Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 August 1936 — Page 14

NEW YORK, Aug. 19.—“The greatest social movement which has been accomplished since the foundation of the Third Republic has been done without any shedding of blood, but by persuasion. only.”

Thus spoke Leon Blum, Socialist premier

of France, to the first Popular Front Parliament of his nation. Quite obviously he spoke with special reference to the legislation which has been passed by the French Chamber of Deputies within the last 10 weeks. He may have spoken too optimistically. ‘A I assume that in France, as in all | other countries of the world, there may be a considerable gap between yf what a law 1s intended to do and ;} what it actually accomplishes. ; No Supreme Court can invali‘i date the legislation of the Blum administration, but France has law- | yers, loopholes, evasionists and il downright dissenters. It- will be | better to wait before pronouncing final judgment. And yet even at this distance there is food for thought in the announced philosophy of Leon Blum. We are fond of saying that the majority can obtain any conceivable change it wishes in the political or economic structure of America by using ballots rather than bullets. But, strangely enough, the most ardent opponents of revolution here are the very people who make it difficult to effect change by orderly process. When Congress passes liberal legislation and watches it tossed back by 5-to-4 decisions of the high bench the faith in ballots is not increased. 8 2 2

Bullets and Ballots

one are many who see in such thwarting of the popular will an invitation to more direct action. Some are sure to say—indeed, some have said—*“If my vote doesn’t count why should I go on voting?” It may be that we have grown in wisdom since the Civil War, but that episode remains in our tradition as an example of our inability to settle a pressing problem by ballots. We did have recourse to bullets. I am not arguing for this solution. But I am puzzled at what seems to me the wholly illogical position of those who would rule out any kind of violence. I do not think of Franklin D. Roosevelt as a radical. Whether his measures have been wise or unwise, he palpably has endeavored to maintain existing forms of economic and political procedure by offering con.cessions to the underprivileged. The small groups who want no change in the status quo whatsoever are encouraging the disaffected to defeat the President. The men who would iike to see no Federal relief at all or very little are cheering on Coughlin, Gerald Smith, Townsend and Norman Thomas,

# 2 f J Socialists Aid G. O. P. R. THOMAS may say with a certain library logic that neither Landon ror Roosevelt will bring about the co-operative commonwealth which his party favors. He can say, “A plague on both your houses.” But as a matter of practical politics the Thomas vote, whether large or small, will be a godsend to the Republicans. As a national factor it is likely to be trifling. I do not think that the Socialists will poll more than 300,000 votes in the nation. But there are a few spots where dogmatic isolation plays directly and vitally into the hands of the reactionaries. I can not understand how any liberal can lend ajd to Lemke. I sympathize with the impatience of the Townsendites and the Coughlinites and the Share-the-Wealthers. They think that the world is out of joint and that something should be done to set it right. But what in heaven’s name moves them to believe that out of confesse’ly Fascist leadership there can possibly come anv aziroach to industrial ~democracy? It is possible that the Hessians may win the campaign for Landon. And in that event I sm curious to know just how he purposes to satisfy the brass hats of the drive for dictatorship.

~My Day

BY ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

YDE PARK, N. Y., Tuesday.—This was a glorious morning, cooler than any day has been for

Second Section

to be realized.

She quickly discovered that the song proposed for me was the best in the entire show and calmly appropriated it for herself.

As a substitute, I was given a song called “Moon of Love,” which, indeed, proved an outstanding hit—but not because of my singing. The sad fact is that it owed its success to the 12.famous beau-

ties who chanted a patter—“What the h—— do we care about the Moon of Love, up above’—against my melody. Even sadder, however, was the nature of my first public acclaim. On the opening night, bedecked in hoop skirt and pantalettes, I was dancing a waltz number with Raymond Hitchcock when those accursed pantalettes fell to the stage. I stooped, gathered them into a small bundle, and finished my dance while the audience and the cast roared. For weeks, I was known as “that girl who lost her pants.” ” ” ”

