Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 April 1939 — Page 10

PAGE 10 The Indianapolis Times

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1939

LINDBERGH'S JOB

HE American people have a habit of turning against their heroes, and one of its victims has been Col. Charles A. Lindbergh. Once we overwhelmed him with hysterical adulation, which he did not want. Lately, some among us have made him the target for bitter criticism, which he did not deserve. Those who have questioned his patriotism have reason today, in our opinion, to feel ashamed of themselves. He has come back from Europe for a period of active duty in the War Department’s Air Corps. He is to make a survey of aviation facilities in the United States, and undoubtedly his report will include information he has gathered about the air power of European nations. It is a vastly important assignment, at this time when America is undertaking an unprecedented expansion of military aviation. And probably there is no man better equipped than Col. Lindbergh to handle such an assignment. His technical knowledge, plus the unusual opportunities he has had to observe aerial armaments abroad, should enable him to give his country guidance of the most valuable kind. Perhaps it’s too much to expect. But it would be kind, and it would be wise, if for once we would treat Col. Lindbergh, not as an object of public curiosity, but as a young man doing an important job for us—a job that he can do best if permitted to work quietly and away from the limelight.

NOT YET TOO LATE -

IGHT now, in the lull between President Roosevelt's world peace message and the replies from Hitler and Mussolini, is an excellent time to take stock of the situation. There is every reason to believe that the plain people of Germany and Italy no more want war than do their neighbors. Their leaders are deliberately misleading them into believing that their rights are being trampled upon, that they are being encircled, and that they must fight if they wish to survive. But there are certain elements of truth in the back-

In Washington By Raymond Clapper

Hull Was on Right Track With Reciprocal Idea, but Totalitarian Trade Methods Are Big Handicap.

ASHINGTON, April 19.—The vision which Secretary Hull brought into office with him has been eclipsed by ugly realities not at that time foreseen. Secretary Hull, always something of a free trader, saw a menace to world economy in rising tariffs, quota restrictions and other artificial barriers | erected, in the way of a free flow of goods among the

nations. We ourselves, under Republican Administrations,

had shoved our tariff walls higher and higher and other nations were moving more rapidly than oure selves. France was squeezing American imports drastically by severe quota limitations. Hull saw clearly what this meant—it meant slow strangulation of world trade and consequent reduction of national income and therefore of the standard of living, in every nation. He conceived of trade as ane operation bringing profit to both parties. ' So he set about, with the single-minded persistence which so dominates him, to begin reducing these bar= riers. It was to be done by negotiation. We could not demolish our barriers unless other nations reciprocated. Thus came into existence the reciprocal trade program, Nations which gave us equal treatment with all other nations would receive the benefit of the reductions which we made on tariffs to any single nation through reciprocal agreement. os ® os

HIS was slow work—requiring detailed negotiation, commodity by commodity, with each nation interested in participating in such an arrangement, Yet in the short time since the program was authors ized by Congress in 1933 agreements have been made with 20 countries. These countries represent 60 per cent of our total imports and 67 per cent of our exports. If you take Commerce Department figures repre senting 1934-35 as against 1937-38, you find our exports increased 60 per cent to countries with Which we made trade agreements and only 37 per cent to nonagreement countries. Imports did not increase proportionately. In fact they did not keep up with the increase in imports frem nonagreements countries. Imports from agreement countries increased 36 per cent and from nonagreement countries 37 per cent. 8 ” ” HUS the figures indicate remarkable success for the Hull program. Given a reasonably orderly world this program might have provided the long-

we ER ——

range answer to world peace and recevery. Certainly by stimulating world trade it tended to relieve the economic pressures which are one underlying cause of trouble. We are burdened with heavy surpluses of cotton, wheat, butter—and Secretary Wallace says they are becoming topheavy also in meat, milk, eggs and poultry. Wallace tells Congress the trade agreements are not enough to save the situation in view of the en-

The Hoosier Forum

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

croachment of the controlled totalitarian methods. He is frankly advocating huge subsidies so that these products may be dumped at home and abroad. Also Roosevelt is supporting the Byrnes scheme for heavy barter of cotton and wheat for war stocks or rubber and tin, The tragic fact is that, although Hull clearly had the solution of the problem, the world changed for the worse on him. As bad money drives out good, totalitgrian methods are forcing themselves in, even with x as substitutes.

CHOOL CONTROL BY

TRUSTEES CRITICIZED By M. D. H.

Is there not something that can

be done for the township school children who must suffer as a result

of the spoils system practiced by Indiana’s township trustees?

