Indianapolis Times, Volume 46, Number 110, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 September 1934 — Page 4

PAGE 4

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MOWDAY HHPT r* 1 , CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS! 'T'HE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES today carries : an article expressing the views of various representative Indianapolis citizens on the publication, in The limes, of Major Lawrence L. B Angies' 'The Coming American Boom." Most of the opinions are well considered, well constructed criticisms. One, however, also happens to be highly entertaining. The Indianapolis Times is not presenting Major Angas’ theories in any other but a journalistic function of service to its readers, but it does feel tempted to comment on the re- ; marks of Gavin L. Payne, investment banker and promment Republican. Mr Payne does not agree with Major Jingas In his remarks. Mr. Payne brings up the j brain trust. ‘He errs. I believe.’’ said Mr. Pavne, speaking of the major, "in thinking there is cohesr.eness in the brain trust plans. The brain trust aptly Is compared to Christopher Columbus. When he left Spain he did not know where he was going; when he reached America, he did not know where he was; and when he returned home, he did not know where he had been" Yes. Mr. Payne, that's right. % But he did discover America, didn't he?

THK TWO LEAGUES WHILE America politically has remained critically aloof from the League of Nations, American capital has entwined itself in the intrigues of another international combine that might be called the league of death merchants. No American delegate raises his voice in the council of the league for peace at Geneva, where representatives of most other nations seek to allay the nationalistic prejudices and fears threatening to engulf mankind in slaughter. But American financiers, industrialists and arms salesmen are heard in the councils of the league for war; they clasp hands across the sea with competitors in other lands and feed the nationalistic distrust and suspicion that promotes strife. Desire for everlasting profits propels the machinations of the international armaments ring, which deals in secrecy, pitting one nation against the other, respecting the patriotism of neither, and caring little if both are destroyed. In an election fourteen years ago a political party which advocated adherence to the League of Nations was voted out of national office. Ever since that vote has been regarded as a mandate of the American people, and responsible spokesmen for the United States government have not dared express more than a patronizing sympathy for the undertakings of Geneva. But the American people never had an opportunity to vote on the issue of adherence to the munition trust's league. There is no doubt what the mandate would be. American citizens are startled at the disclosures of the senate investigating committee. They are appalled oy the knowledge that armament firms have used high government officials and army and navy ofliccrs to promote their traffic in implements of death, thus pulling their own government through a door into the councils of this league of death. The American people desire peace. And they are intelligent enough to see that the methods of the munitions makers are destructive of peace. Out of this senate investigation, we hope, will come effective international control of the armament racket. PRISON POPULATION THE federal prison population declined 3.200 in the last year. Attorney-General Cummings said in his latest report. The decline was due to the removal by repeal of the numerous liquor prohibition statues. But Mr. Cummings, who perhaps was fearful that congress may reduce appropriations for prison upkeep, hastened to qualify the announcement by saying he believed that the prison population probably would be brought back to -he former high level in a few years byarrest of violators of internal revenue liquor law*. One is almost led to conclude, from Mr. Cummings' statistics, that the revenue agents are not yet on the job. But surely they will be goon, for the federal liquor snooper force is being built up toward the prohibition peak. This is necessary, it seems, because high liquor taxes have continued bootlegging as a profitable business. The high taxes were not necessary It is probable that the government's liquor revenue would be greater were the taxes lower. OUR LIBERTY A MONO the things that every school child is taught is the fact that the Constitution of the United States is a document of great value and deep wisdom. This is certainly true enough, and it is a wise and beneficial thing for us to set aside one day every year as 'Constitution day." But the schooi children and we older folk are alike in one thing—we seldom bother to read this document to which we do homage. Our observance of the day ought to begin with that. For it is only by studying the Constitution, and seeing precisely what it does and does not say. that we can begin to understand what a stalwart bulwark of human liberty it really is. And after we have read it, it is good mental exercise to go back and have a look at the circumstances under which it was written and adopted. The colonies had won their idependence

