Indianapolis Times, Volume 46, Number 188, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 December 1934 — Page 12

PAGE 12

The Indianapolis Times (A ICKIPPfI.HOWABD KRWIPAPtK) ROT w. HOWARD Prmitll TALCOTT POWELL Editor KAJiL D. BAKER Brnlotn Manager Pbone Rller MM

Oire Light ana the People Will r*n<l Their Om (Ty

Matubcr of Lotted Prree. Aertppa • Howard Kewapaper Alliance, Npwp paper Enternrfee Aaatxiation. Newapaper Information Serrie® and Audit Bureau of Cn-aiattona. Owned and published dally lescopt Sunday! by The Indlanapotla Timea Publinbing Company, 214-220 Went Maryland afreet. Indlanapolia. Ind. Price In Marion county. 2 centa a copy; eiaewhere. 8 centa—delleepad by carrier. 12 confa a week. Mall nb*crlptlon ratea fn Indiana. (3 a year: ontalde of Indiana. 65 eenta a month

MONDAY. DECEMBER 17. 1934. THE TENTH PLANK will object to most of the detail* in the nine-point program for crime suppression. adopted by Atty. Oen. Cummings' Conference in Washington The gathering offeied a forum for wholesome airing of expert views and centered attention upon what it called "an intolerable breakdown of law and order throughout the country.” The proposed "Wfst Point” for training crime fighters does not imply a dangerous extentlon of Federal powers. Such an institute wouiu give cities and states better trained police officers less subject to political pressure. State departments of Justice and interstate agreements would help co-ordinate police activities. improve personnel and modernize methods. Better educational, vocational and recrea- ’ tlonal services for youth are crime medicines requiring no discussion. Crime procedure needs simplifying, but it is not so clear that we should tinker with the Anglo-Saxon jury system that has stood the test of centuries. Abuse of paroles and pardons also needs attention, but here, too, reformers should walk carefully. It is true that "unsafe, unsanitary and insecure" prisons are crime’s incubators, that criminal lawyers often become lawyer-crim-inals. that crooked politlcinas are more dangerous than the criminals they sometimes protect. Finally, the conference properly condemned lawless "methods of dealing with industrial conflicts and racial antagonisms.” But the tenth plank in an American anticrime program was missing. It would call for elimination of economic causes of crime—poverty. slums, preventable diseases, child neglect and exploitation.

A GOVERNMENT RACKET T IKE his dragon-killing patron saint, Senator George Norris is buckling his armor for a duel with one of the republic's toughest enemies—the spoils system. His pledge to fight for the merit system will be cheered by a taxridden and debt-weary land. The menace is real. Civil Service Commission figures do not flatter the Roosevelt Administration. They show less than 70 per cent of all Federal employes in the executive branches under civil service. Since inauguration the number outside ot civil service has increased from 109.000 to 214.000 or nearly 100 per cent. This huge rise in the number of unprotected Federal jobs is due, of course, to the sudden expansion of emergency services. Outstanding exceptions among the politically manned alphabetical units are the Farm Credit Administration, put under civil service by,the President, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Congress, under a Norris amendment, saved TV A for the spoilers. President Roosevelt’s spirit is willing. He and his cabinet frequently voice loyalty to the merit plan. But the flesh is weak. Pressure from hungry and more or less deserving Democrats is constant and unrelenting. The appetite for pork knows no bounds. And Postmaster General Farley as chairman of the Democratic National Committee keeps the patronage flowing. In this trend is a danger to Democratic Government. Heretofore America has been rich enough to afford waste and inefficiency in Government. From now on Government will cost enough even if every dollar is wisely spent. The times call fdr anew and more patriotic attitude on the part of ruling politicians toward the public service. The National League of Women Voters has just launched a two-year campaign to restore the merit system. “The people must shake off their lazyminded attitude toward government." said the league s board of directors. We believe that Jackson's to the victor belongs the spoils’ mus i vanish. In its place we shall unfurl a fresh ' standard, ’there is no greater glory than the public service.’ Let public service be so exalted and so wise that no one in the future shall And scope for his patriotism only in military service. ‘‘We believe that we the people can. through the machinery of our democracy, create ways of training and selecting our civil servants which will attract to public service men and women of extra worth.’’ A government is no stronger than its officials. The patronage product is not the kind on which the New Deal can rely safely. MUSIC OF DEPRESSION TT is easy to give vent to a lot of nonsense ■* when you start looking for. the brighter side of the depression. Nevertheless, it is becoming evident that one of the unexpected 1 by-products of the last few years has been an f amazing growth in the popularity of first-rate music in America. Why this should be so is a puzzle. If there Is something about a reduced income and a flock of financial worries that makes people readier to listen to good music, it is hard to think just what it may be. The fact remains, however, that the number of orchestras playing classic music has increased amazingly since the stock market crash. • A writer in a recent issue of the American Mercury estimates that the United States njw contains 50 to 60 regular orchestras, of 60 to 100 members each, which are giving regular programs of symphonic music. These orchestras are supported in different way*. Baltimore, for instance, has a symphony orchestra supported entirely by the taxpayers. Newark, N. J., orchestra wi h rije help of the CWA and is now ar-

