Indianapolis Times, Volume 46, Number 88, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 August 1934 — Page 10

PAGE 10

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WTONL6DAY. AUG 22 13J4

THE PENSIONS PROBE EMBERS of the civic affairs committee of the Chamber of Commerce have announced they will institute an investigation of the administration of pensions in Manon county. Included in their list of pensions to be investigated will be the old age pension system, inaugurated during the last session of the legislature. The Chamber of Commerce committee will handle its probe of the pension question on the basis that faulty steps in administration and operation are costing the taxpayers of this county money that could be used to better advantage or to reduce the 1935 proposed budget If that is true then it is time that not only an investigation is conducted, but that immediate steps be taken to remedy the situation. This newspaper led the battle for old age pensions in Indiana. Consequently, this newspaper is more than anxious that the old age pension law be administered fairly, but without placing an added load on tiu* tax burden. Results of the probe will be interesting. If changes are needed then nothing should impede progress. FEVER CHART T LKE an unsteady fever chart the record of world co-operation shoots up and then down. Here us the chart tor one day: The United States government became a member of the international labor organization. connected with the League of Nations. Eighteen governments, representing all of the arms exporting nations, joined in a munitions embargo against Bolivia and Paraguay in the Gran Chaco war, as Italy, the last holdout, signed the agreement. The world wheat quota agreement collapsed. after Argentina refused to accept a quota for next year and after England and Argentina violated last year's agreement. German Nazis celebrated Hitler's victory in a fake plebiscite, which gave the dictator power to declare war and increased European unrest. Premier Mussolini of Italy and Chancellor Schuschnigg of Austria, keeping the appointment originally made for murdered Chancellor Dollftiss. were reported drafting a secret Italo-Austro-Hungarian military alliance as Italy practiced giant war maneuvers. The Japanese cabinet is reported agreed on abrogating the Washington naval limitation treaty, but disagreed on whether to act before or after the London naval conversations in October. The Japanese war minister demanded Russian explanation of border incidents, while Moscow’ press predicts Japanese seizure of railroads. Canada discussed an embargo on foodstuff shipments to United States, after President Roosevelt temporarily lowered for drought relief the American tariff barriers which have injured Canada for years. The foreign policy association in a study of the international economic situation reported: “Little progress has been made toward overcoming the fundamental obstacles to a revival of world trade—such as the paralysis of international finance, exchange instability or elimination of trade barriers—without which recovery must be confined to fairly narrow limits.” WHAT S THE EXPLANATION? THE American people used to be pretty good at the old job of detecting the presence of colored gentlemen in the woodpile. It is to be hoped that this talent has not deserted them. We read that a great anti-radical campaign is to be launched early in September. Th? Junior Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles will start the ball rolling with a big meeting in Hollywood bowl; other places are expected to take up the torch, and co-ordina-tion of all anti-radical groups throughout the land is expected to result. Now all this comes under the head of a worth.* cause, surely . . And yet it is precisely in a campaign of this kind that it is most important to search the woodpile carefully for lurking darkies. You may remember some of the disclosures made a few y.-ars ago when tiie federal trade. commission was investigating the propaganda efforts of the power trust. At that time it was revealed that one ot the trust's publicity advisers, writing to another adviser, frankly urged that they try to “pin the Bolshevik label” on people who were campaigning for lower electricity rates, public ownership. and so on. It's an old gag. after all. Yell “Red" at a man long enough and you can persuade people to forget the mans actual accomplishment* and ignore his logic: eventually you get your chestnuts pulled out of the fire for you very neatly indeed. So before we set to work to crack down on all radicals, we ought to inspect the woodpile pretty carefully. We ought to make sure—to change the metaphor—that we are not reaching into any live coals to retrieve someoodv else * chestnuts. A campaign of this kind could be a cruel and tyrannical thing, if followed blindly. If there are people in America who are trying to bring about a bloody revolution, let s get after them, by all means. ’ But let's cot permit ourselves to be fooled into pinning the label cn anybody and evenbody who sponsors a movement or a cause th:eaten* nothing but some selfish vested Interest.

