Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 August 1941 — Page 13

PAGE 14

BET r———

The Indianapolis Times

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reau of Circulations. RILEY 5551

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1941

INVESTIGATION NEEDED JE are glad to see Mayor Sullivan and the Safety Board acting promptly to investigate all the circumstances of the explosion which cost the life of one fireman and injury of another while working in the home of Fire Chief Kennedy. Reports as to why two firemen were working in the Chief's home, what they were supposed to be doing and whether they were “on” or “oft” duty at the time, are confusing and contradictory. It seems amply clear, however, that it was bad practice for the Fire Chief to be using public employees for his private purposes whether they were “on” or “off” duty. It will be interesting to see what the investigation discloses regarding the extent of such practices.

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WHAT IS JAPAN UP TO?

APAN, for reasons of her own, put the kibosh on the plans of a hundred Americans to leave her soil and sail for home. The liner President Coolidge, which was to have picked them up, has in consequence by-passed Japan. Ambassador Grew, in Tokyo, has been unable to get a satisfactory explanation of this singular step. The Japanese Foreign Office, protesting what it describes as Washington insinuations that the Americans are being held as “hostages,” says it was merely desirous of avoiding a “sensational” evacuation procedure which might arouse the American people. This is a pretty thin alibi even for a country so gifted in the excuse-please game. Can Tokyo believe that the American people will not be provoked by its detention of these hundred citizens— citizens of a country which is at peace with Japan, and which maintains diplomatic relations with her? Are the Japanese still feeling us out? Do they still think, in spite of various positive but legal and proper measures taken by Washington in reprisal against Japanese aggression, that we may just be bluffing? Surely Tokyo is getting better information than that from its diplomats in this country. The Japanese Foreign Office indicates that a full statement of its position regarding the hundred Americans will be forthcoming. We hope this statement will have more substance than the preliminary excuse mentioned above— and that it will include a guarantee that these Americans can leave on the first boat.

If Japan has any desire at all to prevent its economic |

war with the United States from turning into shooting war, she is going about it in a most peculiar way.

A FARMER SPOKESMAN ON TAXES

PRESIDENT O'NEAL of the American Farm Bureau Fed- | = eration yesterday advanced the soundest and most | courageous tax proposal that has been made in the long |

hearings on the new revenue bill. Ie urged: 1. Require everyone to contribute to national defense on the basis of ability to pay. (Specifically, he suggested taxing all incomes in excess of $400 for single persons and $1000 for married couples—which would mean halving the present exemptions.) 2. Stop defense profiteering—lay on a defense supertax high enough, when coupled with graduated income levies, “to effectively recapture excess income.” 3. Use tax powers to prevent inflation—by bearing “a larger proportion of the cost of the defense program while . the nation is able to pay.” 4. Abandon all proposed increases in excise taxes and all efforts to impose a general sales tax “at least until other tax sources have been more clearly exhausted.” 2

» » » Quoting here from Mr. O'Neal's testimony— “I believe that the American people would support a readjustment of the income-tax rates and exemptions so that every gainfully employed person would pay some tax for defense and would know that he is paying such a tax + « . American farmers will match dollar for dollar on the basis of ability to pay and sacrifice for sacrifice with labor and industry to help finance the national-defense program. “One weakness in our present tax structure is that we have complicated it and have unfairly distributed the tax burdens by resorting to all kinds of taxes which are calculated to delude the citizens into believing that they are not paying any taxes. I believe the average citizen would rather pay his share of the taxes based upon his income, and know that he is paying it, than to pay a lot of indirect taxes which, though hidden, in many cases impose burdens out of all proportion to ability to pay. For that reason we are strongly opposed to increasing the excise taxes at this time, as proposed in this bill, and respectfully urge that the increased revenue be sought out of individual income taxes, corporate income taxes, excess-profits taxes, and the like.”

WHEN COWS CLIMB TREES

POSSIBLY you've noticed that it has been a hot summer. | price control.

There are certain signs of irritation to be noted in people, what with the war, and cotton stockings, and gasoline shortages, and the heat. Not merely man has been plagued by a certain oppressiveness this summer, but all living things. A New York farmer reported that he caught one of his cows standing on her hind legs, resting her forefeet in the crotch of a willow tree, and eating the leaves. First time he ever saw a cow climb a tree, he said. So take it easy. Relax. Go to a good movie or read a good book. It’s up to all of us to prove that we've got better balance than a cow, by not letting this hectic summer get

us up a tree, . " : vg |

Fair Enough By Westbrook Pegler

What to Do With Hitler When and If He Is Captured Proves a Real Puzzle for Spelvin Tribe to Solve.

