Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 July 1947 — Page 12

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The Indianapolis Times

PAGE 12 Wednesday, July 28, 1947

ROY W. HOWARD WALTER LECKRONE HENRY W, MANZ President Manager

Editor Business

A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER

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Owned and published daily (except Sunday) by Indianapolis Times Publishing Co, 214 W. Maryland st. Postal Zone 9. ' Member of United Press, Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance, NEA Service, and Audit Bureau of Circulations. Price in Marion County, 5 cents a copy; delivered by carrier, 25c a week, Mail rates in Indiana, $5 a year; all other states, U. 8. possessions, Canada and Mexico, $1.10 a month. Telephone RI ley 55661

Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way

City Council on Gambling

UBLIC hearing on the proposed city ordinance banning printing and possession of pool tickets will be held next Monday evening in the city council chambers. The ordinance, passed on first reading without debate last Monday, was requested by MAyor George L. Denny and Safety Board President William H. Remy as the basic step in killing the $9,000,000 pool and lottery racket which flourishes unchecked in Indianapolis. It should be made law. A representative of the Allied Printing Trades council, appearing in opposition to the ordinance, told council that the measure would “do away with a large amount of old established business.” We're not impressed with that argument, particularly since few union printers are employed in this’ phase of the printing trade. At the present time, there actually is & shottage of printers for fegitimate enterprises. Instead, we agree with the spokesman of the Indianapolis Council of Church Women, who said: * “If gambling is against the law, then the man who prints material used in gambling is an accessory after the fact.” The councilmen have ducked this issue long enough. Let's have a city law which will enable the police to break up the present racket and the prosecutor to present evidence on which the judges can send its perpetrators to jail.

Keep Volume High T a WHRite House press conference on Oct. 29, 1937, President Roosevelt said: : -. “The national income has risen from 38 to 39 billions (in 1932) to—what was it this year ?—65, and probably this coming ‘year will go to 70. And, of course, the aim is 90 or 100. When, the Lord only knows; but that is a perfectly sound goal to set up in a country which is going ahead in the increase of its wealth and the betterment of living standards.” President Truman's mid-1947 economic report, just senf to congress, says the national income is now at a rate of $199 billion a year. That's more than five times the 1982 figure. It's nearly twice the top goal Mr. Roosevelt, less than 10 years ago, hoped to reach “the Lord only knows when.” A large part of the increase is due to higher prices. But even 'so, Mr. Truman can fiaint a picture of unprecedented prosperity. Production of goods and services at a $225 billion annual rate. Sixty million civilian jobs. Farm income at record level. Business im a strong financial position. Standard of living exceptionally high, etc., etc.

~ . 5 =» . » =» UT this prosperity, Mr, Truman says, rests on temporary props—reconversion demands of business, backlog demands..of. consumers, big use of savings and credits, far more exports than imports. Ie calls for wise policies by business, labor, agriculture; government so that the country may move to a permanently stable, maximum-level peacetime economy, “ii oy As to some of the President's recommendations there can be honest differences of opinion. As to his main thesis —the need for wisdom and self-restraint on the part of all concerned—there can be no argument. Suppose the national income dropped to less than $40 billion, as in 1982." Or even to $100 billion, that goal Mr. Roosevelt talked about in 1987. This country with its $258 billion national debt, its government costing upward of $35 billion a year, its foreign obligations, its imperative peed,

country would be sunk. - High volume is the secret of high employment, high wages, high living standards, high profits, high farm income, the mainstay of prosperity and national security, now and in the future. We've got to keep volume high.

What About Taxes?

HE well-informed Indiana Taxpayers’ association predicts that real estate and personal property taxes to finance state and county government will be about 20 cents more on each $100 of assessed.valuation next year.. In addition, township tax rates will be increased. And the city council soon will consider a 1948 budget larger than the record-making cost of operating the Indianapolis government this year. It is logical to expect that the cost of government will

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“If Fort Is Used for Housing, Let Veterans’ Co-Op Handle It"

