Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 14, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 March 1935 — Page 10

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WEDNESDAY. MARCH 27. 3935 SPEAKING AS A CITIZEN IN his *p**ch at Washington attacking President Roosevelt for dLslnclmation to interfere in the Mexican church flght, Archbishop Curley aligns himself with Father Coughlin In asserting his right to speak as a citizen. Agreement with Bishop Curley and Father Coughlin on this point is easy for any real lover of free speech. It does not, however, shut the door on controversy. Freedom of speech is one of our greatest boons. No mans calling should abridge his right to speak his mind— Inversely, there can be no abridgement of the right of rebuttal. For reasons which are possibly more the result of precedent than of logic, public officials and the press generally have been reluctant to employ the rough-and-tumble rules of public debate and controversy when replying to men of the cloth. Nation-wide departure from ihls precedent developed a decade ago when certain Protestant ministers of the type of Bishop Cannon, Canon Chase and the Rev. Scott Mcßride arose In their clerical garb to attack other citizens and public officials who were opposed to prohibition. To the extent that they were partisan, dogmatic, or vituperative, in asserting their right to speak as citizens, they were replied to in kind. To the extent that men of the type of Archbishop Curley and Father Coughlin, sincerely advocating as citizens what they have a perfect right to advocate, attack other citizens with force and vigor, they can expect to be taken at their word and treated as citizens. The rub will come if they, or the millions of their followers who hold them in esteem and veneration, grow resentful at their being taken at their word. In the present Jittery and belligerent state of the national nerves, mere citizen-to-citizen statement and retort is apt to lack some of the respectful consideration which we were taught, in a previous era, was due the clergymen content to leave politics to the politician.

NOT SO SMART 'T'HE government's decision to abandon its most imminent Supreme Court test of the recovery act, the Belcher case from Alabama, lends support to the complaints of anti-NRA witnesses before the Senate committee. NR A operates as a kind of ‘'lynch law," testified Francis M. Curlee. St. Louis clothing manufacturer. A man might vindicate his ••rights." he explained, "but it would be a posthumous vindication." Without for a mmute concurring in the economic doctrines of Mr. Curlee, we find it difficult not to sympathize with part of his protest. The government's apparent intention to avert a Supreme Court showdown, pending enactment of new NRA legislation, may not be as shrewd strategy as it is supposed to be. It encourages popular belief that the New Deal Is unconstitutional, and thereby breaks down compliance and enforcement. Moreover, the procedure gives off an odor of deliberate official law-dodging which must offend believers in the orderly processes o government. It has other drawbacks. Congress must now reconcile itself to the necessity of proceeding on NRA legislation without any word of guidance from the high court, which must eventually pas 6on the law* that emerge. The same thing applies to labor-disputes legislation. for in the Houde test case the government likewise delayed so long that Supreme Court action before the adjournment of Congress is impossible. NARCOTIC LAWS PRESIDENT ROOSEVELTS timely appeal for passage of the uniform state narcotic law should be heeded by legislatures now hastening toward adjournment. Due largely to leadership of the United States, the world is progressing toward effective co-operation to control the drugs traffic. Forty-nine nations have ratified the Geneva Narcotics Limitation Convention which became effective in this country in July, 1933. Congress has enacted adequate federal laws, and Treasury Department operatives have carried on a sustained drive against dope peddlers. But the government needs the aggressive help of state laws and state enforcement officers. At the beginning of the year, only nine states had adopted the uniform law which has the approval of the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. This law should be placed on the statute books of all 48 states, so that our government will have tlte power and co-operation it needs to uphold its compact with the other nations of the world. WARNING OF FOLLY A BOUT all we need to finish the warning from the western plains is a pillar of fire by night. We had the pillar of cloud by day, and it went swirling eastward as a grim reminder of the fate that follows after folly. A dust storm, of course, is a natural phenomenon like a cyclone or a flood. But unlike these it is partly a man-made thing. als<* We got our dust storm because of the way we used our land, and It was an ominous indication of the way nature can go on the rampage hen man upsets her balance. Altogether, it is a queer situation. We expanded our agricultural production beyond reason, a few years ago. just as we expanded other kinds of production. By bringing under cultivation more land than we needed, we helped to give ourselves a farm depression which today is requiring the most heroic measures. Then, as if that were not enough, high winds and dry weather combine to ruin the land which we unwisely plowed. Out ol It ail we ought at least to get anew

