Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 248, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 February 1928 — Page 4

PAGE 4

JCHI PPS-HOWAJt*

“Revenue Agents” The Federal prohibition authorities have adopted as-a settled policy the practice of using the internal revenue laws of 1875 in enforcing prohibition. These laws were designed to give the Federal Government supervision of the manufacture and sale of beer, ■whisky and other liquors, all of which were heavily taxed, and for the handling of which Government licenses were required. The laws were regarded as necessary, although their penalties were severe, and they permitted agents without warrants to enter places where liquor was being manufactured or sold to inspect licenses. The laws also permitted confiscation and destruction of property without the usual processes, under certain conditions. Revenue agents weve charged with enforcement of these laws. A revenue agent was just what his title implied, a representative of the Government, whose business it w ; as to see that those who made and purveyed liquor paid their proper taxes—revenuein to the Federal Government. Now every prohibition agent has become a revenue agent. One can understand readily why these agents should have the right to inspect breweries and distilleries remaining in operation. They are under Federal supervision, and require licenses, even though they manufacture nothing more than non-alcoholic malt beverages. If the prohibition authorities should use the laws for this purpose, and stop there, the procedure properly could not be questioned. This is not their purpose, however. They are using the laws to gain entrance to clubs and other places suspected of selling liquor. Their object, of course, has nothing whatever to do with carrying out the intent of the revenue laws of 1875. They are simply avoiding the necessity of obtaining search warrants. In some instances they have gone so far as to destroy property forcibly, without observing any legal processes. So far the provisions of the revenue laws have not been invoked against private homes, but there is no reason why they should not be, except that this might be more than the public would stand. The fourth amendment is supposed to provide guarantees against this sort of thing. It forbids unreasonable searches and seizures, and stipulates that no search warrant shall be issued “except on probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched. This new policy might be all right if exexy diy agent were capable of acting as judge, jury and executioner. Unfortunately, they have not shown themselves to be. The S-4 Report If anything were needed to show that not all the criticisms of our naval establishment have been amiss, the curious findings of the naval court of inquiry charged with probing the S-4 disaster would provide it. A great deal seems to have been the matter. That the lost submarine was blameworthy; that the coast guard destroyer Paulding which sank it vas negligent; that Rear Admiral Brumby, in charge of rescue and salvage operations, was incompetent, and that some of the elementary principles of navigation were violated, resulting in collision—all are indicated in the report. But the report is not altogether convincing. No sooner had it made its appearance than it was assailed by high naval and civil officials, on the ground that its conclusions were not supported always by the evidence submitted. So the whole case has been shunted back to the court for further light upon some of its phases. In spots the findings appear inconsistent and contradictory. For instance, the court paid high tribute to the rescue and salvage efforts. Nothing that could have been done was left undone, the report said. Yet it recommends that Rear Admiral Brumby be detached from his command because he “failed to contribute that superior intelligent guidance, force and sound judgment expected from an officer of his length of service, experience and position.” We submit that if the first is true, the second is a bit unfair. If Rear Admiral Erumby found himself in charge of the work of rescuing the surviving members of the crew entombed alive in the S-4, it was because the naval hierarchy put him there. If he knew nothing about such work, and his assistants did, he is to be congratulated for having had the good sense to stand aside and let them carry on. Transfer him, by all meank, but if a public rebuke is deserved in his connection it should go to those responsible for his appointment to that particular post. To rebuke Brumby, under the circumstances, looks like making him the goat for bureaucracy’s pet mistake of putting square pegs in round holes. The criticism that a tender displaying a warning flag should have been stationed near the course where the S-4 was undergoing trials was dismissed by saying this “was neither desirable nor necessary,” because submarine efficiency is now such that warning flags have been cast into the discard. The layman’s answer to this would seem to be that the practice had been cast into the discard a bit too soon, since that simple precaution would have saved both the S-4 and her crew. That Lieutenant Commander Jones of the S-4 personally was jointly responsible for the collision is held by the chief of the Navy Bureau of Navigation as not proved, and exception has been taken to this finding. \ Secretary Mellon, to whose department the Paulding belongs, has filed similar objections to the blame the court attached to Lieutenant Commander Baylis, the Paulding’s skipper, because, Mellon said, the destroyer was not only being properly navigated, but the Navy had not taken the pains to let Baylis know a submarine was undergoing trials in the vicinity. The report, however, contains one constructive recommendation at least—that “a technical board be appointed to study the subject of rescue and salvage fittings, safety devices and equipment and recommend such changes in, or modifications of, submarines, tenders and rescue vessels as may be deemed desirable." This should help But, all in all, the report is likely to prove unsatisfactory. In fact, the indications are that the storm originally raised by the death of the forty-one officers and men of the S-4, far from being calmed, now may rife to anew pitch. yml -

