Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 1 February 1945 — Page 18

[he Indianapolis Times . PAGE 16 Thyrsday, February 1, 1945

HENRY W. MANZ . Editor Business Manager

(A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER)

Price in Marion Coun- . ty, 5 cents a copy; delivered by carrier, 20 cents a week. Mail ratésdin Indiana, $5 a year; ull other states,

U. 8. possessions, Canada and Mexico, 87 cents a month.

«ESPs RILEY 551

Give TAGRT ewa-the- People Will Ping Their Own Way

“THE POLICE SHAKEUP AYOR ROBERT H. TYNDALL is giving every indica-~ cation of being a good finisher. After two years of an administration that has been constantly harassed by ‘bickering and factionalism at the city hall, the mayor has suddenly shown a strong hand. He seems determined that “his team shall pull in harness, and pull for the good of the city. “Get together, or get out” has been adopted as the | fpolicy at the city hall, and we believe that it is a wise ‘#ourse. We have long felt that Gen. Tyndall had the "best interests of Indianapolis at heart, that he sincerely “wanted to be a good mayor. Unfortunately, however, many “of those around him have been interested chiefly in per“sonal or private advantage, ‘and they have hamstrung the

rertecTonts Looking Backward By John W. Hillman

CURRENT PROPOSALS to abolish the board of parole review and to remave jurisdiction - over parole classification from the state welfaré department have focussed attention on the sharp criticism directed at Indiana by the Wickersham national commission of _law enforcement and observance in 1931 . This criticism is particularly pertinent at this time, as section X five of House Bill 33 would erase {lie features of the state parole sysfem that-were added to correct the conditions condemned in the report. Under the wording of this bill, now pending

law of 1897—which was in effect at the time the Wickersham investigators singled out the state to illustrate what it called “a very bad parole procedure.” Indiana is not named directly in the report, which merely refers to “a Middle Western state.” After the report was issued, however, the investigator who wrote it revealed that Indiana was the state he cited.

Two and a Half Minutes to Each Case

“IN THIS state,” the report says, “the board of trustees of each institution is the paroling authority. At the prison, therefore, the board meets once a month to transact business, to pass on financial matters and perform the other tasks required of a board of trustees. The board is’ composed of four members, appointed by the governor; they are presumably public-spirited citizens, each with his own private business or professional life occupying most

administration and involved it in a succession of bitter “feuds. The mayor has been patient with those whom he | . “believed were his friends, but now that he is fully aware | ‘of the situation he is taking: vigorous action, and the “results should be an improvement in the city’s govern“ment. . The retirement of Sidney S. Miller as corporation "counsel in protest against the mayor’s support for a per“sonnel plan that seeks to subordinate politics to efficient “gity service has helped to clear the air, and other resigna- “ tions and removals are reported in the offing—changes of “which we fully approve. s ss = =» * ’ 2 ; THE RESIGNATION of Clifford F. Beéker as chief of “police and the promotion of Jesse McMurtry to this key position should promote harmony. However well-inten-“tioned and conscientious Chief Beeker may have béen, “his differences with Safety Board Chairman Will H. Remy interfered with the smooth operation of the department. Tt is well that the mayor has dealt with this demoralizing ~. situation. Foy Eo We have confidence in the new chief. Jesse McMurtry __ is an experienced police administrator. He has twice served "as acting chief, he knows the town and he has the respect of the men who serve under him. He is competent, co- > operative and level-headed. In his long experience, he has Jearned how and when to take orders and how to give

; We believe Jesse McMurtry will make a good chief and ‘. we wish him well.

WHY NOT SAY S0?

of his time. “The practice of the board,” the investigator cons tinues, “is to spend part of two days at the prison, arriving one day and departing the next. On the occasion of my visit the board spent four hours in the evening—from 8:25 to 12:25—disposing of parole cases. Ninety-five offenders eligible for parole came before it in those four hours. The board not only studied the information presented to it about the offenders, but saw each offender and made a decision for or against’ parole. “If a man was up for first parole hearing,” the report adds, “the board had learned nothing about his case in advance, no summary of his record having

their information concerning the case, therefore, was gained at the hearing. In reaching 96 decisions in | four hours, the board gave just two and a half minutes to each case—and this required studying the docket, interviewing the man and deciding to grant pargle or not; nor does the two and a half minutes make allowance for the time wasted by the entry and exit of thé prisoners and in other ways.”