comprehension of the proper way to use our natural resources. Few lands have ever been as blessed with such resources as America. Fertile soil, great forests, mineral deposits—they were here in seemingly limitless abundance, and we let them dazzle us. We got into the habit of moving in on them en masse and letting the lucky first comers use them as they pleaded. That worked all right for a while. Now’ it is exacting a penalty. The dust storms are forcing us to learn that unwise exploitation of these resources has to be paid for by the nation as a whole. We can use our resources as individualists, but eventually we have to foot the bill as collectivists. This is not true only of farm land. It is true of our forests, of our oil fields, of our coal deposits and of all the other riches with which nature blessed us. All of us must have a say in the way these things are used, because if they are used unwisely all oi us will feel the effects. This is the warning presented by our pillar of cloud. If we are as smart as we like to think we are, we won't wait for another warning before we insist that our resources be used under a plan which has the welfare of the while country in view.

FOR THE GENERAL WELFARE ■QASSAGE of the McSwain bill is needed to -*• assure continuance and widening of the Tennessee Valley Authority's power program. Reports that it has the President's indorsement and is the Administration's answer to attacks on TV A in and out of the courts, are gratifying. That backing should hasten passage.' The amendments that the McSwain bill proposes would remove any doubt about the Authority's right to build or acquire transmission systems, and to acquire distribution systems and resell them to municipalities or other political subdivisions. Nationally one of tnese amendments is of particular importance because it would fix in the law the intention of Congress to set up yardstick power rates in the Tennessee Valley, by which power rates everywhere else can be measured. The amendment giving the Authority the right to issue $100,000,000 of bonds is simply an extension of present power, and is surrounded with adequate safeguards. Under the new provision, TV A would be able to acquire private power facilities as wholes, or in parts, by outright purchase or by exchange of its bonds for stocks and bonds. The section that provides for protection of honest existing investments when TVA acquires distribution systems to avoid duplications of facilities is in accord with TVA's favorable record in this respect. Otherwise, the McSwain bill gives TVA nee’ .thority to co-operate with other gc it agencies, to promote larger use of cui.irol of the development of the Tennessee River and tributaries. Finally, the bill roots the TVA program not solely in the ‘‘commerce clause" of the Constitution, as now, but also in the broader “general welfare” clause. Certainly, if anything will promote the general welfare of the people it will be success of TVA's power program.

WHO WON? TT might be helpful to humanity if somebody arranged to lay before Europe’s diplomats each day, alongside their morning coffee, a recent remark of Rep. Maury Maverick. Chairman Mcowain of the House Military Affairs Committee hed Just asked ex-Con-gressman Jeanette Rankin, "If we got into a war, isn’t it your duty—everybody’s duty—to fight that war to a finish, and to win that war?” "Please tell me.” retorted Miss Rankin, “who won the World War.” At this point Mr. Maverick of Texas rose to inquire: "Who won the San Francisco earthquake?” CHEAPER ELECTRICITY STATISTICS compiled by the Scripps-How-ard newspapers recently indicated that electric rates had been reduced $16,000,000 yearly in the circle of states near the Tennessee Valley Authority yardstick project. The Federal Power Commission, from its rate survey and independent reports, finds that there have been reductions amounting to at least $30,000,000 annually throughout the nation since the New Deal power policy went into effect. The United States Municipal News, in its April issue, finds the tendency toward lower utility rates spreading even farther. "Further electric reductions are taking place in all sections of the country,” it reports. Pittsburgh, Dayton, 15 towns in Massachusetts and 52 towns in Illinois are cited. In Albany, N. Y., the Mayor has just signed a bill authorizing a utilities commission to maintain and operate a municipal system. In San Antonio, St. Louis and Rochester, N. Y., studies of the advantages of municipal utilities are being made. In the Tennessee Valley itself, 22 out of 27 cities have cast an almost 3 to 1 vote in favor of municipal electric plants. Another, Johnson City, fifth largest city in Tennessee, has plans for a city-TVA system. Exposure of the financial and propaganda activities of private utilities by the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Power Commission's rate survey, combined with the success of the TVA low rate experiment, have shown the public that greatly reduced electric rates—with their opportunity for greater electrical •ervice —are not only socially desirable, but feasible.

