Indianapolis Times, Volume 43, Number 236, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 February 1932 — Page 4

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SCKIFPJ-HOWAMD

One Oversight However long it mag continue, we arc in the midst of a difficult economic condition. Property values have declined. Business earnings and personal incomes have been seriously impaired, in some cases wiped out. Prices of staple commodities have fallen. Business and personal affairs have had to be adjusted to meet these conditions. Taxes, almost alone among major items in the cost of living and the cost of producing commodities, have failed to recede proportionately. This is the statement of Will Irwin, capitalist, philanthropist, financier and now the head of an organization devoted to the great task of reducing the cost of government. He will find support for his movement. Public opinion will go along in the direction of eliminating waste and extravagance, whether it exists in the frills of the schools or the washing of the statehouse. But public opinion would move much faster if this same organization of very powerful men, who sit on directorates of banks and utility companies, would also announce that the same indictment against high taxes applies to high utility rates with even more force and emphasis. The injustice of the utility taxation—for that is a very direct form of taxation upon all industry and upon living costs—is made more intolerable by the fact that the rates have been levied, presumably, upon fictitious valuations. They were fixed on valuations that implied high cost of labor, high cost of commodities, even speculative increment, and not upon invested dollars. For at least a decade the utilities have taxed the people on their prosperity. They have not even receded to a basis of invested dollars while other business, as Mr. Irwin suggests, has suffered to the point of confiscation. One of the big factors in the high tax emergency is the amount charged for utility service to cities, except where these are publicly owned. In those cities high taxes are not a problem. In Indianapolis the city pays ‘ two utilities approximately one million dollars a year. Asa means of obtaining immediate relief, can it be suggested that this new and powerful organization demand at once a cut on rates charged by every utility—telephone, gas, water, and electric power? Why the Silence? With numerous citizens indicating a willingness, not to say eagerness, to become the Governor of the state, as yet the people have received no indication as to what these citizens would do if elected. The people of the state are quite fed up on the lack of any utility regulation. The mayors of cities are forming a permanent organization to demand justice or create competition through public ownership. Here is a subject upon which any candidate, in either party, might be expected to take a very definite stand with a xpry definite announcement of what remedies he would apply. Some months ago Paul McNutt announced that he would fire the present membership. Perhaps other candidates may have something better to offer, unless they expect the support, financial and moral, of the utility forces. Nor has there been any definite platform by any candidate on how the tax burden is to be redistributed so as to place it more equitably. The farmers demand relief. They see serfdom ahead. The small home owner is faced by confiscation. Here is a subject for profitable discussion and popular appeal unless the candidate hopes to get in with the usual big business and big tax dodging support. Perhaps some candidate may catch the idea that the people are more interested in principles than in personalities this year. Thus far the old parties have left the field to Ward Hiner, about whose stand on any subject radio listeners are left in no doubt whatever. To Prettify War Hostility of the United States government to any effective world disarmament was demonstrated again Tuesday by the American plan presented to the Geneva conference. European delegates were surprised and disappointed that the United States, which is spending more on armaments than any other nation, should have nothing better to offer a deficitridden world than this lame program. But Europeans are no more disappointed than American citizens will be, who have been fed for month3 with administration propaganda about this Geneva conference. The American plan, as presented Tuesday, is divided into nine so-called points: Point one merely expresses willingness to join in the conference discussions. Point two expresses the pious hope that France and Italy will adhere to the abortive London naval treaty, and “suggests the possibility of prolonging the existing naval agreements.” Point three advocates “proportional reduction” of the London and Washington treaties’ naval quotas if and when France and Italy adhere to the London treaty—a very unlikely event Point four advocates “total abolition of submarines.” This is as absurd as it is hypocritical. The American government knows there already is one treaty restricting submarines, which is unratified. The American government knows that submarines will be used in war time, regardless of treaties. The American government knows that the submarine is an inexpensive defense weapon of small nations which have no other protection against mighty naval .powers, such as Britain and the United States, Point fiye says “we will join in formulating the

