Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 December 1936 — Page 14

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| SCRIPPS ~ NOWARD | i Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1936

GOVERNMENT BY SYMBOL

HE farther we follow the royal romance the more we wonder whether, in terms of actual democracy, this “whole business of government by symbol isn’t, to use the

not too elegant language of a recent presidential nominee, cockeyed. .

A democracy in its pure sense is supposed to be a: gov- |

ernment of the people, by the people, and for the people, which means action direct from the voters to the verdict. Anything which tends to short-circuit, therefore, dilutes

democracy, whether it is a youthful king with an affair of |

the heart, or an aged court with an affair of the arteries. Of one matter we can be sure; it's a field day for Shakespeare. The vision of the poet projected over the ‘centuries is making the Simpson affair a tribute to him more eloquent than an anniversary. For example again, from Hamlet, Act 1, Scene Three: . “——His will is not his own; “For he himself is subject to his birth. “He may not, as unvalued persons do, “Carve for himself, for on his choice depends “The safety and health of this whole state, “And therefore must his -choice be circumserib’d “Unto the voice and yielding of that body “Whereof he is the head.”

Those words of Laertes to the lovely Ophelia express

precisely today the position of Prime Minister Baldwin toward the lovelorn monarch, upon whom, no less than the . Prince of Denmark, seems to rest “the safety and health” “of the state “whereof he is the head.” Edward faces his choice: The fair Wallis or the crown of Britain, Baldwin expresses “respectful sympathy” and voices a promise of not rushing anybody, a promise that sounds much like “here’s your hat, what’s your hurry.” Millions here and in Britain feel that this is a lot of lordly nonsense, that a King’s a man for a’ that, with every man’s right to choose his own wife, But evidently, in an empire which covers a quarter of the globe and is held together by a slender thread of tradition and sentiment, it’s not so simple as that. To paraphrase the God of “Green Pastures,” being a symbol “ain’t no bed of roses.”

MODERN PENAL CONCEPT “00 much emphasis on punishment has béen recognized as a basic weakness in most efforts at criminal corréc‘tion. Too many of our laws are aimed at the effects of crime, too few at the causes. These punitive measures do act to deter many persons from crime through fear. But criminologists now know ‘that any effectual battle against crime must proceed along the social, economic and mental fronts where the roots of crime are found. It is gratifying, then, to hear Miss Helen Pidgeon, . nationally known consultant on penal institutions, say that ‘ Indiana’s “criminal classification clause” in the Public. Wel“fare Act is shifting the emphasis in this direction. The Boston expert, here surveying Hoosier institutions - ‘at the request of welfare officials, recently told the Indiana Conference on Social Work that the Indiana plan “makes it possible to carry out the modern concepts of penal correction—rehabilitation and cure, instead of the:old sterile .and. negative idea of punishment.” She continued: “The new developments in social sciences are as revolu- . tionary ag those in physical sciences. Through them, we "will be able to undérstand and modify human behavior to. ‘ an extent never before possible—to harness another force in nature for better social usage.” When these “modern concepts” bégin the eradication ‘ of the causes of crime, it will not be necessary to meet the , problem of overcrowded prisons by building more and still : more institutions.

ROCKY ROAD TO NEUTRALITY OWN in Buenos Aires someé 30 projects have been tossed, into the hopper of the Inter-American Peace Confer- ‘ ence by the 21 republics present. It is a fine beginning. Among the proposals is one contributed by Secretary "of State Cordell Hull to consolidate the existing treaties

. between the American states. These are several in number, |

_ their purpose being to preserve the peace of the Western * Hemisphere by arbitration, conciliation, nonrecognition of | territory acquired by force (the Stimson Doctrine), and So on. Secretary Hull proposes that the conferees translate these treaties into a more compact and concrete whole and tack on an understanding whereby, if an American war . broke out regardless, the rest of the Americas would remain aloof. ~~ Thisis an excellent idea. But it has at Yeas oné weakness. The world’s most notorious vendors of munitions are in Europe and the Orient. If two American republics went

4 This whole question of neutrality, so far as a comition American program is concerned, offers difficulties. ~~ . While the present Neutrality Act of the United States

automatically bans the shipment of war supplies to any and ;

EARL D. BAKER |

“@B Rieyssst |

Fair Enough

By Westbrook Pegler

I's ‘Useless to Speak of Love to |

Unromantic, Long-Headed Stanley

Baldwin, Our Mr. Pegler Believes.