The Indianapolis Times (A SCKirPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER) Owned and published daily (except Sunday) by The Indianapolis Times Publishing Cos.. 214-220 W. Maryland Street, Indianapolis, Ind. Price In Marlon County, 2 cents—lo cents a week; elsewhere. 3 cents—l 2 cents a week. BOYD GURLEY. ROY W. HOWARD. FRANK G. MORRISON. Editor. President. Business Manager. PHONE—MAIN 3500. THURSDAY. FEB. 23. 1928. Member ol United Press, Scripps-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.

Keeping the Law Lawful Two outstanding decisions that a lawful act can not be done in an unlawful manner have just been made in Colorado —long one of the nation's battlegrounds in issues involving human rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Four strike leaders, arrested by militiamen without warrants and held for weeks without bail, without charges and without the privilege of seeing counsel, have been ordered released under bail by Federal Judge J. Foster Symes of Denver. At the same time, a jury sitting at Cripple Creek, Colo., returned a verdict of voluntary manslaughter against a deputy sheriff, who shot to death a young man suspected of running liquor, simply because the lad did not heed shouts to stop his car. The convicted deputy, it developed during testimony, had so nervous a trigger finger that, on the same day he killed this boy, he also fired on another liquor suspect. Two other officers, tried with him. were freed on the grounds that it was not their bullets which inflicted the fatal wounds The case of the four strikers was fought out on the contention that the Governor of Colorado, by issuing an insurrection order, could place the militia above all civil authorities. This contention was based on a ruling by the Supreme Court of Colorado during a strike more than twenty years ago, and had several times been upheld by State courts during the present Colorado strike. Acting on *it, courts previously had refused to intervene in the cases of strikers held without warrants or charges, even when habeas corpus action was brought. Judge Symes, a highly conservative jurist of wealthy family, who vigorously condemned the I. W. W. and expressed disapproval of the methods of the strike leaders brought before him, declared: “All we can do is examine the law and give every man the rights granted to him by the Constitution of the United States, irrespective of any other thing. “I fail to find where the Federal courts ever have recognized the rights of a body of militia—or anybody else—to go around the State and set aside civil authority without some very different order than the one which the attorney general very frankly and conscientiously states is the case here,” Judge Symes’ strict application of the Bill of Rights is all the more to be commended, because his personal views, his training, and his whole environment were opposed to the cause and the principles of the men in whose behalf he acted. Prosecution of the deputy convicted at Cripple Creek was partly made possible by the indignation of the residents of Woodland Park, a little lumber camp near Cripple Creek. Although they are poor people, laboring in the mountains for their daily bread, they contributed quarters, half-dollars and dollars until they had raised a fund of SBOO to hire a special prosecutor to proceed against the three officers accused of slaying a 21-year-old resident of their community. The prosecution staked its case on the claim that officers, in making an arrest for a misdemeanor, and when they had no search warrant, could not recklessly open fire. A jury of middle aged miners upheld this contention. A good day's work for the cause of human rights has been done in Colorado. Yelling “Unthinkable” There is nothing so valuable in international relations as the ability to look at things with unemotional realism. When Admiral Plunkett made his lamous remarks about the likelihood of a war between the United States and England he was greeted by a perfect chorus of disapproving criticism. Many reams of good paper were ruined to set forth the thesis that war with England is “unthinkable.” Probably it is. But wouldn’t it be a good idea to sit down and study the situation at some length, coldly and dispassionately; and then, if such a study shows that there are possibilities of future conflict, to devise ways and means of remedying the situation?' Wouldn’t that be more effective than yelling “unthinkable” without stopping to investigate?

