Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 175, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 December 1928 — Page 13

Second Section

Ideas and opinions expressed in this colodd are those of one of America’s most interesting writers and are presented without regard to their agreement with the editorial attitude of this paper. The Editor.

IT SEEMS TOME a u By HEYWOOD BROUN

ONCE upon a time it used to be fun to speculate about Mars and the possibility of the Martians. The astronomers gave an inch of substances to such contingency, and that was ample to inspire fictitionists to full-length novels. But always the fantasy ran that men in Mars were very different.

Indeed, some of the drea me rs doubted whether the place was co- educational and abolished all the more famililiar sexes. Occasionally these people in the far-off red planet were pictured as gods and then again as devils. Wells, as I remember, did them as splindly little fellows with huge,

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transparent heads. And sometimes they were giants. Whether for better or worse, every dream of Mars has been founded on the belief that any life discovered there must inevitably differ from all with which we are familiar. Os late science has abandoned much of its skeptical attitude as to the possibility of Mars being a going concern. In the beginning doubt depended on the impression that the place was much too cold to support any living thing. Only recently an ingenious gentleman, called Dr. Coblentz, has taken the temperature of our neighbor, and finds that the climate of the star has been much maligned. The doctor used an instrument called a thermocouple and, though I read a complete description of its mechanism, I am still hazy as to the manner of its manipulation. Next, I suppose, somebody will be taking the pulse of the planet and also the blood pressure of the warlike star. Let it suffice that Dr. Coblentz reports that temperatures of 60 degrees or higher exists in Mars during the daytime. tt u u Perhaps a Bus Line THE three necessities which we know—heat, water and oxygen —are also necessities there, although most of the scientists commit themselves to no more than a belief in vegetable life, and perhaps, the lower forms; few are ready to say any more that there may not be men in Mars. But the charge that science has dulled the edge of romance lies in the fact that if intelligent beings move about up there, it seems altogether probable that they are much like us. All the various attempts to exchange messages with Mars have seemed to me a little terrifying* The reply could be titirely devastating. So humble are we human beings that we readily assume that people who are in some way strange must inevitably be better and wiser than ourselves. As I understand it, the eagerness to get in touch with the star is based upon the hope that possibly Mars could slip us useful information. It may be that they have a system by which the sardine can actually may be opened with the key fastened upon its back. But suppose Mars turns out to be neither better nor worse, but just the same. That I would hold to be discouraging. It is hard to think of the milky way as merely an extension of Main street. Through the ether flash the radio signals: “Mars, this is the earth and we are trying to talk to you/’ Some day, I have no doubt, when receiving sets are just a little better, the answer will come back to us.’ And in that great day, I trust, the reply may not prove to be, “Oh, yeah!” or some Martian equivalent. a tt a

One More World One of the astronomers is quoted in the Times as saying: “I think we are justified in saying that with the evidence so strong for conditions similar to those found on the earth, with vegetable life fairly assured, animal life is almost certain. I am now inclined to consider it possible that even human life, if transported to Mars, might exist and perhaps flourish there. I should not care to go under these conditions. It is not the difficulties of commuting which frighten me away, but much more the fear that after the terrific trip I might emerge from the giant rocket, or whatever the contrivance, and find myself in a public square, having on the left hand a United Cigar Store and on the right a branch of Woolworth’s. If in a frenzy I faced right-about only to see another establishment bearing the sign, “Ye Olde Fashioned Gift Shoppe,” I would inevitably leap off the edge of this accursed alien crust and try to get home in one long swirling plunge. I can’t endure the thought that Mars may be nothing more than just another Newark. LEARN BY MACHINE Pupils of New York School Spell, Write on Typewriters. NEW YORK, Dec. 12.—Children of 5 and 6 years are learning to spell and write on typewriters instead of manually in the Horace Mann elementary school at Teach ers college, Columbia university. Although the “touch system is not compulsory, the pupils are shown the system by chart.

Entered As Second-Class MnttiK at Postoffice. Indianapolis.