The Indianapolis Times (A SCRIPPS-HOWAKD NEWSPAPER) Owned and published dally (except Sunday) by The Indianapolis Times Publishing Cos., 214-220 West Maryland Street, Indianapolis, Ind. Price in Marion County, 2 cents a copy; elsewhere, 3 rents—delivered by carrier, 12 cents a week. Mall subscription rates in Indiana. $3 a year; outside of Indiana, 65 cents a month. BOYD GURLEY. ROY W. HOWARD. EARL D. BAKER • Editor President Business Manager PHONE—Riley .VAI WEDNESDAY. FEB. 10. 1932. Member of T'nited Press, Scrlpps-Howard Newspaper Alliance. Newspaper Enterprise Association, Newspaper Information Service and Audit Bureau of Circulations. “Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way.”

most effective measures to protect civilian populations against aerial bombing.” But the American government knows that the International Red Cross report states—what is clear to every one—that effective protection of civilians against air warfare is impossible. Point six advocates “the total abolition of lethal gases and bacteriological warfare.” But the American government knows there already is a 1922 antigas war treaty which has not been put into effect, and that there is a Geneva anti-gas protocol which the United States has signed, but never ratified. The real policy of the American government was stated last year by the secretary of war in his annual report: “It would, moreover, be an extremely hazardous policy to rely on an international agreement as a complete protection against chemical attack. In a death struggle for existence, there always would be the danger that a nation in dire straits would resort to chemical weapons if it saw in that agency the means of escaping defeat and achieving victory.” Because peacetime chemical industries can not be restricted, but can be converted into war industries over night, any talk of effective abolition of gas warfare by treaty either is stupid or deliberately deceptive. Point seven about computation of the number of armed forces is so vague that it is meaningless. Point eight advocates “special restrictions for tanks and heavy mobile guns”—another obviously futile gesture. Point nine is a left-handed refusal to accept unconditional budgetary limitation of armaments. The only method which has much chance of international acceptance is to cut armaments on the basis of costs. The American plan is not a disarmament plan. It is only another plan to make war pretty—which can’t be done. Free Men Need the Jobs A plan is said to be planned in the senate by Senator Carter Glass and the southern guard to block the La Guardia bill making illegal the employment of convicts on federal aid highways. It is to be hoped they will not succeed. Granting that in some states convict road camps have been beneficial to prisoners and that extension under certain conditions is in line with good penology, it seems bitterly unfair to subsidize prison labor at a time when 8,000,000 and more free workers are begging for jobs. Prior to last year, federal aid to states for roads totaled only $75,000,000 annually. Asa measure of jobless relief, congress increased this to $125,000,000 in the 1932 budget. A pittance, indeed, is this additional $50,000,000, but it was voted for free workers, and* to free workers it should go. If Florida, Virginia, Alabama and New Jersey insist upon misusing this money to work convicts, as they are reported to be doing, then they should be restrained by law 7 . Plenty of outdoor jobs remain for prisoners without making new jobs from the one bit of emergency unemployment relief money the federal government has stirred itself to'provide. Convicts wall be fed regardless. The same, unfortunately, can not be guaranteed the law-abiding unemployed and their families, desperately in need of money from these road jobs. Now Metropolitan-Opera will be broadcast. Judging from the size of most opera singers, it’s never been anything else. A dermatologist states that the average woman has sixteen square feet of skin. But of course that statement covers a lot. While financial ills are besetting the world, Mussolini has taken to motorcycling. But even in that he’s got to keep his balance. A writer says Poland is rattling the saber. So is Japan, and if India starts it’s likely to become a racket. Black painted lips are the latest fad. Just another evidence that when things look darkest they’re usually pretty soft. Probably ought to extend that moratorium to include leap year. First the depression gets a man down and then the women leap on him. If Socrates had lived In these days of prohibition, he probably would have learned to take the hemlock and say, “Not bad with a wash.” Songs have immortalized the corner where the gang used to hang around. The depression has immortalized the corner where prosperity is still hanging. Experts say unless world powers step in and halt Japan's invasion, China will turn red. But if world powers ales step in, Japan probably would be blue.

