Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 212, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 November 1935 — Page 13
It Seems to Me HEYWOOD BROUN MIAMI BEACH. Nov. 13.—As far as I've gone, “It Can't. Happen Here." by Sinclair Lewis, seems to tx' an excellent, notebook for a magnificent novel. I get the Impression that the material has been insufficiently weeded and that some of the truck has been uprooted before it, gained full growth. In particular, the general theme of the book, that fascism is distinctly possible in the United States, is weakened by the broad and slapstick quality of
the satire in many places. D A. R. leaders are net named Gimmitch in real life. Paul Peter {’rang does not sound like a radio bishop, and Porkwood is less than an inspired cognomen for a Senator. But it is dangerous to press Lewis too hard with the charge that his burlesque is often thick, for in the news columns each day some living human is prone to yap and outdo the most extravagant imaginings of the author. I had firmly made up my mind that Lewis had gone off the shallow end in some of the sentiments
"
Heywood Broun
which he assigned satirically to his preachers, politicians and professors, but then I found in the local press the report, of a speech by President John J Tigert of the University of Florida. an tt Making Ia iris Scan Tame DR. TIGERT appeared at some educational affair in Jacksonville and discussed the vital problem which is disturbing both the undergraduates and ‘he faculty of the state's famous institution of learning. Each scholar wants to know why the Gators are not. winning many football games. President John J. Tigert. LED . faced the critics of higher education in the South with both boldness and candor. "Before I see these boys being persecuted,” he said, “I’m going to get out and be persecuted myself. They are all Florida boys or the team. You can pronounce all their names, and I'm not criticising any other institution.” Rut, unfortunately, though the Gator team may be 100 per cent American and 200 per cent Aryan, its winning average is only .100. Moreover, President Tigert was unable to resist mentioning some other institutions of learning before the evening was over. It seems that the Florida etuis are being fooled by alien agitators in the rival hack fields and that the Gator tackles, though rooted in this soil for many generations, are easily upset by sturdy immigrants. In other words, the Floiida eleven is Nordic, but, it s numb. nn * The Pronunciation of Planers A BIT later in the evening, according to the . Miami Herald, Dr. Tigert, the Florida philosopher, turned to Mayor Alsop of Jacksonville and said “he had with him the list of players from other institutions and wagered the Mayor would not be able to pronounce some of the names.” This seems to me a rather unfair test to present to any Mayor. Fortunately, the great City of New York has never made pronunciation a prime factor in the matter of holding office. Indeed. I have known Presidents to get by without being required to submit to any such examination. Asa matter of fact, it might be an excellent idea for Florida to obtain ball carriers not only more difficult to pronounce but also harder to stop. Heaven knows President John J. Tigert can not be accused of having overemphasized education. Florida is frankly a university where a good tackle can get a living wage. If I may quote once more from the local press—“ The alumni approved the stand taken several months ago by President Tigert in openly advocating scholarship aid to athletes if they possess, along with their athletic abilities, qualities of good students and good character. And so I suggest that when Dr. John J. Tigert, LLi.D., goes to town again with his market basket to gel a back field, he pick players who can kick and run rather than those who merely scan.
Your Health BY DR. MORRIS FISHBEIN
ripHE most important and most critical period in 1 one’s life is at birth. A person's entire life may be. airected for good or evil, physically, by the way in which he is brought into this world. Care of the new-born baby is of greatest importance. As soon as a baby is born, the doctor cleans its mouth so that material may not, be inhaled into the lungs and thus set up an inflammation or pneumonia. Immediately after birth a newly born baby should always tic wrapped in a warm blanket. Then when the cord which unites it to the mother has ceased to carry blood and has been cut. the infant is placed in a warm bed with hot blankets and kept warm with suitable hot water bottles far enough away from the body and sufficiently protected to keep from burning. tt a tt A NEWLY born baby has difficulty in adjusting itself to changes in temperature. Therefore, its temperature must be controlled from the outside until its own temperature-regulating mechanism begins to work. Most experts agree that the skin of a new-born baby should be oiled daily for a while, after which neutral or superfatted soaps may be used. Because there is a tendency for newly born babies to lose weight, they should be permitted to lie as quietly as possible and should not be disturbed by movements or noise.
