Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11 November 1937 — Page 18
PAGE 18
The Indianapolis Times
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THURSDAY, NOV. 11, 1937
GOOD NEWS—THIS Cut 200 million out of Government expense to balance
the budget. Do not increase taxes. Renovate the taxation system to make it actually apply
the principle of ability to pay (broaden the base of the income tax, thereby greatly increase the number of incometax payers and at the same time correspondingly decrease
sales taxes). Encourage private industry so that the slack created
by cutting Government spending may be taken up and more
volume to tax be created. 2 2 8
= 2 FROM the Secretary of the Treasury come these recommendations. Never was a speech more timely than that which Mr. Morgenthau made before the American Academy of Political Science in New York last night. What he said about the tax policy alone, and the tone in which he said it, would have made the address vital if he had said nothing else, for it committed the Treasury to the sound and long-haul plan of relieving the rank and file of the burden of hidden Federal taxes and redistributing them where they belong. But in addition to his remarks on tax policy, what Mr. Morgenthau had to say about economy and budget balancing as those things tie in with private industry and the one way out, gave the message a quality which will instill hope in many a doubtful and troubled mind throughout the land.
& & 8 & & & AD the Secretary's message stood alone it would there-
fore have been of great importance. But it happens that it is accompanied by other events which add immeasurably to its significance, its force, and effect. Those events head up to the White House and to Congressional committees and bear directly on the present recession and what to do about it. Modification of the undistributed profits and capitalgains taxes is now definitely on the program. The President points a constructive and we think reasonable way by which the utilities can get over their anger and get going on a construction program running into the billions. We cite those as only two of many suddenly appearing signs of activity similar in nature and purpose, all pertinent and intimately related to Secretary Morgenthau's program. . The meaning of all this is recognition by the Administration that we are in a slump; that a slump long continued and growing into a real depression would sink the New Deal and destroy the fine ideals for which it has been struggling; that to turn the tide, to absorb the unemployed, and to provide a source of taxation sufficient to raise the Federal revenue that is necessary—to do all that, this nation’s volume of industry must be raised, and raised and raised. The Administration is proceeding on lines that are indicated by the immutable logic of known facts. That is good government. In terms of hope for future prosperity, that is good news.
THE BIG SMOKE F yesterday was any indication, this may go down in Indianapolis history as the winter of the big smoke. It also should be the winter in which the community begins to make some progress toward controlling the smoke plague—one of the blackest civic marks against the City. A long-suffering public some day will revolt against a condition which— Costs residents here an estimated $5,000.000 yearly: Aggravales respiratory diseases and destroys lung tissues, making Indianapolis unattractive to many as a place to live. Tarnishes buildings, corrodes roofs, blights plants and flowers, injures trees, and damages merchandise. Creates an appearance of civic unsightliness. Increases laundry and cleaning bills. Lowers realty and rental values. Lack of effective smoke control can no longer be blamed on public indifference. Certainly everyone was uncomfortably conscious of the nuisance yesterday when smoke and soot blackened the streets while the sun beat down from a cloudless sky on the roofs of tall buildings, unable to penetrate below. The alibi of “smog” cannot be used, for the Weather Bureau said there was almost no fog. Experts declare that throughout the United States smoke costs each inhabitant $16 annually. Doctors report that the death rate in 12 typical smoky cities is 31 per cent higher than in 12 less smoky cities. Smoke cantrol means fuel saved and lower operating costs for homes and factories. Indianapolis, its industries and its citizens have a selfish interest in reducing smoke to a minimum. A longrange, well-financed program is needed to do the job.
