Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 January 1938 — Page 13

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MARK FERREE

Business Manager

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MONDAY, JAN. 3, 1938

CONGRESS

| ConerEss meets today in regular session, and so thls should be-a good tinie to re-examine the philosophy on which our representative Government was founded and , see how the principles are working out. . James Madison, writing «in The Federalist 150 years ago, said that the “principal task of modern legislation”

- under the then new Constitution must be the regulation of

the various and conflicting interests in society—the interests of creditors and debtors, of landowners, manufacturers, merchants, financiers and all the rest. He believed that the elected representatives of the people; in Congress, would reconcile those conflicting interests “by considering as always paramount the “true interest of * their country.” Mr. Madison. of course, could not foresee the range of economic and geographical interests with which Congress would have to deal in 1938. . But we suspect he might be sadly disappointed if he could know what practice has done to his magnificent theory. * + In the recent special session an Oklahoma Congressman rose to announce that “I speak for the oil industry.” “ He demanded for this industry exemption from the Wage- . Hour Bill. . Before that particular piece of legislation was "sent back to committee it was riddled with exemptions, voted as one Congressman after another did battle for a - special interest. Appropriations for public works and relief are subject-

* ed to pork-barrel raids, with scant regard for the nation’s

credit.

» 8 = # ® »

ET almost any well-informed. citizen, asked to name a |

few really important members of Congress, probably would list such men as Senators Norris, Borah, Glass,

* Wheeler and Wagner or Reps. Maury Maverick and David

J. Lewis. And the characteristic which sets these men apart from

~most of their colleagues is simply that they don’t devote , their time exclusively to representing Nebraska, Idaho, Virginia, Montana, New York, Texas or Maryland, but legislate with the welfare of the whole country in mind. n These are not men willing to be spokesmen for privi-

leged interests or special groups; they speak for all interests .and all groups. And, for so doing, they are respected by all > citizens, regardless of views.

-. If we were making one wish above all others for the 2 Congress that meets today, it would be this—that all of its

.. members would scorn the role of special pleader and resolve ~ “to speak and vote and act only for the “true interest of their - country.”

; PEOPLE WITHOUT JOBS

OR eight years unemployment has been our gravest national problem, and we haven't yet even found a way

.'to measure its extent or gauge its rise and fall.

That much—but, unfortunately, very little more—is clear from the reports now being issued on the National - Unemployment Census. The task of counting the jobless,

* which Congress thought last summer should be so simple,

--proves’ to have been impossible by the method used, and

“it is doubtful whether it would have been possible by any - method.

What we have is, in effect, an estimate that on Nov. 20 there were between 7,822,912 and 10,870,000 persons who considered themselves unemployed and willing and .able to work. How many of them actually needed jobs? How many were, in fact, unable to work? How many would

~ remove themselves from the labor market if their family

= breadwinners ‘were normally employed? There are no an- . swers to these questions. - Since Nov. 20, of course, the industrial slump has thrown out of work an additional and uncounted but very - -.Jarge number of persons. As Census Director John D. ~ Biggers points out, the figures are no index to relief needs. ‘But the work and money devoted to this effort have not necessarily all been wasted. ~The disappointing result of the census should convince . this Congress, and the country, of the need for doing a ~ thorough and intelligent. fact-finding job which can serve as - the basis for a consistent, long-range national policy. For the one fact certainly known about unemployment is this—that the country can't afford to be permanently baffled by it. /

: CHALLENGE OR SURRENDER?

VIOLENT death on streets and highways ushered in the New Year. Holiday week-end traffic killed three Indianapolis men. The nation’s toll was more than 350. And last night seven children, none over 15 years old, died horrible deaths when the automobile in which they were riding _ crashed through railroad crossing gates at Butler, Ind., into the path of a speeding train. The Butler accident recalls the statement at last week's

-- science convention here that 8000 lives could be saved each

year if youthfyl drivers could be made to drive as safely as those in other age groups. : It also underscores the laxness and lack of uniformity in minimum-driving-age laws. Two states impose no age minimums. In 25 states children under 16 can drive legally. Before the 1937 Legislature acted, Indiana had little agelimit regulation. . The new law permits driving at 16 under

-a beginner's license for a six-month period, after which an |

‘examination’ must be taken for a driver's licénse. Special ~ permits may be given, at the request of parents, for children over 14 to drive to and from school only. The ‘matter of legal driving ages has received far too little attention in seeking ways to reduce traffic deaths. Sealy i it should be a major a of attack on the problem

5 2 the ast 12 months Indiar napolis has made some progs toward accident I a tr Accident, Prevention Bureau, community-wide organiza-

{on for safety, and other measures. The result was a de- |

of 23 in the death toll under 1936. ‘The State safety got under way in earnest.

