Indianapolis Times, Volume 43, Number 267, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 March 1932 — Page 6

PAGE 6

ItOIPPJ- H OW * M l.

The Challenge of Fredrick “I would vest control of banking and banking credits in a federal board of economists, appointed for life, uninterested in gainful occupations and empowered to supervise, control and direct the credits without which business can not function and the hungry can not eat.” This is not the statement of a fellow trying to break into the penal farm for radical doctrines, but the fully considered declaration of John Fredrick of Kokomo, most conservative of business men, a great manufacturer, head of vast business organizations, and incidentally a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor. It constitutes a challenge to the party of which he is a member to take some stand for measures to end the period of hunger for the many, of bankruptcies, of joblessness. It hits at the private control of banks, which is about as radical a step as can be imagined. Control of banks means control of all industry. Asa remedy for the present evils, it is worthy oi discussion and examination. If it meets with approval on the part of other business men and of those who have hopes of some day obtaining a job, the question might arise as to whether Mr. Fredrick is seeking the right office to make it effective. But any sentiment that may be aroused could be translated into party platiorms. The declaration of Fredrick is significant because cf its source. When men of large affairs see state capitalism as the solution, other men of affairs, large and small, may begin to ponder on what other changes may be needed in the present machinery to make it workable. Basketball Broadcasts Every year for six years The Times has broadcast, over WFBM, the account of state basketball tournaments. It did this as a matter of enterprise and at a cost of many hundreds of dollars each year. It began when the tournaments were at the fairground and the expense was heavy. Asa matter of fact, the broadcast by The Times was a feature of the tournament. This year there will be no broadcast by The Times. The owner of the radio station is the Indianapolis Power and Light Company. This year, because The Times performed the public duty of calling attention to the looting by this company of public and private pocketbooks through extortionate rates, questionable contracts for coal, huge charges for holding company fees and other larcenies, the broadcast was transferred to another newspaper, which has made no protest in behalf of the public. The incident is recited as an explanation to the thousands who in other years have thanked The Times for the excellence, fairness and completeness of its radio report on this event. It is recited for the benefit of any who may still doubt the purpose of these utilities to rule or ruin, to punish its critics, to remain bigger than government. When you listen on the broadcast this year, and fail to hear an announcement that it comes from The Times, it may serve to remind you that thus far you have been denied any justice by the public service commission, that you are paying. tribute to a greedy group of profiteers, that their influence in politics, in the press, in finance, to stifle any criticism or any defense of your rights—is something to think about. A Continuous Farce Today more than 200 men and women appeared in the local federal court to answer to charges of violating the prohibition law. That might appear to prove that the law is being enforced and that the nation is becoming sober. Thus far no one in any part of the state is reported to be suffering from any lack of liquor. No matter how many bootleggers are jailed, the supply of liquor remains unchecked. In every drug store In the city “tonics” bearing the labels of former wines, containing 22 per cent alcohol, said to be palatable despite the printed warning that they are not to be used as a beverage, are sold openly even to minors. The agents of wine bricks and .California clients of Mabel Willebrandt ply their trade. The law sends to jail the vendors of home brew containing 3 or 4 per cent of alcohol. The tonics are legal. It is because of this situation that very many citizens are demanding that candidates for congress this year promise to give the people a chance to pass upon a law which they believe to be unworkable in practice, the cause of much crime, and altogether socially destructive. This city should have at least one candidate whi will make such a promise and pledge. A growing number of citizens resent the farce that is being made of government by the law itself. A Better Way Advocates of the general sales tax base their entire case on alleged necessity. They say it is unjust, but there is no other way to make up the half billion dollar shortage on federal revenue. In making that sweeping claim they forget or ignore the fact that we have fought a World war and raised vast sums from emergency taxes in the past without resorting to a general consumers’ tax. What we have done before we can do again. During the war we depended on high income taxes, high luxury sales taxes and other special taxes. There Is much loose talk today about failure of the income tax during the depression. Obviously the income tax revenues will be smaller in hard times than during prosperity. Such receipts in the year 1929-30 amounted to $2,411,000,000, compared with an estimated $850,000,000 for 1932-33 under existing rates. That is roughly a two-thirds shrinkage. Under the pending Democratic bill and the original administration proposal, the income rates would be restored approximately to the 1924 level, or an increase from the present 1%, 3 and 5 per cent on net incomes to 2, 4 and 6 per cent, with a graduated surtax up to 4 in place of 20 per cent on incomes above SIOO,OOO. These increases, plus a 1 per cent rise in the corporation income rate and a modification in the capi-tal-gains tax. would increase the government revenue from $850,000,000 to $1,100,000,000, according to official estimates. But why stop there? Since the treasury department and the Democratic bill already recognize the fairness and necessity of raising the income tax rate, the only remaining argument is whether the surtax

