Indianapolis Times, Volume 46, Number 41, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 June 1934 — Page 16

PAGE 16

The Indianapolis Times t* scripps-how \Rn AtwsrArr.il K"T W. HOWARD PoildeDi TALCOTT POWFLL . Editor EARL n. BAKER Bhilbmi Uin<;n Phone HI ,\V.I

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■ i trite Light nnt the “"yjli Will Finn These Own Way

THURSDAY. JUNE 3A 134

THUNDER ON THE RIGHT N r AZI orators are invoicing all their best rhetoric in what they term "the battle of the spirit." to sell Hitlerism to the German people. The oratorical onslaught is significant, for it reveals what dispatches have been hinting for some days, that Herr Hitler's regime at last is on the defensive. Thunder against Hitlerism is rumbling not from the left, but from the right. The immediate challenge to the chancellor's power appears to be about to issue from the conservatives, led by Vice-Chancellor Franz Von Papen. His speech of June 17, boldly criticizing the Nazi policies, was suppressed in Germany, but now is being bootlegged about along with other “verboten" opinion. And what he said may awaken hope among the suppressed minorities and the masses of Germany even though he himself • peaks for the privileged old rpgime. He demanded that the government permit free criticism and quit treating the people like morons. It is a mistake, he said, to think that military discipline can be imposed "upon the entire life of the nation.” Whether Von Papen succeeds Hitler to power or whether a royalist-military dictatorship supplants the Nazi dictatorship is really of less moment than the fact that, at last, the voice of criticism is being heard in Germany. Steel helmets may overcome brown shirts. Little systems may come and go. But the important thing is that the voices of free men will not remain stilled for long. The “Battle of the Spirit" that the Hitler stump speakers are fighting is only a phase of a long war of the spirit that stretched far beyond Socrates and will reach far beyond Hitler or Von Papen. And always sooner or later the spirit of freedom wins. THE POCKET VETO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S refusal to use the pocket veto illustrates again the new spirit of candor in the White House. To pocket a bill after adjournment is proper under the Constitution that says: “If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days <Sundays exceptedi after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law. in like manner as if he had signed it. unless the congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law.” Presidents from Jackson down have used the pocketing device, often because they had no time to study the proposed legislation. President Roosevelt says h**ll take the time, and either will approve or disapprove each measure before him. Already he has vetoed more bills than any President in the same time in sixteen years. Congress and the people have a right to know why their measures are vetoed by the executive. Pocketing deprives them of that right. They will rejoice that this practice has gone the way of the White House spokesman. HOW MANY UNEMPLOYED? THE American Federation of Labor reports that in May 10.267.000 workers were unemployed. The National Industrial Conference Board, which certainly is no Pollyanna organization, estimates the May unemployed at 7.899.000. Both organizations agree that at the bottom of the depression, in March, 1933, the number of unemployed was in excess of 13.000.000. But they disagree as to the number that have been put back to work. On the subject of unemployment these two organizations furnish the best statistics available. The fact that their estimates differ so radically seems to us to be conclusive proof that the Republicans In the last congress erred in blocking enactment of the unemployment census bill. Because they feared too many Democrats would be given jobs as census takers around election time, the Republicans defeated the measure which would have enabled the government to gather authoritative data needed for an intelligent attack upon unemployment. NO BEATING THE BUSH JACKIEL JOSEPH, president of the park board, is guilty either of misinterpreting or misunderstanding The Times’ urgmgs for a playground for the north side. The Times has pointed out that in that section of the city which boasts more home owners who live in their own homes and pay taxes than any other section of Indianapolis, not one public playground exists. That comprises the territory from Thirty-eighth street north to the canal. A playground is needed badly in that section and The Times asks merely that the park department lay plans to provide a playground for north side children by NEXT year—l93s. There has been no agitation for immediate setting up of a north side playground, merely a plea that city officials make plans to have a playground in that section of the city by NEXT year. The paric department has no money for new playgrounds this year. Mr. Joseph is right in that assertion. But Mr. Joseph has misunderstood the urging* of north side citizens. No effort is being made to embarrass the park board officials and no one is hurling charges of mismanagement. To the contrary. Indianapolis has a most efficient park board ar.d recreation department. Pew boards in the nation operate more efficiently and more conscientiously. But the park board has an erroneous imprMfcon of the north aide. The board says that it must provide playgrounds in the scorer