A University of Oregon scientist is going to look for sign* of ancient man in that state. He might find it easier if he tried places like Wall Street. In London, now, speeding motorists are chased by policewomen. And their chances of escaping are slim unless, of course, a strand of hair blows loose. Judging from his recent antics "Old Man River” must have heard of the Townsend plan. The man who asked $250,000 to put through a $10,000,000 naval contract was no piker. He knew he didn't have to be big to talk big. As soon as John D. Rockefeller hears that Andrew Mellon has a personal fortune of only $95,000,000, John D. might offer Andrew a dime. If that will help.

Looking at America

TULSA, Okla.. March 27.—1 wrote a piece on German armament as the only threat of world war and suggested three ways for us to avoid being drawn in. I spoke from vivid experience, but was criticized as a jingo by my pet enemy, who is no expert in war. Nevertheless, I am going to try again, from experience on the domestic front, because it is the part of safety to know how trouble can come and to consider ways to avoid it. I used to think that our people and government are so stable and our revolutionists so few that we need never fear an upheaval. That was before NR A and especially the San Francisco general strike. It started as a simple labor dispute in shipping. Negotiations lagged and a strike was called. Commerce along the whole coast faltered. The dispute had been between employers and workers, but now the whole community began to suffer. Public protest was directed against the strikers. This made a martyr complex—that both the community and the authorities were against labor as a whole. Sympathetic strikes spread until the food supply, transportation, and even water, light and power were threatened. This was economic war no longer against employers, but directly against society. The Governor was faced with the last fatal step toward bloody war—martial law—government by bayonets and bullets. n n EXPERIENCED and patriotic labor leaders now tried their best to halt the threatened avalanche. But their job was to lead organized discontent and when discontent has been inflamed by fancied martyrdom there is no way it will be led except to conflict. Extremists in the ranks were hourly pouring oil on the hot coals and fanning them to flames. The old leaders had to go along or be deposed. These extremists were not 1 per cent of the labor forces, but they were taken into camp by an alien red revolutionary. He had thus engineered economic war in three states and led to the very lip of bloody war in one. There was something of this in several of the acute labor situations under NRA. They start peacefully enough but gradually inflame until the hotheads threaten responsible leadership. Then some trained strategist whose hidden goal is not industrial peace, but political war, seduces the hotheads. That is the way such trouble has always come. Astonishingly small minorities thus did the trick in Russia, Italy, Germany and revolutionary France. It is the way trouble could come here—first locallv and then generally. The hotheads who inflame organize discontent never survive its spread to physical conflict. They are the Kerenskvs who fall before the Lenins and deliver a country of 180.000.000 people to the dictatorship of 1 per cent. Our lack of a clear labor policy and adequate means for peaceful settlement of labor disputes invite this dangerous strategy. (Copyright. 1935. by United Feature Syndicate. Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden.)

