Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 183, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 October 1935 — Page 18

PAGE 18

The Indianapolis Times <\ nmtprs.nott\m> >'Esi*ArEß) ROY TV HOWARD President I.IDWF.M, PKNVY Editor EARL D. BAKER Btigine** Manager

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(iw r I,i 'hr and the. /Vo pit U t JI I ind Thar Oun Way

THURSDAY. OCTOBER 10. 1035 BE WARY, MR. BINGHAM! SKIPPING over the front page and war headlines, wn find tucked inside the newspaper a brief dispatch from London telling of Ambassador Bingham's call at the foreign office to explain to Sir Samuel Hoare America’s neutrality policy in connection with the Italo-Ethiopian conflict. The dispatch does not say whether the ambassador indicated to Sir Samuel what the United States might or might not, do should this or that event occur, causing the conflict to spread. So we presume nothing—and hope that is what the ambassador said. Yet we can not help remember that there was once another American ambassador to the Court of 6’ James. Walter Hines Page, and another astute B i’i h foreign minister. Sir Edward Grey. According to the biographer of Mr. Page, the then ambassador. throughout his life, had entertained a "reverent respect" for "English history, English literature and English public men.” And Walter Mbits, m his "Road to War,” reports that as Mr. Page "fell under the sari, gracious charm of Sir Edward Grey the reverence passed almost into adoration," with fateful consequences to American history. So it, occurs to us that Mr. Bingham might be interested in picking up his copy of "Road to War” and in reading a sentence which we find on page 40 about something lhat hapnened 21 years ago when the guns of Europe first started popping, and America was far, far away: "On his own responsibility,” writes Mr. Millis, ‘‘Page begged Sir Edward to inform him ‘if the good offices of the United states could at any time or in any pos: iblc way be used,’ and received the foreign minister's polite and cautious thanks.” BAD TAXES, AND WORSE Gov. Talmadge makes the front paces with a characteristic demand that the Federal government stop collecting income taxes. We agree with the Governor that all taxes are a curse, including income taxes. But we suggest that the Governor might better help us approach a taxless Utopia by insisting that levies other than those on incomes he repealed first.. The Federal government gets only about onethird of its revenue from taxes on incomes of individuals and corporations, and other levies based broadly on the principle of ability to pay. The other two-thirds comes from levies on the goods and services which the people buy—taxes that pick the pocket without touching the pocket nerve. If the people who pay these hidden taxes—and that means all the people—had to pay the same amount in a direct and visible tax. such as the income tax is, a demand for government economy would sweep the country. The two things which contribute most to apathy toward government expenditures are invisible taxation and ability to borrow cheaply through issuance of tax-exempt bonds. So if the Governor really wants an economyminded Administration in Washington, let him advocate a pay-as-you-go policy and the repeal of all hidden levies. Instead of shouting against the one important painful and proportionate tax which serves as a natural restraint on extravagance, let him call for repeal of taxes on gasoline, tires, motor oil. automobiles, matches, cigarets, beverages, toilet articles, etc. They are the taxes which with ruthless impartiality take the pennies of the poor and the pennies of the rich, without either one realizing what is taken from him. and with utter disregard for whether the penny happens to be the last one in the pocket of the poor man nr a one-billionth fraction of the fortune of the rich. CHALLENGING THE CHISELER A START toward economic co-operation between farmers and workers is reported by American Federation of Labor officials, in the form of agreements between labor bodies and the National Farmers Union m more than 100 counties, pledging reciprocal purchase of goods made under what these organizations deem fair conditions of work. This is important and significant. If the movement is broadened, there is a good possibility for wholesale advancement of better conditions among both groups. Economic action—the "union label"—is a powerful and appropriate weapon. It might be remarked that it is much less subject to abuse than is political pressure. Purchase of goods made under fair and decent conditions, as carried out under "union label” campaigns. can only be made effective by large groups. It. is mass enforcement of decency. Such a campaign car not be wrecked by misguided leaders of the movement, for it depends solely upon mass education and mass sentiment. And most of the people, nearly all in fact, are for decent conditions for workers. It is probably the best way to meet the chiseler's challenge, if it can cover enough territory. VAST—IS RIGHT "ITOW easy it is to criticize but how hard to pre- -*■ scribe a remedy. Ex-President Hoover is potent in his ringing indictments ot extravagant borrowing, growth of bureaucracy, the present condition of unemployment, and the like. But when we search for a constructive program which Mr. Hoover would substitute for the New Deal we find words like this: "In the large, our problem is to stimulate and utilize the great productive capacity of our people. Herein is the great constructive program—to find the road by which we may attain the vast enrichments of science and technology within the province of private enterprise and personal liberty ... It will succeed not through vast generalizations but through human sympathy, detailed policies, hard -common sense, and political realism.” What about that for vast generalization?