EW YORK, Dec. 8.—On the day that the body of King George V was brought from Sandringham to London last winter, the gun-carriage jiggled crossing some: cartracks and the diamond cross surmounting

the crown which rested on the coffin .came loose and fell into the road. A young artillery officer marching by the coffin picked it up and put it in his pocket and it was screwed back in place that

night. Very few observed the in cident or noticed the absence of the cross from the crown but those few mentioned it and the news ‘spread nevertheless. The British do not believe in signs or attach special meaning to the: conduct of ‘graveyard rabbits . and the fall of the cross from the crown was regarded as a natural happening without deeper significance, althougd many = of them doubtless felt a little sense of shock. i Now, within a year, the new King has ‘threatened ' to. remove it definitely, in the spiritual sense

Mr. Pegler

‘and, behind the legal ‘poifit' which is ria as the

constitutional question, that is the issue between him and the. government.

Mr. Baldwin:does not say there would be any legal objection to his marrying Mrs. Simpson and is troubled only by the fact that the marriage, being so dreadfully legal, would make Mrs. Simpson Queen and place the children; if any, in direct line of succession. The Prime Minister's statement said nothing

about Mrs. Simpson's having been divorced twice |

‘But that is-the real objection and it comes from the

Church of England, which is the official church of °

the nation with powers and influence comparable to ‘those ‘of the Crown itself. 2 8 8 »n/ LTHOUGH®+the church was orginally constituted to accommodate a King’s desire for a divorce, and for other reasons, it is now very austere on the subject and the conduct of the royal family from Victoria down to Edward VIII has confirmed the ‘idea that divorce is disgraceful if not necessarily immoral. The Prime Minister’s claim that the proposed mar-

riage is a state matter and therefore subject to the

disapproval of the government. is simply a defense of the official church, rs However, Mr. Baldwin probably has in mind the thought that. a woman divorced twice in 20 years

might be just naturally réstless.” The idea of a Queen |

of England packing off to Reno ahd then into the movies and selling her memoirs doubtless disturbs him, too.* k u ” FJ UST one look at Mr. Baldwin with his fon hat, his umbrella, his high-water pants and his glum, square, rock-of-Gibraltar face leave little hope that he will be moved by any talk of that wonderful thing called love. English statesmen are long-headed and tic, except, of course, where it is good bally-

hoo to exploit the py -and-gil scenario: as in the

win's duty to prevent neédless risks. So why speak of love 10 Stanley BRIN? oo so 4 ri

: pi : : : oi ; ; The Hoosier Forum I wholly disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it—Voltaire.

URGES G. O. P. OUST COFFINISM By William Murphy Due to the fact that “Coffinism” and-its trimmings is the reason for the decline of the Republican Party in ‘Marion County they should be eliminated as a means toward self-

preservation and to uphold the in-

tegrity of the rank and: file of the organization. p It is about time that these old “war-horses” got..out of the way and let some of these younger meén

‘| and women take over the reins with

a definite view of Fenabilliating the party. There is one sure thing. These

: precinct committeemen and women ‘| are going to get mighty tired. of | #4 | working théir heads off each year |. -+ with nothing but defeat as a reward ‘for their untiring efforts. It is ab-

solutely up to them to choose who takes over leadership and if they pick men who care for nothing but: their own power and glory, then the entire personnel of the party will

have to suffer.

New faces and new candidates will have to appear. The old order will." have. to disappear before another Republican victory can be assured. In the 1934 election “Coffinism” was the difference between victory and defeat and it will be the same in 1938 if a housecleaning is not forthcoming.