INCE every lane must have a turning, I got even with Julia Sanderson on Thanksgiving Day. After the matinee, she ate too much turkey and was suddenly taken ill. I, on the contrary, sped home to our Greenwich Village apartment, with the ravenous appetite, only to discover that one lonely drumstick remained of our noble bird. And, as a consequence of my enforced diet, I was in fine fettle for the evening performance. On an hour’s notice, I was rushed into the star’s role and, thanks to the co-operation of the beloved Hitchcock and the com-

! . Life Has Her Vocal Cords Paralyzed by Strain, Singer Tells of Fight to Regain Voice CHAPTER THREE EAN days, were those early days in New York. Days of struggle and scheming and hand-to-mouth living. : But they were gay days, too, days of slow but certain progress, days that I remember with pride, satisfaction and, sometimes, just a bit of nostalgia. I am still a student, for no singer can ever say, “I have arrived,” but I have acquired too many responsibilities to feel that same ecstatic joy in each small step forward. My initial appearance on the Broadway stage was in “Up in the Clouds”—a small role, but, nevertheless, a _ milestone, for it was directly responsible for my first real opportunity, a featured singing role in “Hifchy Koo.” * Charles Dillingham was the producer and the immortal Raymond Hitchcock and the lovely Julia Sanderson were the stars. Jerome Kern wrote the music, and when he wanted to give me a particularly delightful number called “The Wedding Cake,” in which I was to wear a

magnificent bridal gown and sit enthroned on a cake that covered the entire stage, I felt that my dreams were:ahout

But I did not reckon on the importance of Jfilia Sanderson, who was a far-seeing and self-protective star.

brated personalities in the artistic world. . Around the tables, almost any Sunday evening, would be seated such stars of the theater and opera as Marie Tempest, Ethel Barrymore, Ina Claire, Lenore Ulrie, Maria Jeritza, Alma Gluck, Geraldine Farrar, Enrico Caruso, Antonio Scotti and Mary Garden; Jascha: Heifetz, Neysa McMein, George M. Cohan, Morris Gest and Alexander Woolcott. Usually, the places of honor were filled by visiting celebrities from abroad. I met Hugh Walpole, H. G. Wells, Somerset Maugham, Isadora Duncan and Ignacio Zuloaga, the great Spanish painter.

» 8s 8 LMOST invariably, I was the youngest person present, and I felt even younger in.experience and in accomplishment than in

years. They were, one and all, people who had dared great thoughts and achieved great things. Their conversations, totally devoid of stilted formality, were like the crackling, sparkling discharge of so many electric dynamos. They fenced with sentences: as adroitly as ever did maitre d’armes with rapiers. They talked about painting and sculpture and music, about literature and philosophy. They vivisected the practical problems of the day. It seemed to me that I was sitting with Olympian gods and goddeses rather than with mortals. And I listened in wide-eyed wonderment, while my own mental horizons receded. Many of those great people have since become my intimate friends, and each of them has contributed

Been

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1936

- fice. And my teacher, who should

" As I entered the stage door, I

Miss Moore as she appeared in “One Night of Love.”

I recalled myself to her memory by mentioning the circumstances of our first meeting ‘and’ thos letters. : “My God!” exclaimed the great Garden, who is as forceful as she is frank, “Are you that funny little girl? My secretary and I laughed at some of your letters until our poor sides ached!” She regarded me speculatively, and then added, “Perhaps, you reall will be a great singer.” :

ERSONALLY, I had no doubt whatever about my destiny. My ambition had always burned fiercely, but now, fed fresh fuel by my first taste of success and my new contacts with such inspirational personalities, it burst into a consuming holocaust. I studied as I had never studied before. I found a soul-satisfying in completely - exhausting my energies. There were not enough hours in the swift-flying days to accommodate my need for practice, more practice and still more practice. I wanted re--sults—quick results—at any sacri=

have known better, encouraged instead of restrained me. The inevitable result of such folly was catastrophe. Suddenly, without a moment's warning, I was confronted by the most ter= rible tragedy that can befall any singer. mo I had gone to the theater for an audition which I hoped would result in a new and better role.

