Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 228, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 January 1928 — Page 4

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The Gangsters’ Threat Make no mistake about the effort of the six councilmen who are now attempting to throw L. Ert Slack out of the office of mayor. It is the gangsters who want the city hall—and plunder. It is the gangsters who are dismayed to find it no longer possible to operate their gambling games, their pillage of the weak, their forays upon the people’s money by diverse and divers ways. These councilmen who now attempt to remove Slack from the office into which he was placed three months ago have long since surrendered any claim to public confidence. Some of them are under indictment. Some of them were charged by John Duvall, who told much after he had been deserted by his former followers, with having blackmailed him for money and jobs in order to prevent his own impeachment. Duvall was not in the position which Slack holds. He could not successfully face impeachment charges, which is the only legal and proper way a city council can remove a mayor. When Slack was suddenly put into the office of mayor these councilmen undoubtedly expected that he would be grateful for the job. They evidently did not understand that man. Fate had watched over Indianapolis in that moment of election. For a moment Destiny took charge and led the crew of petty pillagers into an act which they now regret. Does any one suppose that if Slack had placed their incompetent relatives in jobs, had turned over to dishonest grafters the large positions, had permitted the protected gamblers to thrive as they had thriven in the past that these councilmen would now be trying to remove him from office? What single act of the Slack administration ean these unspeakable men who control the council while standing in the shadow of the Criminal Courts charge as a reason for their abrupt determination to get rid of him? What has been the crime of Slack that these wien should now be so anxious to have him set aside and some other man placed in the mayor’s office? His crime has been, to their eyes, that he has served all the people and put a note of decency into the public affairs of Indianapolis. His offense has been that he has made it impossible for those stealthy, secret bargains with violators of law to be consummated. His triumph has been that he has conquered the inevitable suspicion that attached to his entrance to an office through the votes of some of these men who now turn upon him. It is significant that the first attack upou Slack by the members of the city council came shortly after he had read to that body his declaration that public gambling in this city must cease and that there must be destroyed that bond between the underworld of gangsters and the city government o* Indianapolis. It is significant that ftie rage of these vermin was turned upon him after he had proved that he meant what he said by driving back to their holes those who preyed in the dark upon the weak and the unfortunate. That bond between the gamblers and the government was evidently a strong thing, not to be broken lightly. So the people must understand that the fight is not between the city council and Mayor Slack, but is an attack by gangsters upon government. It remains to be seen whether the decent and orderly citizens will stand idly by and pernit this conspiracy to succeed. It is time for another gang to be formed, a *eal gang of the honest, the law-abiding, the Jecent. It is time for the stable citizenship to assert itself. It is time for the decent to declare that they will not stand for the machinations of the degraded. Os course, these councilmen do not act for themselves. Back of them are forces that are powerful and evil. Back of them are scheming men w T ho want power and plunder. The attack of these councilmen should have one immediate result. It should solidify behind Mayor Slack all the decent men and women of this city who want Indianapolis to be a decent and a growing city. It is a fine personal compliment to Slack, but it is a dangerous thing for Indianapolis when these councilmen attack and harass him. Has the civic conscience been sufficiently aroused to rebel against infamies and to take a bold strong stand for decent government? How soon can the civic societies and the public organizations meet to show that any •effort of this sort will be resented and pre vented ? Senator Walsh Is Smart In the earlier days of our country, there was no man who could win the admiration and good-will of his fellow citizens like the man who was “smart,” in the frontier vernacular—the man who shrewdly kept his wits about him and never, by whatever smooth-tongued talker, could be hoodwinked. That sentiment is not quite so strong now. If it were, we believe that one of the most admired men

The Indianapolis Times (A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER) Owned and published daily (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. B °XD GIJRLEY, ROY W. HOWARD. FRANK G. MORRISON, Editor. President. Business Manager. PHONE—MAIN 3500. \ TUESDAY, JAN. 31, 1928. Member of United Press, Scrlpps-Howard Newspaper Alliance, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Newspaper Info rmatlon Service and Audit Bureau of Circulations. “Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Wa y.”—Dante.

