Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 November 1937 — Page 15
PAGE 14
The Indianapolis Times
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W. HOWARD LUDWELL DENNY MARK FERREE President Editor Business Manager
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WEDNESDAY, NOV. 10, 1937
ERNIE PYLE’S RELIEF SIZE-UP ILLIONS of words have been written and spoken on the subject of relief. But nowhere, in our opinion, has that tremendous problem been discussed in more simple, human, understandable terms than by our roving reporter, Ernie Pyle, in the series of articles which ends on Page 13 of this issue. Ernie went to the town of North Platte, Neb. He talked there with the people on relief, with the people who administer relief, with citizens who have been thinking earnestly about various phases of relief, with other citizens who have never troubled themselves over it. We aren't sure that we agree with all of his conclusions. North Platte is a small town in Nebraska. The relief picture there differs in many ways from the picture in Indianapolis, in a great Eastern city, a rural neighborhood in the deep South, or a community on the Pacific Coast. But human beings, wherever you find them, are fundamentally very much alike. That's why we regard the job Ernie Pyle did so valuable. He believes that if he had a dictator's power he would first of all make up his mind that relief was not a temporary problem. He would boil relief down to two kinds—work relief and direct relief, and he would make the wages for work relief low and the daily hours long, to discourage people who look on it as a career. But he would make it possible for people who have a chance for private jobs to get back on work relief, without delay, if the private jobs blew up. He would have the Federal Government continue its contributions to the cost in the present ratio. But he would stop most of the Washington back-seat driving in administration, putting more responsibility on the states and localities. He would cut a lot of people off relief in summer, when farm work is available. And then he would try to find some way of training people who have nothing but muscle to hold jobs in a modern world. And he would “try to do something about this guinea-pig reproduction of families who lack the mentality and the character to make their own way in the world.” For Ernie, who has one of the tenderest hearts in North America, is forced to conclude that ‘jobs for these people do not exist”’—that most of the people on relief today are living in a world that has no place for them. You may differ with Ernie about that and about many other things in his articles. But we feel that most of you who have read those articles must agree that they have served the very useful purpose of proveking thought about one of America’s most serious problems.
JAMES RAMSAY MACDONALD HE sudden death, at sea, of former Prime Minister James Ramsay MacDonald of Great Britain closes one of the most dramatic careers in modern British history. Born, as he himself expressed it, in a Scottish “but and a ben”— a one-room hut with a kitchen alongside—he knew what it was to go hungry. Yet he thrice occupied the highest office in the Empire next to the throne itself. A Socialist and a pacifist, he violently opposed his country’s entry into the World War. His war stand was so unpopular he came to be called “the most hated man in England.” . Yet he was back in Commons in 1922 and Labor Premier in 1924 and again in 1929. His third term in Downing Street was really a continuation of his second, his cabinet being revamped to include a Conservative majority, of which he was not the least conservative. Thus he had run the gamut—from poverty to ease; from hut to palace; from pacifist to sponsorship of one of the biggest armaments budgets in the peacetime history of England; from Laborite-Socialist to Conservative. “A new, but paler, Cromwell,” the Earl of Birkenhead dubbed him the day he became Britain's first Laborite Premier. That, in a way, might have been his epitaph. But the responsibility that goes with power did something to the new “Cromwell,” as it so often does, and he died one of the “safest” men in Britain. And, just a little forgotten. Despite which, history will and should accord him a very definite niche,
HUNTING SEASON OPENS F our rabbit friends have kept up with the news they might suddenly get the idea sometime today they have been shifted to the Shanghai battle scene. A little closer reflection, however, at least on the part of some of the older and cooler heads, will remind them that the hunting season is on again in Indiana and they’d better make themselves pretty scarce the next few weeks. The season also opened today on cock pheasant and quail. But the birds have one advantage—if it be any consolation—their season is shorter. Cock pheasants are fair game only between Nov. 10 and 18, inclusive; quail between Nov. 10 and Dec. 20, inclusive, but Br'er Rabbit must worry along until Jan. 10. Reports indicate game is plentiful this year and Hoosier nimrods are anticipating one of the best seasons in years.
We trust this is so—also that due diligence be exer- |
cised so that the casualties be confined exclusively to the hunted.
