Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 July 1948 — Page 14

e Indianapolis Times

OWARD WALTER LECKRONE HENRY W. MANZ ; Editor Business Manager

AGE 14 _ Wednesday, July 21, 1048 ~ * A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER T=,

Owned and lished daily (except Sunday) by Tadtesapotls Times Publishing Co. 214 W. Maryland St. Postal Zone 9. Member of United Press, Scripps - Howard

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Give Light end the People Will Find Ther Own Woy

Public Record? Sh-h-h-h—

: JV every county of Indiana the State Board of Health : keeps a record of every birth, death and marriage. . The State Board of Health is maintained and its employees paid out of public funds which are collected from the taxpayers of Indiana and it has no existence bxcept ‘as a governmental agency. It is a part, and a useful part, sof the government of Indiana, exactly as the state police

- Vehicles are parts of that government. Its records, however, have lately become secret. In cities here and there around the state, including Indianapolis, the public which pays for these records, is not allowed fo look at them, or may see them only under close and rigid, and, it seems to us, sometimes whimsical regulations. 4 It is no longer, apparently, a right of Hoosier citizens

to know who died, or who was born or who got married. » » . » - »

THE BOARD has adopted its new policy of secrecy = 1 about such things under a statute enacted in 1945 which & reads: ; “The records and files of the bureau of vital statistics of the Indiana State Board of Health are subject to the provisions of this act and regulations of the board; but it is unlawful for any officer or employee of the state to disclose the data contained in the vital statistical records except as authorized by this act and by the board.”

EP . If the legislature has any right to enact such a stathte, 4 then the board is clearly within its legal rights in hiding the : vital records. 1 Obviously no legislature has any such authority.

If it can declare these state public records a secret then it can declare any other state public record a secret, including the salaries paid state employees, the amount the state 8 takes in and spends and what becomes of it, and even, for 4 that matter, the acts of the legislature itself. 5 Such an idea is pure nonsense, of course, and would y destroy all semblance of free government. A cardinal prin5 ciple of federal, state and local government in this country : is that everything it does is done in the open, in full view of “the people. And that goes for the records of the state board ‘of health or the municipal dog pound just as surely as it does for the treasury of the United States. nN» ss = = : AT THE BOTTOM of this order of the Board of Health wo very probably is the matter of the convenience of board i employees. They simply don't want to be bothered showing taxpayers and citizens where these records are...” But as 8 matter of fut the Byres ‘of vital exists for no other purpose, has no other function; than the keeping of these records. And if the records are.to be hidden away there's no point we can see in keeping them at all, and hence small reason for the existence of such a bureau, with its attendant cost. [i If the records have any value to anyone it is precisely their value to the public. i In our opinion the State Board of Health would be ~ showing the best of judgment if it ignored the doubtful authority this statute appears to give, and quit trying to ‘keep it a secret that people are born, and get married and die in Indiana. = . If it doesn't a very embarrassing court order is likely to go on the records to the contrary, one of these days. And not on a secret record, either. :

Henry's Platform INCE Henry A. Wallace's presidential candidacy is largely based upon appeasing Russia, it is not surprising that he urges repeal of the peacetime draft as the first plank in his platform. : Without the armed force to defend ourselves, we would have little or nothing to back up our protests against continuing Russian aggression in Berlin, and elsewhere. Repeal of the draft act would leave us in that unhappy situation. ; Draft repeal not only would deprive our Armed Forces of essential manpower, but it would be notice to the world that we were running out on our pledges to support peace and the decent welfare of mankind. In that event, Stalin would face a world even less prepared to resist aggression than it was when the Russo-Ger-man Alliance encouraged Hitler to March into Poland. That may be what Russia wants, and is waiting for. But we may be sure it isn’t what any right-thinking American wants. We have long since given up any attempt to fathom the Wallace mind. Since his break with President Truman on Russian policy, the last vestiges of democracy in Czechoslovakia and Hungary have been erased by pressure from the Kremlin and the Soviet army. But such events seem to have made no impression upon Henry Wallace. Today, when more than two million Germans are threatened with starvation because of the Russian roadWe blocks thrown up to foree us out of Berlin, he still has no I + rebuke for Moscow. Stalin is able to throw his weight around as he is doing because he has an army many times larger than the comCi bined forces of the western allies. Yet to Henry that is “democracy,” while our draft law is a “giant step” toward “fascism.”

