Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 August 1941 — Page 10
PAGE 10
The Indianapolis Times|
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MONDAY, AUGUST ¢, 1841
WOULD BE “PROUD TO CHIP IN" EVERAL times in the past President Roosevelt’ hasj
spoken of the general desirability of obtaining a, larger |
portion of the Government's revenues from visibie and grad-| uated taxes, and a smaller portion from hidden levies which | disregard the ability-to-pay principle. | His latest suggestion along this line is the most specific he has made. In a letter to Chairman Doughton of the | Ways and Means Committee, he recommendad that exemp-| tions on individual incomes be reduced to $750 for single persons and $1500 for married couples. (Present exemp-| tions are S800 and $2000.) There is nothing drastic in the proposal. According to} statistics which the Treasury presented at hearings on the current revenue bill, 65 per cent of American families have, incomes of less than $1500 and 45 per cent of single indi-| viduals have incomes of less than 8750. The statistics were | for 1935 and 1936, not as beomtime as 1941, to be sure, but, two vears as good as the average for the last decade. | The President's recommendation perhaps came too late! for action by the House of Representatives, which is already| on the verge of passing the revenue bill. But the Senate] and its finance committee will have plenty of time to con-| sider the President's proposal. As a matter of fact, the majority of Americans are in income brackets lower than those which Mr. Roosevelt suggested. An we hope the Senate does go lower—say $500] for single persons and £1000 for married couples, with £500 additional exemption for each dependent. Five hundred dollars is a good round figure, and even| if he had an exemption of $500 a head—for each man, | woman and child—a majority of Americans would still be! untouched by Federal income taxation. We wish it weren't! true, but it is a fact that most Americans have to live on less. Few who are better off than the average of their fellows will kick, in our opinion, against making a direct con-| tribution to their country’s defense.
a ns
GOOD NEIGHBORS, GOOD NEWS HE good-neighbor policy has had a good week, in spite of the sinister suggestion of Idaho's amateur power-poli-. tician, Senator D. Worth Clark, who proposed that we take over the whole hemisphere and run it. Mr. Clark's little monkey wrench seems to have taken in the Latin countries for what it was worth—nothing. At] least it didn't send them running to the Swastika. A German note asked Mexico to protest the new Amer-|
ican blacklist of pro-Axis businesses. The Mexican Govern-| ment not only declined; it called the note “imperious and, unacceptable.” In Washington, Acting Secretary of State Welles properly branded the note as barefaced impudence. In Argentina, the government suppressed a putsch in| a Nazi-infested province, and instructed the German Ambassador to get rid of a portable radio transmitter. In Chile, the German consul general was told to get out. | And fighting between Peru and Ecuador ceased, | through the medium of Argentina, Brazil and the United States. If the news from south of the border continues in like vein, we will have won a bloodless war with Hitler for the!
friendship of Latin America. | | A FRIEND writes us from New York: | =. “On the theory that misery loves comfort, you will| be interested to know that we are having quite a blast of} heat up here. It's not the honest, forthright heat that stands up and fights. but a clammy, spongy, enveloping sort of] thing—truly a meteorological fifth columnist.
WE WERE LUCKY, IT SEEMS
!
“This morning the cook took an egg out of the ice box| |
to fry for my breakfast, and it was so hot she dropped it in| a pan of water, and when she rescued it it was hard boiled. | The postman has torn up all the paving in the neighbor-| hood, causing a major crisis. The asphalt stuck to his feet. | “Most of the cars around town had flats by 10 a. m.—| or what the owners thought were flats, although it turned out later that the tires had melted. We started the air-con-| ditioning in the office at 11, and 30 minutes later the steam | had seared all the varnish off the table. “A blue summer dinner coat in a nearby shop window] bleached white by noon. A case of Coca Cola melted back to! molasses down on 45th St. An ice wagon in Bronxville! burned up from spontaneous combustion, and a policeman’s| gun on Park Avenue got so hot it scorched the seat of his| pants and drawers out. A New Haven commuter train ran| off the elevated trestle at 125th St. because the rails had burned down through the cross ties. A blacksmith in Pound | Ridge splashed his hammer against the anvil and got burns! from melted iron all over his face and arms. “And you talk about heat!”