WORKING AT CITIZENSHIP F more citizens would do what members of the Indianapolis League of Women Voters are doing today—visiting and studying City departments—progress in government might come more rapidly. Governmental reforms come only as fast as the public demands them, and the demand usually follows an understanding of the problem. The league in a series of tours is sizing up the municipal services given under our Mayor-Council type of government. A thorough survey before the 1938 municipal elections, showing what voters are getting for their tax dollars, would be valuable. The findings should be shared with the public. And we hope that this study re@ults in giving more vigorous leadershiffi ity manager
Doom for the Hideout
New York's
Election of
DEWEY
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 10, 1937
"Up To THIS TIME ITHAS ONLY DEEN: ATRIERDLY :
Japan Prepares to Declare War
- 4) Rp a A
on China—By Kirby
v 04
—
Fair Enough
By Westbrook Pegler
Duke of Windsor Badly Fooled By Green's Assumption of Right To ‘Speak for All American Labor.
NEW YORK, Nov. 10.—In all the idiotic farce of the Windsor Duke’s ill-starred plan to come among us, there is nothing more absurd than the swollen pretense of our own Will Green that he speaks for labor in the United States and that his feelings matter
one way or another, The Duke, of course, doesn't know Mr. Green as we do and undoubtedly was impressed by his title as A. F. of L, president, which does have an all-embracing sound to the uninformed. In fact, our Will himself, probably is sincere in his delusion that his own mealy announcements on whatever matter are the refined, official opinion of all who toil in the U. S. A. Among other truths which the former King doesn’t know are the fact that Mr. Green's organiza- A tion, by its exclusive policy toward A i people who want to learn trades oui and join the union, restricts opportunity and tries to monopolize Mr. ‘Pegler work; that it sometimes imposes initiation fees which almost amount to extortion; that it presumes to blackball men from various lines of industry, on the say-so of these who got there first and barred the gates in their own interest; and, finally, that some of Mr. Green's unions, finding the racket threstrained by any enforceable laws, collected tribute from thousands of rank-and-filers whom the Government, in its always fallible wisdom, has exemnted in the humane belief that they couldn't afford it. i» ww w= HE Duke, when he was over here turning on the charm, might have learned that there was more labor by at least 10 to one outside the outfit which now calls itself American labor. Even since then he might have gathered that there was some sort of rivalry between the A. F. of L. and the C. I. O., both claiming to represent labor and both together taking in too much territory. To be sure, it is the right of any gabby impostor to pretend to speak for all right-thinking people, all true Americans or all labor in this country, and our Will was merely making politics, as they say in Europe, when he sounded off. . But his outfit represents no more than half the organized labor, and the total of the organized labor is less than half of the grand total of those who are engaged in the scuffle to make a living here.
Ld ” o UST how it comes to be Mr. Green's business or that of his federation if a guy wants to come over here to stand inspection before his ever-loving home folks and perhaps poke his nose into a workman's dwelling so as to give his trip the appearance of a mission does not appear in William's decree. But our Will is like that. It didn’t occur to the Duke that coming to this country is a simple matter of buying a visa and a , ticket and slinging his satchel aboard a steamboat and that thousands of people do it every week. He had to do it the hard way and pull a face because we weren't unrolling the red rug, although he waived those attentions when love conquered all. It didn’t occur to Will that he was guilty of the same pomposity, and in the name of labor, too, in presuming to disapprove or indorse the trip. Our Will has plenty to answer for himself in his own outfits outrages against American labor before he is qualified to cer:sor the Atlantic passenger lists.
£
The Hoosier Forum
I wholly disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.
RAPS PLEA TO AID SPANISH LOYALISTS By the Rev. Fr. P. A. Deery, Bloomington Your excellent paper published a Forum contributor’s plea recently for aid to help the Communists in
Spain. For over a year Russia has ruled the Government of Spain. The Communists of Russia have practically maintained the communistic government. The friends of * the Spanish Red Government in this country have also sent money and men to carry on the terrible war. If Red Russia and the American Reds would cease their aid, the war would come to an end. The international Soviets are most anxious to have this country join their godless war on Christianity and civilization. Moscow desires to make the United States like Red Russia. Most of the American newspapers have discovered the Red propaganda apropos the Spanish War. Recently W. R. Titterton, British writer, wrote to the Prime Minister of England. In part he declared: “You know that all the talk from Valentia, Barcelona, Moscow and Paris of foreign intervention is impudent impertinence. You know that the true intervention has been Russia's, for Russia fomented, organized and has directed the Red revolution in Spain.” The Friends of Spanish Democracy is an organization in the United States to obtain money to send to the communistic Government of Madrid. “Friends of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade” tried to have a meeting in the Court House of Mansfield, O., but the officials would not permit the meeting. This organization is trying to raise $50.000 to send to the communistic powers in Madrid. . This great country of Liberty and Christian democracy must not be deceived by the Russian Soviets who are in the United States. Thesc communistic leaders deny the people the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our motto should be America for Americans and Russia for the Reds.