; New Army Justice THE ARMY has decided on a number of wise judicial reforms in its courts-martial procedure. Chief among the:n is one concerning the punishment for murder or rape. Formerly the death sentence was mandatory on conviction. Now it is discretionary. J ~~ Civil law has long recognized that there can be many extenuating circumstances connected with both murder and and has tailored the punishment to fit the crimes. ‘same recognition in our military law at last’ substitutes : ‘medieval concept of justice, an approach that reasonable. ga :

Newspaper Alliance, NEA Service, and Audit |

_or the state tax commission or the Department of Motor

+ In.Tune -: With the Times

Barton Rees Pogue INSPIRATION.

You seek me in the silence of the stars, In the madness of the moon, In the wheeling of the wind, In the sparkling of the snow, In the drapery of dreams, In the magnificence of a mountain, In the rhythm of the rain, In the surging of the sea, In the daring of the dawn. Beek me in the solitude of your soul, And I shall come to you As a rainbow vaults the heavens! --VIRGINIA FORTNEY, Indianapolis. © RURAL INDIANA BEAUTY

Motoring in Indiana is a joy forever. All along the highway, especially at the NOW season, may be seen the fields of emerald “maize” (don't look it up—listen to I. Q.), growing in straight rows pointing a distance across welltended acres. What farmers are the Hoosiers! The corn rows are music lines, e, g, b, 4d, f, and from them come the notes of melody of singing birds, flying across nature's zither, with the winds accompanying them assuringly that God is vibrantly musical, Cruising at a moderate speed for some, especially the “Speedhounds,” is something they wouldn't enjoy. Neither do they see beauty on either side. How can they see when they haven't the eyes to see with? Their souls are fed such scanty diet that no: wonder their fingers grip the wheel and their feet press hard on Accelerators! ' Dollars make demons of some, who, if relaxed for one moment each,day, would feel a surging relief bring spontaneous comfort in the realization that the thing they are striving for is Here and now—life, beautiful, transient, and free! . . -OLIVE BODE BROWN, Fountain City.

® © ¢

MOVING

I, thought I should not mind to move away— The house was far too small to serve ow need: The children wanted a larger place where they Could have their friends drop in, and I agreed That it was only natural they might feel Ashamed of the little house—they want the same As others, yet to move is an ordeal For me—it brings a mood I cannot name.

And when the van stood loaded at the door, I found it rather hard to say good-by; Like Lot’s wife then, I turned—Ilooked back once more— es . My sight grew blurred—I breathed a tremulous sigh, : There came § sadness, vague and unexpressed, Klthough I knew the change was for the best. MARGARET E. BRUNER, New Castle

Why Not Give UN a Chance?

By William Philip Simms

WASHINGTON, July 21—Failure of the United States and Western Europe to hale Russia before the bar of the United Nations as 4 menace to world peace is puzzling diplomatic circles here. ‘bd 4 7. THe odds against war are narrowing. Information from Berlin indicdtes hostilities could start any day. Washington, London and Paris appear to have shot’ their diplomatic bolt. Moscow has rejected the last notes.

Britain, France and America were said to be considering movement of an armored force into Berlin along the Red-blockaded highway. A spark—even accidental—could change the cold war into the hottest one of all time. Guns, says an old French axiom, have a way of going off all by themselves. The United Nations stands a chance of averting such a war. But, once started, nothing could stop it except the defeat of one side or the other.

Why Not Gives UN a Chance?

WHY, then, many diplomatists are asking, not give the United Nations the chance? That, they point out, is why there is a United Nations. Its job is to keep the peace; to prevent or stop aggression; “to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained.” » The United States, Britain and France seem to have exhausted all Pacific means for settling the Berlin dispute. All, that is, save appeal to the United Nations. It 1s conceded the United Nations is weak. But its weakness stems from the disinclination of its members to stand up and fight against the abuses of actual and potential aggressors. It could be proved before the United Nations that Soviet Russia aloné, for three years, has blocked world peace; that inside and outside the United Nations she has exercised her veto tp prevent settlement of German, Japanese and other problems, and that consequent ly these problems have steadily deteriorated until the world today stands on the brink of war.