ALCOHOL AND GAS A YOUNGSTOWN lO.) man, driving his car while police say he was under the influence of liquor, runs down and kills four little girls who were walking along an open highway. And if we needed any more proof of the adage that gasoline and alcohol don't mix. here It is—in tragic, terrible form. We seem, so far, to be refusing to face the facts in connection with repeal just as stubbornly as we refused to face them in connection with prohibition for so many years. If we are going to have the open and legal sale of intoxicants, we have simply got to find some way of keeping these intoxicants out of the people who are driving automobiles. Perhaps we need to increase the size of our traffic patrol forces three or four-fold. Perhaps we need to make our traffic code about five times as strict as it is now. Perhaps we need to submit to far more stringent infringements on our personal liberty, in connection with the use of autos, than we ever had before. Certain it is that we need something drastic. The people of the country simply will not stand tragedies like this one at Youngstown much longer. AN URGENT PROBLEM IF a c Labor Secretary Frances Perkins once remarked, an outbreak of strikes is a sign of recovery, we must be heading back toward prosperity at a terrific clip. The strike vote which will call out half a million textile workers on Sept. 1. unless some speedy adjustment be made, is only tne latest in a rapidly increasing list of bitter industrial disputes. And whatever the significance of these strikes may be, as regards recovery, one thing is certain; they are horribly expensive things for everybody involved, and they constitute a pretty heavy load for our reviving industrial machinery to bear. In spite of the NRA’s fine words, we have not yet found a very efficient way of adjusting them or preventing them; and a discovery of that kind comes close to being the most pressing need of the day. THE YOUNG ELDER YOUNG Rush D. Holt, who captured the Democratic nomination for the senate in West Virginia, is receiving wide publicity. The people, quite naturally, are interested in a comparative youngster of 29 knocking for admittance to that august body which has a constitutional minimum age requirement of 30, and whose present members average more than twice that age. The senate is our tribal council of elders. Only three ot the ninety-six members are under 40. Only fourteen are under 50. About half are over 60. At least ten are in their seventies. It has been repeated often that age and birthdays have liitle in common. If young Mr. Holt comes to the senate, he will find that he has much in common with that youthful septuagenarian, George W. Norris of Nebraska. in whose breast the fire of idealism has not dimmed. The West Virginian has just started on a crusade that the Nebraskan has waged for fifty years—a crusade to improve the lot of the average man. Mr. Holt’s opponent. Senator Henry D. Hatfield, the Republican incumbent, takes care not to reveal his age in his biography in the congressional directory. In years, Mr. Hatfield does not appear to be an old man by senate standards. But in his conception of statecraft, he seems to be a very old man. with his face turned to the past. Judged by his speeches, which have been many and long, Mr. Hatfield is a man who thinks that higher and higher tariffs are all that is needed to make this the best of all possible worlds. A LYNCHING A WEEK TJ'ROM Jan. 1 to June 1, there were two lynchings in the United States. Since June 1. there have been twelve lynchings. Prior to June 1, the Wagner-Costigan federal anti-lynching bill was a live issue in congress. It provided drastic federal punishment of lynchers and local officers who fail to resist lynch mobs, and assessed heavy fines against the communities in which lynchings occur. Apparently this threat of federal interference was a strong deterrent to lynching in the first five months of the year. This threat was removed about June 1 when ihe Wagr.er-Cost’gan bill was pigeonholed Since that date, mob murders have proceeded at the rate of more than one a week. In none of the instances have lynchers been punished, nor is it likely that any will be punished. The National Association for tne Advancement of Colored People has appealed to President Roosevelt to insist at the opening ot the next congressional session upon passage of federal anti-lynching legislation. “The parade of bold mob murders.” says the association. is proof that “the states are unwilling or unable to check lynching and that the only method left is the invocation of the power of the federal government." At the next session ot congress, the President should give to the Wagner-Costigan bill more than his tacit approval. BATTLE OF THE CENTURY TI7E regret to anounce that Republican ’ * Senator Dan Hastings has declined the challenge to debate Democratic Senator Jim Ham Lewis. Jim Ham will not speak through his oncepink whiskers and Dauntless Dan will not talk through his hat; no eloquent eulogy of Rooseveltian recovery will clash with a dirge to the dear, dead days of Republican rule. "The New Deal vs. the Old Deal, featuring the catalier from Illinois and the roundhead from Delaware!” It wouldn't be fair, said Hastings, because the Democrats would pack the meetings with government jobholders. How little he understands showmanship. With such an attraction conducted under the rule of first come first served, the Democratic jobholders wouldn't have a chance. They couldn't get off work in time to get in the hall. Seats and standing room would be taken b\ unemployed Republican ex-job-holders. who, having nothing else to do. would reach the hall hours in advance and wait to see their bristling champion tweek the graying whiskers of his Democratic adversary. What a swell show! American Automobile Association reports a decline in hitch hiking. That’s because motorists have been ao*ng the thumbing—down.

