Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 October 1944 — Page 18

Indianapolis Times*

18 Thursday, October 19, 1934

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HOWARD WALTER LECKRONE MARK FERREE

Business Manager AA SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER) Price in Marion Couns

a week.

others, $1 monthly.

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A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE & HE city council Monday night wrote a sorry chapter in the history of municipal government in Indianapolis when it baldly “welshed” on a previous agreement to pay Fred Telford $2900 for advisory services from August to . December, a ~~ Frankly, we're ashamed of city officials who would concur in the decision to retain a man and then, after he had put in more than two months of his time, renege on their commitment and cut him off the payroll without a cent. It's petty, it’s cheap. It's not justice, nor is it good business, good government, nor even good politics—for most politicians pride themselves on a reputation of keeping their word. We are glad there were two members of the council, John Schumacher and Herman Bowers, who had the integrity to vote to abide by their bargain. And we hope the others will reconsider, for the sake of their own self-respect and the honor of Indianapolis. » » ¥ » . » THE CITY made use of Mr. Telford's services. He - worked hard and conscientiously in preparing the budget while his factual explanations helped greatly in its stormy passage through the council and the county board of tax adjustment—and his work is not finished. He stayed on in good faith, with : the interests of the city at heart. ~ And he ought to-be paid as a matter of decency and common honesty. And we were surprised and startled also at the statement of Robert Benjamin, executive secretary of the Indianapolis Taxpayers assbciation, in the debate on the Telford dismissal. Mr. Benjamin is retained to protect the interests of the taxpayers, not the welfare of the politicians. The economies of the merit system, sympathetically administered, are well known. Well known, too, is the cost to the taxpayers, in money and’ efficiency, of a political spoils system. So it is surprising indeed to find a man in Mr. Benjamin's position saying ‘time and time again we ‘vo witnessed the failure of the merit system. . . . The spoils system is too well entrenched.” Who is he working for, anyway?

STRAW VOTE

E are just as much surprised as anybody at the early returns from The Times’ straw vote in Indianapolis. All the ordinary political signs have indicated that Mr. Dewey probably will carry this county—but never by any such margin as these ballots show. They point to a Dewey landslide.

: Every effort was made to obtain from this straw vote a true sample of political opinion in Indianapolis as it exists now, three weeks before election. Everyone who was living in Indianapolis in the summer of 1943, regardless of his politics, or his job, or his financial standing, or anything else, is listed in the newest city directory, which is the latest and most complete list of Indianapolis people available. So we took, at regular measured intervals, three names from every page in that directory, without any regard at all to ‘who they were, what they do, or where they live. It was to those individuals that the first 4000 straw vote ballots were mailed, and it is their votes which are being counted

now. ® 5 =» . = =

THERE IS always a chance for error in any straw vote. The nationally conducted polls all allow themselves a margin of three to five per cent, and there may be that much, or more error, in the returns we are getting. There has been no way to poll the 25,000 or 30,000 newcomers who have come to Indianapolis since 1943, and of course no poll of the 8000 or 10,000 soldiers who will vote, and political experts seem to believe these voters will lean toward Mr. Roosevelt. The poll does not reflect the opinions of the people who live on farms in Marion county, similarly presumed to favor Mr. Dewey. The returns show more scratching of tickets than is considered normal, too. And the ballots are not all in yet. So we don’t guarantee a thing. The standings of the eight candidates may change several times before! the straw votes are all counted. And the voters may change the whole result when they go to the official polls Nov. 7. Our poll does not pretend to be anything more than the votes of a few thousand Indianapolis people, genuinely chosen at

random and honestly counted, as they would be cast if the elections were held today.

UNFAIR TO ORGANIZED POLITICIANS

* Roosevelt that New Jersey would vote Republican.

~ violation of the politicians’ Emily Post? You're a politician,

card for that.