Today's Science BY SCIENCE SERVICE
SCIENTISTS of the Smithsonian Institution are busy with hammer and chisel chopping away the rock matrix from one of the most interesting fossils ever brought down into the institution. It is an almost complete skeleton of the clumsy "ele-phant-bear" which roamed the Big Horn Basin region of Wyoming 60.000.000 years ago. The skeleton was obtained by Charles W. Gilmore, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the United States National Museum. "Elephant-bear" is an inexact name since the creature had no ancestral relationship to either the bear or the elephant of today. It is picturesque, however, and more easily remembered than the scientific name of coryphodon. In appearance, the creature resembled an enormous Dear with feet somewhat like those of an elephant. The feet, apparently, represent a transition between those qf the bear and the elephant. At one time, students of paleontology thought that the creature must hav had the hind feet of a bear and the front feet of an elephant, but this notion is not borne out by the present skeleton. The coryphodon was about the size of an ox. For defense it had two sharp tusks, some eight inches long, projecting from its jaws. It possessed a tail of medium length and probably walked with a slow, shuffling gait like that of the present-day elephant. Whether or not the body was covered with fur ran not be determined at present.
Literary Notes
Don Marquis Is working on anew book, half prose and half poetry, which he calls "The Livery Stable Era." Sidney Howard, who dramatized both "Dodsworth." and “Arrowsmith." has agreed to adapt for the screen the new Sinclair Lewis novel. "It Can't Happen Here." Hobart C. Chatfield-Taylor. novelist and biographer of Moliere and Goldoni, has just gone East from his homo In Santa Barbara and has settled in New York for the next two months. ' Ihe Old Mans Place." by John B. Sanford, is the first novel that A. and C. Boni have accepted in three years.
Full I,eased Wire Service rs the United Press Association
. HUGE PROJECT ANSWERS CRITICS
PWA Starts Indiana V. Work to Show Who’s ’Boondoggling'Now
BY SEYMOUR E. FRANCIS Times Staff Writer DLOOMINGTON, Ind., 13 Nov. 13. Work has started here on Indiana University’s building program, which will be a mil-lion-dollar answer to critics who claim the Public Works Administration is fostering “boondoggling.” First dirt was turned last week in construction of a power tunnel, which is one part of a series of projects that will provide work for several hundred men for a year. In that time, $1,181,544 will be spent, here and in Indianapolis erecting new buildings and making permanent alterations to present structures. The w'ork will be completed at a total cost to Indiana taxpayers of about $75,003 — the amount of a state grant to be used in erection of the Administration Building. tt tt a THE university will furnish $604,232 at the start, but this will be cut to $259,579.75 through the self-liquidating features of the women’s dormitory and the School of Music Building Room rents from the first, and rents for practice rooms from the second, will retire the bonds within a few r years. The rest of the sum involved will be furnished in direct grants from the Federal government, which has specified that the w'ork must start by Dec. 15. Construction of the administration and music buildings and the women’s dormitory provide for expenditure of about $890,264.26. The rest of the program includes extensions to the power plant to care for the needs of the new' buildings, construction of walks and drives on the campus; alteration and repairs to present buildings here and at Indianapolis medical and extension centers. Although the majority of the program involves the local campus, $120,730.25 is to be spent at the Indianapolis units. tt tt tt THE need for expansion in university units has been foreseen here for several years. An acute shortage of space resulted from an unprecedented 21 per cent increase in enrollment during the last two years. That increase made the building program imperative, it w'as pointed out by officials. Modern buildings are needed to replace overcrowded, dingy basements and temporary structures now' used for transacting the university’s business, for housing the university's valuable archives, for teaching purposes and as homes for students. In the music department, officials assert, there was an increase of 33 1-3 per cent in enrollment this fall over last, in spite of the fact that at present the school is housed in two one-story frame buildings, with flimsy partitions which make it impossible for instumental and voice students to study simultaneously with those in lecture courses. The new building, to cost $298.250, will correct this situation with
Processing Taxes Appear to Be Doomed for Near Future Discard Even If Supreme Court Should Decide to Uphold Them by Decision
BY ItUTH FINNEY Times Special Writer WASHINGTON, Nov. 13. Processing taxes may soon be a thing of the past, regardless of what the Supreme Court decides about AAA. The Administration, suspecting that food may win the election, is increasingly sensitive about the tendency to blame processing taxes for the high cost of living. President Roosevelt now has authority to stop processing tax collections at any time and make benefit payments out of the workrelief fund. When this permission was included in the WorkRelief Act there was no indication the President would ever avail himself of it, but if the
Poland Goes Far Beyond NRA in Helping Weak Industry to Gain Economic Foothold
