Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 May 1940 — Page 17

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1940

The

Sh

Indian

aye

polis Times

SECO

ND SECTION

Hoosier Vagabond

(Ernie Pyle is on vacation and at the request of his readers we are reprinting some of his favorite columns.)

LMIVER, May 10, 1938.—This is a bold, biased and unbashed piece of publicity for a couple of underdogs, One of them is a historic Denver hotel, trying to make a comeback. The other is a man who has been a friend of mine

for nearly 15 years. The man and the hotel are closely linked, although the man has no money in the hotel. In fact, the man has no money even in his pockets. The history of Colorado in the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties is a dramatic one. It is the history of prospectors and mining and wild days; insane wealth, sudden poverty, and finally the story of great tragedies in human lives. The Windsor Hotel was the center of all that. In its day it was the grandest thing west of New York. When the Windsor was built, in 1881, it cost $600 a room to furnish. Beds and dressers were of German black walnut. Mirrors of French diamond point. In the Windsor was Colorado's first bathtub. » » ”

Sturdy Walls Resist Ax

But the old hotel went the way of old men. A couple of years ago they started to tear it down. But they found the walls so sturdy that it was cheaper to leave it standing. Then new owners took it over. with a vague idea of raising it out of the ashes of its past to a renewed glory. Now to change the subject. One night about 14 years ago in Washington, D. C, I met a young man who was nearly as big around as he was tall. His name was Herndon Davis, and he was an artist who would paint you anything from a hamburger sign to a masterpiece,

Our Town

MORE MEMORABILIA for the hook. Item 1: Frederic G. Melcher, one-time manage} of the W, K. Stewart book shop who now runs and, for all I know, maybe owns The Publishers’ Weekiy with offices in New York, has a dossier packed with stories about his stay in Indianapolis. Specimen: When John Herron unexpectedly gave Indianapolis the money for a museum, a big dinner was held to increase the contributions. At this dinner, attended by literary and artistic lights of the city as well as by some who might be expected to have some money. talking about art began immediately after the banquet and by 11 o'clock the whole subject was getting broad and pretty long. At this point James Whitcomb Riley turned to George Ade and said: “George, speaking of art. I know a man up at the junction who can sit on the platform and spit over a freight car.” » » »

On Separate Vacations

Item 2: Adolph Schellschmidt says he knows for a fact that the modern notion of husband and wife taking separate vacations was known in Indianapolis 50 years ago. For example. Mr. and Mrs. Marceau of Marceau & Powers plush photograph gallery always went their own way. What's more. they never told one another where and how they were going to spend their vacations. At this point, Mr. Schellschmidt always makes it clear that Mr. and Mrs. Marceau got along beautifully together. They just had it figured out that it was a good thing for husband and wite to be separated a month or so every year. Well, one summer Mr. and Mrs. Marceau parted company and, from the way things looked at the Union Station, one went north and the other south. Three days later, they met face to face at an Atlantic City hotel. Seems that Mr. Marceau had a business engagement in Chicago before starting his vacation.

Washington

WASHINGTON, May 16.—Obviously we are in for a period of tightening the belt and for embarking upon some things which are unwelcome necessities. That is certain now, whether we go into the war or not, There are two ways in which we can go at it. They are illustrated by the contrasting approaches employed by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill. When Churchill made his first speech as Prime Minister to Commons this week. he made no effort to conceal the hardships that lay ahead. “I have nothing to offer,” he said, “but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” A grim, honest, memorable utterance which must have inspired confidence and new resolution among the British people. When President Roosevelt, at his press conference this week, announced that he was about to ask Congress for additional national defense, and warned that the amount of money required would be pretty high, he was asked how it would be financed.

