Indianapolis Times, Volume 46, Number 126, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 October 1934 — Page 26

PAGE 26

The Indianapolis Times (A nrßirrs.Hnn jncwtrAmi *OT W. HOWARD Fr**M*nt TALCOTT POWRLL Editor EARL r>. BAKER Builnen Miniger Phon# Bll** 5681

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FRIDAY, OCT. 5. I#S4. DEMOCRATS PLUS PROGRESSIVES THE New Deal needs the vigor of Progressive Republicans. And the conservative Democratic party needs them no less. At the start of the summer’s campaigning Postmaster-General Farley, chairman of the Democratic national committee, accepted this fact and its political implications. He encouraged a successful move to amalgamate the Progressives and Democrats of California behind the Republican Hiram Johnson. Asa result this stout New Dealer will go to the senate again. In Wisconsin La Follette is fighting to hold his seat, not only against a conservative Republican, but against the reactionary Democrat, Callahan. President Roosevelt in his Green Bay speech helped La Follette. Since then Farley has done nothing for Callahan and is not apt to. But for some unknown reason the administration seems to be trying in New Mexico to defeat Senator Cutting, effective New Dealer. He is opposed for re-election by Democratic Representative Chavez, who claims to be running with the Farley blessing. In North Dakota a Democratic regular is making it difficult for the Progressive Senator Lynn Frazier. In Minnesota Senator ShipStead, Farmer-Labor member of the senate, is confronted with strong Democratic opposition. Into these states Progressive help is pouring from neighboring western senators. Party lines are being forgotten as they should be. Senator Wheeler, Montana Democrat, and Senator Norris, Nebraska, insurgent Republican, will stump for young Bob in Wisconsin. Senator Frazier will speak for Senator Shipstead, Bo will Senator Nye of North Dakota. Others will deploy into New Mexico to help Senator Cutting. Mr. Farley and President Roosevelt** party headquarters are .aking such a realistic position in support of the New Deal by aiding Senators La Follette and Johnson It is difficult to understand the administration's attitude toward Senator Cutting and other Progressives. TEXTILE EMPLOYERS NEXT MOST of us, including government officials, think of strikes as things that spring up overnight. We know that wars between nations are not caused by something that occurs on the day before hostilities begin, but by a long train of real or imagined abuses left uncorrected. And we know that terms of peace Imposed on conquered nations often contain seeds for future wars. Yet, somehow’, warfare between employers and employes is thought of as something that flashes suddenly across the front pages, and as suddenly dies down again after an armistice. While blood was being spilled near the textile mills In the south and In New England, the public watched the tragic drama. But few ' seem to realize that the terms of the armistice that relegated the textile dispute to the inside pages actually corrected none of the abuses that caused the strike, that another outbreak is imminent unless grievances are adjusted. The pledge of .he united textile workers union to keep the peace and abide by decisions of the government agencies, will prove of little value unless the employers and the government make the most of It. Among the rank and file of workers there is widespread distrust of the intentions of the employers and skepticism concerning the government agencies. If the employers are wise they will follow the union quickly in accepting the President's truce proposal. Ts they refuse to co-operate with the government they will prejudice their case before the government tribunals and the court of public opinion. Only by co-operation in giving the President's truce a fair trial can worse textile strike be prevented.

ECONOMIC PRESSURE IF Bruno Hauptmann's $lO bills had not led the police to his door just when they did, the investigation into the burning of the Morro Castle would have been front page news longer. And if it had. we might have been forced to recognize the fact that something is badly out of gear in the machinery of ocean transportation. For it is futile to suppose that the Morro Castle tragedy will be "cleared up” if the exact cause of the Are is discovered, or if this or that officer is deprived of his ticket. The whole case is just one more symptom of a •bad situation which seems to extend to all maritime nations these days. There was delay in sending out the SOS, there was confusion and lack of discipline among the ship’s crew, many lives were lost that might have been saved . . . These are the grave charges that have been made. They don't apply to the Morro Castle alone. They were true when the British ship Vestris went down; they have been true of other postwar sea disasters. And they reflect a pressure which economic circumstances have put on the ancient business of earn ing passengers across the sea. The captain has lost his old independence. The home office is. or can be. m touch with him every minute by wireless; the temptation to save their money and reputation by deferring to the very last minute a call for help is almost irresistible. For if the captain issues such a call, and then discovers that he could, after all. have gotten his ship through unaided, his head is apt to come off when he reaches port—and every captain knows it. a ship makes no money lying in port. For this reason the "turn around” is quicker now than ever before. Ships spend little time in port between voyages—crack liners,

