward revision of the tariff. The debate is at once a pathetic and revealing demonstration of the fact that practically economic problems cannot be solved on the appeal to broad principles of the kind .that make good material for political speeches. Virtually all unbiased students of the tariff will argue that there should be downward revision on many commodities. But just as righteous insistence on the entire virtue of the present protective tariff is absurd, so likewise is the claim that all tariff schedules should be lowered. The problem involved is one which calls for the most delicate and discriminating economic study if it is to be intelligently handled. i ■ France is perfectly willing to end wars of aggression, Briand. writes. Do you suppose that fellow has been reading the news from Nicaragua, and must have his little joke? You can’t blame Messrs. Vare and Smith because they’re fighting for seats in the Senate. All who have seen the Senate say its’ almost as good as tha Follies. ,1 | Well, we know it’s winter now. The other day we saw a picture of some girls in bathing suits, running in the spow on the shore of Lake Michigan. 7 " The Chicago ice company that will “handsome, uniformed icemen” must be in league with the cooks to put these electric refrigerators out of business. The a wife can always find things ati home that a husband can’t is because she leaves home later in the day "than he. does. Americanism: Men struggling desperately to get rich; rich widows.—El wood Call. Two can live* as cheaply as one until the bills start coming in.—Peru Tribune. i . .

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

BRIDGE ME ANOTHER (Copyright. 1927. by The Ready Reference Publishing Company.) BY W. W. WENTWORTH

(Abbreviations: A—ace;; K—king; Q —queen; J—jack; X—any card lower than 10.) If When you hold K J X X X, how many outside quick tricks are necessary to bid it initially? 2. To pre-empt in a major, how ‘many should you bid? 3. To pre-empt in a minor, how many should you bid? The Answers 1. Two. 2. At least three. 3. At least four.

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 woras wIU receive preference. To the Editor: Checking up on the Indianapolis schools for the year 1927 as a merchant does his business, it is difficult to find jftiythiry; on the side of gains, but much in the column of losses. In the death of L. D. Owens, director of civics, the school system lost one of its most conscientious, untiring workers, loved alike by coworkers and pupils. A man true to his calling, kindly, courteous and helpful. The removal of E. U. Graff as superintendent, an experienced, progressive man, for no other cause or reason than the squaring of a campaign pledge to the Ku-Klux Klan, was not only a loss, but a disgrace and an insult to the schools and the city at large. The recent action cf the board in abolishing the positions of assistant superintendents marks one of the heaviest losses to the schools, and savors strongly of more political pledges. An action that strikes far beyond the pe6ple and position in question, reaching into the homes of Indianapolis through its effect upon our children. Uniess men and women of the highest standards and attainments in the profession are obtained, our boys and girls are the ones who suffer the consequences. Any business to be successful must have experienced, capable people at the helm. When school officials of the caliber of Messrs. Graff, Weir, Thornton, and Miss Drake are dismissed with no reason given to the people of Indianapolis, we are wondering what really counts with the present board of school commissioners. Mr. Miller is no doubt a good school man. but can he or any other successfully handle a system the size of Indianapolis single-handed? Time was when her schools were the pride of Indianapolis. Her boara members and teaching force were chosen, regardless of religion or politics, with only the best interests of her children at heart. Until the citizens of Indianapolis awake to the present situation of her schools. They will continue to find their educational losses heavily overbalancing the gains. INTERESTED.

