Indianapolis Times, Volume 48, Number 55, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 May 1936 — Page 16

PAGE 16

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SCRIPTS - HOWARD Girt l.iyht r tut the People Will Fi„4 Their Oven Wmj

THURSDAY. MAY 14, 1938. AN EFFECTIVE MERIT SYSTEM recent events have centered Interest on the question of the merit vs. the patronage system of appointment to public office. One was the refusal of the City Council to vote funds to pay examination commissioners for conducting police and firemen tests. The other—taking the merit system fight from the larger viewpoint—was the appeal before the Indiana League of Women Voters convention in Culver this week for women to engage actively in politics to eliminate the spoils system. Councilmen in opposing the examination funds asked if 30 persons to fill Fire and Police Department vacancies were not “marked as winners before the examinations." This is a serious charge. If true, of course, it would destroy the value of the merit system. We do not know the facts in this case, but we urge that the Safety Board and other responsible officials make a thorough investigation and see that the merit system is functioning as the law provides If the system is not functioning properly, abuses should be corrected at once. There is no logic in the argument that if a good system is being poorly administered it should be crippled or abolished in favor of the known evils of the patronage system. it tt tt ADVOCATES of the merit system now arc gaining supporters on a basis that promises results. The man in the street is beginning to look at the question of government personnel from anew angle. The question is becoming less a matter of morals or justice or governmental “reform.” It is becoming more a matter of plain business sense. Nearly 10 per cent of all those gainfully employed in the United States are on some Federal, state or local public pay roll, and the taxpayers are footing the bill. The tax payer kicks about high taxes. He is beginning to see a direct connection between those taxes and the inefficient patronage System. He would not hire an employe in his private business without investigating the applicant's character and qualifications. There is just as little reason why the taxpayer should permit his city, county, state or Federal government to load up “his" pay rolls with incompetent employes. All governmental activities have become so vast and complicated that successful public administration requires trained executives and qualified employes. If for no other reason than enlightened selfinterest, all citizens should join in the movement to establish merit systems under which the armies of public employes would be chosen on the basis of training and ability.

TWO EDUCATORS DIE r I -'WO men who devoted much of their lives to education in Indiana have just died. One was Robert Alexander Ogg, Indiana University’s oldest alumnus, who died at Grcencastle at the age of 87. The other was Dr. Horace M. Evans, former president of Valparaiso University, who, when he died at his home here at the age of 76, was a member of the state industrial commission. After Mr. Ogg was graduated from Indiana University in 1872, he served as superintendent of Greencastle and Kokomo schools, and taught at Mitchell, Ellcttsville and New Albany. A regular attendant at his alma mater’s commencement programs, he was for years a trustee of the university. Dr. Evans trained in medicine but gave up his practice to become an instructor at Valparaiso University. At the end of the World War, during which he served in the surgeon-general’s office, he was in charge of physical therapy work in the rehabilitation hospitals. He was appointed president of the university in 1924 and three years ago was given the state position. These men gave long and useful public service. ANTHRACITE PEACE ELEVEN weeks of bitter controversy are about to terminate in a peace that should bring more well-being to the depression-ridden anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania. Under the two-year agreement, yet to be formally ratified by the rank and file, neither owners nor miners win complete victory, yet both win something. The workers get a 35-hour week, the checkoff system and a modified equalization of work. The owners are promised full responsibility of district and international union officials to prevent strikes in violation of the pact. A stabilization commission will be set up to deal with general welfare of the industry. The big problem in these fields is an estimated 60,090 unemployed, one-third of a normal pay roll of 150,000 miners. Paced with starvation, many of these have carried on illegal digging on company land and an unlawful but open industry in bootlegging coal. They say they were driven to it when the companies closed “high cost” mines, throwing whole communities out of work. The big hope is that the “work equalization” plan included in the new contract will absorb enough of the bootleg miners to end the illegal traffic. If it doesn’t, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania faces the duty of removing this disregard of law—but not with more deference to the company cry, “Protect our property,” than to the men's plea, “Give us jobs!" TIME TO SIGH American people, including the farmers, have every reason to draw a huge sigh of relief because of ths overwhelming defeat ox ttaa FrazierLemke printing-press inflation bill. THE REAL WINNER IN OHIO SENATOR BORAH lost the Ohio Republican presidential primary. But who won it? As we try to unscramble almost complete returns, we gather that six Borah delegates were elected to attend the Cleveland convention, along with 46 delegates pledged to favorite-son straw-man candidate Robert A. Taft. But the high man of the Taft delegates is the state leader of the Prank Knox-for-Presidtnt movement. Several other Taft delegate! have openly voiced * preference for Gov. Landm, and some

