Indianapolis Times, Volume 45, Number 263, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 March 1934 — Page 12

PAGE 12

The Indianapolis Times (A SCRIPPS-HOW \R I) NEWSPAPER) JOT TP. HOWARD . PreuMrnt TALCOTT POWELL Editor EARL D. BAKER Bunin*** Manager Phone— Riley SKSI

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J ><* Give lAuht ona I fit People Will Find Their Own Way

mannoAT march u um DILUNGER HERO WORSHIP ' | 'HE most appalling outcome of the Dill- **■ ingeT escape from the Crown Point jail is not the alleged political situation which has made Jails in the state unsafp but the attitude with which some citizens regard the escapades of the gangster. In a recent poll of the students of Shortridge high school twenty-seven out of 143 students said that Dillinger is entitled to his freedom because he exhibited so much cleverness in escaping from prison. Five others said he should be looked upon as a hero. In Hollywood the movie producers, ever alert for a box office attraction, have decided to make a moving picture based on the life of the bandit and murderer. Many otherwise straight-thinking citizens in Indianapolis cherish a secret hope that Dillinger will outwit the police. This attitude represents a twisted and nonsocial viewpoint. Citizens must realize that the reign of gangsters of the ‘ terror mob” type can only result in ultimate chaos to the state and nation. Ask the state police officers and the local newspaper men who went to Tucson about Dillinger and his gang. They will tell you that there is nothing gjamorous about the convicts They will tell you that in a fair fight Dillinger and his men would be shown lacking in real courage. Witness their arrests by the Tucson police. Did the gangsters offer any serious resistance or put up even the semblance of a fight? Too many cheap crooks like Jack Diamond, former New’ York ‘ lord of the underworld,” Dillinger. Capone and their counterparts in all sections of the country have been glorified. The school children of Indianapolis must be made to realize that these gangsters are sordid figures with no rights to heroic statures. The newspapers are not to blame for the glamour which surrounds the gangsters. Their escapades are necessarily a matter of news, but it should be the duty of parents and school teachers to discourage any adulation of such cheap villains among the younger generation.

CHANGING THE PICTURE TO EPRESENTATIVE JAMES W. WADSWORTH of Npw York, we read in the dispatches from Washington, has challenged the Roosevelt administration. Wadsworth is said to be a candidate for thp Republican nomination for President and that makes (he basis of his challenge interesting It was issued during a discussion of the cotton control bill. The bill, said Wadsworth, is only another step toward a "change in the whole picture of American life, social, economic and political.” Wadsworth is against the change. Viewed as a purely personal matter, it is a little hard to blame him. The picture of American life, social, economic and political, as Wadsworth has known it, has been a pleasant one. Socially—w-ell, the Wadsworths belong. Not merely by birth and education, but by ihe natural charm and easy affability so often found in those who have all they can ask of life. Jim Wadsworth is a gentleman and a genial fellow; people like him. And for background there is the great Wadsworth estate in the Genesee valley, lovelier than anything most Americans have known, save in romantic novels. Jim naturally wouldn't want to change the social picture. Economically, the Wadsworths are well fixed, meaning to say they are very, very wealthy. No doubt, like others of his class, he hasn’t enjoyed the uncertainties of the last few years but he would resist any change whereby he would cease to be very, very wealthy. Politically, the Wadsworth tradition is that any one blessed with wealth and social position not only is equipped for political leadership. but owes it as a duty to assume such leadership. In England, where his type is more numerous, he would be a member of what they used to call the ruling class. Jim never has shirked this self-imposed obligation to rule, either In the lovely little valley of the Genesee or in the wider field of American affairs. If the millions who live beyond the confines of his feudal estate should reveal a desire to become his grateful subjects, he would not shirk the duties that go with overlordship. And the chief of his duties, as he would see it. would be to prevent any "change in the whole picture of American life, social, economic and political." Unfortunately for Jim. there are other points of view, other citizens who see the whole picture differently. Socially, economically and politically it is an utterly different picture. There must be nearly a milion of these for every Jim Wadsworth and each one of them has a vote. They see the picture so differently that they are determined to change it—the whole picture of American life, social, economic and political. They will be grateful to Jim for his public assurance that the thing he fears and they desire is actually coming to pass. LOW RATES, MORE PROFITS SOON there will oe no bogeys left. Another —the phantom fear that electric utility companies will be destroyed if the Roosevelt administration has its way with them—has been laid low by Basil Manly, federal power commissioner. Mr. Manly says that if power 'ompanies will reduce rates to approximately the level fixed by the Tennessee valley authority they will make more money than they have ever made before. And he has faets and figures to back up his assertion. The thing has been tried in Washington, D. C., and has woiked. Ten year* ago tiie Potomac Electric Power Company entered into k contract w r ith the District ol Columbia public service commis-