Questions and Answers

„. y° u can get an inswcr to any answerable Question of fact or informaMmi "'tins to Frederick M Kerb^ m Qu^tlon or . The • Indiananolls WashBureau. 1322 New York Ave D v C • enclosing two cent's ”1, s „ t 2 n }P s for reply. Medical and legal advice cannot be given, nor can extended research be made. All other Questions will receive a personal replv Unsigned reouests cannot he answered! lletters ere conndential. You ere cordially invited to make use of this free service as often as vou please. __ EDITOR. How many different species are recognized in the plant kingdom and how are they classified? According to Bailey’s Cyclopedia of Horticulture the number of species in the plant kingdom is not definitely known. It has been estimated that more than 120,000 species of Spermatophyta and more than 60,000 species of lower plants are described. According to the treatment of Engler and Prantl, these are classified in 640 families of which 278 are higher plants and 362 of plants below the Spermatophyta. The number of known species, however, is being rapidly increased as research and exploration progress, so that the numbers given are at best only approximate. The figures are also modified by disagreement as to what are species and what are varieties, some authorities recognizing more or fewer species than others in a given group or genus. How was the Czechoslovak Republic formed? It was organized during the World War and formally proclaimed Oct. 29, 1918. In it are the Czechs who occupied Bohemia, Moravia and Southern Silesia .which were formerly under Austrian rule and Slovakia which, was part of northern Hungary, occupying an area of nearly 50,000 square miles. Czechoslovakia is bounded by Germany and Poland on the north and Austria and Hungary on the south .with the ranges of Bohemian Forest, the Erzgebirgo and the Riosenbergo on the west and northwest, and the Carpathians on the northeast. What quota of immigrants does the United States allot to the Dominion of Canada? There is no numerical limitation on the number of native born Canadian immigrants coming to the United States. Other nationals or naturalized Canadians emigrating from Canada are charged against the quotas of the country where they were born. What parts did Tom Mix take in the pictures “The Riders of the Purple Sage” and “The Rainbow Trail?” He played “Jim Lassiter” in “Riders of the Purple Sage” and “John Shefford” in “The Rainbow Trail.” What are the proper temperatures for slow, moderate and fast ovenst Slow oven from 250 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit; moderate oven 350 to 400 degrees; hot oven, from 400 to 450 degrees.

The Cart’s Running Away With the Horse %

Caesar —Friend of the Common People

T>Y this time Caesar had held various offices, —priest, quaestor praetor—financed in every candidacy by Crassus, his wealthy friend. The road to office in those days lay through the provision of great festivals and spectacles designed to win the favor of the people; by paying the expenses of gladiatorial games one won the privilege of serving Rome. Personally. Caesar did not care for these bloody contests, and showed his scorn of them by reading or writing while the butchery went on. Soon the Senate came to fear his popularity. When an alliance between Pompey and Caesar—therefore between the middle classes and the simpler citizens—seemed imminent, Senatorial gossips carefully spread the story that Caesar had seduced Mucia, Pompey’s wife. Pompey. agreeing with Caesar about the double standard, sent Mucia a writ of divorce. But on returning from Asia he renewed his friendship with Caesar, and sealed it by marrying Caesar’s daughter Julia, v, In 59 B. C„ with the support of Ppmpey, Caesar was elected consul. His first act was to- establish the “Acta Diuma,” a daily bulletin, publishing the doings or the Senate; he trusted that this publicity would go some slight way in lessening corruption. Then he proposed a bill distribut-

(Richmond Palladium) (Independent) Again D. C. Stephenson, erstwhile k!an leader and now a convict. rattles Indiana's political skeleton. This time it is an amazing story about violation of the Indiana banking laws, presumably by those entrusted with their enforcement and those who are connected with the State department. The crash of a trust company at Kokomo is responsible for his latest contribution to the expose of corrupt conditions, which one by one are coming to light. That the nefarious influence of klan domination of State government may have invaded the banking department, which the latest statement of Stephenson is assumed to have indicated, is no cause for surprise. Klan leaders and politicians affiliated with them in the gigantic plot to dominate the State government and loot the public treasury, one may safely infer, would not overlook an opportunity to make a profit if the chance were offered in that department. They tried to debauch the State highway commission, and when the attempt was wrecked against the integrity of John Williams and Earl Crawford, the plotters unsuccessfully tried to besmirch the characters of these men by bringing false indictments of graft against them. They were bent on ruling the State for their private gain and were willing to go the limit to gain their ends. Homer R. Miller, prosecutor of Howard County, says Stephenson asserted more than twenty men were party to a plot' to control certain State money, and told hew they obtained commissions from banks and trust companies on deposits which the State allotted to them. Developments will show whether Stephenson’s story is the truth or a fabrication. The probability is that it is true. If true, it should occasion ijp surprise. The only surprise is the concealment which has kept it under cover for so many months. And that may be explained by the resourcefulness and fear of the men who are implicated in the plot. Violations of the banking laws entail serious consequences. Men guilty of shaking the confidence of the public tti financial institutions are not prone to advertise their venality or to broadcast it widely. Their chief concern is to keep the violations securely,under cover. Friends of good government in Indiana have known for more than a year that the • task of cleaning house would be a herculean one; a campaign of attrition.