very often, are at their piers only a few hours between one voyage and the next. Asa result, it is hard to keep crews. Sailormen like their shore leave. Personnel of the ship’s company changes from trip to trip—so discipline inevitably suffers, and the necessary emergency drills fail to result in a smooth, perfectly working machine. Add to this the fact that passengers nowaday* want ships to be super-hotels, with fine panelling in the cabins, much gim crackery, and the like. Because of this, steel ships are fitted with flimsy, inflammable passenger quarters—and become fire traps where they might be fireproof. Now all this creates a situation that Is no ones fault. It is the simple product of economic pressure. Unless this pressure can in some way be relieved, we shall continue, every so often, to have shocking marine disasters like those of the Morro Castle and the Vestris. AN ELEPHANT STUNT FJ'HE latest stunt of the O. O. P. is to trot out as a campaign document a series of old anti-New Deal remarks of conservative Democrats, Including John W. Davis, A1 Smith, Jim Reed and Carter Glass. Apparently the purpose of this strategy is to alienate old-line Democrats from the Roosevelt leadership. President Roosevelt, in his Sunday night speech, threw in the teeth of his Tory critics “radical" utterances of such venerated Republicans as Elihu Root and Abraham Lincoln, seeking thus to justify the measures of the New Deal and hold the allegiance of those “forward looking" Republicans who voted Democratic in 1932. Thus, in the merry game of politics, with another election approaching, the Republicans come out strong for orthodox Democracy, and the Democratic leader beckons to the Republicans who are weary of their party’s present rulers and want to return to the fundamentals of old Republicanism. The two parties, it is contended, are not what they used to be. As if the voters didn’t already know that. As if the voters cared. They are interested now in issues, not party labels.

TABLES ARE TURNED ' I S ALK about financial policies usually makes pretty dull reading. Nevertheless, a glance at a few dollars-and-cents figures helps one to understand one of the most difficult features of the whole recovery problem. The Monthly Survey of Business issued by the American Federation of Labor shows that the government, rather than private business, is now carrying the major share of the load of putting idle money to work. In 1929, business men borrowed nearly $12,000,000,000 from member banks of the Federal Reserve, and put the money to work; the federal government, at the same time, borrowed $4,000,000,000. Now the figures are reversed. This year the government is borrowing $9,000,000,00, .while loans to business amount to only $5,400,000,000. In other words, money which goes to produce new wealth has been cut in half—and unless the government borrowing brings about business recovery, the money it is spending will not create enough wealth to pay off the debts which the government is incurring. You can place your own construction on the exact lesson to be drawn from these figures. Whatever conclusion you reach, you will at least find them extraordinarily significant. HOPE FOR CHILDREN TT'ORTY-TWO state legislatures are to meet this winter. Efforts will be made to get as many of them as possible to take some action on the pending child labor amendment to the federal Constitution. It is worth while to recapitulate the facta in regard to that amendment. It has been ratified by twenty states. If sixteen more ratify it, it will become a part of the Constitution. Fourteen of the ratifications came last year. Getting the remaining sixteen ought not to be too difficult. This amendment, it should be emphasized, is not mandatory. It simply gives congress the power to act. And while NRA codes have done much to cut down the child labor evil, we ought to remember that these codes are not necessarily permanent. Passing the amendment would enable us to remedy the abuse for good. HAIL, AND FAREWELL! WHEN General Johnson said good-by to his coworkers in the NRA his emotions overcame him, say newspaper dispatches, and he closed with tears in his eyes and a quaver in his voice—displaying an emotion which was fully shared by all who heard him. It is an emotion in which many ordinary citizens will share —including some who were deeply opposed to the generals retention of his office. For this fact is obvious, and it is only justice to mention it; whatever may be said of General Johnson's policies and* achievements, he did work very, very hard at a very difficult job. To the best of his ability, he gave himself to his work. Such mistakes as he made were mistakes cf the head and not of the heart. It is hard not to feel a twinge of emotion as the indefatigable general steps down from a position that claimed him, heart and soul, during a very difficult period in the nation’s history. Prince George and Princess Marina fell in love during a manicure. How long will it be before Hollywood releases a picture with some such strong theme? An English scientist says every man Is worth SB,OOO to his country at the time of birth. We hope the tax collectors dont find it out. Admitting Russia to the League of Nations will save her money. She can argue with Japan across the table now, Instead of sending a battle fleet to park on the Japanese door,gf/>n * *

