Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 62, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 July 1929 — Page 4

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The Pardon Criticism “The penal code shall be founded on the principles of reformation, and not of vindictive justice.’’ This is the language of the Constitution oi the 'tatp of Indiana. It is the bash* law oi the state. It sets the standard for the treatment of the crime problem, E v cry law should, unless the Constitution be discarded, be lightened by this beacon. Every art of judges, of jurie>, and especially of the Governor, in whom rests ihe power of pardon and parole, should be guided by th - principle. Governor Leslie has invited, or at least received, wide criticism because he pardoneil two former Ft. Wayne policemen, who entered a back in broad daylight five years ago and robbed ; ! . The manner in which ihe crime was committed can be explained only by dmr'-'M r > - or eras- stupidity. The policemen were not -t u[>id. Th* bankers of the Mate demanded and securer! the enactment ot a law which provides for definite, punishments of from ten to twenty-five years for robbing banks. I bat is, the penalty applies when banks are robbed by outsiders. There was a strange indifference when the same penalty was suggested for the bankers who steal by embezzlement and peculations. But in the light of the Constitution, which mands that the penal code be based upon meiples of reformation, and not of vindictive idice, what shall he said of the pardon of men who have served five years behind bars, who indicate reformation of character, who show little likelihood of again transgressing thp laws of the state* If reformation he the purpose of the criminal law. as ihe Constitution declares it must be in this state, who shall say that the Governor should not release those who have shown evidence of reformation? What principle would hold these men for five more years, years that would probably incapacitate them for usefulness, embitter them until they emerged to become enemies and not friends of orderly government ? Only a vindictiveness, a demand that those who stumble into banks be held to satisfy the vengeance of all hankers, would suggest that the full term be paid, even though the official whose judgment must be final on the question of reform, be convinced that further imprisonment is not. reformatory but probably corrupting. There are valid reasons for eritieism of the pardon power. If any Governor shows such lack of judgment a< to turn loose those who, in all likelihood, will again indulge in crime, exhibits a sentimentalism that ignores facts, he should be cheeked. If a Governor is susceptible to the suggestions of political advisers and turns loose those who gain the ear and the attention of political bosses, he should be impeached. If a Governor uses his pardon power for the purpose of gaining money from friends of prisoners, either for himself or for favorites, he should be jailed. But none of these three criticisms have been made of the cases which have caused the outcry. The sole criticism is that the men were turned loose before they had served the minimum sentence provided by law. and the law* itself violates the Constitution by its arbitrary distinction between batiks and other institutions. “The penal code shall be founded on the principles of reformation and not of vindictive justice,” says the Constitution. Perhaps the Constitution should be rewritten. But until it is, the duty of every official. from policeman to Governor, is to reform weaklings, not crush them. Why the Oath? A passport is an American's introduction to a foreign country when he goes abroad. Ii identifies him and enables him to pass from or.e country to another and eventually to return to his own. In applying for a passport, an American must take an oath of allegiance similar to that imposed upon foreign-born residents who apply for citizenship. Just why is a mystery. The oath does not obtain the passport, because a birth certificate is of more value than swearing that one will defend the country from a foreign foe. It does little good, except to give the American another opportunity to show how good a citizen he may happen to be. Pacifists. Quakers and others object to taking an oath to bear arms in behalf of any country. A special affirmation was devised a few years ago for them. A recent supreme court decision in a citizenship case raised the question of whether this special oath any longer could be used The state department finally ruled that it could. It may be that some citizen will be found who will refuse to take aither test and will be denied a passport What good would that do? It prevents the individual from goto* out of the country, but does not change his views. A passport is a convenience In traveling. Because of the inclusion of the oath of allegiance, it ha* been turned into a test of citizenship. To us this appears A Billy thing, <t . ;sa li —>n>—■<'•. • Vi*