By Irwin Katz, 555 N. Capitol Ave. I have read with interest of the projected venture into formation of a Pt. Harrison Harrison community, Gtilizing available housing at the fort to ease the housing shortage. There seem to be two groups interested in the fort for housing—one a commercial concern, the second, a non-profit veterans’ co-operative. It appears that the latter would far better serve the veteran's need than the atfempt of a commercial joint venture to transform the Harrison housing idea into a real estate speculation. The veteran has been made the goat of the inflationary rea! estate market and just as a converted Ft. Harrison appears as a partial answer to the veterans’ housing dilemma, a commercial venture appears upon the scene to take advantage of the veterans’ plight, . While it may be con-

your newspaper stated a few days ago drew a $6000 annual salary, do not seem capable of making use of common school mathe-

Trains Slow Down, Driver Takes Chance

By Richard M. Hubbell, 28 .W. 54th st. Since publication of my dissertation on the laxity of Indiana's driv‘ers licensing laws with a plea on behalf of the railroads, various comments for and against have reached me. The most revealing, however, was from a railroad man who .told me that motorists are taking even greater and more trequent chances with their lives, now that the trains are slowing down inside the city, than said motorists did when the trains were really high-balling it for the depot. This

jecture to assume this commercial venture seeks to take advantage of the veteran, the fact that they have established a temporary rental schedule of $40 to $60 a month for the temporary disciplinary barracks ~the worst housing at the fort— seems sufficient basis to assume that the G. I's are again going to be taken for a ride. I think that the veterans must support the non-profit veterans cooperative: which is going to try to buy the available part of the fort. This group is interested in what

matics. For instance they inaintained that a four-for-a-quarter token rate was a fair return back in the days when a pair of shoes that now sell for $6.95 sold for $400 (almost a 75 per cent increase); when a daily newspaper that now sells at 25 cents per week sold for 12 cents per week (over a 100 per cent increase). Now by using second grade arith~ ‘metic calculate how they can figure

that the old rate is still a fair return. We ‘should be aware of the fact

the veterans need—low cost rental that ‘Indianapolis ‘Railways inhousing. According to my inféorma- creased their employees’ wages by a tion, it will be by veterans, for vet- sizable amount. We also know the erans on a basis established by a tremendous increase in cost of] veterans’ group in which veterans equipment. Then why all the have a voice and vote. I, for one, |griping about the transit fare in-|

gentléman also told me of motorists

who even run around the ends of those staggered, automatic crossing gates in spite of the many flashing lights on the gates and on the crossing signals. Which should more or less prove, at least partially, my contention that slowing the trains will not stop railroad crossing accidents. The slowing or stopping should be ap‘plied to the motorist, not the train. It is not only more sensible, but more economical, to require an automobile of 1; to two tons weight to slow to a safe speed or to stop for a crossing than it is to require a train weighing several hundred tons to proceed at a snail's pace. At least the train is serving more people than ‘the one automobile. and the rights of those peo-

am behind the non-profit veterans co-operative, and I think all veterans should join with this group to help get the housing which is so vitally needed at a price that the veterans can afford. x »

” "City Railway System Is Superioe to’ Most" By Disgusted, Indianapolis Many editorials have been written and published concerning the Indianapolis Railways transit system and its fight for a fare increase, I can see no reason why this company {§ not entitled to an increase in fares.

the nation possesses and

cent. of our constant criticizers have not been outside® Marion county during the past 20 years to

The other 10 per cent are the type that can't do anything but gripe. As for our public service commission, there you have a subject

mount, as are all other costs of living. But those who

review the budgets should do so with a stern eye, determined |

to hold expenses to the minimum which will give efficient government.

There is nc question but what some essential services |

dré not being operated satisfactorily, or that there is overlapping of some units of government. Those services which

are essential and not operating satisfactorily should receive |

enough money to enable them to do so. However, the frills of government should be trimmed by economy-minded reviewing bodies, release of surplus and inefficient employees demanded. :

This will not be done unless the taxpayers themselves

demand it. ' Rarely does any considerable body of citizens appear to protest against increasing costs of government. Unless the average taxpayer is interested enough to voice an opinion, those who fix tax rates can assume there is no real objection to these new burdens.

Deserved Memorial

ANNOUNCEMENT of plans to build a library at Oyster Bay, Long Island, in memory of the late Maj. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., recalls the untimely death of this gallant son ‘of a distinguished father in France three

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Many honors came to “Young Teddy” as governor

‘the Philippines, governor of Puerto Rico, explorer |

compare our system with any other. |

crease but practically nothing said {about the unreasonable rise in cost {of other necessities of life?

| Yes, the PSC finally did authorize

for-a-quarter token rate, but then they say in the same breath to

a 10-cent cash fare and a three-|

ple to on time, prompt arrival of themselves or their goods at their destination should be considered, even it people do drive, walk, run or jump in front of trains whether creeping or tearing along on the railroads’ own property. .

|

eliminate the transfer fee and reduce school passenger igre. That

“seems. to” me. like giving a kid a

nickel then taking it away from him. Maybe those $6000 a year men got confused mathematically there also.