NEUTRALITY PITFALLS '■jpHE United States in the near future may find itself forced to take far more drastic steps than it has yet taken to avoid being draw-n into a threatened European conflict. At Geneva, the League of Nations Assembly voted today to tako action under Artwle lg of the covenant. The Leagtfe voted to proceed with sanctions against Italy. Full application of Article 16 not only brands Italy as an outlaw state but, ipso facto, she shall "be deemed to have committed an act of war against all other members of the League.” Automatically, League members are pledged to “subject it to the severance of all trade or financial relations, the prohibition of all intercourse between their nationals and the nationals” of Italy. Furthermore—and here is where the new peril to the United States looms—all financial, commercial or personal intercourse between Italy and the nationals of every other state is to be barred, whether they happen to be League members or not. Some Geneva jurists say the League has admitted—by agreeing Italy violated the covenant — that a state of war exists between themselves and that country. If that is true the mandatory neutrality resolution of Congress at once becomes totally inadequate to meet the situation. Already President Roosevelt has acted to stop the shipment of arms either to Italy or Ethiopia, and to warn American citizens that they sail on the ships ol the belligerents at their own peril. If and when the League decides to apply Article 16 in its entirety, however, the United States will have to forgo all trade or other communication of whatever sort with Italy or risk running afoul of the British navy and whatever other force the League has at its command. Under the present neutrality law, the United States can recognize the "League war” and extend to all members of the League its arms embargo and warning to American travelers, now applicable only to Ethiopia and Italy. But that would be a makeshift. Nor would it anywhere near meet the League’s requirements under Article 16. If the League objected—as it, is bound to object if it goes the whole way, which Great Britain and the other council members insist they are prepared to do—the United States could not sell a bushel of wheat, bale of cotton, ounce of copper or even send a postcard without sending a fleet of battleships to make delivery. A more likely course would be for Washington to recognize Italy as the aggressor, then refrain — as Ambassador-at-Large Norman Davis two years ago at Geneva indicated it might—from any action tending to nullify the League’s efforts at peace. Such a step might help to keep the United States from becoming involved in a European war. But it would precipitate a domestic row of no mean proportions. There are many Italians in this country. There are many more Americans of Italian origin or parentage. And there is a vociferous group which protests any sort of co-operation with the League. These and doubtless others would object to naming Italy the aggressor. Application of Article 16 to Italy, as voted at Geneva, therefore bids fair to arid materially to the President's already grave neutrality problem, however much he and Congress desire to avoid such complications. WILL ANOTHER ARISE? •Q EP. HAMILTON FISH broadcasts to his ReW publican colleagues that the G. O. P. doesn't have to pick a presidential candidate out of the farm-belt West: tlat it can even nick an Alaskan if it wants to, but that, when all is said and done except the voting, the big doubtful state—the key state in sact —will be his own populous New York. Does the chair hear a second to the nomination of Mr. Fish?

A WOMAN S VIEWPOINT By Mrs. Walter Ferguson

A CCORDING to press reports, Mrs. Roosevelt's tribute to Mrs. Hoover, uttered from a public platform, made history. They tell us it’s never been done before. Some of the correspondents sounded a little horrified at the idea of a President's wife actually paying compliments to an ex-President’s wife of the opposition party. So Eleanor Roosevelt has gone and done it again —smashed another tradition and acted once more according to good sense instead of silly custom. I should think the men. especially the politicians, might be just a bit frightened of Mrs. Roosevelt. She's so unmistakably feminine, so entirely to the point in her methods. Her behavior actually forecasts what might happen if women could get rid of their inferiority complex and act according to their natural instincts; that, is, smash right through the ludicrous, insincere formulas which have been set up for doing all political jobs. It has been a great mistake for us to ape the men in anything, and in this case the results have almost been fatal. In trying to follow masculine example we have made a big political flop, just as all endeavors will flop when not done naturally. For the men. you must admit, are fearfully roundabout in their public labors, which seems strange when you consider how direct they are in their approach to other problems. In business, a man will not mince words; he sets his face toward some objective and proceeds toward it without deviation. But let him turn politician and the opposite course is followed. He never commits himself; he pussyfoots around every issue; hides his intention behind a screen of words. He never talks to his constituents —he makes them speeches, which is quite a different matter. In short, he does everything in the way it should not be done, and so long as women imitate him. they'll get nowhere. The people are sick of insincerity and sham. They are eager for practical demonstrations of economy, for some plain horse sense in public affairs. When women are ready to use such methods they'll be in politics for good. I am not in favor of sacrificing the life of a single American boy to settle all the boundary lines in Europe.—Senator William E. Borah. Congress isn't in session; why shouldn't there be a breathing spell?—Henry Ford. There is only room for two "isms" in this country. They are Patriotism and Americanism.—M. A. Harlan. national commander. Disabled American Veterans. The public will get what it wants, but it won't bother much about the legislator who votes against its wishes. It figures that one legislator is about as bad as another.—Franklin Moore, Harrisburg, Pa., addressing hotel men's convention. Marriage and careers don't mix. But if I ever did try to mix them I wouldn't marry a handsome man nor an athlete because the risks are too great. —Judith screen actress.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