The Indianapolis Times (A BCKIPPB-HOWAHD NEWSPAPEK) OwnM inil published daily (except Sunday) by The Indianapolis Times Publishing Cos.. 214-22 U West Maryland Street, Indianapolis, lnd. Price in Marlon County. 2 cents a copy: elsewhere. 3 cents—delivered by carrier. 12 cents a week. Mail subscription rates In Indiana. $3 a year: outside of Indiana. 05 cents a month. BOVD GURLEX. BOX W. HOWARD. EARL D. BAKER Editor President Business Manager I* HONK— Riley SMI THURSDAY MARCH 17. 1932. Member of United Press, Scrlppa-Howard Newspaper Alliance. Newspaper Enterprise Association, Newspaper Information Service and Audit Bureau of Circulations. “Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way.”

increase should be to the intermediate rate of 1924 or to the high wartime rate. There is no excuse for stopping at the intermediate rate. It is more just and more efficient to add to the surtax on millionaires than to tax the poor man’s shoes and other necessities. Another fallacy of the proposed rate is that the income over a million dollars pays no higher rate than the income in excess of SIOO,OOO. That is a violation of the entire principle of the graduated income tax. Since the $20,000 income must pay a higher rate than the $5,000, and the SIOO,OOO a higher rate than the $50,000, why should not the $500,000 income pay more than the SIOO,OOO, and the $1,000,000 pay more than the $500,000? We believe the wartime graduated rate should be restored, running up to a 65 per cent maximum surtax on incomes above a million. Estimates of total revenue from a restoration of wartime rates differ widely. Ex-Secretary of the Treasury Mellon said that the wartime rates would add only $60,000,000 more than the proposed rates. But Mellon estimates usually have been proved by experience to be very wide of the mark. Restoration of the high surtax and higher estate and gift rates probably would net an additional increase of about $200,000,000, or one-third of the total expected from the general sales tax. The remaining two-thirds, less than $400,000,000, can be raised by a special tax on luxuries and semi-luxuries. Or, if congress will cut or postpone some of its nonessential military and naval material appropriations, the $400,000,000 luxury tax can be reduced further. The plan here outlined is only one of several alternatives to a sales tax on necessities. The general sales tax is not the only way out, but it is the worst way. The Kidnaping Penalty The sentence of life imprisonment imposed by an Ohio court upon the kidnaper of the De Jute boy should help check the wave of child stealing which is menacing American homes. The speed with which the sentence followed the kidnaping is particularly satisfactory. Young DeJute was stolen the same day the Lindbergh baby disappeared, and Dowell Hargraves, found guilty, was sentenced just two weeks later. This is as far as justice safely may go, however, in dealing with this most vicious class of criminals. H a kidnaper should face death for child-stealing as well as for murder, fewer missing babies would be found alive by the forces of law. When the chase grew hot the criminal would seek to improve his chance for escape by killing. The law ''•ould be inflicting a more cruel penalty on heartbioken parents than on the men it sought to punish. More kidnapers will be convicted if the penalty is long imprisonment instead of death. football at Chicago Dispatches from Chicago announcing that the University of Chicago will establish stricter entrance i equipments for its students in the future led a number of sports writers to predict that the university presently would cease to be a very important factor in Western Conference athletic competition. One writer said that Chicago fans were complaining because “strict entrance requirements bar men who have allowed their scholarship to drop a bit while devoting time and energy to athletics.” This, probably, is highly deplorable. The Chicago university authorities seem to have the odd notion that a university actually is a place for study, and that no sideline diversions should be allowed to interfere with scholarship. Suppose some other universities should get infected with that notion; what on earth would become of football? The Chinese army at Shanghai pulled a fast one. Jt, retreated so rapidly the Jap’s didn't have time to change their demands before the Chinese had complied with the old ones. The reason Louisville isn’t broke is .because it has been spending only what it received, says the mayor. But that plan is much too complicated for most officeholders. • , The Oregon man who plowed up a S2O gold piece probably is laughing at the saying that there is no money in tilling the soil. Now is the time to start a campaign to get the delegates out of Geneva before Christmas.