» » »

No Use Kidding Ourselves

For answer, Mr. Roosevelt resorted to simile. It was like a big fire in a city, a destructive fire. It would cost the city money and would be reflected in higher taxes the following year. But the newspaper reporters covering the fire wouldn't play up the budget question as the big news. They would write about the fire, not how the damage was to be paid for. That was his tip as to how the press should write about the new national defense program. But the reporters were not satisfied with this little lecture on the technique of journalism. They had other questions. Would the expense of defense be met with higher taxes. or by borrowing and by raising the debt limit, which had been almost reached? Mr. Roosevelt explained that he was not particularly interested in that, National defense was the important thing. The money was going to he spent. Whether it was obtained by higher taxes or by borrowing was a minor detail,

My Day

WASHINGTON, Wednesday—I lunched yesterdav with & group of people in Washington who are serving as a voluntary faculty in the Federal Workers School. This school is not as academic as it sounds, because, while there are many courses on such dif-

ficult subjects as our monetary

system, they also have classer in dancing to lend a light and recreational touch. They serve to draw people together in social groups and are valuable. I wish I had time to attend some of these courses myself, for the faculty is one of the most interesting groups of people I have met in a long time, I returned to the White House in time to receive some members of the adult education classes in Philadelphia, who were here on a visit to their capitol. Later, a large group of ladies attending the American Scientific Congress, were received. At 4 o'clock the Cabinet ladies and I gave our annual tea for the wives of the Representatives. "At this tea, which is a leisurely affair, the North Carolina “Eastern Carolina Symphonie Singers” sang for us. Governor Clyde Hoey has sponsored this group and they are on their first tour. Since the choir is chosen from small high school groups in North Carolina, what they are able : v

By Ernie Pyle

I have known Herndon Davis off and on through all these years. He has never got any smaller. Last fall he came to Denver on a small commission job. Well, when he arrived. the agent told him he could have free rooms either in a swank suburban hotel or in the old Windsor. Davis chose the run-down Windsor. . He got interested in what the new owners were trying to do. He saw the huge old ballrom, and an adjoining ‘dining room big enough tor three modern night clubs. The new owners didn’t know what to do with these rooms. But Davis did. . He grabbed a scrubbing brush, and his paints. And he turned out in scores of marvelous pictures the history of the Windsor Hotel—which is the history of Colorado itself —right on those plaster walls which housed the history in the making.

Dislikes Looking Backward

The new owners, not too rich themselves, were able to pay Davis so little that when he finished they gave him, in addition, all the massive old furniture in his room. I doubt if there is an artist in Colorado as soaked with Colorado history as Herndon Davis. He hangs around the Windsor daily, with more ideas. But work has run out. He is leaving in a few days for the East. I'm very little interested in the personal successes of the new Windsor owners. In fact, I don't even know them. But I am interested in the idea of preserving the old hotel. The great old beds still grace the high rooms. The public rooms—the ones with the Davis paintings—are now cocktail rooms and dance floors. But I have grave fears. Denver is not the kind of city that wishes to turn back to old things. Jt doesn’t seem proud of the flashy page in Western history that its early men and women created. And so, as I said in the beginning, this is an unashamed piece of publicity designed to save two underdogs for the benefit of themselves and Colorado. I know it will do no good, for you can't stop progress. even with sentiment. But there's no harm in trying.

By Anton Scherrer LINKED TO WAR

and descending property valuations SWimming holes in Fall Creek.

‘New Yorker Suggests That was painted by the Park Board to-

As for Mrs. Marceau, she went east by way of Cincinnati (B. & O.). For some reason, too, Mr. Schellschmidt always make it a point, when telling the story, to apotheosize the charms of Mrs. Marceau. She was a very beautiful woman, he says. ~ » »

Inspiration for a Poem

Item 3: John T. Brush who started the When store and band, to say nothing of backing the first professional baseball club around here, is remembered, too, because of a celebrated party he gave. Four weeks after Col. Will Tarkington's death, Mr. Brush invited Henry C. Adams, Mahlon Butler, David Wallace and Burgess Brown, the four surviving members of the old Bald-Headed Glee Club, to come to his home. When they arrived, they found their host sitting beside a table on which stood a strange-looking box. At the proper time, Mr. Brush leaned over and gave the box a touch. The guests couldn't believe their ears when they heard the singing of the original Bald-Headed Glee Club with not a man missing and Mr. Tarkington's voice leading all the rest. Nobody knows when or how Mr. Brush had the phonograph record made. James Whitcomb Riley dramatized the incident in his “The Boys of the Old Glee Club.” When the poem appeared in The Reader's Magazine (1907), nobedy believed it to be a true story. They said Mr. Riley was romancing again. And speaking of Mr. Brush and the old baseball days (Item 4), David Gibson remembers that Paul Hines, center fielder of the 1887 Indianapolis club, | was the only big league player up to that time who | had ever made a triple play unassisted. Mr. Gibson also recalls Pete Browning, a Louisville first baseman and a sure-fire hitter. Except for baseball. Pete wasn't interested in anything. One night with a group of fellow-players, he sat apparently asleep out in front of English’s Hotel. The group was discussing Grover Cleveland, then President of the United States. Browning sud-