Liberal Viewpoint Bk DR. HARRY ELMER BARNES General hugh s. Johnson may be excused if he holds that there is no such thing as justice in the world. After General Johnson has been flayed by Clarence Darrow as a man who played into the hands of big business by promoting monopolistic tendencies through the NRA and denounced by labor leaders for his anti-labor tactics—particularly his incitement to violence against radical strikers in the San Francisco conflict—President Hamman of the United States Chamber of Commerce now thanks God publicly that General Johnson has been dropped and business delivered from his malign influence. Mr. Harnman says among other things: “The National Recovery Act had fallen Into serious disfavor and disrepute. Extremists among the bureaucrats had extended it into fields it never was intended to invade. “Let us hope that the shift in control will result in a lessening of offensive regimentation. As it stood, the NRA was an agent for the demoralization of confidence among business men of the nation. I am sorry to say that it was delaying the recovery it was meant to bring about. “While It has accomplished some outstanding good, its value In the form it took under General Johnson was very questionable." • mm IF one takes this utterance at its face value it passes human understanding. If General Johnson deviated at all from strict impartiality in his administration of the recovery act it certainly was in the direction of favoring business rather than the consumer or labor. It is hard to imagine how American business could have had a more sympathetic friend at court than the general. This was his attitude from the beginning. John T. Flynn has shown the two original drafts of the NRA, prepared by General Johnson contained nothing about collective bargaining and one of them embodied a general 10 per cent sales tax. This does not indicate the sentiments of a man antagonistic to business and a buddy of labor and the consumer. Even more incredible do Mr. Harriman’s sentiments become when interpreted literally if we examine into the general’s successors. Certainly Mr. Harriman does not imagine that an executive board dominated by Sidney Hillman, Walton Hamilton and Leon Marshall will be more friendly to big business and less hospitable to the interests of labor and consumers than General Johnson. If he does, he certainly should extend his study of the biographies of contemporary Americans. And he will get little more satisfaction out of the personnel of the policy-fixing board. Nor do Mr. Harriman’s words become any clearer if we look into his own past pronouncements. In October, 1931, his committee of the Chamber of Commerce said: “A freedom of action which might have been justified in the relatively simple life of the last century can not be tolerated today,- because the unwise action of one individual may adversely affect the lives of thousands. We have left the period of extreme individualism and are living in a period in which national economy must be recognized as a controlling factor.” MOREOVER, when the NRA finally was formulated, Mr. Harriman is said upon the best of authority to have assured the directors of the United States Chamber of Commerce that the act was “a complete victory for the chamber.” The only interpretation of Mr. Harriman’s attack on General Johnson’s administration of the NRA which 4 makes any sense to me is to regard it not as a* criticism of Johnson at all but as just another volley in the persistent campaign of the chamber and big business men to get the recovery act turned over to business. This was urged in November, 1933, and in June and September of the present year. The general’s resignation offered another opportunity to whip the governmental control of the act over the general’s shoulder. It is clear enough to any careful student of the genesis of the NRA that the act is the child of big business in all respects save the licensing clause and Clause 7-A on collective bargaining. The licensing clause was abandoned last June. If business administers the act, what is left of Clause 7A will evaporate and the one feeble effort of this government to assure a labor policy long since adopted by all the leading civilized states of the world will fall to the ground.