rsnging to continue It under its own steam. Richmond finances a 75-piece orchestra through sale of season tickets and of "founderships” at SIOO apiece. In Indianapolis, on the other hand, there is a successful co-operative orchestra whose members pro-rate the money from seat sales after expenaA have been met. In Omaha, the civic symphony found that the way to success lay throughout price-cutting and did so well at It that it had to move from its original quarters into the city auditorium, which seats 4000 people. Kalamazoo, Mich., likewise learned that low prices pay; It haa a thriving orchestra in its fourteenth season, with tickets that sell at 25 and 50 cents. No longer are fine orchestras confined to the largest cities. Pennsylvania now contains nine symphony orchestras, not counting those in Philadelphia: New York has 12 outside of the metropolis, Florida has four, Texas has five, and Massachusetts has three, outside of Boston. Good orchestras can be found in such cities as Huron, S. D.; Phoenix, Ariz., and Albuquerque, N. M. One reason for growth of such organizations may be that the depression has released many good musicians in the big cities. Another undoubtedly is that schools of music throughout the country have slowly but surely been laboring to raise the musical taste of the public. 1 But whatever the reason may be, the result is pure gain for the country as a whole.

THE “G” MEN /~\FF the record one of the chief topics of discussion at the Washington Crime Conference was resentment of local police against the spotlight held by the "G” men—Department of Justice Agents. Perhaps the newspapers, much more than the ”G” men, are responsible for the situation The effective activity of justice agents, unconflnud by county lines, has tended to give them publicity while credit due local officers often has been overlooked. The crime conference itself was proof that the Administration and Justice Department recognize the importance of local police agencies. Assurance of co-operation between police and national officers with both equally concerned about the others’ problems, will do more permanently to control crime than sensational clean-ups. The Department of Justice knows it. It has done nothing more laudable than its present attempt to bring about that co-operation. SERUM PARDONS SCHMIDT and Carl Erickson, erstwhile life term convicts at the Cannon City penitentiary in Colorado, will be free men on Dec. 20. Their pardon by the Governor is their reward for service to humanity. Last May Erickson and Schmidt voluntarily allowed themselves to be inoculated with a new anti-tuberculosis serum. Several weeks later large quantities of tuberculosis bacilli, sufficient to kill any one unprotected by a potent serum, were injected in the men. On Dec. 12 they were pronounced to be in good health. It seems the new serum may be successful. Almost daily medical science announces new discoveries, new cures. Unfortunately the best test of a cure or preventive is its effect on a living human body, preferable a healthy one inoculated with the disease. A person already ill may be too weak for experimentation. Volunteers are few, but from time to time convicfs are asked to risk their lives, freedom being the reward. No matter what the final worth of the new anti-tuberculosis serum may be, Schmidt and Erickson probably have aided medicine in its battle against the White Plague. Their pardon is a small price for society to pay.

