Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 February 1941 — Page 12

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‘The Indianapolis Times

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1941

WE'VE GOT EXPERTS ~~ '..

RGUING before a Congressional committee for speedy passage of a bill to insure up to $100,000,000 of defense housing mortgages, Secretary of ‘Commetge “Jesse Jones said this: ew] “We're in the war—at least, we're nearly in the war. We're preparing for it. When you do that,.you’ve got to throw money away.” ging ill} Mr. Jones said more than he had intended. For he immediately asked the committee’s stenographer to strike his remark from the official record: And few, we think, will be disposed to make any great”issue of it. Whether or not we're in the war, or nearly in, we certainly are up to our necks in a critical international situation. And that being true, we are arming ourselves as fast as we can, But does it necessarily follow that we've got to throw money away? Historically, perhaps, it does. That is, this country usually has thrown away a great deal of money whenever it went in for arming on a grand scale. And this time, there is already much reason to suspect, is ta be no exception, although of course some people do contend that we ought to profit by the lessons of the past. However, if Mr. Jones is correct, and it’s true that we've got to throw money away, we can at least be confident that no Administration at Washington has ever been better equipped by experience for doing that job. We were sure of 'it even before Harry Hopkins began to take his present prominent part in the making of spending plans.

WORSE THAN THE AILMENT

N his effort to clean up election-day practices, we wonder if County Chairman Bradford's precinct bill does not open the way for abuses more far-reaching than those he proposes to correct? ! The precinct bill is the one which would permit county chairmen to select precinct workers from any place in the township, not limiting them to residents of the precinct, and also would permit watchers to be in the polling places all day. ; : | We are inclined to think opponents of Mr. Bradford's bill are right when they call it a politician's “dream” measure. Certainly no one can deny that it would permit unscrupulous chairmen to stack precinct boards and that it would permit chairmen to float watchers in and out’ of the polling places all day carrying orders to outside workers. The remedy, in this case, looks worse than the disease.

sb ‘ ~ PASSIT NOW

THE Home Rule resolution, which would permit City ‘Manager government, has passed the Indiana House of Representatives. It is now up in the Senate and there has arisen some argument as to the resolution’s length. The argument is that it is too long for a constitutional amendment. If the resolution is sound it seems to us of little consequence how long it is. Aside from this obvious quibble, we have heard no porting objection raised to the measure. This is one measure by which the Republicans can contribute a good deal toward better government. in the larger cities. We hope the Senate passes it without much

“more delay and sends it to the Governor.

MORE ABOUT CANADA SOME readers seem to feel that we were picking on Canada the other day when we remarked that the Dominion has not been lending and leasing war materials to- England but has been paid for them in cash—cash obtained by the sale to Canada of Canadian securities held in England. Criticism of Canada was far from our intention; which was simply to point out that there is nothing sordid in similar arrangements for financing British purchases in this country by the sale of British-held American securities, or even by the sale of British territorial possessions in this

Canada’s position needs no defending. She declared war voluntarily. She is financing her own large and growing participation. She has 225,000 men under arms, not counting reservists. She has adopted conscription. She is turning out an effective small-ship navy. She is the seat of the great Commonwealth Air Training Plan—for which she foots more than half the bill. She has more than 50,000 troops overseas, and may double the number this year. Her income taxes have gone up until the man who

paid $36 last year will pay $195 this year, and the man who paid $781 will. pay $2170. sig Canada is carrying her share of the burden, all right. The fact that she is. paid for the shells and tanks she turns out for England’s own fighting men—paid for them, that is,

as long as England has the wherewithal—is normal and

proper.