THWART PLOT TO BLOW UP HOOVERTRAIN Heavy Guard Patrols Tracks in Argentina; Numerous Arrests Made. FIND BOMBS IN RAID Police Withhold Details; President-Elect on Way to Buenos Aires. By United, Press BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 12. An anarchist plot against the life of President-Elect Herbert Hoover has been discovered in this city but the Argentine government believes it has been frustrated. Numerous arrests have been made and more are expected today. Elaborate precautions have been taken to guard the entire line of the trans-Andean railway over which Mr. Hoover will travel <. day from Lqs Andes, Chile, to Buenos Aires. Bridges, culverts, snow sheds in the mountain passes of the Andean Cordilleras and other danger points along the transcontinental rail line from Chile across the mountains and over the pampas of the Argentine are being picketed by troops and police. Army Aid Recalled General Juan Carezza, who was appointed to act as Hoover’s aid during his visit here and who left Monday on a special train to meet the Hoover party at the frontier, returned here Tuesday on orders from the government. No reason for Carezza’s recall was given. Existence of the plot against H oover, who now is en route to Buenos Aires from Santiago, Chile, where he was given a most cordial reception, was confirmed in an official statement issued Tuesday night. The statement indicated the identity of the disturbing element was known to police. Bombs Found The official statement Indicated that the police had taken early precautions to avoid anti-American demonstrations during the good-will visit such as those which had occurred during the Sacco-Vanzetti trial and executions last year. In a ra’d Tuesday, police found seven bombs, dynamite and arms and ammunition in the house of Manuel Scarzo, anarchist. Enjoys Scenery BY THOMAS L. STOKES United Press Staff Correspondent ABOARD THE TRANS-ANDEAN SPECIAL EN ROUTE TO BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 12. President-Elect Herbert Hoover spent today in the grandeur of the Cordillera, the Andes mountain range of South America. After a brief visit to Santiago, where the party was received with the greatest enthusiasm, the Hoover party left for Buenos Aires by the overland mountain route at 10 p v m. The night was spent at Los Andes, a three-hour journey from Santiago. Los Andes marks the beginning of the steep narrow-gauge climb over the range. Always a keen enthusiast for everything of the outdoors, Mr. Hoover arose early at Los Andes, where the party spent the night, before beginning the mountain trip. From the time the train left Santiago for the climb to Los Andes, the President-elect tried to get every possible glimpse of the scenery, even during the night. South Americans contend that the scenery of the Andes far surpasses that of the Alps. Pilot Engine Tests Along the route special caribineros, or guards, were placed at regular intervals, and they will guard the route all of the way to the Argentine frontier, where Mr. Hoover will be met by a committee representing the government of Argentina. A pilot engine preceded the Hoover train through the hills, to test the route. ‘PEACHES’ NAMED IN ‘RACY’ DIVORCE SUIT Servant, Witness, Fails to Identify Her as Defendant's “Guest.” WHITE PLAINS, N. Y„ Dec. 12. —The name of Frances ("Peaches) Browning now figures directly in the divorce action brought here by Mrs. Edgar Allen Allen is former booking agent for Peaches Browning. ’ Lee Parsons Davis, Allen’s attorney, tried to get Henry Armstead, former Negro servant in the Allen home, to admit that Peaches Browning was the woman who spent several nights with Allen in his Larchmont home near here. He refused, however, to identify a newspaper picture of Mrs. Browning which was shown him.

LONDON EDITOR BRANDS PROHIBITION MOST TRAGIC JOKE IN HISTORY

The following is made up of excerpts from an article appearing in Wednesday’s London Daily Express by its editor, who Just has returned from a two months’ tour of the United States as head of a party cf British editors, visiting under auspices of the Carnegie Foundation for International Peace. BY RALPH D. BLUMENFELD Editor of The Daily Express LONDON, Dec. 12.—1 have observed the working of the Volstead prohibition act in the United States during a two months’ tour across the continent and back; and I regret sincerely to have to say that it is perhaps the most tragic joke that any na-

The Indianapolis Times

Ayres Joseph B. Elliotte got the training which enables him to act as one of Santa's assistants on the vaudeville stage. For foqrteen years he was a comedy singer and blackface actor. Most of the year he operates a lock and safe repair shop at 215 Indiana avenue, but for three years he has been the Santa Claus at the L. S. Ayres & Cos. store, at Christmas time.