Nothing Private About Hearings

THE REPORT also criticized the manner of conducting the hearings. When the prisoner entered the room he faced 24 people. In addition to the four board members and. several officials of the prison, whose presence was justified, the hearing was attended by the wives and daughters of board members, attorneys who were there to plead for a client, “other persons in the role of mere spectators” and newspaper reporters. : “This,” the report observes, “is in striking con-

been sent to the members before the hearing; all |

ar ado aN UR

in the legislature, the parole setup-would-revert.to.the { _°

a ¥

a Brand New Hara-Kiri Method

Jee - 9. ¥ NN DIT

or MH

Li dat!

The Hoosier Forum

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

“LESS GRIPE AND MORE GRATITUDE” By Myra Carey Morgan, Indianapolis 1 enjoy the letters in the Hoosier | Forum, especially the letter of Mes. Jan Lucas in The Times, Jan. 26. | Yes, why don’t folks wake up?| We have but to read the papers about how our ‘boys are facing

{hardships or listen .to radio, to

voices of the mien who have returned from the fighting fronts to} realize we people here on the home| front have not one reason to com-| plain. Te | Consider the people of Europe and what they have gone through, and are still going through. If we)

trast to some boards of ole, which consider these hearings as private and dential affairs.” : The presence of women, the observer noted, posed particular difficulty. “One offender,” he reports, “who seemed to be in doubt as to why he earlier had been returned as a parole violator, was told that this information could not be given to him ‘in the presence of

~NNATH the expressed objectives of the Indianapolis city YY hall personnel reorganization bill, introduced in the * Indiana legislature yesterday, we are fully in sympathy. + We believe it would be a good thing to require munici- * pal employees to devote their time on thé job fo the city’s “business rather than to political activities. We believe it “would be a good thing to make selections for city. posts _ the basis of qualifications and training and to protect em- - ployees against arbitrary removal. We believe in adequate { pay, in job standards and attendance regulations. i All thege things would help the city get its money ‘worth from the taxes levied for municipal services. They are at least a step toward a merit system. 3 ss 8 = .. 8 x

SOME CITIZENS are alarmed, however, because they

“wisions now in force for members of the police and fire

- tinder which these jobs were more or less openly sold by political leaders. : As Sherley Uhl pointed out in his story yesterday, however, “sponsors of the legislation say it will in no way affect operation of the present police and fire merit sys“tems. They assert that it applies to civilian workers in . the police and fire depaftments only.”

bill should be amended to state clearly that it in no way “affects any city employees now under the merit system. | That would strengthen. the bill and remove much of the “present opposition, : And if that is ~ ~80 in the bill?

apy A

what the sponsors mean, why not say

OTHER MANPOWER WASTES UESDAY we printed an article by Edward Keating, editor of Labor, the official Washington paper of 15 standard railroad labor organizations, who argued that the proposal now before congress to draft “workers into war plants is unwise and unnecessary. J Like other labor spokesmen, Mr. Keating thinks compulsory employment in plants operated for private profit would be un-American. He pointed out that few employers favor it. He contended that the manpower problem can be solved without it if the government will end “muddling and buck-passing,” set up one central agency to deal with the problem, invite the co-operation of management and labor, and stop “hoarding of labor” by employers who find that practice profitable under cost-plus contracts. Mr. Keating did not mention manpower waste enforced by union rules and practices, yet we think a great deal of that is going on. . nN #

