Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 April 1946 — Page 22

PAGE 22 Friday, April 12, 1046

ROY_W, HOWARD WALTER LECKRONE HENRY W. MANZ (A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER) yo _. Owneé and published daily (except Sunday) by |. Publishing Co, 214 W. Maryland Postal Zone 9.

United- Press, Scripps-Howard News- |. Service,.and Audit Bureau of

o nb BR pi

Price in Marion County, § cents a copy; delivcarrier, 20 cents a week. a in Indiana, $5 a year; all other states, 8 possessions, Canada and Mexico, 87 cents & ” —— Give Light and the People Will Find Thbir Own Woy ONE YEAR WITH TRUMAN | WE don’t say “under Truman,” for we have seen in the President no disposition to think of himself as one Americans. im. Some of the pundits last 12 months seem to

“

placed over and above his fellow Perhaps that is a fault in h who appraise his record of the “think it is. We aren't so sure. The critics, carrying no share of Mr. Truman's responsibilities, have an easy task. And the story of his administration thus far, with much accuracy, can be made a dismal account of fumblings and failures. " .

= » WHEN he became President, the war was all but won. He discharged his sudden duties sensibly and confidently, and the country was behind him, wishing him well. But after Japan's defeat his touch seemed to lose sureness. He lifted wartime controls too rapidly from some viewpoints, too slowly from others. He did too much for labor —or too little, He proposed long, confusing programs of legislation and did not push them through congress. He talked increasingly strong foreign policy, but did not preserve the military strength necessary to back it up. He adopted economic policies without understanding them. He surrounded himself with inexperienced, weak or incompetent advisers. He did not provide strong, affirmative leadership. : : j So the indictments run. And with them are warnings that Mr. Truman faces disaster unless he pulls his divided party together, controls the rebellious congress, and rescues

FEE en ep

OWN RECORD

LE =

Let's Take a Look at Our Own

Record, Too

Escaped Slave

ONE OF THE OLDEST unsatisfied judgments in the circuit court ‘of Marion county is the case of Freeman vs. Ellington. <1 John Freeman was a thrifty, hard-working Negro who had come to Indianapolis in 1844. Sometime in the Fifties he set up a restaurant at the corner of Washington st. where ‘Wasson’s now do business. Nobody knew much about his antecedents or his background and, apparently, nobody seemed to care for Mr. Freeman behaved like a gentleman all the time he was in Indianapolis. For some reason, virtue is never a subject for conversation, Freeman had married here and had four children. He had other property, too, the most important of which were four acres between Pennsylvania and Meridian sts. just south of the present S. 8. Peter and Paul cathedral. On. this tract he not only had his cabin, but raised enough vegetables to keep his restaurant going. His family, too. :

Run-Away Slave Case ON JUNE 20, 1853, Mr. Freeman was arrested. The suddenness of the news was enough to turn the town upside down. On that day, Pleasant Ellington, a Kentuckian, but then living in Missouri, showed. up in Indianapolis and charged John Freeman with being a fugitive slave. He claimed the Negro had run away in 1836 and that it had taken 17 years to track him down, ; Mr. Freeman was clapped into jail and had to stay there 60 days before the case came to trial. In the meantime, John L. Ketcham, Lucien Barbour and John Coburn; three outstanding . Indianapolis lawyers, were retained to defend the Negro. Given 60 days to dig up what they could regarding Mr. Freeman's past, they learned that the accused man had told the truth when he said that he had lived in Georgia from 1831 to 1844, the year of his coming

DEAR BOSS: IT'S SPRING and the robins sing. But in a reversal of nature, locusts have descended upon Washington in vast hordes. By “locusts” I mean the men upon whom Newsweek Writer Kenneth Crawford conferred the title “the pressure boys.” , Reconversion in many industries has meant build-

his shipwrecked program. It may be so. - But while judging Mr. Truman, it might be fair to ask what kind of President the American people have deserved in this last year. By all the evidence, Mr. Truman is a reasonable,