. MR. ROOSEVELT SAID—

“FoR three long years I have been going up and down : this country preaching that government—federal, : state and Jocal—costs too much. 1 shall not stop that preaching. As an immediate rogram of action we must abolish _ useless offices. We must'eliminate unnecessary functions of government—functions, in fact, that are not definitely esto the continuance of government. We must merge, consolidate sub-divisions of government, and, like

Sticks and

ty, 4 cents a copy; deliv | - ered by carrier, 18 cents |

There are many courses you Mail rates In Indi- can take to win acclaim, but Irans, $5 a year: adjoining vin too the hart vay He bestates, 75 cents a month; because he didn’t

lon Latin America and he referred to the “Fascist government of Argentina.” Promptly Louls Levy, the |

(CHARLES EDISON, former Democratic governor of New Jersey, visited the White House and told President

Why Mr. Edison! Don’t you know that’s a. flagrant

Mr. Edison. You can't go around speaking your honest opinion right in the middle of a campaign. They'll lift your]

Stores” By. John W. Hillman

REFLECTIONS —

THE PAPERS have made] of a hero out of Irwin Mohr, a 14-year-old student at

"Seth Low juniom high school in

, by this method, but becoming a hero is something else, . Irwin, it seems, was speaking in a student forum

assistant principal who was | in on the discussion, popped up and the speaker to prove his statement. Irwin stammered a bit and confessed that he couldn’t, though he recalled that he'd heard some broadcasts in which Walter Winchell “exposed the goings-on in. Argentina.” That wasn't proof enough for Mr. levy. He wanted facts, not Winchell, and Irwin had to ask for a little time to dig-them up. What Is a Fascist, Anyway? HE ALSO followed the usual habit, in such cases, of passing the buck, He asked Mr, Winchell for proof. Mr. Winchell followed the same procedure and Teferred Irwin to some statements by Cordell Hull and the book, “Argentine Diary” by Ray Joseph. Irwin now thinks he has enough dope to satisfy Mr. Levy, and is going to make another speech reporting his findings, but we half suspect that Mr. Levy will pounce again and want to know what proof Mr. Hull and Mr. Joseph have, and what is a Fascist, any~ way? And we wonder if Irwin will be able to answer that one, Some papers have hinted darkly that Mr. Levy must be subversive to ask that question. It's common practice nowadays to infer that anyone who questions whether someone else really is a Fascist must have a black: shirt in the bottom of his trunk himself. Socrates ‘would have had a hard row to hoe in this day and age. "For. our money, however, Mr, Levy and not Irwin is the hero of this piece. Irwin, apart from his in.

ability to define his terms and make his generalizations stick, sounds a hit stuffy-—and besides he belongs to thut numerous fraternity that believes it could run the newspapers better than the boys in the city room. “Criticizing the way the story was handled in the metropolitan press he said: “I'm sure when I work on a paper I'll dress up a story to make it more interesting. I have some in-

‘The Hoosier Forum

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

teresting views (he should meet’ ‘Mrs. Roosevelt) on this subject: I also have some interesting views on the Russian problem and the Chinese problem, and of course, on the Argentine problem, which got. me into this problem I'm now in. It looks like T’ll never run out of problems.” . ., . With that, at least, we fully agree. This should give you an idea why Mr. Levy felt impelled to stick an ideological pin into Irwin's omniscience. .

May His Kind Increase

AND WERE all for Mr. Levy and may his kind increase, There is too much loose ude of labels these days, too much name-calling when the callers have not the slightest idea what the names and labels mean. To some, a Fascist is anyone who ever attended an America First meeting, or belongs to 3 country club, or votes Republican—just as the: others who are certain that anyone who has a kind word for Mrs, Roosevelt, or belongs to the P. A. C.9 or doesn't wash his neck is a Communist, Too many people think that the way to settle an argument is to say, “Oh, he's just a Fascist” or “He's a Communist.” And too frequently these persons have only the vaguest idea, if any, of the fundamental concepts of fascism or commuhism, If they were pinned down, they'd probably answer as some of the witnesses in the Communist witch-hunts of a decade ago: “What's a Communist? Why, a Communist is a a Socialist.” + + » “And what's a Socialist?” , . , “Well, a Socialist is an anarchist. And an anarchist is—well, everybody knows what an anarchist is!” But does everybody? And do people who so glibly use the epithets “Fascist” and “Communist” know what they really mean, any more than Irwin Mohr did? This is particularly true of our political orators, Republicans as well as the vice president of the United States. So we're passing along the story of Irwin Mohr, and we hope they'll be warned in time. Sticks and stones may break your bones, but names’ don’t decide anything. Watch your step, boys, from here on out. Be careful what you say, and have the proof in your briefcase, Louis Levy might be in the audience.

WORLD AFFAIRS—.