WAR IN MASQUERADE 2 call this Armistice Day. So it is, if by that we mean 1e anniversary of the command to cease fire i World War, 19 years ago. Tn. In the larger sense there is no armistice. For ten thousand years and no longer what we call mankind has been tearing itself to pieces. There is rarely a moment when, somewhere on earth, men are not killing each other in revolutions, civil wars or international strife. Today, clear around the globe, people are celebrating the great truce of Nov. 11, 1918. Yet blood is flowing in Spain and in China. Two conflicts are in progress, either of which may again set the world ablaze. Europe is more of an armed camp than ever and the greatest armaments race of all time is fast bringing on another crisis. We hate to appear cynical on a day like this. We are not cynical. Only truthful. The world seems further from peace today than it was 19 years ago. Some day, perhaps human beings will be able to dwell together here below without butchering one another, but as yet that day is still afar,
ue, 5 tase om § J 02 0 om
OPERATION WAS A GREAT success’!
Fair Enough
By Westbrook Pegler
Army Fearful of Plane Sabotage, But Phrases Announcement With Care Not to Offend Union Labor.
NEW YORK, Nov. 11.—Maj. M. K. B. Wolf of the Army Air Corps, stationed in Los Angeles to inspect military airplanes and test them after delivery to the Army by the manufacturers, has announced that the
Air Corps would not test or accept any more ships from the Northrop Plant ‘of the Douglas Aircraft Corp. until the company could give assurance against sabotage. There had been three suspicious incidents in the Douglas and Northrop plants. Following the sitdown strike at the Douglas plant last winter an old spring and a number of metal nuts were found in a blower section of a bomber which had been built for a bidding competition. The ship was in the plant, — 1 almost complete, when the strike - FN began and was finished a few days a vi after the plant was cleared. Taken A up by Carl Cover, a test pilot who £ SOR is also Douglas vice president, it NRA developed engine trouble. The engine was then torn down and Mr. Pegler moving parts were found to have been damaged by the spring and nuts. This ship was not made for delivery to the Army, but was a sample, sé to speak, and the case, in that sense, was not the immediate business of the Air Corps. » = 8
1= two other incidents concerned two attack planes built for the Army in the Northrop plant, which has had two sitdown strikes. In one of these planes two pieces of cloth were found in a gasoline feedline. It was suggested that these fragments might have stuck in the line by accident, but Army officers do not believe that this was possible. One piece matched the cloth used in cleaning the line and might conceivably have lodged by accident, although it was much larger than mere lint, and there was nothing to indicate that it could have been snagged off inside the line. The other piece, however, did not match the cloth used in cleaning. In the other attack plane a piece of cloth was found concealed behind a baffle plate or bulkhead in a gasoline tank, where it would have been invisible from the opening after the tank had been soldered up. Suspicion had been directed to the tank shop and special vigilance discovered the rag, about the size of a handkerchief, which in ordinary inspection might have been overlooked. The cloth was large enough to impede or block the fuel outlet if it had become matted over the hole through suction.
REOR leader active in the strikes took the position that sabotage was against the interest of the union and the employees and agreed with a Government inspector that the cause of labor organizations had nothing to gain from such actions. The Army is behaving with great tact for fear that some action intended only to prevent unnecessary risks of the lives of Army fliers would be exploited into apparent hostility to union labor. which, in the event of a later emergency, might therefore be exhorted to refuse co-operation with the War Department.
The Hoosier Forum
I wholly disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.
PLEADS FOR THOUGHT ON ARMISTICE DAY By Ann Crowell Dear God: Please make men stop
and think, today. = = 2
REPORTS DIFFICULTY IN KEEPING UP BUNTING By Daniel Francis Clancy, Logansport We had quite a time up here in
to express
troversies
(Times readers are invited their these columns, religious conexcluded. your letter short, so all can have a chance. be signed, but names will be withheld on request.)
is only another case of making a difference of whose ax is gored. Mr. Hoover, it seems, has not improved as a radio orator—according to Heywood Broun—and we all know that he has not improved as a vote getter. I would just like to offer these heartsick, discouraged and worthy fellow citizens a little fatherly tip in practical politics and
views in
Make
Letters must
Logansport this summer. In honor
I would say this:
of some chaps who were holding a convention, the lamp posts were clothed with sets of bunting, shizlds, flags, etc. — and the decorations stayed up like trousers with rubber belts. At dawn, the blokes in charge
of decoration jumped out of their!