sion agreeing to reduce rates each yfrar by an amount representing one-half of its surplus earnings over and above 7 'i per cent on an agreed valuation of its property. At the time this contract was made the power company was charging 10 cents a kilowatt hour. In the first year under the new plan it cut its rates to 7.* cents a kilowatt hour. It expected, of course, that .here would be no further cuts, for the company's board of directors could not conceive that there would b any profit at all the second year, much less a surplus, following a 25 per cent cut in rates. To their great surprise there was a surplus. Rates were rut again. The year following there w’as a surplus and another rate rut. The process has been repeated each year until rates arp now down to 3.9 cents for the first fifty kilowatt hours, 3.3 cents for the next fifty kilowa't hours, and 2 cents for the next one hundred kilowatt hours. And how about .he financial condition of the company? Mr. Manly reports that in 1924 the company earned 2 2 times its bond interest. In 1932, after eight rate reductions, it earned twelve times its bond interest. At the same time its earnings m common stock increased from 525.83 in 1924 to S6BOB in 1932. It would seem as if one small twenty-five-wptt lamp ought to illuminate this problem sufficiently for even the directors of utility companies to see that proutr and not ruin lie in the course the Roosevelt aoministration has mapped out for them. YOUR BUSINESS AND MINE P EW persons realize how intimrtely the * New York Stock Exchange is tieo into the lives of the average citizen of the country. One family in every three ’ias a direct stake through ownership of sterns or bonds and a majority of the people have an indirect interest through investments of banks and insurance companies in stocks and bonds, according to a very enlightening and comprehensive study made by thirty foremost economists for the Twentieth Century Fund. It is published under the title "Stock Market Control” <Appleton-Century). Figures showing the interrelationship are startling and give a clew to the active campaign by the Roosevelt administration to make federal stock market regulation a part of its new deal economic program. The campaign is designed not only to protect the investor from losses caused by the occasional gyrations of the market, but to safeguard that great mass of citizens whose welfare is wrapped up in banks and insurance companies. "The collapse of security values since 1929 has been one of the aggravating causes of the closing of at least 6,000 banks in the United States, involving total deposits of $3,500,000,000," the book comments. And the clearing house through which these investments are handled —the New York Stock Exchange—“has the same sort of legal entity as a private club,” remarks the book in describing the power of the organization which the senate banking committee has shown to be controlled by a handful of men. “The great difference between the Stock Exchange and any other social club lies, not in its legal status, but in the intimate relation between the activities of its members in the clubhouse and .the economic and social welfare of the people in the United States,” it continues. "Even though the exchange itself does not tracie in securities the way in which its members trade is both a responsibility of the exchange and vitally related to the public interest. “Yet in spite of this public concern the public has no more control at present over exchange practices than it has over the way the members of the Racquet and Tennis Club play squash on its courts, except, of course, that the relations between brokers and their customers are regulated by appropriate state laws. “The government of the New York exchange is the exclusive right of its 1,375 members and is exercised bv a governing committee of forty and a president and a treasurer elected by the membership—the two officers for one-year term and the committee for four years. “Its powers, both legislative and judicial, are exercised directly by the committee or through fourteen standing committees, of which the most important are the business conduct and listing committees. Although they are very powerful, appeals from them can be taken to the governing committee, the power of which, in practice, is almost absolute." The history of the exchange, the book explains. “shows a growing tendency on the part of its governors to institute reforms in its practices—especially at times of great public criticism.” This is the organization which has such a powerful influence in the investments of the nation. It is estimated that eighty-five out of every 100 exchange transactions in the country go through either the New York Stock exchange or the New York Curb, with the remaining fifteen scattered through the thirtyfive other exchanges. “From a third to a half of the annual savings of American individuals and corporations —or from $4,000,000,000 to $6,000,000,000 in normal years—flows through investment channels into securities of various kinds which are traded in and evaluated in the organized and unorganized security markets,” says the Twentieth Century Fund study. “Nearly half of our entire national wealth is represented by transferable certificates of ownership or indebtedness —stocks and bonds —which are bought and sold in these markets.' ANTI-LABOR COURTS EVERY day or so we are reminded that the problems of labor injunctions are not solved when the federal anti-injunction act was passed. State courts still are issuing injunctions forbidding labor to picket, and in other ways to carry on collective bargaining fights in spite of the decision of the federal government that these practices should not be interfered with as long as they are peacefully carried on. In Miami the other day a state judge issued an injunction prohibiting workers from picketing a firm which had just lost its blue eagle. This was done in spite of the fact that the labor organization involved had declared its intention of using “legal, peaceful and dignified means” of encouraging and rewarding those who comply with the national recovery act and of calling attention to those who violate it. In passing the federal anti-injunction act