THEN THERE is “featherbedding”—the forced employment of unnecessary workers—and too much of that also survives from other days. Here's an example: : —~ Radio station WOV, in New York, is required to employ ' 12 union musicians whom it contends it doesn’t need or want and can’t afford. A regional war labor board examiner has recommended that the number be reduced to five. He says that the Petrillo union is now collecting a fee on phonoraph records for the supposed purpose of relieving unemat present there is no unemployment New York;-that there is a serious orkers, and that it's inexcusable for 12 ng pay for doing the work, if any, of -claimin,

r days,” is fighting to

“believe that the personnel bill would. erase the merit pro- |

departments and would return the city to the old conditions |

If that is the case, the solgtion appears simple. The |

these women. Another wished to make a statement concerning his crime but was told that ‘in the presence of these women’ he could not do so. None of these women present had any official relation to the parole procedure of the institution” y : = ‘Not the Best Way to Get Ht! . . » ONE OF THE members of the board, it was observed, felt called upon to shout epithets at the prisoners—and in a masterpiece of understatement, the investigator commented: “If the purpose of the social handling of the offender is to effect some improvement in his condcct, it is submitted that remarks like these hurled at the prisoner before audiences . . . is not the best way to get it.” nk These findings were never seriously challenged, and they help to explain why such dangerous criminals as the members of the Dillinger gang were given their freedom to terrorize the state, why many of those | released went out into life hardened and embittered, and why, in short, Indiana became the crime capital of the United States, This was not an accident; it was a product of a system. And it could happen again.

WORLD AFFAIRS—

Trouble Spot By William Philip Simms

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.—Wallace Murray’s nomination as ambassador to Tehran is of first-rate importance even though it comes just when the allies are converging on Berlin and the end of the ‘European war seems in sight. In fact, its significance is due partly to that very fact. For it won't be long after the war until the political relations of the Big Three are put to the test, and Iran has been called the “proving ground” of the united nations’ policy of collaboration,

lieve that he and Marshal Stalin are not far apart on the subject of Poland, Eastern Europe and tlie Balkans. In those areas Britain has given ground, and a lot of it, rather than wrestle with the Red bear. But she will hardly be as complacent where the Near Fast is concerned, Whoever controls the Near East could split the British Empire in two by land and Iran is a key to that area.

British or the Russian, Nevertheless, it is almost as vital for, sooner or later in one way or another, we always seem to get sucked into the major quarrels of the great powers, and we need the best possible watchman on the scene.

Crisis Simmering in Iran

EVEN NOW a crisis is simmering in Iran. It began last September. Years ago czarist Russia owned concessions there but after the Bolshevik revolution Moscow gave them up as smacking too much of “economic and political imperialism.” But’ last year ghe suddenly demanded ofl rights from Tehran and, when they- were not. forthcoming, provoked street demonstrations and overthrew the government, Russia has displayed increasing interest in the countries along her southern border. It is° quite possible that what is happening in Poland, Yugoslavia and elsewhere in Europe, may prove contagious in’ the Near East. If so, Iran could make Poland look Jike small potatoes. nf gh . Wallace Murray is one of the ablest of our career

Budapest approximately 25 years ago. His next was as secretary and charge d'aff in Tehran most of his time since then has Near East or the of Near Eastern state department. No-one in the U. 8,

this sou

Prime Minister Churchill has given reason to be- |

Our interest in Iran is net quite the same as the |

would stop and do some deep! |thinking, how. could we gripe. It| {is true we don’t have all we want, | jinany times I don't myself, but we are all lucky after all. I doubt if| |any of us know what honest hard-| |ships are. The gripers just can't take it because the people of Amer-| Ica have had too much and life was | | far too easy. : | | People .would be much more, happy if they griped less and praised the Lord more for | giving us| {so many blessings. Yes, a big {awakening is what lots of us need.

| Here's hoping they will awaken before it is’ too late, while there is yet time let's have less gripe and { more gratitude, "

“1 REFUSE TO | USE THE WORD” By Lt. Raymond R. McOrmond Jr., Army of the U. 8.

My position as a convalescent at| the Stout Field hospital has given me a lot of time to lie abed and do nothing in particular. This is my first visit to Indiana, being a native of Connecticut, and I am very much pleased with both the quantity and the quality of the civic pride of most of the citizens of this community, I am, however, annoyed with the constant reference to the word “Hoosier.” During my month here in the hospital I have’ found no one to give me a satisfactory explanation of its derivation. I know why my native state is called the “Nutmeg” state—anyone interested is easily able to track down its origin. Due to a natural curiosity, perhaps, I have discovered a meaning for your “nickname.” I would like to enlist your aid in explaining its derivation.

of sheep” and the suffix “ier” means “one who deals in” or “is concerned

“Hoose” is defined as “a disease

(Times readers. are invited to 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 responsi bility for the return of manuscripts and cannot enter correspondence regarding them.)