SAM RAYBURN "D EP. SAM RAYBURN of Texas withdrew as a candidate for Speaker of the House, because he had no chance to win. He will remain as chairman of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Much of the important legislation before Congress this winter will be handled by his committee. It probably will draft permanent NR A legislation, a law to regulate holding companies, a communications law to broaden federal control over the telephone system, and pass upon additional oil and railroad measures. This legislation will be guided by the same man who fought for effective security and stock market laws in the last Congress. Sam Rayburn is only 52. He will get another chance. And if his future record proves as good as his record last year, he will earn, and some day doubtless receive, promotion to the Speakership. RECOVERY FOR THE SCHOOLS TT is encouraging to see that plans are be- -*■ mg made for a nation-wiue effort to rehabilitate our public educations system. Educators from 35 states, convening in Washington, are outlining a “recovery program’’ for the schools, and John K. Norton of Columbia University, chairman of their special committee, declares that we must “guarantee the children of America the educational opportunities promised them as citizens of a democratic government." The public school system has taken a series of hard blows during the depression. Teachers have gone unpaid, schools have been put on part-time schedules, curricula have been pruned ruthlessly, and a number of so-called “frills"—some of them of very great value—have been dropped. One of our greatest duties, as prosperity returns, must be to put the school system back on a sound, properly financed basis. Public education is the comer stone of our democracy. We can not safely allow it to deteriorate. Japan is going to raise the biggest national defense fund in its history, since the Bogey Man has been se*m to take in Manchukuo as well. Now that Italy’s 8-year-olds are wearing black shirts, the mothers can only tell by their faces when the children's clothes are soiled. A prisoner In New York greased his handcuffs and escaned. He probably didn’t have the grease nece***nr lor the palm of his guard.

Liberal Viewpoint by DR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT publicly dedicated himself to the rehabilitation of the "Forgotten Man” and the economic corollary of this, namely, driving the money-changers out of the national temple. The Bureau of Internal Revenue, quite unintentionally no doubt, plays a rather mean trick on its chief by publishing the figures on incomes during the calendar yew 1933, the first year of the New Deal, These figured reveal the fact that the forgotten man became even more economically obscure and submerged than in the last year of Mr. Hoover, while the rich hogged more of the social income than they did during the last twelve months of the rule of that obdurate "Old Dealer." We have had the situation before the depression refreshed in our minds by the remarkable book of Leven, Moulton and Warburton on "America’s Capacity to Consume.” This pointed out that even in the boom year of 1929 no less than 71 per cent of American families had incomes of less than $2,500 a year, while the 9.1 per cent of families at the top—those with incomes of $75,000 or over—received as much of the social income as the 42 per cent of the families at the bottom. a a OTHER careful statisticians, such as Paul H. Douglas, showed that comparable conditions continued during the depression. While wage payments fell off by more than one-ha If, as did farm income as well, interest on bonds and dividends on stocks that deserved to earn any dividends at all held up remarkably well. It was pre-eminently the poor man’s depression, shared by some speculative brokers who found the picking less lucrative after 1929. Absentee owners of corporate property and c’aims have suffered little relatively by comparison. The income statistics just published for 1933 tell the same old sad story which portends the inevitable folding up of capitalism unless a drastically revised edition goes to press right away. Secretary Wallace, who knows what it is all about, immediately pointed out that the figures indicate that the income of the top 36,000 very rich exceeds the income of the bottom 11,000,000 who enjoyed any income at all. The fact is that out of a population of over 125,000,000 with an adult working population of 48.000,000 —at least 48.000,000 who could work if they had jobs—only 3,660,105 reported any income at all. Os these only 1,731,116 had inoomes large enough to be taxable under the Federal income tax law with its not too generous exemptions. 000 ONCE more, the rich become richer and the poor become poorer. Net incomes of corporations increased by $654,000,000 or a 35.35 per cent gain for absentee owners, while the net income of individuals decreased by approximately $340,000,000. Especially striking was the fact that, those with incomes of less than $25,000 suffered a considerable loss of income, as compared with 1932, while those with incomes of over $25,000 increased both with respect to the number of individuals and the total net income they received. Moreover, the number of those with incomes in excess of $1,000,000 increased from 20 in 1932 to 46 in 1933. To those intere ited in saving capitalism in the United States this is a more dolorous exhibit than a bound volume of all the annual issues of the Daily Worker or the financial statistics of Soviet Russia. Especially is this true when one couples with it the fact of the strike of capital in 1933 and realizes that those who hogged the national income also refused to put their disproportionate proceeds back to work again in the effort to revive prosperity. They simply raked the “kitty” and put in their socks In a recent column I presented elaborate statistics to show that most of the national buying is done by those with low incomes and that if 75 per cent of American families could enjoy an income of $2,500 each their demands would so increase that we could not even resist a temP° ra /y return of prosperity. The implications of this should be as clear and impelling to Andrew William Mellon or J. Pierpont Morgan as to one of the "hundred neediest cases” of The New York Times. The Administration spokesmen have of late been telling us that the New Deal does not propose to tamper with business. Well, this business of hogging the social income must be tampered with, or there will be little legitimate business of any kind in a decade. Such a declaration is not communistic babble, but hard-boiled capitalistic selfishness.