Liberal Viewpoint by DR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

NO sensible historian expects history to repeat itself with any exactness. But the analogies between the present European situation and that which existed in the spring and early summer of 1914 are so striking that they can hardly faii to be both interesting and illuminating. In the years before 1914, as in the last decade. the European nations were building up great armies with the ostensible purpose of attaining national security and thereby promoting peace. “Arming for peace” was the popular slogan, then as now. The relative size of armies in 1907 and 1914 stood as follows: 1907 1914 Russia 1.354.000 1.384,000 Franre 559,000 * 818,000 Germany . ; 639.000 806.000 Austria 382.000 370,000 Italy • 284,000 305.000 In T 914. France put into operation its new three-year service law, so it called to the colors two classes instead of one as before. In addition, it retained the class which had been trained and would ordinarily have been released from service. It thus had four classes instead of two with the colors that spring. Today, the armies and reservists of these countries rate as follows: Active Trained Army Reservists Russia 848,600 18,000,000 France .....607.000 6,975.000 Germany"..., 105.000 None AusVria 21,200 None Italy 457.000 6,017,000 a tt tt •, • IN spite of the “war to end war and great armaments,” the world is spending much more for armaments today than it was in 1913, the last year of peace before the World War. By calling 500,000 men to the colors, Hitler is following the example of France in 1914, but he is merely seeking military equality instead of the military ascendency which Franch sought in 1914 and enjoys today. As in 1914, national self-interest is now blocking fundamental national aspirations which may provoke war. England from 1908 to 1914, stood like a dog in the manger, keeping Russia from gaining an outlet through the Straits leading from the Black Sea, while Austria stood in the way of Serbian national aspirations. Germany refused to cede back Alsace and Lorraine to France. Today, Poland insists upon the Corridor which the Germans wish to erase. Italy and France object to the natural union of Germany and Austria. Some great powers, and more lesser ones, oppose the restoration of Hungary, Yugoslavia, backed by France, blocks Italian aspirations in the Adriatic and on the Dalmatian coast. "Sore spots” abound in 1935 as they did in 1914. In fact, they are even more numerous. a tt tt THE current announcement of a Conference of Great Britain, France and Italy over the German policy reminds one specifically of 1914. Then, Lord Grey proposed a conference which would invoke the old Concert of Europe which had nandled the Balkan crisis of 1913. But it was to be held under conditions in which the dice were loaded against Germany and Austria. So the latter naturally declined. In 1935, the conference is being held without even inviting them. .. . War talk and warnings were as rife in the spring of 1914 as they are today. In 1914, the Russian Minister of War, General Sukhominlov, announced "Russia is ready, France must be ready also.” Soviet Russia has used identical language within the last few days in proclaiming Russian readiness. But this time it is a defensive rather than an aggressive Russia which is talking. Finally, if we judge at all by developments to date, Germany will once more be more frank in her actions, and hence more stupid in her diplomacy. While German diplomacy in 1914 was lar more honest and pacific than that ot Russia, France or Serbia, Germany foolishly talked’of “scraps of paper.” Todav. Hitler has only suggested doing what France and others have been doing for the last 17 years. But he has done it in so blatant a way as to make Germany appear an aggressor and to give the anti-German press almost a "natural" in reviving its anti-German propaganda. Apartment house service employes in the Bronx, New York, walked out and left the tenants high, although not quite dry, so long as their liquor holds out. The postmistress of Medical Lake, Wash., has survived 42 years of sendee, and now both Republicans and Democrats are wondering how they could have overlooked her job for so long. In his book, "The Curse of Bigness,” Supreme Court Justice Brandeis holds that anything big is bad. You’ve never, for instance, heard of a little bad wolf.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