Industry Changes Pace

BY BRUCE CATTO:

It hasn’t been such a long time since the surest way for a politician or a writer to gain popular favor was to get up in meeting and attack “the trusts.” The word “trust” was used, rather loosely, to include any and all business organizations larger than the small manufacturing plant or the average department store. There was a general public feeling that big business organizations, by very reason of their bigness, were dangerous to the Republic. Now, however, Edward A. Filene, well-known Boston merchant, declares that the small business, everywhere in the United States, is doomed. It can survive, he asserts, only by becoming a large one. America, in his view, no longer has a place for the small concent. A few years ago such remarks would have created a furore. Liberal journals and statesmen everywhere would have deplored and contradicted. We would have been shown, as from a high mountain, the stately edifice of our nation tottering to a fall. Yet today these statements pass almost unheeded. We have ceased to distrust the big banker and the big industrialist; instead, we are coming to look on them as our leaders.. We have accepted business prosperity as the base of our civilization, so to speak. We have learned that it is not the politician with his promises of glittering reform who can make conditions more comfortable and pleasing for us, but the industrialist. For industry itself has changed front. No longer does an enlightened manufacturer seek to hammer down wages and boost price's to the limit. Instead, he is x-aising wages and lowering prices. He is giving us things that we ne.er had before; lopping hours of drudgery off our lives, making the conditions of our existence easier aixd more pleasant. To be sure, there are men who see danger eveix in this. They protest that mentally and spiritually we are becoming ensalved; that we are attempting to live by bread alone; that our prosperity is improving our bodies but deadening our minds. But such men see only one side of the picture. A worker in a vast factory may be only a cog in a machine, whereas his grandfather was an honored craftsman; yet the modern workman has more money end moi-e leisure than his grandfather had, and with them he can win a greater spiritual development than his grandfather dreamed of. The soul rises easiest when the body is fi-eed. Our dependence on our business leaders is sound. The path that stretches out before us, flanked by huge factories, gi-eat skyscrapers and the other insignia of our culture, is full of promise.

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. When you hold K Q X in one hand, how do you play to make two tricks? 2. When you hold A Q X in one hand and J 10 X in other, how do you play? 3. When you hold A J X in one hand and Q 10 X in otljer, how do you play to make three tricks? The Answers 1. Do not lead it; if you must do so, lead toward it. 2. Lead J toward A. Cover if covered by opponent. 3. Finesse Q toward A. Cover only if covered by opponent.

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 300 words will receive preference. To the Editor: I would like to express myself in regard to the statute of limitations, which was the point of law on which they gave Ed Jackson his acquittal in his trial for bribery. I thhik that law is one of the worst scars on the already black record of Indiana. Any man who stood for honesty and decency would not want to be tried by such a law. It was made to protect the crook, as an honest man would not want to be protected. If Mr. Jackson wanted to prove to the people of Indiana that he was innocent, why did he not go ahead and prove that the accusations were false, instead of hiding behind the statute of limitations? I think it is about time that the citizens of Indiana were cleaning house. I think when an officer gets mixed in crookedness enough to be indicted by a grand jury he at once should be thrown out of office. I also think another scar on the State record is where Attorney General Gilliom and Governor Jackson both had whisky in their bossession and boasted about it in our State papers and not a man tried to prosecute them, when it was an open violation of law. If I had done that. I would have been prosecuted. Just such cases as these are what is causing the crime wave. I think the churches and lodges and other organizations should demand Ed Jackson and Attorney Genpral Gilliom resign at once and demand some laws to protect an honest man instead of a crook. I would like to see your paper make an effort to help have the statute of limitations changed. Lets hear from some other citizens in regard to these questions. TEDDIE G. CALDWELL. Darlington, Ind. To the Editor: I would ask the Democratic Editorial Association what the Democrats have to offer in the way of reform to the common people who their party claims to represent? Tariff for revenue only, tax reduction putting good men in office and carrying out pledges are good, out will not bring the much wishedfor result of making forever impossible the ever increasing coming of panics, slumps, recessions and nard times, giving to all the people a continual and ever mounting prosperity. They must have a remedy with which to combat Republican paternalism, which is calling for increased governmental aid, ending in Socialism and destruction of democracy. Let them not forget that 5,000,000 voted the Independent Progressive ticket while the Democrats polled less than 10,000,000 votes at the last presidential election. How will they get these to return with enough dissatisfied Republican votes to win? Now is their opportunity! The real remedy lies in the application of the Jeffersqn principle of “equal rights to all and special privileges to none,” carried to its logical conclusion. Competition among laborers as well as between capitalists is becoming keener every year and demands a solution. CHARLES H. KRAUSE SR. 674 E. Drive Woodruff Place.

cl a|m|e|l TTI u ImlpTs

The Rules 1. The idea of letter golf is to change one word to another and do it in par, or 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 can not be changed.