Liberal Viewpoinl BY DR. HARRY ELMER BARNES -

OF one thing we may be certain today. The coming generation is bound to be one of sweeping social and economic changes, even though there may be no universal swing to Communism. If this is the case, intelligent citfzens should prepare for the changes of the future by acquainting themselves with the proposals for social reform set forth in the last centurv and a half. The evils of capitalism are no novelty, though the particular form they have taken has changed greatly since the days of Adam Smith. Therefore. much of relevance can be gained from a study of the protests and programs which have emerged from the commentators on capitalism in the past. There are several satisfactory summaries of the doctrines of modern social reformers, but we have lacked a good book of selections from their writings which would give us the flavor of the original and yet save us a great deal of searching and time wasted in separating the wheat from the chaff. Professor Wagner has performed just such a service through preparing a source book of social reform embodying well chosen passages from social reformers and critical economists. (“Social Reformers: Adam Smith to John Dewey.” Edited by Donald O. Wagner. Macmillan. $3.25.) He covers the whole sweep from Adam Smith and Bentham to Veblon and John Dewey. a a a IT generally is maintained that the prevailing trend of American social tradition has always been fundamently conservative. Any such idea is amusing, when its not annoying, to any one well acquainted with the history of the United States down to the Civil war. Nevertheless, the illusion remains and has served to discourage many progressives who have aimed to build a better America. Miss Symes and Mr. Clement sw r eepingly attack this common conception of dumb and docile America. (“Rebel America: The Story of Social Revolt in the United States.” By Lillian Symes and Travers Clement. Harpers $2.) They have written a brilliant summary of American radicalism and protest from the days of Robert Owen to the rumblings against the New Deal. It is a very timely contribution to a highly important but much overlooked aspect of American history. The economics of depression have received much attention, but not a great deal has been written on the psychology of economic slumps and financial crises. Dr. Starch contends that both booms and depressions are chiefly an outgrowth of mob psychology spreading beyond any reasonable limits in both cases. ("Faith, Fear and Fortunes.” By Daniel Starch. Richard R. Smith. $2.) n a a THE book is a very important contribution to the literature of depressions, but it will | be unfortunate if it is used as an alibi for the ballyhoo and the economic thievery which really produced the depression. The unjust distribution of the social income and the resulting inability of the people to purchase goods has no mass illusion. It may be that we shall have to modify the present economic order very fundamentally before any general well being can be established. In the meantime, we can build up some buffer against the suffering caused by accidents, illness, old age, unemployment and death. Social insurance is the answer to this problem and it can be installed without overturning the existing order. Dr. Rubinow is one of the world’s leading authorities on the question of social insurance and he has writter, a very timely and informing book. (“The Quest for Security.” By I. M. Rubinow. Henry Holt & Cos. $3.50.) The larger part of it is taken up with a clear presentation of the need for social insurance but there is a masterly discussion of its principles, a summary of what has been achieved elsewhere, and an argument for the practicability of the program in the United States. The first “Fact Book” out by the Labor Research Association made available a large mass of information on the more seamy side of American economic life. It revealed many things which the happiness boys would like to keep from the American public. Anew volume has now appeared covering new subjects and bringing the figures down to date. (“Labor Fact Book II.” Prepared by Labor Research Association. International Publishers. $2.) Its contents give New Dealers something to chew on.