sections of the city. Correct. But thousands cn thousands of those who live on the north side are not wealthy. Their children do not ail have front and back yards in which to Diay. That impression must be corrected. And nere must be no beating around the bush oout pleas for a playground on the north ide The least that can be done is a definite >ian being laid for a site upon which a play.round can be built by next year. TRIPLE A S FIRST YEAR ONE year's operation is not enough for judging w:th any finality Triple A s services to recovery and reform. This, particularly, is true since the worst drought in forty years has upset rural economy over a vast area of America. Its benefits so far are substantial from the farmers’ viewpoint. If these benefits can not argue for the broad policies behind the act they certainly can answer the partisan and sectional critics now attacking it. According to Administrator Chester C. Davis, 3,000.000 farmers have in one year organized themselves into county production control associations, signing crop control contracts covering wheat, cotton, corn, hogs and tobacco. This in itself is an achievement in cooperation. In the year ending in April the farmers’ cash income, exclusive of benefit payments from processing taxes, rentals and options, had increased 20 per cent over the year previous. Including rentals and benefit payments of some $216,000,000, the income from farm commodities was up 39 per cent. Last month prices of seven basic commodities, including benefit payments, were up 60 per cent over those of March, 1933. Rising costs of things the farmers buy offset the income to some extent. Congress has added sugar, beef cattle and drought relief to AAA’s scope of operations. Many smaller marketing agreements also have been entered into. One of AAA's objects is to get some 50,000,GOO acres of overplanted lands back into forage crops. Pledges m~the adjustment contracts now give promise of reducing the surplus acreage by some 35.000.000 to 40,000.000. Critics are raising the point that the processing taxes are unjust, since they help rural states, but harm industrial states. Representative Taber of New York quotes internal revenue figures to show that his state paid out in processing taxes, $31,847,000. while New York farmers received only $55,800 in benefits. On the other hand, Texas and Louisiana farmers got back five times more than the total tax collections in their states. If it were true that consumers in the industrial states weie paying all the processing taxes collected in those states—and they are not—there still would be no substantial injustice done. For years cities have drawn population and wealth from the farm regions, impoverishing the rural states and setting up a double standard of American living. The industrial states have not scrupled to force protective tariffs which the farmers paid in higher living costs. If under Triple A farmers can get back a fraction of this wealth they will help the entire nation through the redistribution. Here is the tariff in reverse, and working lor the farmer at last. Triple As real significance lies, however, in the magnificent audacity of its purpose. Here, for the first time in a democratic capitalist country, is an attempt at rural planning on a nation-wide scale. It may work, it may not. If it does America will be enriched by a prosperous farming class. If it does not, some other way to stop the descent toward peasantry or peonage will have to be found. SWIFT JUSTICE TNDIANAPOLIS discovered Monday that a young man was in the custody of federal agents, charged with attempting to extort $1,200 from the family of an Indianapolis man. Yesterday afternoon, this city's newspaper readers learned that the same young man appeared in federal court, was convicted, and sentenced to seven years in a federal penitentiary. That is swift justice. A little more of the same medicine and crime would be vanishing just as swiftly. WHERE IS THE DIFFERENCE? once remarked that the man who sets out to solve the current problems of milk production and distribution will find, before he gets through, that he has to solve the greatest and knottiest problems of modern capitalism; and the farther you dig into the matter, the truer that seems. Dairy farmers complain that their income is too low; milk consumers, that they pay too much for milk. Shall we. then, leap vociferously on the middleman—the processor and distributor? Not. apparently, if we wish to be fair. The jmlk distributors point to an exhaustive investigation held not long ago by the New York legislature, in .which it was found that the spread between producers’ and consumers’ prices in the milk business is actually less than in the case of many other farm commodities. Os every dollar the New York consumer spends for milk, for instance. 44 cents goes to the farmer. Nineteen New York City milk dealers examined were found to make, on an average.-just 1 cent profit on each 143 quarts of milk they sold. Where, then, is the trouble? Maybe that is something for congress, or the AAA, to find out: in any case, it would appear that blaming everything on the middleman is not justified by facts. TYING UP RECOVERY 'T'HE importance to our national recovery of straightening out the tangle which still enmeshes a great many bank depositors is forcibly illustrated by a recent statement from J. F. T. O'Connor, controller of the currency, who reveals that nearly a billion dollars in deposits is still frozen in closed national banks. This money is tied up in 1.529 banks; so far, less than a million of it has been released to depositors. A billion dollars could buy a lot of goods and hire a lot of men. If some equitable and not-too-expensive way could only be found to release it the whole recovery program would get an immense stimulus A man in Berlin. Germany, kicked about the street railway service, so he got railroaded to jail for lour weeks. 4