Ti I IMIE T I RIE lARI T[A R|T pi alrlt

This Ought to Give Us a Good Slant on the Rig Show

Prophet Dies in Midst of Ecstasy

MOHAMMED might have made himself king and lived in royal splendor: but he would not. The private life of Mohammed was like that of any other Arab: he kindled the fire, swept the floor, milked the ewes and mended his shoes and clothing. He was as kind and courteous to the poor and simple as he was attentive and respectful to the powerful and rich. He killed many thousands of friends and enemies; but what founder of a state has done his work without staining his hands with blood? In the end he left unity where there had been only scattered tribes. He was not a saint; he was a Napoleon of the desert, who had discovered the military utility of words. He lived to the age of 62, and died in the midst of ecstasy. At the last he proposed to dictate a final revelation which should supersede all that he had given before; but his followers disputed violently on the sacrilege of so betraying the Koran, and he had to content himself with harmless generalities. He described the last visit of Gabriel. and told how the angel had vouchsafed him the special honor, that his soul should not be taken without his consent. Then he gave his permission, and condescended to die. nun “'T'HE sword,” the prophet had JL said, “is the key to heaven and hell; a drop of blood shed in the cause of God. a night spent in arms, is of more avail than' two months of fasting or prayer; who-

Kr ndallville News-Sun Innocent or guilty, the people of Indiana are far from satisfied with the outcome of Governor Jackson's trial at Indianapolis last week. The case was dismissed because of the defense plea of statute of limitations, the main issue being left undetermined, and it is because of this that so many leading citizens and newspapers are outspoken in their demand that Jackson resign or that the legislature be called and impeachment proceedings be started. Private citizens may be excused in using the statute of limitations as a defense when charged in court with a serious offense, but when a man is a public servant and holds the great office of Governor, his acts are of interest to every citizen of the State. If charged with a crime, he should be the first one to demand trial and an opportunity to prove his innocence. Use of the statute of limitations as a means to freedom is inexcusable. Jackson has gained his freedom and from a legal standpoint the charges are at end. Public opinion has not cleared him, however, as he will find if he holds on to his office and finishes out his term. FI. Wayne Jounrnal-Garette One of the five alienists who recently examined George Remus, bootleg baron, who killed his wife in Cincinnati, and who was acquitted on grounds of insanity by a jury who heard his case, has given a deposition in which he declares that Remus is sane. The bootleg baron is confined in an asylum for the insane at Lima, Ohio, whither he was sent following his trial. It is predicted that the other alienists will announce a like opinion. If they do, Remus will go free. By the time these lines appear in print, that already may have occurred. It is such a culmination of affairs that has been sought for Hickman, slayer of little Marian Parker. His legal counsel strove valiantly to have him declared not guilty by reason of insanity. If the jury had been persuaded to render such decision, he would have gone to an asylum. Then* when sanity had been pronounced by alienists, he would have stepped forth scot. free. The jury found him sane, but an ap-

THE STORY OF CIVILIZATION -

Written for The Times by Will Durant

soever falls in battle, his sins are forgiven; at the day of judgment his wounds shall be resplendent as vermilion, and odoriferous as musk; and the loss of his limbs shall be supplied by the wings of angels and cherubim.” What a religion for a conqueror! No wonder Napoleon mourned that his soldiers were not Mohammedan. The successors of Mohammed carried on his policy of converting with the sword, and bettered his instruction. The mighty Omar advanced into Persia and laid low (in 651 A. D.) the Sassanid dynasty, which had lor four centuries ruled the country so well that when Justinian (in 529) closed the pagan schools of the Roman Empire—not excepting Plato's long-lived Academy—the philosophers and scientists of Greece had taken refuge in great numbers at the court of the Persian king. But the Sassanids had spent their time and wealth in the support of architecture and the industrial arts, to the sinful neglect of war; and when Omar came he found almost no resistance. The Persian leader Harmozan. having surrendered, was about to be killed, when he asked respite till he might drink a cup of water. “Be of good cheer,” said Omar, handing him a goblet; “your life is safe till you have drunk this water.” Harmozan dashed the water to the ground, and Omar, as rigid in honor as in faith, kept his promise, and spared his life. The grateful satrap, impartial among supersititons. at once embraced the Moslem faith.

