Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11 January 1938 — Page 11

Vagabond

From Indiana=Ernie Pyle

Wanderer Has Intimate Talk With Leper Colony Patient Whom Diseasé Struck 16 Days After He Graduated.

ALAUPAPA, Island of Molokai, Hawaii, Jan. 11.—Shizuo Harada and I are friends now. We became friends through the simple process of sitting down and talking with

each other. Our subject was leprosy. We talked about how it affects people—their minds, their attitude, their whole remaining lives. Shizuo Harada could tell me all these things because, he is a very intelligent man. And because he is a leper. Mr. Harada manages the Settlement’s general store for patients. He is a small but well-built man in his early 30s. He was wearing a blue work shirt and blue dungarees. His hands were bandaged. He did not, of course, offer to shake hands. I knew he couldn't do that, but still I felt that he resented my wishing to talk with him. We stepped into the warehouse back of the store for peivacy: a I asked some questions abou e MaePyle volume of sales, and so on. Our conversation drifted from the store to Harada himself, which was what I wanted. I asked if he were a full-blooded Hawaiian. He said: “I don’t know what I must look like to you, Mr. Pyle, but I am full-blooded Japanese.” I could see then that he was Japanese. He went through high school in Honolulu, and then on to the University of Hawaii. He graduated on June 5, 1925. And on June 21 they found he had leprosy! It started as a numbness in his little finger. He was examined at Kalihi Hospital in Honolulu. “What were your feelings when you knew what it was?” I asked. “I just couldn't believe it,” he said. “I thought the doctors were wrong. I thought for years they were wrong.” Mr, Harada, like most of those who come to Kalaupapa, has no idea where he contracted the disease. There had never been leprosy in his family.

Broke Out Three Years Ago

It has been nearly 13 years now since he discovered he had leprosy. “And up until three years ago,” he said, “you couldn't have told by looking at me that anything was wrong. “But three years ago it broke out, and once it started it came on fast. In a few weeks I became

like you see me now. There is a possibility that some day I may have what they call a ‘reaction,’ and be very sick and have a high fever, and then come out ‘clean’ and be almost normal again.” Later I asked Dr. Tuttle about it, and he said Harada was right. He said that if Harada did go through the “reaction” and come out ‘“‘clean” (by which they mean the appearance returns nearly to normal), he might live for many, many years, and might never have another flareup. But some patients never get this “reaction.” A visiting Johns Hopkins specialist has suggested the possibility of using the new artificially induced fever machine to bring on this “reaction” in leprous patients. But there is not sufficient personnel here now to handle such a work.

My Diary

By Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt

Variety of Skills Being Developed, First Lady Finds at WPA Exhibit.

ASHINGTON, Monday.—I fulfill my promise to tell you about the WPA exhibit with the greatest of joy, because I spent a perfectly delightful hour at the National Museum discovering what a variety of skills were developing all over this country. There are things being done on WPA which are going to be of lasting value historically. Such, for instance, as the copying and printing of county records which would otherwise fade away to illegibility, or simply crumble to pieces. The book of American design will be a storehouse of knowledge and inspiration to artists and to all those interested in any lines of commercial or artistic work. I can think of nothing more helpful educationally than the little window dioramas which go as traveling exhibits from museums to state schools. Every state should have a project of this kind in connection with its museums, for the authentic figures and scenes which have been made to represent different periods must be invaluable to children studying Roman history, Greek history, or, in fact any period. I can't help thinking that enterprising young people might earn a good living for themselves with a project such as this, which I saw under way in a midwestern city. They could make these traveling exhibits and then, when the different schools were familiar with the periods they were studying and when the time came to let them write or act some period play, these young people could make costumes.

Dolls Made in Milwaukee

Everyone who knows children, knows the joy they have in dressing up and every educator uses this interest to increase the child's interest in literature

and history. It seems to me that, given a city of fair size. the schools could keep a group of costumers and model-makers busy. But I must not forget to tell you of the wonderful dolls which are being made in Milwaukee. I believe they now are being made commercially. I can’t believe there is a child who wouldn't appreciate these dolls. There is weaving, block printing, pottery work, the making of clothes and the giving of music to an ever-increasing audience. Yes, it may have cost us a great deal, but there are tangible evidences of the WPA construction projects all over this country. Of nonconstruction projects, such as are being exhibited at the National Museum, I think we are going to find constantly increasing evidences of usefulness,