“TIME TO GET BACK

TO DECENT HOURS” By F. B. R., Indianapolis

The “brown-out” to start on Feb. 1 is an excellent idea for conserving light and power and should be continued as long as necessary. There are to0 many unnecessary lights used, and -a number of thousands of lights turned off will mean tons of coal and coke saved, but] why continue keeping all stores open—on—Monday—night?—The—one evening alone. with thousands of lights burning will consume more electricity than was saved in the five previous days. Keeping open on Monday to serve war workers is the bunk as it has become a habit for all those who can shop before 5 p. m. to reserve

seems to point to the ancient rivalry between cattlemen and sheep-

{herders. This derivative—derogatory | chants, and it also puts a train on

as it is—seems to hark back to some feud in the early settling of this part of the country. Is it possible to ascertain through your forum where the original settlers of Indiana came from? Were they chased away from Wisconsin by irate cattlemen—and

| forgetting the sting of the word |store or that store dees not want

“Hoosier” take it up with pride? It is unfortunate that more is not known about this subject by the natives of this city—if not the state. I refuse to use the word in the sense that I have interpreted it. But rather than call it a contraction of “Hussar” or any other obviously querelous solution, I would suggest the phrase be discontinued or at least not used quite so freely. - » ” » “PIGEONS ARE CAUSING PERMANENT INJURY” By Cora Bernhardt, Seeretary, Patriotic Societies, Indianapolis Whereas the pigeons which roost in dnd around the Soldiers’ Monument on the Circle and Indianap-

marring its appearance,

Oliver. Perry Morton chapter of the urgent appeal be made to the su-

of Indianapolis for the abolishment of this nuisance and public menace, And be it further resolved that the Federated ' Patriotic Societies join in this appeal for the saving of their sacred memorial from de‘struction, and also the fine

with.” ' This rather. ugly result

churches of our city,

Side Glances—By Galbraith

i *

: "Now stop fussi ~ his snow s

corn. oto ek seme me 7. nic: ue ar. om, | ! Can Johnny help it if he ha shovel and here's his list-af customers

$ : cold? Here's they mustn't be ong*

olis are causing permanent injury to the splendid structure as well as therefore be it. resolved, by the Governor Daughters of the Union, that an

perintendent of parks in the city|-

J Unesar

| Monday evening to do their shop- | ping. What is sold on Monday eve{ning is not sold on Tuesday, which {is usually a poor day for the mer-

all those who are compelled to work until 8:45 p. m., many of them not getting home until 10 p. m. : It is abeut time to get back to decent hours on Monday. ‘ The reports get out that this

{to close Monday evening, but if {one or two of the larger stores {would do it, they would all soon fall in line. ” REPEL "THE WHOLE LAW” | By T. W. L.. Indianapolis | As it seems, not many people realize that old-age pension assistance is not a dollar question but a human question. This sétup we have now is a tri-parted, “You first, my dear Gaston” arrangement. For society to side-step its. obligation to those who have reached the age where society says “You are too old, we have no place for you,” then turned over to politician jobseekers, and social guides to absorb a large part of the appropriation. This question--directly concerns a large part of our people, both young and old, who are as human as the other part. That means it could be and should be administered with respect and common decency. The law as it stands today gives the old age assistance department the same’ relation to society as & foul slum district is to a city. But we are trying to get rid of the slums and making the human side worse. Repeal the whole law and set up income of $20 a month permanently, taking their property and posting . their name will increase an {ll feeling that already exists. If this brand of assistance is abased and unsound in principle, why do our younger people go to | the state for job security pay raise and retirement pensions. Is the | plush seat and swivel chair might- | ier than the plow? Here is a chance to make an application of that boasted humane Christian spirit on our own people. ” » » “MAKE THESE MEN WORK OR FIGHT” By a Disgusted Wife, Indianapolis 80 all 4-Fs work. Well, maybe some 4-Fs work but I know one that has quit four jobs In one month. Each in an essential industry. He was hired on all but one job without W. M. C. papers and worked from two day to two weeks on each. 1, for one, vote for anything that will make these married men work or fight. At least the children of thesé men would get proper care with the government money if they were taken in the army. Of course. being 4-F; they say “I am sick,” but not so sick that they can't hunt from morning to night all season, rain, shine or

