Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 August 1937 — Page 9

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Vagabond

From Indiana — Ernie Pyle

Work, Eat and Sleep Comprise |

Hugo L. Black: The New

Saw ‘No Question’ About Court O. K. on 30-Hour-Week Bill in ‘33

Good News Bay Plan of Living, But Eskimos Merely Eat and Sleep.

PLATINUM, Good News Bay, Alaska, Aug.

23.—Life in the 30-mile area surround-

ing Good News Bay can, like Gaul, be divided into three parts. It consists of (1) life in the village of

Platinum; (2) life in the two mining camps on the other side of Red Mountain and (3) life around the dozens of test drills and prospecting hoies all over the area. The population of the Good News Bay country sums up about like this: In town, 100 persons, a generous estimate; in the two mining camps, another 100; around the test drills and prospecting holes, another 1006. Total—300. There probably aren't even that many. Life outside of town is simply work, eat and sleep. The men at the two camps sleep in small frame cabins and eat in a central cookhouse. The men on the test drills live in tents and do their own cooking. Occasionally one of them will walk into town, or ride in on a caterpillar, for a few hours’ visit.

Life Hard In Town, Too

Life in town is hard, serious work. The few merchants are tending to their businesses, or busy building additions to their stores. There isn't much loafing.

The social life consists of dropping into Stampede Inn for a cup of coffee, walking from cabin to cabin

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Mr. Pyle

after dinner, and an infrequent dance in the road- | I believe there have been only |

house dining room. two dances this summer—the night the roadhouse opened, and the night of the Fourth of July. There is, of course, no such thing in Platinum as a movie, or an electric light (except on tractors), or a fireplace, or cow’s milk. Absolutely everything must be brought in from outside. There are no trees, so there is no firewood. Fuel oil is burned in all cook stoves. Gasoline lamps are lighted at night. You could hardly say that Platinum has streets. There are merely a couple of paths worn by tractors and the one auto, winding between the cabins. One of the paths is called “Bloody Ave.” because it runs past the cabin where last spring's stabbing took place.

Eskimos Just Watch

On one end of Platinum is a cluster of Eskimo huts. They weren't here before the white men came. The Eskimos lived at Mumtrak (sometimes called Good News), the native village across the bay. But when the miners came, some of the Eskimos just moved over to hang around.

So far as I can see, they do nothing whatever for

a living. But they seem to me a much finer sort of |

people than the Indians of interior Alaska. They play and laugh joyously among themselves, but are solemn and demure before the whites.

ever speak a word. They come and sit on the high

bank above the store, in their mukluks and reindeer | parkas, and solemnly watch the white brother work |

his head off. It is, shall we say, very quaint.

Prices are high in Platinum but, considering every-

thing, not exorbitant. I was told a month ago that

the cheapest thing you could buy in Platinum cost |

a dollar. That is slightly exaggerated. The cheapest thing in Platinum is a stick of chewing gum, and it costs a penny.

Mrs. Roosevelt's Day |

By Eleanor Roosevelt

Local Models’ Ability to Look Cool In Furs Is a Marvel to First Lady.

LMIRA, N. Y., Sundayv.—I will never cease to wonder at the endurance of crowds. Indianapolis was really very warm Friday afternoon and yet as many women as could possibly get in came to the reception given by the Young Democrats. They did not come with gloomy faces; they were apparently enjoying themselves, though I felt some of them must have been pretty well exhausted. From the reception we went up to watch a style show and again everyone who could possibly get in was in the room. Some of the Young Democratic women were modeling as well as the professionals from the shop which was showing the clothes. I marveled at the ability of the young women to look cool in spite of fur coats and winter styles.

When I went up on the platform to say a few | words, [ felt I simply could not make another speech |

to a group which had probably attended the morning meeting and would be going back to the evening meeting, so I asked for questions. I was very much pleased to have them ask about the reporter plan and the Democratic Digest, two of the best educational activities, I think, undertaken by the women’s division of the Democratic National Committee.