New Books Today

Public Library Presents—

F you would know how life was lived before the machine era, read Mrs. Marion Nicholl Rawson's OF THE EARTHY EARTH; HOW OUR FATHERS DWELT UPON AND WOOED THE EARTH (Dutton). Mrs. Rawson, an exhaustive student of early American life, in this, her eighth book, opens up new paths for the lover of antiquities. The past to her is not a thing entirely apart from the present. She shows how the industries of today did not burst into being but grew out of the simple ways of yesterday. The modern dairy had its beginning in the old spring house at the foot of the hill; the meat packing plant in the old smoke house; the clothing store in the loom house; the sweet shop in the maple sugar camp. Besides her authentic and detailed word picture, the artist-author furnishes several hundred line drawings, ” ” O those who are trying to escape from the complications of life in the present age and who sigh for the simpler and slower days, we recomsmend HORSE AND BUGGY AGE IN NEW ENGLAND (Coward) by Edwin Valentine Mitchell. Mr, Mitchell discusses the industries which flourished during that interesting period and which were dependent upon and supported by the horse. He covers the ground from the manufacture and sales of carriages, harness, saddles, horsewhips and sleighs, to blacksmithing and livery stable keeping, concluding with the ultimate end of brave horses, the glue factory. The uninitiated is amazed at the extent of the industries and large amount of merchandise made and sold so that Grandma and Grandpa might ride to church on Sunday morning. A

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more than its strength. And then, in his love of negotiation, he at times has negotiated away more than is absolutely necessary. The condition of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, in terms of actual agreements with the employers, is by no means as sound as is the condition of Dubinsky’s union. s = » HILLMAN'S technique has always been to organize the employers as well as the workers in order to persuade the manufacturers that it is excellent business to deal with the union. That sounds fine. But plain experience has shown that this broad view of things cannot psychologically represent labor as well as straight union protection can. But in spite of his love of shrewdness, in which Mr. Hillman sometimes outwits himself, he has done a splendid job as chairman of the textile drive. The textile industry is one of the most disorganized in the country. It consists of several giant

corporations and of thousands of tiny “family” shops where the worst sweatshop conditions prevail. In less than a year Hillman has signed up 900 companies employing some 225,000 workers. As usual he organized various employers’ associations—such as the Master Weavers Institute and the Textile Converters Associa= tion—and then signed up with them. This method organizes labor more peacefully and quickly but not at a very high level of protection. o ” ”

HE high-water marks of the agreements in this textile drive are about a $15 wage and a 40-hour week. And even these pitiful standards the business reces= sion is washing down seriously. Still, if we stop to consider that only a year ago the United Textile Workers had only 30,000 members, it is obvious that Hillman'’s tactics are successful in laying the base of organized labor in textiles. Up to date the textile drive has organized some 450,000 workers, 250, 000 of whom are paid up on their dues. Hillman is the only one of the

The Indianapolis

Inside the C.1.O. . . . ..

Profiles Are Drawn of ‘Statesman’ Hillman, Dubinsky, Martin and Bridges

Q

Imes

Entered at Postoffice,

by Benjamin Stolberg

dvi i 7] Times-Acme Photo.

Leader Lewis (right) plans organization with lieutenant Sidney Hillman (left) and Francis Gorman, president of the United Textile Workers.

big leaders in the €. I. O. who is completely sold on the New Deal, partly because Mr. Roosevelt very cannily caters to Mr. Hillman’s brain-trust proclivities, making him feel that he is a sort of Felix Frankfurter of labor. Lewis, who quite rightly thinks that labor should represent labor and hence should play with the Administration rather than fall for it, is at times slightly annoyed by Mr. Hillman's loftier vision. But he recognizes fully both the energy and the negotiating ability of the man. These older leaders — Lewis, Murray, Dubinsky and Hillman— have few factional difficulties in. their owp unions, for the excellent reason that they got rid of the Communists in these unions in the 1920s. And they are apt to minimize this danger, though less as time goes on.

HE two other most significant leaders in the C. I. O. are new men, brought into leadership since the depression. One is Homer Martin, president of the Automobile Workers Union, and the other is Harry Bridges of the West Coast longshoremen.