But | don't look for any'improvement in the accident record, railroad or otherwise, so fong as drivers are licensed without an intelligence quotient and adequate physical tests. Possibly the general applica-

Indianapolis Railways fare increase; roughly estimated amounts to about 33 per cent, not 100 per cent. So why don't some of you badly-misled people who are read-

propaganda that is put out by our

| trolleys? Yes, you have probably guessed {it by now I am an Indianapolis Railways employee. No, not an

tion of simple courtesy might help. | The average (and that doesn’t mean every) motorist is a thoughtless, discourteous, selfish boor who seems to put a tremendous premium of

Indianapolis has as fine a trans-|;.o a)) this junk the newspaper and | importance on his unimportant self portation system as any Sy wn | who Also are falling for a lot of | when behind the wheel of an autor su-! perior to most of them. I would politicians take the 25 cents a week | that while sitting behind that steerestimate that approximately $0 per that you pay for it and ride the/ing wheel he utterly forgets that

|mobile. And what amazes me is

without the automobile he becomes a pedestrian. The next time you have reason to ‘gripe at a motorist, take time to

executive though, just an hourly think whether you as a motorist wage earner and I take pride in have ever done the same thing. stating that I am glad to be con-| And then either quit griping or do {nected with a firm who gives a something about it—the next time

for criticism. Those guys, whom

| Side Glances —By Galbraith

square deal, -

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you are a motorist. - But “railroad crossing accidents will continue so -long as there are railroad crossings and lenient li- | censing laws which allow the aver- | age citizen (IQ of a 13 to 14-year- | old, according to authorities on the subject, and that makes half of us rather unintelligent, to say the least) to drive automobiles. We have stringent laws governing poisons, firearms, explosives and similar dangerous items; why not have equally stringent laws for motor vehicles? They can make you just as permanently disabled or dead as | poison, explosives or firearms, and wouldn't trust a 13 or

Dogs, Not Kids, Romp On Courthouse Lawn yoiith, W. A. Oollins, 1402 E. New If children would play and .omp

”

.. KARL PINGPANK, the scholarly antiquarian who used to run the second-hand bookshop on 8. Alabama

linguist Indianapolis ever had, I guess. He handled Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, German and English—not merely with his eyes, as is the present E practice, but also with his tongue. It adds up to seven languages, if you take the trouble to count them. : To this day nobody knows why Mr. Pingpank had to have seven languages to express himself; for, if you remember him as well as I do, you'll recall he was an extremely reticent man, Indeed, Mr. Pingpank was one least inclined to talk. Nor would it have helped had he been born with the gift of gab. In that event, there wouldn't

Hl have been anybody around here to talk to in seven

languages. Anyway you look at it, Mr. Pingpank’s dilemma was the most pathetic case we ever had of a man all dressed up for a party and no place to go.

The Spanish Enigma ONCE IN A great while, to be sure, Mr. Pingpank got a chance to strut his stuff, That was when Max Leckner or Herman Engelbach came to visit him. But even that wasn't the event it might have been— for the reason they had only six languages at their commarid, Seems that somewhere along the line, both had flunked out in Spanish. That's why it produced something of a sensation when, one morning back in the 90's, the postman brought Mr Engelbach a foreign-looking letter bearing a Spanish stamp. Offhand you'd suppose, of course, (as did everybody else at the.time) that a

WASHINGTON, July 23.—After the Civil war, five

| men who served with the rank of general in that con-

flict became President of the United States. Now we are hearing a great deal about a military hero as a possible candidate in 1948. Despite his emphatic denials, there are shrewd observers who believe that General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower is eager to make himself eli- + gible—if not for next year, then for"1€62. They interpret his acceptance of the presidency of Columbia university as a move in that direction. When Alf Landon, the Republican candidate in 1936, visited “Washington recently, he spread the word that Gen. Eisenhower, a fellow Kansan, was his choice for the G. O. P. nomination in '48. This may have been merely another of the stop-Dewey mageuvers, but it served to start again the discussion of Gen. Ike's candidacy.