from England—and they hardly knew what to do with it. They were weak, scattered, by a myriad of antagonisms and suspicions. They were divided geographically and socially. Some influential men would not have been sorry to see an American king; others preferred even the loose and inefficient articles of confederation, believing that these at least left the individual secure In his own freedom. Out of all of this confusion and clash of opposing forces came the Constitution; and reading it. with its background in mind, one can not fail to gam anew admiration for the men who concocted it. They did their utmost to preserve the people from tyranny and oppression; they wrote the most rigid salt~ they could devise to keep despotism out of the country; they set up the electorate, and subsequently famous system of checks and balances to make certain that no one branch of the government would ever become too powerful. This document has been in effect for nearly 150 years. It as strong today as when it was adopted—stronger, in fact, for it is buttressed by years of observance. Under it the people of the United States have recorded a great and glorious history. Today we are passing through one of those times of stress which test any governmental charter. It is up to us to remember the strength which the Constitution has given us in the past—and to vow that it shall come through these troublous days unweakened either in letter or in observance. THOSE LIQUOR PROFITS IN the first six months of this year, one large distilling company showed a profit of $4,272,567, equivalent to $4.07 per share on $5 par value stock. Another large company, which has not yet made public its semi-annual report, indicated in its first quarter report that it would show for the half-year a profit of about $5,500,000, equivalent to $2.70 a share. Such enormous profits would seem to refute the arguments which we, and others, have been making against the high federal and state liquor taxes. It is logical to argue that the distillers should first curtail their profits before asking the government to reduce taxes to aid them in competing with bootleggers. But these two companies happened to have almost a monopoly on the aged whisky in this country at the time of repeal, and made a substantial portion of their profits by selling that scarce commodity to consumers at exorbitant prices and to rectifiers and other distillers who had to have it for blending purposes. If these earnings reports point to any conclusion, it is that the government should hasten to tear down the $5-a-gallon tariff bar that is preventing the competitive importation of the surplus aged whiskies in other countries and making such outlandish profits here possible. GOOSE-STEP COLLEGES fVHIO STATE UNIVERSITY'S refusal to exempt its students from military drill on the ground of religious and conscientious objection is out of tune with the traditions of the state and nation. The new ruling is even more drastic than the recent action of President George Rightnure of that institution in dismissing seven students for refusing to drill. Among most American colleges there is more recognition of the ‘ laws of conscience” as valid statutes. In the last ten years, according to the National Council for the Prevention of War, sixty-five institutions dropped military training and fourteen made it. an elective course. This question soon will reach the United States supreme court in a test suit brought by two University of California students to settle. whether federal land grant colleges have the right under the 1862 Morrill act to impose compulsory drill. It is recalled that former Attorney-General Mitchell ruled that land grant colleges comply with the act if they simply offer courses in military training without compelling drill. . America is at peace and Americans are anti-militarist. Why, then, should colleges, supposedly our centers of enlightenment, ape the old world dictatorships and pipe unwilling student to the drill grounds? LET DIPLOMATS PROTEST IT is not exactly surprising that a number of foreign governments have issued protests against the revelations that have been made before the senate munitions investigating committee. Witnesses have shown how statesmen worked hand in glove with munitions firms, how highly placed politicians in various lands took bribes, and how very exalted personages were not above playing the game for the armaments makers. The protests, then, are only natural; but they are not. after all. any skin off the hides of the senate investigators. The American people want to know all they can about the devious ins and outs of this rather shocking traffic. The senators are doing a fine job of finding out for them. If the revelations pain important people, at home and abroad—well, that's just too bad. UNDER BETTER CONTROL IT is reported that the federal trade commission is about to urge congress to give serious consideration to the federal licensing or incorporation of public utility holding companies; and if such recommendation is made, congress would be well advised to follow it very promptly. Here is a reform that is long overdue. It became obvious, some time ago, that the private citizen must have some sort of protection in the public utilities field. State regulatory bodies were set up everywhere to provide such protection; and when it became apparent that there were many far-flung firms they could not reach, a federal regulatory body was also instituted. But the holding company frequently evades both federal and state regulation. Putting it under either a federal charter or a federal license would make it directly responsible to the government. A consideration of the disclosures made in the public utility field in recent years suggests that this would be, distinctly, a step forward. Boston professor declares our minds are clearer in winter than in summer. That must be a fact, as not nearly as many people ask, "Is it cold enough for you?" as do “Is it hot enough for you?"