Liberal Viewpoint BY DR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

AS one of our more libera] university presidents it was not surprising that Dr. Livngston Farrand of Cornell university would extress a congenial reaction to the New Deal. In his commencement address, he said: “I uelcome the New Deal, so far as it is an effort o establish a workable new social and economic irder that will preserve the best of the old and s a recognition that group and individual prejudice has no place in the system." He went on, however, to express some soliciude lest the New Deal might go to extremes. The danger, however, lies in the human habit and instinct to go too far, to lose sight of the original aims and to create new difficulties and new wrongs. It is there that clear thinking and fearless action are needed." One need not quarrel with this qualification of Dr. Ferrand s as a general or abstract statement, but there seems little reason to fear ar.y such development in the case of the New' Deal. On the contrary, the real danger is that the New Deal will stop short of those policies and methods which are indispensable if prosperity is to be recovered under capitalism and the democratic control of society. Probacly the most unfair charge W'hich has been leveled against Mr. Roosevelt is that he has been heedless or reckless and has lunged ahead too rapidly or too far in his zeal to reconstruct American economic society. While it is desirable to give him the benefit of the doubt until his experiment has been thoroughly w'orked out, it would seem that to date he can be criticized chiefly for having exhibited far too much caution and restraint. The record itself will clear him pretty effectively of any charge of precipitate excess. a tt a THE major challenge which Mr. Roosevelt had to face upon his assumption of the presidential office was embodied in the ravages of finance capitalism—the subordination of sound business enterprise to the anti-social practices and ideals of financial gambling and predatory raids. Many well informed observers, including perhaps the ablest of the President’s advisers, believed in March, 1933. that he should nationalize the banks and credit functions of the nation, thus wiping out in one stroke the major obstacle to the continuance of American prosperity under the capitalistic system. He resolutely refused to take any such bold step and contented himself with a number of minor reforms, all good in themselves but still leaving the moguls of high finance in control of the economy of the nation. Next to the menace of speculative finance, the major problem w'ith w'hich Mr. Roosevelt had to wrestle was that of inadequate purchasing power on the part of the American masses. Some of his closest advisprs in the administration and in congress believed that a minimum of $10,000,000,000 should be appropriated for public works and spent rapidly in order to give us one effective boost out of the ditch of depression. Instead, a sum of $3,300,000,000 was asked for, and was received, allocated and spent with almost unprecedented care and deliberation. Most liberals also believe that this emergency expenditure w r as inadequate. a a a THE agricultural adjustment act, designed to increase the purchasing power of the farm population, made no daring espousal of “the economy of abundance,” but was a very restrained and tentative experiment thoroughly subscribing to the old economy of scarcity. Nor w'as the President’s attitude with respect to the NRA at all that of a swashbuckler, so far as increased purchasing power is concerned. The minimum w r age provisions of the act are modest in the extreme. The President has show'll himself very reluctant to assert forceful policy with respect to the collective bargaining clause of the NIRA designed to aid labor in its struggle for higher wages. In spite of numerous charges of over-regi-menting industry, the NRA did not go any further in this respect than had been urged by the eminent American business men w r hen they were dominated by temporary humility and wisdom in the midst of the depression. Moreover, the President has surrendered the licensing power, which was the chief w'hip that he was able to hold over business in connection with the NRA, and he has modified, if not relinquished, the price-fixing powers under the act. In his policies with respect to taxation, the restraint of crime, the furtherance of disarmament, and the battle against war, the policies of Mr. Roosevelt have certainly not been any more daring or original than those of Mr. Hoover. It may be too early definitely to accuse the President of overtimidity or lack of vision, but he has certainly demonstrated that any charge of reckless haste or excess in w’ell doing is manifestly unfair and unjustified.