These two men are the stormy petrels of the factional struggles in the C. I. O. Homer Martin has become the symbol of the progressive trade-unionist who is interested, first and foremost, in the building of progressive and responsible industrial unionisin. Harry Bridges follows the Com~munist “party. line,” which I shall subsequently discuss. Homer Martin is 35 years old, a former country preacher. He graduated from William Jewell College, a small but good Baptist school in Missouri. For a while he

preached but was soon fired for his trade-union activities. Then he went into a Chevrolet plant, began organizing, and soon again lost his job. But in losing his job on the belt line he found himself. He discovered that he was a natural-boin agitator and orator. Next to Lewis he is the best speaker in American labor. A great many of the automobile workers are former hillbillies—simple, direct and militant whom he understands thoroughly. ” ” ”

E is quick and bright and utterly sincere. Yet he has some of the faults of the orator in a mass movement. He 1s no administrator. And he is at his best in critical situations. His aim is steady but in daily tactics he is apt to become somewhat rattled. Then, at the next dramatic situation he once more saves the day.

The Communists are out to get him, even if they have to wreck the union. And his struggle against them is one of the most melodramatic in the history of American labor. Harry Bridges is an Australian who longshored for many years on the Pacific Coast. He came up in the 1934 Pacific Coast strike in a meteoric, ultra-militant career and acquired a mythical halo as a revolutionary labor leader. But soon thereafter he came under the: influence of the Communist Party, which finally hung him on the “party line.” (EDITOR'S NOTE—Bridges has repeatedly denied that he is a member of the Communist Party.) The mazes of his opportunistic trail I will take up when I discuss his tactics in more detail in a later article.

Next—Stalinist Tactics in the C.1.0.

Enactment of Wage-Hour and Farm Bills May Depend on Trade Of Urban Support for Rural Votes in Congress

By E. R. R. ASHINGTON, Jan. 41. Hope] for early enactment of the farm bill, passed by both Houses at the special session and now in conference, has been expressed by President Roosevelt. Wage and hour legislation, he said, was likewise “an essential part of economic recovery.” “Many of those who represent great cities,” he continued, “have shown their understanding of the necessity of helping the agricultural third of the nation. I hope those who represent constituencies primarily agricultural will not under-

estimate the importance of extending like aid to the industrial third.” In the House at the last session, votes on motions to recommit were taken on both the farm bill and the wage-hour bill. The first failed, and the farm bill was passed; the second carried, and the wage-hour bill was sent back to the House Labor Committee. . Analysis of the two roll calls—the first taken on Dec. 10 and the second on Dec. 17—shows that of the 210 members of the House who rep-

resent city districts, 97 members, or

46.2 per cent, supported the farm bill, and 129 members, or 61.4 per cent, supported the wage-hour bill. Of the 225 members of the House who represent country districts, 113 members, or 50.2 per cent, supported the farm bill, but only 73 members, or 32.4 per cent, supported the wagehour bill. (Pairs included in the above analyses.)

HE farm bill escaped recommital by a margin of nine votes. The wage-hour bill was recommitted with 18 votes to spare. If country members had supported the wage-holir bill in the same proportion as city members supported the farm bill, the labor measure would have received 104 country votes (instead of 73), and likewise would have escaped recommittal. What the President suggested in his message was a little log-rolling —a trade of farm support for a wage-hour bill for urban support of a farm bill. The suggestion is very pertinent, for the conference report on the farm bill has not yet been adopted. If, on adoption of the conference report, (1) members from rural

areas give the farm bill no greater support than they did in the roll call on recommitttal at the last session and (2) members from city districts give the bill exactly the same proportionate measure of support that rural districts gave to the wage-hour bill—then the conference report will fail of adoption in the House and the Administration will have sustained its third great defeat during the 75th Congress. tJ ” EJ

N the Senate, 54 seats are held by members from States classified by the Census Bureau as “rural”; 42 seats are held by members from states classified as “urban.” The 1930 census showed that 43.8 per cent of the population was “rural,” that is, lived in communities of less than 2500; 56.2 per cent of the population was “urban,” living in communities of more than

2500. Since 55.5 per cent of the population of Indiana lives in communities of more than 2500, Senators VanNuys and Minton are designated as “urban” Senators.