TRACTION HITS AUTO; BOY DIES I Two Lads Seriously Hurt in Crash. A 17-year-old youth was Injured fatally and his two bov companions hurt seriously Tuesday night when the car in which they were riding crashed head on into an interurban car at Fourteenth street and BBrookside avenue The dead youth is Hershell Stansbury/IISS Tecumseh street. He suffered a fractured skull. Those injured are Robert Graham, 17, of 5235 Altha avenue, who suffered a compound fracture of the right arm and severe cuts and bruises; and Stanford Corman, 17, of 512 Arch street, who is recovering from severe cuts on the head. Eli Applegate, Newcastle, motorCOUNTRY CLUB TO NAME 3 DIRECTORS THURSDAY Members to Ballot On Officers at University Club. Members of the Country club of Indianapolis will ballot on officers Thursday, between 4 and 8 p. m. at the University Club. Business session will begin at 8 p. m. Three directors will be named to serve tbre years. Candidates are: Edward B. Raub, Walter R. Shiel. Benjamin P. Cobun, Robert P. Kruse, Frank L. Littleton and Homer McKee. Three membership committeemen will be chosen from the following: Cornelius E. Holloway, Guy I-em-mon, William E. Munk, John A. Reis, Eleanor E. Taylor and Charles R Weiss. Dr. W. B. Mumfod and W. Hathaway Simmons have been nominated by life members to serve on the board.

HOLIDAY STAMPEDE ON AT POSTOFFICE

With opening of two additional parcel post windows at the Indianapolis postoffice, the annual Christmas rush officially is started, Postmaster Robert' H. Bryson said today. Bryson repeated his request that Christmas greeting cards for delivery in Indianapolis be mailed now, that they may be sorted and cancelled before the rush. If such cards are tied in bundles and marked “Hold for late delivery,”

tion ever played upon itself in the history of civilization. I went to many private dinners in all parts of the country, and with one exception—in Chicago— I never saw a prohibition table. I went to cocktail parties attended by state officials, United States legislators, judges and college presidents, and with the fewest possible exceptions they all drank as much or more than they did before prohibition. All of them said that prohibition is a sad and a degrading farce. Many said that before the

INDIANAPOLIS WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12, 1928

Block’s Another old-time showman aiding Santa Claus in his work for Indianapolis children Is Thomas McMyers, 627 Gorman street, the Santa at the William H. Block Company store for six years. McMyers for thirtyseven years has been a carnival man and showman, and all those years has played the part of the white-bearded saint at Christmas time.

HEALTH EDUCATION URGED IN SCHOOLS

4 Fine ’ Yuletide By United Press NEW YORK. Dec. 12.—Paul Wegland was fined $25 for reckless driving, but the judge suspended sentence when Wegland promised he would spend the money for Christmas presents for Iris ten children.

HELD AS ‘FENCE 1 Arrest Youth on Charges of Larceny Defendants. Keith Porter, 19, of 6047 Marion Road was held by police today forlowing the statement of three defendants in a grand larceny case before Criminal Judge James A. Collins that he was implicated in an alleged ring to steal auto parts. Collins took the larceny case against Charles Vance, 30, Sixtyeighth acid Ferguson streets; Bennie Dokes, 18, of 6426 Ashland avenue and Lowell Harold, 17, of 919 Riviera drive, under advisement until Saturday. They are alleged to have entered a garage of Harrison Walters. 5934 College avenue, Oct. 26. Porter is alleged to have told the trio what type of auto parts he wanted and is said to have pur* chased the articles they stole. Trusted Employe Accused By Times Special NOBLESVILLE, Ind., Dec. 12. Otto Shields faces a charge of grand larceny here after serving for many years as a trusted employe of the Houston hotel here. He is alleged to have taken SIOO of the hotel’s money, fingerprints on a cash register and a check provided clews upon which Shields, employed as night clerk, was arrested.