Hoosier Forum

“| do not agree with a word that you say, but | will defend to the death your right to say it." — Voltaire.

ing up more powerful lobbies here. They have gone into the press gallery and selected some of the men most familar with Capitol hill, For it is there that they get things done. . Some of the most pleasant persons one will meet

patient man who saw every reason to believe that a reasonable, patient country could work its way out of history's war info history's brightest era of prosperity at home and security in a peaceful world. Perhaps his reliance on reason and patience has been his greatest error. He has seen the American people dividing themselves into blocs and groups, each striving for special advantage and special gain. He has heard ceaseless clamor for higher wages, higher prices, more benefits, lower taxes, more help from government, less interference by government. He has watched capital and labor, with everything to gain by co-operation, waging war on each other. He has listened to demands for a strong foreign policy coupled with demands to “bring the boys home,” abolish the draft, and forget such ideas as universal military training. : .

¥ . LJ . » (CERTAINLY we expect leadership from the President. But it's a tough job to lead people who are busy squabbling and grabbing. And if the American people want a leader who will crack a whip over the dissident, bludgeon congress into submission and compel co-operation whether or no, Mr. Truman doesn’t seem to be it. We think, though, that he has done remarkably well at keeping his head when all about him were losing theirs and blaming it on him. By that test of Kipling’s, he is considerable of a man. How considerably he measures up as a President will take more than this first year to tell.

THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY ONE of the most important posts for which Republican and Democratic voters will select nominees in the May 7 primary is that of prosecuting attorney. * From the two chosen nominees, one will be elected in the fall to carry the responsibility for criminal prosecutions in Marion county, including investigations by the grand jury. Five Republicans and two Democrats seek the nominations. ; A good prosecutor can make it tough for gamblers and other racketeers, or he can make it easy for them to ply their trade. He can shut his eyes to conditions in county institutions which should bring indictments, or he can be the policing authority to assure proper use of the county’s funds. : The office of prosecuting attorney requires a man of unquestioned background and experience in the law. It is not a job for an amateur, Clever criminal lawyers who appear constantly on the other side of the state's case would be quick to take advantage of inexperience and a judgment not tested by long trial participation. Neither should a prosecuting attorney be under too

"Veterans Won Over Strong Force Overseas; Can Win at Home, Too"

“CARS PARKED WITHOUT LIGHTS ARE DANGEROUS” By Charles D. Christie, 2847 N. LaSalle With all this talk about safety

are the high paid lobbyists. And they are not all employed by corporations and the National Manufacturers association either. All shades of labor, from lily-white to pink and almost red, are represented among these full-time congressional button-holers. Many have their pet congressman or senator or both. They count on them, They seldom are let down.

OUR TOWN iy By Anton Scherrer

IN WASHINGTON . . . By Daniel M. Kidney Lobbyists Wield a Great Influence

By A “Tourist” of Eleven Nations, Indianapolis. A year or 50 ago there were many books, magazines and newspaper items telling the home folks retirning G. 1's. It was my good Mostly because I wanted to find out

how

at home thought we would be.

But not once did I see or read an fight for. been written for it is the folks at home who have changed. Many have become so greedy, self-centered and selfish, We G. L's learned to help

treat the people we went to

one another. We learned to share had none. Would many of you people at home do that? I doubt it. You would hoard the surplus thinking you would need it later. Some of our Americans would rather give to a foreign nation than to give to their own countrymen. And just because it might cause a surplus and slow the sale of the item in question,

There are also a few Americans who would take away our necessary things and give them free to foreign nations. And every returning G. I. knows those people who will receive them free, have money in their pockets to pay cash for them. Many ‘free American items have been sold on foreign markets and for many times what they cost. We saw many items paid for by generous American sent free to the starving people of the world sold on black markets so high even we could not buy it,