Just Every Day Sense BY MRS. WALTER FERGUSON

TF Booth had missed Lincoln, it is said, the history A of America might have been changed. This is one of our recent speculations about an important little word. There are endless others that give food for thought. Let me offer you this one: If the early Christian fathers had discarded Old Testament as a sacred document, and used for a guide to living only the words of Jesus Christ, would not the history of the world have been different? A visit to an adult Bible class started this train of thought. We studied the Book of Levitcus, in which are laid down rules for making burnt offerings to Jehovah. We spent a lot of time on the laws of Moses, dead and useless these many centuries. A striking fact about our religion is the tenacity with which we cling to ancient traditions of the Jewish faith, although we repudiate the Jews themselves on every hand and in some of our Godliest communities even organize pogroms against* them. What colossal inconsistency is this? Can a Christian code be half Jew and half Gentile? 000 THE facts are plain before us. When occasion arises to justify harshness, we hark back with delight to the laws of Moses. When we are flooded with tolerance and loving kindness, we take our stand with the Nazarene. It seems to me it would be better If we decided once and for all what we are. Are we New Testament or Old Testament Christians? For there is a chasm between their two points of view that no amount of explanation can bridge. Ours is a mongrel creed. And surely one of the reasons it so often has seemed to fail us in great emergencies is because we have not known to whom our allegiance is due. It has been a long time since the Christian churches have had the courage to stand up for Jesus, when courage meant anything save words. We bend our faith to suit the exigencies of the moment. One day we pray to the Lord of the Israelites; the next to the Man of Gallilee. And the former was a tribal deity, as cruel as the gods of the barbarians. The latter was a friend to all men, an internationalist, whose creed wafc love. No man today can worship both Jesus and Jehovah. Therefore, no man can reconcile the Old and New Testaments as a religious guide.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