DEFENSE TAKES A HOLIDAY LEVEN days ago there was announced a no-strike agreement between the A. F. of L. building-trades unions and the various Government agencies—including the Army, Navy and Federal Works Administration—which are concerned with defense construction projects. One feature of the agreement was a provision eliminating the “punitive” payment of double wages for Saturday and Sunday work. So what happened ? Last Saturday men working on various defense plants in Missouri and Ohio simply refrained from showing up for] work. Agreements to the contray notwithstanding, they couldn't disturb their week-ends for less than double time, even if the construction of badly needed ordnance plants was| delayed. Perhaps these were just isolated instances of men who hadn't got the word from Washington, in which case the difficulty should be soon disposed of. But the A. F. of L.| habit of violating agreements before the ink is dry has ~ become distinctly tiresome, . .
\
| wing authors in their very, very witty intellectual re-
| tellectual eves, Mr. Fadiman?
| honest reason for the Government to increase these
Fair .
Westbrook Pegler
Information Please, Mr. Fadiman! And He Gives You Clues as to the Author of That New Masses Article.
ASHINGTON, Aug. 4 —Well, well, here we are again and here is our smart friend who knows all the answers, and I am sure we are all very glad to have him with us again, so I want you all to give a great big hand to our friend—Mr. Clifton Fadiman. Now, Mr. Fadiman, a little information please? The first question, Mr. Fadiman, Will be who wrote in the New Masses, the Communist propaganda weekly, in September, 1832: “My particular turn to the left was a simple matter. History. mainly in the form of the crists, became my teacher, while I was still young enough to learn?” Come, come, Mr. Fadiman, surely you are not going to let that one stump you. I will give you 8 little clue. The man who wrote that was a very, very smart young intellectual book reviewer for a very, very smart New York weekly who dealt with the works of Communist and non-Communist authors with the typical impartial artistic objectivity of the ultra-smart left-wing intellectual. Think hard, Mr. Fadiman. Concentrate. Maybe vou would like another clue. In the same essay, or profession of political faith, the same ultra-smart book reviewer wrote further: “Another thing: for many years my work has been mainly in the field of business. You can accept business (another word for America); you can be cynical about it (civilized in the New Yorker manner); or you can take a good look at it. Unless you are a big shot In business and even then, frequently, accepting business or being cynical about it, makes vou a damned fool. I got tired of being a damned fool.” = 8 H now, Mr. Fadiman, you surely are not going to| let us down on this question, I gave you quite a clue in mentioning the New Yorker. But I will give you another. This declaration of political faith was published in a symposium entitled, "How I Came to Communism.” and the ultra-smart young literary critic complained that this title tricked and misrepresented him, although further on in the same explanation of his turn to the left he said, “As I am temperamentally indisposed toward the black shirt, there was only one other point of view possible.” In a Communist publication, he said, the only alterna- | tive to the black shirt, or fascism, was, well, the left. | Think sharp, Mr. Fadiman. A little information please, Mr. Fadiman, | Perhaps, this will help you.
.
Some years later the very, very smart left-wing literary critic who so wittily exposed cheapness and trashy insincerity in literature, suddenly came on in the world of busniess. I dont want to give the answer away by saying too much, but I can say that he got on the air as an amazingly smart authority on many things. He worked on a program which plugged such a vulgar article of commerce as a ginger ale and then he worked for another sponsor, a brand of cigarets manufactured by a great soulless business corporation. He began to make as much as $1000 a week and about this time he discovered that he was not as far over on the left as he thought he was. In fact, as he began to make big money, he turned to the right, He] now says that the declaration in the Communist publication no longer represents his views. Doesn't that tip you off, Mr. Fadiman?