EW YORK, Aug. 18.—I have received a startling question from some member of the Spelvin fam-

"ily of Americans which I herewith pass on to the

whole Spelvin tribe for discussion. What, my correspondent asks, are we going to do with Adolf Hitler once we catch him, supposing we do? Would we execute him? Well, undoubtedly most of the world would regard his extinction as a blessing but, after all, the Americans would have to insist on some sort of trial and that would mean that we would have to create a court. The other nations which have suffered from Hitlerism would want a voice in this trial and the impossibility of obtaining an impartial judge and a jury without prejudice against the defendant reveals itself at once. The site of the trial raises an important question, too, because Poland, Norway and Holland, which have suffered most on the least provocation, all would bid for the right to give the party, and our British friends probably would like to hold it in some reminiscent ruin in London, possibly the House of Commons where prejudice would pervade the proceedings in scandalous violation of the scrupulous British system of justice. Russia, of course, would be out of the question, for the Russian method is to condemn the accused before trial and then hold proceedings to validate the sentence which has been carried out beforehand.

OW assuming that Adolf Hitler is this country’s prisoner, we have to go through the motions of a regular trial, and I leave the procedure in the realm of speculation to rush on to the question of the charge against the prisoner. What do we charge him with, anyway? Murder? But only the people he has murdered were Germans, and they were murdered according to law by a man who authorized himself to commit murder in the public interest.

He would beat a murder rap in his own country, because the law there says these murders were not crimes. The hundreds of.thousands, millions, all told, of other killings which will have marked the course of Hitler's war by the time of his capture which my correspondent envisions, will be casualties of war, and I believe it has been the custom in civilized times to waive personal responsibility for the slaughter of war when the head of the offending state is caught. There was bold talk of hanging the Kaiser in the hot days of the other German frolic, but he was allowed to hole up in a quiet place in Holland and live out his allotted time in luxury.

o

F we execute Hitler, though, having arrived at that decision by some process which we have persuaded ourselves to regard as fair and impartial, how do we do it? Surely, in this case, popular opinion, not only here but in most of Europe, will hold that death should be neither quick ror painless, but, on

the other hand, if we permit our nation formally |

to take part in an execution by torture, then there goes our pretense of a fine, intellectual civilization. Justice is supposed not to act in anger and, as the Germans themselves have found in their own case, such conduct by a Government tends to degrade its people. So the method is something else that is referred to the tribe of Spelvins for consideration while the discussion passes on to the possibility that having caught Hitler we then decide to put him in a cage, and keep him until he died a natural death, because we figure that no ore man could atone, even by death by whatever means, for Hitler's mountainous score of horrors.

Where would we put him? Key West in summer would be pretty bad, and Washnigton, D. C., is hardly preferable, and for winter I could recommend Chicago, but who guards him and why take a chance on a jail break, and the same old thing over again with Hitler squalling that the German people must rise and avenge another humiliation, this time even more so? I pass it up, but if anyone wants to know what to do with Mussolini, I don’t have to hesitate. Mussolini isn’t dangerous. He is just a bombastic bum,

| and nothing could hurt him worse or better atone for

his crimes than to bring him over here and let some little squirt slap his face in public at high noon every day for the rest of his life,

Business By John T. Flynn

Installment Buying Curb Aimed At Excess of Purchasing Power.

EW YORK, Aug. 19.—The basis of the President’s order empowering the Federal Reserve Board to regulate installment buying is perfectly sound. What the country is now -suffering from—and will continue to suffer from in increasing volume—is an excess of purchasing power. Purchasing power is created in various ways. One is by the artificial creation of buying power through Government credit at the banks. This is at this moment causing an immense flood of fresh money income. Another way is to stimulate a large supply of private credit—either credit at the banks for capital operations or private credit unbacked by private money acvances. Here is what I mean by the latter. If A lends cash to B to buy a boat from C, then there is a credit transaction. A hands cash to B. B gives A his note. B hands the cash to C and C turns over the boat. No new purchasing power has been created. The money purchasing power resided in A, who had the cash. He merely transferred it to B in exchange for a note. This is a credit transaction backed by money.

But suppose instead of borrowing the money from A, B merely bought the boat and gave C his note for the purchase price to be paid in two years. A’s potentiai purchasing power in the cash he had still remains in his hands, while B exerted on the market an additional money purchasing power by making a note.