beds and started working down the main street elevating their paraphernalia—finished, they'd turn to find that things were slipping at the other end. And so it went from dawn to dusk. . .. Recently read a letter to the editor of a newspaper urging that the U. S. Government dispatch its fleet to China—the letter was written by one Mr. Overwater. . . . Stanley Baldwin (retired) is an Earl—Alfred E. Smith (retired) is an Honorary Night Superintendent of the New York Central Park Zoo. Who said democracies didn't reward their servants? . ..
the spirit of charity alone should be sufficient to offer sympathy and kindly advice—as any “good nabah” should—to any fellow-citizen, even a Republican that is in distress. Out of office five long, long years! My, what a miserable blank feeling. We realize this feeling from experience. We were out 16 long, long years. However, we never wished for a funeral of 40 Democrats like our dear Fish wished in his party. We could not spare that amount, and if he stopped to think he could not spare very many, even in New Hampshire. Mr. Landon said his main worry outside of the long, long years was
that Roosevelt has so much power, and is seeking even more power for himself and his party, and so it
“Boys, you know it is impossible to ever get a Democrat to vote the
Republican ticket. You have also observed that it is not difficult to get a Republican to vote Democrat, if you offer him a job. In fact, he will soon become a leading Democrat. You can’t think up a policy that will attract voters. You will have to offer them more than the Democrats, and the Democrats nave offered them everything in sight. So that’s out. Orators never got out a vote; that is done by the precinct committeeman, and most committeemen want to work for the Two Per Cent Club. You have only one way to get a portion of the power you seek, and that is to take down your sign, bury the poor old elephant, and come over in a body to the Democrats.” If Mr. Farley were approached in advance, no doubt a department of chickens, sunflowers and maple
I see that they have “three Indians in jail for having unseasonal venison”—T'll bet that they put salt on it next time! Some time ago Rep. J. Will Taylor (after 20 long years in the House) finally asked “unanimous consent to speak.” Here's part of the Tennessee Congressman’s address: “Mr. Speaker, if conduct such as this is to go unchallenged, justice becomes a mockery and graft masquerades under the cloak of manly virtue. . , . Here and now, I call upon the Department of Jus-. tice to investigate this outrageous and scandalous practice, and if requested to do so, I will be glad to furnish the Attorney General's office with pertinent information bearing on this shameful and unsavory affair” Oh, my, my—some Congressman is all worked uppy uppy, isn’t he? That's all right, Mr, Taylor—you just come back to your seat, now, and take it easy. Every- might thing’ll be just ducky in the morning —justice won't be mockery, graft’ll cease hiding beneath a cloak of manly virtue—you just sit down an’ cool off. . . &
pride
day glad.
” = 2 ‘ONE PARTY SYSTEM’ TIP GIVEN REPUBLICANS By Bert Wilhelm
It will seem strange to the reader to see an Old Hickory Democrat taking interest in the problems of another political party. However.
matter;
23:17.
General Hugh Johnson Says—
Joseph P. Kennedy's Merchant Marine Report Paints Dreary Picture; Hints Government Ownership of Ships May Be Way Out of Dilemma.