The point is, we are irritated by suggestions that the United States, which is not a belligerent and owes no loyalty to the Crown, should be more open-handed than Canad as long’as England is in a position to pay, whether in securities or strategic islands, for the products of our factories and

PUERTO RICAN. PRECISION

MAINLAND citizens nay be tempted to smile at the

earnestness’ with. which the Puerto Rican House of Representatives has’ just ‘debated the language of a message congratulating President Roosevelt:on ‘his re-election. The issue was: whether to say “the House offers congratulations” o¥:“tié House extends congratulations.” Argument over the shades of meaning in English verbs raged furiously in the Spanish language. The proponents of “extends” finally prevailed and by now, no doubt, the cablegram is in Mr. Roosevelt's archives. ‘ | The island legislators may have wasted a little time, but after all they weren't setting such a bad example. A great deal of trouble might be avoided #f .other lawmakers, in Congress and the state legislatures, wete as seri-

ously determined to be precise in saying: what they mean.

Fair Encugh

By Westbrook Pegler

A Tribute to a Newspaperman:|

Sidney Whipple Is Clever, Versatile And, Above All, in Love With His Job

EW YORK, Feb. 19.—I have long had it in mind to say that my idea of a first-class newspaperman is a little fellow that few people outside New York, except other newspapermen, ever heard of, and to fill you in on some of his characteristics, because the type is a vanishing breed nowadays, what with the development. of social-conscious-ness and missions-in-life among the members of our set. Our subject is Sidney Whipple, who does theaters for the WorldTelegram and who can do just about anything anybody can ask of him around the editorial side of a newspaper or press association and do everything well. He can write foreign stuff from the cables, for instance, -turn out a noon or closing lead on the market, go out and get a story by hand, whether an interview or an up-the-dark-and-creaking-stairs piece about a sick child in a tenement, toss off jingle-verse almost as fast as he can play the typewriter, read copy, file a wire, fill in on sports or compose an editorial for or against anything. ” u »

HERE never were many as versatile as Sidney,

who, for extra, can tell cockney jokes dating from |.

the time when he worked a trick in London and spent his nights frequenting the ’alls, play piano "by ear like an old-time professor in a joint and when we were very young, could skin the cat as neat as you please on those white-enameled strap-hangers’ handles in the subway. That was in the early days of prohibition when there was a horrible goats’ nest in an old building down behind the old World where a couple of boys who were prohibition agents sold sherry made out of syrup, red pepper, tobacco juice, liquid soap and painters’ alcohol which we used to drink for choice,

because the rye and scotch were unreliable and might

contain harmful elements. After work at the old United News, about 2 or 3 a. m., Sidney and I, and often Henry Farrell, the day-side sport editor, and maybe one or two others, would do a little relaxing in this place and when we all got fairly well rejoiced and started home he would hop up, grab those handles and turn himself inside out and back again with his change and papers show=ering out of his pockets all over the floor. But, as I say, we were very young then and full of gay spirits, and, anyway, we were putting, it seems to me now, about 11 or 12 hours a day of steady writing, and the choice of amusements was pretty limited after 3 a. m. You had to get some fun out of life. ” " = EFORE that Sidney had been a city editor in J Syracuse, and since then he has been a managing editor in South Bend and Denver, and, although he hasn’t the Chapin or Bovard temperament and discipline under him would be pretty informal, I will say that any young reporter who worked for him and really paid attention was bound to learn the business if he was any good whatever. In our time Europe was bubbling every day, and Ireland was in a terrible state of war against the Black and Tans, and Sidney would come in late in the afternoon, and by 6 o'clock, when the wire opened, would have a nice stack of as clean and musical copy as every you read, all prepared for the operators. Then he would file the wires and continue writing. He would skin the afternoon papers, too, without having to be told or advised, and pick out maybe half a dozen little harmless brighteners which he would whip into items of from 100 to 200 words, and the night the big navy dirigible pulled the cap out of her nose at the mast in Lakehurst and blew out to sea in a storm he sat there banging away for hours without getting out of his chair as jerky little bulletins came in over the ticker or correspondents phoned from down the coast. : I think he wrote a play once, and I know he did

| a historical or biographical novel—so hé can strut,

too, but mainly he is just a thoroughbred newspaperman of championship class—which, of course, is one reason why there haven't been more of him and aren’t more of him now in our business. You know why he is so good, aside from his natural class? Because he was just crazy about the newspaper business. How can anybody stand out who thinks he is wasting his time on a decadent and monotonous occupation?