We returning veterans need homes. Oan we get them? No. Not unless we pay four times what they are worth, Can we build? We can’t even get firewood, to say nothing of lumber. Why? We have seen so much crookedness on foreign soil. We have seen how foreign nations were sold out by their own people, for a profit, We will tell you in no uncertain words, We can see what is going on here at home. We left our homes and loved ones to save foreign countries that were sold out. Now many are wondering who purchased our country while we were gone. * Veterans of many battles are returning to the service. Why? Deo you think they like it? He finds himself blocked at. every turn. He found himself blocked by strong opposing forces overseas, And he still won. He finds himself blocked by strong opposing forces here at

much obligation to a political machine, if there is any chance that the machine might attempt to abuse its position in the guise of responsibility.» A political party is responsible for making certain that its candidates enforce the law properly, but not that the power of office should be used as a shield for political activities. Voters of each party should scrutinize carefully the records of those who ask their support, and vote for the man they consider best qualified to give us alert 100 per cent prosecution of law violations.

PERON SWAGGERS THE Argentine dictator is not as anxious to reform and make friends with the United States as many supposed. Col. Peron, speaking through his Foreign Minister Cooke, says the state department's conciliatory offer is unaccept-

LL.

‘objects to the qualification.

is to its new

Ned 5 WE

able. The department had announced willingness to accept Argentina as a signer of the proposed inter-American Sefensé treaty if she would stop playing an axis game.

raises a question as to the wisdom of Washingreversal from the strong stand represented revelations of axis-Buenos Aires co-opera-its new “soft” policy. But the state department i mot ignore Peron’s election victory and the desire of nations to give Argentina another

the strong policy was abundantly

home. He will win here, too.

fortune to have read many of these.

the police department is putting out, why don’t they do something about it. They look for someone driving with one headlight or no

taillight, yet cars and taxicabs park on our dark streets all night with- | out any lights. The people along N. Rural did not want trucks routed across Rural from Massachusetts ave. I know why now, so they can park their cars in the street. But Rural is not the only street. Go on any street and you will find the same. I would lots| rather run into the car that was| traveling than to hit one standing. Please publish the laws regarding lights on autos and trucks so the public will know what lights on cars are for. It doesn’t cost much to keep lights on cars, But you never know when one may burn out—but the police don't overlook that. I see police cars with Bne headlight or no taillight often. What is their excuse? Well, it works both ways, so let them work on those parked cars and keep on the job until our streets are clear of this as it is one of the first steps in safety. The streets with cars parked without lights give the bandit and sneakthief the ‘best protection that can be obtained and endangers the lives of our children and travelers. Editor's note: According to “the city police traffic department, it is not necessary to have lights on cars that are parked on well-lit streets. On darker streets, however, a small tall parking light, visible for 500 feet, is recommended. The city conforms to the state law which calls for lights on vehicles 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.

they should treat and handle us what kind of demons the people article on how we G. 1's should Many of the latter should have

our surplus with our buddies who

“MILITARY STAFF IS FASCIST IN VIEWS” By Gerald Brown, 4001 8. Otterbein

One Forum contributor seemed alarmed about Fascists, Communists and half Americans. I wonder what her definition of an American is. As I see it, anyone, regardless of his political theory, who wants to better American society and life is an American. Theoretically we still have freedom of thought and speech and so long as we_claim these principles we can not condemn as un-Amer-ican one who does not agree with the established order of things. If we could, our whole military staff would fall in that classification because it is certainly bne of the greatest Fascist forces in America. Ask most any veteran who wasn't an officer. Incidentally, historians freely predict that the next modification in our government will be to fascism, so if you would like to prevent it a letter to your congressman asking him to oppose peacetime conscription would help. Your vote against conscription supporters at the next election would help, too. If fascism comes, it will come by way of the military. Which brings me to my next point—another contributor suggests that England get rid of her king and crown jewels to get money with

= “ = = “INDIANA ISOLATIONIST, NOT FOR BROAD REFORMS”

Capehart Swings Victory FARM ORGANIZATIONS (and of course the vet-

erans) are far out in front in cultivating this field.