In a few instances, the use of this classification produces unexpected results. Thus Colorado and Missouri take their place in the “urban” column because the population of their wide rural areas is outnumbered by the population of one of two large cities. In the House of Representatives 225 seats are held by members frem districts which are predominantly rural; 210 seats are held by members from urban districts (vacancies included). 8 ® = F all House members, 51.7 per cent represent “rural” districts and 48.3 per cent represent “urban” districts. The corresponding divisions of the total population are 43.8 per cent “rural” and 562 per cent “urban.” (1930 census). Indiana's Representatives are classified as follows: Schulte (D), urban; Halleck (R), rural; Pettengill (D), urban; Farley (D), urban; Griswold (D), urban; Jenckes (D), rural; Greenwood (D), rural; Boehne (D), urban; Crowe (D), rural; Gray (D), urban; Larrabee (D), urban; Ludlow (D), urban. Rural and urban representation

in Congress by sections of the country is shown in the following table: Senate House Members Members Rural Urban Rural Urban New England ... 4 8 25 Middle Atlantic . .. 6 3 E. North Central .. 10 52 W. North Central 12 2 14 So. Atlantic .... 10 6 11 E. South Central 8 . 5 W. South Central 8 . 9 Mountain . ..... 12 2 Pacific a 19

4 6 Totals “210

43

Plan Arctic Station TTAWA, Jan. 11 (U. P.)— The Dominion Government is considering a proposal to build and maintain a scientific station near fhe Arctic Archipelago. The northern end of the Boothia Peninsula is the proposed site of the station as it would be adjacent to the north magnetic pole. Magnetic compasses vary slightly from year to year and a station in the vicinity would verify this deviation.

Side Glances—By

-

“Let's try to lose back what we've won. . Je aat - gil we do” Eh

Clark

X nie. REsy Ss eatore V1, They'll never leave

A WOMAN'S VIEW

By Mrs. Walter Ferguson

ht ROUND or two of drinks will get rid of inhibitions and make the party a success.” I doubt that slick formula. If I could see a stalwart inhibition sitting off in a corner at some of the parties hereabouts, I'd go right over and embrace it as a lost friend. The girls say the same. A good many of them have decided that these so-called successful parties,

where half the guests sink into a doze after dinner and the other half want to climb the chandelier, aren't such tremendous social triumphs and may become so strenu-

‘ous they are not worth the effort.

The sad fact is—and we might as well face it—few persons in these United States know how to drink with restraint. We are extremists; we seem to be cut out by Nature to be out-and-out teetotalers or perfect soaks. The way a person drinks is decided by his temperament, the authorities tell us. And the American temperament runs to overexcitement and a search for thrills. Compared to the more phlegmatic races, our soberest behavior is hectic activity. We are opposed to the contemplative existence and with every cocktail that opposition gains strength. I wonder sometimes whether we are confirmed tipplers or just plain bores, ‘since few of us can stand another's conversation unless we are well fortified for the ordeal with Scotch or rye or gin. Oh, say it isn’t true that we have to get drunk

Jasper—By Frank Owen

Copr. 1938 by United Feature Syndicate, Ine. '!

"Now do you see why |

haven't cooked dinner?"

8 Second-Class Matter Indianapolis,

Second Section

PAGE 11

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ur Town

By Anton Scherrer Shortridge English Class Combines Literature and Journalism to Aid Mr. Morley in Silencing a Critic,

IT wasn’t until the other day, so help me, that I heard about Al J. Kettler. Christo= pher Morley, it appears, heard about Mr. Kettler as far back as a year ago. I didn’t want to mention Mr. Morley, because I didn’t see any way of doing it without incriminate ing myself. There's no way out of it, however, bee cause if it hadn't been for Mr. Morley, goodness knows whether I'd be in a position to tell you about

Mr. Kettler today. By this time, I guess, you are hep to the fact that Mr. Kettler has something to do with literature. That's right. He's one of the cogs of the Shortridge English Department. About two years ago, Mr. Kettler began toying with the idea of making literature more palatable for his pupils. I don't know whether George Eliot had anything to do with it or not, but the Mr. Scherrer fact remains that Mr. Kettler's big idea went into effect at the time the class studied “Silas Marner.” Well, as the result of reading ‘Silas Marner,” Mr, Kettler got the idea of publirhing a real-for-sure newspaper, The Raveloe Wed y Enterprise (Mone day, April 19, 1824). Catch on? Sure, it was a four-page sheet full of breezy Warwickshire items based on the story of the Raveloe linen weaver, What's more, it was written in the lingo of a modern newspaper, and just about the slickest thing you ever saw. Among other things, it cleared up the mystery of the Dunstan Cass skeleton in a literary style good enough to pass any managing editor. It was at this stage that Christopher Morley heard about Mr. Kettler. I don’t know just how it hap pened, but in some way a copy of The Raveloe Week ly Enterprise reached Mr. Morley’s desk. Apparently, it was just the thing he was looking for, because right after that Mr. Morley took advantage of Mr. Ket= tler’s project to silence (and squelch) a critic who had taken a fiendish delight in adversely criticizing “Silas Marner” as unfit for classroom use. I guess it worked, because the critic never uttered a peep after that, You can look up the details for yourself in the Satur day Review of Literature for April 24, 1937.