Just Every Day Sense BY MRS. WALTER FERGUSON

MANY of our 100 per cent patriots talk about the danger of entangling foreign alliances. “Let us stay out of international affairs,” they say, “and leave Europe and her leagues alone. Let's attend strictly to our own business.” Yet even then, it seems to me, they leave things dangling. They fail to go far enough with this idea. For they never state in definite terms what is not America's business abroad. From what we gather, however, the general opinion is that it is not our business to help foreign powers out of their trade slump or with their postwar adjustments. And it is our business as individuals and corporations to get all their resources we can acquire. It is not our business to consider China’s present predicament, although it has been our business for decades to send our missionaries over there to meddle with her religious beliefs. s n a VAST sums are invested by American capitalists and American churches in foreign lands, as everybody knows. Our engineers, geologists, salesmen and clergymen are tramping up and down the globe, ballyhooing for trade and the white man’s creeds. While this goes on, the isolationists are hard up for an argument. Today our marines are in foreign ports. The city of Shanghai, invaded by the Japanese, contains sev- i eral thousand American residents, permanently located there and established in the various trades, j If it is not our business to protect our citizens and our investments in Europe, then assuredly we should pick up our doll rags and come home and stay here. Yet this is what the super-patriot, the America-is-God’s-country sort never will to do. When it is to his benefit to be aloof, he’is ah for isolation. When it is to his benefit to meddle, he meddles.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

M. E. Tracy Says:

If the Country Is Sore at Republicans for Doing Nothing, Why Should It Enthuse Over Democrats for Doing the Same Thing? NEW YORK, Feb. 10.—Regarding triumph as virtually assured by dissatisfaction with the Hoover administration, many Democrats b> lieve that their party’s one and only problem is to avoid offense. They see no need for a candidate with positive ideas, or a platform with specific pledges. In fact, they look upon both as unnecessarily dangerous. The weakness of such an attitude should be apparent to any one. If the country is sore at Republicans for doing nothing, why should it enthuse over Democrats for doing the same thing? If the big idea is to straddle issues and play safe, why swap horses? tt tt New Plan Needed THE dissatisfaction which exists is economic, not political. What people want is not another party, but another plan. Millions of citizens are convinced that something really heroic must be done, something that touches bedrock with respect to credit, the distribution of wealth and the readjustment of industry. These people may not represent a majority, but they do represent the balance of power. They are going to say who will be the next President, and if the Democratic candidate has nothing better to offer tnan Mr. Hoover, it will be hard to convince them that a change is desirable. tt tt tt Twaddle 'ls Out’! WE face an emergency which has been growing more critical for two years. The twaddle which does very well in normal times will not do this trip. The demand for relief goes much deeper than partisanship, and it can not be satisfied by Fourth of July oratory, or torchlight parades. Strong and intelligent elements of the electorate believe that certain conditions are responsible for the nation’s plight—conditions which have resulted from stupid laws on the one hand, or the lack of wise laws on the other. There is a steadily growing demand for the right to express an opinion regarding these conditions, or some of them at least. Under our system of government, this right can not be exercised, unless one party or the other takes a specific stand. u a tt Quit Straddling TO put the thing plainly, independent voters want a chance to say what they think about prohibition, foreign policy, the tariff, power, farm relief and some other important issues. With the Republicans committed to a milk and water policy, they expect the Democrats to give them such a chance. If the Democrats fail, what profit would there be in throwing the present administration out of power? The fact that large numbers of progressive Republicans are dissatisfied with Mr. Hoover, does not mean that they are ready to vote the Democratic ticket without. a reasonable excuse. tt tt tt Sick of Evasion THE county is not looking for another Hoover, another Harding, or even another (Joolidge. If it were, it knows where to find them. What the country wants is a positive, forceful, courageous leader, backed by a party which has vision enough, and political sense enough to give him the proper support. The country wants a platform which contains something besides glittering generalities, which does not confine itself to “pointing with pride,” or, “viewing with alarm.” The country is sick of evasion and ambiguity, sick of the side-stepping and pussyfooting by which politicians have saved themselves, while throwing dust in its eyes on so many past occasions. The country is waiting to hear from the Democratic party. If it doesn’t hear something worth while, why should it get excited?