M. E. Tracy Says:

If the Convention Were Held Next Week Roosevelt Would Be Nominated on the Second Ballot, if Not the First. NEW YORK, March 17.—Smith did not swamp Roosevelt in New Hampshire. Neither did Murray in North Dakota. These are two of the most significant facto thus far brought to light in the Democratic scramble. The Roosevelt goom has not colj lapsed, as some wiseacres predicted and others hoped it would. In this connection, most every 1 one has placed too great value on i the time a boom starts. It makes little difference when a candidate gets in the race, provided he has the right kind of back- ; ground and organization. 000 Roosevelt in Front ROOSEVELT sets out with several distinct advantages. First, he is Governor of New York, having been elected for his initial term the very same day that Smith failed to carry the state, and for his second term by the largest majority ever given a Democrat. Second, he can not be made the victim of sectional, class, or religious prejudice. Third, he has taken the popular side of certain important issues, such as power, prohibition and unemployment relief. Fourth, and this is not to be taken lightly, he bears a magic name. 000 Empire State Prestige BY and large, Roosevelt’s prestige is due to the fact that he hails from New York. New York still is the “Empire state,” even if Wilson were elected without carrying it, and still is regarded as the biggest single factor in American politics. It will continue to be until some state outranks it in voting power. Four out of the five first Presidents came from Virginia. It is no reflection on their merit to point out that Virginia was the wealthiest and most populous state. 0 0 0 An Old Maneuver OPPONENTS of Roosevelt have understood all along that his New York backing meant a great deal. That is why they attached so much importance to the Smith statement. They hoped the former Governor’s receptive moo.i would split, alienate, or discourage the New York delegation. Having failed to make the dent they hoped for and expected, they once more are turning to the favorite son maneuver. With enough favorite sons in the contest, Roosevelt could be stopped from getting the necessary two-thirds and perhaps a majority on the first ballot. His opponents then could pullhaul and log-roll with some chance of success, but to what purpose or for what candidate, they haven’t the slightest idea. 000 Rivals Lack Unity THE weakness of the anti-Roose-velt campaign is its lack of coherence. It doesn’t know what, or whom it wants. That means that it can't develop a working organization, or even present a united front, except by virtue of some accident. On the other hand, Roosevelt’s supporters are organized thoroughly, and have been these many months. They are in possession of those articulate powers which come from unified leadership and a charted course. They know exactly what they are after. They are not bothered by the problem of having to trot out stalking horses, or throw up smoke screens. Their tlask consists of just one drive after another in the same direction. 000 He’ll Be Hard to Beat IT is easy enough to stand on the street corner and theorize as to why this, or that should prevent Roosevelt's nomination, but it is not so easy to beat such a lineup as has been formed in his behalf. There is no other candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination that can show anything like an equal force, or equal chance today. If the convention were held next week, he would be nominated on the second ballot, if not the first. A lot can happen between now and next June, of course, but a lot has got to happen to stop Roosevelt.

T ?s9£ Y [ WORLD WAR A ANNIVERSARY

GERMANS REPEAT RAIDS March 17 ON March 17, 1918, the war department announced that total American casualties in killed, wounded and missing were 1,856. Germans repeated raids on Amer-ican-held sectors of the western front near Toul and succeeded in occupying a section of trenches for a short time. A counter-attack by American troops succeeded in driving the Germans back. Several prisoners were taken. , Kaiserlautern was bombed by allied planes. Several direct hits were reported. German troops occupied Nikolayev and the Russian fleet escaped to Sebastopol.

Daily Thought

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright.—Psalms 37:37. Right is more beautiful than private affection, and is compatible with universal w’isdom.—Emerson. Can an inventor protect his invention by filing a description with the Patent Office instead of taking out a patent? No. In the past the filing of a caveat was allowed, but that law was repealed, and the only way to secure protection nbw is to file an application for a patent. Can watermelons be kept in storage any length of time? If picked green, washed thoroughly and varnished when dry, they can be stored in an icehouse or refrigerator for about three months.

I* ■ ""'C- *~ _._ _ --• '. ' >J . **" * :^pfl§J^^ 4ay>a*3*** a,w T. cy* fc^w^ ,J,>| V Mw > y ,, ■<w >tt " i: •■< , v? >3WtS^w. < -.c*'>^t9> > - •

DAILY HEALTH SERVICE Milk ‘Bootlegger’ Peril to Community

BY DR. MORRIS FISHBEIN, Editor Journal of the American Medical Association and of Hyxeia. the Health Magazine. THE eighteenth amendment has made the word bootlegger significant to every person in the United States. However, the use of the term can not and should not be restricted wholly to the illegal distribution of alcoholic beverages. There are bootleggers in almost every field of human life, and it is conceivable that the bootlegger in the health field may be even more of a menace to the community than the bootlegger of intoxicating liquors. Because of the menace that exists from milk coming from tuberculosis cows, from milk that has been collected under insanitary conditions and from milk that is distributed without suitable hygienic control,