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The Message Center

their views in these columns. Make your letters short, so all can have a chance. Limit them to 210 words or less. Your letter must be sinned, but names will be withheld at request of the letter writer.) tt tt it MORRISSEY RAPPED ON BOOKIE JOINT ACTION. By M. Davis. Indianapolis newspapers are making much of a police order closing 21 gambling joints in our downtown district, which were evidently operating with the knowledge, consent and, seemingly, the approval of our local law enforcement agencies. Much publicity has been given to the fact that a joint de luxe has been opened since his honor the mayor was inducted into his office and within a few blocks of the City Hall. Some hold that politics is the cause of the closing of these places, while others opine that this means the elimination of much competition to the friends of the police department and the city administration. How such a condition could be created and tolerated by public servants is quite beyond me. Surely, fellow citizens, we have food for thought! Twenty-one places within five minutes walking distance from the police headquarters and the City Hall, where bet's could be made on horse races being run in every part of this country! Where was the efficient prosecutor who was promoted to a judgeship at the last election while this condition was being created? Where was the equally efficient chief of police who was reappointed for another four-year term? Certainly, the prosecutor did not deserve his promotion nor did the chief rate a reappointment. Asa matter of fact, the chief has forfeited his position and should be replaced by one who would not permit such a mess to exist. There can not be any denial that the chief knew of the operations of these vultures and did nothing to put them out of business. It therefore stands to reason that politics or worse occasioned the activity to close them now. Anew chief would restore public confidence in our police department. tt tt a CHARGES TOWNSEND PLAN STORY NOT COVERED. By L. F. Boyce Why have you quit running the story of the Townsend plan? Did the head chief give you orders to, and for what reasons? Political reasons? When the NRA went in you newspaper men fought for free speech, but it to me when it concerns the people you fall down on the job. But regardless of the newspapers’ enforced silence on this plan, we are going right ahead. Editor's Note—You can be assured that when Townsend plan activities are news they will be printed. nan BLUE EAGLE IS AID TO MANY. HE SAYS By Jack K. As the fate of the NRA seems doubtful at the present time, I should like to be permitted to sir my views in regard to this great experiment. Previous to the birth of the Blue Eagle, my fellow workers and I were working more than 70 hours a week, some of us for even less than the minimum NRA wage now paid for 40 hours. Let it be understood when I say working, I mean it. At

LOOKING ’EM OVER!

Gas Series Lauded

By Frank J. Wright. The articles by Vincent Lyons relative to the Citizens Gas Cos. are educational. Those who care to may have an idea of what it means for the city to own that plant. As nearly as I can figure the interest on bonds to be sold for money with which to purchase the plant would amount to $385,800.00 annually. Rental of pipe lines owned by Indianapolis Gas Cos. $464,000 and to this a loss of $300,000 in taxes would give as fixed costs a year a total of $1,147,800. To this should be added operating costs, depreciation, repairs, etc. One may not, without data give these costs. I was surprised to learn that the Citizens Gas Cos.

no time during the work period could we be found asleep, eating something or swapping stories. Now, all this has been changed. Time to rest, time for recreation and seeing one’s friends. We can now enjoy a few good meals. If inclined to do so, we can read, think and plan for better days ahead. The fresh air and sunshine which our shorter hours afford us do a world of good, and we still try, as we always did, to work hard and faithfully. This is what NRA has meant to some of us so unfortunate as to have to work for the little fellows, whose pitiful pleadings have been ignored by a ruthless and dictatorial government. But it is not so bad as that. To our astonishment, our bosses still 'wear good clothes, drive big cars, take expensive trips and purchase the best of goods. Considering all this, is it any wonder that we, being human, do not wish to bid good-by to the Blue Eagle? a a a MINTON RAPPED FOR WAGE VOTE By C. Callahan We just heard over our radio that Sherman Minton, our Indiana Senator, voted for the low cutthroat wages for the laboring man. Does Senator Minton know that there is another election coming and does he think that when he comes back here speaking and campaigning for that election that we are going to swallow his poor alibis? We also are watching our Indiana Congressman. I am a good union man and also was a good Democrat. We are going to watch your paper to see if this is printed. Editor’s Note—Here it is. a o a PLAY SITE IS ASKED FOR NORTH SIDE By a North Side Mother. I am an ardent reader of your paper and always have been for 15 years or more and have read about the wonderful things you have done through your paper and hope you can solve this problem. It is concerning children. There isn't a finer crowd of children and young people in Indianapolis than those who play at 29th and New Jersey-sts. Now there is a vacant lot at this corner and unless the children can play here, there is no place for them to play except in the street. Someone has complained of their playing here. I am a mother myself and have five children who*don't smoke or drink and don’t think of such