There are many other serious

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns, religious con troversies excluded. Make your letter short, so all can have a chance. Letters must be signed, but names will be

OBJECTS TO CONDUCT OF CERTAIN BONDSMEN By a Subscriber I have read with interest the statements of judges about attorneys posting bonds and many other matters pertaining to the courts. It strikes me that some-

Gen. Johnson Says

Survey of Exact Status of U. S. To Turn Out Sufficient Munitions For Our Defense Urgently Needed.

ASHINGTON, April 19.—On at least one point in this war-like world crisis, there is little disagreement. We must so thoroughly arm that no nation will disregard our policy to keep European powers out of this hemisphere. Armament means not merely ships, aircraft, guns, munitions and the equip-~ ment of armies’and navies. It means also, and upper= most, the capacity to produce them in overwhelming tonnage and speed. The appropriation of money is a first step, but it is no more than that. What goes into the hopper is important but all that really matters is what comes out at the spout. There has been a great deal of Publicity about the appropriation of hundreds of millions. There has been very little about the production of results. What information we have amounts to little more than some highly optimistic generalities by Assistant Secretary of War, Louis Johnson. These give the impression that the whole industrial machine is all geared up and ready to go. From some high Senatorial talk about our shipyards and industries being thrown open to South American countries to equip armies and navies for them, one might suppose that we have plenty of this

capacity to produce.

”» » 8

T simply is not true. Take the question of cannon alone. We have no important gunmaking capacity in this country and it takes a long time to provide it. The same is true of our capacity to produce powder—explosives and propellants. In the greatly increased complexity of infantry weapons-—tanks, mortars, light cannon, antiaircraft guns, automatic rifles and machine guns, we not only have no sufficient supply of these nor any proved capacity to produce the vast quantities required— we have hot even finally determined on on ulti= mate design—or if we have, the decision has been made very recently. Even the tactical organization of infantry units is in a state of revolutionary flux. As for shipbuilding capacity, our available efficient yards are already committed for two years ahead. South American countries are unlikely to buy ships here when, as the Maritime Commission found, they cost very much more than ships built in Europe. 2 2 ”

pita, at forced draft, we could turn out fighting aircraft fairly rapidly, but it is doubtful whether we could do so and still maintain commercial production. All these are curable evils if time is available. But will there be time? Are the evils being cured? Are we now sufficiently ready to Justify an aggressive tone to aggressor nations? It would be a crime to risk American lives if we are not. The aggressor nations probably know the answers to these questions. But our people don’t know them. Congress dagsn’t. I make bold to doubt whether even the executive department knows. Having lived at the center of exactly this problem in the World War, the situation now smells to me exactly as a similar but worse situation smelled then. This situation needs an immediate survey of our exact state of Preparation—now,

ground of the Nazi-Fascist position, and for rabble-rousing (Mr. Pegler is on vacation) withheld on request.) thing should be done about the

faults in the trustee system, but one

purposes half-truths are often better than whole ones. The leaders of the “peace front” facing Germany and Italy should examine the records carefully and calmly to discover, and if possible remedy, such wrongs as may exist. This they should do if only to make it possible for them to say with complete truth—if war comes anyhow—that right is

on their side. 2 ” ” ” 2 8

T was largely the principles affirmed by Woodrow Wil-

Business By John T. Flynn

Court Scandals Change in Receivership Handling. EW YORK, April 19.—The Federal Court scan-

of the worst is the absolute control by one person of the schools. Teachers are hired and fired regardless of ability or training with only political friendships as a determining factor.

No teacher in our township knows from one school year to another whether or not he is to be reappointed. The result of this insecurity necessarily means ccnfusion and inefficiency and robs our children of

Show Need for

have no need for jobs of any sort but who work at good pay just to fill out their days.. As an example, the point is made that the husband earns perhaps $300 a month. Then the wife walks into a job paying $150 and the total income is $450. They don’t spend that much; thus purchasing power is decreased and more money is hoarded while the less fortunate go hungry.

bondsmen actually running some of the courts. In justice to one judge in the Court House, I do not believe that he realizes just how bold one certain bondsman is who solicits and boasts of being able to “handle” the court. All facilities of the court appear to be at his disposal as he acts as if he were in complete charge. These things have a tendency to make the public disrespect a court rather*than hold it in high esteem.

It Seems to Me

By Heywood Broun

Roosevelt Plea Will Have Served Useful Purpose Even if Hitler Balks.