Capital Capers BY GEORGE ABELL

SENATOR DAVE WALSH, prominent member of the naval affairs committee of the senate from Massachusetts, went up to Boston to pay a visit to the German cruiser and training ship Karlsruhe, now at anchor there. Dave was escorted about the decks by the German commander. He saw the middies stand at attention, noted the various features of the vessel, seemed much interested. Finally, he turned to his escort and inquired blandly: "Is this a freighter or a passenger ship?” tt n a EMBASSIES and legations, although most of the ambassadors have gone or are going out of Washington for the summer, continue to function merrily. There are no big parties. Formality is as dead as the doorknob Mr. Dickens mentions. But there are isolated groups of amusement seekers. And many hard-working ministers are still at their desks. The British embassy, although Ambassador Sir Ronald Lindsay how is on the high seas bound for England, is taking an enormous interest in the Scotch whisky problem. British diplomats are eagerly following reports and opinions of the FACA (federal alcohol control board) on the subject of Scotch. The opinion is expressed here that the FACA will hand down a definition (probably within a month) that Scotch w'hisky is a w’hisky made under the supervision of the British government and aged three years. Both the importers and the British naturally want this definition. In connection w'ith W'hiskies, Irish Minister Michael Mac White is not taking a back seat. He is busying himself with the similar problem of Irish whisky and is hoping for a favorable definition of this liquor from the board. His friends feel that the minister's definition of Irish whisky is the best obtainable: “It’s a drink,” says poetic Michael, “kissed by the Irish sun and mellowed by Irish kindness.” a a tt Ambassador saito of Japan is one of the last ambassadors to leave the capital. He will sail for Japan on July 3 with Mme. Saito and their daughters. During his brief stay here, it is conceded in diplomatic circles that the active, energetic envoy has done much to cement good relations between his country and the United States. He recently has been entertaining distinguished Japanese visitors—such as Prince Fumimaro Konoye, president of the house of peers; Prince Tokugawa, former president of the house of peers, and the latter's son, who is Japanese minister to Canada. Under the aegis of Envoy Saito, whose favorite drink is a whisky soda, occidental beverages have largely replaced oriental wines at formal parties. The other night, however, the proverbijwl cup of saki wine was drained by member* of the Japanese staff at a farewell dinner in the embassy. The girl who seeks screen success, says Jesse Lasky. must have a background of culture and special dramatic training. Os course, those having only pretty faces and shapely legs won t be turned down.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

■ 1 '

r pl n 0 ]\/r OG C O fYO j-At* \ 1 wholly disapprove of what you say and will 1 XXt/