The Indianapolis Times (A SCKirPS-HOWABD NEWSPAPER) Owned and pobliebed daily wacept Sunday) bv The Indianapolis Times Publishing Cos., 214-22 U W Maryland Street. Indianapolis. Ind. I’rire in Marion County 2 centa-10 cent* a week: elsewhere. 3 cents—l 2 cents a week BOYD GLRLEY. BOY W. HOWARD, FRANK G. MORRISON, Editor President Business Manager PHONE— Riley .V,51 TUESDAY. JULY 23, 1929. Member of United Press, Scrlpr-e Howard Newspaper Alliance. Newspaper Enterprise Association, Newspaper Information Service and Audit Bureau of Circulations. “Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way.”

Truth and Fiction From an Illinois city comes the report that the local Keeley institute, devoted to the cure of inebriates, has been compelled to enlarge its quarters because of the increasing number of women that have become victims of the liquor habit. In the days before prohibition, says this report, women patients were almost unknown to the institute. This may prove all it seems to prove or it may not. One should have access to all the facts before undertaking to draw a moral. But does anyone deny •hat women of today drink more than women of *en years ago? Docs anyone deny that drinking in ! he home has become vastly more common than was he rase before the adoption of the Eighteenth amendment. The fact is so plain that it admits of no denial. The Saturday Evening Post is a weekly magazine intended to interest average Americans. In its fiction, as well as other articles, it endeavors to present life as average Americans see it. And Saturday Evening Post fiction has come, in these days, absolutely to drip with contraband liquor. It is not alone in this respect, of course, but the peculiar nature of this weekly lends significance to the tendency its fiction is taking. In the current issue is the tale of a Princeton student who becomes sentimental on his birthday and decides to slip home and give his family a surprise instead of going ou a bender in New York. But he finds his father and mother so occupied with cocktail and champagne parties that he scarcely is able io see them during his twenty-four-hour stay. That's about all there is to the story, save that the lad does go on a bender in New York to salve his wounded feelings. The several pages of the amusing yarn—it is written to be amusing—are devoted largely to cataloging all the things that papa and mama drank during the son's brief, unhappy sojourn at home. Truth may be stranger than fiction. Keeley institute enlarging its quarters to keep women inebriates from overcrowding it may be stranger than these imaginary’ parents who are too busy with booze to! help celebrate a son’s birthday. But this same fiction would have been as strange, ten years ago, as any’ truth that could have been ! printed in an American magazine. England’s Mines Next to disarmament, the labor governmeit of j England will find the coal mining problem its biggest job. Will the mines be nationalized? If so—and they j probably will—the results will be watched w’ith in- j terest on this side. Our coal mining industry leaves ■ much to be desired. That the government will move to have minerals in the earth declared the property of the state is indicated in the ‘'king's speech." The king’s speech, by the way, is not really the king's speech, but is the formal address of the prime minister, in this case Ramsay MacDonald. On this subject the speech says: “My government has under consideration the question of reorganization of the coal industry, including hours and other factors, and of ownership of the minerals. Proposals to this end will be submitted in due course.” This is understood in England to mean that the ! new’ government will seek to nationalize the mineral' wealth of the nation. As owner of the minerals, the j government can exercise a real control over mining, ! preventing waste, over-production, cut-throat compe- I tition. and the reduction of wages to impossible living j levels. Present conditions of the coal trade find few, if j any, defenders, and it is not anticipated that there | will be serious opposition to the government's program | for this reform. New York night clubs are said to be waning in j popularity’. What is needed is a raid or two to get j a little publicity.

David Dietz on Science

Plant Kingdom Alive

-No. 415

FROM certain viewpoints in biology, the chief functions of a li\ ing organism are two, self-preservation and reproduction. Self-preservation is not a very exact word, perhaps, from a scientific point of view. But it can be used in this sense to cover those successful activities, such as adaptation to environment, which enables the organism to stay alive. These two functions, it will be noted, insure, first.

