Indianapolis Times, Volume 42, Number 201, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 December 1930 — Page 5

DEC. 31,1930.

BIGGEST 19JO NEWS STORIES NOT FORGOTTEN BUT AGAIN WILL INTEREST READERS NEXT TEAR

Ohio Prison Disaster and Lingle Case Carrying Over Into 1931. BY BRUCE CATTON Staff Writer for NEA Service and The Times. (CoJjyriKht. 1330. by NEA Service. Inc.) Most of the “big stories” that flurried newspaper offices during 1930 are as dead now as the brittle and yellowed leaves of the newspaper files in which they were laid to rest. In nearly all cases, the great events that made startling headlines will never be heard from again, except by historians. A few, however, will carry over Into 1931. They were news stories ihat should have carried "to be continued next year” at the end. They bred headlines in 1930 and they will [ breed more headlines in 1931. || Chief among these is the story '■■vthat newspaper mei\ generally rank the biggest story of the year—the fire in the Ohio penitentiary at Columbus on April 21, in which 320 convicts were burned to death. The last embers of that fire have long since turned cold. The gaunt, warehouse-like building housing G and H cell blocks, where the 320 convicts .died, has been rebuilt and refurnished. Fire-blackened walls have been made over, heat-bent iron bars have been replaced, and a new group of convicts occupies the space formerly used by the men Ohio’s negligence killed. More to Be Heard But the Ohio prison fire story, as a story, is not over yet. More will be heard from it—much more. The Ohio penitentiary was antiquated and horribly overcrowded last spring. It was so extremely out of date that when a small fire started 320 convicts were killed before prison officials could get them to safety. It was so overcrowded that for a month after the fire the prison was a regular powder mine, ready to explode into a dreadful riot on the slightest provocation. Few people realize how narrowly the worst prison riot in all history was averted in those days just after the fire. The important thing to realize now is that little, if any, real improvement has been made since the fire. The conditions that bred trouble last spring still exist. Problem Not Solved After the fire it was agreed everywhere that Ohio needed an entirely new prison system. Today Ohio has the same system it had a year ago. So the Ohio prison holocaust will figure in the news in 1931. The fire last spring revealed a problem that has not yet been solved. Another of the newspaper sensations of 1930 was the murder in Chicago of Alfred (Jake) Lingle, reporter for the Chicago Tribune. Lingle was shot down in a subway beneath Michigan avenue by

< < 1931 > > * I We take this opportunity of extending our best wishes for a happy and a prosperous New Year to the citizens of Indianapolis and of Indiana. .# / f HOSIERY MILLS, *nc. WORLD’S LARGEST MANUFACTURER OF SILK HOSIERY AND MAKERS OF FINE LINGERIE

gangsters, in broad' daylight, with hundreds of people near by. That story, too, will have a carryover in 1931. It was supposed at first that he was killed because he had been too active in exposing gangland activities; then it developed that this, unfortunately, was not the case. Instead it was shown that he had been altogether too intimate with certain gangsters. Resented Refusal His death came because one gang faction resented his refusal to extend to it the favors that he extended to another faction, favors he apparently was able to get because of his close connection with high police officials. In a broader sense, the “big story” of 1930 probably was the upheaval in India. There Mahatama Gandhi, idol of millions of Indians, despaired of ever getting the concessions he wanted from the British government, and led the nation into a “passive resistance” struggle for complete independence. Gandhi himself was arrested, and he is now lodged in prison. His followers, however, are continuing their struggle for independence. Hundreds of them have been killed in clashes with police and soldiers. Many more have been imprisoned. But the struggle is as tense now as it was early in the year, and shows no signs of abating. Still another of the “to be continued” stores of 1930 was the story of the London naval armament reduction treaty. Case Reviewed Twice Signed in the spring, this treaty puts new restrictions on the navies of England, Japan and the United States, restrictions which will have marked effects on the actions of the navai leaders in all of these countries during 1931. In the United States, for example, many warships will be scrapped. The battleship Utah will be towed out, to sea and sunk by gunfire as a target for the battle fleet New construction will be begun and the American congress will have to determine just how much new construction it cares to initiate. The same is true of the other signatory powers. The London naval treaty, therefore, will be in the headlines again in 1931. There is also the Mooney-Eilllings case. California's supreme court twice reviewed the case, and each time refused to recommend a pardon. King Carol to Figure However, California will have a new Governor in 1931, former Mayor James Rolph of San Francisco; and Rolph, known to be more sympathetic to Mooney and Billings than his predecessors, is expected to reopen the case. Then there are the stories about Carol of Rumania. When 1930 opened, Carol was a disinherited prince living in Paris. Unexpectedly he went back to Rumania, taking his place as king and