Has Shown Ability to Lead

GEN. EISENHOWER has demonstrated extraordinary capacity for leadership. His job as Allied commander in Europe was as much that of administrator and organizer as it was that of a soldier. The current attitude, however, is not nearly so favorable to the military hero in civil life as it was 75 years ago. It should noted, too, that of the five generals who became President after 1865, only Ulysses S. Grant was a graduate of West Point and a soldier by profession. The others were civilians who became generals. ‘Another general looms conspicuously on the ’'48 horizon. That is the histrionic figure of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, / Gen. Eisenhower is 56. Conceivably, if he does have presidential ambition, he cotild wait another four years. Gen. MacArthur is 67, and it is now or never. Conflicting reports come back from Japap. Some of MacArthur's associates swear he wants nothing

yesterday, I did some cookie-nibbling with the young wife of an old Arab . .. a rather unusual experience for a miserable Roumi unbeliever. The wife be-

longed to old Mohammed Karok, who, appears to have adopted me. And~in return I seem to have acquired another god-child. Mohammed Karok saved me from the clutching claws of a thousand money-maddened Arabs, gone beserk at sight of my baggage. After that Mohammed would show up every day, waving his one tooth in a genial manner, and talking a fine kind of English, French, Spanish and Arabic. His Wife a Good Wimmen ._ MOHAMMED TOLD ME all about himself and his father. He said his father was a very temperamental man, He had 12 wives, and he lived to be 135 years old before he kicked off from sheer orneriness. Mohammed's mama was the last of the lot, lived to be 96. At 57, Mohammed is as frisky as a young goat, and has just started a new family. Until he was in his late 20's, Mohammed was a very godless man. He all the time drink whisky; he fight plenty and chase the girl. He learn plenty bad habit’ from the British army. But it is all right to raise a little hell when you are young and full of beans, saith the prophet. According to the Koran you are not supposed to know better when you are young. But when you pass 30 you better settle down. Mohammed took a wife and began to raise a family and pray steady. He quit lapping up the laghbi, and things looked bright. He had six kids. But the kids took sick and five of them died and so did Mrs. Mohammed. But he kept on being a very godly man and it wasn’t long before Allah brought him a new wife, young and pretty as a picture. “This a good wimmen,” Mohammed told me. “He

PARIS, July 23.—-No comprehensive plan for European recovery can be ready fqr consideration by the U. 8. congress much before the next January session—if then—according to Inside sources here. Germany and the Ruhr have brought the principal powers to an impasse from which it will take time to rescue them. ’ :

what part Germany can play. ingless unless and until the allies fate. And since the Big Four are Germany, no workabls blueprint is fn sight.

Three Men and Seven Languages

st. when I was a boy, was the most accomplished

REFLECTIONS aw By Robert C. Ruark 3 Mohammed Karok Adopts a Columnist.

TANGIER, Morocco, July 23.—As I was saying’

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Spaniard with his thoughts set on Indianapolis would have turned, first of all to Mr. Pingpank. For some

Well, when Mr. Engelbach opened his letter, he saw right away that his six languages didn't do him a bit of good. His first impulse was to run to Mr. Pingpank for help. The more he thought about it the more his pride stood in the way, For two reasons: Not only was Mr. Pingpank~his linguistic rival, but also hig“business competitor. (Mr. Engelbach had his

+ second-hand bookshop in the building they tore down . to make room for Pembroke Arcade, and which now

has been reduced to a parking lot—such is the in-

‘exorable march of civilization.)

Just Plain English THERE'S NO telling how long Mr. Engelbach

wrestled with his letter. . Finally, with the help of a .

mirror he deciphered %ts contents. To his surprise, the letter wasn't written in Spanish at all. It was simon-pure English ‘with the letters of the words reversed to: make it look mysterious. Properly decoded the letter read: “The King of the Cannibal Islands, Malay Archipelago, commands you to send by return mail a copy of the Indianapolis ‘Maennierchor Cook Book containing Mr. William Haueisen's receipe for hosenpfeffer.” Mr. Engelbach never learned who perpetrated the ghastly joke, but he always suspected Ed Schmidt (the brewer's son) and Henry Runge, two Indianapolis men who were making a trip around the world at the time. Karl Pingpank, the one man in Indianapolis who could have rendered an opinion in seven languages, declined to be drawn into the discussion. As a matter of fact, he dismissed the whole affair with a derogatory wave of the hand.