EW YORK, April 19.—At the mement this is write ten it seems likely that President Roosevelt's appeal for world peace will be rejected by, Hitler and Mussolini. But even this indicated contingency should

dals in New York and Connecticut which have already resulted in the resignation of two Federal judges and the indictment of one, focus attention on an old and a crying evil in the Federal Courts. This has to do with the question of receiverships. Attorney General Murphy recognizes this and has named 11 of his aids to study the subject and bring the whole noxious system, if possible, to an end. The question of judicial receiverships involve more than just a matter of court patronage—giving juicy receivership plums to the court's favorites or, perhaps, partners. It involves an important question of judicial policy. ‘ When a railroad or utility or other interstate enterprise gets into financial difficulties it seeks shelter in receivership, which is quite all right. The Federal

not be set down as a failure of the efforts which we must make to save the world from ruin. The phrase “World Peace” must come to be as familiar to our ears as “World War.”

Once upon a time two householders had little homes which stood in a clearing in the center of a forest. Ome night they both were awakened by dancing flames. The woods were on fire. As yet this conflagration was a good many miles away, but it was evidently approaching the clearing. Both men went to work to save their homes. One undertook to dig a deep moat around his house and filled it with water. “You see,” he explained, “when the fire comes in this direction I do not think it will be able to leap across this water.” But his neighbor said, “I think I have a

time in a school year already far too short. Though it is difficult for the teachers, they can find a remedy by joining the teachers’ union which insists upon a contract for the coming year far in advance of the close of the current term. The children are helpless. We live in a community where many of the families have lived on the same farms and attended the same church and schools for three generations. The teachers are expected to become an important part of our community life, which makes

I agree that this sort of economic humbuggery is pure and simple selfishness in times of depression and job-hunger. The only guide is one of “public morality”’—that when a family considers it is making enough money to support itself, it puts a self-imposed restriction on itself; that the family, in itself, decides that one, or two, or three, or however many are necessary, breadwinners are enough and that there shall be no more. All right. Then why prattle about more jobs for men? There are still a lot of other women and girls who

son in his Fourteen Points and other pronouncements that led up to the Armistice of 1918. In turn, they became the basis of the Peace of Paris, or so it was widely held. These pronouncements stated clearly that justice was to be meted out alike “to those to whom we wish to be just and those to whom we do not wish to be just.” They pledged the Allies to “a free, open-minded and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims.” They promised that “peoples and provinces are not to be bartered about from sovereignty to sovereignty, as if they were pawns in a game,” that “national armaments will be reduced,” all

My suggestion would be for the courts to take full cognizance of what is happening in their own

rooms. y =n =

BLAMES PROPAGANDA FOR OUR ENTRY INTO WAR By Reader A contributor to the Forum stated that we only entered the last war after Germany had made war on us for two years. This may be true but the fact re-

possible economic barriers removed and “equality of trade conditions among all nations” sought. Can the former allied and associated powers today honestly claim that they have lived up to these promises? The sad truth, of course, is that they cannot. Central Europe was Balkanized. Germany's colonies were taken from her. Hungary, which had no voice in making the war, was blamed and dismembered. Impossible indemnities were levied and other harsh terms imposed. The Treaty of Versailles has come to be recognized even in Britain and France as one of the biggest blunders of history, while the League of Nations—which President Wilson hoped would rectify the treaty’s mistakes—did nothing of the kind. 2 2 ” ” ” 2 E realize that it is late in the day to set about correcting the wrongs of Versailles. And the behavior of Hitler and Mussolini does not make it easier. The impulse is to hit back and hit hard. Any correction now savors disagreeably of delivering at the point of a pistol. But there is too much at stake to leave anything undone that, even by the remotest chance, might lead to peace. Peace or war is now an even-money bet. And if there is war nobody will win. : If the peoples of Germany and Italy do not want war, it should be dramatically impressed upon them that there is an honorable way out. They should be made to see that no nation is trying to “encircle” them, militarily or economically, President Roosevelt has already made an excellent beginning in that direction. Why not go further? Why not let them understand that colonies, trade benefits, normal international relations and economic co-operation gre all theirs if Hitler and Mussolini will only say the word? By doing this, the Anglo-French “peace front” at long last will be putting itself wholly in the right. Then, if the Nazi-Fascist dictators still insist on war, they can be accommodated with a clear conscience.