Capital Capers BY GEORGE ABELL ■ THE Minister of Venezuela, Dr. Don Pedro Arcaya, E. E. and M. P., has opened his new legation in a yellow turreted chateau on Sixteenth street which was once the residence of a West Virginia coal king, Mr. Isaac T. Mann. Into his new dwelling delighted Dr. Arcaya finds plenty of place for his numerous books—books of philosophy, of travel, of politics (naturally with only the most polite reference to President-Dictator Gomez of Venezuela), of history and religion. The books are being catalogued daily and carefully assorted on well-dusted shelves. It is the pride of silver-haired Dr. Arcaya (who resembles in appearance former President Machado of Cuba) to stand in front of the bookcases and daily peer at the rare tomes through, tortoise-shell glasses. But there is one book missing from the Arcaya collection. Envoys are betting it wiH never appear there. That is the book which soon may be published by Senor Dr. Don Pedro Rivero, Venezuelan poet and diplomat. Poet Pedro, w r ho is attached officially to the legation here, has spent many hours writing the book. It is called “The Anglo-Saxon” and represents Pedro’s observations on the Anglo-Saxon type, after years in England and in the United States. The book is spicy, pungent and sincere. Pedro has spoken frankly, and it is sometimes hard to speak frankly and remain a diplomat. Friends who read the proofs solemnly shake their heads and declare: “It means your job to publish this!” Thus the dilemna. If the book is published. Pedro’s diplomatic future is in danger. A shrewd observer has suggested that Pedro dedidcate his book officially to President-Dictator Gomez of Venezuela. He may escape exile, at any rate. a a THE speakership race goes merrily on and on, with some betting on tall, lanky, veteran Joe Bvms of Tennessee, and others rooting just as enthusiastically for Representative William Bankhead of Alabama, father of Tallulah Bankhead, the movie actress, and Representative Sam Ravbunr of Texas. One of the most enigmatic notes in the campaign thus far has been the cryptic statement of Representative Mar\'in Jones of Texas, a brother-in-law of Sam Rayburn, who ends a long and baffling harangue with the words: “Naturally I should like to be Speaker. Who wouldn’t?” Friends of Marvin have been scratching their heads and wondering just what those words mean. Is Man-in intimating that he may be a dark horse in the speakership contest? a a a MEMBERS of the senate munitions committee are packing up their suitcases and hurrying back home —for a little rest. Energetic Senator Gerald Nye left yesterday, after clearing his desk of accumulated telegrams and messages received during the hearings. His average mail totaled about 1.000 letters a day. Senator Homer Bone hurried away last Friday, en route for some light entertainment at New York theaters. Thence, he will go to Seattle to resume his fight against the power companies. Senator Bennett Clark is leaving shortly, and Representative Tuck Milligan (who ran for senator and was defeated) is planning to return to the unexciting career of law. He and Representative Ross Collins, another defeated senatorial aspirant, are wondering what to do with their spare time.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