am known to be secretly favorable to Herbert Hoover. All in all the real winner is the Ohio gang. For, although the Taft delegates are divided in their personal presidential preferences, they seem to be quite united In their allegiance to the party machine. Which should make It easy for Bosses Walter Brown and Ed Schorr to do any trading that may appear to their liking during the G. O. P. convention at Cleveland. FIRST-AID STATIONS A NOTHER encouraging step in the drive for safety is the establishment of 10 firstaid stations in Marion County by the Indianapolis Cnapter of the American Red Cross. The traffic stations, mostly in filling stations, are located near points on highways where most accidents have occurred. The Red Cross expects to establish such stations from coast to coast. The first-aid workers are owners and employes in the places of business where The stations are located. They have been given Red Crass first-aid training and supplies. The State Highway Department has erected signs to mark the stations. These stations will not in themselves reduce accidents. although the highway signs will be constant reminders of traffic hazards. The real benefit should be a reduction in the death rate, for experience has shown that many accident victims have died because of a lack of firstaid, or because of the wrong kind of treatment. We hope that as these stations increase the need for them will diminish. RAILROAD JOBS TY AILROAD management and labor apparently are at last coming to grips with the economic fact that competition has to be met. Their negotiating committees are reported virtually to have reached an agreement on consolidating rail facilities and compensating workers who lose their jobs thereby. If the program is carried out it should do much to revitalize this sick industry—to the advantage of the railroad workers as a whole, to those whose money is invested in railroads, and the general public. Paring the expense of duplicate services will help the railroads put their financial affairs in order, raise new Capital to modernize equipment and make a serious effort to recapture lost traffic. As many as 150,000 railroad workers may lose their jobs as a result. The reported schedule of dismissal compensa-tion-ranging from three months’ to a year’s pay in cash, or more under a limited pension plan—is much less than the workers &sked. But it is better that they get that much than that railroad workers continue to lose jobs because of loss in rail business. The railroads today employ approximately 1,000,000 workers, about half the number 6f 16 years ago. Very little of this reduction has been due to modernization or consolidation. Almost all has resulted from loss of business; the railroads’ gross revenues in the same period declined from about $6,000,000,000 to about $3,000,000,000 annually. Sixteen years ago automobiles, motor busses and trucks and airplanes were just beginning to loom as a competitive threat to the railroads’ transportation monopoly. Today that competition is established and growing. Railroad management and labor can no longer indulge the luxury of monopolistic indifference. It is heartening that a solution is being sought by voluntary negotiation rather than by political pressure legislation.

