Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 December 1937 — Page 17

PAGE 18

The Indianapolis Times

(A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER)

ROY W. HOWARD LUDWELL DENNY ‘MARK

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TUESDAY, DEC. 14, 1937

THE SINKING OF THE PANAY

HAVIN G accepted full blame for the bombing and sinking

of the U. S. gunboat Panay and three merchant hips. in the Yangtse, Japan presents a four-point note of apology to the American Embassy at Tokyo. This note follows the

expression by the Japanese Navy “of its profound regret for i

the terrible mistake.”

President Roosevelt has demanded—and rightly. soit

that the Japanese Emperor proffer full indemnification and apologies for the incident, and provide guarantees against

such a thing hé&ppening again.

When the Japanese set about indiscriminately extormis #

nating everything and everybody in sight, it is “hardly enough to say‘'“Excuse us, please!” When some “terrible

_ mistake” like the Panay incident occurs, neither regrets :

nor indemnification bring the dead back to life.

Nippon’s expression of regret, however, serves at least

to relieve the tension always so quick to rise after such a

happening. When someone steps on your foot it may not |

lessen the pain if he tells you he is sorry, but it does dimin- | lsh the heat about your collar. “ Nevertheless the incident adds further strain to Japa-nese-American relations. And that is all the more reason why we should keep our shirts on. We must find a way to safeguard our legitimate inter:

ests abroad. To do so it is not necessary to wave a bloody shirt and arouse war passions. Handling such incidents re- |

‘quire calmness and firmness rather than bluster. President Roosevelt, we think, is showing admirable restraint in giving the Japanese opportunity to make amends for the blunder, in accordance with established diplomatic procedure. Yet the decisiveness with which he has asserted American rights, we believe, merits the support of all Amer“ican citizens.

1938 TAXES AND JOBS HERE was a time, some two or three months ago, when repeal or modification of the undistributed profits tax might have checked the business recession then getting underway. But the Roosevelt leaders in Congress let that opportunity pass, and the economic slump continues unchecked. Even if Congress should throw its legislative ma_chinery into high gear and promptly eliminate the admittedly bad features of this law, the action would come too late . much good so far as the ¢alendar year 1937 ncerned, The boards of directors of most corporations already have determined their 1937 dividend policies on the basis of the tax laws now on the books. Dividends already have been distributed or earmarked for distribution to stockholders, to avoid being confiscated by this tax, and therefore are no longer available for the jebeersating purposes of business. : : That is bad news w people who sve bee dropped from industrial payrolls. To those who must pass through a jobless Christmas it is small consolation that at the next session next year Congress will finally get around té correcting this job-robbing law. But to people who still remain on corporate payrolls, there is: some hope in assurances that the tax will be changed next year so that it will not continue to destroy jobs in 1938 as it has in 1987. Congress has dallied: too long to prevent a tragic end to 1937, but it can give 1938 a better start, and should do so by performing at once on its promises to eliminate this heads-I-win-tails-you-lose tax —thereby permitting the business of 1938 to be planned ahead with some degree of confidence that it will not be penalized for creating jobs. That should be done now—in the special session—so

that business will know in advance the tax rules for 1638.

' FLAN K ATTACK VERY interesting and susettolally rather convincing is Chairman J. Warren Madden’s defense of the Labor - Relation Board’s action in subpenaing an editor. It is contended that no issue of freedom of the press is involved, that the editor was being required as a citizen, not as a critic, to produce what he knows about an alleged violation of the labor act. That, in short, while a critic definitely has immunity as a critic under the frée-speech-press clause of the Constitution heé is not immune from the usual processes, mandatory on any citizen, of providing | ‘evidence that may assist in the proper enforcement of law. But we believe it is just another of the many backdoor approaches to intimidation of critics under ‘the guise of public welfare; off the same bolt of cloth, for ‘example, as the Louisiana tax law so recently declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States as “a deliberate and calculated device . . . to limit the circulation of material | to which the public i is entitled by virtue ut the ‘constitutional guarantees.” It all gets down to the very practical proposition of what is intimidation of a critic. ithout straining the point one might say, “Give me

er of subpena, and I care not who makes the laws Tn enforce ‘em no matter what happens to that most | gic of all our laws, the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of :

th United States.”,

Ne ‘can conceive~of no more effective. way of ning | |

2 160 complete silence shan by thle

tec det Wey Sd AE PE |

Price in Marion Coun- | |

The Liberal View

By Dr. Harry Elmer Barnes

New Elements in Labor ‘Problem Make Necessary Readjustment of

EW YORK, Dec. 14.—Most economists and sociologists ‘are agreed that the labor problem is the most fundamental issue of the age in the United States. There is no

‘tem of economic.society unless we can insure stable and adequate mass purchasing power. | We have had ample proof in the last few Joars that few Economic Royalists will voluntarily make the concessions which are necessary to bring about this indispens sable mass purchasing’ power, The question is whether or not labor can conquer it by methods which are compatible with capl=

talism and democracy.

