Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 April 1941 — Page 7

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1941

The Indianapolis T

SECOND SECTION

Hoosier Vagabond

(This column by Ernie Pyle, describing the burning of the ancient City of London during a Nazi bombing one night last December, is being reprinted by request.) LONDON (By Wireless).—Some day when peace has returned to this odd world I want to come to London again and stand on a certain balcony on a moonlit night and look down upon the peaceful silver curve of the Thames with its dark bridges. And stanging there, I want to a i teli somebody who has never seen ” it how London looked on a certain 3 N night in the holiday season of the w year 1940 : Ww For on that night this old, old gad ¢ citv—even though I must bite my - x tongue in shame for saying—was a the most beautiful sight I have ever seen It was a night when London was ringed and stabbed with fire. They came just after dark and somehow I could sense from the quick, biting firing of the guns that there was to be no monkey business this night. Shortly after the siren’s wail I could hear the Germans grinding overhead. . Horizon Lined With Fire Half an hour after the firing started I gathered a couple of friends and went to a high, darkened balcony that gave us a view of one-third of the entire circle of London. You have all seen big fires, but I doubt if you have ever seen the whole horizon of a city lined with great fires, scores of them, perhaps hundreds. There was something inspiring in the savagery Of 1t . About every two minutes a new wave of planes would be over The motors seemed to grind rather then roar and to have an angry pulsation like a bee buzzing in blind fury The bombs did not make a constant overwhelming din as in those terrible days of last September. They were Intermittent—sometimes a few seconds apart, sometimes a minute or more.

By Ernie Pyle

Their sound was sharp nearby, and softly muffled far away. They were everywhere over London. Into the dark shadowed spaces below as we watched whole batches of incendiary bombs fell. We saw two dozen go off in two seconds. They flashed terrifically and then quickly simmered down to pin points of dazzling white, burning ferociously. These white pin points would go out one by one as the unseen heroes of the moment smothered them with sand. But also as we watched other pin points would burn on and pretty soon the yellow flame would leap up from the white center. They had done their work-—another building was on fire. . . .

The Sky Red and Angry

Immediately above the fires, the sky was red and angry and overhead, making a ceiling in the vast heavens, there was a cloud of smoke all in pink. Up in that pink shrouding there were tiny brilliant specks of flashing light—anti-aircraft shells bursting. After the flash you could hear the sound. Up there, too the barrage balloons were standing out as clearly as if it were daytime but now they were pink instead of silver. And now and then through a hole in that pink shroud there twinkled incongruously a permanent genuine star, the old-fashioned kind that has always been there. Below us the Thames grew lighter and all around below were the shadows, the dark shadows of buildings and bridges that formed the base of this dreadful masterpiece. Later on I borrowed a tin hat and went out among the fires. That was exciting, too, but the thing I shall always remember above all other things in my life was the monstrous loveliness of that one single view of London on a holiday night—London stabbed with great fires, shaken by explosions, its dark regions above the Thames sparkling with the pin points of white hot bombs, all of it roofed over with a ceiling of pink that held bursting shells, balloons, flares and the grind of vicious engines. And in yourself the excitement and anticipation and wonder in your soul that this could be happening at all. These things all went together to make the most hateful, most beautiful single scene I have ever known.

Inside Indianapolis (And “Our Town”)

PROFILE OF THE WEEK: Henry Otto Jacob Goett, judge of Superior Court 4 and without doubt

the most “human” public official in Indiana. Born and reared on the South Side, he has never left it. He's one man going up the ladder of life without success changing him one little bit. Henry O. Goett, the judge, is the same person as the “Heiny” Goett who used to help support the family by bending pretzels for a bakery. who used to handle the “Kids’” 10-cent gate at Butler foothall games, who refereed basketball games, and whose youthful ambition was to be a big league baseball plaver

As a matter of fact, “Heiny” Goett came very close to reaching that goal. But a flock of curved balls which he whiffed while trying out for the Danville Three-I League club diverted him te his second choice, the law. And it has treated him well Long active in Democratic politics, Henry Goett is utterly naive about practical politics. He is so completely candid and human that professional politicians lock on him with amazement, and the intellectuals love him. Rowland Allen met him for the first time at the Butler Journalism Forum. At the end of the session, Allen broke out spontaneously: Good heaven—the. man’s wonderful!”