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Forum of The Times / wholly disapprove of what you say and trill defend to the death your right to say it. — Voltaire.

(Times readers are invited, to express their views in these columns, reunions controversies excluded. Mule Hour letters short so all can have a chance. Limit them to 2/.0 words or less. Your letter must he sinned, but names will be withheld on renuest.) a tt tt SOCIALIST PARTY HAS CURE FOR THE DEPRESSION Bv W. H. Richards Your editorial Saturday told the exact truth. Our government should prohibit export not only of munitions of war to warring countries but also of foods, copper, cotton and in fact everything essential to carrying on a war. Also, our financiers should be prevented from making loans to warring countries, for everybody knows that our entry into the World War was for nothing else than the collection of debts due to the big American bankers. It is also true that should all exports to warring countries be prohibited, it would make a great reduction of our foreign markets, and as industry is only carried on for the profit of the few fortunate enough to own the tools and machinery, it would result in greater unemployment in this country. But why should we need a foreign market? Must we produce enough for all the world in order to get enough for ourselves? There is one and only one way out of the muddle. Let the U. S. government take possession of all the major industries and operate them to supply the needs of the people. Eliminate private profit by ownership and pay the workers the full value of what they produce. Then there will be no surplus and we will not have to resort to wholesale murder to get markets to unload what the profiteers have taken of the workers' product. When I say “take possession,” I do not mean to confiscate without remuneration. but the plan advocated by the Socialist Party which is that the present owners be paid a just valuation for the plants so taken. However, in the emergency, they should be taken, leaving it for the courts to settle on the amount and terms erf payment later. Those multi-millionaires will not have to enter the breadline, even if there is delay of several years in settlement of their claims. Had the workers and small business people voted the .Socialist Party into power years ago. this depression would never have fallen upon us. Neither would there be wars and rumors of wars. At any rate. America must be kept out of war. There is nothing to be gained that worth the life of one American boy. B tt tt A WELL-SPOKEN PLEA FOR MERIT SERVICE By Observer For a practical people, we exhibit a slipshod manner of recruiting our public servants. It would seem to be self-evident that the more things a government does, the more necessary it is that it hire the best people to do them. But we manage to drift along, hiring and firing on the good old system of political patronage —and

SOLILOQUY BY JAMES D. ROTH We knoweth not what hour Is ours, to part from earthly rights, And journey toward that sacred bower. Say that kind word now. Spread that smile for others; Do a noble deed if you know how. Remembrance of a passing soul, Is sweet beyond description. If no harsh words he chanced to dole.

WHAT! ONLY 25,000 CIVILIZED TODAY?

Are You Lis’nin’, Brother Burton?

By Martin Kuehn, Richmond. In October 6th Indianapolis Times one J. G. Burton of Mobile. Ala., laments the Roosevelt Administration’s stand that “America must remain linentangled and free.” He asks that the United States become once more an international easy-mark to “emerge as world saviours.” This gentleman from Alabama says that it is not only a matter of self-protection for us. but that a “moral issue” is involved! All right. Brother Burton, let me give you a ring from Richmond. Ind. Are you lis’nin’? The undersigned Happened to be arofind these parts when we were told in college that the world was a unit, war was “The Great Illusion” and “the fullness of time” had come for all nations to unite into one. On top of that compounded nonsense the Constitution was called into play to decide whether our nation should “make the world safe for democracy.” The presidential election in 1916 revealed that the masses in the United States hinted at western Europe saving itself. Are you lis’nin’, Brother Burton? I did not get wind of that treacherous cablegram of March 5, 1917, until the middle of January, 1935! Seven weeks later I obtained a copy of it, but I had to write nine letters to get it. And up to January, 1935, I, too, like Brother Burton, was laboring under the happy but cockeyed misconception that President Wilson got even an iota of America’s war aims across. Like you, Brother Burton. I thought the Allies would translate President Wilson’s disarmament objective into action. I followed Wilson up to 1917,