deniy awakened and blurted out “What team is he with?”

By Raymond Clapper

There is nothing to be gained by trying to make the business of war go down easily, as something little more unpleasant than a head cold. Such tactics lead only to bitter disillusionment in the end. Even worse, they breed at once a spirit of easy optimism which does not muster the degree of intense resolution required. A nation that is kidding itself is not doing a realistic job. If the times call for sacrifice, the sacrifice is more likely to be made, and with more spirit, if there is no attempt to conceal the cost. The sacrifices which we shall have to make for adequate defense are modest indeed. compared with those which all nations in Europe are compelled to make now. Most of them are sacrificing blood as well as treasure. What can we gain by dodging the realities?

Let's Face the Facts

One third of our Federal Government income already is going into national defense. More will have to go in. It is folly to run away from the fact that this means heavy taxatidn sooner or later, directly or indirectly.

No obstacles should be thrown in the way of prompt action on national defense and any who raise questions of taxation for purposes of obstruction are not contributing to the good of the nation. But it is something else again, and a very healthy thing, to insist that we must face the price and begin to pay it. We will get more out of our preparedness effort if we do that because it will mean much more to us if we can feel it coming out of our hides right now. Many have said that government would be more efficient if the income tax were broadened to include practically all earners so that they would be conscious of their direct stake in it. Lethargy has been the fatal enemy of democracy abroad. Here, whenever finances or taxes are mentioned. we get manana fever. Let the country feel the lash of some extra taxes now. Let it learn at the outset that preparedness in this kind of a world is not all strawberries | for breakfast. The healthissi thing for America today would be to follow the new defense appropriations with some new taxes. Thus we would demonstrate that we have the stamina to face our task.

» 5

Loans Might Restore Money Standard.

The United States cannot solve its present gold problem until after the war, Dr. Marcus Nadler, New York, authority on monetary questions, told members of the Idiana Bankers Association here today. Dr. Nadler, director of the New York University Institute of International Finance, spoke at the closing session of the Association's twoday convention in the Claypool Hotel. Earlier in the day, the Association installed officers elected: yesterday and heard an address by M. H. Miller, Indi napolis attorney, on “Recent Supreme Court Decisions Affecting Trusts.”

Round Table Held

A round table discussion on ~onsumer credit, personal loans and a country bank's lending program, was led by George B. Anderson, Elkhart, and W. O. Osborn, cashier. In his address, Dr. Nadler said that after the war, the United States might restore the gold] standard by gold loans to European nations. While these loans might not be repaid, he said, the loss would be much greater if gold were demonetized. The new oficers of the Association installed today were Paul N. Bogart, Terre Haute, president; W. W. Gasser, Gary, vice president and Aréh C. Voris, Bedford, treasurer. The retiring president is Albert J. Wedeking, of Dale. Mr. Bogart was vice president last year and Mr. Gasser was treasurer,

Named to Council

Prompt U. S. Recovery Para

twood Sti

mount, Will

A

At the speakers’ table at the Indiana Bankers’ Association in the U. 8. Naval Armory last night were (left to right) Will G. Irwin, Republican national committeeman from Indiana: Wendell I. Willkie, utility chief and possible Republican candidate for President, who spoke; Albert | J. Wedeking, Dale banker and retiring president of the association, and Lieut. Gov. Henry F. Schricker.

GOLD PROBLEM Brigh

II Wants

Pool Despite Tax Outlook

A gloomy picture of rising taxes

day to discourage the demand of 1900 Brightwood residents for a swimming pool at Washington Park. The Brightwood community was represented at the Board meeting today by 10 business and religious leaders, who took the Board's preliminary refusal to provide the pool, lightly and warned, “We'll fight until we get it.”