Miuea

We regard plants as important because they furnish us our food and clothing and beautify our homes. However, if we wish to understand plants, we must think of them from their own point of view. ‘The goal of plant life." writes Professor Transeau, “is the development of the individual and the production of young for the continuance of the species. “A plant is successful in nature, therefore, tl) when it secures nourishment for its complete development, and when it produces offspring and thus insures reproduction of its kind." It is particularly important that we remember that plants are alive. At first glance, there seems little in common. Both are constructed of cells made of protoplasm. Both exhibit the other characteristics of living organisms—growth, reproduction, metabolism, response to stimuli, and so on. There are. of course, important differences between plants and animals. Plants, for the most part, are rooted unable to move from one spot to another. The organization of a plant is lower in the scale than that of an animal. There is no reason to suppose that plants possess consciousness, though a few authorities have suggested the idea that plants may have a sort of rudimentary consciousness which they have called sentiency. Most botanists, however, feel that there is no reason for believing that plants are sentient. In studying plants, the interesting thing is to note how the plant adapts itself to its environment so that it can accomplish its fundamental purposes of keeping alive itself and insuring the continuation of the race.

M. E. Tracy

' Ignorance Is, and Always Has Been Man's Greatest Tyrant; Trade and Travel Have Girdled the World With Self Interest. THE Bremen arrives, smashing all records and promising five-day | ships to Europe. Once the excitement is over, five days w’ill seem too slow’, just as six days seemed too slow twenty years ago, or twelve days fltfy years ago, or thirty days 100 years ago. The Bremen is only a few feet longer and a few hours faster than other first-class ships, but that is sufficient to set the crowds cheering. Cynics smile tolerantly. “What’s the rush?" they w’ant to know. a a a Speeding Up! IT took Columbus sixty-nine days to cross the ocean. What is more, it took humanity 5,000 years and over to acquire sense enough to concede him the privilege. The Bremen could swing a dozen ships like that in which Columbus sailed to her davits and w’alk away without knowing the difference, but the ship in which Columbus sailed did not represent much of an improvement over those of the Phoenicians. We have gained speed mentally as w'ell a.s mechanically. tt a tt World Revolution IT has been said that the Bremen symbolizes Germany’s comeback, which is true, but she symbolizes more. This ship, along with a thousand and one other devices of speed and power, symbolizes the most stupendous revolution in human history—a revolution that has made the world over without v.'ar, or bloodshed; a revolution that has altered the basic habits, methods and customs of human life; a revolution that has done more for freedom than some of us realize. a tt tt Tyranny of Ignorance WHETHER we think too much about freedom in a political sense, w’e think too little about it in an economic and intellectual sense. Freedom is a matter of being able to do things, as w'ell as to say things. What would the right to vote, or express an opinion, profit the sea anemone? Ignorance is. and always has been, man’s greatest tyrant, and ignorance is sustained by nothing so surely as the inability to get about to travel and trade. a tt a Unfolding Vision LIKE everything else, the craze for speed can be overdone, but that dees not prove it illogical, or unsound. The desire to go faster, to cover more ground, to break down distance, is not an idle fancy. Back of it is the desire to see more, learn more and acquire a saner appreciation of the world in which we live; a desire in strict accord with the first law of nature, which is growth. Speed may oppress us with time- j table, traffic rule and horror, but it more than offsets the damage with the larger vision it unfolds. tt tt tt War in Manchuria TAKE this Manchurian fracas, for instance, and would the outside world be giving a whoop but for the trade and travel likely to be interrupted? “No," you say, “and probably there wouldn’t be any Manchurian fracas, but for that selfsame trade and travel,” which sounds all right, but which is woefuly wrong. There was war in Manchuria long before there was a railroad, but there was no outside world to be helpfully interested. o tt e Why World Wants Peace AS it is, all the great governments are trying to avert conflict. They may not succeed, but they are trying, and that is a real innovation. From times immemorial governments have tried to make peace when neighboring governments threatened war. It was self-inter-est that moved them, but self-inter-est did not extend very far beyond their own frontiers. Trade and travel have girdled the earth with self-interest. In that lies the strength of the peace movement. tt O tt Self-Interest TIIE sneer at self-interest as a VV mean and sordid premise from which to reason, but is it? How are you going to understand the nature of a situation, much less what ought to be done about it, unless you have been there, or are likely to be? “As you would be done by," says the Golden Rule, but first you must know. 808 Living in a Small World TRADE and travel, as made possible by railroads, trucks and speedy ships, are not only teaching all people to know the world a little better, but to realize that they are living in it, and that nothing of great importance can happen anywhere, without affecting their interests. Time was when a war in Manchuria meant nothing to Europe and America, and when they could afford to let it pass. Now they are not so sure.. Even if confined to the original territory, it might hurt, but who knows that It could be so confined?