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns. Make your letters short , so all can have a chance. I imit them to ISO words or less.) nun APPROVES OF BAN ON DOGS By Charles W. Peters It certainly is-a revelation to read the spewings of some of these dog fanatics in this column, for instance, this B. G. W. person who suggests muzzling children instead of dogs. They have exposed their warped minds. I w'ould suggest that B. G. W. and his clan get their pack of mangy hydrophobia-ridden mongrels together and move out on East Twcn-ty-first street near the canine graveyard; There they could live in peace with their curs without fear of being molested by the cruel children. Mayor Sullivan and many others value children’s lives more highly than dogs. The dog lover could commune with the spirits of the noble departed ancestors of their present brood of baby manglers, thereby killing two birds with one throw'. I love a good dog, but the majority of those running loose are no good to anyone, just dogs that nobody wants. It seems to me that civilization is at a pretty low ebb W'hen people stop raising children and fill their homes w'ith dogs. I say be sensible and raise both children and dogs, but control them both. And I also say to Mayor Sullivan, pay no attention to fanatics and get rid of these dangerous, roving mad dogs by keeping all dogs off the streets and, if people won’t keep their dogs muzzled or penned up through this emergency period, let them go to the dog pound after them. nan LAUDS JUDGE COX FOR BANK ACTION By a Reader. I read the Message Center of The Times with a great deal of interest, and as I think the majority of the reading public does. Through the Message Center I w-ould like to express my admiration for Judge Earl Cox for the way he has had the closed banks investigated. He is certainly a judge for Indiana to be proud of. I would like to see him Governor of the state, as he does his duty fearlessly. The banks close. Poor persons w'ho have worked like slaves and denied themselves everything to save a little money, lose it all, w'hile the head men of the banks go on living just as they did before the banks closed. They have beautiful homes in select parts of the city, some of them ow'n several homes, while poor, hard-w'orking persons who lost their money in these banks can not afford to own even the humblest home. These same bankers have two and three fine cars. Those who lost money in their banks can hardly raise enough money to buy a token to ride on a street car. van EQUAL RIGHTS BLOC DRAWS CRITICISM W. B. Hawk in*. I wonder if all men get tired as I, listening to women crying about * equal rights with men? The In-1 ternational Federation of Business and Professional Women is asking that. The women seem to have the floors of mast courts, especially in granting them alimony. What more do they want? To eat their pie and have it also? A wife makes sls a week; husband making the same. Suppose he says "I pay my share and you pay yours.” She can. ask for a divorce and get

BEGINNING TO BALK!

Dillinger 1 s Sister Denies Ohio Report

By Mrs. Audrey Hancock. Since so many others have written to the Message Center, could I have just a small space? I w'ould like to tell all readers of this paper the truth about the letter written by a Mrs. Callendar in Galion, 0., stating I had received a letter from my brother, John Dillinger, saying he w'as alive and w'ell. This woman is not a friend of mine, as the paper stated; neither did I write her that I had received a letter from John. She is just a nosey woman seeking notoriety, or perhaps some of the rew'ard offered for my brother. She wrote me several times stating she was trying to help John. I wrote and thanked her and on May 29 she came to see me and remained tor perhaps an hour and a half. She said all the family seemed so disinterested and asked why we didn't go to the Governor and ethers. We have been tor-

it, on that ground. She has a perfect right to pay her bills on the equal terms basis. A man’s dollar will not get any more than a w'oman’s will. Women lost the favor of men in arising on street cars and giving them seats. Maybe they will lose some other good favor w'hen they get their rights. Please don’t misunderstand me— I am not a woman hater. a a a “DEAD BEATS” IN PUBLIC POSITIONS ASSAILED By a Small Merchant. Asa small merchant in business in Indianapolis for the past fifteen years, I ask you, which is the outstanding medium in Indianapolis to help in a very important matter—a problem which affects the large merchant as well as the small one. There is a small percentage of state, county and city employes who will not pay their bills and who receive their pay regularly from public money. The merchant is afraid to force payment and although the employing boards have warned employes to pay, a certain few just will not pay. I think it the duty of the boards in charge of state, county and city employes to see that these employes pay their bills promptly. It is a very sorrowful thing to think that on account of the few dead beats in the police and fire departments, at the courthouse, city hall, at statehouse and other public institutions, reflection is cast upon all public employes. The boards should make it their duty to see that this condition is remedied at once and for all time. a a a PROPOSES NEW POLICE SYSTEM Bt Observer Your editorial, “Too Much Politics,” discusses a deplorable situation about which we seem to have done little. In police work alone, a complete divorcing from politics would curtail crime. I believe, at least 75 per cent. With that thought in mind. I propose that a police system founded and operated solely upon merit be established by the next Indiana legislature. Such a system, to be effective, w'ould mean sweeping changes. The state should have the only police force, wiping out the city police

mented continually by such meddlesome persons; also police and federal men. I want all Times readers to know I thank all who have written me and who have told me they are praying for my brother. Some day there are a lot of persons who are going to have to answer to the One above for many things, and I believe God is watching over my dear brother. This paper put a picture of my baby boy, on his tricycle, in last Friday’s issue. There was a line underneath the picture I think w'as not necessary. How does The Times know that tricycle w'as bought by a banker? Well, If a banker paid for it, perhaps he bought it with some poor widow’s or orphan's money. Which is the w'orst? I w'ould like to see the next newspaper reporter w'ho can even look inside my home. I am like my brother. I have learned to trust very few people.