I have not mentioned the appointment of Miss Mary W. Dewson to the Social Security Board in this column before. The fact that she has worked for the National Democratic Committee will probably lead many people to think this is a political appointment. If they look into her record they will find that her training from her girlhood days on has been in line with the work she will now have to go. I think she will do a remarkably good job and, in addition to the work itself, I think Congressmen and Senators will

find her an understanding and able person with whom |

to deal. One of the lessons I think nearly all women need to learn is, that when we are dealing with busy people, no matter how interested we may be in a subject, we must put what we have to say in the briefest possible form. This is even more important if the person to whom we are talking is listeming because of our interest and not because of his own. We may be

able to impart some of our enthusiasm to him, if we do not first bore him to death and make him impatient | because he is being asked to listen to too many words. | Miss Dewson'’s political training has taught her this | 1 congratulate her on having this | opportunity to do work she is so well fitted to do, and |

valuable lesson.

the country on acquiring her services.

We got off at Chautauqua this morning. It is an

extraordinary place. I think my uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt, once called it the most American thing in America. One thing is sure, it offers people who would never have any other chance the opportunity to hear good music, attend excellent theater performances, take classes in a variety of subjects and at the same time enjoy a beautiful lake and a variety of summer occupations. On Sunday we drove across the state through the southern tier, a very lovely drive which I have not taken in some time.

Walter O'Keefe—

ITH Congress adjourned, 531 Rip Van Winkles will awake from their long sleep, leave Washington and go back home to try and prove their identities. . They're returning just in time to be registered in that census of people who haven't worked during the last year. Three Congressional achievements will stand out. They defeated the Supreme Court Bill, but they passed the Jefferson Island love feast and the harmony banquet. John Garner doubtless will go trout fishing and F. D. R. probably will spend the rest of the summer looking for his family. Many a Senator's wife won't care about the lowdown on legislation, but her husband had better be able to tell her every detail of the clothes worn by Dixie Graves. Motorists, please don’t pass that hitchhiker. It may be a Congressman trying, to thumb a ride back to his young.

They “keep | their place,” as you say, and stand back and hardiy |

The Indianapolis

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(Sixth of a Series) By Ruth Finney

Times Special Writer VW ASHINGTON , Aug. 23.—Hugo L. Black introduced his 30-Hour-Week Bill in the Senate on Dec. 21, 1932, after Franklin D. Roosevelt had been elected but before he took office. A few days later he explained his position in a radio address. “All must agree that the very safety and perpetuity of any government demands that its citizens may by honest work earn their living,” he said. “I admit without hesilation that my plan would decrease the profits of capital and would increase the aggregate wages of labor and the total income of the American farmer. My own belief is that-the major contributing cause to our present dilemma is that labor has been underpaid and capital has been overpaid “My bill is not offered as a complete solution of our economic ills. It is urgent, however, that we do not sit complacently adopting the fatalistic philosophy that ‘conditions will take care of themselves.” . . . When greed and privilege grasp unearned wealth and condemn millions to undeserved poverty and misery, government is useless if it does not curb greed and destroy privilege.” On Jan. 28, 1833, the Senator spoke again on his bill, this time in the Senate, and said he believed the bill would aid business recovery. He added: “I have no question as to the Supreme Court sustaining the constitutionality of the bill I have offered.” = ” =” N debate on another subject

Mr. Black suggested “the strong probability that the mi-

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 1937

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Times

Entered as BSecond-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.

Justice

Above—Associate Justice Black (center) being congratulated by Senate Majority Leader Barkley (left) and Vice President Garner after his nomination to the Supreme Court bench Aug. 12. :

nority opinion in the child-labor case might become the majority opinion if it went to the Supreme Court again.” (The child-labor case was based on the commerce clause, as was the 30-Hour-Week Bill) Again in February Mr. Black took the floor to defend his then new and startling proposal and quoted long extracts from testimony taken on it. He concluded:

“How important it is that as we contemplate these conditions we remember that it is an inherent right of every man to claim of his Government that in the operation of its affairs man-made law shall not deprive him of the opportunity to earn his daily bread by the sweat of his brow. That is what we have been doing. “This and other measures are but the beginning of an effort to bring about a more equal and exact justice under our system from one who believes in our civilization and believes in perpetuating its existence. . . . I want it distinctly understood that this

bill was introduced for the purpose of passing.” »

” ”

E did not get a vote on his bill at this lame-duck session, with the Senate still dominated by the Republican Party. But as soon as Congress reconvened in special session at the call of President Roosevelt he resumed his fight, and this time was more successful. Three weeks after Congress convened the bill was up on the Senate floor, being debated for passage. The bill made no provisions for regulation of wages and Mr. Black had some difficulty in answering arguments of Senators who said an hour bill would either reduce wages or greatly increase prices. However, the majority of the Senate was with him.

In a colloquy with Senator Bailey (D. N. C.), who opposed the bill, Mr. Black said: “I agree that capital will not be invested unless there is some hope of obtaining a profit in our capitalistic system.”

Mr. Bailey retorted, “I am in favor of the capitalistic system,” and Mr. Black said “So am I.” He went: on to add: “I am not in favor of the abuses which have grown up and I am not willing to sit silent and permit the capitalistic system to destroy itself by reason of a blind adherence to old forms.”

OWARD the end of the debate Mr. Black said, with considerable heat, “Thank God I am not living in my own mind in the Elizabethan era of a philosophy for a past age that does not suit modern conditions. . . .

“No monopoly of wisdom can be claimed for him whose eyes are constantly turned toward the past . . . who seeks to do no more than to have the economic functions of the country guided, directed and shaped and molded by formulas that may have fitted 200 years ago but do not fit the machine age where men and women have been driven into economic

Both Major Parties Have Broken Pledges to Reform

By Mrs. S. N. Campbell President Indiana League of Women Voters S Congress adjourns, both major parties stand convicted of broken promises about civil service. Both 1936 party platforms made definite, concrete pledges of patronage reform. The Democrats said: For the protection of Government itself and promotion of its efficiency, we pledge the immediate extension of the merit system through the classified civil service—which was first established and fostered under Democratic auspices—to all nonpolicymaking positions in the Federal service. We shall subject to the Civil Service Law ail continuing positions which because of the emergency have been exempt from its operations. The Republicans said: We pledge ourselves to the merit system virtually destroyed by New Deal spoilsmen. It should be restored, improved and extended. We will provide such conditions as offer an attractive permanent career in Government service to young men and women of ability, irrespective cf party affiliation. = on 8 ND yet, in the face of such declaration, shortly before Congress adjourned, when the

Senate voted on a proposed amendment to put all appointees under the Hours-Wages Rill with salaries more than $4000 under patronage, 73 out of 84 Senators— that is to say, nearly all the Democrats and nearly all the Republicans—voted to commit this act of spoilsmanship.

The Indiana Senator who thus | repudiated his party pledges was Mr. VanNuys. Senator Minton was recorded as absent on this roll call.

Among Senators mentioned as voting for a patronage measure were men who were elected under the 1936 platform pledges; others who, as delegates to their respective party conventions, helped adopt the platforms on which the pledges appear; some even helped draw up the planks themselves.

Y most thinking persons the political appointment of postmasters is considered to be the most conspicuous blot on the personnel policy of the national Government. The House tried to do something about it this year when it passed the Ramspeck bill, but the Senate refused to do its part. Senator McKellar, ranking member of the Senate Civil Service Committee, has shed much light on the refusal. Being questioned by

Side Glances

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SERVICE,

“Go ahead! He'll think he slipped, and then we can play with Jhe boats.” i

5. T.M. REQ. U. 8. PAT. OFF, .

By Clark

Senator O'Mahoney on the delay in reporting the Postmaster Bill to the Senate, he arose to his feet and stated: “I took the trouble to inquire among the Senators and up to date I have found only four among the Senators who are willing to say that they would vote for a bill taking away the right of confirmation of the Senate of postmasters of the first, second and third classes, and I don’t think tHere will be any legislation upon the subject.”