that are 4-F but won't work should be made to go to the army. >

- DAILY THOUGHTS

Lord, they have killed prophets, and digged down

thy

|By Thomas L Stokes °

altars; and I am left alone, and | they seek my lfe.—Romans 11:3. |

POLITICAL SCENE— ~~

Play of Balance

WASHINGTON, Feb, 1.--The fine play of balance in our American political system, which makes it so tough and durable is clearly "illustrated in some current developments that have stirred up nation-wide controversy in which everybody has his opinion—and expresses it. , Even in time of war this balance still ;

obstructions in what we may con-

-| sider the. proper processes of government. Some of

us hoot angrily and some of us shout delightedly at the self-same event. But, in the end, it all w

out sb that we move along, through compromise or through gradual disappearance of the issue with Democracy Keeps Its Balance IT'S COMFORTING every so often to oontem-

| plate our democracy and the way it keeps its balance,

despite the Jeremiahs. There is, for example, the Montgomery Ward case; or for another, the Jesse Jones-Henry Wallace affair, It must have surprised lots of people to discover that the federal judge, Philip L. Sullivan, who stood up and said “No!” to seizure of the Montgomery Ward plants, was a Democrat and an appointee of President Roosevelt, For it dispelled the {illusion cherished by so many that Mr. Roosevelt, who has appointed so many’ judges, is a dictator in control of the courts. : That, of course, is a reflection. on those who hold such views, rather than one such judges as the Chicago judge, who express the essential American character which has come out of our democracy and still continues to come from it, Speaking from careful study and deliberation, they occasionally step up and

| say “Halt!” and thus provide the checks and balances

which preserve our system.

Good Old American Custom

JUDGE SULLIVAN, who has a reputation for “calling them as he sees them,” just could not see that the President had the power to seize the Ward plants, and said so. At the same time he delivered quite a lecture about those unmindful of their obligations in the crisis of a global war, a lecture which Sewell Avery must have understood.

with our good old American custom of simplifying such men to the familiar outlines of a village character. We make personalities our symbols and build our issues about them. These gentlemen always are willing to stick up their heads, luckily for our democracy. In NRA days there was Henry Ford. Later, during the battle over collective bargaining, there was Tom QGirdler. Then John L. Lewis, with

of controversy. ; _ Adjustments came out of all of these scraps, just as a restoration of balance came, too, in that titanic battle started by President Roosevelt over the supreme court,

Personalities Symbolize Biggest Issue

been squarely up against ome ‘of the “checks and balances” for the last two years in a st congress, and now finds himself in a battlg over the appointment to his cabinet of his former vice president, who sat with the senate for four years, an almost incredible circumstance when you consider it. But here were two personalities who could symbolize the biggest issue before the people today— Jesse Jones and Henry Wallace—and, typical of the exaggeration of the American people, each has been inflated by his champions to the size of a colossus and. réfluced by" his foes- to the proportions of a weazel. . Fo Jesse Jones is out. Whatever happens to Henry Wallace, who is the big issue now, this conflict undoubtedly will end in a compromise out of which the administration's approach “to post-war employ-

gress, which has waked. up suddenly, will recapture

and thus make for balance in that direction.