The Goett Laugh

HEINY'S” 41 NOW and taking on age spread which no amount of setting and dieting seem to help. About 5 feet, 8 inches, he weighs 180 or maybe 190 ut it's still mostly bone and muscle. He has a dark complexion, dark brown eves that seem to twinkle, coal black hair and a rather prominent nose and cheekbones. His disposition is cheerful, ebullient. He has a belly ‘laugh that’s both infectious and unforgettable. You can hear it a mile. Occasionally, he gets “down in the dumps,” and then he just stays away from people until he's over it. His whole heart goes into whatever he does. Heiny” lives at 432 Sanders St. just around the corner from the ‘house in which he was born. After Manual, where he played both basketball and football. he entered Butler, starring in baseball and captaining the team. Following his graduation, he played with local amateur teams, then went to the Richmond Central League team. playing outfield.

Washington

WASHINGTON, April 5—Relations between the United States and the Axis are rapidly becoming worse, so much so that no American citizen should underestimate the gravity of this situation. The United States is pressing aggressively to harass the Axis, which now has its hands full of multiplying trouble and is unable to retaliate effectively. Incident is piling on incident. A week ago we seized Axis ships in our ports to stop sabotage which. was already under way. Germany has retaliated with arrests of American citizens, a feeble reply but about all that Berlin appears able to do at present. Now, at the request of President Roose~ velt, this Government has asked for the recall of the Italian naval attache, plainly suspecting him of having been connected with the sabotage of Italian ships in our harbors. When relations reach the stage that they have reached between the United States and the Axis powers, there is seldom any turning back. Once such a deterioration sets in, it usually continues. Preparing for War I think it is quite generally felt here that we are preparing for war. How or when, probably nobody knows. Nor can anyone be sure how much war or how deep an involvement will result. It is likely to he as much as is necessary to achieve the “total victory” that President Roosevelt called for in his recent speech to the White House correspondents. The strange thing about all this is that it is going

My Day

NEW YORK, Friday—I did not tell you yesterday that I had seen S. N. Behrman’s play: “The Talley Method,” with Ina Claire and Philip Merivale playing in it. I found it interesting and the acting excellent. I always like both Ina Claire and Mr. Merivale and Ernst Deutsch seemed to me to play the part of the refugee writer extraordinarily well. As a play, however, I found it a bit confusing, because there were sO many things in it—each one in itself sufficient for an entire play. The refugee writer alone was a situation which most of us would do well to contemplate for an entire evening. As to the age-old conflict between generations, there were brought up several sides of that question which would have : gid © been complete plays in themselves. I was Interested, but not carried away. I imagine I am just not able to cope with more than one situation at g time! . I was very much impressed yesterday with the werk which the Greek Relief Association is accomplishing and hope that we are all going to give them » Our co-operation. My son Jimmy had lunch with me afd then I

that middle up exercises

went to my meeting with the New York University home,

s

He led the league in hitting—over 420. Then came a season with the Florida Coast League at Orlando, from which he was bought by Danville. In four times at bat on his first tryout, he hit a home run and two doubles. That evening he wrote home that it looked like he'd made the grade. However, the next day he fanned out in three times at bat. and he nearly beat the letter home.

He Makes Divorces Hard

BACK HOME, HE got his first political job, in 1926, as a deputy county clerk. He studied law in his spare time and a year or so later began practicing. Subsequently, he served as secretary of Mayor L.*Ert Slack, five years as City Clerk, several years as grand jury deputy prosecutor, and then, in 1938, was elected judge. He takes precious care of his health, arising at 6 a. m, although he doesn’t have to be in court until 9:30. His morning routine includes a sunlamp treatment for sinus trouble, an hour of violent setting up exercises, a meticulous shave, a bath, breakfast, and then a dash to the office. He likes to take a nap before dinner if he arrives home in time. Occasionally he goes to a show, or returns to the office to work, but prefers to sit at home and read. His reading is confined mostly to law, biographies and American history. He's a great admirer of both Lincoln and Andrew Jackson. In the courtroom, he’s all business, takes his duties and responsibilities as a judge very seriously. He's particularly conscientious about divorce cases. Getting a divorce in his court is no mere formality— you've got to prove that divorce is the only solution of your difficulties.