Our labor problem is viewed in 'a broad and statesmanlike fashion sby Alvin Johnson in a recent ar- | ticle on “The Labor Crisis” In the Yale Review. Dr. Johnson sees important new elements b We labor Ssuggle of "= ; : our-age, the only constant factor Bam es being the arbitrary and dicta=: Pr Ba torial attitude of most captains of industry with re-

spect to labor. In the first place, Dr. Johnson fins a distinctly

new type of laborer. “There has been a shift in the constitution of our industrial working population «from ‘the raw immigrant or the beaten refugee from a barren hill farm to a class educated in ¢ity and | town schools and ‘bred up under modern industrial *conditions.” ‘This new type of laborer cannot be ‘browbeaten or intimidated anywhere near as easily by Tory employers or their vigilante puppets. 8 8.8 mre, the new public attitude toward relief, which makes it possible for strikers to obtain pub- | lic relief, has brought about a condition where workers are by no means so much at the mercy of employers as they once were. Laborers can no longer easily be starved into submission. - The social security legisla~ tion also promises to work toward the same end. Finally, the Wagner labor law has legalized collective bargaining and outlawed arbitrary firing and blacklisting. The laborer now has a little law on’ his- side. ‘All this has produced a basic change in the whole social set-up of the American labar problem: “A sea change is coming over American labor, a change ‘produced neither by John L. Lewis nor by the man {in the White House.

suring, if management proves incapable of supplebh 2% its traditional dictatorial Miscipline by a dis‘cipline by consent.” 7 2 s | MrLovERs contend that labor unions must be competent to make contracts. and to keep them faithfully. Dr. Johnson concedes that this is a fair demand and a just position. But he logically emphasizes the fact that if this is so, employers must be willing to deal with the labor organizations and leaders who

. most truly represent labor:

“We shall not have an adequate machinery for ‘industrial peace until our captains of industry develop

the political wisdom to inquire not what organization

‘and what leaders are most friendly to capital, but what organization and leaders are the most authentic ‘bearers of the workers’ consent.”

EW YORK, ‘Dec, 14, = It is quite true that when Joe Kennedy leaves Washington, there won't be anybody left in the privy council, and only one or two

with distrust. 3: Is too bad, too. thak Jus at Ue tase

youve got to ‘make income before you He'is not in the business-baiting bund. 1

: Capitalists’ View of Negotiations.

‘possibility of maintaining the present sys-:

Ard the prospects for a peace--ful development of American industry are not reas- ;

ASKS LAW ENFORCEMENT | 2 ‘OFFICERS TO: a “HUMAN” | By C.-B. Coombs. There is no way to estimate the

value of our newspapers’ aid in protecting the rights of the citizens of

lives and property. Therefore it is the privilege of the press .when a safety campaign is being waged by the law enforcement authorities, for the papers to ‘print the truth and give both sides of the question. The case I have in mind is the accident at Bridgeport on a recent night, when two ‘people lost their lives. ‘The only person who was blamed for this accident was a woman who, through fright, left the scene of the accident without

a violation of the law and should cause arrest, but she should not be

| unjustly persecuted and inhumanly | prosecuted.

I. am positive that if our’'law en-

*| forcement officers were more human “in their method of arrest

and prose- | cutions, far| less people : through '} fright would leave the scene of an accident without giving their name, We, &s motorists, know there are drunken and reckless drivers who should be prosecuted and new laws made which are more severe to take care of them, but when law-abiding citizens have accidents which are not. their own fault, they should receive not only courtesy but protection by our law enforcement body: It would be far greater protection to the pedestrians if they were told. the truth. and violations of this Hd prosecuted. rh 2.2 . PLACES RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY ON PEDESTRIANS

By G. L P.