tried to say “good morning” to

a sound! ‘In a panic, I tried again, and again, and again to speak. And I could not ‘produce even a Whisper! I had been stricken completely mute! There are no words adequate to describe the agonizing fear I suffered. It was the end—the death .and burial of all my planning, my dreaming and my striving! My whole world had. collapsed and I —the .only “I” that mattered— was crushed in the debris! One single ray of hope shone through the pall of my despair. Somewhere, from some one, I had heard of a famous throat specialist ‘and voice teacher who had performed miracles for several opera stars. I rushed to his office. After examining me, he shook his head discouragingly. “It is over-strain,” he said. “Your vocal chords are completely - paralyzed. I can do little for you. - ® 8

“FPYHERE is only one chance in a thousand that you will ever sing again. To make the most of that chance, you must be absolutely silent for . six full months. You must not even ‘whisper! It will be difficult, but if you have sufficient courage there is that one, little possibility that you may regain your voice, I can guarantee nothing.” Had there been only one chance in a million, I would have clutched «at it. Friends offered me the use. of a summer cottage on Petite Boeuf Island in the St. Lawrence River, and there, with only one companion, I served my sentence.

the doorman—and could not utter

I made my wants known by writ-

tered as Second-Class Matter : Be Indianapolis, Ind

GRACE MOORE

Raymond Hitchcock, with whom Miss Moore sang in “Moon of Love,” on the stage.

Julia Sanderson, long-iime stage star, whom Miss Moore under- . studied in her early days.

ing messages on a pad of paper. I read, and thought, and prayed, every day seemed a month and every month a year. : - When I again saw the doctor at the end of that interminable half-year, I could not bring myself, for several awful moments, to hazard the all-important test. “Don’t be afraid—speak!” he urged. Trembling so that I could scarcely stand, I said, slowly but clearly: “I'VE...DONE...IT!” And with that, my overtaut nerves gave way, and I cried and laughed, and laughed and cried, as though I had lost my sanity. Those were the first words I had uttered in 26 weeks! What joy filled. my heart! Now my. future day before me.

(To Be Continued)

1938, by ‘United Feature c. Reproduction in whole prohibited. All rights re-

(Copyright, Syndicate. ‘In or in part served.)

(Mr. Sullivan Writes Thrice Weekly.)

SULLIVAN STUDIES LABOR FEUD

OME of the more radical within the Administration dream some-

N any event, in the present struggle between Mr. Lewis’

- the Amalgamated Clothing Workers

PAGE 13

beral Side by - HARRY ELMER BARNES

(Substituting for Westbrook Pegler) :

NEW YORK, Aug. 19.—In the United States labor unionism has passed through three main stages: (1) The crude and loosely organized national labor union, represented by the Knights of Labor; (2) the skilled trade union (craft unionism), which reached its height in the American Federation

of Labor under Samuel ‘Gompers; and (3) the nae tional industrial unionism of such organizations as

and the new movement founded by & John L. Lewis. Partial emancipation from judicial tyranny has been won through the Norris-La Guardia anti-injunc-tion law, but this has been widely ! and adroitly evaded. Yet, as I © pointed out, the United States is still an open-shop nation. Relentless opposition to the right of collective bargaining has been the very core of 3 our rugged individualism, economic anarchy and financial piracy in their relation to labor. Mr. Roosevelt will have to be Dr. Barnes more progressive and courageous . than either of his Democratic predecessors if he wins out against the archaic open-shop policies of Amers ican employers. It is to be hoped that the President will stick to his guns. Labor unionism and collective bargaining are as integral and necessary a part of our modern age as machines and factories. Indeed, the right of labor to bargain collectively is so basic and well established in logic and justice that it can hardly be called a “New Deal.” It represents

no more than civilized decency in industrial relations,

8 =» =

Employers Created Labor System

HE employer who opposes labor organization should be put back with the spinning-wheel, hande loom and charcoal forge, which are historically come patible with open-shop notions and practices. When the employer- accepted machines .and factories they also created :. labor system which made organization absolutely indispensable to any industrial justice. In the pre-factory age, when a single skilled work man meant a great deal to an employer, the worker could bargain individually and stand some chance of getting a decent hearing. When, however, the em=ployer came to hire thousands of workers, many of

them unskilled, the voice of one man counted for

nothing. Only through combination with his fellows could he approach the employer with anything ree sembling equality of strength. It has been a cardinal point of rugged individual ism that perfect freedom of contract must prevail in the economic relations of employer and employe. In actual practice, however, this freedom is that of the employer to reject the services of the employe.