Capital Capers BY GEORGE ABELL

TENNIS tfeek at Newport has drawn many Washington notables to that resort. Last (but certainly not least) to arrive there is merry, sprightly General Horton, Washington’s cotillion leader. General Horton not only leads cotillions in brilliant full-dress uniform, but he can on occasion play very excellent tennis. White-haired, humorous, teliing anew anecdote over a mint julep (and. by the way, he knows how to mix a julep Maryland style), or blazing at dinner parties with his newly acquired Albanian decoration of Scanderbeg. the general adds much to the color of the Washington season. Just now he’s visiting the McMaster Mills at Newport. And —best of all—he’s taken his Albanian decoration along in his suitcase. a a a A TALL, dark man strode into the office of Waiter Foote, former American consul in Sumatra. Dutch East Indies, and barked: “Ada baik!” j Foote jumped from his seat, promptly boomed in itiuiu: "Ada ... Ada baik!” The tall, dark man was Kenneth S. Patton. American consul-general at Batavia. He’s in Washington on a brief leave of absence. When he meets Foote (an old crony) the two men invariably converse in Malay. Note—Consul-General Patton reported that the Orient is becoming increasingly interesting—politically, economically and commercially. Foote, since his* friend's visit, is suffering from nostalgia for the Far East. a a a FINAL honors were paid to the late ambassador of Belgium, M. Poul May. as the body I was removed from the vaults at Arlington to j be placed on beard a cruiser and returned to ! his native land. Due solemnity marked the ceremonies, with members of the diplomatic corps attending in formal dress. Many diplomats who were out cf town returned especially for the funeralsuch as Ambassador Frevre y Santander of Peru, who came here from his summer residence ! in Eagles Mere. A battalion of sailors and marines, a squadron of cavalry and marine and cavalry bands took part in the ceremonies. The enormous popularity which Envoy May enjoyed among colleagues was shown by the scores of messages of condolence sent his fam- ; fly, and the very real sentiments of sorrow : expressed by many friends. a a a THE minister of Persia. Ghaffar Khan Djalal, went out for a stroll near Sheridan Circle with Mme. pet white Spitz. He removed the chain from the dog's collar and allowed it to wander freely. Presently he glanced around, missed the ani- ! ma! *it answers to the name of “Piggy"), and whistled. No dog. “Piggy! Here, Piggy!” called Minister Djalal, frantically But Piggy was not to be found. Mme. Djalal is distracted at the loss of her pet and has offered a rew’ard for its safe return. Piggy was as well known in the diplomatic corps as the Cairn terrier of Lady Lindsay, wife of his Britannic majesty's ambassador. The drought has caused Emporia, Kan., to restrict its residents to only four inches of water in their bathtubs, but the city as yet ! has made no ruling against singing in the j