COXEY MARCHES ON

T'S a long time—45 years, in fact—since “General” Jacob S. Coxey led his famous march to Washington. But at his home in Massillon, O., where the “General” has just celebrated his 85th birthday, he’s talking about organizing a new “Coxey’s Army” to demand action on his plan for restoring prosperity by abolishing interest on public bonds. “If my plan isn’t adopted,” he says, “the country is going to go into worse conditions.” We hope not, for it seems unlikely that the Coxey idea will triumph now, when so many people with panaceas are clamoring for attention. But we're glad to hear from the “General,” all the same. Many things have changed, and somehow we relish the familiar news that the leader of “Coxey’s Army” is still going strong, still making demands and still predicting disaster if the country doesn’t follow his advice, 4

of *

Court takes the enterprise under its wing and thereafter operates it for the benefit of all parties. The court appoints a receiver as its representative. The receiver thereafter runs the railroad or the |a utility or the manufacturing establishment. And the receiver is usually a lawyer and not infrequently a political lawyer, but in most cases at least, a friend of the judge. The result is that industries in their most critical stage are operated by incompetent men under g the supervision of judges who are not trained in the problems of industrial administration and, in the bargain, the industry is milked to the last possible drop in fees for these judicial or political parasites.

New Department Urged

The receivership device was never intended in its origin to lodge the management of such vast enter= prises in the hands of a court. Yet we have cases in New York of a single judge supervising the manage=ment of scores of great enterprises at the same time. Often these enterprises are public utilities, Yet no man can criticize the conduct of the judge. The Federal Government should set up a department presided over by a competent manager and staffed by competent subordinate managers, account= ants, appraisers, experts of various kinds who will take over the receivership of enterprises in difficulty and under the jurisdictions of the Federal Courts and |P the courts themselves ought to be limited as far as |& possible to the adjudication of the merely legal problems which arise in the course of such receiverships. Thus the courts would be protected from this serious temptation to graft; competent managers would be installed for the enterprises afflicted, and iy pieantis bleeding process through fees would be |d ended.

for better discipline and understanding between pupils, teachers

nd parent organizations. This is

impossible where teachers and even bus drivers and janitors are changed with every political wind.

At least 60 days notice should be iven to a teacher in case of dis-

missal and some other criterion than political preference for appointment in the first place. future citizens of Indiana are paying a high price for our township trustee system.

The

WORKING WIVES HELD MORAL QUESTION

y Fair Play Our land: is filled with sound and

fury, much of it directed at “working wives.” economic geniuses inform us, were to go back to the kitchen, where they belong, men would get the jobs,

If these women, our

urchasing power would increase nd we would no longer be on the

road to prosperity. No, we'd be in Prosperity itself.

Unfortunately, the critics of work-

ing women do not mean just that. What everyone is trying to say (and

oesn’t) is that there are women

(many or few, who knows?) who

need jobs, too. Women have to eat as well as men. The point of it all is not women as such. It's a few, a few selfish, greedy women who won't stay home, but want “pocket money”’—measured in terms of hundreds. Kick ’em out and give the jobs to the women who need them.

MY MOTHER

By MARY J, CAREY

When I close my eyes I can ree her chair, I can see my mother sitting there— With the sunshine streaming through her hair,. ; And the gleam upon her tace— When I open my eyes the vision is gone, Gone is the sunshine, gone is the song— And there is sadness about the place.

DAILY THOUGHT

The Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.—II Samuel 3:39.

ELL does Heaven take care that no man secures happiness by crime.—Alfieri.

©

mains that this country was carrying on an unofficial war against Germany by means of economic and moral support of the Allies. The Americans who went down with the Lusitania had no right to be on it in the first place. And as to the newspaper headlines, they were simply, in most cases at least, the result of Great Britain’s famous propaganda machine. The true history of the World War proves this and the Congressmen who voted against our entering it still believe they were right. J ” ” THINKS OUR OWN ‘HEATHEN’ NEED EDUCATION

Ry Mrs. J. L. A. A retired major of the U. S. Army suggests that we put to death the aged poor above 70. When I read it I was made to wonder how any man ever attained the station in life he has. It was bad enough to think of it, much less suggest it to a group of intelligent people. Now we as a nation have always contributed very liberally to foreign missions, but when a man in his station in life advocates such a terrible thing, I think it is time to begin to educate

our heathen in our own land.

A Woman's Viewpoint By Mrs. Walter Ferguson

LET'S EXPLORE YOUR MIND

By DR. ALBERT EDWARD WIGGAM

having an orgy of gardening—in my rocking chair. And just between ourselves that’s the way I enjoy doing manual work. A valuable set of handbooks for the home gardener has recently come my way, which I hope all my more industrious digging friends will see. Unopened they are a joy to possess, because they make a lovely spot of color on an armchair table or on library shelves. Inside are pictures to make your mouth water, and fascinating tidbits of information about seeds, vines, grass and soil. Edward I. Farrington, president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, is editor and starts off the series himself with an almanac. His “musts for every month” pack a vast fund of information for amateur gardeners. A second volume is devoted to rock gardens, a third to the growth and uses of herbs, another to lawns. Last, and, to my practical soul, most important of all—is the one on vegetable gardens. How I used to love my mother’s] Remembering its patterned perfection, I am bothered with nostalgic longings. When spring came the whole family would troop out at sunset every day to see how the tender onions were coming along. There are few greater thrills than the sight of the pale green pea shoots, pushing their way out of moist pungent earth. We had an orchard, too. All middle-class people of those days did, if their space permitted, and if it didn’t they thriftily set out fruit trees in their yards. The stately pear and certain varieties of cherry make beautiful lawn decorations, and often fill the pantry shelves with jelly and jam besides. I wonder why more small-salaried home owners do not invest some of .their money and effort in this sort