YY iSHNEToN: Nov. 11.—Joseph P. Kennedy's long-awaited report of the Maritime Commission is a searching survey of the complex and baffling situation in American shipping. It clears up securities and punctures self-serving arguments and dogmatic conclusions. It paints a dreary picture of the outlook for any American merchant marine—which is not in the least to be criticized because, on the basis of this report, “dreary” is the word for it. No other kind of picture could have been painted truthfully. This is a fine and unique example of the kind of investigation that is needed before headlong governmental action. If we had seen more of that and less closet magic in New Deal legislation, we might be further along. = = 2 JUST how bad the prospect is can be gathered from © excerpts from two findings; first, that of the existing fleet of 1422 ocean-going vessels aggregating 8,407,000 tons, 1305 vessels of 7,402,000 tons, will be 20
years old or more by 1942 and more than 400 vessels of 2,500,000 tons are already more than 20 years old; second, that the prospect of private replacement building is 68 vessels within a period of five years—but this only if we have a drastic amendment of the Merchant Marine Act providing much more generous subsidies for private building. To this the report adds, “If the private lines are unable to finance the 65-ship pro-
gram, which is likely to be the case, the Government itself will have to build the vessels.” Since 1917, we have spent nearly 4 billion Govern ment dollars to get a merchant marine. We built it within a few war and postwar years and then stopped building. It will soon be worn out. The vast shipbuilding capacity we created in 1917 to 1919 is also obsolete. We could not rebuild faster than 40 or 50 ships a year. The labor condition, according to the report, is so bad that, without improvement, it would be impossible to go ahead at all. 2 = = F this says anything, it says, “Uncle Sam, you built your merchant fleet all at once. It has now worn out all at once. Competitive costs are so high nobody is going to replace it unless you do it yourself, or finance most of the rebuilding. Even at the best you can do, you can replace it only after years of constant rebuilding.” I doubt if a hardboiled study of the rest of Joe Kennedy's hardboiled report could come to any other conclusion than that the only clear way out is Government ownership and operation of whatever mercantile fleet we think we must have for economic, naval .or military reasons. The report does not say that, but the figures suggest it and also that the bill for it might be high enough to make even Harry Hopkins break out in hives.
DUTY CALLS By ROBERT O. LEVELL
The march of men, side by side Was the answer to the call By those possessed with precious
And a love for one and all.
Was then no band had to play Was the love of land and flag The brave at heart proved day by
While they served so true and
They deprived themselves of home When they went where all was
war Where many battles fought alone Have left their marks and scars.
They have fought with all their
May they ‘not have died in vain For precious freedom and the right Not to have war again.
DAILY THOUGHT
Keep thee far from a false and the innocent and righteous slay thou not; for I will not justify the wicked.—Exodus
ELL does Heaven take care that no man secures happiness by crime.—Alfieri.
syrup would be added to the incomplete reorganization plans of the Government, which will come up at this special session of Congress. You have experts in your ranks who could head these departments and all of us could sing “Happy Days Are Here Again,” but you say “ours is a two-party system.” I say no. The South has tried out a one-party system for a century, and what Southerner would change? 2 ” 2 WILLIAM GREEN PROPOSED AS WINDSOR'S GUIDE
By a Union Official The Duke of Windsor’s sojourn to the United States to find out about the working people seems to be at the moment entirely unnecessary. He found that the working people of this country were not puppets, tools and underlings who would put themselves up for exhibition. Now that his first attempt has been called off, I would suggest that
he arrange for Bill Green of the A. F. of L. to show him around and study the inner workings of some business organizations. This would be interesting to the Duke and perhaps give Mr. Green some new angles. The Duke's right; it's not cricket, and he is not the only one who is “extremely angry.”
It Seems to Me
By Heywood Broun
Doctor Orders Kindly Columnist To Express Indignation Every Day; William Green Likely to Suffer.
NEW YORK, Nov. 11.—The doctor said, “Can you spare me an hour?” You see, I'd asked him what was the matter with me and my work and life in general. To make a long story short, he found that I was suffer
ing from a common complaint, although he admitted that this was one of the worst cases he had ever encountered, It seems that I am*ar too kindly, which means that underneath a smiling exterior molten lava is churning around and devastating my nervous system. “Look at Vesuvius,” said the doc= tor dramatically. All I could see on the wall was a painting of two or three deer, a nude, a skyscraper and a bunch of grapes. It was labeled, for no particular reason, ! “Nocturne.” It turned out that the { physician meant me to look at Ve1 suvius in my mind's eye. “The thing that keeps that mountain going,” the doctor explained, “is the fact that every once snd so often it erupts. You should do the same, When you sit down at your typewriter to do a column think of some persons or things youre mad at, and then let go. Turn on the heat; use a full swing; don’t pull your punches.”