i 2 2 = Union Opposition Short-Sighted : Wha one - party to a possible contract can: refrain - from participation with perfect safety and equanimity, while the other party is threatened

with eviction and starvation, there can be no real ‘freedom or equality of contract. On :the other hand,

.if>laborers can combine and withhold the services,

not merely of one man, but of a large number, the solicitude of the employer over his failure to cone tinue the labor contract can be greatly increased. -- The justifiable desire to meet the employer on relatively equal terms and .thereby to realize security in employment has been.the central impulse in the

- development of modern labor unionism.

If employers could see further than their noses they would not need any coercion to force them to accept collective bargaining. It was the unprotected character of- American labor which led to low wages and the curtailed buying power that helped to bring on the depression.

BY MARK SULLIVAN ASHINGTON, Aug. 19.—The struggle betweey the old American Federation of Labor and the new Committee for Industrial Organization will need to be understood by those who try to follow the political campaign with adequate knowledge of all the factors. Ordinarily, this struggle. within the field would have no relation to politics. Looked at as a labor and industrial matter only, it is a conflict between two types of labor unions. The existing American Federation of Labor believes in craft: unions, that is, unions which take in the members of a trade all over the country. For example, the machinists’ union takes in machinists in every industry and plant, wherever they happen to be.. And so with the carpenters’ union and all the others. Thus in any plant or industry there ‘may be several different unions, though all are in affiliation with the American Federation of Labor.

richly to my mind, my character and my career. I am proud of those friendships, for I.am convinced that life offers no privilege more precious than contact with brilliant minds. . It was at one of those Coffee House suppers that I again ‘met Mary Garden. I had written to her repeatedly after that concert in Nashville; typical fan letters expressing my admiration for her and baring my own dreams. They were a bit ridiculous, perhaps, and very, very naive, but they were so evidently sincere that she had always answered them,

Employers stand to gain through collective bars gaining and higher standards for labor.. If they can not see this, it is high time that the Federal governe ment handed them a pair of high-powered spectacles. We may now have a President who will do so.

Merry-Go-Round |

(Continued from Page Three)

that house across the street. You will see a sign on it. Walk over and see it while I am filling ’er up.”

' 2 & =» “ O you know Landon?” “Oh ‘no, I don’t know him, but there are some people:-here who do. There is an old lady here who acted as nurse at the time of his birth. She remembers him. Her name is Mary Baird.” % “Does she live here in town?” , “No, about three miles west. Go down the cross the bridge, and out about three miles you strike another concrete road. Turn to the right. is the first house on the left.” : Following directions. we soon arrived at the farm house and inquired of the lady who was sweeping the steps, “Does Mary Baird live here?” ‘i “Yes, she is my daughter. She is inside the house.” A very attractive young lady about 21 stepped t0 the door. ; “Ahem, guess there must be a mistake, or else your looks beli your years, You weren't the nurse at Gov.-Landon’s birth?” “I- should say not,” was the laughing reply. “If must have been the gas station man in Middlesex that sent you here. He is always doing things like that. IT don’t know why. Last week he sent a family from Topeka (Kas.) here on the same mission. My name is Mary Baird, but the one you want is an old lady, 8 widow about 85 years old, a distant relative of our family. She lives on W. Main-st, just at the end of 12 Darema Go and see her, She is a delightful

pany, my performance was a fair success if not a great triumph. Charles Dillingham, who was known and loved by every one, introduced me to many charming, interesting people and I began to make new friends. Among them was Conde Nast, the publisher, whose loyal friendship, brilliant mind and disinterested advice have meant much to me ever since. He invited me to the famous Coffee House Sunday evening suppers, presided over by the one and only Frank Crowninshield. Those parties were the rallying place of the most cele-