In fact it is the farm coalitions which often carry the balance of power, Sometimes they will bé on the side of*labor, often times on the side of business, but whatever side they take they usually win on points. Using congress as a club, the pressure boys have been quite successful in beating down OPA. Most surprised man in. the senate was Senator Capehart when his amendment boosting the minimum wage back to 65 cents per hour was accepted. He had been getting some mail from Hoosier C. I. O. unionists condemning him for supporting the amendment putting farm labor into parity prices. President Truman said he would veto the measure if this was done. The senate did it, nevertheless. Benator Willis also voted for it. Administration spokesmen maintain this will boost food prices 20 per cent. Senator Capehart first tried to put across an amendment exempting piece work and learners from any minimum wage whatever. This long has been fought by labor as the very basis of sweatshop operation. It was defeated. Just before final passage of the bill, he introduced

WORLD AFFAIRS .. . By Wiliam Philip Simms International Trusteeships Needed

WASHINGTON, April 12—While the Big Four foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Paris April 25 to prepare for a peace conference, there seems little hope of breaking the present deadlock unless Russia, on the one hand, or the United States, Britain and France on the other, come forward With a new proposal. For six months the Soviet deputy at the council of foreign ministers at London has stood pat on Russia’s demand for an exclusive trusteeship over Italy's colonies in North Africa. Moscow is also backing Yugoslavia’s claims to Trieste, and parts of eastern Italy and Austria. To these demands the others of the Big Four are utterly opposed. 2

U. S. Chilly to Responsibility AT ONE TIME the British proposed that the United States assume trusteeship for Italian Libya

By W. C. Reese, Shelbyville Candidate LaFollette of the Republican party, who wants the nomination on the Republican ticket for Senator, wants the Republican ‘party to change its spots. He will never be able to graft any of the limbs from the Demo-

which to buy food. In that case, I would suggest that we get rid of the whole war and navy departments with their complete permanent staffs and invest the saved money in UNRRA or some other constructive cause. Incidentally, such action might make for a few diplomats in the state department instead of so

many men burdened with big sticks. cratic party onto the Republican

Side Glances—By Galbraith --

party in the state of Indiana. Why doesn’t Mr. LaFollette join the Democratic pasty, it has everything in it. It can run on national

med. It was the original served other gods; wherefore I they'd better start maki t the customer, , Hull policy. ) expects to be crowned with a tureen they'd rs making passes at the customer, or discouraged. There is still a Joe witt deliver you. no MOTE ene. hosio a an wh RB least withered by a look, I called the customer will start riding airplanes. The Associa7 his hand. If he does not act upc : Susges 10:12, the waiter's attention and said please, “that wasn't tion of Amasya Raltroats ou rer ants, Pris yan 2 4 pon i ————— : sins y a 5 ’ passengers, nd out wha © public wants, 1s tina to become a law -abiding {MAN ia more than Constitutions; | what I'd ordered. : Logized. He took back like cheaper private rooms, faficier observation ears, geome 3 |2w-abidm J | Better rot beneath the sod. | What do.you know? He apoindls acilities for kids, movies, cocktail bars, cafeterias ll be judged accord- "Thar be true to Church and State the gooey mess. “The steward came up, and he apolo: [ACHE nit or ia ; ras, , en ia being | ‘Whilp we are doubly false to God. | gized. Arid then, the waiter hurried back with the small ni§ht clubs and even beauty shops are on, the . A £ "and eggs and apologized agal n. Ib was very Poh lL i

issues, then slide into high gear and play up internationalism. What the Republican party should do is to give the people & chance to vote for something. The Re-

elected Harding. Now if the Republicans had not listened to Stas-

of the world to the other tryin | run everbody and anybody, it m have elected a ticket. Indiana is an isolationist state

Follette. If we had the state-wide primary

direct primary for Senators.