2 o ”
“PDP UT suppose I go to work some morning and I'm not mad at anybody in particular?” I objected. “I can’t write about Bill Green every day.” “Don't talk nonsense,” he answered. “Of course, you're mad at lots of people. Every one of us is, 24 hours of the day. Without good sustaining hate, ®ife could not go on. That's your trouble, You're inhibited.” I guess he's right, because sometimes I just can’t remember anybody I'm sore at, or if I am I've forgotten his name. My hate may be familiar, but I can’t seem to place it. And so at the end the doctor and I compromise. The column, for instance, could be something very whimsical and charming about a dog or autumn in the country, but the minute I'm done my instructions are to go straight to the studio and paint myself a thunderstorm or a couple of venomous trees.
n 8 a
O far the system is working out terribly. I still have sugar in my newspaper stint, and all the landscapes are benign and smiling. Unless I can pull myself together I'm going to end up by being a kind of combination of Charles Dickens and Maxfield Parrish, Almost any day now somebody is going to be calling me “the good, gray journalist,” and I look out of the window fearfully to see whether a delegation of kide dies has come from the neighboring town to serenade me with “Happy Birthday to You!” A man who pretends to be a friend has sent my name to a contest which a young folks’ magazine is carrving on to determine who has done the most to further the ideals of American childhood. If I win the election I understand that I get a gold watch and that the magazine will print my picture on the cover under the caption “Uncle Heywood.” It looks as if the doctor was all wrong. There is no hope in my unconscious. Even if I get rid of my inhibitions I won't be Dean Swift. The net result will be much more like Eddie Guest. I'm not Vesuvius, that's a couple of other mountains,
F:
Mr. Broun
—-
The Washington Merry-Go-Round
Ominous World Situation Reported Factor in Special Session Call; F. D. R. May Ask Neutrality Act Revision So U. S. Can Aid China,
By Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen
TASHINGTON, Nov. 11.—It has .scarcely been mentioned outside of Cabinet meetings, but one of the big reasons the President called the special session of Congress was the ominous international situation. No. 1: He wants to clear the domestic decks of all necessary legislation in case there are serious developments on the foreign horizon. No. 2: He envisages the possible necessity of going to Congress to ask for a revision of the Neutrality Act so that an embargo could be imposed against Japan, but not China. Without getting into scare headlines, several things have been taking place recently that indicate how seriously the Administration views the international situation. One is an emergency enlistment plan perfected by the Army. Another is a series of letters sent by the War Department to reserve officers asking how many would be able to join the Army on a permanent basis
Also, the Navy has stationed an added number ci vessels near the Aleutian Islands, which jut out into Bering Sea from Alaska toward Japan,
® = =» V HILE significant, these moves should. not be considered causes for alarm. The Army and Navy always are forehanded, sometimes because the wish is father to the thought, and many of these preparations may have been taken without the Pres
ident’s knowledge. However, the basic factor to be remembered in the
w
international situation is that Roosevelt sees the dice tatorships of Europe and Asia gradually hemming in the democracies. This is the key to almost every move he has made or is likely to make in foreign affairs. In discussions with Navy and State Department advisers he has said that he was looking 50 years ahead—not one year or five. His thesis is thdt if Japan bites off part of China she will become one of the most powerful nations in te world, economically and from a military viewpoint.
VERY time this has been put up to the British they have agreed in principle, but backed away from concrete commitments. Once or twice they have been on the verge of promising something definite. But each lime, Mussolini, as if sensing # has intensified his submarine “piracy” or his threats
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