RY HERBERT LITTLE Times Special Writer TTTASHINGTON, Nov. 13. * * Poland, many of whose people are so poor that they split matches in three, is going further into economic planning and reorganization than this country did in NRA. This is the word brought back by Clayton Lane. United States commercial attache at Warsaw for the last seven and one-half years, now assigned to the Commerce Department here for staff work Poland, since it was re-estab-lished at the close of the World War, has been preoccupied with political problems until recent months when economic reorganization has been pushed to the top. Its National Economic Bank, like our RFC. is stimulating weak industry by making medium and long-term loans, particularly in steel, coal, chemicals, textiles and construction. Construction aid is chiefly aimed at promoting cooperative apartments. The country is predominantly agricultural. Exports are being stimulated, especially of rye, barley and tinned hams, and the ©
The Indianapolis Times
MMHPPj||^ iwßiiePb.* *x ■:■ - f'M ■ ■ • ~- x ~ $Mr Ty>*yV*l^Br2Ey^j^EffjßßjflPMfc;-tg v . a . V /• \ gesy t*SMK%rQQBgBjSZS // JLv/g >#&f *. j" Bm ; MM&Jr w\ ' fH ; f r 3i iiMiMWHMB|MN - ®|T alf \ ■■ . : \ v :i| ' i j|SF >l4 .k/ sfe ■2s~__jj§iam^H,.. .ate**- ■* \r „ ,^®C_...... -^'vwi^fsl ft • • /■ v*/ > 4-#■ 1 l - ' ~., ,4| v. - . ; \ wtßß^LiJj&M'* IIBMMBMfe 1 -: . J 23 • ' '.: v ' ■ *-v. • -if-*/ ***' . < r t>4; W&mMs '■ - •
First dirt was turned last week in Indiana University’s million-dollar building program at Bloomington. The shovel, shown above, is biting its way across the campus, preparatory to construction of a tunnel for power, heat and steam lines. In the background is the Union Building. center of student and social activities.
sound-proof walls. It also will provide additional room needed by j the increased enrollment. It will j be of fireproof, limestone con- i struction, and will be erected on the eastern edge of the campus. tt tt tt TN one other department—administration —the lack of adequate facilities has been noticeable. The administrative offices at present occupy space in the j basement and two floors of Max- j well Hall—the law' school building. Greatly increased enrollments forced the offices into hallways, basement storage rooms and alcoves. Efficiency has been hampered seriously. Perhaps somewhat logically, the building will be constructed at Indiana-av and E. sth-st. Across sth-st is the library; across In-diana-av is one of the most popular student gathering places—the Book Nook. It will be a threestory, fire-proof structure, built of native Indiana limestone, at a cost of appi'oximately $400,000. One of its proposed features is regarded as unique among the administration buildings in the country. That is the archives tower, extending from the basement to the top floor, in which
court ends tax collections, or if the unpopularity of the taxes increases it may be used until next April 8. Even more probable is action by the next Congress directing that benefit payments be made out of the general tax fund. A movement in the last Congress headed by Senator Thomas (D., Okla.) gained considerable support. While Secretary Wallace did not encourage it, he is on record as saying, early in the AAA program, that eventually a substitute would have to be found for processing taxes. tt tt tt IN a talk delivered only a few’ days ago. Secretary Wallace indicated increasing dismay at
“unfavorable" b„lmce of imports over exports has been reduced. a a a EFFORTS are being made to stimulate farm prices and to keep industrial prices down. The latter deflationary tendency results from Poland's still being on the gold standard. This makes it difficult for Poland to compete in the world market with countries which have devaluated their money, such as Belgium. The government’s effort chiefly is to co-ordinate prices to stimulate production, according to Lane. The basic industries are all “cartolized"—organized for the control of both production and prices under extensive government supervision. With this control—and with an economic expert. Vice Premier Kwyatkowski, high in government councils —the government exercises a wider power over business and trade than has been dreamed of in the United States. The country is acutely conscious of the need of industrial development, Lane said. This was demonstrated in the great enthusiasm over the first Polish liner, the Marshal Pilsudski, now plying between New York and the Polish
INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1935
valuable records of the school will be kept. a tt tt THE building also will provide space for offices not now known as distinctly administrative. The publicity office, publications department and placement bureau will be on the top floor. In addition to offices for President William Lowe Bryan and his secretary, there also will be offices for Registrar John W. Cravens and his assistants; Dean of Women Agnes E. Wells and her aids; the deans of men, Dr. C. E. Edmondson and C. J. Sembower; Bursar U. H. Smith; deans of the college of arts and sciences, cashier, student auditors’, accountants, purchasing agent, bookkeeping, mailing and multigraphing departments, photostat division and conference rooms for faculty and trustees. Test wells are being dug now to see w'hether air conditioning will be possible. tt tt .t THIS fall, for the first time in 12 years, university officials made an appeal to Bloomington residents who normally do not open their homes to students to co-operate in housing the increased enrollment. Regular rooming houses were filled quickly, and for a time it seemed as though