A WOMAN’S VIEWPOINT By Mrs. Walter Ferguson T7NGLAND has had a severe blow; she will have to swallow her pride, so commentators say, or go to war with Italy. Our advice would be to take a gulp. Nothing is better for nations or individuals than a good strong dose of pride. Like castor oil, it purges of poisons. Queer, too, isn’t it, how national honor is spoken of most feelingly when to maintain it will mean war? Nobody noticed John Bull blushing with humiliation when he repudiated his and :bts and tore up treaties. Men and women are like that, too. They generally think first of their honor when matrimonial troubles arise, and, following the example of nations, declare war if they have enough money in tlje bank. Yet it is always a terrible mistake to save one’s face at the sacrifice .of one’s home, which is precisely what too many of us are apt to do. The plot for a minor tragedy is so commonplace it has become trite. A husband starts playing around with other women, or drinks too much, or turns grouchy, withdrawing himself from circulation. Whatever it may be, the wife feels she has been humiliated, and acts to preserve her pride. Believing herself a martyr and nursing her selfesteem, she consults a lawyer and he takes her case to the divorce courts. In short, family war is declared. The children, if any, are subjected to the dreadful experiences of looking on while their parents cross swords. And like privates in real wars they are the true victims of domestic battles. Even as the statesmen who promote international conflicts and the generals who direct them usually survive, so parents may live to marry again if their luck is good, while children, the actual sufferers, are often left with spiritual wounds which never heal. Peace in the domestic field is as necessary for the good life as amity between natDns. HEARD IN CONGRESS Rep. MARTIN (D., Colo.): It was my privilege once to hear an observation from him (Uncle Joe Cannon) which showed his indifference to criticism. He was sitting on the Democratic side chatting with a Republican floor leader. They were just in front of my seat. A member down in the well was flaying “Cannonism.” The gentleman with Speaker Cannon sud, “Mr. Speaker, you had better listen to that fellow; he is talking about you." “Oh, well," rejoined Uncle Joe, “he might be talking about a damn sight worse subject,” and continued with his conversation. * V REP. MICHENER (R„ Mich.): Too many members are voting for bills they never read, bills they have no opportunity to read. They follow tjfceir distinguished leader (Rep. Bankhead), my good friend; and he is a very splendid gentleman, an affable gentleman, a good leader, but I sometimes pity him in the position he is in. At times he blushes, but he goes along; but the time is not far distant when the back of the gentleman will be calloused by the party whip to such an extent that the sting will not be felt longer and he will again exert himself in the splendid manhood which he heretofore has displayed. a ? REP. SISSON (D„ N. Y.): If the gentleman means by referring to the “sissy” bill to call me a sissy, I object to his remarks, because I can take care of myself without wearing a sword or

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Our Town By ANTON SCHERRER

A RUMOR that the state of Indiana had lost her Constitution brought us hot-footed to the office of State Librarian Christopher Coleman. We certainly get around. • It didn’t turn out. as bad as we thought it would, but it was bad enough. Enough, anyway, for this department. To hear Dr. Coleman tell it, Indiana started out in 1816 with two complete, hand-written copies of the Constitution signed by every mother’s son who believed in the future of our state. One of these copies was given to Jonathan Jennings, president of the convention, who delivered it to William Wick, our first Secretary of State. Nothing ever happened to this copy and it’s as safe today as the day Mr. Wick handed it over to his successor. We’ll stop worrying about that copy. tt tt tt TT’S the other copy that got lost. A It got lost some time in 1826 and stayed lost until 1932. The time lost represents a period of 106 years and it’s had everybody guessing as to what could have happened to it. Dr. Coleman worried himself sick over the dark years, but he now has a tenable theory to take care of it. At least, it’s a pretty theory and we’re going to accept it until something better turns up. Dr. Coleman is reasonably sure that both of the original official manuscripts were brought from Corydon to Indianapolis in 1825, when the capital was moved, and that both copies were in Mr. Wick’s possession in 1826. It’s a matter of record, for instance, that Mr. Wick proudly paid for the binding of the two copies out of his own pocket in 1826, just because he thought posterity and people like Dr. Coleman might like to look at them. It cost Mr. Wick a pretty penny, too, because he had them done in morocco and gilt. tt n a WELL, just about this time somebody got it into his head that. the Constitution should be printed. Asa matter of fact, it was printed and it’s at this point that Dr. Coleman steps in with his knockout blow. Dr. Coleman thinks it reasonable to believe, and so do we, that the printers couldn’t do much without some kind of copy. The printers couldn’t have used Mr. Wick’s copy because that was needed to run the state with and so it must have been the other copy. And, believing that printers haven’t changed much in a hundred years, Dr. Coleman thinks it reasonable to believe that the printers didn’t return the copy. Anyway, the copy' stayed lost. The missing copy turned up 106 years later—in 1932, we repeat—in an antiquarian’s shop in Battle Creek, Mich., where other things come from. The antiquarian, acting on a hunch, brought it to Indianapolis thinking that Indiana might be interested in it. He guessed right, for it now lies safe, and sound in a seven-ply vault in the William Henry Smith collection in the state library. We know because' that is where we found it. In Mr. Wick’s gilt and morocco binding, it looks as pretty as the day it was written;

TODAY’S SCIENCE By Science Service—— .