the life of the in- j dividual, and sec- I ondly, the life of the race. Plants are organisms. We will find, t h e r e f ore. that the most j successful plants j are those which! best carry out; these two func- j tions. We usually are in the habit of thinking of plants only in terms of ourselves. That is only natural.

Daily Thought

Profeslng themselree to be wise, they became fools.—Romans 1:22. tt tt tt IN seeking wisdom thou art wise; in imagining that thou hast attained it, thou art a fool—Rabbi s ....

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

SAYS:

IT is alleged by every visiting lecturer and some of our owm authors that America is under the complete domination of women. Various boy novelists from Louis Bromfield up—and even down —have complained bitterly that native literature becomes increasingly feminized. They say that the theatrical managers and the publishers cater increasingly to the patronage of women. And yet it must be so that a certain tether is given to the taste of men. Neither “Journey’s End” nor “What Price Glory?” was, according to any traditional standard, a woman's show’, but both prospered mightily. tt tt tt What Women Read AGAIN I would not say that “All's Quiet on the Western Front” was designed to please the boudoir trade, and yet, the sales mount daily. I am inclined to believe that in our own day no sharp line may be drawn between the literary taste of men and women. To only the slightest degree is there such a thing as a tale fashioned for a- single sex. With the vote and other perquisites, women have become world conscious. The restricted sphere which once was assigned them has been all but deserted for these ten years. In my opinion, another decade will see the complete passing of the woman's page in the newspapers and the curtailment of the typo of magazine put out to interest those who bake and sew. Authors are short-sighted in complaining that they must please women with their books, for it is the female reader who seems to have literary standards. Never has there been so large a discriminating audience. Thirty years ago the best known American playwright was Clyde Fitch. Today Eugene O'Neill rules the roost. In this change I see no diminution in quality of output, or virility either, for that matter. tt tt tt^ Earlier Favorites MY earliest memory of an American best seller is “Richard Carvel,” and now “Scarlet Sister Mary” sweeps the country. Surely, no indictment against the women readers can be based upon this development. They say that because of the influence of women our literature grows sick with sentimentalism and that it lacks all rugged fiber. But where’s the proof of this assertion? If the present literary taste has become over-sentimentalized through feminine influence, what explanation can be offered for the success of Ernest Hemingway, Theodore Dreiser, Sherwood Anderson and Sinclair Lewis? Os course, I do not accept the theory that men are realistically mm/Wi a,nri gnmjui mma.nf.ifaL If i

V, / K)- \\ 4 / '

Old-Time ‘Family Doctor’ Useful

BY DR. MORRIS FISHBEIN Editor Journal of. the American Medical Association and of Hvgela, the Health Magazine. MUCH is written in these modern times of the disappearance of the old-time family physician and his replacement by the specialists, who are familiar with all details of some single portion of the human body or with certain types of diseases. The old-time practioner had his merits. Not infrequently he practiced by rule of thumb as w’ell as by science. Most of the time he was up to the knowledge of his day. He practiced particularly the art of observation of the man as a whole and on the basis of these observations he not infrequently accomplished a great deal for his patients, even in instances where the modern specialist may overlook conditions because his mind is focused on a single point. In a summary of his years of nractice, a general practioneer from England has noted a few points which are an indication of the type of observation here mentioned.