What Other Editors Think

peal has been taken to the Supreme Court, although he is now sentenced to die If an appeal shall succeed, we may presently behold Hickman in the role which seems about to be taken by Remus. Again we express the hope that the higher court may uphold Hickman's sentence to the gallows already pronounced. Anderson Herald The storm of editorial protest raging over Indiana regarding the Governor Jackson case, shows the temper of the people toward the matter. There is a general demand for Mr. Jackson to resign. The dishonor that his presence in

Questions and Answers

You can get an answer to any answerable question of fact or Information by writing to Frederick M. Kerby. Question Editor, The Indianapolis Times. Washington Bureau. 1324 New York Ave., Washington. D. C.. enclosing two cents in stamps for reply. Medical and legal advice cannot be given, nor can extended research be made. All other auestions will receive a personal reply. Unsigned requests cannot be answered. All leters are confidential. You are cordially Invited to make use of this free service as often as you please. EDITOR. How many cities with a population of 50,000 or more has the United States? According to the last census there are 144. To whom was Estelle Taylor married before her marriage to Jack Dempsey? Kenneth M. Peacock. Was Tony Lazzeri or Babe Ruth the last man to strike out in the 1926 world series baseball game? Tony Lazzeri was the last man to strike out. Babe Ruth was the last man out In the series. He was thrown out by O’Farrell when he tried to steal second with two out in the last half of the ninth inning. In daylight saving are the clocks set forward or back from the standard time? The clocks are advanced one hour so that when it is 12 noon, standard time, the daylight saving time would be 1 p. m. What are the natural colors of rabbit fur? Is it sold on the market by any other name? The natural colors are white, tan, gray and mottled. It Is plucked, sheared and dyed in imitation of

MEANWHILE the Moors had besieged and captured Damascus (634) and Jerusalem (637). To the Jews the usual choice had been given: “Health and happiness to every one that follows the right way” (read Omar's message to them). “We require of you to testify that there is but one God, and that Mohammed is his apostle. If you refuse this, consent to pay tribute, and be under us forthwith. “Otherwise I shall bring men against you who love death better than you do the drinking of wine or eating hog's flesh. “Nor will I ever stir from you, if it please God. till I have destroyed those that fight for you, and made slaves of your children." The patriarch of Jerusalem, Sophronius, yielded, and bowed before Omar, muttering: “The abominatio nos desolation is in the holy place.” ! Omar entered in triumph, and at once gave orders and laid plans for a great mosque to rise over the ruins of Solomon’s Temple. The Mosque of Omar stands there today, one of the fairest sights of the Holy City, carrying no sign of the wars which gave it birth. The triumphant army turned now to Egypt, and in a brief campaign (638) Amrou captured its ancient and modern capitals. Other Moslem forces made their irresistibly pious way along the northern coast of Africa, and at last stood at the Pillars of Hercules, in sight of romantic Spain. * iCopyright. 1928, By Will Eurait) (To Be Continued)

the official position he occupies brings to Indiana is deeply resented. His usefulness as the chief executive is at an end and his retention of the office can only bring distress to everyone concerned, and it will grow more unpleasant as time goes on. Self-respect is necessary to happiness, even to the weakest of persons. This man, who has sacrificed his self-i'espect to save his freedom, will find that to be wholly true. The public is a grim judge, and once fully aroused, as it seems to be in this case, it does not rest until the prisoner at its bar of justice hears the verdict, and heeds it as well.

costly furs such as seal, ermine, chinchilla and dyed muskrat. It is also prepared in the natural state or dyed to imitate fox. Coney is another name for rabbit fur particularly when imported from Europe. From what books were the movies, “The Big Parade’’ and “Barbed Wire” taken? “The Big Parade" is not in book form, but was written especially for the screen. “Barbed Wire” is from Hall Caine’s “The Woman of Knockaloe.’’ What salaries arc paid to the governor-general of the Irish Free State and the president of the executive council? The governor-general receives a salary of £IO.OOO, approximately $50,000. The president of the executive council of the state receives £2,500, approximately $12,500. What is the limit of weight for a heavyweight boxer? There is no limit, but a light heavyweight must weigh not more than 175 pounds. Has Mrs. Coolidge bobbed hair? No. Os what nationality were the majority of Popes of Rome? Most of them have been Italian. A few were French and Spanish and there was one English Pope, Adrian IV (A. D. 1154). What is the value of a United States half cent piece dated 1800? 15 to 75 cents.