City Councilman Guy O. Ross, who headed the delegation, said he believed the cost of the swimming pool would not exceed $41,000, which he said was the cost of the Garfield Park pool. He said the children of the community must walk or “hitchhike” to Ellenberger Park to swim safely, or

INDIANA . 0. P. CLOSES RANKS

Free of Open Divisions for First Time in Six Years; One Contest Unsettled.

By NOBLE REED

The State Republican Committee today was free from any open factional divisions for the first time in six years. Caucus sessions yesterday were maneuvered carefully to cover up differences among district leaders

Charles B. Enlow, Evansville, was named to the executive council of | the American Bankers Association,! representing Indiana, while Mr. Bo-| gart was named to the A. B. nominating committee, with Theo dore Reininga, Washington, Ind. | as alternate. Other A. B. A. officers elected were George S. Anderson, Elkhart, state vice president of the national bank division; William Cahill, Terre Haute, state vice president of the savings bank division; Raymond Sout, Paoli, state vice president of the state bank division, and A. E. Lamb, Indianapolis, state vice president of the trust division.

DEMOCRATS SLATED T0 RE-ELEGT BAYS

The State Democratic Committee, which will convene here Saturday to re-elect Fred F. Bays as state chairman, today had only two new district chairmen following reorganization meetings over the state yesterday. The ‘only changes were in the Fifth and Twelfth Districts. Van Garrot of Prankfort was elected the new chairman in the Fifth, succeeding Alex N. Pursley of Harttord City, personal adviser to Governor M. Clifford Townsend. Mr. Pursley had announced his desire! to retire as chairman after 10 years! in the post. In the Twelfth District, Albert O. Deluse, City Councilman, was elected chairman, succeeding Judge | H. Nathan Swaim, of the State Su- | preme Court. Although Mr. Bays is slated to be re-elected chairman unanimously, | there may be changes in the other offices, principally that of vice chairman.

By Eleanor Roosevelt

to do is really remarkcble. I could siot help thinking what a gain it is for the young people to sing together

and to have this opportunity to travel through parts of their country. which they might never see in any other way. In the evening, Mrs. Melvyn Douglas and 1 left the White House at 7 o'clock to go to the National Press Club, where the dinner was held by the sponsoring group and attended by the delegates to the meeting of the unemployed women. The findings and recommendations of the jury were read by Mrs. Douglas and will be presented to Congress. It is extremely interesting that women, who perhaps are not much in sympathy with some of the demands of these unemployed women until they come face to face with them, have recommended practically everything which the women came down here to ask. The Representatives and Senators who spoke were much impressed by the meal they were given. A small amount of stew and one prune for dessert cost about 5 cents, about the amount available per person in the average home where they are living on a woman's WPA earnings of about $44 a month. I imagine the gentlemen were hungry, and yet every one of us is sufficiently well fed not really to feel any hardship from going without one meal. The important thing is to realize that a meal such as this continued day after day. month in and month out, makes for malnutrition which is even more serious

Mrs. Sanford K. Trippet, of] Princeton, the present vice chairman, is from the Seventh District,| the home district of Mr. Bays and | some party leaders have proposed that the vice chairmanship be filled from some other district. District chairman re-elected were: Chester Foster, Gary, First District; George Stevens, Plymouth, Second District; M. Edward Doran, South Bend, Third District; Virgil M. Simmons, Bluffton, Fourth District; Roy Etter, New Market, Seventh District; Ernest Weatherhold, Cannelton, Eighth District; Lawrence Reeves, Columbus, Ninth District; Closs Samuels, Greensburg, Tenth District and Jacob C. Kuch, Eleventh District.