Capital Capers BY GEORGE ABELL

J THE diplomatic corps, bristling with new ambassadors and ministers, is returning in full force to Washington after a more or less lazy summer. Almost the only diplomats who . seem to have spent the entire season In town are Minister Finot of Bolivia and Minister Bordenave of Paraguay. They passed the hot days here, trying to explain satisfactorily why their countries are at war. Even now, nobody knows. nun Sir Ronald Lindsay, dean of diplomats and ambassador of his Britannic majesty, looks plump and healthy—just back from England with anew onyx and ebony cigaret holder. He bellows a good many old English songs in a basso profundo and was singing “The Gondoliers'' when he stepped off the boat. nun The Irish minister, Michael Mac White, has Drought in some Irish whisky nnd has decided to spend the next few weeks at the Shoreham. The minister the kissed the Blarney Stone, as is his custom, while in Ireland) also brought i back a cargo of new stories with which to entertain friends this winter. The minister is one of the best story tellers in the diplomatic row. U tt The new Brazilian ambassador, Senhor Aranha, has arrived in New York and gets to town this afternoon. Great hopes are held for his success. He's a real leader in his country. Furthermore, he’s fond of the United States and has long wanted to come to Washington. Ambassador Trovanovsky of Soviet Russia is back in town. His lease has expired on his out-of-town house in the Blue Ridge mountains. o a a \ NEW ambassador is due shortly from Mexico. Dr. Roa, the present envoy, is well liked here but wants desperately to, return to Mexico City. His resignation will be sent in automatically next month—the routine procedure of all Mexican career men before the inauguration of anew president. Only in this case, Roa really wants to resign. No one knows definitely who will succeed him, although several names are mentioned. a a Ambassador Rosso of Italy has returned after some talks with Premier Mussolini, and Ambassador Trucco is back from Chile. Cuba is sending anew ambassador and so is Turkey. Ambassador Saito returns soon from Japan. a a a The delightful Faik Bey Konitza, minister of Albania, is again ensconced at his apartment in the Mayflower sipping his specially made coffee and listening to his imported gramaphone, after some weeks on the North Shore. a a a Austria’s minister, Mr. Prochnik, has calmed down somewhat from the excitement caused by reading the political news in his country. He is now able to again wear his monocle. a a a MINISTER MARC PETER of Switzerland is still lurking among the Alps, but he will probably return before mid-winter. o a tt , The Chinese minister is hopping about town and drinking lots of soup. He is particularly fond of the birds’ nest variety, and so seldom ventures farther away than New York—where they prepare it in the very finest Canton fashion. a a a Colonel Victor Mutt of Esthonia, whom no one in town ever has seen, but whose name has appeared for years in the diplomatic blue book here, is about the only diplomat who won’t be here within a week or so. If one excepts, of course, the Finnish minister, who is still in Finland. He will—a would-be wit remarked—be here at the finish. WITH UNCLEAN HANDS THE Huey Long war in New Orleans has a number of interesting, not to say bizarre, angles, but one thing that impresses a casual observer is the thought that there is a deal of wrong on both sides. Testimony available to date seems to indicate pretty clearly that may of the Kingfish's charges about vice and graft conditions in New Orleans are perfectly true. The town has been more or less “open” for years; and whenever an American city is that way, a certain amount of corruption is inevitable. That much being admitted, the fact remains that the role of crusader is hardly one that is becoming to Senator Long. New Orleans may need a clean-up, but to find the Kingfish doing the cleaning is to hear a sour note being sounded. STATES MUST HELP THE Washington administration warns that state governments must continue to carry their share of the unemployment relief burden, despite the huge sums that the federal government is spending. Because of the size of the federal unemployment relief budget, there has been a tendency in some states to relax and let Uncle Sam do it all. A more disastrous way of meeting the situation could hardly be imagined. The federal government has extended its power in the last year or two to an extent previously undreamed of. If the states are to abdicate in the field of relief of their own distressed citizens, this growing federalization of the nation will be tremendously accelerated. In addition, the strain on the federal budget will be pushed just that rquch nearer to the breaking point. Sir Basil Zaharoff’s secretary says the old gentleman of international finance never made a public statement and never will. The cigaret companies might try him. The waves pounded strong against the California shores recently. How could they tell Upton Sinclair is running for Governor? If the government keeps on making new picture postage stamps, we can see America in our morning mail. Is this to spite the Tailroads? The “paper warfare” of General Douglas MacArthur's strategy board would please the ; taxpayers more if target practice were conducted the same way. We should spend more time studying men, and less studying apes, says a New York professor. And it would be greater sport, since men do such funny things. It might be interesting to know if Adolf Hitler has kept up his payments on his paperhanger's union card, in case he needs to go back to work. rhere seems to be ground for belief that the department of agriculture is wasting money It has grown a strawberry which tastes j like something else and restaurants have been i serving that kind for years. We might be able to look forward with more pleasure to winter if we didn’t have to endure the raccoon coat season just before winter arrives.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

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mi TV If /"N j r / ivholly disapprove of what you say and will JL He IVleSSage Vvf6ll Lol° [ defend to the death your right to say it. — Voltaire.