Pacific Showdown By William Philip Simms

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19.—The showdown in the Pacific has begun. Although the battle off Formosa will not be decisive, the fighting will continue on an increasing scale. Japan’s one hope is to win before Germany's fall leaves her to face the allies alone, Despite the treaty of friendship, Japan is afraid of Russia. But not as long as Russia is at war with Germany. However, once the conflict in Europe is over, Russia will intervene in order to get what she wants in Manchuria, Korea, Mongolia and Sinkiang. “One cannot help considering the eventual Amers ican request for the transfer or joint use of the naval and air bases in Kamchatka and the maritime provinces of Siberia,” declared a Japanese rear admiral, Tanetsugu Sosa, three months before Pearl Harbor. And, he added, “in all probability the Soviets will consent, completing the grand ring around Japan.”

Could Not Suppress Misgivings

JAPAN, THEREFORE, continued Sosa, would have to prepare for the worst. She would have to consolidate inside China and strengthen her Pacific defenses from the Bering and Ohkotsk seas in the north, to “the Eastern edge of the Indian ocean in the South.” Only thus, he observed, could she “break the ring of aggression being fastened about her throat.” Even so, Rear Adm. Sosa could not suppress his misgivings about Russia. Although he pointed to the Chap to show “the strategic advantages of Japan,” he hedged by adding that her "defenses might be considered watertight “so long as there is no threat of a thrust from the direction of Viadivostok.” A “break through,” 4 miles of various strategic systems would be extremely

Pacific empire will be cut in two, afford to wait much longer for a decision. ° The allies have known for a long time that the Japs want us to e L home waters. They now the Japs are possuming,

So she can't

jtrying to draw

he said, “along her 4000 nautical]

“BUT 1 GO ON FOREVER" By R. T. Baker, Indianapolis.

Tradition, as defined by Webster, is “a statement, opinion or. belief, which-has been handed down from one generation to another.” President Roosevelt has broken a sacred tradition, followed by both Democrats and Republicans alike, since being laid down by George Washington, country, not to accept more than two terms as President, Of course, most of our citizens, of both parties, are aware that Roosevelt cannot be classed in the ranks of the Jeffersonian Democrats any more than he can be classed as a Republican. His ideas and practices

rare foreign to either party.

_ Some parents well know that you cannot give a child everything he wants and have an obedient child. The old adage, “spare the rod and spoil the child,” is as true today as when spoken. S0 let the sage and the sane this coming Nov. 7 apply the rod to the one, the only F. D. Roosevelt and bid him adieu. D only ‘will dispel him of the idea that “men may come and men may go but I go on forever.” Then we can rest assured of an American form of government from that day forward. gs = = “SUCH A GROUP IS -A DEAD WEIGHT”

lives during wartime, usual.

ville to play bingo all evening.

war.

the father of our}.

By Mary Studebaker, 1811 N., Meridian st. It is strange to see people, who really consider themselves citizens, presumably, carrying on their daily

For instance, on Friday, Oct. 6, and Friday, Sept. 29, a group of women boarded the crowded, five o'clock train and rode to Shelby-

On the earlier ‘date, 45 women were in the group. On the latter date, 53 were present. Service men and other essential travelers had to stand in the wartime crowded isles . while these women traveled, to play

games. ¢ nl in the car were discussing the folly of such a thing occuring in the midst of the acute transportation difficulties which accompany

Many of the women, both times, were riding on passes, one being

Side Glances—By Galbraith

+ (Times readers are invited fo express their views in these columns, religious controversies excluded, Because of the volume received, letters should be limited to 250 words. Letters must be signed. Opinions set forth here are those of the writers, and publication in no way implies agreement with those opinions by The Times. The Times assumes no responsibility for the return of manuscripts and cannot enter correspondence regarding them.)

the wife of the conductor. Such women must have heard of the government restriction on civilian travel, and evidently are daring to defy it! Think of it—riding trains and playing games during war. It is hard to find words sufficiently descriptive of such halfway “citizens” as these. Such people probably could learn their citizen. ship “duties by nothing less than invasion. Only the excruciating suffering of enemy invasion could teach these women what reality is. Theirs is a pleasure world of selfish desires, while our service men and women are losing their lives in a ghastly world of WAarrealities. ~ Why don’t such leisurely -women get busy and. donate blood, and solicit house-to-house on the. bond drives, and learn how to save lives and control population panic by taking - air raid warden training, it or even assist at polling and registration for the political parties, which job has fallen mainly to the women now that so many men are away? Until they do get busy and fill their days with civic obligations, such a group is a dead weight,

really work at their citizenship, Md . “1 WILL TAKE OFF MY SHOES” 2x By Thurman J. Swan, Indianapolis.