HORACE DODGE WEDS EX-VANITIES DANCER

BALTIMORE, Md. May 16 (U. P.),—Miss Martha (Mickey) Devine. 27, former Vanities ‘dancer, and Horace DNodge, 40, the automobile millionaire, were married last night after Judge J. Abner Sayler waived the 48-hour marriage notice regula-

for children than for adults.

tion,

A]

who elected state officers by unani- |

mous votes. Party leaders sidestepped the risk

of causing a rift in the organization

ranks by delaying settlement of a A.deadlocked Third District chair-

manship contest until after the State Convention next week. Third District leaders were deadlocked three to three in the chairmanship fight between Harry E. Marum of La Porte and Walter R. Beardsley of Elkhart. Under the rules, if districts are deadlocked the State Committee seats the chairman. However, Committee members yesterday, after learning that the Third District contest involved -a factional fight between backers of Glen R. Hillis and William E. Jenner for the gubernatorial nomination, announced they would decide the deadlock after the convention. Three State Committee officers, Chairman Arch N. Bobbitt, Vice Chairman Eleanor Snodgrass and Secretary Neil McCallum were reelected unanimously. John H. Bookwalter, local print-

take their chance in dangerous Jackiel W. Joseph, Park Board president, warned that the building lof a pool would increase the tax rate, | He said that in the last five years five other requests for swimming pools have been made and “if we {started out to build one pool, we would end up by building at least six.” Henry Stiles, a Brightwood busiinessman, told the Board that tne |“folks in Brightwood haven't :sked [for much and think they are en(titled to a pool.” | “We built our Northeast community center at our own expense,” he said, “but we can’t give the children |all they need ourselves. Instead of |driving these children to hazardous places to swim, we'd rather have {them under the protection of a lifeguard in our own community.”

Note for Yale: Gracie's Armed

OMAHA, Neb, May 16 (U. P)). —The Yale University Record demanded that Gracie Allen, who drafted herself for the Surprise Party Presidential nomination, explain her campaign statement that “There are plenty of things I've got which Venus di Milo hasn't.” The Record said it had 8261 subscribers “under its thumb” and could swing them~to any candidate. Gracie replied: “I don’t think there should be two lady candidates and I suggest Miss Venus withdraw. Anyway, she'd look funny shaking | hands and passing out cigars with her shoulders. . ..” Miss Allen's Surprise Party convention is being held in connection with Omaha's Golden Spike Celebration.

INDIANA COAL MEN ELECT AURORA MAN

Denton V. Opp, Aurora, was elected president of the Indiana Coal Merchants’ Association at the

(close of the association's 10th annual convention in the Hotel Severin yesterday to succeed Oscar I. Beasey, Logansport. Mr. Beasey becomes chairman of the board of directors to succeed Phil P. Bash, Huntington. Other ofifcers are A. V. Sout, Plymouth, northern vice president; Robert W. Bidlack, Indianapolis, southern vice president; Lynn Logsdon, Indianapolis, treasurer, and J. Ross Hart-

ing company official, was elected treasurer to succeed Felix McWhirter, a banker. - The Committee fixed the follow- | ing assessments for candidates plac- | ing their names before the State] Convention: U. S. Senator, $1200; Governor, $1000; Lieutenant Gov-| ernor, $600; Secretary of State! State Auditor and State Treasurer,|

ley, Muncie, recording sedéretary. G. Don Sullivan is executive secretary. Directors are Tom Moore, Evansville; Earl Manson, Terre Haute; E. M. Frank, Jeffersonville; Walter Klehfoth, Richmond; O. E. Klink, Bloomington; Howard H. Mutz, Edinburg; Frank Pittman, Indianapolis; John Childes, Anderson; Al Schnaible, Lafayette; Carl G. T.

$350; Superintendent of Public In- | Monninger, Logansport; Alva Wil-

struction, $300; Court

Reporter, liamson, Marion: Frank G. Boll- Was elected president of the Indiana 18400; Supreme Court judge, $1000; man. Ft. Wayne; Elton Richter, |Appellate Court judges, $800: dele- South Bend, and Robert M. Wat‘gates to National Convention, $350. ison, Bast Chicago.