The hue and cry raised after the last slaughter is alot of bunk. The party is not gone. It is merely caught in its own barbed wire entanglements. ‘It can come back in the next city election as strong as ever if these so-called leaders have the intestinal fortitude to “take it on the lam.” By their own actior they disprove their doctrine “rugged individualism,” ain even, the most rugged can not get a look-in as long as they are af the ‘helm. Precinct committeemen and women are being contacted from time to time and as favorable reports emanate from the battle front they will be filed away until the accumulated total is enough to give “Cap” and his county chairmen a hint to do an “Al Smith.”

(Mr. Coffin declined to make a statement in reply—THE EDITOR.) Va 8K ar." a HOLDS EDWARD CAN GET LITTLE SYMPATHY HERE By Unsympathetie

After the huge publicity campaign |

in ‘newspapers and rhagazines around the figure of the Prince of ‘Wales, Americans thought they knew King Edward pretty well. But now comes the big Jetdown---the

: Simpson case.

1 OF course, the Simpson case may be only a continuation of the pub-

licity drive. It may be that the Prince King, alamned by id Inareh

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns, religious controversies excluded. Make your létter short, so all can have a chance. Letters must be signed, but names will be withheld on request.) \

of events around him, is resorting to the oldest of political tricks. He may be picking a mock Juana with the privileged classes to gain support of the Ss. . But whether the King’s romance is publicity or true blue, it will at-

tract little real sympthy from the.

American public. Americans will not forget that “Wally” is one -of those American women who have taken international romance as a career and profession. . American women will think of the woman-proof Prince of Wales, then they will think of the Simpson ‘case, then they will chuckle at the adage: “There’s no fool like an old fool.

: » ” ” ? MOCKERY TO CHURCH SEEN IF KING WEDS WALLIS By “An Englishwoman” The news of the day is King Edward’s romance. Many Americans

take official England’s attitude as.

an affront to American women. Not 50. ‘The English viewpoint is quite reasonable to those who see it. At the coronation, King Edward will also become a sort of honorary head of the English church, which

emphatically disapproves of the

marriage of divorced persons. If the King marries Mrs. Simpsén in

"EARTHLY PRAYER ‘BY DANIEL FRANCIS CLANCY

|1If I should die upon my bed,

£1 pray, the Lord, ere my soul has That He the: time might rind me there To pray my last earthly prayer.

the face of this he makes mockery of the church. The King comes to his high place by birth, and not by vote. Hence, he has a duty to his peoples handed down to him concerning his marriage and birth of his children. The English would bless his marriage to a suitable American girl, but do not choose to have him be the third husband of a woman over 40. Give us English a “break.”

” » ” DISCUSSES LUDLOW’S STAND ON O'CONNOR By L. L.. Patton, Crawfordsville

The recent denial by Rep. Louis Ludlow that he and other Indiana members of the House were pledged to support Rep. John J. O'Connor, leader of the Tammany delegation, for Democratic leadership of the

‘House sounds as if we Hoosiers |"

really had representation in Washington. However, when Mr. Ludlow qualifies this denial by stating he thinks a Northerner should get the leadership, we can mot help but wonder, for we know that Mr. O'Connor is the only Northerner with a ghest of a chance for the job. We elected Mr. Ludlow on the New Deal ticket in the hope that he would combat such influences as John J. O'Connor. We are afraid of Mr! O'Connor; not only because he

is from ‘Tammany, but because he

gives his ear too much to big business lobbyists—especially the. utility lobbyists. We can not forget that it was he:who kept the holding company act from coming. to a vote.. Mr. O’Connor’s position “has been that he feels "his responsibility to big business is greater than his responsibility to the people who electel him. To put such a man in the office of Democratic floor leader would be a serious blow at the New Deal program. The fact that he is a Northerner would be a pretty thin excuse for Mr. Ludlow Supporting

I pray the Lord, if my soul He take, | him.

That Be > grant that I might

That I {might from earth to Heaven My last st earthly prayer before the end.