ELL, maybe some more quotes will help you. | We want you to have a fair chance—the same fair chance that all left-wing critics give non-left-
views for the very, very smart magazines, “The present left turn of any one person or any small groun| is of minor jmportance and should not be exag-| gerated. The American class struggle, it seems fairly clear, has still to produce and inevitably will produce] its intellectual leaders.” Doesn't that assumption |
is
| that there was a class struggle in the United States, |
that little ballvhoo for the Communists's dream of a conflict of classes, the bloodiest and most horrible of all wars. doesn't that recall anything to you, Mr. Fadiman? : Ah, is that a gleam of recognition in your deep in-
You wrote 1t It was you who wrote that vou became a high-
What's that? Yes, yes, to be sure, vourself, Mr. Fadiman. for the New Masses before salaried radio pundit. Well, well, well. That was a tough one, Mr. Fadiman, but you answered it at last, so you win the prize, And now you may have vour choice of a subscription to the New Masses or the Wall Street Journal.
Business By John T. Flynn
Increased Tax on Payrolls Likely] To Reduce Number of Employees.
EW YORK, Aug. 4 Before the current tax bill is passed, the Democretic leader of the Ways] and Means Committee declares that still more taxes must be raised. And this means that a new scramble for new or old means of raising funds will begin. This will be true in any event, but particularly if the plan to tax husband and wife as one is eliminated. thus eliminating also more than 300 million dollars from the tax revenues. In this new search for taxes one hears again proposals to increase the Social Security taxes. I have already pointed out that these are not true taxes but merely payments by workers for a service which the Government is supposed to be rendering them, the kind of service an insurance company renders its policvholders. There can be no
payments unless the cost of operating the system of old-age pensions and unemployment insurance becomes greater. And this is not so. However, there is another reason for not doing this. There are still a large number of people unemployed, despite all the Government money that is pouring over the land. For instance, in the last year factory output increased 36 per cent but factory employment increased only 22 per cent. Several reasons can be advanced why production outstripped employment. But one of them is the very great improvements that have been made in machine methods of production. 2 HERE can be no sound argument against these social-welfare measures designed to improve the conditions of labor—as, for instance, old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, compensation insurance, etc. But the wise legislator must also recognize that all these measures add to the cost of human labor in production. This is not a reason for opposing them. But it is a reason for using every precaution to keep that cost down within proper limits. Because there cannot be the slightest doubt that the cost of these things has played a vital role in leading employers to shift from hand to machine labor wherever possible. This is one of the dangers always present in levies assessed at the pay window. It is inescapable when the object is to provide justice for the worker. But when the Government proposes to inctease the cost of old-age pensions and unemployment insurance, not because this will cost the Government more to handle, but in order that the Government may grab the excess for the purpose of paying defense or any other bills, the policy becomes suicidal.
= =
Editor's Note: The views expressed by columnists in this newspaper are their own. They are not necessarily those of The Indianapolis Times
So They Say—
APPARENTLY the Lord blesses some men, when two women forgive them—Common Pleas Judge Harrison Ewing of Cleveland to a convicted bigamist, both of whose wives intercede for him ¢
| ment—right
. THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
Has Anybody
.
Got an Aspirin?
I wholly defend to
The Hoosier Forum
disagree with what you say, but will the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.
LIKED OUR EDITORIAL ON THE LEAGUE Elwood Your editorial of this Thursday, | July 31, headed “Again the League” | is the most vital issue to be con-| fronted in America. J So well you have written on this subject I cannot help speaking my appreciation. Please keep dwelling} on this subject, the public must grasp its importance.
By Tony Llewellyn,
= 4 FEARS COMMUNISTS MAY DRAG US INTO WAR By Edward F. Maddox, 939 W. 28th St. Listen, fellow Americans, since Red Russia is involved in war, we | are in immediate danger of involve- | now! Every Commu- | nist and fellow traveler in England | and the United States will now do
his utmost to trick us into!the war] —not to save democracy or the “four | freedoms”—but to save Communism, That is a fact, and another fact is that Communists and fellow-travel- | ers are willing and anxious to squander the wealth, materials and manpower of all capitalist nations | for the protection and promotion of
|
| Communism. |
This is a Communist-Fascist brawl—a clash of the aggressor dictators. This definitely is not our] war. Let us stay out! Let the dou- | ble-crossers take care of their own “chestnuts.”