THE STORY OF CIVILIZATION

Written for The Times by Will Durant

ing state lands among the soldiers and the proletariat, and ordered that state lands recently sold to rich men at low prices should be repurchased at the same price, and included in the redistribution. It was an unselfish policy, farsighted in statesmanship; for while it sent from Rome the very men whose votes were Caesar’s for the asking and on whom he depended for election to office, it aimed to relieve unemployment in the capital, to restore the decadent countryside and enable the state to recapture some of its ancient health and strength. But the Senate refused even to consider the bill; they called it an attack upon property; their idea was that the fruits of every contest should go to the Senate, while the soldiers were sent off to face new hardships and win for their masters new spoils. tt tt it ALL through the year the senate opposed Caesar's bills, and Bibulous piously pronounced the season holy, too sacred for legislation: but in every case Caesar went directly to the people, put his bills through the assembly, and set about resolutely to enforce them. These laws became known as the “leges juliae,” and marked an epoch in the history of Rome. They aimed with offensive directness to put an end to corruption in the judiciary, in the treasury, in the

What Other Editors Think

a slow process of dislodging a grafter and looter here and there, a tedious struggle of many months until every detail of the gigantic plot finally was uncovered and exposed. But piece by piece the whole sordid story of Indiana’s political corruption is coming to light. The Kokomo revelation merely confirms rumors and reports that have been heard in many parts of the State. (Shelbyvllle Republican) George E. Hershman of Crown Point, vice chairman of the State highway commission, has announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor. Mr. Hershman talks' about “invisible government,” about the “suppression of' the constitution,” facts he has gleaned as a State official. If Mr. Hershman knows that conditions in the State administration are bad he should have said so long ago, in fact he should have “told it all” to the Marion County grand jury a year ago. He should also remember that any man who conspires to conceal crime is liable to indictment and severe punishment if found guilty. If Hershman has been suppressing knowledge of crime for over two years he should be examined by the grand jury forthwith. (Muncic Pres* (Republican) The accusation against Ruth Elder, the aviatrix, that she was indiscreet with a young man evangelist four years ago when she was but seventeen, are not even very important if they were true, and at this late date they will find little credence from any source, except from those who take vicious delight in playing the part of hyenas. All these years no effort has been made to accuse this young woman, but now because of her spectacular ocean flight she has become a national character and is said to be making SI,OOO a day by capitalizing her fame. So long as she was poor nobody seemed to care anything about her morals one way or the other, but now that she is becoming well-to-do, the village sharks are after her—or her money. The depressing thing about a situation of this kind is that even though Miss Elder may be as innocent as a baby, and no proof to the contrary can be brought, the damage to her name already has been done and there is no suitable recourse on her part against her enemies. If it were true, who but a human vulture would’seek to destroy the reputation of a girl for an act

tern oles. in the elections, in public contracts, and in provincial administration. All governors, were to be required henceforth to bond their estates before taking office in the provinces; and any peculation found in their career by a strict investigation was to be redeemed by the confiscation cf their property at heme. - , To end violence at election time, these laws made ineligible for office any man v.-ho should lay hands on any official cr candidate. The constructive impartiality of Caesar went so far as to legislate against adultery. Seldom has any man done so much in one year of leadership. Not only were these fundamental laws enacted, but Caesar found the time with moneys secured from his angel, Crassus. to beautify Rome with splendid temples, avenues and colonnades. „ His term expiring, and being by law ineligible for re-election within ten years, he secured for himself an appointment as governor of Gaul. “For my part.” he said. “I had rather be first in Gaul than second in Rome.” When he left for his new tasks, the people mourned, and the aristocracy sighed with relief. The Senate, which had refused to support his legislation, resumed its sittings, and plotted his death. (To Be Continued) (Copyright. 1927, by Will Durant)

committed when she was seventeen unless it was a crime that resulted in the injury of others? The best indication that the story is false and merely the yarn of small town gossips and busybodies, is that nothing has been done about it for four years and not even then until the girl was thought to be in possession of money. Unless these character assassins can prove their charges, they should be prosecuted for slander or upon a more serious charge if one can be found. Nothing that could be done to them in suph event would be severe enough to fit the case.