Business By John T. Flynn

Fear of Inflation and Heavy Taxes * Brings Confusion to Businessmen

EW YORK, Feb. 19.—Businessmen and business groups have been. holding a good many meetings, banquets, discussions recently. And of course the chief topic of discussion is the defense program and its effect on business. But, reading the reports of the discussions, one gets the impression that all the businessmen seem to be able to do is confuse themselves — and the public— further. For instance, at one recent meeting one speaker warned that profits must be protecte¢ — that profits meant increased production and “restrictive” taxes would limit profits and thus limit production. At the same meeting the point was raised as to how much the Government could safely spend and borrow—for armament production. . It was agreed the Government could, and should, spend plenty and borrow plenty but—it must be careful and work out also some tax method for raising some of the funds so as to protect the economy from inflation. Another speaker says we must not be lulled into false security by the lack of any imminent danger of inflation, and still another tells the bewildered businessmen that there is nothing inflationary at all in the defense program. Then another banquet is regaled with tales of the dire results of runaway prices, and still another is told prices are not running away and will net run away and can be controlled. Of course, a good deal of the trouble and confusion arises from the fact that some of these “economists” are telling businessmen what they think they would like to hear. The defense program means prosperity —unhealthy prosperity—but prosperity just the same. And businessmen, and the rest of us, like prosperity.

” o 2

UT there are a lot of businessmen who remember what happened to their beautiful prosperity of the last year, who have been asking questions and wondering what they can ‘do to protect themselves and their business. Some of them, at least, realize that spending of borrowed funds—huge funds—inevitably means inflation. : What they are not so sure about is how the inflation can be avoided or at least controlled. This, of course, immediately brings up the unpleasant subject of taxes. But no matter what businessmen are told by their

banquet and convention speakers, there is just no get-

ting away from the fact that there is only one way to control an inflation induced by enormous spending of borrowed funds by the Government, and that is by heavy taxes. . And while we are talking about whether to control the inflation this way or that way, always soft-pedal-ing on taxes, we shall probably end by having both— inflation and heavy taxes, too—but the taxes too late to mitigate the bad effects of the inflation.

So They Say—

HOW MUCH TIME we have, I don’t know, but it will be barely enough; and we are not making full use of that—Rear Admiral John W. Greenslade. “" ® * x

WHAT 1S DESIRABLE is not overtime for men, but more hours of production from machines. Philip B. wage-hour law administrator,

_ THE INDIANAPOLIS

Look Out, F. D.!

HENRY MENCKEN

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3

AM-M= NOW WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE WENDELL'S GOT (N HIS

LKIE MA) TO CH/ vg

The Hoosier Forum

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

CHARGES EXTRAVAGANCE TO CITY OFFICIALS

By E. S. Brown A few days ‘ago opposite 2756 Winthrop Ave. it was completely proven once again the extravagance of our city officials who are entrusted with the repairing of our city streets. Two years or less ago the same sort off extravagance was committed on the southwest corner of Guilford Ave. and 28th St. In both instances there were eight men employed to do a 15-minute and a two-hour job, regpectfully, whereas two men could have done the same jobs in the same time less one hour on the latter job at Guilford Ave, and 28th St. It is a plain case of careless spending of the taxpayers’ hard earned money. Politicians without exception make promises with no intention of keeping them. It is high time that we who are taxpayers take notice and speak out in plain English against such willful and careless spending of the tax