But an earthly prayer, you ask me.

why? Why with an earthly prayer would I die? igi tell you why, the reason is this: I would that ‘tween earth. ‘and Heaven's. bliss

{There might be but a sighing prayer, | Gently. breathed in the bfightdark air, * {traffic rules and finally park his car ~| safely in his garage. : Millions do- this. every day and we could do it if we would just be alert

DAILY THOU GHT

For though I be free from all men, yet I have made myself servant unto all, that I might gain She more,~1, Cottuthiatis 9:19,

‘5 the . freeman “whom the |

on the wits and

* 2» AUTO DRIVING HARD JOB, WRITER SAYS By C. Bell

Some critics think the ‘human |

race is pretty stupid. Let us consider our fellow citizens as automobile drivers. Just how dump are they? Driving today is a severe tax the ability to concentrate and co-ordinate. Therefore, we - must respect any driver who can thread his way over the roads in congested traffic, obeying all the

and keep bothihakds on the wheel, Ability to drive an automobile in may not be a test

congested of intelligence, but it is surely a }.

truth iakés fre6, and all are two counts

It Seems to Me

By Heywood Broun

Shows Why Statute Passed by Congress Limiting Jurisdiction of Supreme Court Wouldn't Wark,

NEY YORK, Dec. 8.—Today I'm going to "turn away from the King and Mus. Simpson and offer a column which 4s wholly concerned with the legal practices of “this country. Since I am not a lawyer, I hava consulted eminent counsel. .

The point 'I had in mind was the familiar suggestion that Congress might by statute limit the

jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and deprive it of

all appellate power. This would be the simplest way to enlarge the scope of Congress. The only trouble is that apparently the scheme won't work. My authority is Jerome Frank, and he writes as . follows: “Year's ago, Prof. Goodnow of Columbia. made a suggestion, which has been revived and grown popular in recent years, :to the effect that tie Supreme Court can be deprived to a very large extent of its power to declare laws unconstitutional by’: a - simple amendment. to the existing Federal. statutes and ‘without any constitutional amendment. The suggestion is based upon the fact that the Constitution gives the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in but a limited ‘class of cases and provides that in all other cases the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions and under such. regulations as the Congress shall make. Ac~

.cordingly, it is suggested that Congress provide that

in cases in the Supreme Court, other than those that are within its original’ jurisdiction, the’ court shall | have no power to pass upon the constitutionality ot

. statutes. ‘For the following reasons I believe that |

even if the proposal is valid it will not yield the Iésilts desired by those who favor 0.0 » 2 2 the first place, there is no such ‘thing as & case involving merely the abstract question of the constitutionality of a statute. The court has re. | peatedly stated that it can consider the constitution ality of a statute only in so far as it is involved as’ a part of an actual legal dispute between two litigants, “Far more important than any of the foregoing is the following: In order to make the proposed | device at all effective it le be necessary not only to deprive the Supreme Court of jurisdiction | but also to take away from all other courts the power to declare legislation: unconstitutional.

® = =

NO far as the lower Federal cotirts are wncerbe, Congress can probably abelish them, while at the same time Hung the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court ( there is language in some contrary). If it can abolish

i

decisions indicating. the ‘the lower Federal. courts, it is argued, it can } contiol

their jurisdiction. And en that assumption, and assuming that it could carve out of & case any en stitutional issue, Congress could provide that no lower

Federal court shall pass. on. Sonatiietional questions,

» then p m -whére a Federal statute would be Consens! n

say, 15 states and; hin Sher states”

~| General

H ugh Johnson Says - Snes ' Outirioded Doctrines of ‘Survival of Fittest and Laissez Faire Are Wh Tories of Supreme Court Cling to in n Opposing. Economic | Regule {7 ASHINGTON, Dec, 8—There once’ was an | : progr : in NRA in England so drastic and absolute that if |

> the mythical*Maged had pressed his pants, as he is Sipe 15 baw due Ue sight sews Bae gruged