Now this kind of credit is created whenever any person buys goods from another and gives a note in payment. 2 ”

HE root of inflation is not rising prices but the creation of purchasing power. And the central point in stemming inflation is to curtail this artificial production of purchasing power. A part of that job, therefore, is the curtailment of the process of creating purchasing power by curtailing credit which is not associated with the actual transfer of money. Therefore the problem is to determine what forms of credit the nation can most easily dispense with? Now there is no doubt that the form of credit which is most serious in such a situation is long-term credit—credit for three, five, ten, or more years. Short-term credit is not so serious because, after all, it has to be liquidated out of current money income very soon after it is contracted. This, of course, is not a criticism of the ban on installment buying. Rather it is a suggestion that the whole subject of private credit should be considered, the bans being put where they will do the most good and the least harm, rather than dealing with the subject piecemeal, as we are dealing with

=

So They Say—

ONLY IN self-deception and wishful thinking can we believe that we can live in America on a fanciful Atlantis isolated from the revolutionary movement which is sweeping the world We must play our part. —John Cudahy, former U. S. diplomat, urging a U.S. plan for peace.

* * *

WE ARE TOLD that we must fight for the freedom of mankind. But the greatest battle for freedom is being fought right here in America today.—Charles A. Lindbergh of the America First Committee. ~ * *

‘THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

The New Motor!

TUESDAY, AUG. 19, 1941

\

The Hoosier Forum

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

CASTING SOME DOUBTS ON THE 8-POINT PLAN By Skeptic, Indianapolis F. D. R. and Churchill signed a great idealistic plan for peace. Let us look at it. Point number three promises restoration of “sovereign rights and self-government” to

Great! That means Poland, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, France,

those “forcibly deprived of them.”|

(Times readers are invited their these columns, religious conexcluded. Make your letters short, so all can Letters must

to express views in

troversies

have a chance. | be signed.)

jaunts there will not be many fees toward the upkeep. The common

letc. will be made independent again |

but it also means that Britain will PeOPle are not used to walking.

'give back South Africa to the Boers,| The estate on the Hudson is only India to the people of India, Hong one of the many instances where |

Kong to China, Gilbraltar to Spain,

Egypt to Egyptians, etc. Does any

{sensible person, think that will came

with British victorv? No, and F. D. R. and Churchill know it will not. What does that make the 8point plan? . .,

”n ” ” URGES PIONEERING FOR NEW TAX SOURCES “From My Chair,” by Anne While the Federal Government is busy throttling corporations and so-called big business by the ever and incessant demand for more

taxes, why not do a little pioneering in New Pastures in search of the much needed revenue to support an extravagant Administration that must have its diamond-backed terrapin with trimmings. . Our President through the ever generous outpouring of his soul as well as the people's money, has removed from the tax list quite a considerable acreage of highly assessed real estate, through the guise of furnishing by the Government for the pleasure and entertainment of the common people the cultural benefits derived from viewing these estates once sacred to a fast decaying plutocracy. It is a grand gesture, but a very costly one to the taxpayers. Now with the rationing of gasoline I can vision the nice common people of whom the President and his wife are so fond viewing the beauties of the Vanderbilt estate, including the greenhouses of orchids, on foot! It is quite a jaunt after the gates are reached, and if the common people are denied gas for their pleasure

{vast properties have been diverted | from tax channels thereby increasing the load on the Government lin two ways, as these properties will eventually become a drain. To be

sure the owners were lucky to be relieved of the tax burden, not to speak of the upkeep. All for the good of the common people who are so blind but can vote, I am in favor of legislation taxing ali Government salaries, in the upper and middle brackets, both Federal and State. Also cutting down mileage and traveling expense privileges. Our Government, both Federal and State, are top heavy, the officials too exhaustive in their demands; so as to enable them to get a better slant on the taxpayers’ problems as well as a source of revenue, this field is recommended. Do I recall a President, who in the time of stress following the World War, refusing to accept his full pay, turning a goodly part back to the United States Treasury? Could such a thing happen today?

” ” o UPSET BY HEADLINES ON SEA MEETING By Lester Gaylor, 4534 Sangster Ave.