Capital Capers BY GEORGE ABELL

THERE are dilemmas and dilemmas and the horns of dilemmas. Secretary of Commerce Roper had just finished reading a book called “Diiemma of the New Deal ’—when he suddenly found himself in a dilemma. Optimistic Mr. Roper was sitting at his desk, flanked by his $3 edition of “Dilemma of the New Deal" and a 15-cent copy of Emerson’s essays, receiving the press. Mr. Roper said that business was better. He said that buying and selling is going briskly. He said that there is a “good, slow, healthy recovery.” He said, in fact, a great many things about the revival of business prosperity. Then a reporter suddenly asked: But why aren’t you at the meeting in the White House?” Mr. Roper was in a dilemma. “What meeting?’’ he countered. “Why, the meeting which President Roosevelt is holding this afternoon to discuss plans for taking the profit out of war. Secretaries Hull, Dern, Morgenthau, Swanson, Perkins and Wallace are scheduled to be there. You—as a leader of industry—should certainly be present.” Mr. Roper was decidedly on the horns of a dilemma. He emerged brilliantly. “Er-rr-r! I'm pretty busy,” was his cryptic reply. a a a AMIABLE Josef Moscicki. son of the President of Poland, and secretary of the Polish embassy here, leaves soon to assume his new duties at the legation in Berne, Switzerland. This much nearly every one in diplomatic circles knows. But what most people do not know is that President Moscicki was once a political exile in Switzerland and that Josef was born in Fribourg. Hence, he is almost a Swiss citizen and doubly persona grata to the Alpine yodelers. Berne (diplomats agree) is not the most thrilling post in the world. One of the fascinating diversions there is to visit the bear pits. Outside of that, there is little to do, unless you are fond of drinking Swiss beer. But for young Moscicki and his beautiful blond wife, the post holds certain advantages. The Swiss idolize President Moscicki, who has done many things to stimulate Swiss industry, and they appreciate the subtle flattery of havii:' son among them. So diplomats here believe. An> with the political situation at Geneva, diplomatic opinion is that this transfer of Josef Moscicki was carefully thought out in Warsaw.

Charlie Dawes’ “out of the depression by summer” sounds so much like Henry Ford’s "out of the trenches by Christmas” that we re almost prepared to dig in for a longer siege. And if we can’t have prosperity by next summer, maybe the Department of Justice agents could be detailed to run it down. Freezing weather struck Florida, and some of the northerners down there demanded their money back. How can Cincinnati figure night baseball will help Its standing in the National League, wLon It can’t see the ball even in the daytime?