Times Special SPRING MILL STATE PARK, May 16.—The use of portable radios

lon park trails indicates that the| | present generation is unable to fully

appreciate the beauties of nature, Garrett Epply, associate regional planner of the National Park Service, said today. He was addressing the National Conference of State Parks which ends its anual convention here this afternoon. He said that the presence of such radios on natural trails, the demand for urban recreational facilities and other such indications pose a problem of education for state parks administrators. They not only must educate the public to the beauties of nature, unadulterated with city pastimes, on the one hand, but they must judiciously provide some recreational equipment in balanced proportion, on the other. In answer to this challenge, Kenneth M. Kunkel, assistant consérvation commission of Indiana, said the constant .increase in state parks

attendance in th state seemed to

\

Radios tin Parks Indicate Owners Neglecting Nature

lindicate the people found in them {what they want. | He also pointed out that there are many regions in the parks which are preserved without plant improvement for future generations. Mr. Kunkel said that park attendance in the state has increased more than 100 per cent in the last six years and that 40 per cent of the visitors have been from outside Indiana. He said the parks have inns with accommodations for 100 and an additional 49 overnight cabins having accommodations for 187. There are less than 60 miles of paved highways in the parks, but 123 miles of foot trails, and 100 miles of bridle paths. There are 500 individual camp sites, picnic facilities for more than 20,000 and nearly 50 [shelter houses. “Twenty-five per cent of the visitors enjoy picnics while in the parks; 14 per cent camp overnight; 7 per cent are overnight guests in inns; 15 per cent use bathing beaches and pools; 3 per cent ride horseback and 2 per cent participate in nature hikes,” Mr. Kunkel

»

‘SHOTGUN INTERRUPTS

kie Declares

Times Photo.

CITES NEED FOR NATIONAL UNITY

‘Asks Change in Technique Of Government Before State Bankers.

America must change its techrvique of government in the next four years to enable it to move forward as a united nation. Wendell L. Willkie, utility magnate and G. O. P. Presidential possibility, told the Indiana Bankers’ Association in the Naval Armory last night. Assailing New Deal regulation of

domestic recovery” is paramount and charged the Administration

industry, he declared that “prompt!

DEFENSE BELT FOR CARIBBEAN AGAIN URGED

Area Must Be Preserved Against Enemy Footholds, Committee Says. THOMAS L. STOKES

Times Special Writer WASHINGTON, May 16.— Serious consideration to acquisition of sites for addi tional naval bases in the Caribbean area, or to prevent their use as enemy air or suimarine bases from which to attack the Panama Canal or continental United States, is recommended to the Senate by its Naval Affairs Committee. The suggestion embodied in the comprehensive report accome panying the new naval expansion bill, a document from which much will be heard henceforth, since it presents a case for the United States remaining absolutely out of the present European war and takes issue, inferentially, with some Administration courses of policy. The recommendation relative ta the, Caribbean Islands, part of the

strictly Western Hemisphere defense system outlined, coincides with renewed suggestions that the United States and other American republics should acquire British and French and Dutch possessicns there in exchange for money the Allies may need for war purposes.

Urge Caribbean Base

“A fleet air base in the southeast corner of the Caribbean would undoubtedly add to the security of that area as well as to the ability of the United States fleet to insure the integrity of the Monroe Doce

By

is

with negligence in spending $60,-

we are hopelessly unprepared for defense.” American ‘freedom that we prize so highly is in grave danger both from enemies within and enemies without,” he said.

Sees Danger to Democracy

“Never in the history of this country, not even in the last World War, has the American system of free enterprise under a democracy, been in such grave danger.” The basic principle of the United States’ foreign policy, Mr. Wilkie said, should be that this country “must be united and strong at home.” He assailed diplomatic appointments of the national Administration. “At a time of world crisis with the demonstrations of Europe fighting for their lives and our own interests at: stake,” he said, “we have had playboy ambassadors accepting springtime diplomatic appointments for political reasons and using them to make personal proclamations of American foreign | policy. : Says G. O. P. Would Economize

“We have had intellectual ‘Peck’s bad boys’ toying with the adminis-

ulation of business. Mr, Willkie, a native of Elwood, Ind, declared that a Republican | Administration will modify some of | the regulatory laws over industry| after they have proven too burdensome. He said that under G. O. P. rule there will be greater economy | in government and efforts to balance the budget by reducing deficit. | “The single factor that has pro- | longed this depression is the Gov- | ernment itself,” Mr. Willkie charged. | “The New Deal has engaged in a deliberate campaign to destroy the reople’s confidence in their enterprises.” He charged that New Deal laws were aimed at big business, but affected small business even more disastrously. “The crusade,” he said, “became a persecution, first of a few individuals, then of larger groups. Freedom of enterprise was forgotten in a lust for political power.”