Price in Marion County, 3 cents a copy; deliv“ered by carrier, 12 cents |

Mail Subscription fates | $3 a yeall >

Yet the City | ain. en ded. the year Dear the top. of the e tf]

2: PVE GOT" AIM NOWLOOK AT RIM RUN

Fair Enough By Westbrook Pegler

. |Ghost Writers Did Well to Fade Voluntarily From Familiar Haunts; Fans Were Getting' Wise, Anyway.

NEW YORK, Jan. 8.—Christy Walsh has sent me a little red book called “Adios to Ghosts,” inscribed “With Forgiveness and ‘My Blessings.” The forgiveness refers to the days when Mr. Walsh was a wholesale

dealer in ghosted literature done by journeyman sports writers, mostly baseball men, and I was constantly derouncirig the business, often in:columns directly parallel to his own merchandise. He has now given up his shroud and chain, and his. little farewell is both a confession and a defense. We always got along “all right personally, but ther: was a certain look in his eye, and I suppose in- mine, [too, which prevented a sympathetic understanding. He was a hustling young salesman with executive ability, and he rounded up so many athletes for journalist service, assigning a spook to each, that Don Skeene, of the Herald Tribune, entering the press section of the Yankee Stadium for the opening of -a big World. Series. exlaimed: “The Place is. haunted!”

Christy stili insists that there was no fraud in the presentation of copy’ under the signature of one who -did not and could not write it, because everyone knew his authors did not and could not write. I still insist that in that case there was no. point. in using the name of the vicarious author, and that is as close as we ever come on the subject. ® 2 = Mee of us had ghosted more or Jess, and 1 believe I was the first spook for . Babe Ruth, the Shakespeare of Mr. Walsh's list, for I wrote pieces under his naine the year he came to New York from Boston. Camp’s hygienic articles for several years and was surprised and a litt'e offended once when Mr. Camp, explaining an idea which he wanted Mr. McNutt to write for him, said, “if you will look in the file you will find that I toiched on the topic about a year back.” [He got so» that he actually thought he. wrote | his own copy’.

Mr. Pegler

The customers’ credulity was badly strained when

Babe Ruth was supposed to have committed literature while under the etiier in a New York hospital, but it snapped back and was able to stand an equal strain

again’ when Luis Angel Firpo’s story went clicking

over the wire from the Polo Grounds while his seconds were still trying to revive him from the knockout by Mr. Dempsey. Now| that they have vanished, the spooks of the

{ press. box will be nissed by the profession, for they.

were an amiable lot engaged in an amiable deception

which only exposed itself in the end. And it became. a regular industry. The papers at certdin seasons of

the year were cariying more ghosted copy than the other kind on sorse big events, such as :the World

Series and the antual big fight. It was unimportant

copy. but the customers were getting wise, and they would write in letters saying that if a certain athlete hadn’t (written the story which he pretended to have written, then the by-line was a lie, and there was no fain, what other deceptions the papers might con-

Paiterson McNutt ghosted Walter .

The Hoosier Forum

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

SEES RUIN OF AIRPORT IN EXPERIMENTAL STATION By Louis Schwitzer. : - I-am bringing to your attention again the matter of the proposed project to build an experimental

station at Municipal Airport. Indianapolis may have reason to |.

be proud of its Municipal Airport selection as the Federal Government experimental station, but after all, this is not what the citizens and taxpayers paid their money for. The City was induced to build as fine an airport as we have today for aerial transportation, but certainly not for an experimental station. . Of course, the airport is desirable for an experimental station of this type, being as excellent an airport as it is, but it will be to. the detri-

| ment of its griginal purpose... There, is no doubt that all the airlines will |

send their experimental planes and

"| pilots here to do their training for

instrument flying, and that many pilots will come here to learn blind flying and get their instrument ratings, but this activity will destroy the value of the field as a commercial port. If that would not be the case, Mr. Gazley certainly would not want the additional runways. . ‘This experimental station and the experimental ships will be a hazard to commercial aviation. In good or bad weather, day or night, the air will be- filled with experimental planes, and after the first crash of a transport in a collision with one of these expsrimental planes, maybe the City will learn that it has destroyed the value of its beautiful field as a commercial airport.

Urges Another Site Unfortunately, the management of the airport does not present ‘the matter as it should be presented to Indianapolis citizens. The telegram from Mr. Smith, American Airlines president, expresses only his interests. The company naturally wants an experimental fleld to train its pilots in instrument flying, but why should a good field like Indianapolis’ be. sacrificed for that purpose. I maintain that a station of this type should be put on a field out of line of commercial

traffic.

So far as the location of aircraft

factories is concerned, that is a | great hullabaloo.