plan, the sheriffs’ offices and constables. Appointment would be made by a nonpartisan group composed of two representatives from each of the congressional districts of the state. This group would continue to function in an advisory capacity to the head of the department, who would have the title of director. Under the director would be captains, probably eight to ten; lieutenants, sergeants and privates. Seniority w'ould be the controlling factor in promotions, so that a man could embark upon a career of protecting society with a feeling of security. In larger cities, police duties would be taken over by a sufficient number of lieutenants, other officers and men, serving fully independent of who hapepned to be mayor. Adequate salaries for different ranks, similar compensation for injury or illness and such retirement pay as would guarantee a decent living, should be assured. Such a setup, I believe, is the only solution to the alarming spread of crime which to no small degree is wedded to rotten politics. BERATES BROUN FOR MOVIE STAND Bv an Indignant Reader. The usually intelligent Heywood Broun certainly seemed like a small boy—just disagreeing—in his col- | umn yesterday. Why he should defend the obviously lewd and sex-stimulating pictures of a Hollywood controlled by money-mad ex-cloak-and-suiters, I can not understand. Many of us who are not Roman Catholics and not, among Protestants, of the Puritan inclination, j agree wholeheartedly with the bishops in their crusade. We would object as strongly as Mr. Broun if someone tried to censor great art. Hollywood's product, j however, is neither art nor great for the mast part. Mr. Broun should think before he speaks.

Daily Thought

Take you wise men, and understanding. and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.—Deuteronomy, 1:13. He is wise who can instruct us and assist us in the business of daily virtuou living.—Car lyi%

JUNE 28, 1934;

IGNORANCE OF MASSES LEADS TO MISERY By Old Timer. Back in the days when writing w-as taught by means of copybooks, I recall this line—“ Knowledge is tha only fount of human liberty.” In those few words is summed up a great truth that humanity in the mass should learn in all thoroughness. Sheep-like following has, without exception, led the masses into misery. Preachers, teachers and politicians alike often are careless of the facts, and only the ignorance of their listeners keeps the greater number of people in subjection to false ideas. "Suffer little children to come unto Me,” is spoken in sonorous tones from the pulpits. But those words do not feed hungry children or house them in decent homes. History is taught in the schools that glosses over brutal facts, especially those relating to the causes of war. Such teaching trains masses of the poor to die on battlefields so that the rich may become richer. Politicians spout nothings and unJy thinking thousands cheer, little realizing that they comprise the sucker list upon which politicians live. SEES TREND TOWARD PENSIONING AGED By Observer. Being in a position to see many of Indiana s newspapers, I have been greatly impressed in the last few months by the change in the attitude of the state’s press toward old age pensions. Six years ago, the Indiana papers favorable to pensioning the aged could be counted on the fingers of one hand, and there would have been a finger or two left over. Today, the reverse is true. News-' papers opposed to old age pensions are very rare. This is a hopeful sign. It may mean that county councils meeting within a few weeks to fix appropriations for next year will be more generous in the matter of pensions, and that the 1935 session of the legislature will amend the present ' pension law in a manner t will liberalize it. *

So They Say

The rest of the world would de- j rive some benefit, perhaps, while our 1 two countries destroyed each other, * Japan and America, therefore, should see to it that this war talk gets nowhere.—Foreign Minister Koki Hinjta of Japan. , The smile of President Rosevelt :$ the mast previous asset that Amen- ’ ca has at the present moment.— Joseph P. Tumulty, secretary to tha * iate President Wilson.

DESIRE

BY HARRIET SCOTT OLINICK I crush the fragrance of the night Between my fingertips. I reach with longing for the moon; Take solace from your lips. I bruise my head against the star3. You wound me with your love, I respond, but half-heartedly. I want the moon above. The night is oozmg through my hands. Swift die the little hours. I crave the moon, but dream with you Beneath catalpa flowers.