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns. Make your letters slio r t, so all can have a chance. Limit them to 250 words or less.) a a a SEES ECONOMICS GROUPS IN FIGHT TO FINISH By a Hoosler. The American economic structure is primarily dominated by the 200 leading corporations which control the major portion of America’s trade vol ime. Three hundred thousand other corporations dabble with the other part of the trade volume. A real struggle for supremacy between the first group and the majority of citizens through the government is now in the making. The battle centers around the question as to whether these major corporations shall dominate the economic life of the nation, or that they shall be made to recognize the supremacy of the will of the people. The battle lines are forming, the spokesmen for special privilege are laying down a smoke screen, behind which the attack is being prepared, with a battle cry to preserve their liberty to plunder and coerce. American liberty must include every citizen; liberty for a few is not liberty, but anarchy. Since the red herring aquarium has not delivered the necessary distraction for further plunder, a pyrotechnic display is to replace it with flag waving, incantation, intonation and screams of liberty. The robbers of the man on the road to Jericho destroyed the liberty of the traveler, taking his possessions and wounding him, perhaps hoping he would recover and come back to be robbed again. Since our economic structure parallels the procedure, any rules interfering with or regulating the amount of stripping to be done, are decried as a breakdown of liberty. It is a battle between buccaneers and patriots. a a a MORE WORK, LESS PAY, CAME AFTER NRA Bv a Striker. Would like to say a few words about the textile strike. I have been an employe for several years and know what conditions we have been working under. Since the NRA came into effect at the plant, the workers were put to running more frames without extra help. This made extra work and less pay. Mr. Young is quite wrong in stating no one receives less than sl3 a week. I am an all around hand in the mill and my measly pay has been sll.lO a week. Mr. Young has not invited us to eat in his new dining room. a a a TRAFFIC COURT BROADCAST STOUTLY DEFENDED. Br T. R. G. In answer to the radio listener who condemned the traffic court broadcast. I wish to say that he or ; she. as the case may be, is impractical. Evidently he has been before the court and received a fine for dis- j obedience of traffic regulation. The lays are made for old and young, rich and poor alike. They never are made without first being j agreed upon by a body of citizens representing the city. If such be the case, why pick on the station which chooses to broadcast to the public such an educational program? I would say, instead of being detrimental, it. is essential to any wellbred, thinking and educated person.

BUT THE GROUND HE COVERS

Hoover’s Criticism Offers Nothing

By John Robbins. It seems to me that Herbert Hoover's fling at the Roosevelt administration for trying to get this country out of the deplorable depression brought about under Mr. Upover's administration comes with very poor grace from the exPresident. When Mr. Hoover feft the White House, what did he leave to his successor? He left nearly 14,000,000 laborers out of employment. He left plants all over the country closed, banks closing everywhere, and many not actually closed restricted from paying their depositors, thus throwing hundreds of thousands upon charity. Millions were suffering for the necessities of life. Was it not time for a change? Was it not time for anew deal? Mr. Hoover finds fault with this administration for what he calls It tends to instruct all would-be violators of the traffic laws and by hearing the fines meted out to the other fellow probably avoid some serious accident caused by some rattled-brained idiot speeding or running a signal light. Stay out of the court yourself and you will not have the embarrassment of your friends hearing your case. lam for the broadcasts and hope they will be continued indefinitely. a a a CHARGES CITY TRUCK MENACED CHILDREN By a Times Reader. It was 3 p. m. Thursday, Sept. 13, and at School 21, English and Rural street, pupils were being dismissed. The policeman blew his whistle and the traffic boys jumped into place to stop all motor traffic. Immediately, the traffic lanes were alive with school chidren. Down the street came a street department truck No. 170. Without even hesitating, it plowed right on through, the children jumping in all directions to get out of the way. Fortunately, every child got safely out of its path. Officer Braughton gently admonished the driver and the truck went on. Os what use is it to caution citizens regarding traffic violations when city employes disregard rules in this manner? a a a POLICE ACTIVITY IN STRIKE DISCUSSED By a Striker. I wculd like to express my views on the strike situation at the bleaching plant. • We strikers have been very patient with the scabs who still are ! working. Our brave city cops are shielding the scabs like a mother cat does her kittens. If a striker even raises his or her hand to scratch their hapds, there is always a group of coppers watching. The so-called brave cops are always in the way, walking around swinging their clubs. ana SMALL LOAN INTEREST RATE CONDEMNED By a Reader. I have had occasion many times to commend your paper for the position it has taken on questions affecting the welfare of the people of this city and state. . However, I do not recall a time when ycu have raised your voice in