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns. Hake your letters short, so a't can have a chance. I.imit them to 250 words or less.) a a a REGARDING USE OF VAN AND VON By Crcedo. This seems an opportune time to ask a scholarly ana informative expression about the use df Van, van, Von and von, as prefixes to names of distinctive oi distinguished social groups of persons, i. e., aristocrats. This writer is sure of only one, by reason of person ii acquaintance and correspondence, that is the prefix van (small v) for Henry van Dyke. Yet the New York Times persistently uses the prefix Van (capital V) for his name. How does von Hindenburg look headlined Hindenburg? How does Henry van Dyke look headlined Dyke? This waiter recalls that w'hen the Vonnegut forbears arrived from Germany for residence in Indianapolis testifying to their belief that America was the “land of opportunity,” it was picturesquely stated that they really were Vons, but considered it more in accordance with their democratic aspirations not to avail themselves of that distinguished prefix. They became Vonneguts, much to the w’holesome and cultural influence of a proud and powerful family group in this city, where the clan has, ever since, increased in numbers and prestige. More power to it! a a a ASKS FOR SHOWDOWN ON LAW ENFORCEMENT Bv L. W. Heagy. Your editorial, “Indiana’s Crime Problem,” is very timely and to the point. Now I would like to ask how you expect the coming legislature, no matter which group is elected, to do ! all these things, and many other necessary problems, when so far as we know at present not a s ngle candidate in Marion county has touched upon a single point in which their prerogatives or the grafting propensities of the machine politicians of either party is in danger of being curtailed? Now' if you want to ring the bell ask these men collectively, and then individually, where they stand on all vital functions of state government. Make each one tell his leanings before the election and I guarantee the electorate will choose proper men regardless of party, granting there will be 50 per cent outspoken enough to take a proper stand. You have covered considerable ground and much white paper, so why not get down to cases on the matter of slot machines? We have officers to enforce the law's, and presumably the laws are not enforced. Can you not pick out the ones who are guilty and start agitation for impeachment? a a a PIG PEN ODOR IN MARTINSfILLE CITED By Mr*. X. Stark*. I would like a little in your editorial page to express my feelings as to sanitation in Martinsville. I called to visit my mother last Sunday evening and soon learned it was very uncomfortable trying to sit on the porch of her home due to

With Acknowledgments to Tallmrt

rpl IV /T - 4J JQO iVIeSS&idC V>l6nt6r

THE KING’S HENCHMEN

Condemns Both Old Parties

By a New Voter. Until yesterday I still was a boy, listening to otner people. Today I took the notion to have other people listen to me. Will you please give this a chance to be read? This appeal is to the intelligence of the Indianapolis citizens in general. Nearly all of us know' the conditions in which the "elephants” put us. How many of us do not know the cone;lions in which we have been kept to this very day? It ought to be very plain to any clear mind that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats are willing to pull us out of the mess in which they have throw'n us. It will have to be done by ourselves. The old parties have show’n us again and again that they ask us to vote for them not because they desire to do any good for us, but because they know that once we vote them the power they can do what they please. They do not have to ask us any further until another election, when we have got tired of one and vote for the other—from the hot pan to the fire and vice versa. Every one knows that all the powers to communicate their political thought is theirs. You may buy a newspaper, a magazine or listen to the radio; they tell you what they want you to know; a terrible odor. I asked her what on earth it was. I thought possibly a horse or cow had died, but she said that it was only pig pens. She said they were all around, in front, behind and across the street. Now mind you, she lives three squares from the courthouse. And people move to small tow'ns for their health. May I ask, does Martinsville have a board of health? ana KU-KLUX KLAN BID AMUSES READER By R. Dewitt. On the front page of The Times we notice that the Ku-Klux Kian has invited the Jews and Catholics to join their organization and help them fight the Communists. This gesture of good will reminds us of the baseball game which the klan and the Knights of Columbus had some time ago for the benefit of destitute Jews. I think that we now have a good reason to parole D. C. Stephenson. A man of his character would make an excellent leader for this noble task: a a a SOME QUESTIONS FOR SENATOR ROBINSON By George Vi. Curtis. Does Senator Robinson mean a return to the 1932 status, say January and February? A return according to Webster, implies “going back to the same place.” Now, if that is the senator's ideal of the Constitution and sanity, I feel sure the many millions of persons on charity would much prefer the NRA. Killing veterans under Hooverism may be constitutional and sane, evolution not revolution. Was the senator treated unfairly during his recent confinement in the veterans’ hospital? And of what complaint does he now suffer which impairs his freedom of speech? Certainly not the record of his vote on the reduction of his salary. Senator Robinson never Induced an industrialist to bring suit on account of the cancellation of con-

wh °Uy disapprove of what you say and will j |_ defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire. J