they can be delivered a few days before Christmas. While several hundred additional postal workers have been employed for the holidays, Bryson said, it is impossible to employ additional clerks familiar with city distribution. If mailing of greeting cards is delayed until the last minute, many will not be delivered until after Christmas. Parcel post windows will be open from 7 a. m. to 1:30 p. m„ beginning Dec. 17.

law was passed, they never touched liquor. 0 # # IN one town we visited there was a great football match. We never expected to see what we did, nor do I ever wish to experience it again. In the evening, at a dance at the hotel where we stayed, ed, the place was crowded by 11 o’clock with young couples in evening dress, shouting, roaring, riotous. By midnight the place was a bedlam. From every window, shouting across the hotel wings,

Pettis John D. Stuart, Santa Claus at the Pettis Dry Goods Company store, lives at 917 St. Peter street with his wife and three children. During the winter he does ordinary labor worn’. but he “always can find time to play Santa Claus,” and for three years has been at the Pettis store.

Physical Training Vital to Pupils, Trester Tells Township Trustees. It’s Just as important for Willie and Susie to know how to keep well as to know their multiplication tables. and it’s the duty of the public school system to teach them. Such was the doctrine laid down for several hundred township trustees attending the Indiana Township Trustees’ Association annual convention Tuesday by A. L. Trester, secretary of the Indiana High School Athletic Association. “Physical education and health teaching is a vital function of the public school system,” Trester declared, urging that these subjects be elevated to a place comparable with academic subjects in Indiana grade and high schools. Urges Health Education Health and physical education should be taught, to inculcate correct standards of living, Trester said. Such instruction has been deterred, he said, by lack of properly trained teachers, playgrounds, gymnasiums and equipment and an unwillingness upon part of school officials to allot time for such training. Recommending a program to the trustees. Trester frowned on “rigid, disciplinary physical education,” and advocated games, contests, competitive drills, and folk dances, “in which the spirit of play predominates.” “I’m not a ‘softy,’ trying to ‘sugar-coat’ this thing,” he said, “but the theory has been exploded that unless the youngsters disliked something it did them no good!” Spend Money, Trester Asks Trester declared it to be “good school procedure” for school corporations to spend money for playgrounds and equipment; to give greater recognition to teaching of hygiene and physical education under trained instructors; to educate boys and girls in standards of conduct, decency, honesty, obedience, and other moral qualities through carefully supervised games; and to "extend this recreational facilities, equipment and supervision to pupils’ leisure hours. Such a program, Trester said, would be a deterrent to youthful crime, which was declared by Mayor L. Ert Slack in his address of welcome. Gas Fumes Cause Death By Times Special RICHMOND, Ind., Dec. 12.—Mrs. Flora Showalter, 19, is dead here from fumes which escaped from a gas stove in her apartment.

leaned young men and women, singing, hooting, cat-calling and worse. Then they began throwing things—bedroom furniture, bottles, glasses, trays, pillows, chairs; anything movable. The fury was maintained through a sleepless night. I asked a doctor, who was busy there the next morning, how it happened. “It’s gin,” he said, ‘synthetic gin. It drives them temporarily mad. The most pathetic thing is that so many young girls are af-

Colonial For years Dan Donohue, 10 North Holmes street, was a clown in circuses and carnivals. He has been living here with his wife and six children for several years. This is his first year as a Santa Claus. He is at the Colonial Furniture Company.