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NOTHER bright hope for civil service reform went glimmering when Congress adjourned without acting on the personnel recommendations made in the report of the President's Committee on Administrative = Management that, if accepted, would have gone far toward transferring personnel from spoils to merit.

Political appointments have been provided for by the 75th Congress in one great new public service after another such as the Bituminous Coal Commission, where out of 1200 possible employees scarcely 200 would be appointed under the merit system. In this way in eight or nine measures hundreds of men and women have been added to patronage. Almost without discussion a Congress elected on civil service reform platforms has voted for patronage in its new measures. Even more flagrantly has the Congress dipped into agencies already established. Such happened when all CCC employees were exempted from the Civil Service Act. Other measures transferring merit system appointments to patronage have seemed to have the object not so much of adding to the supply of patronage available, but rather the assertion of a senatorial right or the expression of some individual disapproval of acts done by the services in question. Such apparently was the rider to the Independent Offices Appropriation Bill providing that experts employed by the Social Security Board from the $5000 attorneys up to the $10,000 management officials—all of them appointed and holding office in recognition of professional ability—should be made subject to Senate confirmation with all its political implicatigns. ” ” o

HE deplorable effect of such measures 3s these is not so much the addition it makes to patronage as the effect it is bound _to have upon men and women of high caliber who are likely to be driven out of the governmental service where they are so much needed. Upon its record the Voters’ League accuses the 75th Congress of having persistently throughout its session added to its store of patronage. We accuse it of having flouted expressed public opinion against the spoils system in our Government. We accuse it of having ignored the pledges of its own party platforms. The votes recorded below are the

interpretation the League

of | into the cottonfield.

Patronage System, Voters’ League Charges

Women Voters puts on various ballots affecting the federal merit system. 5 8 HE record of the Ramspeck Postmasters Bill (H. R. 1531), shows the action of Representatives on a group of amendments which would have destroyed entirely the bill as presented to the House. Therefore, a vote against the amendments is construed as a vote in favor of the merit system. Hoosier members who voted for the merit system were Reps. William T. Schulte, Samuel B. Pettengill, Glenn Griswold, Virginia Jenckes, John W. Boehne Jr, Crowe and Louis Ludlow. Those voting against it were Reps. Charles A. Halleck and Finley Gray. Reps. James J. Farley, Arthur H. Greenwood and William Larrabee were recorded as absent. Passage of the Celler Bill, repealing Section 212 (H. R. 3408) dis~ criminating against married persons in Federal employment, saw votes for passage construed as votes for the merit system. Indiana members voting for the merit system were Reps. Halleck, Farley, Jenckes, Crowe and Ludlow. Those voting against were Reps. Pettengill, Greenwood, Boehne, Gray and Larrabee. Representatives Schulte and Griswold were recorded absent. The Cochran amendment to the Celler bill (H. R. 3408) brought votes which would have restored in more drastic form the provisions of the original Section 213. Therefore a negative vote on this amendment is construed as a vote for the merit system. Indiana members voting for the merit system were Reps. Halleck, Farley,. . Jenckes and Ludlow. Those voting against it were Reps. Pettengill, Greenwood, Boehne, Gray and Larrabee. Absent were Reps. Schulte, Griswold and Crowe.

Heard in Congress— Rep. McLean (R. N. J)—It would seem as if members of Congress do not see or they do not want to see what is going on. They are disregarding a program of economy for one of personal interest. They are either blind or they do not care. Let us be fair in our efforts to effect a legislative program and not horse traders. Not like a fellow up in my territory who thought he was swindled in a deal for a mule he bought. As the bargain was closed the mule dashed away and smashed his head against the side of the barn and liked to kill himself, The purchaser said to the seller: “The deal is off, I didn’t buy a blind mule.” The seller replied, “That mule ain't blind: He just don’t give a damn.” (Laughter and applause.) an 2 ” Senator Smith (D. 8S. C.)—I think I can say without any immodesty that I have at heart the weifare of the farmers, “of which I am one of whom.” (Laughter) I can sit on my piazza and throw a brickbat

slavery when they were promised economic liberty. . . . “There never has been anything in my life heretofore and I do not believe there will be anything hereafter that I shall look upon with more pride than I do the small part I may have contributed to bring about this surcease from drudgery and labor which has made people more of slaves than the people who lived in the South in the olden days.”