The Message Center

(Timet readers are invited to express their views in these columns. Make your letters short, so all can have a chance. Limit them to tso words or lessJ tt u tt REPLY DIRECTED TO ‘WORKING WIFE’ By Orville Lee. I would like to answer the “Working Wife” who wrofte in last Saturday’s Message Center condemning “The Man on the Street” in front of the Circle theater. I happened to be present at several of these broadcasts and it is apparent that the reporter does not select those who speak. His assistant attends to that and intends to get old and young, both men and women so that listeners will have a variety of opinions. I was a listener to the broadcast in which the “Working Wife” condemned the reporter for asking questions that could be answered only one w-ay. If she were present then her mind was not on the broadcast but rather on the types of persons selected, because I heard the reporter ask one woman who insisted wives should not work, if this should still be in case the husband should be working only part-time or wholly unemployed. This was in defense of the “Working Wife” It’s the reporter’s job to bring out both sides of a question, which he does. She must have been over-anxious to be chosen to speak, and her disappointment made her angry, and then to her, every one were morons. Let me hurl this challenge to those like the “Working Wife.” This interesting program will be what we citizens make it. If only morons are interested in speaking to the radio audience their opinions of every day questions, only morons can be selected. This program can be made educational if smart persons make an effort to be there. The type of questions can be guided by sending good suggestions to the station which sponsors this program. Don’t be too quick to knock; first do what you can to assist. a a a REPORTS DANGEROUS TRAFFIC CONDITION By a Taxpayer. I would like to know what is the matter with the city police? Where are they that they let persons blockade sidewalks and streets on public bridges, on main highways inside the city limits, with ornaments, particularly where it is so dangerous, such as Big Eagle creek bridge? I think this should be looked into. There are many places that could be rented for little or nothing. I don’t mind persons making a living, but seeing them blockade bridges next to a dangerous curve is bad. a a WORKING CONDITIONS OF UTILITY CONDEMNED By Diarnsted. While we have so much talk of the city taking the gas company, why not have a little talk about the gas company? it seems to me that with the company, paving employes such meager wages, it should have a very profitable business. In days gone by, ordinary labor was paid 40 cents an hour, but now receives 36 cents an hour, yet when new men are hired, they are started at 40 cents an hour. I wonder why it is necessary to work employes forty-eight hours a week, when other utilities work forty hours? I wish to say that in former days, the company was a swell place to work, but since hard times moved in and help Is plentiful, it seems Qrunn th lesser officials have

ANOTHER AMERICAN TRAGEDY

The Constitution and New Deal

By B. G. Green. When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for the common people to dissolve the political bonds which have bound them by special privileges and monopolization of nature’s resources, necessary to life and liberty, to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitled them, a decent respect to the opinions of makind requires that the privileged should not raise the question of individual liberty or constitutionality. Constitution means, inherent, essential, organic. The inherent personal privilege and protection is as essential industrially as politically “Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends (as in 1929) it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it and institute anew (deal) government on such principles, as to them shall seem most likely to

tried their best to be tough, knowing that you can take it or get out, which they don’t hesitate to tell you. After spending a few years with one company, trying your best to be loyal, only to have it turn on you with a sly dig at every turn, doesn’t help your loyalty any. If the company feels it has employes who need to be driven to do their duty, why not get rid of ttyose instead of making hard-work-ing and loyal employes feel like a bunch of loafers? I know the company can boast of having some of the best men in the gas business, so why not give them a little credit instead of knocks and telling you how hard up the company Is and how easily it could do without you, yet each day it works the deuce out of what few men it has? a a PRAISES SERVICE OF TRUSTEE NOONE By William Lemon. In one of the most trying times in the history of Marion county, the present Center township trustee, Miss Hannah Noone, has conducted her office with courtesy, efficiency and honesty and not to re-elect her would put us back in the same rut we were in before. Her Republican predecessor made you get a slip signed by various employers, before you could get a small basket of food. You wore out your shoes and obtained little worth while. She established a shoe repair shop and a barber shop and took the Rip Van Winkle look from us. She, like Otto Ray, candidate for sheriff, has a heart bigger than her body. She has surrounded herself with an able corps of workers and her investigators are always on the job and emergency cases of widows and orphans are the first thought in regard to relief. a a LACKS FAITH IN BOTH OLD PARTIES By a Worker. You who depend on work for your, very existence, do not be misled by the two “big shot” parties in the coming election. Candidates on both sides, of course, will promise faithfully to do most anything to get the vote of the masses, the working people. Then when elected, they soon forget their promises, and we are in for just another struggle for the bare necessities of life. After five years of needless hard times, w certainly should awaken

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

effect their safety and happiness.” The pressing and critical situation of 1930 demanded, “We, the people of the United States, in order to form a mere perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense (this time by forestalling a blind revolution), promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of industrial liberty, reordain and reestablish this Constitution for the United States of America.” The senate and house have concurred in the reorganization program, and presented it to the President in regular constitutional order. Lincoln said: “Plainly written provisions of the Constitution are difficult of application and enforcement because no organic law can be framed with a provision specifically applicable to every question which may occur in practical administration.”