in the country would be the well known senator from Montana, Thomas J. Walsh. Ever since he began investigating the Teapot Dome business four years ago, Senator Walsh has displayed this quality strongly. But he never showed it so much as he did the other day in connection with his desire to question Col. Robert W. Stewart, chairman of the Standard Oil of Indiana. Colonel Stewart was in Havana, and his counsel appeared for him. When Senator Walsh remarked t<hat he would like to have Stewart appear at once,, the lawyer expressed his regrets, but said that the colonel was very, very busy in Havana on matters of great import—“matters which I would prefer not to divulge.” Another man than Walsh might have sighed “too bad” and bowed to fate. But not Walsh. Instead he picked up a sheaf of Havana newspapers and glanced through them. He read*aloud.various articles In the society columns—articles which told how the chairman of the Standard Oil of Indiana was gracing countless Havana social functions with his presence, attending dinners at the yacht and Jockey clubs, going to this fiesta and that, behaving, in short, exactly like a man who is thoroughly enjoying a vacation. Senator Walsh read these articles. Then he sat and looked at the lawyer for a moment. Then he said: I think that without further discussion you would better cable Colonel Stewart that the Senate committee on public lands expects his prompt attendance before it. Is that understood?” The lawyer agreed that it was. And that was that. Avery, very sharp chap, this Montana senator. What a name he would have had in the old days, when caginess was properly admired! The Dreamer Damrosch 1 Not a birthday dinner to a celebrity, but a dis- j tinct civic event marking progress and appreciation, was the dinner given to the great Walter Damrosch, master musician and greater dreamer. Looking into the years to come when machinery shall have reduced the working hours of mankind to two hours a day, when power shall have supplanted muscle and all material wants be satisfied by the pressing of a button, Damrosch asks what shall be done to fit mankind to use the hours of leisure which are now hours of drudgery and toil. And through music he finds the avenue not to mere passinf pleasure, but to joy. Music, he says, is the language of emotions. And through an appreciation of music he finds the avenue to turn the minds and emotions into pathways that uplift and do not destroy, into realms that are delightful and not decadent. What resources have you within yourself to satisfy your soul if you were compelled to live away from your work, through an economic determinism, for twenty-two of the twenty-four hours a day? Where would your thoughts turn? What outlet would your emotions have. In this city the great musician pteid tribute, highly deserved, to Ona B. Talbott for making it possible to enjoy real music and for creating a deeper and more general appreciation of true art than is found in other places. The thought of Damrosch and the explanation of his purposes links the dreams of all the yesterdays ] with the hopes of all the tomorrows. A man got life for murdering, a little girl in Michigan. We are wonder how the man who got the same sentence for having a pint of gin feels about this. The reason why some of our ancestors came to America was to catch fish. The movement has continued and now is popular among many of the decayed European nobility.