TRON, copper, coal and petroleum •* make the modern world. But don’t forget sulphur. The others alone couldn’t turn the trick. Without sulphuric acid, there would be no Machine Age. This might just as well be called the Age of Sulphuric Acid as the Age of Steel. Therein lies one of Uncle Sam’s secure claims to the future. For Uncle Sam comes very, very close to having a monopoly upon the world’s supply of sulphur. The United States produces about 85 per cent of the world’s supply. Italy comes next with 11 per cent. Japan produces 2 per cent. Chile and Spain each contribute one-half of 1 per cent. Greece supplies an amount not sufficiently large to warrant tabulat.on. The only sulphur reserves of any importance, according to Mr. William P. Rawles, secretary of the Mineral Inquiry, are located in the United States, Italy and Chile. Commercial sulphuric acid is a water dilution of the pure or concentrated acid. The concentrated acid, known as “oil of vitriol,’’ is a thick, colorless, oily liquid, much heavier than water, which chars paper arid cloth like fire, hisses like something alive when it touches water, and which is capable of dissolving away human flesh. Without this powerful oily liquid, mankind would soon find itself without steel, gasoline, lubricating oil. automobile tires, electric storage batteries, galvanized iron, white paper, leather, celluloid, dyestuffs, and a great array of synthetic drugs, perfumes and the like. It is also required in the making of dymanite. DAILY THOUGHT All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.—Job 34:15. THE mad man's death is horror, but the just does but ascend to glory from the dust.—Habbmgton.

ON A GROWING BRANCH

BRANCH

The Hoosier Forum 1 disapprove of what you say — and will defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns, reliuious controversies excluded. Slake vour letters short, so all can have a chance. Limit them to £5 0 words or less. Your letter must be signed. but names will be withheld on reauest.i tt tt tt SEES TRAGEDY BEHIND YOUTH’S WAR PRANK Bv Max Kinney I see something infinitely more significant than mere prankish ridicule in that sardonic “Veterans of Future Wars.” I see something starkly tragic, i see youth that sees clearly and that sees whole, for the first time in all the ages. I see youth touchingly eager to be about their divine business of externalizing their dreams of a useful, happy life in a warless world, but knowing full well that their walk is being paved for them. Not into the promised life more abundant, but into death. I see yputh grossly betrayed by their elders, who only profess to love them, to guide them into the true way of life. But who actually are prepared to do nothing except cheer them off on some insane foreign adventure which can have but one net: The building of more almighty fortunes for those who seek to increasingly enslave us. Pilate had it in his power to spare the life of that Model Youth. But he chose to do the will of his masters, not that of his inner self, just as we today accept the spiritual counterfeit of those Who would overtake and lay hold upon those most precious red-blood cells of our body politic for their own selfish profit and Caesar-like dominion. If, by inaction, wo cause to be taken this modern hope of the world, then shall we have the greater courage to face the world-tumbling fate of that other arch-betrayer, Judas Iscariot? I, for one, deny that the youth of these United States should become

Watch Your Health

BY DR. MORRIS FISHBEIN CRYING is as natural to a baby as complaining is to a good many adults. Even weak, premature babies will cry with a low. feeble whine that sounds like the mewing of a cat. Sometimes crying is the result of a display of anger; sometimes of fear. It is an emotional reaction. Few people realize that crying is one way in which the baby gets exercise, but by crying it also gets attention. Babies are just as eager for attention as are most grownups. Physiologists recognize that crying helps to ventilate the baby’s lungs, forcing out residual air, and replacing it with fresh air, drawn in by the deep breathing that follows the crying attack. Moreover, crying usually is associated with active movements of arms and legs. There are so many different reasons why babies may cry that it is impossible to try to diagnose each one separately. In many instances the baby cries because it is not comfortable. Certainly it is not comfortable if a sharp end of a safety pin is penetrating its skin at some concealed tender spot/ The baby is not comfortable in winter if it becomes wet and cold. It isn’t comfortable if its digestion

IF YOU CAN’T ANSWER, ASK THE TIMES!