People’s Voice

Editor Times—Some time ago I answered a knock at my door. It was a man in the uniform of an American soldier. He told me he had fought for his country in the World war, and now what has this America to offer him? No jpb and a family to support. One who suffered hell for his country, begging for food. I’m German and I want to tell you Americans why such men as this are out of work. I have come to this country since the World war. Until the time I came across I taught English in the schools of Berlin. I was 21 years old at the time of the war, and I remember what your boys and ours went through, and to think yours should suffer now! It was a terrible thing, that war. I never want to live through another. Days without food, weeks without sleep. I wonder if you know the real cause of that war, the same as the cause of this next will be? In 1914 all blame was put on the kaiser. Did any one ever try to get the real cause? I think not, for that war made a great many millionaires. At the beginning of the war, Germany was a booming country and all America was content and progressing, was it not? Germany was headed straight for the trade center of the world. This satisfied every one but England. She is a greedy country. She was making grand attempts to keep Germany back. War was the only safe way. We had war and plenty of it. Os course Germany lost. You blame the kaiser. I lived under his rule and we were all content and we loved him. Now, we have no kaiser and no doubt we will have war again. Who will you blame then? Although England will not be blamed, she will be the cause. Do you think India wants to be forever under their rule? She will fight for freedom. MRS. ERIC VON STRAUGHIN.

DAILY HEALTH SERVICE Thallium Poisoning Grave Danger

BY DR. MORRIS FISHBEIN Editor Journal of the American Medical Association and of Hygeia. the Health Magazine. 'T'HE new discoveries of science are not, always unmitigated benefits to the human race. Only a few years have passed since modern chemistry discovered an element called thallium. It was found to be related in its action to the action of lead and of arsenic. Among the first uses to which the product was put was to mix it with various grains and other substances in the form of a paste which permitted its sale as a rat poison. Its special value as a poison was due to the fact that it would not warn a rat away by any special odcr or taste. It would depress the heart severely and injure the nervous system and thus produce death. The very factors which made it especially useful as a rat poison

IT SEEMS TO ME

I HATE cellophane. This is not the most important issue current in the world today, but it isn’t possible to write a column every afternoon about war and peace, economic readjustment and unemployment. Once upon a time I acted as a scort of volunteer agent for a literary man who wished to try his wings in newspaper work. Since this was long before the crash, the editor, whom I knew, was receptive. He thought well of the capabilities of my friend, but one factor disturbed him not a little. The gentleman in question was enormously, interested in religion. He had written no less than half a dozen books against it. “I think K. might be swell for us,” said the morning paper executive, “but, golly! Hey wood, you don’t think he’ll want to write an editorial against God every day, do you?” By now I can’t remember whether Mr. K. made good this gloomy fear or whether he scattered his shots a little. But in any case I have for the moment one hate, and one alone. And that is cellophane. a a From a Full Heart IN cases of such deep-seated antipathy it is well to look for some purely personal prejudice. But in this instance you need not look. I will confess all in explaining why I am conditioned against cellophane. It began on the opening night of a small musical revue called “Shoot the Works!” in which I was interested. Indeed, I acted, or, to put it more precisely, I appeared, in a sketch. In so far as anything in the playlet was important, it was essential that I should smoke a cigaret. That was the plot of the piece. Cast, by a strange coincidence, in the role of a performer, I was to puff away, in violation of the regulations, whereupon a fireman—also an actor—was supposed to appear and tell me to stop. From that one thing led to another, including severrl jokes and a song. It was the fireman who sang the song. But it was quite impossible for him to make his entrance until I began to blow great clouds of smoke. u * * First Night'Fever UNDER the influence of first-: night nervousness I forgot to have a cigaret all lighted and in hand when the curtain went up. That had been on my mind, for I have observed how difficult it is to strike a match when the fingers tremble. In sheer panic, I reached into my pockets and found not only a package of cigarets, but matches as well. That seemed a lucky and an unusual break. But it was a brand new pack, thoughtfully supplied by an efficient dresser. The cursed things were all bound round in cellophane. I slashed at the covering with five or six thumbs. It cracked, but refused to yield to my touch. My