Oh, for Pickled Herring!

He never smokes, and gave up chewing tobacco with kis baseball career. He chews gum almost incessantly, “bumming” sticks of gum instead of cigarets. His bailiff's first duty is tc keep him supplied with chewing gum. A cautious driver, he keeps under 50, even on a wide open road. He usually keeps on driving a car until it wears out. His present car is five or six years old. His vaeations are spent at the lakes, fishing, swimming, plaving scrub and arguing with a group of pals. He likes to play pinocnle and hearts, dislikes bridge. t golf, he plays a “just fair” game. Keeping down his weight is a real problem for “Heiny.” Like all the Dutch, he enjoys food, likes anything. He's particularly fond of pickled herring— and can never get enough.

By Raymond Clapper

forward in the face of continued resistance to war on the part of public sentiment. President Roosevelt commands, according to the Gallup Poll, the highest degree of public support he has ever held, yet the same public turns in large majorities against war. Seemingly there has been little shift in public sentiment in that regard. The war still has not come down close to the average person. It still remains to a considerable degree an intellectual’s cause, lacking the elemental appeal that stirs the whole people down to the bottom.

The Convoy Question

We look for parallels from the last war. But then it was the country prodding the President into action. The clamor for war was on long before Woodrow Wilson was ready to act. This time the Administration moves against considerable lethargy and is supported by only a weak and scattered demand for more action. As British shipping difficulties grow with each passing week, the need for Administration action increases. But it is evident that Congress expects to have an opportunity to pass on the question of convoys. Senator Wheeler is leading a group in an effort to force the issue, using as a vehicle the resolution against convoys offered by Senator Tobey of New Hampshire, a Republican. Unless this question can be brought up in connection with other ones which will evoke strong support, a rather difficult controversy may result. Yet high officials in this Administration are convinced that we must do more toward getting supplies to England than we are doing. To bring that about in this situation is likely to test to the full the talent for resourceful leadership which Mr. Roosevelt so abundantly possesses.

By Eleanor Roosevelt

students. I had not realized it was to be centered about one particular situation and the only other speaker was Mr. Davis, head of the National Negro Congress who quite naturally took a less objective view of the situation than I did. Young people are remarkably fair, however, and willing to listen to different points of view and to try to think their way through to the correct solution of problems which come before them I found ‘the meeting stimulating and interesting and it left me with a sense of respect for the willingness of the young people of today to try to face the realities of a situation and sgways to be generous even to those who differ with them. The dinner last night of the Common Council for American Unity was one of the most interesting public dinners 1 have ever attended and I was very grateful for the opportunity to listen to so many sincere and gifted people. I think all of them would agree with me, however, that the high point of the evening was Archibald MacLeish’s closing address. There were poetry and feeling and courage in what he had to say, and the whole audience rose in appreciation of one whose attitude inspires us all to better citizenship. Today we are going to Hyde Park and I am looking forward greatly to starting many of the country Shing which one would like to watch over, but which one must enjoy in snatches whe one cannot be at

"a.

Le a —

The Tru

(Continued from Page One) til Germany shows signs of cracking. In the second place, German propaganda has been skillfully designed to appeal to Italian sensibilities. The Italians are told by their Nazi-controlled propagandists: “We Fascists have carried the whole burden of the war on our shoulders through the fall and winter, our troops fighting from the French Alps to the African deserts, our ships from ‘the Atlantic to the Indian oceans, our planes from England to Persia. The Germans have rested meanwhile. Now it is only fair that they should come to our help. “Co-operation between the two allies is all-embracing. Just as we sent planes to the channel to help the Germans, so they send them now to Sicily and ‘Libya to help us. Just as we send workers to Germany, so they send soldiers. here.” These arguments have a certain effect simply because Italy is so sick in the humiliation of her own defeat. The calling in of the Germans gives them a flicker of hope like the calling in of a new doctor when the patient has despaired of recovering. Ttalian peasant parents “know” that their own Tony or Pepe was no coward. He was the finest, bravest boy that any parents ever

had.

un ”