- The manufacture of aircraft has been reduced to a very few companies, the same as in the automotive industry, and these. companies of any importance are well established in their present locations and would not think of moving to Indianapolis, because Indianapolis is the wrong location, particularly so far as year around flying weather is concerned. It is true: all these plants will send

Raymond Clapper Says—

Were the Railroads Using. Marked Cards in Their Financing Game? Columnist Sees Deception Revealed in Senator Wheeler's Probe. |

; GPEARING of co-operation and fair play, the chief railroad examiner for the RFC can tell you about . He told the Wheeler Committee that one road obtained $17,000,000 from the RFC on financial : statements that were false in at least three major particulars. Another road, seeking a loan, was liter- | ally showing a deficit but covered up by padding its | receipts ‘to include: $8,000,000 which it hoped to borrow. But excuse these as cases of desperation in which ; anything miight be done to get a Government loan | Go’ back to the | : ‘Hoover days and before when the Qovémiment was

eo Gpmrating with business andes Were the railroads vo-operating? Let Wha:

Wasson Jan. 3.—Senator Wheeler's railroad finance investigation has turned . up

enough marked cards to make you wonder whether

it is possible to cbtain enough square shooting from b! to make Government regulation work. In this country we have held to a belief in private cap+1 under regulation as a better system than Gov-

= ownership: or complete dictation as pracGermany.

complains that’ Sicasevelt nags it and

velt sone $537,000,000, of which “only $181.repaid. ‘roads

000,000 has ever teen are in se-

rious trouble now and Roosevelt js going to try to!

Keep em out of the Sheriff’s hands

couple of years ago Senator Wheeler tried to get |

velt’s suppo't for a Government-ownership e President couldn't see it. Neither has Roose-

“100 itsoli’ Hiss been 50: gentle With the roads

ani has permitt¢d some to get away with so much | tion nigh Snaneing that there “the TEC. Tos ney

some of it.

that would stall off bankruptcy.

S's evidence speak, in 2 8 »

the Harding Administration, ‘Congress. then Republican—passed a law Sequlenng the consent of the ICC for the purchase of | by another and giving the ICC jurisdiction rei et wasn’t punitive ‘New D

giving it

(Times readers are invited to 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.)

experimental planes to Tndianapolls. which will contribute so much more to kill the Indianapolis airport as a commercial airport. Asks for More Details

Since this matter is a serious one for the future of the airport, 1 believe it would be in order if details were given as to which aircraft

‘companies would -come here.

I certainly contend the establishment. of this station belongs to Purdue University or a similar field or even to Ann Arbor, Mich. rather than at the Municipal Airport here. 1 think it is a pity that City officials & misled in killing the Municipal Airport as a commercial airport, and paying a pretty stiff price, not only in establishing the station, but in| the increased operation cost. If the City thinks it can afford

‘WEALTH By MAIDA L. STECKELMAN

He who has not lain beneath the jewel bedecked canopy - Of night blooming sky . . . Who has not had for his coverlet Nights warmly tinted cloak of jet.. Who has not heard the wind step softly through the corn, To laugh and flirt with little brooks, Then keep a tryst with morn . He who has never heard the crickets’ symphony, Of tuneless fiddles scraped with ~ rusty bows, Nor reached to touch the gossemes milky-way And wind it close , . . Nor felt the early: rising glow of health, Nor scent of ‘dew on fresh mowed oats, Has not known wealth.

DAILY THOUGHT And he that killeth: any man shall surely be put to deatf.-— Leviticus 24:17.

URDER ({tself 1s past all expia- . tion the greatest crime, which nature doth abhor ~—Gofle.

light

| to spend this money, then it

are being misinformed and.

‘can spend it on increased hangar :acilities and better regulation and management at the airport. This latter part needs considerable improve-

; ment.

At present there is no control with regard to the public on the field, and anybody has access to the

‘| hangars and to the airplanes. In no

other airport of this size and standing are such things permitted. The hangars should be kept closed to

the public so there can be no tam-

pering with the ships. * 8 = LABOR SHOULD BECOME OWN EMPLOYER, READER SAYS By H. L. 8S. With unemployment reaching for. another. record, we have with us

Mr. Lewis, who says the Adminis- |.

tration is playing the Hoover role, while Robert H. Jackson says big ‘business is on strike against the Administration. Both forget that it is the consumer who is on strike, not because the consumer lias no further want, but because business has not brought consumer buying power up high enough to make his demand effective. What can the Administraiion do to make any change in consumer buying power? That is a problem for business and labor. Unless business struts its stuff, the consumer will wreck business with a buyers’ strize. Labor expects capital to furnish not only jobs, but pay to meet labor's wants. Labor looks to Government to fix wages and hours, with no thought of increasing production and lowering costs for the benefit of consumers. Capitalistn is not feudalism, with its serfs. Yet labor is apparently satisfied with the class role. Labor organization is as responsible for continuity of production and its continual expansion as capital is supposed to be. With a disastrous volume of unemployment facing labor today, neither the C. I. O. nor A. F. of L. is even thinking about seiting up production on its own account, to

take over the 18 mililon idle to pro-| Why | should noi; labor provide its own:

duce goods for public use.

jobs, fix ifs own wages and hours, in competition with private employers who are not willing or capable of furnishing this employment? What cepitalism needs is mote employers. Let labor becom? its own employer. Labor can furnish the brains, the machinery, ensrgy and capital. If only lacks the will, The alternative is fascism.