* ww Ww OFFERS TWO TRAFFIC SUGGESTIONS
By a Stop and Go Driver
Your editorial and the letter of Wilfrid Pools, Chicago, in The Times, recently, touched on two points important to any improvement that may be hoped for in safe and efficient handling of city traffic, i. e., the driver's attitude and the nature of our streets. Visitors to Chicago, Detroit, etc. are always impressed with the illusion of speed with which the heavier traffic moves. A large factor in this impression is the fac: that they drive on the principal through-streets or boulevards. It is evident that these cities provide many through-streets which serve to relieve traffic on other nearby streets, and these are laid out in such manner that belt routes are provided that enable one to stay out of many congested sections. Detroit offers a better example of this than Chicago, as every street entering the downtown section is a through-street serving the outskirts, and a crosstown or belt
(Times readers are invited to express their these columns, religious controversies excluded. Make your letter short, so all can have a chance. Letters must be signed, but names will be withheld on request.)
views in
street crosses all these thoroughfares about ever 5 or 10 blocks. To get from the east to the west side one can choose one of these belt streets and, by driving an additional mile or two, save considerable time and miss heavy traffic.
With some repair work, almost every street in downtown Indianapolis could he made into an outlet to the outlying districts. This would require stop signs where a north and south through-street intersected an east and west throughstreet, but if this arrangement relieved congestion on Meridian, Delaware, Washington and New York Sts. the expense easily could be justified. In addition, pedestrian traffic would be safeguarded at such intersections.
A second factor in the impression of speed with which traffic moves in Chicago, Detroit, etc., is the timing of the stop signs. If a car can pass through 5 or 10 traffic signs placed one or two blocks apart, there is no doubt of the speed with which any volume of traffic can move, whether the speed limit is 15, 2C or 25 miles an hour. In Detroit signs along many streets show the speed at which the signs are set which represents the speed limit. On a good part of Woodward Ave. they are set for 35 miles an hour. If some reasonable basis for the timing of signs were followed in Indianapolis, there might be less starting and stopping with the attendant possibility of accident. It
A LONELY SPELL
By SMILEY W. IRWIN
Why dote upon love's burning wine Which glows as flame on your soft lips? The flowers’ nectar, superfine, Is yielded when the loveless, lone bee sips.
Fair are love's petals. But they shed Too soon from boughs where thorns may be— And die where all but pain lies dead— While summer wears her blooms
perennially.
No learned sage, by lore known well, Can prove these attitudes untrue— Yet nature casts a lonely spell Without the lips and fragile dreams of you!
DAILY THOUGHT
In your patience possess ye your souls.—Luke 21:19.
E that is patient will persevere; and he that perseveres will often have occasion for, as well as trial of, patience.—~Tryon Edwards.
is possible that the type of sign used at West and New York Sts. two on each intersection, could be successfully installed for the safer and better handling of traffic. Someone should study the possibilities of a better solution of our local traffic from the standpoint of more through-streets to serve all sections of the city and a more efficient use of traffic signals. ou ” ” REPUBLICAN PARTY DEAD, HOOVER IS TOLD By William Lemon
Landon and his defeated predecessor in their previous addresses trying to resurrect the deceased Republican Party, use poor diplomacy in denouncing the New Deal without offering a substitute. Their appeal to the middle classes also includes the masses. When Hoover had a chance he failed the masses for his class, the economic rcyalists, leaving the starving masses to root-hog and die. I believe he also wrecked the Republican Party, and its only salvation is an injection of young blood with young ideas. In denouncing the New Deal, he only made more enemies among the masses who hold the controlling vote of our country. His offer to labor is back to his basket days and to the farmer no market for his products. Twelve years of Republican misrule made the masses weaker, but wiser—wise to his economic ideas o: protecting the economic royalists, LJ ” =
SUGGESTS MORE POETRY IN GOVERNMENT
By Daniel Francis Clancy, Logansport
I hope that some of the other Cabinet members follow the lead of Secretary of War Woodring and Gen. Malin Craig, who have been tossing off bits of verse lately. If the big-shots in Washington start expressing themselves in rhyme,
perhaps some of us underprivileged poets will be needed as ghost writ- | ers. Personally, I think that I shall | get a few samples ready-—something along these lines— All Republicans are mugs; Hoover and Landon are lugs. All Democrats are very good— Even Mr. Black ‘neath his hood. ® ” »
DEMANDS CAMPAIGN ON BOOTLEGGERS By L. C. F.