you tell them nothing. You just vote and that is all. You may get in the hot pan or in the fire—that is up to you. Nevertheless you usually get burned at your own expense. You, the workers of all classes, should by this time know enough to make an intelligent man or woman out of yourself, and if you are not, certainly it is no one’s fault but yours. Look back in recent political history? Who has told you the truth in political campaigns of the three major political parties. Republican, Democratic or Socialist? The one who habitually votes the old party way votes a condemnation against himself and his family and does not know. This is the time to act. Act now for the Delter future of yourself and those who are most dear to you. You who have any respect at all for humanity, do not hesitate to vote the Socialist w-ay this fall, and if many of you follow this bit of advice you will see the good effects of your action. Better days will be here, but not under Democratic or Republican rule. There will have to be a better future security, and it only can be done by showing how’ to do it. I, for one, and six more in my family from now on will vote a straight Socialist ticket. tractual rights under the NR A. We have a right to believe that if he really thought the NRA unconstitutional, he then neglected his duty as a faithful public servant by failing to have the question presented before the proper courts. Yes, tw’elve. brave young army pilots were sacrificed, but solely on account of improper equipment and training provided by his Republican administration. Every air mail company holding contracts with the government could have brought suits compelling compliance according to the terms of* the contract, but the traucl was said to be even greater than the oil scandals during the Harding administration. Nope, Li'l Arthur didn't expose. Campaign pledges in 1931 undoubtedly could have been fulfilled if the Republican slogan “Prosperity just around the corner” hadn’t turned out really to be moratorium, bankruptcy, ruination, starvation—industrially. agriculturally and individually. Republican Robinson constituents, where art thou? Give me instead the Jeffersonian, Jacksonian, Wilsonian and Rooseveltian constitutional construction for the starving millions. ana PRAISES EDITORIAL ON ELECTION ISSUES Bv William F. Book, Bloomington. I have read with great interest, profit and delight, your editorial in Monday's paper entitled, "The Real Issue.” Interested to see the real issue so ably and clearly set forth; delighted to know that your paper had the courage and the patriotism to print in clear, forceful English the most important facts pertaining to the real issues before the voters in this state and country in the coming campaign. 1 have long admired the character of the editorials of your paper and the fine service which The Times has giVfen the people of this state and nation in recent years. Unfortunately, all people have' to

AUG. 22, 1934

come into possession of the facts to make correct and wise decisions at the polls. It is criminal that they are so often purposely misled, that editorials are so often crowded by many papers for profit into the news columns and that many papers very cunningly try to mislead their readers for reasons so well set forth in your editorial. I have profited greatly by your keen and just analysis of the main issue in the November campaign. Please continue your fine work so that the people of this state will not be misled to the extent that backward steps will be taken in November regarding the many fine things that have been begun in the state and nation during the last two years. a a a BELIEVES GAS PLANT DEAL ADVISABLE By an Indianapolis Visitor. I have read with interest tho stories in the local dailies concerning the purchase of the gas plant by the city. It appears to me that the purchase of the gas plant would be an excellent investment for the people of Indianapolis, if it could be acquired at a fair price. The city of Omaha today enjoys the lowest manufactured gas rate in the United States. The gas plant has been owned and operated by the city since 1920. The gas plant along with the city water works is operated by a board selected by the voters of the city. Ihe board in turn selects a manager who is given complete charge of the administration of the water works and gas plant. The metropolitan utilities district, the name given to the joint operation of the water and gas plants, is in excellent financial condition today. A considerable portion of bonds of the district have been purchased, a large cash surplus is on hand, and the consumption of gas is increasing steadily each year. Indianapolis, with 150,000 more inhabitants than Omaha, should be able to duplicate Omaha’s record. Electricity is not going to drive gas out of the market. For heating and cooking purpdses, gas is much cheaper and equally efficient. I am sorry that I can not give any definite figures in regard to the Omaha utilities district, but interested parties can obtain them by writing to the Metropolitan Utilities District, Omaha, Neb. The district publishes yearly a booklet explaining the activities of the plant and its financial situation.

Too Perfect To Last.

BY VIRGINIA KIDWELL When you extravagantly said I was a dream come true. An angel straight from paradise—no flaws to mar my past, And placed me on a pedestal, then ruefully I knew You thought me far too perfect for your love to ever last. When you said you adored me as a saint from up above, Refused to see my faults or learn the human heart of me That only asked for tenderness and understanding love— I sadly realized your love would never last for me.