congress recognized that the right it gives workers is necessary to correct the inequality that works to their disadvantage in any collective bargaining. Ten states have also recognized this principle, Washington having been added to the list only a few weeks ago. Until other states fall in line, actual collective bargaining apparently can never be achieved in this country. TO THE DEVIL, HIS DUE ID OGER TOUHY. the big bad man from Chicago who broke down and blubbered like a school boy when he finally went to prison, really is a pretty smart sort of lad. So. at any rate, say the psychiatrists who examined the gangster and his henchmen when they were received at the Illinois state penitentiary’ to begin serving their sentences. Touhy, they reported, is of high adult intelligence—although his companions, Gus Schaefer and Albert Kator. were more of the dumb-bell type. This repo t on Touhy is rather enlightening. It helps to explode the old notion that criminals are men of inferior mentality. They aren't—not all of them, at any rate. They become criminals, usually, because of an emotional twist, not because their minds are cracked. Realizing this fact will help us to evolve an efficient program for meeting our crime problem. Mars holds only a thousandth the amount of oxygen there is on earth, says an astronomer. But plenty of poison gas! That libel trial in England revealed that Rasputin was fed poisoned cake, shot beaten to death, and drowned. If that ma nbobs up again, his murderers wouldn’t know what to do with him next. Francis X. Bushman, former matinee idol, announces two marriages within the last few weeks, and both are denied. Maybe they’re two other gals.