Nation In Coma

He died in Albania of frostbite and gangrene or he was captured in Libva because of the unpreparedness of Mussolini and the inefficiency of the General Staff. If the Germans take over, they say, maybe his brother will prove that the Ttalians can fight. TItaljan officers “know” that they are not to blame for defeat. If there is German staff work, perhaps they can redeem the honor of Italian arms. Italian generals “know” that their equipment was outmoded. Perhaps with German tanks and artillery and planes they can show those Anglo-Saxons. These are the feelings to which the propaganda machine plays not altogether successfully, but with some results. In the third place, the Italian collapse and defeat have been so crushing that the whole nation lies in a coma of disillusionment, humiliation and distrust. There is na leader, no man and no ideal to turn toward. The nation has been debauched by 19 years of Fascism. Few Italians accepted that system without compromising their intelligence and their conscience. The strength of the Italian lay in his healthy cynicism and his common sense. He had to give up both to be a Fascist. Nineteen years of daily compromise has done something to his soul. He is less a man than he

I, S. SALES TAX GAINS SUPPORT

549% of Voters Would Pay 2% to Help Finance Defense. By DR. GEORGE GALLUP

Director, American Institute of Public Opinion

PRINCETON, N, J, April 5.— With some observers estimating that the cost of the defense program may run to as high as 40 billion dollars, one of the important questions before the country is how to pay this bill, There can be little question that the pubiic is prepared to dig down in its pockets for increased axes for defense. That fact has been established in many recent surveyvs of public opinion by the Institute. The majority are willing to pay more in income taxes, and have already accepted other increased levies. Now a proposal which is re ceiving renewed attention is the proposal that the Federal Government levy a general sales tax.

The public has opposed a Federal sales tax up until now. But today, for the first time, sentiment has changed to a point where a majority of voters approves of a 2 per cent Federal levy on all sales in order to help pay the cost of national defense. This sentiment is revealed in a survey which put the sales tax issue before a cross-section of persons who voted, or were eligible to vote, in the Presidential election last November, The issue was stated as follows:

“In order to help pay the cost of national defense, would you favor, or oppose, a Federal sales tax of 2 per cent on everything you buy (in addition to state and local taxes now in effect)?” >

"AMERICAN INSTITUTE

PUBLIC"OPINION

voters in a survey last January. A comparison of the results, showing the $rend of sentiment in favor of sales taxes among those with opinions, follows:

JAN. TODAY Favor Sales Tax for Defense

Oppose Sales Tax for Defense

In today’s survey the proportion of persons expressing no opinion on the issue was 8 per cent; in the January survey it was 9 per cent. If the percentages for the sales tax are applied against the eligible voting population, the results indicate about 27.5 million voters in favor of the defense sales tax last

band,

A similar question was put to the|

January, and approxim#¥ely 32.5 million in favor of it today

was. The sudden realization that Fascism was a lie, not a new national movement but merely a technique for keeping a small clique in power, has crushed his spirit.

on " un

Curses Mussolini A military doctor told me about a peasant boy whose feet and hands had been amputated after frosthite because no winter equipment was provided the army that invaded Greece. This boy raised the maimed stump of his right arm and screamed, “We are going to kill Mussolini, the murderer.” I heard the same thing myself from a wounded university student who said there were no bandages in the field hospitals in Libya. An Italian woman told me how another wounded man rose from his hospital cot and spat in the face of Countess Ciano, who served as a nurse. But these are isolated and personally desperate cases. Mussolini has the personal loyalty today of scarcely more than a few hundred Italians. The millions who applauded him yesterday are through with him today. But they are not ready to throw him out, first, because they have nowhere else to turn and, second, because the last 19 years have not conditioned

Head Hunters

In Philippines a Headache

|sponsible, at least in part, for the (outbreaks:

MANILA, Philippine Islands, April 5 (U. P.).—This may sound incredible in 1841 A. D. but a tribe

of head-hunters is still causing the Philippine Constabulary no small headache today. The head-hunters are descendants of the fierce Ilongot tribesmen Jike their ancestors, still inhabit the fastness of the Sierra Madre Mountains along the provincial boundaries of Tayabas, Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija on Luzon Island. They have been civilized to the extent of wearing loin cloths and skirts when they go to market, but they still practice head-hunting on occasion. After the latest outbreak, in which three women and two men were decapitated in Baler, Tayabas, home of President Manual Quezon, the constabulary made a study of the tribe's social life and living conditions in an effort to find a motive for the head-huntings. Their victims, the constabulary found, invaridbly are Christian Filipino settlers in areas near the Ilengots’ hunting grounds. The Ilongots apparently believe that the Christians are depriving them of their hunting places and sources of forest products. The constabulary recommended an increase in the number of police detachments in Ilongot country for a concerted campaign against the head-hunters. In its study of the problem, the constabulary found the ‘following tribal beliefs and customs to be re-

HOLD EVERYTHING

Benghazi, Libya.

Ttalians to the tradition of Garibaldi. The royal family is as bankrupt politically as Mussolini Until three months ago I never heard any Italian speak of the House of Savoy except with reverence and affection. In recent months I have heard bitter hatred on every side. ” n un Criticizes King A prince who has been a member of the royal household said, “The King is worse than ga-ga. He is a cynical, selfish, dirty, old man. He cares nothing for Italy or the Italian people but only for his own throne. He has never intervened for the nation against Mussolini. He said to me once, ‘I go with Mussolini because, whether he is right or not, he is lucky.” What a way for a monarch to serve his people. All he wanted was to spare himself trouble. By such a notion of his duties Victor Emmanuel has destroved his nation and his house in the third generation of united Italy.” This conversation could be multiplied a hundredfold. The Prince of Piedmont has lost his popularity, too. Servants as well as the nobility speak for the first time of his being effeminate. Officers who have revered him

Give Police

1. When an Ilongot marries, he

{must bring the head. of a Christian

as dowry for the bride 2. When the fire trees bloom, maie Ilongots behead Christians so they will be considered brave and be idolized by the females of the tribe, 3. Beheading a Christian, the Ilongot believes, is the sign of a good harvest and prosperity. 4. The Ilongot also believes it will relieve him of any ailment he may have, The Ilongots involved in the Baler beheadings have been apprehended and await trial. The constabulary meanwhile is hunting the Ilongots guilty in dozens of other slayings.

ISSUE DEVOTED TO

INDUSTRIAL HEALTH

The April Journal of the Indiana State Medical Association is the first state medical journal in the country to devote a special issue to indus-

trial health. Dr. Louis Spolyar of Indianapolis, in the lead article, discusses industrial activities of the Indiana State Board of Health. Other contributors to the issue are Dr. C. M. Peterson of Chicago; Dr. ¥. L. Ridinger of East Chicago, Inland Steel Co. safety director, and Adolph J. Fritz, Indianapolis, Indiana State Federation of Labor sec-retary-treasurer,

suddenly describe him as dupe, The people are unfair, no doubt, to him, as they are to his father and to Mussolini, but this is a measure of their bitter disillusion= ment, Military personalities like Badoglio and Graziana are equally tarnished. Italians point out the palatial modern show place which the regime has built for Badoglio. “There is the marshal who once offered the King to clean out the Fascists with a regiment of troops,” they say. “He has sold out. Would he stand against the invasion of Greece? No. He approved it and then resigned after it failed.” ”

Fascists Spread Lies The Fascists have deliberately spread lies about the corruption of Badoglio. He isn't corrupt. He is merely a very old man. Of Graziani the people speak no more. He was a great general, but he failed. “Once beaten generals fell on their swords,” say the modern Romans with more heat than fairmindedness. “Now they go like Graziani to rest amid the beauty of Capri.” That, too, is unfair, because Graziani is a sick man, suffering, perhaps, from cancer of the throat.

GROUP FORMED BY PETTENGIL

New Committee to Fight ‘Drift to Socialism,’ Hoosier Says.

Times Special

WASHINGTON, April 5—Former Rep. Samuel B. Pettengill of South Bend, Ind. announced here today that he has secured a District of Columbia charter for the “Committee for Constitutional Government, Ine.” As chairman of this committee,

n ”n

states that its aim will be to “oppose the drift toward national socialism.”