Inclose a S-eent stamp for reply when addressing any question of fact or information to The Indianapolis Times Washington Service Bnrean, 1013 13thit. N. W.. Washington. D. C. Legal and medical advice can not be given, nor can extended research be underti ien. Q—ls an American citizen who served with the Canadian. forces in the World War entitled to a bonus from the United States government? A—No. Q —How are radio network broadcasts distributed to the various stations? A—By telephone wires specially maintained for the purpose, dis-

the mamelukes of the money and munition-mongers. tt tt it HOLDS ROOSEVELT LENIENT IN USE OF POWER By Hiram Lackey Thoughtfully I ponder on what President Roosevelt does as he is given great power over the American people. Senator A. H. Vandenberg in particular and Republican candidates in general are worried about the situation which worries the enlightened not at all. Our truly educated people recognize the fact that the giving up of our individual rights in favor of society as a whole is the very essence of civilization. The most logical attack that can be made against our President is on the grounds that he nas been too lenient in the use of his power. Praying for the growth of other leaders like him leaves no time to waste in worry. We still have our Constitution and American liberty, of which our business and industrial anarchists will be worthy when they are willing to give up their license. President Roosevelt has revived that Lincoln-like quality which our Republican leaders long since have lost. In like manner, the spirit and objectives of Roosevelt’s Baltimore speech also shall live long after the politicians who condemn it are forgotten. Such greatness is conceived in suffering, in sorrow, in love and in prayer. The pride of life and of intellect are its natural enemies. Were it not for the Egyptian darkness of vanity, our cold intellectual giants would be able, in the light of reason, to see that the magnanimous spirit is the only reliable guide on the pathway to glory. Happy is the leader who loves and understands our Christian wisdom. His labor of gathering power into his hands shall not be in vain. No internal discussions, due to his

is disturbed and it has cramps. And the youngster can’t be comfortable if it has an infection in the ear. tt tt u A GREAT deal of the control of crying in babies depends on the control of the mother. Mothers simply must learn to endure crying by the baby after it has been determined that there is no apparent cause for it. Nobody loves to boss as much as a baby does. If it learns that it can boss by crying, it will do so as long as the trick works. Remember, then, that when a baby cries it may be from hunger, from extremes of temperature, from colic or other pains, and, quite often, from fear. In a series of experiments it was found that fear is aroused in babies by loud noises, such as the banging of a dishpan or slamming of a door, by a loss of support, or by careless handling. Anger, which babies express by stiffening the body and crying aloud, is caused by anything that hampers their movements and sets up resistance to their activities. Altogether, crying is r.ot an extremely unfavorable or unfortunate performance, provided it is understood.

sering from ordinary lines in that they carry only programs for broadcasting and are one-way circuits. They are leased by the networks. Q —Could King Edward Vlil ol England marry a commoner if he wished to? If not, why not? A—The King could not marry a commoner, except by a special act of Parliament permitting it, because the existing law of succession to the crown of England limits the king to marriage with a princess of royal blood only. Q —Did Abraham Lincoln attend college? A—No. *

own smallness, shall wreck or weaken his organization. He is above the petty things. His principle of forgiveness is his passport to power. Deep in his soul he understands the law of God who warns us that lastingly great power comes only to those in whose hands it is safe. tt tt tt THANKS THOSE BACKING LECTURE SERIES Bv Marie Lauck, Publicity Chairman The officers of the International Federation of Catholic Alumnae, Indiana Chapter, wish to express their sincere appreciation of his excellency, the Most Rev. Joseph E. Ritter, for his whole-hearted interest and furtherance of the lecture series just completed in Indianapolis, and to the Rev. Henry F. Dugan, chancellor of the diocese, for his generosity in giving of his time and energy in directing the lecture series in co-operation with the various federation representatives of the alumnae associations whose efforts made the series a success. To the members of the various study clubs of Indianapolis and the Newman Club, as well as to the patrons who held season tickets and those who attended individual lectures, the federation officers wish to express their gratitude, for they share the credit of making the series the success it was. The lecture series of next year will bring to Indianapolis Arnold Lunn, England; Shane Leslie, L.L.D., Ireland; Mortimer Adler, Ph. D., Chicago University; Francis J. Sheed, New York; Dr. Edward Lcdg;> Curran, president of the International Catholic Truth Society and editor of Light. CONTENTMENT BY GRACE M. COOK Contentment spring from hearts that take The bitter with the sweet; From hearts that change to victory The thing we call defeat. It is not always found in wealth, Nor in the pleasure mart; But very often it is found Deep in the saddest heart. So learn to take the bitter with The sweet, as on you plod; To live each day the best you can. And leave the rest with God. ’ I