Liberal Viewpoint DR. HARRY ELMER BARNES =

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT has relied so widely upon expert advice in formulating the new deal that his administration has been derided in some quarters as a professional bureaucracy. How have the brethren of the academic cloth reacted to the dominion of the brain trust? According to Professor H. Parker Willis of Columbia university, “A large majority of economic. political science and social science professors are either skeptical or openly opposed to the brain trust measures. Being myself quite thoroughly inclined to give the new deal the benefit of every doubt and unwilling to condemn it until it is proved an undoubted failure. I was moved the other night to thank God if it were true that the majority of professors were antagonistic to it. A more touching or reassuring tribute could scarcely be paid to the Roosevelt program. For example on this evening I happened to pick up in a. Pullman car an article by an eminent professor of economics, Professor Lewis H. Haney of New York university, who contributes regularly to the newspapers on economic affairs. In this article he led off with the following: “In several respects there seems to be some tendency to check the extreme radical trend at Washington and to rcognize the difficulties and dangers of scrapping our tried institutions. This, I think, is a hopeful indication.” I read on eagerly, thinking that there must have been some subversive policies which my fine-toothed comb had missed. But the “Bolshevik” intrigues which alarmed Professor Haney were none other than the national recovery act. the agricultural adjustment act, the securities act, the effort to restore 1926 prices, the St. Lawrence river project, the overriding of states’ rights in the federal regulation of business and the like. n tt tt THE professor rejoiced that judges in Texas and Florida were bravely stemming the tide of Sovietism and that the custodians of the NRA were ‘‘much less cocky ” Such talk as this from a man who ought to know better might stagger one less familiar with the way of professors. Far from being “extremely radical.” the new deal is so moderate and cautious that it does not possess the slightest chance of restoring prosperity unless it is made the starting-point for extensive elaboration and further development in the future. There is not a radical policy in it, if we are to use the term “radical” in any reasonable or sensible fashion. More absurd yet is the allegation of “cockiness” on the part of those charged with the enforcement of the new deal. Realistic friends of the Roosevelt program feel that the chief criticism which can be legitimately leveled against its administrators is that they have thus far lacked the courage to bring their excellent aspirations into the practical world of achievement and run out the money-changers, pirates and tories. Lest, however, we might be inclined to judge the professors too harshly, one should cali attention to the very important Columbia University Report on Economic Reconstruction, which was handed in by a group of experts, most of them university professors.

x xrHILE wisely and legitimately questioning W certain details of the new deal, this group of eminent professors expressed their general approval of the program, even to the reform of our monetary system. When it came to the very core of the new dispensation, namely, rational social planning under direction of the federal government, these experts came out wholeheartedly in support of the President’s philosophy: “The establishment of economic equilibrium, as already defined, is a necessary condition of any effective national economic planning. We regard economic planning as a rational and in fact a necessary expedient under the conditions of our present society. The contrary doctrine of economic laissez faire assumes a situation of individualist competition and of free price flexibility which, whatever advantages or disadvantages might be, does not now exist.” The upshot of the whole matter is that, as in every other profession, there are professors and professors. No more counting of noses with respect to professional opinion will be any indication of the validity of the ideas expressed. The opinion of Harry Emerson Fosdick on a question of theology would be worth that of a thousand fundamentalist parsons from the back woods. Similarly, the mature conclusions of a Charles Austin Beard, a Paul Douglas or a Willard Atkins is worth far more than the mutterings and musings of a whole battalion of academicians as thoroughly enslaved by their stereotypes as any fundamentalist clergyman. Never fear, the oars the government is going to lift against imported liquors are not the kind you lean on at 2:30 in the morning. Explorers discover the queen of Sheba's ancient capital when they'd do better if thevd find some of our own lost capital right here. Dave Hotton, suing for divorce from Aimee Semple McPherson, sighs it's hard to lose one’s wife. Some husbands will say it's almost impossible.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

lly 1 I

The Message Center

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns. Make your letters short, so all can have a chance. Limit them to 250 words or less.) ti tt tt G. O. r CHARGED WITH DILLINGER DINNER By C. S. G. Leave it to the G. O. P. to pull the fast ohes. Nothing in these sad days has added more to the festiveness of Hoosier life than the “festival of Saturn” (as one man called it) held recently at an Indianapolis hotel under the more romantic title of a “Dillinger Dinner,” given by Republican editors of the state during their editorial meeting, and probably engineered by the politicians. it. will stand out in years to come as the most ludibrious occasion ever se6n in the state. A “Dillinger Dinner!” Complete even to the wooden guns and Dillinger himself represented by an impersonator. Republican editors in the years to come can tell their great grandchildren of the “Dillinger Dinner” they attended in Indianapolis; of the skylarking, the “quips and cranks”; of how one editor would stick a wooden gun in the back of another editorialist and make him do things for the amusement of the others. Boy, wasn’t that cricket! A Dillinger Dinner, honoring an outlaw even as he was being hunted. A breathless public is anxiously awaiting further eye-witness descriptions of this gambade. Brother Dillinger will go down in history as the only thug, bank bandit, murderer and fugitive ever honored by editors. Yeah, it was the real thing and the master of the revel ought to be proud of it. Who wouldn’t like to be a diner at a “Dillinger Dinner?”