[I wholly disapprove of what you say and will 1 defend to the death your right to say it. — Voltaire. J

owned less than half the pipe lines, being 337 miles, while the Indianapolis Gas Cos. owns 530 miles. If Mr. Lyons can give us the income and the cost of operation, the public should be well informed —sufficiently so to judge whether or not it would be a good purchase lor the city. The Times deserves the general appreciation for Mr. Lyons’ articles. I have asked more than a score of business men if they have been reading the articles and in every instance the reply was, no, I have not, and some added, what about it? Indianapolis is in great need of more men and women who are alive to the affairs of our city.

things, and, like lots of mothers, I want to keep them that way. But children must have a place to play. Before I was blessed with children, I never complained of other peoples’ children, or never would. It’s spring and what is sweeter than to see children eager to get out and play and have a place to play. Hope you will help us get this lot for the children. a a a OBJECTS TO TIMES ATTITUDE ON PLAN By F. L. Davidson. In reference to your unfair attack on the Townsend plan which you made over the shoulder of Congressman McGroarty in Tuesday night’s issue, you do not seem to realize that thousands of your subscribers are firm believers in the Townsend plan and they have a perfect right to demand that if you do not care to go along with the Townsend plan, that you could at least be neutral in the matter. I would imagine that sound business judgment on your part could lead you to no other conclusion. a o a TIMES-EM-ROE SHOOTING SCHOOL IS PRAISED By Chester Turner. The Indianapolis Times and the Em-Roe Sporting Goods Cos. are to be congratulated on the wonderful work being done at the Indianapolis Gun Club, and I think that Indianapolis should be proud of such orgar izations. Asa reader of The Times I noticed about the shooting school at the Indianapolis Gun Club, walked eight miles to get there, and was surely repaid for doing so. I will walk again if necessary, for I was very much pleased with the complete methods in teaching the many safety features in shooting that the average person, even hunters, could not learn in years. The instructor, Mr. Adams, is very considerate and patient in teaching the fine art of good shooting. He insists on the safety features in handling a gun. Hoping more people will take this opportunity to learn good shooting, and that these organizations deserve praise in their work for it may mean the prevention of accident or death to someone. for they not only teach good shooting, but above all safety in shooting. By C. C. Simmon*. I was at the Indianapolis Gun Club for the first time, and I'll say it is the finest place I have been for those who like to shoot and get all the instructions of how to handle a gun and how to shoot It. It is worth anybody's time to go

MARCH 27, 1935

to the Indianapolis Gun Club for a good time and to meet a good bunch of fellows. By B. J. Mann. I attended your shooting school at the Indianapolis Gun Club, and I wish to thank you for a pleasant and profitable afternoon. I think you have a great idea and| will be rewarded by having fewer accidents to report this fall.

So They Say

With her economic power, Japan is confident that she can, through freer trade, contribute a good deal to the advancement of human wellbeing and progress.—Hiroshi Saito, Japanese ambassador to the United States. Peace can not come so long as children are imbued with a lust for war and killing, from the very day they start school.—Mme. Rosika Schwimmer, famed pacifist. If we are not to be permitted to hear a gentleman like Strachey, America might as well shut up shop and hire a Hitler or a Stalin to regiment its thinking.—Will Durant, philosopher. In essentials, a lady remains exactly what she always was. Naturally, as customs and times change, superflcials change, but the essentials, never.—Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. I like to play with locomotives and trains—Ananda Mahidol, new king of Siam. In the last five years this country has lost enough in income to buy the whole of the United States lock, stock and barrel. —Gov. Philip F. La Foilette of Wisconsin. Huey Long is just a farmer boy who does not understand what it is all about. He may get educated in Washington if he’ll be willing to learn from those like La Follette, Norris and Costigan.—Upton Sinclair.

Daily Thought

And he said until them, take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth.—St. Luke, xii, 15. WHY are we so blind?—That which we improve, we have; that which we hoard, is not for ourselves. —Madame Deluzy.

LULL

BY VIRGINIA KIDWELL For what am I waiting? For what is this lull In my turbulent days like the holding of breath Ere screams—like the calm before storm—like the dull Gasping of air before rattle of death? This ominous silence inside of my heart Beats through all routine of night time or day; A breathlessness born of the fear we may part Before we’re together before were away.