of gardening, which would ' lighten the grocery bills

as well as beautify the a

1

i AUTHORITY SAYS IN DICTATOR GORY,

ES EVERY ea DIC XTOR YOUR OPINION.

track on which

ING THAT 1S NOT FORBIDDEN 15 COMPUL= S SUCCEED QTHERWISED OO

THE STORY OF PERSONALITY, Is 7

AGIF1 OF AN ACHIEVE 7 YOUR ANSWER

COPURIONT SONN DILLE

THIS is the very essence of|his life, forbid stepping off of it and dictatorship. When you take|make staying on it compulsory. The away individual freedom you have|fact that human beings will stand to run human beings like you run a |for that sort of thing only confirms locomotive. The dictator must build |Prof. William

named man

“homo sapiens,” he was probably speaking in sarcasm. ” ” i

I HAVE recently been surprised to find the number of people who are dissatisfied with the name that their parents (and in-laws) have fastened upon their helpless personalities. Most of us associate given names with certain types of personality and we often meet people whose given names don’t seem to fit their personalities at all. I wish my readers who think their names do not fit their personalities would write me their present name and what name they would choose. It may teach parents of future babies to be more careful. I always wanted some good old-fashioned surname for a given name, such as Smith, Johnson, Morgan or Kirkpatrick.

2 ” 2 WE HAVE to acknowledge that some persons are born with greater physical and mental talents for achieving a good personality, but we must also agree that every human being above the feeble-minded is born with capacities by which he can acquire a good, pleasing personality. The notion that you cannot be pleasing to other people, get along happily with them and influence them is absurd. And this is what psychologists now mean by

still better idea. Let’s join the neighbors and by our combined efforts stamp out the blaze while it is still miles away. “If everybody joins in with a neighborly spirit and understanding we can quell the danger before the egtire forest takes to blazing. In that event your moat may not be wide enough, and even if it proves to be sufficient you will be compelled to live under a pall of smoke. Surely we will be much better off if we can manage to see that there isn’t any fire at all in the forest, even though it is still well down behind the bend in the road. After all, although our houses are in a clearing we are still part of the forest.”

An Amazing Statement I am amazed when I read a statement such as that attributed to Senator George of Georgia who is quoted as saying, “I will cast my vote against any participation in any war anywhere except on our soil.” I string along with the vast majority of Americans in opposition to sending our soldiers to fight in foreign fields. But I am equally shocked at the thought of wage ing war here within our borders. The words of Senator George almost convey the implication of an invitation to aggressors to come over here and meet us on our home grounds. The State which Senator George represents still harbors a few old people who dimly remember the actual experience of war right at their doorsteps. And it was a conflict which moved even the invading General to say, “War is hell.” We cannot tolerate the thought of hell in the lands across the sea. Those are the fires which do leap oceans. We must try and try again to end the threat of carnage by international agreement.

Watching Your Health

By Dr. Morris Fishbein

Mess significant among recent developments in the use of drugs is the widespread and promiscuous employment of derivatives of a sleep-producing medicine known as barbituric acid. : So important is the trend that the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association decided in 1937 to make a study of the situation and to see what ought to be done in the way of protecting people under the circumstances. : “i The evils of these drugs include the formation of habits and the fact that their poisonous effect tends to cumulate in some instances in the human body. They are sometimes substituted for alcoholic drinks in producing a strange form of intoxication. Apparently their use in attempts at suicide has increased. Some of the sleep-producing drugs are found to be the basis of motor accidents. In the perpetration of crime, they are employed by criminals to lower the resistance of their victims. Now the investigation has been completed, and some extraordinary facts and figures have become available. In the United States, apparently, our people take more than 810 million doses a year of such preparations, which means more than 2,200,000 doses every day. Up to 1934, the deaths of 408 people from the use of such drugs were recorded in medical literature. .

An analysis of figures available in hospital files revealed 1185 cases of poisoning with such drugs and 124 deaths during the same period. There were 139 cases

‘of poisoning and 17 deaths from the coal :