Your fair paper has had drives on traffic violations, slot machines, betting, crooked politicians and dozens of other things, but I think the time is ripe to start in on the hootleggers. You know, those guys that sell beer and whisky after all the respectable taverns have closed up for the night. There are at least a dozen in every neighborhood. They pay no Government taxes, yet their profit is far more than the tavern owners’. Any night after closing hours or any Sunday you can find a place to buy a drink. Some joints are running wide open. Basements are fixed up like night clubs-—music. soft lights, entertainers, slot machines and all kinds of gambling devices. |
to Me
By Heywood Broun
Columnist Predicts 1940 Campaign Will Be La Guardia vs. Roosevelt, Inclines to Vote for Third Term.
EW YORK, Nov. 10.—Shortly before the Republican convention of 1936 a newspaper associate was assailing Roy Roberts, of the Kansas City Star. “Roy,” he com= plained, “you’re up here booming a man named Landon for President. When I saw you about six months ago the best you could say about him was that you thought he might be good Vice
Presidential timber.” “Sure,” said Roy, “but I found out later that the only timber we Republicans have is Vice Presidential.” That sad estate of the G. O. P, has been materially oetlered by the last election. Indeed, if anybody will lay me two to one and give me permission to choose three men I'll bet my shirt that I can name the next Republican nominee for President. I will name Fiorello La Guardia, Thomas E. Dewey and Bruce Bare ton To be sure, I am getting out on a limb by putting all my eggs into a New York basket, but I believe that the G. O. P, has had its fill of sunflowers. Republican success in 1940 must be based on a drive to cut into the Democratic labor support, In the matter of actual achievement Mayor La Guardia, beyond argument, is the strongest candidate the Republicans could pick, Whether he is actually a Republican or not is somewhat academic. He has at least used the label, and twice he has captured a Democratic stronghold. That goes into the realm of political miracles. Some of the present leaders of the party would rather lose the election than win with Mayor La Guardia. But the present leadership is dis~ credited. Mr. Hamilton, Mr, Landon and Mr. Hoover will not be powerful in the next convention. ¥ Ww : F I hazard the opinion that La Guardia might pull in his progressive horns a litfle and meet the right wing of his party one-third of the way I may be unjust. Except for his indorsement of Geo.ge Harvey, the Mayor has a consistent record as a liberal. Although he is known as a New Deal supporter he could hardly be accused of ingratitude if
Mr. Broun
{ he ran against Mr. Roosevelt, since men as close to
the President as Jim Farley and Senator Wagner worked against him in the last campaign, Fiorello La Guardia could, in all consistency, fight Mr. Roosevelt on the Court issue, on Justice Black and on the basis of bringing a “business administration” to Washington. I imagine that most Republicans would much prefer Mr. Dewey as the national standard bearer, but he must first cross one more hurdle. He will have to get himself elected Governor of New York in order to be prominent in the 1940 national picture. Thomas E. Dewey is a mystery man as far as national politics go. He is a Republican, but that tag can cover a multitude of sins or virtues. Naturally he did not mention nation-wide problems when he was running for District Attorney. Is he in the larger political field a progressive, a middle of the roader or a cone servative? Nobody knows, ” o » RUCE BARTON, of course, would be welcome to the Landonites, the Hooverites and the Coolidgites. He, too, wili have to go at least one more round to qualify. But he would not have to move out of his district. He could keep himself in play if he is able to get re-elected to Congress again from the Seventeenth in 1938. But the next time the Democrats and the American Labor Party ought to be shrewd enough tec fuse against him. I think the 1940 race will be between Mr. La Guardia and Mr, Roosevelt. But aside from a mere cenary desire to win bets on this long range predice tion I expect that my own impulses will carry me along with Franklin rather than Fiorello,
ASHINGTON, Nov. 10.—Here is one lusty reason why A. F. of L. and C. I. O., had better get together quickly for the sake of their own hides.