{ i
8 n DOUBTS BRITAIN WOULD DOMINATE WORLD UNION Bry M. B. Campbell, Rochester, N. Y.
Only those who are unacquainted | with the fundamental principles of a Federal Union, i. e, unacquainted] with the practical example of their own United States government would be so careless as to assume that in the proposal for Union Now, | Great Britain would be the dominating partner. Unfortunately for the peace of the world, Britain] never regained her power in world affairs after the last war, and when! all the democracies failed to bury their differences and to unite in aj bold front against aggression, one | by one they were undermined and conquered. Let us not imitate France in nat-| ing our own leaders and our poten-| tial friends more than wé hate the] Nazi menace. France knows her mis- | take now when it is too late. Our leaders are at least trying to avoid a situation where we will be alone in defending our shores. [ New York state is a powerful state, | but it is not more important than! the United States. Indiana has no) inferiority complex about her rank
&
| American
(Times readers are invited (too turned Communistic?”, W
their ese columns, religious con-
excluded. Make your letters short, so all can
views In |eanistic DEMOCRACY than in the privilege to express our views in the Hoosier Forum? J. B. D, the table
turned on you, and
to express th troversies should be instead of
have a chance. Letters must [shame on you... .
yo - | URGES U. 8. PART
in the union. The two states gain IN PEACE PARLEY strength and he pen of gy J. C. B.. Indianapolis their part in the federal union. ‘ us ; . Texas, great as it is, could not des) 1 Seca Jp? oo is oa fo sea Sains 8 ose ace sori commenting on Assistant SecA a “retary Welles’ address. Nothing
aid. In Union is strength. : HB ¢ 4 a The same principle can be ap- | could be more important than that
plied internationally. Uniting with | SVeT) intelligent Aeon ellizen weak nations will not keep the peace Should be giv ing thoug it from now in the future, nor provide a sound On tO the problems which face our economic basis. Only the strong|country and the world at the end and powerful nations, f the war and to the part which
backed by © public opinion can win this war and the United States should be preestablish a lasting peace.
Isolation | bared to play in arranging a just and growing power of the United]
peace and maintaining it after it States did not prevent the second has been established. World War from spreading like a|
I differ from the policy of The disease to every corner of the globe. | Times in regard to war because I It spreads if it is not stopped.
| consider it our war quite as much What could be a more far-seeing as Britain's.
be signed.) ®
I firmly believe that step than uniting with those nations we ought to act in all ways accordthat have a parliamentary form of ingly. However, unless we as a nagovernment and a Bill of Rights, in/tion are prepared to intervene in order to carry on the war more effi- [the peace that follows the war for ciently, and therefore shorten it? purposes of world reconstruction as Fe wholeheartedly as we are now collaborating for purposes of destrucFAVORS WIPING OUT tion. THOSE “DIRTY REDS” Because I believe this, I am deBy KE. P. Leane. Indianapolis lighted to see The Times already exCie find ._|erting its influence in favor of conThis is in regard to pro-AXis/giyyetive thought in regard to our subversive propaganda in Mexico national post-war responsibilities. and other points south, and also to 5” Som, Da ot gi a | SLAMS PEGLER FOR isms aimed at weakeni e y oid US A It is my contention] ?RTIOCLES ON WHEELER that every able-bodied man should | By W. J. R.. Indianapolis shoulder a gun and go down and! Westbrook Pegler does everything wipe out those dirty reds. but say that Senator Wheeler should be shot. He remarks that the Senator “spreads disaffection in the military forces.” OVERDONE SOMETIMES jalivsion to the postal card incident. y : |He omits any details which might BY BiCHFT THANE SIN NN Jaf “spell doom for the interventionists’ To J. B. D., Indianapolis, July 31: | complaint, e. g., when cards were We call ourselves Americans. We cent, percentage soldiers got and t American hot dogs, dance {0 how they got them. music, drink American; He says the Senator wouldn't “be soda pop and beer. Live as {ree jong dead, much less alive, on the people. But still some of us have p,esident’s side of any issue.” Simulthe nerve to call our leaders taneously, however, we find Senator names, such as dictator. We have yheeler indorsing the President's the right of free speech. our pay Eastern policy. So if anybody views are openly printed in news- liages and dams and sputters, and papers like The Times. We even chjatters spittle and sweat” it's call the paper names. But do We westbrook Pegler. Mr. Pegler is land in concentration camps? YOU guilty of the same blind hatred of bet we don't. ‘which he accuses Senator Wheeler. Still we say we are true AMERI- ow
CANS. One of us says, “Have you PREDICTS MENACES WILL
©. 5 % THINKS FREE SPEECH
ea
Side Glances = By Galbraith
DESTROY THEMSELVES
By H. G. C., Indianapolis The sudden turn in events plung-
ing Russia into the war with Germany will lead to the destruction of the two huge war machines of Europe which is a blessing for the democracies who should by all means resist the (devil's) temptation to enter the fray. We can emerge much more triumphant and victorious by staying out as Russia hoped to do, but could not because of her proximity to the European war zone.