IRVINGTON GETS SCHOOL HOPE Board Decides to Employ Architect and Engineer. Dreams of residents for anew Irvington high school were a step nearer realization today, with action of the school board Tuesday night in deciding to employ architects and engineers for the buildings. The 1929 building program was discussed by the board. Commissioner Charles W. Kern stating that two grade schools definitely are in the program. These are School 81, Brookside parkway and Eighteenth street, and School 82, Emerson and English avenues. On motion of Kern, the board decided to employ plans used in building School 85 for the two new buildings, to save approximately $15,000 architect fees. The board is considering including in the building program anew School 69. Thirty-fourth street and Orchard avenue, and additions to School 15, New York street and Linwood avenue and School 49. Kappes and Morris streets. Resolution authorizing a $700,000 temporary loan was passed. Bids will be received Dec. 22, The board issued a traveling order for board members, Superintendent Charles F. Miller and Business Director Albert F. Walsman to visit St. Louis high schools to study the school cafeteria control system used there. PLAN BLAST REPAIRS Officials of Evansville Company Confer After Heavy Factory Loss. By Times Special EVANSVILLE, Ind., Dec. 12. Officials of the Globe-Bosse-World Furniture Company today are considering plans for rebuilding half of factory No. 1, wrecked Tuesday by an explosion and fire with a loss estimated at from $150,000 to $200,000. An overheated air compressor exploded and flames followed. Only one was was hurt. He was Aaron Patterson. Negro, cut by flying glass. TWIN BABIES AS GIFTS Father of Five Others at Winslow Unable to Care for Two More. By Times Special WINSLOW, Ind., Dec. 12.—Twin girl babies born Saturday night at the cost of their mother’s life, are offered as gifts by their father, Jasper Nolan, to anyone who will assure him that they will grow up in a good home. The father, a section hand, has five other children, and cannot support or care for the twins. The babies weigh six pounds each. Their names are Catherine Ray and Maxine Fay.

fected, and have begun to think that it is the right thing to drink.” 000 THIS deadly gin has ruined more homes, wrecked more young lives, showered more misery on a great and generousminded country than all the years of straightforward drunkenness on pure spirits ever witnessed during the generations before prohibition bit itself into the vitals of the nation. Now these are plain facts which have come under my observation.

Second Section

Pull Leased Wire Service o i the United Press Association.

People’s Eddie Frodell, 631 North New Jersey street, at the Peoples Outfitting Company, has played Santa Claus each Christmas for twenty years. Frodell Is the clown who patrolled the streets advertising the police and firemen’s circus. He explains to his child visitors that he is Just one of the assistants used by Santa Claus, because “Santa can’t be every place at once.”

THESE men are the five principal Indianapolis assistants of Santa Claus. Many a boy and .girl is puzzled each Christmas > to understand why there are so many Santas, so The Times is printing these pictures of the five Santas doing business in the city at present and has obtained from them the correct explanation. It’s very simple. Santa Claus is the world’s busiest man at this time of year. And every true believer in Santa knows that what he hates most of anything is to disappoint any of the millions of boys and girls who look to him each year to make it a merry Christmas for them. There were so many to consider that some years ago Santa became worried. He wanted to heard from each of his youthful admirers and find out what they wished of him, but found he couldn’t make the rounds. At first he tried having each boy and girl write him a letter. But that didn't work so well. Letters will get lost In the mail no matter how hard and carefully the mailman works. So now he is using the assistant plan. He has a lot of assistants in each town and city. They wear some of his old suits of clothes, or brand new ones made like his, and take his place before Christmas in talking to the millions of boys and girls who want to be sure they will not be forgotten on Christmas day. DIRECTORS ELECTED New C. of C. Board to Take Office Dec. 20. Seven new directors elected by the Chamber of Commerce for threeyear terms Tuesday will take office Dec. 20, when the annual election of officers is held. The seven directors elected were: Harold B. West, president of West Baking Company, civic affairs division; Walter B. Harding, G. and J. Tire Company president, manufacturers; William J. Mooney Jr., Mooney-Mueller - Ward Company vice-president, wholesale; Hugh J. Baker, Hugh J. Baker & Cos. president, membership-at-large; Perry W. Lesh of Lesh Paper Company, freight and traffic; Leland C. Huey, Capitol Lumber Company president, retail; George T. Whelden, realtor, membership-at-large. Wert and Mooney were re-elected. Retiring directors are Paul Q. Richey, Scott R. Brewer, Ferd L. Holweg, Oscar Schmidt and G. M. Williams. Princess Weds New Yorker B i/ United Press CHICHESTER, England, Dec. 12. —Princess Marfe Louise D’Orleans and William F. Kingsland of New York were married today.