then we wonder why our government services are expensive and inefficient. During the last few years the number of workers on the pay roll of the Federal government has increased enormously. A great many of these workers have joined one or the other of two organizations—the National Federation of Federal Employes, and the American Federation of Government Employes. Between them, these two groups number some 70,-

Questions and Answers

Inclose a 3-cent stamp for renlv when addressing any question of fact or information to The Indianapolis Times Washington Information Bureau. Legal and medical advice can not be given, nor can extended research be undertaken. Be sure all mail is addressed to The Indianapolis Times Washington Bureau. Frederick M. Kerby, Director, 1013 Thirteenth-st, N. W.. Washington. D. C. THE EDITOR. Q —ls any bounty offered for the pelts of wolves in Ontario and the Northwest territories in Canada? A—ln the Northwest territories bounties of S3O for wolves and sls for coyotes are paid upon surrender of pelts to the Canadian Mounted Police. Ontario offers a bounty of sls for wolves. Q —Has the bill providing a 40hour week for postal employes been signed by the President? When does it become effective? A—The bill was signed by the President Aug. 14. 1935, and became effective on Oct. 1, 1935. Q —What is the stoiage capacity of the Kensico dam in New York? A—30,573,000,000 gallons.

through the years up to his death, ! even up to January, 1935. We’re I still friends because of the mem- j ory of a colorful crusade, but neither one of us is delivering dignified sentences about “America’s mission to the world.” We'll leave that to the big importing and exporting houses. Whenever any of us want an emotional kick j we turn to James Whitecomb Riley or to the Joseph stories in the Bible. We have done with “com- 1 piiments to our godliness,” as Bernarr McFariden puts it. Are you lis’nin’, Brother Bur- v ton? For almost 14 years militaristic Germany lay disarmed under the Versailles treaty. What were the Allies doing in that period “to make the world safe for democracy?” Planting sweet peas to mark their boundary lines? Brother Burton, can it be that Ethiopia is being subjected to “a bully's murder of a weakling” because Great Britain, France and the signatories to the League of Nations covenant have sunk their battleships, dismantled their fortresses of concrete and steel and sent their armies back to their sweethearts? Since Great Britain can't come to the rescue, the United States should. Is that your idea? Are you lis’nin’, Brother Burton? That's a bright idea, but the , Roosevelt Administration has an- ' nounced that it refuses to pull j British chestnuts out of the Afri- J can fire. If you want our dear j United States to spill the blood of another young generation, you'll have to put a pro-Britisher like ; Herbert Hoover and his money- 1 grubbing G. O. P. back into the White House.

000, and they are now demanding that the government use the merit : system. Most of the growth in government i employes has taken place outside of the civil service lists. What these i employes are asking is simply that Uncle Sam hire the best-fitted men for the job. when he hires, and lay off the least fit when he fires. A simple and logical request, that, certainly; yet it is certain to pro- , duce a stiff fight in Washington.’ i For we have let ourselves get sad-

Q —What is the difference between an armory and an arsenal? A—An armory is a building for the use of a body of militia, including generally storage for arms , and equipments, drill rooms, etc. Also a plant for making arms. An arsenal is a repository for arms and munitions of war; also a public place for their manufacture. The essential difference between the two is that the armory is used for drills, and the arsenal is not. Q —What Ls the United States Narcotic Farm at Lexington. Ky.? A—lt is a hospital conducted by the United States Public Health Service for the treatment of persons addicted to habit-forming drugs, primarily for persons who have committed offenses against the United States; but persons placed on probation by Federal Courts, and voluntary patients, are also accepted. Q —W T hen was Simon Guggenheim United States Senator from Colorado? A—From 1907 to 1913. i