IT SEEMS TO ME

IT was my original intention to appear in Washington this week before the Sirovich committee on dramatic criticism. The invitation sent me by the distinguished member of the house of representatives seemed to offer opportunity for one big moment. For a week in advance I rehearsed the situation. I went over the lines carefully, paying particular attention to the reading and the accompanying business. It even occurred to me that it might be a good idea to call in some such inspired director as George Kaufman to put on the finishing touches. I would just lay it out in the rough myself. The colloquy was to go about like this: Congressman Sirovich (sternly)— Ycu are, I believe, a dramatic* critic? Hey wood Broun (with dignity, with humility or with bravado, according to which seemed best at the final rehearsal) —Yes, sir, and also an actor and a producer. 000 The Missing Witness THAT was as far as I ever got in preparation. After that it was to be every man for himself. To be sure, I might have to stretch a point a little in calling myself a dramatic critic, but I do write theatrical pieces for a magazine. The rest of the statement nobody would be likely to challenge. Accordingly, I regarded myself as potentially a star witness for Sirovich. All the other volunteers available would be restricted to one point of view, or, at most, two. Under skillful questioning, the good doctor might have been able to bring out just what I think about the critics at such times as I am acting and about the actors when I am criticising. In fact, even without questioning I might have been inclined to tell all. I hope Dr. Sirovich is curious to know why I did not go. There could be all kinds of theories, but I -think it will be best here and now to reveal the true one. After all, these

Growing of Roses Do you know the happy adventure of growing roses in your home garden? Success with roses is not hard for the amateur if a few rules are followed. Os recent years nearly everybody who pretends to have any sort of a garden, has from one to a score or more of rose bushes. Whether you already grow roses, or whethjr you never have, and want to start, our Washington Bureau has ready for you a comprehensive, but simply worded bulletin, written by a practical rose grower with years of experience, that will give all the information you need for success. ll' you want your table and your living rooms - filled with beautiful roses this year, fill out the coupon below and send for this bulletin—and start the happy adventure. * CLIP COUPON HERE Dept. 172 Washington Bureau, The Indianapolis Times, 1322 New York Avenue, Washington, D. C. I want a copy of the bulletin ROSE GARDENS, and enclose herewith 5 cents in coin, or loose, uncancelled, United States postage stamps, to cover return postage and hadling costs: NAME ST and NO CITY STATE , I am a reader of The Indianapolis Times.

The Life Preserver

the milk bootlegger may cause more disease and death than the purveyor of bad whisky. Most large communities have laws regulating the collection, pasteurization, distribution and sale of milk. These laws involve in many instances adequate physical examination of the workers in the dairies and on the farms to make certain that they do not have infectious diseases. The laws demand adequate refrigeration of the milk during transportation, pasteurization by the holding method, which, means that the milk must be held for a certain definite period at a certain definite temperature, distribution in sterilized bottles and proper handling of the bottles that are collected from the homes after the milk is used. Instances are recorded in which

men who stand around in excited little groups on every street corner should be restored to their families. I do not purpose to keep the country in suspense any longer. I did not stay away because the hearing is a silly and useless bit of exhibitionism on the part of a congressional show-off. Some of my best friends are exhibitionists, and I love the limelight as much as any of them. Nor was I moved by acquaintances, who contended that a man is known by the company he keeps and that a self-respecting columnist should not associate voluntarily with congressmen. The chairs in a Pullman car are almost ingeniously uncomfortable, but that would not keep me away from Washington. On numerous occasions I have sacrificed the lower part of my back to causes even less important or worthy. It was not even the promise of a bridge game here in Manhattan which caused me to sulk at Sirovich and remain in my tent. 000 Petty, but Personal THE truth is petty and personal. Dr. Sirovich offended my professional pride. He put on a preliminary mid-week show without me. Years ago, when I was a young actor, I consented to appear at the Palace in support of a trained dog. Since then I invariably have demanded equal billing. I am not willing to make the same concession for Sirovich that I made for Rin-Tin-Tin. Unless I can be co-starred with the congressman, I just won’t play at all. I have a good suggestion about dramatic criticism* Unfortunately,