to the fact that our salvation does not lie within the two old parties. Are we ready for anew deal, or are there some who, although starving, are too ignorant perhaps to see the truth? By the way, has the NRA blue eagle brought back some semblance of prosperity to you, or has it cracked down on you and made life even more miserable than before? Has the NRA placed you in a position where you think you will Never Recover Again? Some have had a shot in the arm. Some have not. Whether we like it or not, about the next shot will be aimed at our heads. Destitution, if nothing else, will finally reach a vital spot, and then the struggle for those things so necessary for an existence will be over. Whichever ticket we vote, let us be sure it favors the workers in a big way. n a a REPUBLICAN AND NEGRO SITUATION DISCUSSED By a Voter. In The Times of Sept. 26, Benjamin A. Osborne holds himself out as the political barometer of the Negro voter. He said: “During the ensuing campaign the Negro voter will have the time of his life,” and tries to show how “amused” the Negro voter is because the Republican party does not distinguish between the Negro of 1361 and 1934. He says that the issues of 1861 are dead. Events of 1861 are not dead. They are perpetuated on historical pages for succeeding generations to read for enlightenment. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are dead only to the superficial mind. The struggles of any people are not dead in the march of civilization and culture. These former struggles inspire and the Republican party looks with pride upon the part it has played In the advancement of the Negro race. The Negro voters will show in the election that they are not ingrates. And Benjamin A. Osborne and his “intelligence” and “culture” ought to stop prating through all the city papers. He wrote: “Observant Negroes are asking why the Republicans are working themselves into a frenzy.” It is Mr. Osborne who Is in a frenzy because the Republicans take no notice of him, nor does the intelligent Negro as Mr. Osborne goes on ranting for the Democratic party. The gist of the matter is, the Republican party does not want the,

.OCT. 5, 1934

Osborne vote, but it does want the votes of the Negroes who desire the perpetuation of those sterling principles for which the Republican party has alway stood, and stands today. Benjamine A. Osborne is a good publicity man for the Republican party. a tt u PREACHES GOSPEL OF ISOLATION By Orrie Simmons. The Rev. Elmer G. Homrighausen is in error in the last sentence quoted below: “New deals mean movements toward a collective group authority. No longer can an individual be free. One of the blindnesses of the Amercan people is that we do not see that we are in the same position as those in Europe.” As long as we are bounded on all sides by broad oceans, we are not a part of Europe. Washington, in his farewell address, specifically warned us not to be like Europe, or a part thereof. In 1812, we had to have freedom of the seas or perish. In 1917, our war for freedom of shipping was uncalled for; we no longer needed anything else than a navy to protect our coasts. We Droduce here all we need, from rubber to helium, from nitrates to oranges. We could close our borders and live. The second sentence above quoted is true enough; under the New DeSl it is interesting to find a New Deal advocate so well agreeing with Herbert Hoover’s recent warning, that under collectivism we lose our liberties. Europe, a group of jealous neighbors, at the best, probably needs a lot of goose step and the like. Let us here, In America, thank God for the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, in the past we have heeded George Washington and waxed strong in Isolation and liberty. Why deviate? Sc They Say Neither of us has resigned nor Is going to be “kicked out,” at least for anything we have done so far.— Paul Hensen Appleby, assistant to Rexford Guy Tugwell. With at least 80 per cent of thfe human family, human rights havfr utterly vanished. With these, liberty is dead. —Senator William E. Borah of Idaho. As long as Mme. Lupescu remains in Rumania, nobody will be able to accomplish anything good.—Dr, Juliu Mania of the Peasant Party., If we hadn't shipped powder tp France, she would have been defeated and Germany would havfe conquered England as velL The kaiser with his world of dream power wouldn’t have stopped there. —lrenee du Pont, munitions manufacturer. DESIRE i i ■ ii ■ ■ BY ELLEN BETTY I do not think that I would mind The dreary, ordinary things, Could I but sing the lilting song That in me sings I would not care If days were Uninteresting and w'hite. Could I but write a poignant vers# As soft as night! I know I could be satisfied To live things as they are, If mirrored on my soul s pals waH| There shone a atari