IT SEEMS TO ME

The Road Hog!

■HEALTH IN HOT WEATHER

i Dr. David Tindal points out that a cultivation of the sense of smell and taste is essential to success in practice. It is possible for the practitioner on entering' a room and even before seeing the patient to know that the patient or someone in the vicinity has been drinking alcoholic liquors. There is a definite ordor assoj ciated with severe pus infections, j Diabetes and acidoses give the odor of acetone on the breath. Many times patients have applied to sprains or other irritations { liminiments containing strong smellI ing drugs, which are an indication | of the nature of the complaint. Some people with an unusually fine sense of smell can detect the | odor of escaping illuminating gas, previously unnoticed by members of the family, who have become so used to it that it does not strike ; them. Recent evidence indicates that the | constant breathing of small | amounts of illuminating gas may work serious injury and produce j startling symptoms.

Bv HEYWOOD BROUN

had any faith in generalizations, I would prefer to argue just the other way. I think that biology itself tends to emphasize in the minds of women the wholly practical nature of certain phases of life w’hich men are content to treat in rhapsody. We do not need to base the argument wholly upon the printed page or the w’ords which falll from the lips of players. I feel that there has been an extraordinary advance in conversational limitations. It has not been my privilege to hear “Shall We Join the Ladies?” in more than fifteen years. Preachers are correct in asserting that anecdotes once known only to stag gathering now pass about a dinner table. tt tt tt End of Inhibitions IF the question is asked whether it is admirable that custom should permit the telling of ribald stories

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. 1322 New York avenue Washington, D. C.. Inclosing 2 cents in stamps for reply. Medical and legal advice can not be given nor can extended research be made. All other , Questions will receive a personal reply. Unsigned reauests can not be answered. All letters are confidential. You are i cordially invited to make use of this service. What is the widest river in the United States? The Mississippi. Do the United States mints sell commemorative coins? Such coins are turned over by the treasury to the organizations for whom they are made to be sold. How many persons finished the Catalina channel swim sponsored by William Wrigley Jr., in January, 1927? Only one—George Young, Where did the expression 4 that “first impressions were more lasting” originate? It comes from an old Italian j proverb. Os what country is Australia a part? It is a self-governing member of the British commonwealth of nations. How much did it cost to produce the picture, "The Patent Leather Kid"? $1,529,035. Where doeo the former kaiser of Germany live" He is still an exile from Germany and resides at Doom Castle, Doom, Netherlands. Does it benefit the hair to go in imagining that thou hast at-! is much rilffarrtruf of - - - 4

I The old-time practitioner used to J give a good deal of attention to the condition of the tongue. It is now recognized that some people never | have a tongue that is especially j clean of deposits or furring, whereas others never have a tongue that ! contains such a deposit even when I they are ill. In general, however, a coating or disturbance in the appearance of the surface of the tongue may be taken as a sign of difficulty with digestion or with other diseases and should be an indication for an investigation. One thing which the old-time practitioner noticed particularly j was the fact that new cures always | helped any chronic condition tem- | porarily. This is a result of the eternal : hopefulness of the patient with a : chronic disease. In conditions in j which there is a psychologic back- ! ground particularly, such as some j of the nervous disorders, bed wetI ting and similar complaints, the j new cure seems to work wonders, but unfortunately is usually on tem- ■ porary in its effects.