the manner in which all kinds of ills are being blamed on the processing tax. He told of a friend who is going around asking people who complain about high food prices to estimate how much the processing tax amounts to in a dollar's worth of beefsteak. "The answers range from 3 cents to 65 cents,” said Wallace, "and yet there is not now, and never has been, any processing tax whatever on beef! Not more than one out of every 20 people this man talked to know that simple fact.” Louis H. Bean, economic adviser to the AAA, estimates processing taxes have added less than 1 per cent to the cost of living.
port. Gydnia, which in 10 years has been built from a mere fishing village into a thriving export-im-port center. A second liner is also being built in Italy for Poland. but some question has arisen as to whether the Italians will deliver it or use it for their own purposes in the present crisis. ana TITH all these achievements VV and ambitions, the Polish living standard is very 1ow t compared with that in the United States, Lane said. The large peasant class has none of the modern comforts. Even in the cities, where electricity is generally used, there are practically no electric appliances, such as irons and refrigerators, and very few automobiles. But after long neglect, a road program is being pushed. Consumption of tea, sugar, alcohol and other foods common in this country is also very low. but generally speaking good food is cheap and plentiful, he said. Lane commented that he has often seen hunters and others in this country' conserve matches bysplitting them in two, but in Poland it is a frequent occurrence to split matches in three—and use each third.
some students might be forced to leave because of inadequate housing facilities. That situation will be remedied | in part by the construction of the women’s dormitory north and west of Memorial Hall, which also houses co-eds. Like other structures, it will be of limestone, and fireproof. Officials hope to have it ready for occupancy by the opening of the fall semester next year. The w'alks and drives improvements project includes replacing old brick walks with concrete ones, an extension of 7th-st around the Fieldhouse and a new r street in front of the Union Building. tt tt tt THE program means a great deal to Bloomington and Monroe County, which have one of the largest relief rolls in the state. In boom times, the stone industry of this district provided work for thousands of skilled workers; but only a few' men are being employed in mills and quarries now'. Quarrying and fabrication of stone for the new buildings will bring work to local stonemen; and the others will be employed in trimming and setting the stone on the jobs. Between 411 and 451 men will
THE cost of living is 83.5 per cent as great as it was in the period from 1923 to 1925. the National Industrial Conference Board estimates. Slight increases have been recorded since July when the index number was 32.6. Food prices stand at 83.7 per cent of the 1923-25 average, housing at 72.3 per cent, clothing 74.3 per cent, fuel and light 85.2 per cent, and sundries at 93.1 per cent. Food prices are considerably
'Cotton-Piracy' and Licensing Enliven Supreme Court Quiz
By Scriyps-ll'jicard Xcicsyaycr Allinnrn WASHINGTON, Nov. 13.—The Liberty League's attack on the. widely used New Deal device of voluntary licensing was before an obviously interested Supreme Court today for decision. Justice Brandeis alone interposed a mild objection when James M. Beck, Liberty League spokesman and arch-enemy of the Administration, swung from a discussion of jurisdiction over cotton -stealing into an attack on bureaucracy and regimentation. He compared Federal licensing of warehouses for cotton and other farm products to a microscopic organism which multiplies by the thousand “in stagnant water.” In short, he saw an attempt to "nationalize the warehouse industry.” “I understand,” Brandeis interjected, “that you were attacking only the section of the law punishing larceny from a warehouse.” The justices listened closely while Beck concluded his argument in behalf of Fred Hastings, a Mississippian whose indictment for stealing a bale of cotton from a warehouse was quashed in the lower court. a a a BY contrast, Assistant Attorney General Joseph B. Keenan was razzed in questions by several jus-
be given employment for the year. Another 100 will be employed in Indianapolis. The wage scale here goes from 40 cents an hour for common laborers to $1.25 an hour for artisans. They will work 30 hours a w ; eek. tt tt tt TNDIANAPOLTS firms, too, will benefit from the program, for several of them already have been awarded contracts for various phases. Burns and James are architects for the women's dormitory. R. F. Daggett is completing plans for the Music Building. C. R. Ammerman is the engineer for the tunnel project, and E. A. Carson has the general contract for its construction. Freyn Brothers have been awarded the contract for the steam heating and distributing system in the tunnel, and the Sanborn Electric Cos. has the contract for the light and pow'er distribution. Bids were opened yesterday at the Claypool for the Administration Building and the women's dormitory. So far. two out-of-state firms have won contracts —Granger and Bollcnbacher of Chicago are architects for the Administration Building, and Olmstead Brothers. Brookline. Mass., are supervising the building of w'alks and drives.