OFFICERS CHOSEN BY FUNERAL DIRECTORS

Frank J. Evans, Noblesville, today

Funeral Directors Association at the closing session of the association's annual convention in the Manufacturers Building at the Fair Grounds. Ray Morrison, Vevay, was named first vice president; Clarence Piepho, Muncie, second vice president;

000,000,000 -and then asserting “that |

tration of government and the reg- |

rine,” the report says. “A base for the United States ‘fleet located in this vicinity would |afford a strategically centralized position which would permit our | fleet to operate to advantage in lany direction. In view of present European developments it may be necessary to proceed with some of these proposed projects in the near future: “The Panama Canal and its ape proaches must be fortified and proe tected to such an extent that they cannot be damaged and will he |available for the transfer of our fleet from the Atlantic to the Pae cific; and- vice versa, as necessary, “The existing submarine and naval air bases there should be extended and improved. It might be desirable to reconsider the {question of building a canal across | Nicaragua.” Case Against Involvement The report of the naval commite tee, headed by Senator David I. | Walsh’ (D. Mass.), based its case {against any involvement in the (European war on these grounds: | 1. That the United States is not {prepared to participate, lacking the necessary weapons to make our ef- | forts effective, 2. That if Germany's submarines and aircraft “succeed in overcoming the greatly superior floets of Great Britain and France and destroying British sea power, there is every reason to infer that they could probably also overcome the United States fleet if we entered the war and sent our fleet to operate in European waters within ready reach of short-range aircraft and numerous small submarines.” 3. This would cripple the United States in its own mission, to protect the United States with its navy.

Dictatorship Feared

4. Involvement in the war would require creation of a dictatorship in this country. The report cites nue merous bills already prepared which would give the President dictatorial powers to prosecute the war. “If the proposed bills were enacted into law they would take away the individual rights of every American citizen, and convert this country, within a few days, into a totalitarian dictatorshin.” the report said, “It is believed that the American peonle are readv and willing to make any sacrifices necessary to nrotect their birthright and their liberties, but that they are not will= ing to endure the horrors of war to take part in the age-old quarrels of Europe and the game of power politics.”

TEST YOUR

Herbert R. Wald, Indianapolis, sec-retary-treasurer, and Myron Hutch- | ins, Kendallville, sergeant-at-arms.| Mr. Wald was re-elected. Frank M.| McNeely, Indianapolis, retiring pres-| ident, became an advisory member | of the Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors, who were elected presidents of their respective districts during the last two months, were to be installed with the new officers in a ceremony this afternoon. They are Wilfred R. Weaver, Lowell, Walter Bonham, Albion; Harry E. Simpkins, Boswell; Mr. Piepho; Jesse W. Cure, Martinsville; Louis J. Rentschler, Center Point; Robert L. Greek, Evansville: George H. Roach, Bedford, and Donald C. Ulrich, Moores Hill,

BURGLARY, 4 SEIZED

WARSAW, Ind., May 18 (U.P.).— A shotgun blast that interrupted an attempted burglary at the Fred Searfoss gasoline station at Lake Wawasee resulted today in the arrest of four youths on charges of burglary. One of the quartet, Donald Howard, 23, of Goshen, was seriously wounded when he was shot by Allen

KNOWLEDGE

1—What valuable mineral is recov= ered from old motion picture film? 2—What was the ancient name of Dardanelles? 3—What country in South America has a greater area than conti nental United States? 4—Is it necessary for a submarine to rise to the surface to launch torpedoes? 5—What well known university is located in New Haven, Conn.?

Answers

»

1—Silver. 2—The Hellespont. 3—Braazil. } 4—No. 5—Yale.

ASK THE TIMES

Inclose a 3-cent stamp for reply when addressing any question of fact or information to The Indianapolis Times Washington Service Bureau, 1013 13th St, N W, Washington, D. C. Legal and medical advice cannot bg given nor can

Ritter, 46, of Syracuse, R

extended research undertaken. +