Ideals and opinions expressed in this column are those of one of America’s most interesting writers, and are presented without regard to their agreement or disagreement with the editorial attitude of this paper.—The Editor.

in the presence of honorable women. I shall answer “Yes” without the slightest hesitation. My love of ribaldry is not intense. Most of the stories are not much good, but they serve as symbols. When a fairly strong tale goes by unrebuked, a barrier goes with it. The woman who flicks her cigaret and says, “Have you heard this one?” is bringing about a better and a cleaner America. A story with a double-edge acts as an ice breaker. It is not possible to hold a serious and important conversation until all the taboos which chill the spirit have been splintered. Men and women talk much more honestly to each other than ever before in America because the need for being finicky is abating. (Copyright, 1929, for The Times*

ion on this subject. It is a theory held by many but disputed by others.

What is the name of the book on aviation written by Captain Rickenbacker and by whom is it published? The book is entitled “Fighting the Flying Circus.” published by Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York.

“ SUITS $45 to $55 Values S6O to $65 Values 33 43 Wilson Bros. Haberdashery Reduced! DOTY’S 10 North Meridian Strdt

-JTXT 23. 1929

REASON

By Frederick Landis

The Governors, in Convention, Dropped All Action on. Prohibition, But Were Careful Xot to Drop Their Suitcases. AS that Russian boat, in the Black sea struck a floating ! mine, planted during the World war, ! and went down, drowning its pas- ! sengers and crew, so docs the dream |of world peace collide with the j grudge of old wars, drifting in the j memories of nations and go down, ! drowning the hopes of men. a a a The Governors in session at Connecticut dropped all action on prohibition, but they were very careful not to drop their suit cases. a a a A Swiss radio pioneer has arranged for orchestras of London, Paris. Berlin and Rome to play together through the mike, but what we need for peace on earth is for Germany and France to sing “Blest Be the Tie That Binds." a a a The most honorable positions we have is the presidency of the United States, but the most profitable position is that of referee in bankruptcy in the state of Florida. a a a A fine dog walked down to the j seashore in England and deliberately swam toward the west, commitj ting suicide, all because his master j had moved from a country house to i a town flat. If ever suicide is justified, it’s in | a case like that. tt tt tt T'HE likely selection of Claudius Huston. Tennessee business man, j for national chairman of the G. O. | P- emphasizes the fact that politics j has ceased being a human diversion | and has become an exact science. The machine has taken the place | of man in politics, as it has taken the place of the horse in agriculture. tt tt tt If Wickersham loses his job as | chairman of Mr. Hoover’s commisj sion now engaged in giving crime the once-over, he ought to be able, as a result of this burst of publicity, to write a testimonial of some kind. tt tt tt They said Mr Coolidge was silent, but he was just a good business man. I Instead of gabbing for nothing to Tom, Dick and Harry, he saved his mental merchandise and now is selling it to the magazines for several dollars a word. tt tt tt The Russian government is supplying unlimited vodka to the sev-enty-nine American business men touring the Soviet country. Let us hope none of our countrymen explodes when he lights his cigars. a a Warships of our Asiatic fleet saved forty-two passengers from a foundered German line in Chinese waters, w’hich is a little ointment tor the World war blister.

GRANT’S DEATH July 23

C\N July 23, 1885, General Ulysses S. Grant, eighteenth President, died at Mt. MacGregor, near Saratoga, N. Y., from a cancerous affection of the throat. Grant, son of an Ohio farmer, graduated from West Point in 1843 and served with distinction in the Mexican war. He resigned, however, from the army in 1854 and was working for his father at SBOO a year when the Civil war started. Commissioned a general and ordered to a command in the west, hp rendered important service there and w’on the first major victory lor the federals in that sector when he captured Ft. Henry and Ft. Dor.elson. His success was so great that on March 17. 1864, he v appointed commander-in-chiel of the federal armies. First movements of the federal armies under Grant, though unsuccessful in main design, so crippled the Confederates that they paved the way for ultimate victory and the end of the war. Grant entered politics as secretary of w’ar under President Johnson. He soon was recognized as presidential timber by both parties and each l sought to name him as its candidate. His views, however, were Republican in nature. He accepted that party's nomination in 1868 and wax elected by an overwhelming ma* jorityv