IN WASHINGTON—

Sidelights By Peter Edson

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1-—Vice President Harry 8. Truman told the .1000 club that when Bob Hannegan first came to him with the news that he, Hannegan, had been offered the post of chair-

vised him not tp take it. Hannegan was then collector of in-

him that was a better - job. Hannegan had ‘listened to Truman's advice, Truman himself might not today be

vice president. . 00»

SAM O'NEAL, Hannegan’s-gew director of publicity for the Democratic party, is being joshed » little about th- unique service which he performed to win this coveted position as buccessor to Charlie Michelson and Paul Porter. During the presidential campaign, O'Neal was assigned to cover Dewey for tne Chicago Sun, which was all-out for Roosevelt. Dewey got snowed unde”, so” what could be more

sition. What's in a Name? THE GAG goes that a reporter called up the war department press branch and asked to speak to the vice president in “We don't have a vice president for that job,» was the reply, “but we have just named a master

of hounds. Here, I'll let you speak to him.” The call was switched, and into the reporter's ear

Woof!” ;

’ » . » OFFICE OF defense transportation’s chief of public

wide handsome ought to be called “Speedboat, ii " ”

manner eedboa »

at delays or -

orks {

Mr. Avery is one of those controversial characters § | who is abhorred as a crusty, fusty, outmoded old “§d-and-so by one part of our people and sivoritable ‘| hero with a halo by ‘another. ‘That is in keeping #

his defiance of the President, caught the full fury §

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, who 1s so often adver- [i tised from the campaign stump as a dictator, has i

ment problems will smack less of the banker and | more of the broad-minded humanitarian, and eon- ||

somé of its powers over the giant lending agencies, | J

man of the Democratic party's | national committee, Truman ad- ||

ternal revenue, and Truman told | § ITid

logical than that ‘one of the men publicizing his § activities should be made press agent for the oppo-

charge of airplane travel priori- § N

came the greeting: “Army Kennels speaking. . Woof!

THURS] Hoosi 00SI (Continued w Pfc. Willian Noble st., in ¥ Pfc. Gilbert Carty st., in ] Pfc, Edwar 17, Box 491, | ‘Pfc. Robert eron st, in B T. Sgt. Edw Reisner st., in

Pfc. Lawrern Brookside ave ®

E. 44th st,

” “Pvt Jack held the pury received in I 13 in Belgiur trooper with division and since last Ma) Pvt. Hifchee of Mrs. Garn the son of Mrs of 5426 N. was 20 and | March, 1943. “The soldier high school a ployed as an dianapolis Sta Survivors, | mother, includ Barbara Newt ter, Mrs. Nor Indianapolis, s Hitchcock, Te » Pvt. Charles ‘Mrs. Grace F bama st, ws France. The 19-year tered the’ aru went overseas graduated fr high school in Survivors be his father, A one brother, Js a half brother ‘Linton,

TR EES

IRR RE he

w Sgt. Merred Mrs. Mildred

and brother o dianapolis, wa Leyte. He was fantry. Sgt. Blair is Avon high sche by the Kroge: Co., in Plainf the service. Survivors, be brother, are. h ~ Johnson, Dany Avon, and two of Avon, and E w ".Pfe. Kennet husband of M Nashville, and John Dickey, - been missing since Jan. 10. dated Dec. 21. A former SI student, Pvt. I employed by Corp., until ent 28, 1943. He Gruber, Okla, ‘the first of las 42d Rainbow infantry. » Pfc. James VN and Mrs. Geo Graceland ave. France since . With the arn th army his d the Wissembou was used in st man plunge at He entered | 1043, and rece Ft. Benning, G bell, Ky. He 1 tober, 1944, anc Pvt. Jeflrey | ate of Shortrid he was a men club.” He was THeta Pi frate: versity. A brother, L is a pilot with | the air trans tioned at Rom Their father district attorne ”

Pfe. William band of Mrs. 8. Noble st., wa Dec. 15 and hi purple heart. A member of participated - i Southern Fran hospital twice time, he was hi feet which he to Rome and an injured bac! « Pvt, Ridenou April 21, 1943, seas 14 months by the George 28 and atten school. He is the son 851 N. Highla Ridenour, 835 1 »

Pfc. Gilbert Cecil Owens, was wounded N is in the host was serving w division. Pvt. Lane is army in Nover overseas last M A brother, O “driver with thi land.

Plc. Edward band of Mrs. R. R. 11, Box in France fro received while with the 134tl - wounded Dec. A native o © Leonard went