dollars. # 8 9

APPLAUDING WILLKIE FOR FOREIGN POLICY STAND

By Simmons Drake An Open Letter to Wendell L. Willkie: Gen. Johnson’s article published in The Times on Feb. 10 prompts the following comments. While it is true that you did not inject into your campaign for President any worth-while innovations, this proved to me that you were much smarter than the few who complained that you did not do so. You must have realized that there was an atmosphere calling for a change of the Administration and that by pursuing the most popular course you stood your best chance of election — that course being in line with popular reforms which had been made by the Administration in power. . At any rate, you polled some 22,000,000 votes — the largest number ever polled by any Republican candidate. But, you were up against the popularity of America’s greatest leader of all time. You were up against the popular course he had chartered in the turbulent waters of a swiftly changing economic and social age. Therefore, herculean task to take from him the credit due for his accomplishments. After your defeat you were farseeing and manly in giving him your support. i Your trip abroad was clearly within your right and perhaps duty as

it was aj.

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns, religious controversies excluded. Make your letters shori, so all can have a chance. Letters must be signed, but names will be withheld on request.)

the titular head of your party. ... There are millions who believe that you are too manly not to speak your convictions, and certainly you are far better qualified to speak them than if you had not gone. To be a worthy leader one must be informed and have the courage to strike—let the chips fall where they will, While for several years we have suffered pains and anguish incident to the rebirth of America, we must now go through a like ordeal while the world is being remade. The President and America needs your support and that of all men like you, and with it, despite the appeasers, America will have her best chance of moving into world leadership as a great empire and of better serving mankind. But, if Britain should be defeated the picture will be different. America will have seen the fulness of her way of life.

” ” 8°

TAKING A SLAM AT THE DEFENSE PROGRAM

By Lester Gaylor It is called a National Defense Program yet the New Dealers have asked bids for 1,500,000 coffins for American soldiers and sailors! It is called a National Defense Program, yet The Times scooped Indianapolis newspapers in revealing that the New Dealers have contracted for 4,500,000 tags for identifying our American war dead of the near future. It is called a National Defense Program, yet one of the key positions of this “false” defense is given over to Sidney Hillman, Rus-sian-born. . . . It is called a National Deferse Program, yet Senator ‘Wheeler says . . that the New Deal has transferred five-sixths of all American combat planes produced here during 1940, to England. ... It is called the National Defense Program, yet Roosevelt can give away vital military and naval secrets

to foreign powers, if House Bill

Side Glances=By Galbraith

“ 3 A E, (20S Loge 1941 BY NEA SERVICE, INC. T. M. REC. U. 8. PAT, OFF

"He says he'll have his tapsils out without » fuss if he can exhibit

them in a glass

. 2-19

at

1776 is enacted. This same vicious dictator bill will allow Roosevelt to stuff our whole Navy, Air Force, guns, tanks and munitions into the war-stockings of red Russia, red China, Greece or the red-coated British! ” ” ”

FIRING A BROADSIDE AT PROPOSED CARTRIDGE LAW

By John Moran . . « I am wondering what kind of bills they will try to pass next. The bill I have in mind is the one where they are’ trying to require American citizens to obtain licenses to buy a few sporting cartridges that he wants to use for hunting or going out to target practice. Of all things I have seen, in my opinion, this is the worst. I have read of our President making the remark that it would be a comfort to Hitler on certain things that were said in regards to the preparedness program. Believe me, I think that if this law were enacted in the United States. It sure would be a comfort to Hitler. It is a known fact that laws will not prevent criminals and members of organizations, such as the Bund, from obtaining firearms. would only cause the honest citizen ammunition

having guns and

obey laws.

sabotage. . . . ” ” ”

FINDS DISCORDANT NOTES IN THE FROG POND

By E. J. D. Most times, after reading this editorial page, I am reminded of a gloomy foreboding international mill-pond. First, I hear the dull deep croak of Bull-frog Johnson, punctuated, consistently, by. the shrill “pipeups” of Tad-pole Pegler. Mr. Johnson has had days, when it paid to get up, and go for a swim, but that is not so with Mr, Pegler. What manner of Plane was this, that shaved the top of Westbrook’s heed, and caused the chips to fall on both shoulders? Once, an old sailor said, “Fish and relatives, smel] the second day.” Apparently frogs do, too . . . especially when they are young. ” 2 ”