TIAILIK ‘|d[ IR It 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 on 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 can not be chaiiged.

j Iqlhln J__o AN Mo_an. Milo" R N MOII& MAR. V u ~— ■' i .I. ,1

•VAN. 12, 1928

M. E. TRA C Y SAYS: “The Average Murderer in America Does Not .Run More Than One Chance in Twenty-Five or Thirty of Being Executed; Such Odds Are Enough to Relieve His Mind of Terror.”

Governor Smith has refused to save Mrs. Snyder and Henry Judd Gray from the electric chair, just as most people thought he would. Though such a decision was in strict keeping with his oatli of office, though it may satisfy his reason to leave his conscience clear, it still reveals strength of character. Like every humane man, his instinct was to be merciful. Besides that, he was subjected to the usual pressure. What that pressure must have been is indicated by the fact that no less than twenty-five women have written the warden of Sing Sing offering to die in Mrs. Snyder's place. tt tt tt Against Death in Chair Though he has put more than 100 criminals to death, the warden of Sing Sing, does not believe in capital punishment. He says that capital punishment is not a deterrent, and asks “what explanation is there of the fact that several counties in New York State had no murder convictions for a number of years, some of them for long periods, yet when the first conviction for murder occurred, with the subsequent execution of the murderer at Sing Sing, it was immediately followed by a number of murders?” He also points out that “in Massachusetts twenty witches were executed in the short space of six months,” and that, “when they quit killing witches, witches ceased to exist.” tt tt tt One Chance in Thirty * The trouble with all of the arguments either for or against capital punishment is that they are based on isolated facts and incomplete. Insofar as crime has increased, re-, gardless of capital punishment, capital punishment is a failure, but insofar as capital punishment has not been consistently or uniformly enforced, this means little. No matter what we say, the average murderer in America does not run more’ than one chance in twen-ty-five or thirty of being executed. Such odds are enough to relieve his mind of terror. If we were to hang or electrocute every murderer over a period of twenty-five years, we might be able to say with some degree of accuracy what effect capital unisnment had. As things now stand, we know practically nothing about its effect, or the effect of any other kind of punishment, because the law is so whimsically enforced.

Huge Crime Increase Quite a few States have abolished capital punishment. Quite a few others enforce it very rarely, though it is still sanctioned by law. In practically no State has capital punishment been inflicted with anything like consistency. Some States have gone to extremes in the opposite direction, granting pardons by wholesale, establishing honor farms and setting up probation systems that include little but unrestrained liberty. So far as actual results are concerned, no one can tell how any particular method .works in comparison with another, because no reliable statistics or studies are available. The only fact that every one seems willing to admit is that there has been an enormous increase of crime in this country; that in no other civilized country are there as many thieves, murderers and forgers to one thousand people, and that in spite of all the innovations and experiments we seem unable to improve the situation, and that no one knows why. B tt Accept Law as Science' It is about time that we accepted the law and its enforcement as a science, instead of a high-class debating society. We have plenty of pleas, speeches and precedents to fall back on, but mighty few facts. We find out what this judge decided, or that lawyer said in most any important case, but what became of the characters? What are our ex-convicts doing, and how many are there? Os the first offenders, how many repeat? Why do some repeat, while others do not? Os those offenders who commit a second offense, how many copimit a third oi\a fourth? The big trouble with our system of justice is that we do not know what is has accomplished, much less why. We have paid too much attention to the mill and not enough to the grist. BUB Unfinished Cases Crime is the one problem we are still trying to solve by argument. In all others we depend on investigation and are guided by results. The history of crime and its treatment is a history of unfinished cases. Outside of those who are executed we do not know what becomes of the victims. The penalties we provide for various offenses, their effect on the offenders and society, the idea of whether they are just or unjust and everything else connected with the system is mainly a matter of guesswork. You can go through the thousands of reports that have been compiled, the encyclopedias, digests, treaties and statutes, and find little of a convincing nature to show what results the administration of justice has actually produced.