IN WASHINGTON . . . By Marquis Childs Two Generals in Presidential Picture

more than quiet retirement. Others believe he has a deep ambition to be President. Among the latter men are those who have served with the general in various posts. . With this background, they look into the crystal ball and foresee events shaping up in the following fashion. Y The effort to write a Japanese peace treaty has now been launched. It may be concluded even without the Soviet Union. Gen. MacArthur has long been urgifig a settlement that would permit the drastic scaling-down of U. 8. occupation forces. He announced recently in Tokyo that Japan Id not make war for a hundred years. ~ : ‘Conclusign of a treaty would further enhance Gen.

MacArthur's prestige. . With" his- assignment con-. cluded to the sound of loud acclaim, the general

would return te the United States. Timed properly, this would be in March of next year, He would receive tremendous ovations in a triumphal tour from city to city across the country. Thus would the conquering hero become a formidable candidate as the Republican convention neared.

One Big Flaw in Picture

GEN. MacARTHUR himself, the other day, gave what was taken to be a hint of his political intentions. He denied he intended to live in the Philippines after his retirement. The general said ne would come back to his home in Milwaukee. Rarely, in either our political or our military history, has there been such a flambuoyant personality as Gen. MacArthur. There is one flaw in the MacArthur-for-President picture. In the G. O. P. high command, the conviction is growing that victory is assured. Therefore the hard-boiled men in control of the party will see no reason why they should take a glamorous figure who has never been a worker in the party vineyard.

have baby every two years. I tell him about you, and he say bring you take tea in my house. No European ever been my house. No European ever see my wife face. Come see kids, hey?” So we went to visit Mrs. Mohammed, who is about 22, and who has a beautiful gold tooth, and four of the handsomest children I ever saw. Mrs. Mohammed is a giggler, but not shy. She has a gold yashmak around her forehead, a golden belt and about 25 golden bracelets. (“I buy him plenty clothes, plenty jewels,” her husband said. “He very good wimmen."”) Mrs. M. had kept Her eldest daughter out of school for the occasion, and the beautiful little 10-year-old girl was dressed up just like mama—kashmak on the ‘head, kohl on the eyes, and Henna on the feet. The three boys were dressed according to the ages, from Absalom, 8, to the baby, 6 months. % ; Mr. Mohammed is a free-lance operator, but he makes lots of pesetas. His house of two rooms is ornate with mirrors, rugs and paintings, and he has (two servants. Sgt The little girl is going to school, but her father is not sure he approves. He does not think that women’s heads should be filled with useless knowledge.

Two Godchildren With the Deal

THAT IS WHY ABSALOM, the eldest boy, is going to New York to learn to be a doctor. It appears that Absalom, who is as bright as a button and “full of the devil, has a Roumi godfather in New York. The godfather's name, I learned, was Robert C. Ruark, who works for the newspapers. My adoption is a little unusual, since I know old stagers in Africa who have never seen the inside of an Arab’s home, let alone the naked face of his wife. I am extremely honored, however, and the way I figger, what are a couple more godchildren in

my life? I-got 'em scattered from Cuba to Saipan,

already.

WORLD AFFAIRS . .. By William Philip Simms European Aid Plan Still Quite Distant

to trail with prevailing opinion than to come up with convincing explanations. ; From this, as in the rest of the business of pre-

reason, however, this was a different kind of Spaniard

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The honor gue sell Furr, new 11th district. * Prospective m the noon lunche

urer, and Miss The meeting post home, 1: Mrs. Wick and | are in charge of o the new hom Mrs. James Ri phine Kress we members,

4-H CI

Demon

Is Set

; Time GRE Girls from 10 co their 4-H clubs

district | 4-H

demonstration a

_ to be held here

The meeting, in a series of ni being held throu July and Augus the Greenfield at 10 a. m. The four judg baking, food preservation an county will be | contestants /in e Contestants fo ‘contest will inc or a team from

State Contes Held at Fair Two demonst high scoring. clu

on, Rush, Shelb;

Alumn: Award

Indianap Gamma | a recerft meetir Mrs. J. P. Lahr or ave. Mrs. Merton’ the arc of Epsil award for servi d to the alum The club, wh found, presented

nition pin.