Midnight Nominations BY N. D. Cochran

It is not strange that the peopfe want one kind of a president and the politicians another, nor is it strange that the politicians generally get what they want and the people get left. The people want a president whose administration will be good for them, and the politicians want one who will play the game with the professionals and for their benefit. An ideal situation for the professionals is a deadlock in convention that will prevent the nomination of a popular favorite, tire the delegates out with long balloting and wind up by a few self appointed leaders getting together in a hotel room, trading back and forth and finally agreeing upon a candidate who will play the game of give and take with them. The Republican convention of 1920 is a good illustration of this game. What Harry Daugherty predicted in advance of the convention is what actually happened. The bunch finally got in a hotel room and long after midnight picked Harding, who up to the last day didn’t appear to have a look-in. And we all know how the game was played during the Harding administration and how some of the bargains made that night—particularly that about oil and the naval reserves—were carried out. We are still hearing from those bargains in the efforts to bring Doheny, Sinclair and Fall to book at Washington. There are indications now that the professionals are at it again. As many candidates as can be tempted into the race are being trotted out so as to hold delegates pledged to favorite sons away from Hoover, the popular candidate with the rank and file, so that finally, after heading off Hoover, the bosses can get together in midnight conference, make their bargains for dividing up the loaves and fishes and put over a candidate who will play their game. There are some genuine favorite sons, of course. Curtis of Kansas may be in this class. Even Senator Willis of Ohio may have serious intentions and may think the lightning may come his way as it did Harding’s in 1920. But nobody else takes him seriously or considers that he has an outside chance —even the professionals from Ohio who favor a Willis delegation. But even though he hasn’t a chance, that Ohio delegation is a fine block to play with when that midnight meeting in the hotel room is held. Lowden is a serious candidate, but he never will be nominated. The boys that play the game know that, and they are willing for Dawes, from the same State, to play along with Lowden and then inherit the Lowden strength after Lowden has played out his string. If the Lorimer bank scandal bobs up and upsets the Dawes game, they will have another Harding in the background all ready for the midnight conference. Hoover is undoubtedly the man the rank and file want. The hope on Democratic success lies in the defeat of Hoover and in a victory at the Republican convention of the professionals who will meet at midnight after stopping Hoover. That would be Smith’s opportunity.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

BRIDGE ME ANOTHER (Copyright, 1928, 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.) 1. What is a discouraging discard? 2. What is denoted by discouraging discard? 3. If you do not hold any trumps, when should you lead a singleton first round? The Answers 1. Six or lower of anotlfcr suit than led. 2. Weakness in suit discarded. 3. Only when your partner has declared the suit.

Times Readers Voice Views

The name and address ol the author must accompany every contribution, but on request will not be published. Letters not exceeding 200 words wiU receive preference. To the Editor: The Indianapolis Water Company has for some time been advocating the installation of water meters and their claim is that these meters will cheapen the cost of water providing there are no leaks in the plumbing. My experience has been that the cost is higher due to various reasons, one probably being that the change in temperature seems to affect the meter, always making it run faster, another reason being that the meter is not read exactly one month from date of preceding reading which runs the bill up for that particular month and the overlapping of dates is always in their favor. • The people of Indianapolis who are on the flat rate should not allow themselves to be misled by this propaganda which eventually will lead to higher rates in addition to the above. * I would like to see comments from others on this subject. TIMES READER.

Mr. Fixit Property Owners Should File Petition With Works Board for New Sidewalk.

Let Mr. Fixit, The Times’ representative at city hall, present your troubles to city officials. Write Mr. Fixit at The Times. Names and addresses which must be given will not be published. Necessity of anew cement walk along Seventeenth St., between Colleges Ave. and Bellefontaine St., was pointed out today by a correspondent of Mr. Fixit. Dear Mr. Fixit: Last spring I got up a petition to have old brick sidewalk taken up and cement ones placed next to the curb along Seventeenth St., from College Ave. east to Bellefontaine St., thereby making it uniform with the walk from College west. We had three who signed for it and four property owners against. This threw it out. One party who signed against it has since sold her property to a real estate man. I am not asking that the improvement be made at this time to "beautify” the street as before but as a NECESSITY. On bad days from Ashland Ave. to College, the south side of the street is almost impassable. The alley is dangerous and on snowy or slippery days it has been the cause of persons receiving falls. My wife recently was struck by an auto as a result. I will have to pay as much as the expense as anyone and will be glad to pay my share. E. H. You should submit anew petition bearing names of the majority of property owners to the board of works, asking that the improvements be made at this time. Mr. Fixit could not aid you in this matter, as it is necessary for the board to have the petition on file before it can consider the project. What is meant by “displacement” of a ship? It is the usual standard by which vessels are measured and means the weight of water measured in tons, displaced by a ship at her load draft.