lower than last April, when the average was 35.4 per cent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly index of wholesale prices advanced from 80.5 per cent in August to 80.7 per cent in September. Retail prims of department store articles rose 1 per cent from Sept, 1 to Oct. 1. with the greatest increases in home furnishings and women’s apparel. Living costs are still some 17 per cent below the level for 1929.
tices, notably the conservative McReynolds, who asked if it would be a Federal crime to steal a bale of cotton from a wagon. “I haven't made any such absurd statement,'’ Keenan shot back. Justice Stone, a liberal, asked if the attempt really was to punish larceny directly. “No,” said Keenan. “It is a coldblooded attempt to protect the integrity of a warehouse receipt which enters interstate commerce.” The voluntary licensing system which Beck attacked is a close parallel to the AAA marketing agreements, whose validity would be in question if the warehouse act of 1916, here involved, were knocxed out by the court. Beck particularly complained that the warehousing act had been amended by Congress in 1923 to give the Secretary of Agriculture jurisdiction under it. Justice Brandeis by other questions inferentially defended the Federal power to “aid interstate commerce" by voluntary licensing, but Beck, although conceding the Federal power over stockyards, quickly denied that warehouse cotton w-as in interstate commerce. The Supreme Court has already upheld the packers and stockyards act. Extensive discussion of the court’s jurisdiction in the case led to a belief by some that the appeal might be dismissed soon without a ruling on its merits.
Second Section
l'-,'/'-‘'.| ** SKunii-C'flM Mvt -r at Pfutoffirp. Ini]tnnapoli<i. Ind.
Fair Enough WESMOOKPEGLER EN ROUTE TO BARCELONA. Nov. 13.—Thera seems to be a serious misunderstanding of the misconduct of Signor Mussolini which has resulted in the decision of the League of Nations to impose a boycott. The boycott is not a rebuke to dishonesty in stealing another people's country or to the use of armed force. Mussolini's offense was a breach of manners and the use of coarse methods. He was no gentleman. There is a right way to do what Mussolini has done in Abyssinia and there is a
wrong way. Had he possessed the craft and good manners to go about it in the right way Mussolini would have retained the respect of the world and would have relieved the League of Nations of the embarrassing necessity of cracking down on him. If Mussolini had possessed ordinary politeness he would have arranged to have an Italian consul or ordinary Italian civilian shot from ambush by persons unknown in order to establish a grievance against Abyssinia. This is an old
formality recognized by the powers of the world as a legitimate preliminary to colonial expansion. It is rather rough on the consul or the ordinary civilian citizen of the offended power, but custom pro\ ides that he shall receive a state funeral and a monument to be adorned with wreaths and patriotic mottoes on national holidays, and that his widow shall receive a pension from the grateful nation until friendship ripens into love once more and she remarries. tt tt tt Take Japan, Xow, for Finesse r p , HE cost of these patriotic civilities to a martyred -I- consul, merchant or tourist is trifling, and no loyal son of Italy could have refused to make the sacrifice pour la patrie because he would not have been consulted. Having been outraged. Italy then could have moved into Abyssinia to pacify the country with perfect propriety and w r ith the approval of many respectable precedents. “We always provide an incident before we pacify a country by force,” a distinguished citizen of France explained to your correspondent. "For decency's sake, an Italian consul should have been shot, but Mussolini showed no consideration for anybody. Now everybody loses business.” Although Japan is no longer a member of the League of Nations, the Japanese, nevertheless, created a feeling of respect not tinged with gratitude by their punctilious observance of the amenities which Mussolini flouted. Japan did not invade a peaceful neighbor for predatory reasons, but proceeded only after long and patient restraint to exterminate the bandits w'ho