Another. phase of the unrelenting war on traffic has been launched—

| creased toll of pedestrians has fol-| ‘lowed close upon similar overemphasis of the rights of pedestrians. May this not breed carelessness in pe-|

little responsibility? Hit-run drivers must be prosecu ed, of course, but there is too much denunciation of motorists involved

careless: pedestrians. If regulations were formulated for them and violators arrested, there would be few-

drivers.

ing for signals and the cars in front blamelessly run down & careless . Witnesses, if any, may pre] diced; public. sympathy De be with the one injured or killed, and there’ is a natural

ait perhaps unjust.

| in the regular Cabinet, who doesn’t regard all business i

| start, it isn't going far

edestrians should be to Low Vora ien B TE a

General Hugh Johnson Says— Removal of Kennedy From Capital Scene Setback to Good wil Plans; |

Business, Despite Promises of Administration, Can Expect No. Cuddling. |

n't co-operate with such two- : + Labor Relations Board is a >

on of justice. DD OF em 1 wat mmotrond], thiak tho 1a, Fel

that Government timing, and that

iN . ‘el . the President wants to or

pert This

this country and the safety of their |

giving her name. Of course this is |

in the wrong direction. Accidents}:

cannot be prevented by prosecuting | hit-run drivers. The recently in-|

destrians and bicycle riders and too J te

in accidents and none whatever of |

er accidents and fewer hit-and-run

The most careful and conscien-| tious driver, as he is driving, watch-|

and rear, blinded’ by lights, may |

tendency to flee rather than face a |

ness,

ey According to Heywood Broun—

ss now the “wo-operiion 4 1 | :

“The Hoosier Forum

1 wholly disagree with wl you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it—Voltaire.

(Times readers are invited fo express their views in 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.)

the right side of thé road. Even then, having to cut around causes danger: of collision in the inner passing lane. If pedestrians carry no

light, they should walk-on the left’

of the road and step off the pavement as cars approach. If they are hit while violating rules, they should have no recourse. Sidewalks should also be provided along many of our suburban high-

ways. ‘These measures would do in-

finitely more toward preventing accidents to pedestrians. than rigorous prosecution of .a few. Nmlugky. -hitrun drivers. 8 2 y INVESTMENT ISSUE CITED AS BUILDING PROBLEM : By An’ Indianapolis Builder The President stakes much on the revival of housing - construction. Barriers confront the revival of housing. First is the problem of making it pay as ‘an’ investment. The shirts hanging on the stock market laundry line are few compared to those hanging on the real estate investment line. Cost of construction compared to return on the investment in housing rentals is way out of line. Interest rates are too high to attract builders who ‘might build for investment. Taxes are choking off refurns to the tune of 28 per cent of gross receipts in revenue. Depreciation through mis-

CLOUDLAND “By: JAMES D. ROTH

‘Ever watch a. drifting cloud Floating as: a feather? Riding o'er you high and proud, Element of weather.

Then breaking into Ehapely maps, With Asia plain to see; The Then Spain and Italy.

Now they're swiftly racing on, :! - Ever changing size and shape.

Te sun is out and now they're gone

ie fleecy h escape.

' DAILY THOUGHT But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was foung of them.—-II Ohrenicles,

OD be praised, ‘who, to believ-

ing souls, Sivas light in darkcomfort in despair.—Shake-

polar zone with whitish caps, |

ulks make - their

‘speaker was Jim Redmond. sDouncemeit, it was his intention to conciliate. the |

8 OF Distes. ‘He began his speech by declaring, |.

use of rental property is more rapid than it should be. - Builders cannot be philanthropists to furnish housing at a loss. Ask any financial institution if there is a headache in keeping repossessed property to rent. Statutes which permit foreclosure with deficiency judgments are no enticement for prospective home owners to put. their names to mortgages which may make slaves of them to mortgage holders for a period of years after their property has been seized for debf; through foreclosure. The deficiency judgment is worse than imprisonment for debt. It

makes chattel slaves of the victims

of foreclosure deficiency judgments.

Of course we need. millions of new homes. If we can expect prosperity from scarcity, as has been advocated during the last seven years, we ought to have it abundantly .in. housing. There is our greatest shortage. Unless we start not only building but every other industry on a full capacity production. we might as

well give the: country back to the ‘indians, FE ;

#8 8 8 THE SMOKE, TO PUT IT TERSE,

IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE

By Bob Parker

Boo-ti-ful, soot-i-ful, nobody dutiful With streets so dark and black.