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

- TZO.mtq-

The Message Center

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns. Make your letters short, so all nan have a chance. Limit them to 250 words or less.) a a a BLIND PERSONS SEEK TRUE PUBLICITY By M. Charleton McLain. I wish to congratulate your staff on the splendid Clothe-A-Child idea. I desire, however, to call certain paragraphs to mind. In the Dec. 10 issue of your paper, second column to the right on the front page, in bold type, there appeared an article titled “Eyes.” Now it is barely possible that you might have located a family that is somewhat like the one described in the article previously mentioned, but I do feel confident that Bobby does not do the cooking nor does he lead mother and daddy to bed. Probably you are asking, “How does this fellow know so much?” Here are the reasons: My wife and I attended Indiana State School for the Blind, and are at present keeping a home without outside assistance. I wish to insist that the case above mentioned is not typical. It is true that many blind persons need help, as it is almost impossible for any physically normal person to get work. I do not, in any way, intend to be unjust or to seem overly sensitive, but the blind, as a whole, want work and true publicity. a a a MISS ILMA SHOULD GET BETTER CHANCE TO TALK. By W. H. Brenan. It seems Miss lima should have had a chance to talk to a big gathering, and that an effort should have been made to have her speak in Tomlinson Hall, or some other big hall. The people want to know all about “What Youth Thinks,” and she is here to tell us, old and young alike. Many will want to hear her. Either she or Kenesaw M. Landis, or some of the other young orators should get a chance to talk to the young men and young women, to see if Mr. Borah talks their language, when he speaks on the change to younger leadership. Governor Pinchot favors putting in younger leaders, and this must be of real interest to the people here, as well as every other other state. Youth demands it, and of course, they can’t deny them any thing. a a a NBA VIOLATIONS SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC By William E. Storts. When a poor man is arrested and haled into court for some minor offense, he often is given more publicity than his act warranted. Yet, every day in Indianapolis as well as in many other cities of our country, there are business firms and individuals who see fit to steal part of the wages rightfully earned by their employes. The NRA Compliance Board has authority to step in and make ad- ! justments if one can prove a violaj tion of the code under which the business operates. These adjust - I ments, however, are always made on the Q. T. In fairness to those individuals and businesses who live up to the code agreements, would it not be a good idea to expose the violators through the public press? Such a plan, if carried out, would probably dfteourage potential violators and would create a mere whole-

THE INTERESTED SPECTATORS

Church , Government and Science

By L. E. Blacketor. In last Monday’s Message Center there appeared an article, under the cryptic initials, S. E. M., in which the writer states that The Times accuses the church of being opposed to progress in government and science. Taking issue, the writer then says, “Now it is easy to demonstrate that this is far from the truth.” Quite naturally then, I expected the writer to do his stuff, that is to say—immediately to proceed with his demonstration. When, alas, and alack-a-day! here is what I read: Father Coughlin indorses the New Deal; Father Hubbard has made scientific discoveries; a Catholic priest invented synthetic rubber. Remember, S. E. M., that it is the church, as such, of which you are supposed to be speaking, and not of individual men. If the captain of a battleship should invent a mechanical toy, would this demonstrate that the Navy Department stands for progress in the toy industry? The church on the one hand, S. E. M., the individual man on the other, are two separate and distinct things. You have confused the one with the other. You state further that the most learned man of all time was Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic priest. Well, I wouldn’t know about that; but I’m minded to inquire—so what? The Inquisition lasted not just a few months or years, but centuries! And as a result in Spain, for example, commerce and industry were paralyzed for years. Would you say, S. E. M., that the Inquisition advanced the cause of government and science? In those dark centuries the men of science fell under the yoke of the church. If their discoveries and writings did not conform to scriptural interpretation they were

some respect for the NRA, thereby hastening our country’s industrial recovery. If a business or individual should break faith with his country in war time, he would be branded “traitor” and treated as such. Is there any justification for less patriotism during these trying times? a a a TIMES AGAIN THANKED FOR ORPHANS’ MOVIE FILM From The Indianapolis Orphan Asylum, Mary S. Boyd, corresponding secretary. The children of the Indianapolis Orphans’ Home had a happy time at the Palace Theater, when, through your kindness, they were given the pleasure of seeing and hearing Eddie Cantor in “Kid Millions.” Such outings are looked forward to with great pleasure, and talked of for weeks afterward. Please accept the grateful appreciation of the board of directors, for your kindness to the children. a a a SEEKS ADJUSTMENT ON RELIEF DISTRIBUTION By M. E. A. I have been on relief roll for about 16 months. About four months ago an investigator called at my home and asked numerous questions. I have two pieces of property. I am living in one and receiving $25 a month for the othog. My payment on the two pieces of property is