of political speeches, but with

parasitical, on the workers who

I am a great reader and listener

ged Ram

some of ‘the elephant sightseers who can't make use of the ears our Lord gave us, Who sent our boys to war? Not Roosevelt, but senators and con-

By John A. Dilworth, 8161} Broadway In reply to A Taxpayer in the Hoosier Forum on Oct, 8, I would like to state that A Taxpayer does not seem to be very well informed as to how laws are enacted in Indianapolis. I quote, in part, “I citizens of Marion county are going to sit idly by and let the Chamber of Commerce make laws such as has been suggested . . . I'd say that they definitely have forgotten what our boys are fighting for ,..” The Chamber of Commerce, A Taxpayer, does not make laws. They, as any other clvis organization, group or individual, only make suggestions and recommendations. The city council, a body of people elected by the voters, passes all the city laws (ordinances). I should judge by the writing of A Taxpayer that this person does not often visit in other cities. Other

visit this summer, that they wrestled with the problem 24 years and had to arrest many pedestrians. Strange, indeed, that wa have to make laws to. force people to guard their own safety, Dr. Herman Morgan of the board of health once told me: “Isn't it awful. that we have to pass laws to make people keep clean?” Cs =e “EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT” .

By M. H. Steele, Sadianapolls, Indians

1 in the service.

or question, David E. Kennedy, — would you, in truth, want

in a total vote close t is expected slimmer this year if he makes it. Republicans Democratic Strength i in Industrial Towms DEMOCRATIC ¢ STH is concentrated in the industrial towns Small town and rural Connecticut is almost Republican, with the old Yankee stock still a t influence.

ber of new voters in the: cities, indicating a record turnout on election day, despite the absence of many “*Making” of voters, as they call it in local idiom, now is going on. The state has pers

1 manent registration, with only newcomers required:

to’ C.10. 's Political Action Committee is doing a good

intense activity, C. I. O. a credit by oldDemocratic leaders,

ie SE aifs 3.8 it i

handicap Sefestions among Nialiang and Boles, a sible vorng on a are busy working these foreign nae

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IN WASHINGTON—

"Post-War Prices

By Peter Edson

Administrator Chester Bowles, in

which he outlines fully and for the first time his ideas on poste Bowles has been working on this ime r weeks, tryit on press cone simple orm. The restlt is a typical Bowles job, with picture

charts for eye appeal and just about as far removed from the usual type of stilted government policy statement as anything you ever saw. It is written in first person singular, for a direct, straight from the shoulder, conversational appeal. And you can understand it. For instance: “I am well aware that any delay on our part in setting prices would be an even greater for the small manufacturer than for large ones,” he writes. “We must make sure that any manufacturer who needs a new price can get a decision quickly. In order to do this, we will authorize the 93 OPA dis-

“| trict offices, located in all parts of the country, to set

the final ceiling prices for all reconverted products nog on the list of 12 major items.” (Autos, refrigerators, washing machines, sewing machines, vacuum cleaners, radios, clocks and watches, furnaces, ranges, electrical appliances, . pianos, phonographs.)

Price Adjustment Simplified

“MANY firms have already Indicated that they plan to sell at their 1042 prices. , . . They will nos need. to call on our field offices at all. s “Firms whose higher production costs make a price

adjustment necessary will be able to present the facts to the nearest office and receive a price based

These will be standards that can be quickly applied without referring back to Washington. . . , “A complete plan, including pricing standards for the smaller manufacturers, has developed. . If necessary, we are prepared _ announce fu

.| details of the pricing procedure each manufacturer

will follow within 48 hqurs after V-E day. - “Finally, we are stuying the possibility of come pletely exempting from price control certain (small) manufacturers. . . “We are anxious to do this in order to eliminate 83 rapidly as possible all unnecessary red tape sod needless regulations.

Bowles is not prepared to say. ‘The timing will vary from item to item, he But as the need for war production decreases and Sian. grow duction increases, hardship cases<will be ua heh | meat the mest dificult aud Ble of all wars

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