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Lucretius Adopts Epicurus’ Theory

SO he looks about him for a system of thought that will rid man of fear for the hereafter; as others long for supernatural consolidation and assurance, so Lucretius longs for a naturalistic philosophy, a world withotu ghosts to hover over the head of man. And he believes that Epicurus, 300 years before, gave such a healing philosophy to mankind; and since Epicurus did not disdain to borrow from Democrituc, Lucretius will be content to mould his thought upon that of Epicurus, to whom he makes obeisance reverently: "Not from myself, poor souls with fear outdone. Not from myself I have It. but from one At whose approach the lamps of all the wise Fade and go out like stars before the sun/ So he will expound and adapt Epicurus: “for soon as thy philosophy proclaims the nature of things, the terrors of the mind are dispelled, the walls of the dark part asunder, and I see things in operation throughout space.” It is a great subject, embracing all the world of scienc# and religion in its web; he feels timidly bold in attempting it, and yet his blcod tingles with the zest of daring to carve in verse' so difficult a theme. “Sweet love of the Muses, with which now inspired I traverse in flowering thought pathless haunts never yet trodden by the foot of man! I love to approach the untasted springs and to quaff, I love to cull fresh flowers and gather for my head a distinguished crown from spots whence the Muses have yet veiled the brows of none. “First because I teach of great things and essay to release the minds from the chains of religious fear, and then because on a dark subject I pen such lucid verses over laying all with the Muses’ charm. "So I now, since my teaching

Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel (Republican) Claude Bowers, Jim Reed and William G. McAdoo, each in his own way, all have recommended that the Democratic party return to the principles of Jefferson and Jackson. It is really encouraging to find so many Democrats discovering, even if belatedly, what is the matter with the Democratic party—simply this, that it is not now, and for long has not been, anything like the party of its founders. Unfortunately, we find little evidence that it ever will be again. There are too many bigoted Tom Heflins riding in the high saddles of the Solid South to permit the rejuvenation of the socalled democracy until there has first been a complete reorganization and re-dedication in party generals’ tents, to set forth, as general orders, a mandate for the banishment of intolerance and reactionary prejudice. Kokomo Dispatch (Democratic) The political anfratuosities of the great brain of Senator James E. Watson were again well emphasized Thursday evening when the senior Senator from Indiana voted to seat Frank L. Smith of Illinois. Although sixty-one Senators—more than a two-thirds majority —voted to declare vacant the seat sought by Smith, Senator Watson became inoculated with the State’s rights” bug to such an extent that he was blind to the real issues at stake. It must be wonderful to be constitutionally gifted like Senator “Jim.” Situations that might otherwise prove embarrassing to one less nimble cf conscience, become easy and even compelling to him. Thus it will be, that although Smith was elected by means of

What the Doctor Ordered

THE STORY OF CIVILIZATION

Written for The Times by Will Durant

will seem bitter, and the multitude shrinks back from it in dismay, have resolved to o’erlay it with the pleasant honey of my verse.” Yes, it is pleasant honey, solid and rich, and as we sip we forgive the honest egotism of the genius that distilled it. This Latin of these lines is rude yet, a generation must pass before the language of the Romans will be polished into rhythm and refinement by Cicero’s vain and careful pen. But the feminine grace of the great orator yields to these masculine hexameters, these picturesque unwanted adjectives, these stately verbs and sonorous substantives. And beneath the honey of the verse lies one of the profound and imperfect philosophies of all time; as we listen we are transported into the garden of Epicurus, and hear the laughter of Democritus, and feel ourselves in the company of the Epicurean gods. # a a FOR there are gods, Lucretius tells us; but they are too courteous to interfere with the world or man; they sit in idle grace and careless happiness in some airy realm afar, and are content to see the universe as an esthetic spectacle, without seeking vo subject it to their whims. And besides, how could thought direct so vast and intricate a world? “Who can rule the sun, who can hold in his hands, with controlling force, the strong reins of the immeasurable deep? Who can at once make all the diverse heavens to roll, and warm with ethereal fires all the fruitful earths or be present everywhere always, to bring darkness with clouds and shake with noise the serene expanse of heaven, to hurl the lightning and at times strike down his own temples?” No, it is a world without creation and without design; the cause of every intent is inherent in the na-