LET'S EXPLORE YOUR MIND

BY DR. ALBERT EDWARD WIGGAM

-—

some time, and with that quality of clearness in the air you get in early fall. For a long time I have been promising myself a trip to see Miss Lillian Wald at her home in Westport, Conn. Today seemed fairly free, so* after seeing the family off on the 8:06 this morning, and giving such orders as were necessary at home, I drove down to Mrs. Henry Morgenthau Jr’s. house. She had telephoned me the night before to bring a basket. Knowing I can rarely see baskets without having the urge to buy one, she therefore was sure" I would have an assortment of various kinds on hand. When I reached her house she had certain farm products ready to put in my basket, which she thought Miss Wald would enjoy. We started on our way bearing gifts, but we returned, as always, bearing gifts from Miss Wald—a book, some candy and above all, the memory of her presence. We found Miss Wald on her porch waiting to meet us and spent two very delightful hours with her. I always fall under the spell of her personality and wonder what quality it is which makes an individual able to sway others by the sheer force of her own sympathy and understanding of human beings. I imagine the secret lies in the fact that people never become a mass, they remain entities, and so you are able to feel human suffering and make others feel it because it is represented to you by individuals. One little trait which endears Miss Wald to all her friends is evidenced by the foreword she has written in the new edition of her book. She had said that people were apathetic in regard to world questions, but in the last few months she had decided a change had come over their thinking. Instead of letting her first opinion stand, her sense of fairness had made her write a foreword stating what changes she had found in the attitude of youth. Intelligence coupled with administrative ability of & high order, a sense of fair play, generosity, human sympathy—with these qualities is it any wonder that she has accomplished great things, and that people who know her love her? (Copyright, 1936, by United Feature Syndicate, Inc.)

New Books

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENTS—

N “I Change Worlds,” published a year ago, Anna Louise Strong told of how she came to accept the Communist world in exchange for the capitalistic society to which she had been born. The volume, THIS SOVIET WORLD (Holt: $2), is her interpretation of this new world to her capitalistic

new C. I. O. and the old American Federation of Labor, much of the Administration is sympathetic to Mr. Lewis and his C. I. O. Practically all thorough-going New Dealers think of the.old American Federation as an old fashioned, anti-revolutionary, conservative ore ganization which is .content with the existing order of society and has no purpose beyond getting for |. labor a constantly larger share of the fruits of industry. \ While many. within the Admin--istration favor Mr. Lewis’ C. I. O. their sympathy so far is kept beneath the surface. ‘They keep in mind the presidential campaign. They want the votes of both wings of labor for Mr. Roosevelt and they wish to avoid giving open cause for offense to the old American. Fed-. eration. Until after the election, the Administration policy is to walk a tight rope between the contending organizations. But there can be little doubt where the sympathy of the Administration lies. - - One person high in the Administration recently took an extraordinary step designed to help Mr. Lewis’ C. I. O. in its effort to displace the American Federation. With. the struggle as tense as it is between C. I. O. and the A. F, of L., attempts to appear neutral’ be difficult. :

thing even broader than a labor party. They contemplate, as Prof. Tugwell put it in a speech at Los Angeles last October, “A farmerworker alliance in this country which will carry all before it.” They dream a wholly new form of society analogous to the Russian one.

They dream a form: of society in which only workers and farmers shall be recognized, in which there shall be no private ownership of industry - or business, in which the ‘functions now carried on by private business’ men and corporations shall be carried on -by the government. Those who dream thus think that Mr, Lewis’ C. I. O,, if successful, would be a step toward | the goal. It would be hard to say how far Mr. Lewis goes: along with the radicals within the Administration. His ideas may not coincide with theirs to any great extent. He may aim 2 8 = merely towards a new big and powN the other hand, the-new C. I.| erful union of labor, and toward O. proposes there shall be one | beating: down the existing Amerunion for each industry. Within any ican Federation of Labor. At the automobile plant, . all employes, [Same time, Mr. Lewis is very ambitious and aggressive, even ruthless. It is possible he may to some extent share the dream of the radicals in the Administration. He is close to leading figures in the Administration.

GRIN AND BEAR IT + + by Lichty

“qne big union” conception. So far as the conflict is confined within the field of labor, it is a dif-

= |

f 2. . 4 UT the conflict is not merely