SIDE GLANCES

|l /. f’jh - | {I ■ ! V -- **■-■ ui.*r osm j

"I've saved enough again to get back into the stock market, and this time, it will be different.”

.MAY 14, 1936

Vagabond from Indiana ERNIE FYLE

EDITOR’S NOTE—This rortnr reporter for The Times (oes where ho pieases, when be pleases, in search of odd stories sbeut this and that. 'T'AMAZUNCHALE, Mexico, May. 14.—The first topic among American motorists who mett in Mexico is: “How was the highway?" They mean: How was the mountain stretch of the Pan-American highway between Jacala and Tamazunchale? Everybody likes to talk about it, and tell about his trip over it. The road seems to affect no two people alike. Some think the drive over it is wonderful. Others come out shaking and raving. Here in Tamazunchale, a man drove up in front of the D-Z Tourist Camp, leaned out of his car, and yelled: “Are there any other crazy people here?" “What do you mean, crazy people?” the proprietor asked. “Is any one else crazy enough to drive over that road? Anybody who crosses that stretch ought to be put in a padded cell." And not 10 minutes later, while the man was still there, another car pulled in. It was from Oregon. In it was a woman 80 years old. n n a “/'AH, it’s wonderful," she said. “It is the most beautiful mountain drive I have ever seen. The California and Oregon mountains can’t compare with it. And it is perfectly safe.” I have now driven over the bad stretch twice. Furthermore, the surface had improved 100 per cent during the month. Instead of five hours for the 60 miles between Jacala and Tamazunchale, we came through in three hours and a half. There have been some bad accidents on the road lately. One car went over the side, and killed two people. Tile same day another car went off the cliff south of Jacala where it is paved, and a woman was killed. And the day this is written, word has just come that a bunch of drunks did the loop-the-loop into thin air not far from Tamazunchale.

THERE was one little incident on our trip a-cross, and I still see red whenever I think of it. It was coming into Jacala from Mexico City, over a graveled stretch. It was about 5 p. m. There were many trucks and workmen on the highway. I drove around w bend, and there, filling the road, came three trucks abreast. They were coming 35 or 40 miles an hour, a tornado of dust rose around them, the drivers were sitting erect at the wheels, excited, like jockeys close to the finish line. The Lucks were empty, it was quitting time, and the boys were simply having a little race. There was no stopping. We had had only a couple of seconds. I swung to the edge of the cliff, within a few inches of the brink. The trucks crowded hub to hub. and as they roared past it seemed to me you couldn’t have put a sheet of paper between their hubs and mine. And the other incident—it happened only a hundred miles or $r out of Mexico City, up on th plateau, where the road is paved and straight, and you make high speed. I was rambling along at 50 miles an hour, with at least a mile of good road in sight in front of me. Suddenly I saw the hole ahead. It was a rectangular hole, about the size of a library table, and about six inches deep. The paving had simply been undermined and sunk down. There was no warning sign. tt tt a A HOLE like that at 50 can kill -fY a person. There was no stopping or swinging around it. My thinker worked fast, for once in its life. There was just one thought in my mind, and that was—hit it square, hit it square and break both front wheels at once That’s your only chance. So I hit it square. I have never heard such a crash-in my life. The whole car shook and swayed, and it seemed as though all four tires had burst. But they hadn’t. I stopped and looked. The tires still had air in them. I just stood there and looked at it, out there on the Mexican desert, and if you could have been there you would have seen, rising up all around me like a holy light, niy admiration for the way automobiles are put together.

By George Clark