What Other Editors Think

a huge slush fund, our own eloquent “Jim” will be able to come back and face the people of Indiana with a very plausible defense of his hectic course. The rights of States become very sacred when Senator “Jim” gets his back to the wall. Muncle Press. (Republican) Unfavorable comment is being expressed by Indiana newspapers over the inspired publicity that is being given out in Governor Jackson’s behalf before he goes to trial on a charge of conspiring to bribe former Governor Warren T. McCray. Special attention is called to a rabid defense of the governor distributed to Indiana newspapers by a Noblesville publisher, to an article sent out a few weeks ago by Jackson himself, and to a talk over a radio given recently by the Governor. Now Governor Jackson will have his day in court, several of them, in fact, beginning February 7. There he will be tried, presumably by a fair-minded and unprejudiced jury that will weigh all the evidence carefully, and by a presiding judge selected only after a great deal of difficulty. No propaganda now put out in newspapers either for or against the Governor should have any weight for the reason that it could not be based upon all the evidence in this important case. Governor Jackson is not surrounded by a ring of enemies. On the other hand it doubtless would be pleasing to the vast majority of Hoosiers to know that he is not guilty of the grave offe lse with which he is charged. The state has been so disgraced by other public officers and their allies that its people do not look joyfully upon the conviction of their governor, especially if there be reas-

ture of things; and nothing more is needed for the explanation of the world than these “three eternal things—atoms and space and law.” Matter is eternal and indestructible: “things cannot be born from nothing and cannot be brought back to nothing.” And yet there is also a “void,” or space; for if there were not, how could things move? . “Voices pass through walls and fly through shut houses; and the stiffening frost pierces to the bones. If there are no void parts, by what way could these bodies pass? When a thing is as large as another, but lighter, surely it is because it has more void in it." Matter, then, consists of atoms vibrating in the nooks and crannies of the “void;” and this restless “Brownian” movement goes on in everything forever. > Observe whenever the rays are let in, and pour the sunlight through the dark chambers of houses; you will see many minute bodies mingling, in this apparent void, in the light of the rays, as in never-ending conflict they skirmish and battle in martial order, driven apart in frequent meetings and partings; from which you may guess how the first beginnings of things tossed about in the primeval void. “Again, when mighty, legions waging the mimicry of war fill with their movements all the plain, the glitter of it lifts itself to the sky, and the whole earth gleams with brass, and from below rises the noise of the tramping, re-echo the voices to the stars of heaven. “And yet there is some spot on the high hills from which all these moving men seem to stand still and merely to shine as a spot of brightness on the plains.” (Copyright, 1928. by Will Durant) (To Be Continued)

onable doubt of his guilt. But the people do not wish him to escape punishment if he is guilty, merely because he is the governor, and they do not wish him to be tried by a committee of his own press agents. Richmond Palladium (Independent) Federal aid for the construction of the George Rogers Clark memorial, paying a tardy tribute to one of the great military heroes of the United States, should be forthcoming without the necessity of long haggling' and argument to convince Congress of the Justice of his claim to thankful recognition by his countrymen. Opponents of the plan to erect a memorial to General Clark at Vincennes have asserted that Indiana should do this of its own accord without help from the Government. If this great soldier of the revolutionary period had achieved something with significance, only so far as it pertains to Indiana with its present geographical boundaries, there might be some reason to entertain that view. But General Clark is far more than a historical character with an Indiana background. What he achieved at Vincennes had significance in the acquisition of the entire Middle West. His scene of operations was in the States of Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana, but it was at Vincennes where he gained the victory which forced the withdrawal of the British from vast sections of the Northwest territory. The fruits of his victory had national importance. Federal participation in the project which, of course, could be carried out by Indiana alone, would be a national recognition of an achievement that helped the Nation in its formative period.