DAILY THOUGHT

Yet ye have forsaken me, and

publicans said they were against the League of Nations and they

sen and Ball and Vandenburg and had gone-to the people on a straight ticket of isolationism, instead of playing up with the Democratic

party which has gone from one end g to

people who live here are content to stay in Indiana, and they are too conservative to vote for many of the Democratic reforms urged ‘by La

La Follette might have a chance to tell the people about democracy, but the Democrats, Republicans and the press of Indiana are afraid of the

but it met with. no encouragement. The United States has suggested a multi-powered trusteeship but that idea also has gone begging. The inhabitants of the area are equally hostile to an Italian or French mandate and none, save perhaps a handful of native Com« munists, want Russian domination. The natives naturally prefer independence, something which, by themselves, they could not possibly defend. There is a way out, however, which might be acceptable to all concerned. That is a United Nations mandate—local autonomy under the aegis of all 51 nations who would be represented by a governor general, or commissioner, selected outside the Big Five and other directly interested nations. Austria after world war I became a ward of the

REFLECTIONS . . . By Robert Railroad Courtesy

in time the hotels will be nice to you again.

thought that they wanted my business.

sir.”

Every One Tries to Be Helpfu: IT'S A LONG‘ JUMP from r answer was “Nah, we ain’

Maybe he can fix you up room or a pillow tied to the cow-catcher.” This illusion of living in & in the diner. I ordered ham an came out with something

NEW “YORK, April 12—Somebody has been whispering sweet nothings into the ears of the railroads, and ‘the railroads seem to be getting the idea, It is so heartening that one almost is tempted to believe that

I did some traveling last week and about 10 times ight! I had to reassure myself that it wasn't a dream. Everybody was sO nice, you might almost have

“Yes, sir, certainly we have sleeping accommodations. What would you like, sir? A bedroom? A com= partment? An upper, a lower? Thank you very much,

ently, ‘when the t got any accommodations, and we ain't gonna have any accommodations, ang, why don’t you try slipping a tenner to the porter? with a roost in the men’s

dream world persisted d eggs and the waiter

unidentifiable. Timidly, as

Hullabaloo in City

to Indianapolis. Moreover, it was discovered that John Freeman had never been a slave. F On the other hand, there was evidence that back in 1836, Mr. Ellington had lost a slave who answered to the call of Sam. He had the mark of a burn on his left leg, said Mr, Ellington, and smaller scars in the back over the shoulders. What's more, he had peculiarly small-ears and unbelievably big feet. Mr, Ellington was cocksure that Sam had fled to Canada and passed himself off as Mr. McConnell before he worked his way down to Indianapolis to masquerade as John Freeman. Well, believe it or not, when Attorney Coburn went sleuthing In Canada for evidence, he ran across Sam alias Mr. McConnell. Sam accommodated Mr. Coburn in every way he could and even stripped to exhibit his collection of scars. He didn’t have to peel any clothes to show his small ears and big feet.

Finally Does Go to Canada

AFTER WHICH, of course, there wasn't anything to do but to acquit John Freeman. Instead of being happy about the outcome, Mr, Freeman was fighting mad; so mad, indeed, that he started a suit against Mr. Ellington for $10,000 damages. And while he was still in the humor, he followed with” another suit ($3000), this time against the U, S. marshal who had arrested him, . The result of the suit was a clean verdict for Mr. Freeman. The court allowed him $2000. He didn't collect a red cent and unless something has happened in the last hour, the verdict still stands on the court's docket as unpaid. ) After that, Mr. Freeman stuck around Indianapolis until just after the battle of Bull Run. When he heard what had happened, he expressed some %pprehension that the North might be licked. Mr. Freeman sold what Indianapolis real estate he had, packed up his human and material effects and went to Canada to make sure of freedom, I never did learn whether he ran across Sam, his alleged counterpart, up there.