Everyone quitters, all have the jitters |

Some starch in our spines what we lack! oy

Coughin’ and hackin’, nerves are all wra We are all full of civic soot.

It’s all very awful, we all have a8).

crawfui It’s not a question that's moot.

Only this mornin’, - without any warnin’ A fellow bumped into me. Street was so murky, I thought him

a darky. His den was 4s black as could be. All that I passed, from the first to

the last Were black; guess IT was black, too.

I started on Pennsy, but I gob so’

dauncy I thought it the Avenoo! Council is meetin’, still time is

»

Soot still holds forth as king. °

J Along with this scourge, marches

the dirge, Angels to Heaven do wing. |

They talk surveyin’, which means just delayin® ‘And the soot still pours from each stack.

Why any factions? What's needed

are actions. Let’s get our citic pride back!

‘With soot cleared away, with skies

. no more gray Let's | ye clean when all the folks

Let's Sal Bie the “sootiful,” make 1 - the beautiful

: Then “twill be No Mean City for all.

Merry-Go-Round

By Pearson & Allen.

Reported Rightist Views of Eccles Give New Dealers Case of Jitters; Legion King-Makers Back Chadwick,

ASHINGTON, Dec. 14.— Inner circle associates of Reserve Board Chairman Marriner S. Eccles are jittery for fear that he will break out with a speech and proclaim publicly what he is saying privately. If so, Mr. Eccles’ remarks will make highly sensational reading. For the business recession has given a rightist slant to the views of the No. 2 White House financial adviser. Here are the views Mr. Eccles is .advancing privately that are giving some of his New Deal colleagues the jitters: If conditions do not eventually right themselves, we will have to choose between communism or fascism—and of the two Mr. Eccles is said to prefer fascism. Chief responsibility for the slump rests on the shoulders. of labor. + The budget can't be balanced .. and talk about doing so is silly. Ef Likewise, economizing in Governe ment expenditures.

The Administration should. em-

bark immediately on another

large-scale spending program. It Is the one sure-fire solution of the slump and every dollar spent now will Yo. worth 10 six months from

Row, The $1,237,000,000 in sterilized _ gold lying idle in the Treasury's coffers should be used to finance the new spending splurge.

sx 8

+" The American Legion Convention of 1938 is .a long way off, but some insiders say the little group

Honert Allen of brass-hats, known as the “King

Makers,” already “has picked Stephen Chadwick of

Seattle as next National Commander. He was a candidate this year, but in the final ep pooled forces with Daniel J. Doherty against Ray Kelly of Detroit. This alliance elected Mr. Doherty and in return Chadwick has been slated by this group for the top job Rex year when the Legion meets in Tos Angeles,

'

‘ee ® 8 ) make shire there is no slipup, the “King Makers” e quietly making changes at national heade rn and installing their own trusted lieutenants.

Frank Pinola of Pennsylvania, who swung that state’s

delegation to Mr. Doherty, has been given the key post of chairman of the National Legislative Committee. Mr. Pinola harbors National Commander ambitions of his own and inside word is that he is being groomed for 1939. } Note—The inner coterie known as the “King Make ers” consists of Mark McKee, Detroit lawyer; William Doyle, Boston politieian; and Phil Collins, Chicago lawyer. In 1934 the: band -was thrown for & loss by °

‘National Commander Frank N. Belgrano Jr, of San

Francisco, a rank-and-file -champion, ‘but since His incumbency’ they have Tegained their previous potency.

(EDITOR'S NOTE—National Adjutant Frank Samuel at American Legion national headquarters said “changes which have been made’ iat national headquarters of the American Legion have been purely routine to All vacancies created by deaths and resigna« tions. No more changes are audicipaled. ”

—

National ‘Association of Manufacturers Too Far Isolated i in ‘Own Shell oF They: Need Paul Revere to Tell 'Em They Didn't Win Last: Election. ag

* NT YORK, Dec. 14—I wen! to a meeting of Irish. Republicans a good many years ago. The chief

According to the an-

unfriendly. word against the: ted besott

‘éonsultant of big business if he would forswear all the objectives to which he is committed. Even the C. I. O. would not be denied admission to the gathering for brotherly love if only all its representatives would agree to check their hats and cut their throats

MERE A

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