The great organizing drive of the latter, plus its campaign to fight A. F. of L. requires money— hundreds of thousands of dollars. The case of A. F. of L. is no different. In setting its ranks in order for battle with C. I. O., and pushing its own
big money. Both wings of the labor movement have profited greatly by the recent upswing in both employment and unionization. Their incomes have risen rapidly and the need for money has not been an immediate overwhelming consideration. But all business indexes are now pointed down again, A new wave of unemployment isn’t just coming. It is already here. Many manufacturers have not yet reduced production in step with the decline in sales. But that spells nothing very bright for unionization. They” are building up inventories and getting their houses in order for any new labor troubles that may come in the wake of declining business.
General Hugh Johnson Says—
Business Recession Threatens to Cut Labor Union Revenues Sharply; Peace Between Warring Factions at Critical Moment Recognmended. has gained recently most grudgingly.
The Washington Merry-Go-Round
British Embassy Officials Said to Have Called Duke 'Pest No. 1" in Private: President Reported Ready to Ask Cut of One-Third in Relief Budget.
They would
By Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen |
take advantage of any recession for a flank attack.
This general recession in both business and em- | ployment can have but one effect on the war chests | | as well as the unionization drives of A. F. of L. and
C. 1. 0. When men are being laid off or put on
part-time they don't like to pay union dues and | Edgar Hoover one better than his famous reference |
| a 1938 relief budget of one billion. This would mean
they are not good union prospects. It is invariable
organization efforts, it, too, needs a constant flow of history that, at such times, the income and member-
ships of the unions, and especially of such great overheads as C. I. O. and A. F. of L., fall off rapidly. # » w WE in addition to financing their constant pressure against employers, they carry the added financial strain of fighting each other, they lose out at both ends of the horn. This threatens to come at a time when industrial resistance to unionism will stiffen greatly as it always does in times of business slumps. When labor begins to be a drug on the market, the employer gets the upper hand. It is in times of rapidly rising business and employment that labor makes its greatest gains. If labor enters a new depression with a house j if, as most obser:
believe, the slump | not want the
ASHINGTON, Nov. 10.—~When the Duke of Windsor decided to forego his trip to the United States it caused no mourning at the British Embassy. Officials of that dignified institution were not say- | ing it out loud, but among themselves they went J. |
to Dillinger as “Public Enemy No. 1.” His Highness, the Duke, one-time King of England. was privately referred to in British circles as “Public Pest No. 1.” h It is no secret that the British Government had hoped the Duke would remain in seclusion for at least a year, preferably two years after his sensational abdication and marriage. In fact, it made some quiet suggestions to him that this course would be more appropriate, ® = ® HEY knew that any visit he might make to any | country would get the full spotlight of pub-
licity, and that all kinds of misinterpretations might
be placed upon it. This was -one reason why the British Embassy was slow about inviting the Duke to dinner and otherwise arranging his visit. London definitely did vl a a
Duke planned such a trip so soon after his marriage was nothing less than that Wallis wanted to come over and be seen by the folks in Baltimore, who once snubbed her and her mother. 4 ” n sn praanEst ROOSEVELT has told Congressional leaders confidentially that he plans to recommend
a 500 million slash in the much fought-over 1937
| appropriation,
Some of Roosevelt's advisers privately are very much upset over his plans for relief trimming. With unemployment again on the increase as a result of the business recession, they fear an uproar of protests from local and state authorities who are bearing the brunt of the relief clamor. ignificant figures on the adverse trend of ecoe nomic conditions are contained in WPA records the last few weeks showing a steady rise in relief rolls, Beginning Oct. 2, each week has been an increase as follows: Oct. 2, 1,450,101; Oct. 9, 1452248; Oct. 16, 1,453.596; Oct. 23, 1.468,433. Note—Actually Roosevelt's proposed relief budget of ona billion means only about 800 million for WPA relief. Thisds because WPA funds are dipp
Rosettigmens. Federal
.