the 65 cents restoration amendment and won, Because‘of its previous defeat, he had not expected this victory. Having taken a prominent part in the hearings on the housing bill Senator Capehart also sought to amend it. He lost out on amendments to cut out sub_sidies and prevent the government from underwriting “prefabrication. Then he voted to keep price ceilings on existing houses and on lots in the bill. It was knocked out. Voting on this latter question, with Senator Capehart, were such G. O. P. progressives as Senators Aiken, Donnell, Knowland, Langer, Morse and La Follette. TVA Chairman David E. Lilienthal, one of the most prominent DePauw graduates, delivered an ABC talk to National Press club members on what to do with atomic energy now that we have that bear by the tall. { He spelled it all out simply, just as was done by the board of consultants in their report to Secretary of State Byrnes. Mr. Lilienthal also is chairman of that board. Upshot of the Press club talk was that we should use our head start in the atomic energy field to speedup organization of an international atomic authority to be established through the United Nations,

Hoosier Almost Made Cabinet

SECRETARY OF COMMERCE KRUG was among those present, Krug got his start in the national picture as TVA’s chief engineer by appointment of Chairman Lilienthal. The story has been published that President Truman phoned Mr. Lilienthal at his home at Norris, Tenn, to offer him the cabinet post after Secretary Ickes resigned to be a columnist. “Dave” was not at home, Next day the President named Krug. Naming of “Bill” Jenner's friend, Lisle Wallace, a8 state patronage chairman, is looked upon here as putting a final period to Senator Willis’ career. One of his own partymen summed it up by saying: “Willis will have fewer votes in that convention June 13 than Charley La Follette, Governor Gates will rule the roost.” DAN KIDNEY

League of Nations, Prostrate and bankrupt, her credit gone and her independence threatened, she literally was taken over by the league. A super-parlia-mentary regime was set up at Vienna. It had 26 members, named by the national assembly. This group functioned under the chancellor. But—and this is the point—all of them were subject to the general commissioner, Dr. Alfred Zimmerman, of the Netherlands. The Dutch “boss” of Austria was selected because of his ability as a burgomaster. And because he was from a small nation. Honest, strong, competent, what he said went. He reduced expenses, increased taxes, restored the national credit and, in a few years, put the country back on its feet. Similar suitable controls could be devised by the United Nations for Italy's colonies, Libya and Eritrea,

Italy Peace Treaty Delays Action THE BIG SNAG IS the Italian peace treaty. That is holding up everything. If Russia took over Tripolitania and Eritrea it would make her the sole keeper of Britain's Mediterranean lifeline—a point on which Britain is most unlikely to yield. Nevertheless, peace of the world depends upon ending the present game of power politics—in Europe, Asia and Africa. The most dangerous powder kegs are in the Middle East and the basin of the Mediterranean. Therefore, if the United Nations could take Italy's disputed areas under their common wing, and appoint ~ Dr. Zimmerman to manage them as international trusteeships, perhaps the world could get on with the vital job of peacemaking. :

C. Ruark

ls on the Up-Grade

good dinner, and I left a tip. Can you believe it? The waiter said “thank you.” After eating I asked the Pullman conductor if I could turn in my lower on a compartment, so I could do a little work. ~~ i “Sure,” he said. “I have a compartment. But you don’t want to spend all that extra ‘money. I'll fix you up a desk in the lounge car. No trouble at all.” There was a little French girl—a“war bride who spoke no English—riding on the train, and the conductor went around telling everybody to be sure and be nice to her, so she would feel at home. One man helped her with her dinner. Another went out to wire the newspaper, in the town to which she was going, to meet her with appropriate fanfare, and when I went to bed, a nice-looking soldier was putting her through a short course of gin rummy,

Frills to Appear Once More THE SPIRIT OF pleased-to-have-you-aboard persisted throughout the trip, and was repeated, without the war bride, on thie trip back. I'm still & little stag- _ gered, because four years of being abused because you wish to spend your money leaves scars. The railroads, quicker than most public conveniences, have come fo the swift conclusion that