PLEADS FOR RETENTION OF PUBLIC WELFARE ACT

By Charles Boswell The Republican majority in the present Legislature has a wonderful opportunity to prove to the voters of this State that it approves sound social legislation. By passing the three bills recommended by the Citizens Child Welfare Committee and the present merit bill the Re-

|publican majority will win the ap-

proval of thousands of Indiana citizens who are interested in good government. However the Republican majority is. running the risk of arousing state-wide disapproval by changing the present public welfare act. We have now in this state a Public Welfare Board which has functioned as a nonpartisan board. The members have exercised their authority to set policies in such a way that Indiana is recognized as having one of the best administered welfare programs in the country.

GETHSEMANE

By DANIEL B. STRALEY Spare us, Great Father, From the cauldron of hate, Whose fires throw shadows On Thy earthly. estate But if the bitter draught Be ours to take, May Thy infinite wisdom Our souls ne'er forsake. May we who reluctantly Drink from the cup Bow in humble submission And our faces lift up.

DAILY THOUGHT

Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him.—Deuteronomy 8:6.

E is th

OBEDIENCE is the key to every

J

‘our engagement in

This law | : to become lax in obtaining and . around, as most citizens want to :

I know if it were en-| § acted it would not help to stop] i

_ WEDNESDAY, FEB."19, 1941

Gen. Johnson 1Says—

| Playing a Hunch, He Predicts Some. Tall Swapping Between British and U. S. Navies When Aid Bill Passes

ASHINGTON, Feb. 19.—This is little more than .¥'V a hunch story but it is a hunch based on a good many circumstances all facing in the same direction —the Administration’s willingness to compromise on amendments on the LeaSe-Lend Bill that do not cone Gia flict with it and its adamantine opposition to any amendments that do, the nature of the military and naval problem in its present phase, the opinions of some naval officers, the apparent determination -of Mr. Roosevelt to defend the British - Empire wherever it is threatened. The hunch is that very shortly after that bill is passed, which will certainly be about March 1, we shall see one of the most startling switches of American and British / : naval equipment ever yet rumored : or imagined. What is most needed 0 keep ocean lanes of supply open to beleaguered Britain and oppose the German air and submarine blockade are destroyers, cruisers and other light, swift warcraft, What.is most needed if we are to challenge Japanese sea power in the West Pacific is battleships,

o ” o

ruse latter, take a long time to build and we are not too comfortably equipped in this category as compared with Japan, especially considéring distanca, lack of bases and tricky defensive naval terrain of the Japanese archipelago. In fact, while there are some cocky navalists, including the President, who think our naval fighting qualities so superior to those of Japan that they offset much weight of hostile metal, there are others who regard as naval suicide Sea war on the other side of the. Pacific when-there is so much P: ine Nianih uncertaimty and danger ading some of our lighter craft for just one Brite ish battleship would not be a very Soritty thing to do. It would be hard to fit it into a squadron otherwise composed of battleships of American design, caliber of guns, fire-control and so forth. But getting a whole squadron of British battle wagons could be a much more effective addition to our naval strength if our purpose is jo agit the Japanese Navy, € are turning out some honeys of destroyers a doing it ahead of time. The conversion and Nan zation of our old destroyers is moving very rapidly in our own and British shipyards. The British are not experiencing the difficulty in manning our light craft that we might have in manning theirs,

® 2 2

ITH = 12-year enlistment, the average British W 80D 1s an accomplished all-around seama even with our difficulties, this ae wh Rous sale shifts is not so screwy, assuming always that we have decided to gamble our position in the Atlantie i oe anus) making American ships and our going apan in the Pacific - hing Brivis ships. WIZ Americas nan at we are possibly facing here is a Britishe American pool of the fighting ships of both navies, In the Lease-Lend Bill as it now stands in the Senate there is no financial or other limit whatever on the President's power to make these shifts, even to the whole of our Navy. As the Maritime Commission study revealed and as the reported cost of the George V. emphasized, it costs us from two to three timos what it costs Britain to build a warship. If these shifts are made on the basis of American costs, a British battleship is worth several American cruisers pg 32 Sues yale er would be no exhaustion of ,900,000, mit, e woul She S13X ! d be getting value Moreover, under that bill, the President can trad > a and [trade back. We may have no political “union pow) Da When ny bl 3 passed we shall have naval W~ and be in this war up to our e on both the Atlantic and Pacific, P x Deno