VALLEY By VERNE S. MOORE Move slowly, time : Make no sudden change. Here in my valley, I muse Deep in thoughts profuse. Of yesterday.
The mill wheels turn Again to the pulse of the stream while the dinner bells are ringing s Though the valley from hill to
In memory.
No landscape can vie With this beautiful valley Where sycamores high and maples 0
Stand sentinel watch like stanch and bold Pioneers.
DAILY THOUGHT
They may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them. —Revelations 14:13.
THEY that work not cannot pray. Dwight.
is there a better example of Ameri-|
A
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|
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shame to The Times, it should be
This is a sloppy |}
MONDAY, AUG. 4, 1941
Gen. Johnson Says—
Helping Britain and Russia O.. K, But Isn't # Time Someone Gave A Thought to the U. S. Taxpayer?
ASHINGTON, Aug. 4.-—Superficially it seems grotesquely ridiculous to talk about rationing down to as low as five gallons of gas a week the Eastern part of a nation with such an abundance of petroleum that most of its wells are pinched in to a fraction of their potential pro= duction. The answer is of course? “Oh there is plenty of gas. Our trouble is that we can't transport it from the mid-continent fields to the Eastern points of use.” The reason why we can't transport it is that we have taken away 50 ocean-going oil tank ships from their private owners to give to Great Britain and expect to take: away 100 more. O. k., if that is necessary and - a fair and just balance of burdens between our own people and those of another nation. But who says that the balance of burdens is fair, just and necessary? How does he arrive at that decision? In arriving at it, who speaks for the American people? I don't know the answers to those questions, but with at least a reasonable contact with what is going on, the mere fact that I don't know is excuse enough to write this column of queries. . on » »
E seem to have taken the lid off the public Tres= ury and the great American storehouse and workshop in unlimited generosity first to Britain and now. it would appear, to Russia. We haven't yet felt much pinch ourselves but. boy, we are going to feel it! Still we say, “o. k. if necessary and the pinch is equal all around but there remain a good many Americans from Missouri whose motto is still ‘show me.'’ We have practically said to Great Britain and are about to say to Russia: “We will send you what= ever you ask for and you don't have to pay a cent for it. The American people will pay.” Not to criticize these nations at all but just to be a little realistic in our own behalf, in such circumstances, what would restrain them from asking without stint or limit— what would restrain any nation? Is there any “no” or “let's see about that” depart ment in our Government and, if so, where is it? The man in charge of this handout part of our effort is
{ Harry Hopkins, a sort of modern Rasputin in the | palace, who is the greatest spender of public funds
with the least regard for public debt and taxpayers’ interests that ever appeared in the whole history cf mankind. After a second visit to London, where the canny Britons took him over just as combletely as Grant took Richmond and “Dear Winston” began writing
here! friends here about “Dear Harry,” Mr. Hopkins has
winged his way to Moscow to see what he can spend
there. Tos all right too, in principle, but there would. be more confidence if our ‘“lease-lend” ambassa«: dor was some guy who had ever exhibited a fain$ suspicion that there really is a bottom to even the biggest bag of public treasure, or that American taxpavers also have to feed their own families. The President has said that the ex-WPA masterspender is only a ‘bookkeeper’ in his present job as. “Lease-Lend” Administrator. If he is, he is a newand very convenient kind of bookkeeper—one who doesn't know that there is a debit side to every ledger and balance sheet, and that outgo must be kept at least within hailing distance of income, Among some of the more radical New Dealers, to whem Mr. Hopkins is an idol, are many, still in Government. who believe and have said that Government control and socialization of property and income - are desirable and that they can be achieved quietly, subtly and without evolution by spending, taxing and the incurment of public debt until the Government to all intents and purposes does own or control every thing in the country. They also have said that the political power necessary to do this is easily retained by a simple formula best expressed hy Mr. Hopkins himself: “Tax and tax and spend and spend and elect and elect.” Well we are surely on our way.