If George Washington's and Ahe Lincoln's graves should be examined in these days, we would find that their forms had completely turned over! Let us glimpse just a few headlines and partial headlines from The Times for Aug. 14: “F. D. R. Churchill Map ‘New Dedl’ for World—"; “Meet at Sea—"; “Beaverbrook Arrives Today”; *‘U. S Takes on ‘Moral Duty —British

ad

"It was all they could do to get

year—this year, with that new baton tosser, they've

got 32 and a

Side Glances=By Galbraith

COPPR. 1941 BY NEA SERVICE, INC. T. M. REG. U. 8. PAT,

7

eight members in the band last

OFF. 8-19

See American Pledge to Aid in Po-| licing World”; “London Read ‘Fisn-| ing Bulletins’ and Grinned Over ‘Secret’ ”; “Senate Acts Today on! Draft Extension—Opponents De-| cide Further Fight Is Useless”; | “Public Debt Over 50 Billion First Time.” These, fellow Americans, are “front page” headlines only in The Times of Aug. 14. Let us stop this insane tie-up . . .! at once, and preserve our liberty at home by courageous action,

2 » 2

SOME SUGGESTIONS ON THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM By Richard Lieber IV, Carmel The subject of general traffic conditions in Indianapolis is one which will never be exhausted if the

present terrible conditions continue to survive. The only fair criticism is of a constructive nature, therefore, I have appended some suggestions. The fact must be realized that Indianapolis is a boom town and the traffic is naturally heavier than in normal times. Therefore, parking should be prohibited entirely on certain streets, North Meridian from the Monument Circle to Sixteenth St. This practically amounts to widening the street, especially if six traffic lanes are clearly painted on the streets, as is done in Chicago, for example. Another suggestion is that double parking should be absolutely eliminated and enforced without mercy upon delivery trucks which seem to be the worst offenders. Then again, the making of certain streets downtown one-way, if not at all times, then at least during certain hours of the day. The asinine speed laws on U. S. 36 west of the City should be raised from 30 miles per hour to at least 40 or even the old 50. There is no need of such restrictions clear out to ithe junction of 367. Another place {where this 30 m. p. h. law is obnox{ious is on N. Meridian St. north of {the Canal to the City limits. This speed should be 40 or at least 50. The making of Pennsylvania St. preferential from 30th St. to the Westfield Blvd. would be an added security for motorists. Just recently two wrecks at 56th and Pennsylvania and one at 62d and Pennsylvania have come from the fact that motorists could not decide who had the right-of-way. Also, a bit of repaving on that street from 38th St. to 43d St. might help it to relieve some of the congestion on N. Meridian St. and Washington Blvd. Just thoughts, these, but worthy of studying closely if we are ever to have efficient traffic control in this City, as in Chicago. By-passes around town both north-south and east-west would greatly aid out-of-town motorists and truckers and relieve terrible congestion of streets especially downtown. When the traffic problem has been solved or at least thought about by the City fathers, Indainapolis will be well on the way to being the great City it deserves to be.

AUGUST RADIO

By MARY P. DENNY I hear the radio of August In tune with night and day Far through a country way. The deep whistle of the quail. The tones of swift falling hail. The patter, patter of the rain Falling, falling. in one strain. The aftermath of sun and shade. The song of bird where violets fade. The gentle. call of turtle dove From lonely barnyard eaves. A song from the maple leaves, The note of sky lark from above. The stir of word through electric way. The voice of time in wonder flight. Nature's radio tuned far in light.

DAILY THOUGHT

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.— Psalms 46.1. .

TOO wise to be mistaken still, too

| day.

{ this way.

waiting list!"

good to be unkind.—Samuel Medley.

t ey 3

Gen. Johnson Says—

Lack of Definite Promises in the 8 Points Termed Commendable and He Sees No Reason for Criticism.

ASHINGTON, Aug. 19.—The Roosevelt-Churchill eight points have already been thoroughly dis cussed and will doubtless continue to be chewed over for weeks to come. This column has no desire tg Hooverize them further. Also the spectacular snowmanship of tae highly dramatic setting of the conference at sea makes it clear that it was a major move in the great international poker game of the moment. In such circumstances it isn't nice to look over the shoulder of the plaver on our side and make revealing faces about what kind of a hand it really is. As a statement of lofty princie

ples it could hardly be excelled even by Woodrow Wilson's highminded and unselfish Fourteen Points. Mr. Wilson sincerely believed in his Fourteen Points as Mr. Roosevelt doubtless believes in his eight principles. The trouble in 1918 and 1919 was that Mr. Wilson's associates at Versailles didn’t sincerely believe in them. They euchred or bluffed him out of some of them in vheir entirety, such as freedom of the seas, and out of all of them in part. They were fenagled and twisted to disappoint friend (Italy), foe (the Central Powers) and the promise to neutrals—‘removal of trade harriers” and so forth. The Fourteen Points were wonderful war propaganda for our side. Probably the eight points will be also, but, after that great earlier experience, not quite so effective.