—— SF : ’ . ° : A Woman's Viewpoint By Mrs. Walter Ferguson

yaar a relief it is to turn from the evil of ~ adults to the innocence of children. Not that 1 think adults are inherently bad. It is only that their work sometimes appears so wicked. They, are 0 busy with destructiveness, so hot after revenge; so Quick to smell out scandal and so slow to laughter, Their world is muddled, and they seem to move in it after the manner of cattle in a pen, without aim or purpose. When I notice these pessimistic symptoms coming on I arrange to spend a day with the family baby. And invariably I leave the experience refreshed and rejuveenated in spirit. I can actually feel myself getting younger. Eight hours spent in changing diapers, fixing formulas, washing smeary hands and looking after a tiny being bursting with insatiable curiosity to feel and taste everything in sight, is time well spent. You forget work, income tax, the war. You forget everything except the baby, and can drown yourself in the candor of his eyes. The small loving tasks which have kept women sane and brave through centuries clarify your inner vision. For a too-brief moment the great purpose of life is disclosed to you, Here you are. 1t was like this, a very little while ago, that you tended your daughter, as you now tend her baby. So it is not hard to visualize the steady flow of humanity sweeping from one eternity to another. Not even motherhood brought this exquisite feeling —perhaps because you were too young then to worry about Life's meaning. The glory of motherhood is that there is no time for it—the baby is all important to its mother. | But grandmotherhood is something else, and an even more marvelous sensation, because you have time to understand a little about®he wonder and mystery of living and you feel a sort of oneness with all mane kind which is rather like looking, for an instant, into God’s face. ; Then off you go to your everyday chores—but with a new zest. Maybe, after all, it was God you glimpsed in the eyes of the dear innocent. Who said being a grandmother makes one feel old?

Editor's Note: The views expressed by columnists in this newspaper are their own. They are not necessarily those of The Indianapolis Times.

Questions and Answers

(The Indianapolis Times Service Bureau will answer any question of fact or information, not involving extensive te.search. Write your questions clearly, sign name and address, inclose a three-cent pottage stamp. Medical or legal advice cannot be given. Address The Times Washington Service Bureau, 1013 Thirteenth St, Washington, D. C.). Q—Which departments of retail department ct~ves are most profitable? A—In 1939, women’s hosiery ranked first; men’s furnishings, second; corsets and brassieres, third. : Q—What names are applied to the parts of a Scottish Highlander’s costume? A—XKilt, breeches; plaid, the cloak; brooch (pros nounced broach), shoulder clasp; sporran, a pouch Ranging from belt; Glengarry bonnet, cap; and dirk, agger. : Q—How many volunteer recruits did Ireland raise during World War I? : A—Approximately 134,000. Q—Is castor oil soluble in alcohol? ‘ A—It should be freely soluble in equal parts of alcohol, or in all proportions of absolute alcohol. It should also be soluble in three times its volume of a mixture of 19 parts of alcohol and one part of water, Q—When was city delivery of mail begun? ; A—It was established by Act of Congress March 3, 1863; and on Jan. 3, 1887, Congress required city de= _ livery service in all municipalities having a population of 50,000 or more and pelmitted its use in places with _ a population of not less than 10,000, or where postal receipts amounted to $10,000 annually. Village de-’ livery service was authorized by Congress June 30, 1913. The first strest letter boxes for collection of

mail werednstalled in New York City and Boston on Aug. 2, 1888, We mea

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