They Asked for Bread —

made it dangerous to human beings, and particularly to children. Some time after the product was first introduced as a rat poison, it was found to have the special virtue of causing the hair to fall out. Great numbers of people are sorrowful because they have hair on parts of their body where it should not be and because constant shaving and the application of various caustic substances are annoying. Furthermore, there are diseases of the scalp, particularly in children, in which the first process in treatment is to cause all of the hair to fall out so that the disease may be reached. Physicians, therefore, began to use the drug, both internally and externally, in the form of cream, to produce falling of the hair. Occasionally reports appeared of thallium poisoning in children who had received overdoses. Then nu-

fingers slid off the glazed surface as if I had been a Galahad in a great hurry to rescue a princess on the top of a glass mountain. And ■when J clawed again half a fingernail came off. I could not sing or dance or supply a single thing to cover the monstrous stage wait. The future of the American drama hung in the balance, and I was balked by cellophane. After blood and tears and curses, I managed to crack the shell and get a cigaret, all bruised and broken from the mauling. It didn’t draw well, and neither did the sketch. I have always attributed the coolness of the first-night audience to this one unfortunate incident. The show was supposed to be swift, genial, and intimate. And so it might have been if cellophane had not raised its ugly head. As things stood, my nerves and my temper were too harassed to take the audicrce into my confidence as to my feelings. We of the cast loved our little show and wished to keep it clean. tt tt tt A Symbol of Frustration AS a devoted Freudian I am convinced that no one incident, however pertinent, is likely to be the sole cause of a complex. My cellophanitis is probably more deeply rooted. Indeed, this slippery cuticle is in itself the perfect symbol of those insulating inhibitions by which men live and suffer. Psychically speaking, we are all

Questions and Answers

How many registrations were there in the World War selective draft in the United States and when did they occur? There were three registrations; one on June 5, 1917, for men between the ages of 21 and 31 inclusive; the second, from June 5 to Aug. 5, 1918, included those who had reached the age of 21 since last registration, and the third, on Sept. 12, 1918, included men from 18 to 46 inclusive. Has the eldest son of the King of England always borne the title prince of Wales? The title was originally borne by native rulers of Wales, who were suzerains of the English crown. Edward I, when expecting the birth of his second son (his first, Alphonso, died) promised the,Welsh to give them a prince who would bring no dishonor upon them, and who would not be able to speak a word of English when he was born. The title for the oldest son dates from Edward II in 1284. Os what is ordinary window glass made? White sand, sodium sulphate and limestone. Are there any naturalized Japanese in the United States? The naturalization of Japanese is prohibited by law. Japanese bom in the United States are natural bora citizens.

mercus reports were received of serious poisoning, though not fatal, from the use of depilatory creams containing this substance. Now newspapers record the death in California of four Mexican children and five adult Mexicans from eating grain which had been mixed with thallium chloride in order that it might be used as a rat poison. The starving Mexicans, who were concerned in this serious incident, had made tortillas cut of the grain. There is, unfortunately, no certain antidote for thallium poisoning. The physician may administer sodium thiosuphate, found to be effective to some extent in poisoning by arsenic, and he may use all usual measures for supporting life while the body tries to overcome disease. Certainly, thallium is sufficiently dangerous to demand a warning poison label on the product whenever it is sold.

Ideals and opinions esorrssed in this eoluran are those of one of America’s most interesting writers and are rrrsented without regard to their agreement or disagreement with the editorial attitude of this naocr.—The Editor.

DV HEYWOOD BROUN

wrapped in cellophane, to our sorrow. Perhaps, as in the case of cigarets, it keeps us sanitary. But we would like it better by far to be more free and joyful and much less antiseptic. Cellophane is as thin and as transparent as a neurosis or a prejudice. And just as tough. Perhaps in time I may become reconciled to its existence and learn a technique whereby it can be ripped away at a second’s notice. But until that bright day dawns, I am like the gentleman in the old bass-baritone solo. I want what I want when I want it. And without benefit of cellophane. (Copyright, 1932, by The Times) M TODAY £<3 /world war \ REORGANIZE WAR DEPARTMENT Feb. 10 ON Feb. 10, 1918, Secretary of War Newton D. Baker issued an order for complete reorganization of the war department. Secretary Baker directed the chief of the general staff to establish five divisions of the staff: (l) an executive division under an executive assistant to the chief of staff; (2) a war plans division under a director: (3) a purchase and supply division under a director; (4) a storage and traffic division under a director; (5) an army operations division under a director. Germans made an attack near Caurieres Wood but were repulsed. Australians raided German positions southeast of Messines. The Rumanian cabinet resigned after receiving an ultimatum from Germany demanding peace negotiations be begun in four days.