JAN. 31, 1923:

M. E. TRACY SAYS: “The Advantages of a Career Should Be Measured Not by What It Offers at SO, but by What It Offers at 50, 60 or 70.”

Between 15 and 25 life is just one puzzle after another. That is the age in which the mysteries of romance, religion and a career crowd in upon us. That is the time when we turn to racy books, glorify cynicism and think of white-collar jobs. Thanks to the influence of Freud, philosophy has come to regard sex appeal as the explanation, but the novelty of it all Is a very important factor. Between 15 and 25 young people suddenly discover not only that they are men and women, but that they are individuals whom society will rate according to what they can do for it. u it tt Climb Too Fast Putting aside romance and religion, the choosing of a career is the biggest question mark on the horizon of youth. What to do and how much It will pay, forms the chief topic of conversation. Parents and friends take a hand in solving the riddle, Generally speaking, those acquaintances who have made a success, especially a quick success, are held up as the best models to accept. Too little attention Is paid to the personal talents and traits of the boy or girl whose life is being charted. The big idea Is for them to Imitate someone who has climbed fasti whether they are fit to do so or not, a u Quickest the Best? Another Idea that enters thd picture is that the quickest way to the top necessarily is the best way. Those trades and professions which promise large rewards within a few years have become very popular. Many people appear to have lost sight of the axiomatic truth that happiness depends more on growth than any other element, that it is not to be found in getting somewhere so much as in going ahead. The advantages of a career should be measured not by what it offers at 30, but by what is offers at 50, 60 or 70. If satisfaction in life hinges on one thing more than another, it is on the idea that today is better than yesterday and that tomorrow will be better than today. When that idea fades out of the picture; when people are on the down-grade and know it; when they have to live on memories and reminiscences, without any hope that they can do as well, much less better than they have, life loses its thrill. a tt tt A Lasting Career The career that counts is the lasting career, the one that will stay with you, and the one that you will be willing to stay with. The first thing to consider is whether you are fitted to pursue it, and you can be pretty sure that you are not unless it is of such a nature that you would be willing to look it in the face every day in the year for half a century, to sleep with it nights, and to consider it worth while in spite of all the drudgery and difficulties it involves. You can be pretty sure, too, that it is not what you want unless you see how it can be carried on and made better after the prime of life, a tt a Retiring Defies Nature 1 Too many young folks are not only thinking of careers by which they can achieve success quickly, but which will enable them to retire and live happily ever afterward. That probably is the worst piece of illusionment that has crept into our outlook. There is no satisfaction In retire-*

ment, especially at an early age. Nature did not intend anything of the kind, and when you defy nature you take a pretty big risk. The happy people are those who can go on with their work. People who have found it necessary to step aside because of the peculiar character of their trade, or the fact that they have made enough money to do so, are not only miserable themselves, but make others miserable. ft n n Get There and Stay 1 The idea of getting to the top Is fine, but the idea of staying there is finer. Gladstone was a better man at 80 than he was at 60 or 40. Jack Dempsey is through in hi* early thirties. Walter Scott did his best work after 40. So did Burbank, Shakes*, peare and many others. Sports and the movies offer quick returns, but they include quics. fade-outs. The star of today may make a million dollars a year. Where will that star be at 70? , The desirability of retaining physical and mental health should Lvs taken into account in choosing k career. Admitting that it is of such a nature as will enable you to grow ir it indefinitely, is it of such a nature* as will keep you fit to grow? Can you do the work it calls for, and live the life, without becoming flabby? What is paradichlorobenzenc ao<4 how is it used to 1011 moths? It is a white crystalline substance which vaporizes slowly at ordinary temperatures, forming a gas apparently heavier than air. This gas is non-poisonous to man. The fumes do not injure fabrics. It is similar in general appearance to naphthalene flakes and is apparently quite as effective when used according to directions. What is the value of a rupee in j American money? I The par value is 48.66 cents; thM average exchange value during Sepjß tember was 36.44 cents. M