.FEB. 23, 19218

M.E . TRACY SAYS: “What the World Notv Needs Is Airplanes That So Far as Cost and Operation Are Concerned Are Available for Average People.”

There is poetic justice in the fact that Harry F. Sinclair face* two sentences for contempt. His frame of mind merely has found him out. Contempt appears to have been his chief stock in trade. It was contempt for public interest that caused him to cast hungry eyes on Teapot Dome, to begin with. It was contempt for the Government that inspired him to approach it. It was contempt for common honesty that led him into paths of trickery and fraud. It was contempt for regularly constituted justice that induced him to tamper with the jury when he was finally brought to trial. * tt tt New in Travel ■ Bert Hinkler flies from London to Australia, a distance of 11,000 miles, in fifteen days, thereby winning a bet of $5,000 from Lloyds. The significance of the exploit does not lie in the reward it brings. Five thousand dollars is not too much for such a venture, whether in the form of a bet, or as agreed compensation. Its significance lies in the additional proof it offers of the practical possibilities cf aviation. Man possesses no other vehicle by which such a trip could be completed in so short a time. The fastest train could not do it, even if an all-land route wera available for the fastest ship. tt tt tt Cheaper Airplanes Such pioneers as Hinkler, Lindbergh, Byrd and a dozen others have more than convinced the world that aviation is its next great adventure. What the world now needs is the means to try it—airplanes that so far as cost and operation are concerned are available for average people. Nothing has been demonstrated by all these spectacular flights so vividly as the opportunity for more inventions. That is not only the biggest field opened up for ambitious young men, but probably the most profitable. Clarence Chamberlin has shown good judgment in devoting his attention to the development of small, easily controlled airplanes. a a tt Sky Ship for SI,OOO Nikola Tesla says that he has perfected an airplane that can be built for less than SI,OOO, that can go straight up and that can be landed in a window, provided the window is eight feet wide. That is the kind of news that interests millions of boys who know they cannot be Lindberghs, but who want a chance to fly. a a a Kluxers Unmask The Ku-Klux Klan unmasks and changes its name, which marks the end of one of the greatest spasms of foolishment that ever afflicted this country. It was an end that all sensible people, whether within or without the order, foresaw. The mask has amounted to nothing but an invitation to horse play, dissenstion and public antipathy, while the name has acquired too much approbium to be anything but a handicap. Henceforth, the Klan will b known as the “Knights of the Great Forest.” Whatever such a title means, it i* better than the old one. a a a Objects of K. K, K. Imperial Wizard Evans says than the first object of the Klan was to stop immigration, and since that object has been accomplished, the Klan will new devote itself to the* assimilation of immigrants. A plausible excuse, matched by ai plausible purpose, but with no his-’ torical foundation. Whatever its promoters may havi had in mind, the Klan was no sooner organized than it ran to religious intolerance on the one hand andpetty persecution of defenseless in-% dividuals on the other. As to helping assimilate immi* grants, how can the Klan accom-. plish much in this direction so longs as it bars them from membership? * a a a Coolidge’s Economy j President Coolidge's economy complex manifests itself in curious, ways. Only a few weeks back he was ported as favorable to committing the Government to a billion-dollar naval program. Now he is reported as opposed ta the Reed flood control bill because it involves the expenditure of a billion and a half. The Reed bill certainly does comprehend a startling venture, but one which promises quite as tangible and more immediate returns on the investment than a billion dollars’ worth of submarines and light cruisers. Preparedness would be a mockery of its real intent if it put the Nation in readiness for war that might not occur for fifty or a hundred years, while leaving it exposed to the preventable destruction caused by its rivers; if it neglected to safeguard the people against flood and famine in order that it might have more money with which to buy powder and shot. The Reed bill may not be the best measure that could be devised, but flood control is one of the most desirable objects. Shying at the cost of flood control on a comprehensive basis, while willing to approve a billion dollars' worth of light ships that are certain to become obsolete in twenty-five years, does not sound like statesmanship.