Two More Published

After the success of The Raveloe Weekly Enter= prise, Mr. Kettler’'s class published the Stirling Weekly Banner (June 12, 1541) and the Camelot Weekly Chronicle (Nov. 6. 536). The one, of course, is based on Scott's “Lady of the Lake”; the other on Tennyson's “Idylls of the King.” The Camelot Weekly Chronicle is especially dee licious. Among other things it covers the Court Ball “last night.” Lady Enid wore a draped red samite gown with long train and fingertip sleeves, The V neck was set with diamond clips. Lady Nimue was dazzling in an embroidered Oriental silk with a short train, high ruff and puff sleeves. Her high peaked head-dress was sprinkled with tiny gold stars. a I can hardly wait until Mr. Kettler's class tackles The Coventry Gazette (May 14, 1040). Wonder how the kids are going to cover Lady Godiva.

Ina.

Jane Jordan—

Daughter Is Advised to Keep on

Confidential Basis With Mother. DD JANE JORDAN-—I am a 16-year-old high school girl whom you have helped before. I met a very likeable, well-mannered young man about a year ago who lives in my home town not so many miles away. Do you think it is permissible for a girl of 16 to correspond with a boy around the same age? Is it necessary for my mother to read my mail? I

never write anything to be ashamed of and I am positive he wouldn't. It’s just the idea of my mother’s reading my mail to which I object. Should we start corresponding and keep on learning to: like one an other more and more or should we drop the whole thing? JEANINE.

Answer—Of course it is all right for you to write to a boy friend. One of the most important jobs of adolescence is to get acquainted witk the ope posite sex and letter writing is such good practice, It is not necessary for you to show your letters to your mother nor will she expect it if she is a wise mother. Every mother has to get used to a certain separate ness between herself and her growing child. This is often very hard for her to accept, because she has been so close to her children during their babyhood that she does not realize an adolescent’s need for privacy. The mother who reads her daughter’s mail makes a mistake which is hard to live down. Even though you do not show your mother ynup letters it will be wise to keep on a confidential ba ..s with her for you will need the wisdom which she has gathered from a broader experience than yours, It has been said that the most valuable thing in the world is given free and thrown away: It is the advice of the old to the young.

” o #

DEAR JANE JORDAN—My boy friend and I have been going around with another couple, One day I said something which hurt the other boy’s feelings, I did not mean the remark I made for him at all, That night his girl, who is a good friend of mine, came after me. We were on our way to her house when her boy friend came along and became angry with her, saying that it was date night, but she said it wasn't. I saw my chance to apologize to him, but he told me to keep out of it and to go back home, that I wasn’t going to split them up. Now he won't let his girl even walk with me. The main reason is that he thinks I don’t want them to go together, which is not true. Do you think I should drop his girl altogether or see her when I can? This may sound silly to you but it seems to be causing a great commotion, : WwW. M. G.

Answer—I would be guided by the girl's wishes in the matter. If she wants to keep your friendship, the boy will have to accept this fact or quit. He strikes me as an exceptionally rude and unreasonable young man. If you keep your temper and continue to treat him courteously he may get over it. It is hard to hold anger against a calm, reasonable, undisturbed person, JANE JORDAN.

Put your questions in a letter to Jane Jordan, who will . answer them in this column daily. 4

Walter O'Keefe—

OLLYWOOD, Jan. 11.—John L. Lewis, the mate tress-browed laborite, complains that democracy is failing and that America may swing over to com= munism, but the only Red menace in the United States is the ink on the Government books. . It seems a remote possibility, but if we ever were to have a Soviet here it wouldn’t be hard to figure out a fitting salute for the right stm. It would be the right arm stretched straight out with the palm turned up. Finland may temporarily stop payments on her debt on the ground that Uncle Sam is incompetent to handle his own affairs. x “The only thing we have to fear is fear” was the New Deal slogan back in 1933. Nevertheless that's the product that some New Dealers seem to be selling over the radio. Until recently the cry has been “millions for relief,” but the ta rs would like to see that

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