Views of Times Readers

Editor Times—l have noticed several letters and articles recently printed concerning lack of co-op-eration displayed by charitable institutions. The caste system is becoming more pronounced every day in this -country. The middle-class is consistently joining hands with the

farmers owning one or two cows have collected the milk from these cows and peddled it from door to door in nearby communities, without observing any sanitary precautions, and at lower prices than can be met by reputable distributors who observe the law. One instance is recorded in which such a farmer peddler delivered milk to a home where there was scarlet fever and*each day collected the bottles from this home, rinsed them in his wagon and refilled them with milk from a large can, and then left these bottles in other homes in the community. Such a performance is far more menacing than bootlegging in any other field. It is a wise precaution to check ,up on your milk man aand be sure that his methods are sanitary.

„ v HEYWOOD BROUN

it is good without being feasible. It depends upon securing the cooperation of all the dramatic critics in town. Unlike many art forms, a play never can be exhibited in final and frozen form. It makes no difference what day of the week is chosen to witness a painting, a statue or a novel, but the comedy which is pretty terrible on a Tuesday may be much better or even worse by Friday. First night fidgets and frailties have ruined offerings which deserved better. 000 Staggering the Critics IT would be helpful if critics could be staggered. Lots might be drawn to ascertain which ones went on the first night, which were assigned to the second and to the third performances. Surely it would tend to quiet the nerves of any young actress to know that in ail probabilities she would not' have to face Hammond and Garland together. But in regard to dramatic criticism I think one point has been neglected. It is a point which Sirovich won’t mention and which the dramatic critics out of their innate modesty can not. I refer to the standards of reviewing maintained in the newspapers of New York. One or two distinguished gentlemen are missed, but I never have known a time when the general average of ability was so high. Since New York is a cynical city, a remark like that may arouse suspicion. Somebody is sure to say, “I bet Broun intends some day to put on another show.” The answer to that is simple. Os course I do. (Copyright. 1932. by The Times)

poor. We’re going to need plenty of democracy in our country in the coming four years. Otherwise, who can tell whether our ever-present wealthy class will need some more cleverness than merely feeding the brutes soup to keep them from pulling an exceedingly well-planned revolution. The trouble with our poor class in America is that, in majority, it is educated. This is the moment for patriotism. Therefore, I firmly believe, like many, that those wealthy who can help, but don’t, are yellow, unpatriotic, slackers. I believe The Times to be as courageous a paper as is printed in this “no mean city.” Since this involves the r-axpayers’ money, I trust that The Times publishes soon the “inside” on the charity racket in the proper place, on the front page. NEVER DOWN, NOR OUT. Editor Times—The Times has an excellent motto for guidance, but isn’t it possible that sometimes its real meaning is lost in the zest for competition, sensational news, and some malice? To me, it has been giving light darkly. Many false statements have been published. Words farthest from a person’s mind are attributed to him or her and they are hurtful, injurious. I refer to May Mattox’ trial. She did not sit on the safe. She did not beg to be sent to prison. The ma- ! tron will say so. She sat with May at the trial. I beg The Times in : all fairness to retract those printed ! falsehoods. The Times always is trying to 1 right the wrongs of the oppressed,

Ideals and opinions expressed in this column are those ol one of America’s most interesting: writers and are presented withoutfregard to their asricment or disagreement with the editorial attitude of this paper.—The Editor.