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

driven into exile, imprisoned, or put to death. I mention here but one among many of the men of science who, through the rigors of the Inquisition, suffered frightful martyrdom—Giordano Bruno. The church had taught that the earth, inhabited by man, was the center of the whole universe. Copernicus had long since discovered the fallacy of any such belief. And Bruno, now writing his learned confirmatory expositions of this discovery, fell under the condemnation of the church. For the above reason, and for his heretical religious views the powers of the Inquisition caused him to be imprisoned, excommunicated and burned alive. Did all this shackling of the scientific mind, all this persecuting and burning of learned men tend to advance the sauce of science? Just a few more instances of the churches’ hamstring of thought and science. Consider the witch burning of the early days of this country, opposition to justifiable divorce, the condemning of birth control, anti-evolution tirades, Sunday blue laws, and last but not least, all the high, grand wizards and b '.zzards of the KuKlux Klan. The church is static; it doesn’t grow, expand, and advance as do other institutions. And why is this? It is because the church is bound not to accept any new discoveries or advancement in thought should they run counter to some dogmatic interpretation of Scripture. When the church throws overboard all its fossilized doctrines and dogmas; when it opens the windows of its mind to free and untrammeled thought, then, and only then, can the church share in the credit for the advancement of science and government.

$23.25 a month. That leaves me $1.75. They took my basket away from me and I have not been able to get back on the lists. There are sik of us in the family and the investigator told me that I should live on my income of $25. What I want to know is, can they take me off the relief and if not. what steps and who can I see for adjustment? a a a ANOTHER READER IN FAVOR OF PENSIONS By J. r. Foster. Nobody wants a man of 60. He belongs on the ash heap. These are the words of the crippled wife of a 60-year-old man sent to prison for from one to 20 years because he forged checks amounting to $55. He was not able to get work, only having four months’ work in

Daily Thought

And He said unto him. Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but One. that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments—St. Matthew IIX:IVII. B| E not merely good, be good for something. Let not one evil speaker be established in the earth; evil shall hunt the violent Man to overthrow him.—Psalms 140:1L

DEC. 17, 1 m

tour and one-half years, and so o keep from starving he forged the checks to the amount of $55. Mrs. Wilson, his wife, told the court in Cincinnati, 0., all my life I have saved for old age. once we had stocks and bonds and insurance saved but they are all gone. My husband did all a man could do to get work, but the' same old (too old), so he must pay the penalty. Compare this with Insull. Where is the justice? There is justice for all mankind by placing our old men and women of 60 to work aad spending S2OO each month ov ji t&e entire United Stales, this bringing up the standard of living and making room for all the unemployed Cos go to work at a decent living wage. This will relieve our Government of spending billions of dollars which have not relieved the depression or put the idle to work. There is onsjjy one way of relief which will stand forever and that is Dr. F. E. Towasend’s plan for the old age revolting pension.

So They Say

Prior to prohibition, on rare Hcasions only did we see unescor Gtl women imbibe cocktails in the afternoon, but since repeal a f least 50 per cent of our patrons nave been women.—Oscar of the Waldorl Nobody can kid me about my beauty. I’ve looked at thvs pan t£So many times. —Claudette Coibert. ? I think I have outlived my placing usefulness. Harold “Fed" Grange. I don’t care for pie, cake, or candy, but I do like spinach.—Doias Louise Paul of Wilton Junction, 23., national 4-H health champion, * m No man can look out upon cm r present life and think of the tomorrow without being aware of the terrific upsurge of the forces of evil. —Dr. Albert W. Beaven, president of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America. Z •* We are passing out of a period unrestrained competition.—Donfld Richberg. If I were in need of help, I should go to an English clergyman just as, in Austria. I should go to a peasant. —Phyllis Bottome, author and lecturer. 1

Lady of Snows

BY ALONZO RICE My lady of the snows is fair, Her charming moods are manifold; She stands aloof, with queenly air. And heart, so strangely cold! I needs must worship her from far, I may not touch her garment s hem; For ardent flames of love would rifrr The radiance of each gem! JJ So I must build my shrine withlh The Arctic circle of despair: Though suing, fated not to win This maid supremely fair! Such love, inviolate. re:nains. Nor servile chaifVv of bond®* The regal throne no foot attain*, The kneels 1