Guides Carol

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Here’s the power behind the throne in Rumania. King Carol may have scanty experience in statesmanship, but the nation’s premier, Konstantin Argetoianu, is a veteran in politics. M. Argetoianu here is shown in his latest posed portrait.

taking his son Michael off the throne. An open break between Carol and his wife, Queen Helen, developed; and it can confidently be expected that the newspapers of 1931 will have plenty of material about King Carol. One of the major tragedies of 1930 was the w T reck of the big British dirigible R-101. destroyed by fire over France. This, too, will have its effect in 1931. Helium gas is being used by all dirigibles now in place of the inflammable hydrogevn formerly used everywhere but in the United States, and this is a direct outgrowth of the R-101 disaster. Furthermore, plans for construction and operations of dirigibles in 1931 will be affected by the lessons drawn from the fate that befell the R-101. Lastly, 1930 produced a nationwide congressional election, the effects of which will make headlines for a long time toi come. That election, wiping out Republican control of the house and senate, put many new men into office, retired some long-established politicians from public life and gave new force to such political issues as prohibition and the power trust. Reviewing these cases, it is easy to see that not all of the “big stories” of 1930 died immediately after they were printed. Some of the most important ones will have revivals from time to time during 1931.

TO all our members and our many friends we extend cordial wishes for a happy and successful New Year. ROUMANIAN PROGRESSIVE CLUB W. Wash, and Blackford Sts.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

RULING SLOWS UP APPELLATE COURTJPEED Written Opinions Necessary, Say Supreme Justices in Decision. Speed of the Indiana appellate court in deciding cases will be slowed up considerably, due to a decision handed down by the supreme court Tuesday. The opinion written by Judge Clarence R. Martin, reverses a former finding of the high court and holds that written opinions must be handed down in all cases decided by the appellate court. In the past the appellate court has speeded decisions by handing down a notice of reversal or affirmation signed “Per Curram,” which means “By the court.” But the new ruling holds that since the supreme court is constitutionally bound to write opinions, setting forth issues and findings in each case, the appellate court must also follow this procedure. Judge Julius C. Travis dissented and Chief Justice David A. Myers joined in the appellate court requirement finding and case conclusions. The case was that of William R. Hunter et al. vs. the Big Four railway. Lower court findings having been affirmed in the appellate court “per curiam,” the case was appealed to the high court in an effort to make the appellate court set forth its findings in an opinion. After the Martin decision was handed down, appellate * judges joined the supreme court in conference Tuesday afternoon. The decision was said to have been discussed, as was also the fate of fifty-three appellate misdemeanor

f WISHING Bpl YOU A HAPPY 1931 —and if offering you greater values will make you joyous—we know 1931 will be brim full of happiness and surprises. Cohere 9ashion and SconomyJfat HARLES , 4 W. Wash.

Job Is Tough

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The toughest airmail line in the world is the one flown regularly by Tom Ward, above, who went to Central America three years ago to fly the mail daily from Guatemala to Honduras. ‘His route is over a region of volcanoes, where there is no possibility whatever of making an emergency landing. Ward was photographed as he arrived in Los Angeles to take a much-needed rest.

Burglars Loot Store By United Press NORTH WEBSTER, Ind., Dec. 31. —Burglars who forced entrance to the Jefferson Garber general store early today hauled away S3OO worth of merchandise and took $5 from the North Webster postoffice, operated in connection with the store. appeals from appellate court on which the high court has not acted and all of which raise the question of constitutionality. Today the jurisdiction of the appellate court in misdemeanor cases expires.

HOOVER DODGES PART IN LUCAS, NORRISDISPUTE Entirely Too Much Is Being Made of Issue, Is Word Passed Down Line. By United Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.—The White House has decided to disassociate Itself as far as possible

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from the Lucas-Norris controversy, it was learned today. Furthermore, the White House has passed out word all down the line to the party leaders warning them that entirely too much is being made of the issue. There apparently is no intention of carrying forward the demand made by the focal figure of the debate, Robert H. Lucas, executive secretary of the Republican national committee that steps be taken to oust from the party Senator George W. Norris (Rep., Neb.). The matter is to be treated by those in high command as a personal dispute between Lucas and Norris rather than sis a party matter, it is said. If the Nye investigation reveals after the holidays that others than Lucas were involved in the effort to

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defeat Norris for re-election last fall, that matter will be handled when it occurs. For the present the watchword is “forget it.” This not only represents the view at the White House but also that of those high in the party who havq not yet become embroiled in thq controversy. Republican senators who recently have seen the President have come away with refusals to answer questions about the Lucas matter, usually adding, “I have something more important on my mind. Aged Resident Dies By Tiyics Special SHELBYVTLLE, Ind., Dec. 31. Ulysses G. Redenbaugh, 67, a resident of this city, is dead of apoplexy. He leaves his widow, two sons and two daughters.