:MARCH 17,1932

SCIENCE BY DAVID DIETZ

1982 May Be Year of Big Comet, Visible to Unaided Eye. WILL 1932 be the year of the big comet? That is the question which astronomers are asking. The question is brought into prominence by announcement of the rediscovery of Grigg’s comet. This comet, last seen in 1927, just has been picked up again by Dr. George Van Biesbroeck. the famous comet hunter of the Yerkes observatory. The comet is a faint object, about as bright as a sixteenth magnitude star. This means that it is visible only in the most powerful telescopes. The comet first was discovered by Grigg in 1902. It was lost until 1922, when Skjellerup, the Australian astronomer, picked it up again. It is a periodic comet, returning to the neighborhood of the sun every five years. Small comets, like Grigg’s, arc discovei'ed at the rate of about five a year. But a really magnificent comet, one visible to the unaided eyes, is more rare. On the basis of the law of averages, astronomers were rather hopeful that one would show up In 1931. The fact that it did not makes them still more hopeful that it may show up in 1932. A number of eminent astronomers, including Professor Henry Norris Russell, dean of American astronomers, have been anticipating such a comet for several years now’. 000 Fifteen a Century A BIG comet, visible to the unaided eye, is a spectacular sight, its great tail stretching across the sky. Astronomical records list the appearance of about 400 comets prior to the invention of the telescope. Obviously, these 400 were all nakedeye comets. The span covered by this record is about twenty-six centuries, from about 1000 B. C. to the 1 invention of the telescope in 1609. This means, therefore, that in twenty-six centuries naked-eye comets averaged about fifteen “ to a century. Now the present century has had only three naked-eye comets. They were the Moorhouse comet in 1908, Halley’s comet, in 1910, and Brooks’ comet in 1911. Twenty years have elapsed since the last big comet decorated the sky. That is why astronomers are hopeful. Big comets in the past always have been the cause of a great deal of superstitious fear. Shakespeare noted this fact when he wrote: “When beggars die there are no comets seen, “The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.” In 1910 many people in the United States believed that the comet of that year foretold the war of 1812. In 1858 the appearance of Donati’s comet was assumed by many to be a herald of the Civil war. In ancient times the nature ot comets was completely misunderstood Many old philosophers did not realize that they were astroI nomical objects at all, but regarded j them as some sort of supernatural i fish or dragon swimming in the earth’s atmosphere. 000 Nagata’s Comet THE most interesting comet news of 1931 was the discovery of Nagata’s comet by Masani Nagata, a Japanese amateur astronomer in Brawley, Cal. A comet always is named after its discoverer. Nagata is the foreman on a melon ranch in the Imperial valley. By day he directs the activities of twenty field workers. By night he studies the heavens through a three-inch portable telescope. When first discovered, astronomers were hopeful that Nagata’s comet might become visible to the naked eye. But it did not do so. In the telescope, it showed a tail about eight times as long as the diameter of the full moon. Astronomers were disappointed also in 1927 when the Pons-Win-necke comet came into view. At first they thought it would become a spectacular sight. For about a week it was visible to the unaided eyes as a faint patch of light about the diameter of the full moon. It was so faint, however, that most people, not knowing exactly where to look for it, were unable to see it. The Pons-Winnecker comet got its hyhenated name from the fact that it was lost once and later rediscovered. It was discovered first by Louis Pons, a French astronomer, in 1819. Pons was a most persistent comet hunter, finding seventeen during his life. Johann Encke, famous German astronomer, calculated its orbit. It showed that the comet was a periodic one, returning to the neighborhood of the sun every five years. But the comet failed to appear at the end of that time. On March 8, 1858, a German astronomer, Winnecke, found a comet. Subsequent study showed that he had rediscovered the Pons comet, and it since has been called the Pons-Winnecke comet. overcharged, and those wronged in other ways. It’s a courageous stand. So few other papers dare try, but will The Times right this'* MRS. LENA MATTOX. Editor Times—l wonder if you will allow me to voice my wail cl woe through the columns of your worthy paper. Recently the city health department called on a man 70 year old, living in Eagle creek bottoms, who depended on a cow for his food and living, and gave him an order to sell the cow. Why does the health department allow several .cows to be kept in the vicinity of Emrichsville bridge and White river? Is this man a politiclan? H. C. S. Editor Times—l would like to make a little statement regarding hard times, and the slave or chain gangs, as they are known. I work but two days a week for a basket, as hundreds of others do, but I don’t see how some men can say what they do abut the work. There are 150 men who work the days that I do, and it took eight of us four hours to plant a tree not bigger than your knee, but it seems to me the more you do for some people, the more they want. I am very glad to get what I dr. I would like for all people of the city to know that I am glad for | what the trustee of Center township : is doing for me and my familv. O J. SMITH