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» n ”
A Woman's Viewpoint By Mrs. Walter Ferguson
F patriotism is at such a low ebb that it must be I bolstered with the sort of propaganda shorts now being put out by the movies, then I'm ready to view the future with Ickish alarm. Certainly we're ready to do our bit for democracy; we shan't flinch, at sacrifices for America and freedom; but in Heaven's name, why must we ve afflicted with pictures of the gob who marries the Admiral’'s daughter, and of an Army life that is all sweetness and light? The Hollywood approach to the crisis walks a chalk line halfway between an Atlantic City beauty contest and a Wyoming rodeo, presenting a mixture of glamour and trick spectacles which, we suppose, adds up to patriotism in the opinion of the producers, We can forgive the producers, if we have to, but we can't forgive the War Department or whatever group in Washington it is that authorizes and collaborates in the making of these moronic films. . War is a deadly but a dignified business. It has never been really funny, although comic relief must appear in spots, since it bobs up in évery other enterprise. However, when we have it dished up in coune try-club settings with only God's noblemen taking part, then the stomach as well as the head rebels, One hears with relief the groans of high-school kids in the audience who reject the simpering silliness of films which are made at some expense to encourage their patriotism. Gentlemen, have pity! If we're in a total war efe fort, let's call off the maneuvers in southern California and relieve Louella Parsons and Walter Winchell of recruiting duties. National morale is not so low it needs Hollywood hypodermics.
Questions and Answers
(The Indianapolis Times Service Burean will answer any question of fact or information, not involving extensive ree search, Write vour questions clearly, sign name and address, inclose a three-cent postage stamp, Medical or legal advice. cannot be given. Address The Times Washington Service Bureau. 1013 Thirteenth St... Washington. D. C.) > Q—In how many states are school libraries proe vided for by law? A—Twenty-one states have laws which expressly provide for the establishment of school libraries but in some of them there is no legal provision for support of the libraries. Q—Is President Roosevelt related to the Astor family? A—The President is related to the Astor family through his half-brother, the late James Roosevelt Roosevelt, who married Helen Astor, a sister of John Jacob Astor. A son, James Roosevelt Roosevelt Jr., was born of this marriage. He is a half-nephew of Prese ident Roosevelt. Q—What is the title of the theme song in the “Cisco Kid” film series, starring Cesar Romero? A—“Song of the Cisco Kid,” by Warner Baxter. Q—Have there been two Fort Schuylers in New York? A—Yes. The old Fort Schuyler, also known as Fort Stanwix, stood near the present site of Rome, 5 z The piewt Fort Schuyler is a Federal military station on a 32-acre reservation at Throgg's ; Bronx Clunty, N. Y. ees Nek “ Q—Why is Parnassus a symbol for poetry? A—The mountain in Greece with that name was sacred to Apollo and the Muses, who were believed to inspire poets to write and sing. Hence it has become a'symbol for poetry. Gi Q--Why are Americans frequently called “globe trotters”? : A—Before the war, Americans spent four times as much on travel in foreign countries as foreigners spent on trivel in the United States.