” ” ”

HE bill passed 53 to 30. When it seemed unlikely that, the House would vote on it, Mr. Black made an effort to attach it to the District of Columbia Appropriation Bill. But NRA was taking shape then. Mr. Black made a determined effort to have included in the Recovery Act an amendment providing that industrial associations must give equal voting strength to the industries of each state regardless of the extent of their business. . “It is a question in which every Senator from a smaller state, as he will realize in less than six months, is vitally interested,” Mr. Black said. “There is nothing new about the proposal. That is why we have a Senate in the United States. Since we are abdicating to that extent the right to enact laws governing industry I could not sit quietly by and let the bill go through without calling attention to this very important feature.” But his amendment was rejected. He voted to strike out Title 1 of the bill, providing for NRA, but when this lost he voted for passage.

NEXT—Mr. Black's toward big business.

TESTING HEARING OF BIRDS

By Science Service ' THACA, N. Y., Aug. 23.—Can birds hear shrill sounds? Can a canary hear the highest notes of its own singing? Questions like these are to be asked of birds in a new research program at Cornell University by Albert R. Brand, research associate of the University and veteran birdsong recorder. The method of asking birds the questions will be to announce feeding time with high-pitched sounds. If birds will come when thus whistled for, even though the food is not yet in sight, it means they hear the shrill sounds. Then the pitch will be raised, to find the point at which the sounds become too shrill for avian ears to hear.

attitude

0 THAT G DO NOW HOW TO DY BRE, ES ONLY GOTONE HAND NCA SN THE

THE HIGHWAY GROUCH ELL, well, if it isn’t our old friend of the microscope squad, Mr. Fauit-Finder. This roving ambassador of ill-will is a past master in discovering the driving sins of others but- for the life of him he can’t find anything wrong with his own habits at the wheel. He is veneered with a double coat of conceit and it just doesn’t soak through his thick hide that it would be better for all parties concerned if he would growl less about what the other fellow is doing and pay more at-

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_ [» tention to his own driving. we 1

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Qur Town

By Anton Scherrer Anyone Want to Start Association For Suppression of Trick Titles? If So, Here's One Charter Member. THIS department is ready to support any movement which has for its object the suppression of trick titles. I was tripped three times last week, and it was just an ordinary week.

On Monday I ran across a photograph depicting a collection of watch springs and bolts grouped around what looked like a Worcestershire sauce battle and a corkscrew. All this was captured on slick paper from the top of a step-ladder, looking down. The performance was labeled “A Tortured Soul.” This is manifestly unfair, if not downright dishonest. It calls for an injunction—something like the pure food law, or the cult for clean advertising. On Wednesday — to proceed with the calendar--I made the acquaintance of a “Helvetia Salad.” Because of the title I had every reason to expect something to remind me of snow-covered peaks and sune kissed meadows with perhaps, a little yodeling and William Tell thrown in.

Instead, I got two slices of tomato recumbent on a bed of lettuce leaves, on the top of which lay two dead sardelles at right angles—a pattern approxi mating the Swiss flag. I grant you, but which I refuse to accept seriously.

Rest Found at Movie

On Thursday I rested. As a matter of fact, 1 went to see Marlene Dietrich, and came away com= pletely bewildered to learn that the hero had spent all his money for two bottles of Martell, when for the same price he could have gotten double the quantity of vodka. On Friday trick titles tripped me again. Ate

tracted by a dollar sale in one of our book shops, I fell for something that carried the rather intriguing title of “Uninvited Guests” (by David Causey, I don't mind saying). When I got home, it turned out to be all about mosquitoes, crab-lice, bed-bugs and fleas.