“trespassing upon the Constitution.” The Constitution does not deny the government the right to aid the rteedy. comforting those in distress, or making it possible for manufacturers to open their plants and give employment to labor. Under Mr. Roosevelt’s administration, nearly five million of the unemployed have been put back to work. Is this not some achievement? Mr. Roosevelt said that “human starvation in this country should not exist.’’ Did Mr. Hoover ever utter such a declaration? Mr. Hoover says nothing about the millions of women and children marching in bread lines during his administration. Does he think his successor could correct all these evils by the touch of a magic wand? Why doesn’t Mr. Hoover offer some plausible formula to remedy the errors he claims exist today?

protest against a certain condition of long standing which has to do with living expenses of the people. You no doubt are aware of the fact that perhaps 10,000 or 15,000 families of Indianapolis are being charged an unreasonable rate of interest for money they can not borrow elsewhere other than the small loan companies doing business under a law that permits a charge of 42 per cent interest a year. Is it any wonder money is hard to obtain for legitimate industry at legal when millions of dollars can be loaned at such cut-throat rates? * Is it not strange that Indiana can not elect a Governor who will make an effort to protect the people against this sort of thing? a a a LED BY HOOVER, G. O. P. WILL LOSE. By George Bardash. I read Mr. Hoover’s article in The Saturday Evening Post. I wonder how many know why Mr. Hoover defined regimentation and the challenge to liberty, if he meant that we, the people should “regiment” for more of Hoover's prosperity, chickens in every coop and two cars in every garage or multiply his prosperity victims, an army of 15,000,000, unemployed by two or three, for the Democratic administration to feed^them. If the G. O. P. is looking upon Mr. Hoover to lead its campaign it surely found an excellent leader to go down to defeat. a tt a DISCUSSES SITUATION IN TEXTILE STRIKE Bt a Timet Reader. I am a constant reader of The Message Center and a worker at the local textile mill. I wonder if the strikers remember that the plant saved them from serious wage cuts throughout the worst part of the depression and our wages weren't cut deeply until the

Daily Thought

For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my life unto His glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?—Romans, 3;7. FALSEHOOD is susceptible of an infinity of combinations, but truth has only one mode of being.— Rousseau.

.SEPT. 17, 1934

NRA caused the plant to run a second shift. We didn’t ask for police escort until the strikers forced us to. They seem to forget this is a free country and as individuals, we have a right to make our own choice. We will see which keeps you the best, the company or your union.

So They Say

Upton Sinclair beat not only George Creel. Wall Street, and the booze trust, but also Jefferson, Hamilton, Washington, Franklin, and the whole Adams family, not to mention St. Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates and Solomon.—Henry L. Mencken. The nomination (of Upton Sinclair for Governor in California) was made by Illinois, lowa, Indiana, Michigan, Kansas and Nebraska Republicans who moved to Southern California. —Senator J. Hamilton Lewis, of Illinois. —i If the working people are to ba regimented, I would much rather see them regimented in honest labor, at a decent living wage, than on the relief rolls and in bread lines. —Mayor Fiorella H. La Guardia, New York City. There is no justification for attempting to persuade the public to hoard canned foods under fear of a reduction in their supply.—Dr. Frederick C. Howe, AAA consumers' counsel. Americans will not stand for a dole and we are going to put them to work on great public projects and pay them decent wages.—Harry L. Hopkins, federal relief administrator. We can not ignore the tragic fact that science has given man control over nature before* he has gained control over himself.—Sir James H. Jeans, British astronomer. Because you like tunes doesn’t indicate that you’re a musical dumbbell—D. Sigmund Spaeth, music authoity. There is just as much chance as ever for the young man in business. —Charles M. Schwab, steelmaster.

HEARTS

BY J. DUKE MOTLEY I look out across my garden And find no flower there. The leaves have crumpled into dust; The stalks stand brown and bare. Yes, everything is hard and cold And frozen with ice. So lately was this same sweet place A gorgeous paradise. I look into my heart and find It like my garden, too. All the joy and warmth and brightness Has slipped away with you. And left me stunned by ice and chill. Cold as the barest stalk Os spirea oi azalea That hems my back yard walk. Ah, well, let the winter work its will With gardens and with hearts. Another spring will come again. And other Cupid’s darts Will pierce my frozen soul with life And bliss in fresh array Fdr years and lovers come and go, But hearts and gardens stay.