A somewhat similar organization has been functioning under Mr. Pettengill’s leadership ever since the Supreme Court “packing” fight. Among its leading supporters was Frank E. Gannett, New York State publisher and an announced candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1940. Mr. Pettengill was an anti-New Deal Democrat while in Congress. Hoosiers listed on the Advisory Council of the new Committee include president W. C. Dennis of Earlham College and Booth Tarkington, Indianapolis author. Mr. Gannett is one of the trustees.

Supports Private Enterprise

The Committee's 5-point program was announced as follows: 1. Encourage efficiency and full

4

utilization of resources of private

resistance to attempts to substitute a socialist economy for experienced private management and our constitutional system. 2. Inspire a militant demand in every state and congressional district to send to Congress strong and able men, Democrats and Republicans alike; pledge them to resist

further encroachments on the Constitution, to recapture emergency powers as opportunity offers, and to restore to Congress its constitutional supremacy--power over the purse and the framing, rather than the ‘“rubber-stamping” of legislation. 3. Expose subversive efforts within and without our Government to

| change its form and to substitute

national or international socialism for private enterprise, and oneparty dictatorship for our two-party system. 4. Limit by constitutional amendment presidential tenure to two terms. 5. Urge nationwide resistance to subversive education and to all legislation leading toward national socialism — promote educational work among the new voters and for youth on the advantages of our

Constitution and system of cdimpetitive free enterprise.

[gow

enterprise in national defense and |

In their bitterness the Italians even rail out against the church. They say that the present Pope has condoned Fascism and ace cepted a German victory as ines evitable. This is palpably false and unfair, but it is significant of the present mood of the people. When the Pope's encyclicals have inveighed against totalitarianism Italians have objected that the church ought to stay out of poli« tics. Now they say that it should have enlightened them on the true nature of Fascism, All of this bitter disillusionment might have been brought to a head in the last weeks before the German entry if the British had bombed the country effectively. This they did not do, probably for lack of long-range bombers. Their raids have been numerous and exceedingly accurate, but the bomb loads have been light, the objectives purely military and the effect upon Italian morale almost negligible. British necessity may prove the most effective propaganda in the end, however. Once the Germans are being defeated, the Italians will be ready to rise and against the British there will be little rancor,

NEXT--Italy Wasn't Prepared.

It's Our Night'— Then Bomb Hit

LONDON, April 5 (U. P) —Ruth Owens, age 19, stayed home the other night to write her boy friend a letter, “Oh, I hope they don’t drop any bombs tonight,” she wrote. “Here they come again. , .. I'm afraid its our night tonight. . , . My Lord, what a row. Machine guns, bombs, planes—ours and Hitler's. . . . It's our night tonight, all right, My hands are shaking. .. .” The unfinished letter was found beside her body in the wreckage of her bombed home near Liver= pool. Her mother, father and two aunts also were killed.

LITERARY PRIZE GOES

the former Indiana Congressman |

TO ELLEN GLASGOW,

NEW YORK, April 5 (U. P.) —= Ellen Glasgow, Virginia novelist, today was named winner of the Saturcay Feview of ° Literature's special yearly award for “distine guished service to American litere ature.” The publication said Miss Glase “belongs unquestionably to that small group of writers of fice tion who, in the 20th century in America, have brought that art to one of ils peaks in English.”

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1—-Who was the leading woman in the photoplay, “San Francisco”? 2—Wormwood is an aromatic plant or a tree? 3—Is American Samoa a U. S. Tere ritory or a possession? 4—What public office did Walter Johnson, former baseball player, seek recently? 5—Ireland is separated from Great Britain by St. George's Channel, the Irish Sea or the North Channel? 6—Can ice get colder than 32 dee grees Fahrenheit? T—What pudding has the name of a shire in England? §—On what date did Franklin D. Roosevelt complete his first four years as President of the United States?

Answers

1—~Jeanette MacDonald. 2—Aromatic plant. 3—Possession. 4-—-Representative in Congress. 5-All three, 6—Yes. 7—Yorkshire pudding. 8—March 4, 1937.

= ® = ASK THE TIMES

Inclose a 3-cent stamp for ree ply when addressing any question of fact or information to The Indianapolis Times Washes ington Service Bureau, 1013 13th St, N. W., Washington, D. ©. Legal and medical advice cannot

be given nor can extended research be undertaken,