YORK, Jan. 3.—Dion Marquis is gone with the old year, but he belongs to the new. Much has been written of him in newspapers, and these were not the usual obituaries. This was no; material from the “morgue,” but the eloquent tribute of other. ‘reporters who knew him and loved him. : is little to be added, and I would not like to write a death notice -but 3 his ardent ;

the fact that I was

"anced.

‘Roosevelt planned on an even billion.

nd 1 have a slight sus-

‘managed to through ’ ¢ | omer a brandy and the waiter Brought Hing : e.

‘waiter, “

Merry-Go-Round

By Pearson & Allen

Column Starts Annual Whirl With

1938 Predictions for the ‘Worlds U. S. May Hold Balance of Power,

ASHINGTON, Jan. 3.—Here is a cons densed Merry-Go-Round look at this troubled world as it begins its next annual whirl and as Congress convenes -to make. 1b

a little more troubled. 5

. Foreign—President Roosevelt will give more and more attention to this field, and: there will be closer co-operation with Great Britain. The lines between ‘the demccracies and the dictatorships are secoming more tightly drawn

and the United States will comie

to hold the balance. of. worlq power. Armaniont- resident * Roose velt will urge construction of at least; three dreadnaughts, two aircrafs carriers, with supplemeétitary cruisers, destroyers and submarines. They will be laid down this year. The air forces 'of both the

Army and Navy will be augmented

considerably. Politics—The fight between President velt and the con= servative. wing of the Democratic Parjy will continue, probably becoring more bitter. There will be just as much wrangling in Corgress, just as much rebellion against party floor leaders. . : |Business—All indications point to further declines: in business and employment during the next .two months, with the descent flattening out in March. Thereafter conditions should improve slowly but steadily. Experts believe it quite possible that ,%the . whole

the whole of 1937. Budget—It will not be bale In fact the deficit will be as great as or greater than last year.

Inflation—The issuing of more papar against the sterilized gold now hourded in Kentucky is a distinct

Robert Allen

“possibility. The paper would be used to buy up taxe

exempt Government honds, forcing the holders of these bonds into othe: investment channels.

Taxes—Despite the howl for elimination of the capi= tal gains and undistributed profits tax, the main prin ciples of these taxes vill not be modified. There will be changes, but the changes will be to help the small businessman. The income tax base also will be broads ened to include a large bloc of ‘hitherto ‘untaxed lower-bracket incomes. 3

Wages and Hours--Prospects of a new ‘wage-hour bill are uncertain, despite the President's renewed des mand for one. Chances are against enactment of any bill which means much, but some kind of a: gesture

tions.

Relief—The new appropriation will be at "a $1,500,000,000 and ma)’ run over two billion, Last fall,

year of 1938 will be as good as

“

Anti-Lynch Bill—1.00ks as if this would be : posed 5

According to Heywood Broun— Don Marquis Was & Kindly Man ‘Who Did Net Foster Enmities, but: Could Bring Down a Stuffed Shirt on the Wirg With the Bost of The

As far as I know, Don was not a churchgoer.

= )

orthodox in any exact sense, but he wes a mystic deeply. religious. Once around a table he told “I've been trying to catch up with Cod all mj

but I've never quite made it. Often I've come | room and had the strong feeling that God was

until just one second before I arrived. But I'm to keep trying. Il catch up with)Him yet.” ‘ i etw. we HL LE iy. memories of Don are mixed up; & in things grave and gay. I remember he swore off ‘drinkirg for two weeks. It was” boe1] {OF & Yeat. We were in a Park Row saloon

He was taking , about ] think, when the drink came, and with one swee his arm he hit the Dottle and knocked it to the : where it smashed f1ito a hundred bootleg’ pi “The proprietor :'an up and ‘began Don’t blaine him,” said Don. SY hit it with my arm. I'll pay for. the bottle.” © “Not at all,” said the proprietor. “ra |

Fis | over. another with my. compliments.”

| costs about $14," © | me another, I’ | swear off wnt

Don smiled, but then he frowned. he said. “If he caty to good a : evi Fears"

w

on

will be cooked up, under pressure of the coming elec. %