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN THIS CASE? By Joseph L. Watt I have noticed several communications in your paper on the miraculous esc&pe of Dillinger from the wooden gun, Indiana bastile. The authors have repeatedly ribbed the guards who were stationed near the cell of the Big Bad Man, particularly Blunk, in letting Dillinger gain freedom with the use of a wooden pistol. Now let me ask a question of these self-styled brave men who have beeen doing so much criticising —what would you do if a man of Dillinger's repute prodded a gun into your back and told you to open the cell door or to hand over the key's? You would obey without a moment's hesitation, wouldn’t you? There is not one of us who wouldn't. Life is too dear to deliberately disobey an order with death staring us in the face. Probably you (I haven't) never have been in just such a predicament as this guard was at Crowm Point. Then who are you to offer any criticism as to what should have been done and what you would have done? I am not trying to make a hero out of Dillinger, but I do think a lot more of him than I do of some of these bankers and other high and trusted officials who have absconded with the public’s money. Nine times out of ten that money belonged to people who had their life's savings in that institution. At least Dillinger robs the rich man. and not the poor man. BBS DILLINGER AND EVEN BREAK MIGHT WORK. Bv O. T. B. Since our newspapers have been very busy during the past week talking about the banker Dillinger, banker because he ha* been inter-

SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS!

By a Times Reader In your paper of March 8 there w*as a story headed “Radical Changes in City Transportation System Is Proposed by Street Car Company.” It looks to me like the south side again is going to get what it always gets when it comes to doing anything in the city. The main reason the Madison avenue bus route has not been a success from a financial standpoint is because they selected a route that is already served by two, the Smith bus line and the Meridian street line, for more than one-third the length of the route, and under such circumstances it never could be a success. Second, when this line was first put on they had a fairly good schedule, about every ten minutes during the morning and evening rush, but when one bus became delayed for one reason or another, the late bus w r ould be turned some place along the line regardless of the fact that certain people might be depending on that particular bus to get to work on time, this w T as almost a daily occurance and on numerous occasions I called the company and complained of this practice making me late for work. Such business policies of this only could result in one thing, drive the public to other means of transportation, then instead of trying to better the service, they pulled off a bus. and naturally w’hen you cripple your service more people pulled away, and then the service was pulled down to three busses an hour and they could only expect one result from such service. As I understand the article in your paper, the company proposes

ested very much in the banking business for the past few years, it seems that no one has offered any solution which would seem logical or equal to the occasion which has been accepted as an enigma. In the minds of many people Dillinger's banking business has not been much more corrupt than the methods of some of our largest bankers. For this reason why not give some thought and consideration to the beginning of his career. There is no man who should be condemned beyond his inheritance, his society and his environment. If what I have heard is true. Dillinger was talked into pleading guilty at his first offense, and was given a more severe sentence than the person who was equally guilty in the crime and who did not plead guilty. Dillinger took the rap, thereby being much better than the accomplice who was not honest enough to plead guilty. That was his beginning. We ali accept the fact that Dillinger violated the law, according to newspaper articles and evidence presented. A few years ago there was a bad man in the west. His name was Jesse James and he was associated with his brother. Frank, and a group of desperadoes who were bank robbers and considered “the worst.” There was a reward offered and Jesse James was shot in the back. I don't know that the reward eyer was paid, but in my opinion it should not have’ been, for one of James’ own henchman shot him. Jesse James’ brother, Frank, was given a conditional pardon and proved to be a good citizen thereafter. I would suggest giving John Dillinger a conditional pardon that he go straight. It seems to me that a man of his genius and in the right kind of environment, and if

I wholly disapprove of what you say and will _ defend to the death your right to say it — Voltaire.