were terrorizing a helpless country. And then Japan, with chivalry learned by the conscientious study of the politer nations of Europe, used her military strength for the altruistic work of establishing a stricken people in peaceful possession of their own land under their own sovereign subject to the generous protection of Japan. tt tt tt The Good French Can’t fie Wrong AND in Morocco, where the other day ashes of Marshal Lyautey, the French liberator, were j laid to rest with profound ceremonies, the French | observed the same decent respect for the opinions and convenience of mankind. In Morocco the great French liberator first built up his military force by slow', inconspicuous drafts of troops. Wherever he could make use of his check book or a French medal dangling on a ribbon to induce a regional chief to appeal for admittance to the French family of colonies the great liberator saved his soldiers and w'lote a check or reached into his safe for a medal. French expansion in Morocco was accomplished with the least possible vulgarity, and the late marshal, when his ashes w'ere borne to a hero's tomb amid such ceremonies as only the French can perform, was said to be returning forever to the land for which he had expended the greatest years of hi3 distinguished life and the greatest affection of his loving, generous nature. Not even the most captious critic could have found fault with the general. In Abyssinia certain chiefs are reported to have been coming in to join the Italians, and this is | credible, but it w'ould have been much cheaper to J send checks than troops, and the problems of civilized nations would have been simplified. (Copyright. 1335).
Canada's Cal BY GEORGE ABELL
TTTASHINGTON, Nov. 13. —Canada's big week-end W visitor, Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King, has been so silent on nearly every subject that newsmen dubbed him the “Canadian Calvin Coolidge.” The short, energetic little man with the sparse gray hair is cordial and pleasant, rather nervous (he rubs his hands constantly during interviews, as if washing them) but he won’t talk. When he called on Secretary Cordell Hull, newsmen eagerly awaited his exit. They pounced on him as he emerged: "What did you discuss, Mr. Minister?” "Was the reciprocal trade agreement brought up?” "Did you talk about” . Prime Minister Mackenzie King shook his head, replied: “Absolutely nothing. Nothing.” Soon, Secretary Hull, beaming, received the press. Correspondents assumed Mackenzie King, a Liberal whose policies are much in accord with those of liberal Cordell, had proved an attentive listener to trade proposals. Seldom had the Secretary been in more jolly mood. He announced smiling: "We discussed only general matters.” ana CORRESPONDENTS, seasoned in the ways of diplomacy and statesmanship, dashed to their typewriters, quickly sent out dispatches telling how Secretary Hull and Prime Minister Mackenzie King had discussed preliminaries of the reciprocal trade agreement being framed at the State Department. Asa friendly, rather than a political, personality, correspondents found the Canadian visitor affable in the extreme. To those who penetrated past a magnificentlv uniformed Northwest Mounted policeman at the Canadian Legation, to interview him, he said: "I will not grant an interview.” Faces fell. Mackenzie King resumed in an amiable tone: “I hope you will all drop in and see me if you're over in Canada. And bring your friends, too.”
Times Books
BECAUSE primitive man counted on his fingers. civilized society has adopted the decimal system in its arithmetic; and this system, far from being the handy and well-nigh perfect thing we suppose it to be. is actually very cumbersome and could easily be replaced by something better. So says F. Emerson Andrews in “New Numbers." which is as interesting a little book as you are apt to run across. (Harcourt, Brace; $2.) Mr. Andrews simply suggests that we jump rom 10 to 12 as a base for our system of numbers. Let two new numbers be invented, he says, to take the place of the existing 10 and 11. For 10, he suggests the number X, to be called “dec”; for 11, the symbol E, to be called “elf.” Then let the numeral we write as 10 stand for 12 units, and let our whole system be based on that.
Westbrook Pegler