Parties- -Parties—Parties! Our Washington Bureau has ready for you anew bulletin on Parties for All Occasions, Holiday Parties, Lincoln and Washington’s Birthday Parties, “Kid” Parties for Grownups, Children’s Parties, and a lot m#>re. It gives interesting suggestions for decorations! games and costumes for all sorts of parties. If you want a copy! fill out the coupon below and mail as directed: CLIP COUPON HERE Dept. 161. Washington Burau The Indianapolis Times, 1322 New York avenue. Washington, D. C. I want a copy of the bulletin PARTIES, and inclose herewith S cents in coin or loose, uncanceled postage stamps, to cover return postage and handling costs: NAME STREET AND NO CITY STATE I am a reader of Times. (Code No.)

.FEB. 10, 1932

SCIENCE BY DAVID DIETZ Progress of Science Is Recounted in Car neg ie Institution's Massive Year Book, Just Off the Presses. A BULKY book of 488 pages lies upon my desk. That book is a sample of how the world is being remade under our very eyes. It is “Year Book No. 30” of the Carnegie institution of Washington, the institution’s report for the year extending from July 1, 1930. to June 30, 1931. It is a record of one of the greatest and most important research organizations in the world. On Jan 28, 1902. Andrew Carnegie founded the Carnegie institution of Washington with an endowment of $10,000,000 in registered bonds. Later he increased this to $22,000,000. It was the dream of Carnegie and his scientific advisers to build a great research organization which could undertake the study of problems of major importance, problems which required special equipment and the co-opoeration of many trained men over long periods of time. Today. Carnegie’s dream is a reality. Under the leadership of Dr. John C. Merriam, president of the Carnegie Institution *of Washington, a notable group of scientists are working in laboratories maintained by the institution in many parts of the country. A great observatory, boasting the world's largest telescope, stands upon Mt. Wilson. On the desert near Tucson. Ariz., is the desert laboratory, devoted to the study of plan? nhvsiology. In Boston, the institution maintains a nutrition laboratory: at Cold Spring Harbor. Long Island, a laboratory of genetics: at Washington, laboratories of geophysics and of terrestial magnetism, and so on. it tt tt Archeologists Busy A NOTHER important phase of the institution’s work is its archeological research. The institution has been interested particularly in the problems of the Maya empire. At the present moment, President Merriam is in Yucatan where at Chichcn Itza, once the foremost city of the Maya empire, researches are being resumed under the direction of Dr. Sylvanus Morley. The institution has set anew i standard for archeological work. As ; ancient temples and buildings are | unearthed, they are restored upon l their original sites, so that when the work is completed, Chichen Itza will stand forth in all of its original glory. In addition to the work carried on in its own laboratories and by its own expeditions, the institution is interested in the work of a group of distinguished scientists in various parts of the nation who are “research associates” of the institutions. The present report of 488 pages is only a summary of the work of the institution for the year. The actual results of research occupy many, many times that number of pages. Three pages of fine print are needed to list the publications is- ! sued by the institution during the | year. Another twenty-three pages j are needed to list the articles contributed to magazines and journals by the scientific staff of the institution during the year. tt tt tt Stars Cataloged A MONG the important publications of the institution during the last year is the Albany catalog of 20,811 stars. This gives the exact position of each one of those stars, determined with the greatest care and the finest instruments. This important catalog is the second published by a department of the institution known as the Department of Meridian Astrometry. Astrometry is a branch of astronomy, concerned with the exact measurements of star positions. In 1928, the department published a similar catalog dealing with stars of the southern hemisphere and known as the San Luis catalog. The department now is working on a general catalog dealing with stars of both the northern and southern hemispheres which it expects to publish within two or three years.' These catalogs are of the utmost' importance to the science of astronomy. They supply the raw material, so to speak, for countless studies in the future. Many problems of the structure of the galaxy, the motions of the stars, and so on, require such' data. In his report, President Merriam calls attention to the death of Dr. Albert A. Michelson on May 9,1931. Dr. Michelson was one of the research associates of the institution,* spending part of each year at the Mt. Wilson observatory. It was at the observatory that his famous experiments to measure the speed of light were carried on.

Daily Thought

Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.— Isaiah 60:20. God has commanded time to console the unhappy.—Joubert.