South Side Service

to discontinue this line entirely. Can it expect the public to patronize it with such service as that? What should be done now since the street railway company now wants to make changes in their present routes and if The Indianapolis Times will back up the people as they used to do it can be put over, is this; The South East street line should be extended to run on to the present terminus of the Garfield line w’hich is a straight route from the city to the park. For the Garfield line, busses should be substituted for the street cars now operated and come out the same route they now come, i. e. South on Meridian to Georgia, w’est on Georgia to Illinois, south on Illinois to South, east on South to Delaware, south on Delaware-Madison avenue to Southern avenue, east on Southern to Allen, south on Allen to Troy, the present terminus of the Madison avenue bus route. This would do away with the duplication of service on Union and Meridian street and give a real service on Delaware street and Madison avenue and if a real service was maintained, this line would pay. The south side of Garfield park during the summer months is the main part of the park and w’ith such route serving it and properly advertised to educate and enlighten the public of their service to Garfield park would draw them much business. Will you use your good paper to help the people of the south side? We deserve good service as much as any other part of the city.

given the opportunity of going straight, might, make a good citizen that Indiana might be proud of some day. We taxpayers have paid thousands of dollars in chasing Dillinger over the country. Probably my share would not amount to more than 15 or 20 cents, but what has been accomplished; what would have been accomplished even though we had convicted and electrocuted Dillinger? However) he is now out and free and no one knows how' many lives it may cost before he is caught again and brought to what some people call .“justice.” If he could break from one of our best jails with a wooden gun, what can we expect in the future, trying to arrest him with his henchmen and machine guns. BBS HERE’S A MAN WHO NEEDS A JOB By Clinton H. Billett Will you kindly give space to this appeal from a disabled veteran, who is in need of employment. I am 32, willing to work at anything in exchange for board and room and have experience in the following lines: General office, grocery management, commercial and railway telegraphy. Some experience in restaurant and various sorts of manual labor. I must find employment at once. Thanks a lot for printing this. a an EX-SOLDIER PLEADS FOR BETTER CHANCE Bv Ju’t Another Ex-Soldier. Please publish these words from one who has served a year on the front lines with the A. E. F. and was wounded five times and now is drawing a $9 a month pension. Boys who sacrificed for our country surely can sacrifice our measly

_MARCH 14,1934

pensions to balance the budget, but it seems to me more money is being spent on things of smaller concern than there is money coming in. If the President can't pay the bonus, w’hy can’t he give us a break and cut the interest of the half already drawn, so that we'll have some coming in 1945? If there are any bills to be paid, Mr. Roosevelt cuts the soldiers to pay it. His campaign speeches were that he would pay the bonus as soon as the budget is balanced. What beoame of the money that was set aside to pay these certificates in 1945? What if the budget never does balance, where will we get the money they gave us? If the President, or any other man, had faced the guns as we heroes or slaves, which ever this administration may address us, did, then things would be great for the soldier. n x tt EX-CWA WORKER PROTESTS INABILITY TO GET AID By You and X I am a regular reader of your paper and would like for someone to tell me why, as a CWA worker, I can not get relief from the trustee. I was one of those on the Pleasant Run boulevard who was laid off because that project was finished. As I only drew a small check, insufficient to carry me over until I could find something else to do. which I did not get, I went to the trustee’s and filed an application for relief. I have not received any. I applied again Friday, and was told to make out another application. - Now, when we were all let off, I should think Mr. Sallee would have seen to it that we were provided with baskets, and not left in the cold, as the park board has done. Anri, again, what help is the government giving, as It stated it would? That is something again to find out. All CWA workers were to be helped. I’m from Missouri. I’ve been in this city and state five years. Let's know your opinion of it.

Hoosier State

BY LOREN PHILLIPS Here’s to the land of the gay wild rose, The land where the luscious paw paw' grows, Where the cardinal chirps from the woodland bough And poets are found behind the plow. Here’s to the land where the sycamores sigh And the larks sing gaily as they fly; Where the waters of the storied Wabash flow And the goldenrod shames the sunset's glow. Here’s to the land where the whippoorwill croons; The land of lakes and of great, white dunes. Os purple hills and of painted trees— The land where com tassels dance in the breeze. Here's to the land of the tried and true, Where foiks will greet you with “howdy do” Nor ask you whence you came, nor why, Here's to the land where the sycamores sigh.