dled with a political system which makes the government job the keystone of party management; and as long as that condition prevails, it is unlikely that any Administration will go any further with the merit system than it is compelled to. All of this is so customary that it. is taken for granted. We assume, without being told, that when an Administration any Administration. at Washington, at our state capital or at city hall—takes office it will fire as many appointees of the former Administration as it can and replace them with its friends. That's the way the game is played. But how wasteful it is! The taxpayer has to contribute to the support of his government. The least he has a right to expect is that he will get full value for his money; that the people his money hires will be the best people available, put there on merit and retained as long as they do their work well. Yet after decades of agitation for civil service reform, that principle is ignored over and over again, in every government unit in the land. It would be a fine thing if the agitation commenced by these groups of Federal employes could awaken us to demand an end of the old spoils system. Government today is doing more things than ever before in history. It can not afford to put its extended activities in the hands of party hacks. Daily Thought Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.—St. Matthew v. 5. MEEKNESS is imperfect if it be not both active and passive, leading us to subdue our own passions and resentments, as well as to bear patiently the passions and resentments of others.—Foster.

SIDE GLANCES By George Clarl I “He says if this book he's writing goes over big, I'll get a raise, but I don't see much hope for it.”

OCT. 10,1935

Washington Merry-Go-Round

Bv DREW PEARSON and ROBERT S. ALLEN U TASHINCTON. Oct. 10 —MusVV solini trying to gobble up Ethiopia has nothing on Harry Hopkins. Here is what the WPA boss has to do to make work for 3.500.000 unemployed before November 1: He must find .jobs f0r—2.373.766. This will require placements at the weekly rate 0f—559.640. Or. every day he must find work for approximately—Bs.ooo. So far. WPA estimates that 1.126.234 idle have been given employment under the 54.000.000.000 program. Os these. 559.640 are CCC recruits, 113.855 have been placed by other agencies and 452.739 owe their jobs to the WPA. This is the net result of an entire summer of effort. The figures paint a graphic picture of just what Hopkins is up against if he is to fulfill his oft-repeated assurance. In the next three weeks he must put, more men to work per week than he has put to work during the entire last three months. Privately. WPA executives admit, the impossibility of making good Hopkins' cocky goal They say he will be lucky if 3.500.000 are at work by January I—two months later. a a tr THE! President had his rye on the darkening international situation when he appointed Gen. Malm D. Craig Chief of Staff. In making the appointment Roosevelt passed over the recommendation of retiring Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who favored Gen. George A. Simonds, now Deputy Chief of Staff. Because of age, Simonds could have served only two and one-half years. This corresponds with the time MacArthur expects to serve in the Philippines, and would have left an opening for him to gratify his cherished ambition of serving two terms as Chief of Staff. The man whom Roosevelt picked instead is not only a brilliant strategist and executive, but he also is a scholar with a wide grasp of world affairs. In intellectual stature Craig ranks with Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, U. S. representative on the Supreme War Council and member of President Wilson's peace delegation. Gen. Craig is tall, trim, has the carriage of an athlete. Asa West Toint, cadet he was a spectacular football and baseball star; as a cavalry officer he was an ace polo player. His face is lean, studious, i lighted by clear, friendly blue eyes. There is nothing of the martinet about Craig. He is a leader of men, not a driver. He has a particular genius for developing high morale. As commander of Ft. Riley, the cavalry's world-famous service school, he abolished the traditional j ‘‘ride-’em-or-kill-’em” system of | training and substituted a modern | curriculum. Gen. Craig is army born and bred. His grandfather and father were army officers, the former a general in the Civil War. His brother and only son are officers. His wife is the daughter of Gen. Charles A. Woodruff. Note—Neither Gen. Simonds nor Gen. Craig, the two men who were in line for Cnief of Staff, belong to the MacArthur clique in the War Department. e an \ QUIET study by the Commerce Department has unearthed the fact that American manufacturers | of office machinery have linked up i with Krupp's, Germany’s giant mu- | nitions firm. , The National Cash Register Cos. i and Remington-Rand have made deals with Krupp to manuI facture their products in Germany, using the American patents. The Commerce Department is | anything but enthusiastic about i this, because it reduces factory pro- | duction in this country, thereby increases U. S. unemployment. Also, office machinery has long been one of the few specialized lines which the United States could sell abroad. However, Commerce Department officials are chuckling to tnertiselves over the fact that the American companies are having great difficulty getting their money out of j Germany. Hjalmar Schacht, economic dictator of the Reich, will not permit sizable monetary shipments across the border. tt tt a INTELLECTUAL diversion of Gen. Craig, new Chief of Staff, is j reading detective stories. Craig is fond of dogs and has a Norwegian elkhound, believed to be the only one of its kind in the country. . . . ' iCopvripht. ID3A bv United F*atur Syndicate. Inc.i