Determined to get away from everything modern and tricky I tackled “Pride and Prejudice” (circa 1810), which, at least, has the merit of an honest title. ‘By that time, it was Saturday.

Scared to Read It

I had never read “Pride and Prejudice” before. To tell the truth, I was always scared to, probably because of the breed of people who went out of their way to recommend the book, and probably, too, because of those who said it was rotten. William Dean Howells I remember, said he liked it. On the other hand, Booth Tarkington said he loathed it. Anyway, it was time I was making up my own mind about it. I am getting along very much better than I exe pected. Jane Austen is a square-shooter. and gives you more than you bargained for.

Last night, for instance, I ‘discovered the true state of “mother’s” health, In a tremendous moment which deserves a place in literary portraiture for all time to come, I learned that “mother continues hearty” and that “her appetite and nights are good.” This, too, in spite of the fact that I'm far enough along in the book to know that “mother has asthma, a dropsy, water in the chest, and a liver disorder.” I can hardly wait to hear how Jane Austen's “mother” will feel when she really gets sick.

A Woman's View By Mrs. Walter Ferguson

Mr. Scherrer

Problems of Matrimony Declared Worn Out as a Subject for Books.

N evil spirit must have invaded the publishers that they should pick out the hot season for letting loose a flood of books on such subjects as: How women must behave to get husbands; how men can avoid the pursuing female; how men and women

can live without each other, or with each other, and all such claptrap. It would be a great relief if the subject could be dropped altogether.

Strong men and women wept openly at the show= ing of “Captains Courageous.” At first we supposed they were moved by the superb acting of Spencer Tracy or the boyish appeal of Freddie Bartholomew. Later thought, however, convinced us that most of the rugged picture fans were sobbing with relief at being spared the sight of another glamorous female laying her traps to catch a covey of silly males. They had become so inured Yo the screen plot of man chasing woman or woman chasing man that the shock of change was more than they could stand. The poor things cried like babies. It was a sight to see.

Isn't it a well known fact that men and women have been making love, getting married ,and quarreling both before and after, since the world began? In all periods of history girls took husbands when there were enough men to go around; if the supply was insufficient, they did the best they could in the single state, and many of them died truly mourned because they had managed to be useful individuals and spine sters at the same time.

The same high standard of sense is maintained by the modern girl. Naturally she'd like to have a husband, but she is not so anxious that she'll take the first pair of trousers that happens along. On the cone trary she’s getting a little choosy and we imagine the men are sensing the change; otherwise why all the whoop-la? We suspect the gentlemen of hatching up most of the stories about the terrific speed they have to keep up to elude the packs of women who are after them. That story was old when Noah was a baby.

New Books Today

Public Library Presents—

HERE is as much of beauty and interest to be found in the tiny islands which surround Ireland as are found in the historic isle itself. Thomas H. Mason proves this in THE ISLANDS OF IRELAND (Scribner).

During repeated -visits, Mr, Mason has studied the inhabitants, their folklore, and the archeology and bird-life of the islands. He has discovered a homely, genuine country folk, proud of their island heritage, eager to tell of their life and customs and of how they wrest a living from their barren lands. The islanders, like their kinsmen in Ireland, still cling to ancient legends and superstitions. Historic relics, left from Viking and Roman times, testify to the antiquity of the islands. The book is illustrated with photographs which substantiate Mr. Mason's claims as to the fascination of the islands.

” » ”

HE steamer Hestia was anchored off Salawan on the north coast of Celebes, in the Malay Archipelago. On the island the “old man” lay dying and crew and ship must wait until the owners sent out a new master.

H. M. Tomlinson’s story PIPE ALL HANDS (Harper) is the essence and spirit of seafaring. His main character is the ship Hestia, “a nice box of tricks” of whom all but the master is a little afraid. If the other characters are rather thin and the plot obvious these are minor matters. Mr. Tomlinson uses his people to express attitudes and his own ideas of life. His beautiful prose and his happy faculty of turning a p exactly, make the book a delight.

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