I do not think that the appointment of 50,000 sleuths would put down the evil. But I do think that modification of the act, so that sale of light wines and beer would be made permissible, would restore the people’s self respect. The American people are sober, moral and decent. The vast majority deliberately defy the Volstead act, not because they want to drink spirits, but because they resent the curtailment of their individual liberty.

250 MILLIONS SPENT BY U.S. IN BOOZE WAR Huge Sum Used to Attempt Enforcement Since Law Took Effect. AMOUNT KEEPS RISING Department of Justice Appropriation Near 75 Millions. BY JOHN M. GLEISSNER ♦ Times Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON. Dec. 12. The federal government has spent approximately a quarter billion dollars in its effort to enforce prohibition since the Volstead act became effective Jan. 16, 1920. This figure is based on amounts appropriated for the prohibition unit, the coast guard, and the department of justice during that period, including the current fiscal year. It makes no allowance for enforcement work done by the bureau of customs, the border patrols, the secret service, or other agencies of the government, the amount of which it is difficult to estimate. The major portion of the money voted has been for the prohibition unit. Appropriations for this agency from Jan. 17, 1920, to the end of the current fiscal year total $96,164,660. Amounts Grow Rapidly Starting with an appropriation of $2,200,000 for its firs! six months of operation under the Volstead act, ! the appropriations for *he unit have grown steadily until they have averaged about $13,000,000 for each of the last three fiscal yeurs. The sum of $13,500,000 for the next fiscal year is contained in the treasury appropriation bill now before the senate. The department of justice in the nine-year period has spent $73,500,000 in connection with enforcement, it is estimated. The amounts spent by the department because of prohibition are not separately listed. It was testified before a senate committee in 1926, however, that the department figured that about onethird of its total funds are used in this way. More than half of the total litigation of the department has to do with liquor laws. $73,000,000 for Prohibition Since enactment of the Volstead act, a total of $220,385,314 has been appropriated for the department, a third of which, or $73,461,000 is credited to prohibition. • The department prosecutes cases made by the prohibition unit, and cares for prisoners convicted of violating the liquor laws in the federal courts. Appropriations for the department of justice for the current fiscal year were $26,808,062. The year before the Volstead act went into effect they were $14,974,858. The coast guard has spent $67.147,303 in combating the smuggling of liquor since this duty became a major assignment in 1924. Appropriations for this work during the current fiscal year totaled $15,110.530. Coast Guard Costly This Is more than half the entire sum appropriated for the coast guard, which was $28,902,570. The appropriation for the coast guard the year before enactment of the Volstead act $7,533,335. The total of these three major items is $236,772,000, to which must be added the unestimated expenditures of other government agencies during the nine years. It does not include anything spent by the states, nor does it take into account amounts recovered through fines, forfeitures, and seizures. ASKS SI,OOO MONTHLY Warsaw Woman Seeking Divorce Asserts S4OO Not Enough. By Times Special WARSAW, Ind., Dec. 12.—Mrs. Jessie Dalton alleges in a petition on fiile in Kosciusko circuit court here that a S4OO a month allowance granted pending hearing of her divorce suit against Donald A. Dalton is insufficient to maintain her home and she wants a raise to SI,OOO a month. She l>as the cusbody of the couple’s son Matthem, 6. Dalton is head of the Dalton foundries here. He is said to have employed both Chicago and local attorneys in preparation for a strong fight against a divorce. MAIL SLEUTH LEARNS Ft. Wayne Detectives Warn Graduate of Correspondence School. BM Times Special FT. WAYNE, Ind., Dec. 12.—Loran Shaw has been warned by real sleuths not to function again as an officer of the law until he has more authority than a card showing he . was graduated from a correspon- I dence school of detection. " Local detectives took Shaw into custody after he had offered his services to several stores, displaying his card and anew, shiny star. After the warning, he was released. TW0 _ BORN UNDER FIRE Wisconsin Woman Gives Birth to Twins as Home Burns. CASSVILLE. Wis„ Dec. 12.—As flames crackled on the roof of her home, Mrs. Matt Adrian gave birth to twin boys. As soon as the pair arrived the doctor bundled the family into a cave near by. One of the boys weighed 10*4 pounds and the other 11%. Th<* house was destroyed.