8 ”

UCH has already been read into them that isn’t there—principally that America and Britain are now mutually pledged to “destroy the Nazi tyranny.” What was really said was “after the final destruction of the Nazi tyranny, they hope to see established a peace which will afford to all nations the means of dwelling safely within their own boundaries and which will afford assurance that all men in all lands may live out their lives in freedom from want and fear.” As in most of the other seven points that doesn’t specifically promise anything at all. If it did promise “freedom from want and fear” it would be almost ridiculous as an almost cynically impossible promise. The vagueness, the lack of specification and especially the lack of definite promise is, I think, the most commendable aspect of this message. The vast aud unexpected changes that have followed each other, almost overnight, in this most unpredictable of all wars makes any kind of specification or promise hazardous in the extreme, ”

HILE it is true that Woodrow Milson's Fours teen Points were laid down just before the dark days of March 1918, there was more ground for predicting the eventual outcome of war than there is to= Anyway, the Fourteen Points were not prome=g ises or predictions either. They were a concise state=ment of the war aims of America—what we were fighting for, win, lose or draw. They were timely and proper. So are the Roosevelt-Churchill eight points, even if they couldn't be as definite and precise and even if their very vagueness is expanded by misinterpretation to mean much more than the words say. All this is to say that while they can’t mean much, there must have been some very powerful pokerplaying reason to stage this spectacular show at just this time and to speak this piece to the world in just Since the words do not commit us to anything to which official utterances had not seemed to commit us before and since it is highly doubtful

»

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| whether the utterance of any single official could com-

mit us at all, I can’t see much reason for criticism of the words. Since the reason for this gesture was undoubtedly good I can't see much reason for any criticism at all.

A Woman's Viewpoint By Mrs. Walter Ferguson

UNISH all fat women by law is the proposal made, presumably in all seriousness, by Nina Wilcox Putham, who in her 58 years has been married five times. Unless the movement can be made co-edu=-cational, I'm against it, Having spent years badgers ing Heaven and legislators for equal rights, I cannot accept an innovation which will give men all the expansion privileges. Now if Miss Putnam would follow her suggestion to its legical conclusion and slap all fat people into jail, regardless of race, color or sex, it would at least have the virture of consistency—and I'd elect to go with the jailbirds. I've met too many crotchety dieting females to wish to spend my life in their exclusive company. Besides, I love one fat woman and wouldn't trade her in for a thousand streamlined exotic creatures like Nina. She’s stout, and living with the same husband she started with 30 years ago. Of course that isn’t fashionable but it’s so pleasant and comfortable! Marriage that doesn’t allow for husband and wife getting the middle-aged spread together is a poor conception of a grand institution. Anyway what is Nina plugging for? Rejuvenaetion reforms which would turn all 60-year-old women into perfect syiphs would only contribute to the are rested development from which so many American women already suffer: If we keep on at this rate, we’ll all be ready for kindergarten soon. The reporter who interviewed Miss Putnam when she gave birth to her new idea says that ‘she acted as sprightly as a school girl,” but fails to explain whether she gave the impression of looking or feele ing like one, which is an important omission. Whatever has become of the “grow old gracefully” school of thoughts? It seems we must now do it in the manner of a bunch of high school scphomores angling for dates at a barbecue stand.

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 ree search, Write your 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—What are the requirements for applicants for the flying cadet corps? A—They must be between the ages of 20 and 26 years and unmarried, and must have two years of college training, or be able to pass an examination in lieu thereof. They must pass a rigid physical examination, and must agree to serve three years as a Reserve Officer in the Army Air Corps. Q—What is the real name of Fred Astaire, the noted dancer and motion picture star? A—Frederick Austerlitz. Q—What was the first labor union in the United States? A—The first local craft union was formed by Philadephia shoemakers. They organized in 1792, but the union existed for so short a time that its name is not even known. The shoemakers again organized in Philadelphia in 1794 and formed the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers, which maintained its existence until the date of its trial in 1806 for conspiracy. Q—What is the caloric value of Holland Rusks? A—One pound contains 1830 calories.

Q—Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, may time 4

lost for any reason (sickness, etc.) during one workweek be made up in any scceeding workweek? A—Not without payment of overtime for all hours worked in he succeeding week over the statutory maximum. Q—How should mail to sailors on ships of the U. S. fleet be addressed? A—State the name of the sailor and the vessel, and send the letter in Care of the Postmaster, New York,

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