It could be shown conclusively that Russia has violated practically every treaty she has entered into with other countries. The State Department already has, g¢ompiled and ready, an, astounding list of such violations complete with names, "dates, places and other details. There are 58 members of the United Nations. Russia and five of her puppets account for six. The other 52 states, almost without exception, are afraid of Soviet-Communist imperialism. Many of them have had, or are having, direct cause for alarm.

Russ Keep Propaganda Spotlight’

RUSSIA has been careful to veto the creation of anything like a force to prevent or curb aggression. fore, can not take direct military action. However, it is observed, if the entire civilized world stood up in the United Nations and let itself be counted, that fact alone would have enormous importance at this time.

Thus far, Russia and her satellites have al-

most monopolized the spotlight at Lake Success. .

It has been a Godsend to them as a background for their propaganda. Their every word and gesture against the West has gone echoing around the world. And the bigger the lie the faster it traveled.

Even if nothing else, the airing of the charges against Russia would give people everywhere a better understanding of what the present war danger is all about.

To date, the barrage of Russian propaganda has been so terriffic and the West's efforts to present the truth so puny by comparison, that to the average man the picture is both vague and distorted.

There is talk of sanctions against Russia if she continues her war-threats. If imposed, they should be universal. And it would be

the United Nations’ job to make them so.

“heaven. It is nearly 200 feet

The United Nations, there.

AE E%s Ts ERA S ea

OUR TOWN + + « By Anton Scherrer 14% Story of Crown Hill Cemetery—

TODAY'S necrological notes aye submitted in the hope that maybe some poet, of the many around here, ¢an give my matter-of-fact material the touch of what it takes to turn out another “Spoon River Anthology.”

5 S

above the level of the river, an altitude that lifts it above everything else around here. On its celestial summit— appropriately enough—is the : grave of a poet. gests a The original part of Crown Hill embraced 200 acres of the farm belonging to Martin Williams whose speech was that of a forthright man free of euphgmisms. He called his place “StaWherry Hil,” bo other reason

iWberries were raised around here. On Sept. 25, 1 with James: W. Ray, president; Theodore P. Haughey, Secretary; Stoughton” A. Fletcher, treasurer, and seven directors to provide a cemetery fo take the place (when required) of the old City ‘Cemetery, the four-acre little plot down on the South Side with which Indianapolis started. / " The new association paid $51,500 for Strawberry Hill. It works out around $250 an acre, a fancy price when one considers how isolated the place was at the time.

Dedicated in June, 1864 .

IN THE BPRING of 1864, Frederick W. Chislett was brought to Indianapolis to design the new cemtery. He was picked because of his impressive work in Pittsburgh. The dedication took place on June 1 of the same year. A week later the sale of lots began. They were sold to the highest bidders. Thirty-three lots were sold the first day for a total of $11,241. Col. James Blake paid $1500 for his, the top price of the auction. Lucy Ann, wife of Capt. John L. Seaton, was the first to be buried in Crown Hill. She lies at the foot of the hill 33 years and two months old, a fact recorded on her tombstone which also carried the inscription: “Dear Lucy, grant that I may meet you in heaven.” That same year (1864) a line of omnibuses was started for the accommodation of visitors to Crown Hill. The bus left the corner of Washington and Illinois Sts. at 9:30 a. m. and arrived at the cemetery at 1:30 p. m.—a matter of four hours, to press the point home. It's explained by the fact that hub-deep mud at the time required a change of horses at the section line now known as 30th St.

Four years later (in 1868) Indianapolis

{hia ‘ground the first

, an association was formed

She was only.

It Originally Was Strawberry Hill

‘observed Memorial Day for the first time. Then, as now, it was called Décoration Day. On that occasion, the Water Co. went into the hauling business, too, and ran a fleet of canal boats to Crown Hill. The fare was 10 cents

* with no reduction for a round trip. To this day,

the Water Co. allows no discount for prompt

payment: of bills.

The voyagers started at the Yellow Bridge on Michigan St. and landed in the vicinity of Golden Hill, a name which persists to this day.

. ‘From: there, the landlubber had to walk to get

to Crown Hill. The walk Was long enough to “get ‘the sea sickness out of his system.

First Structure a Gothic Chapel

THE FIRST BOAT left at 8 o'clock in the morning. The fleet continued to run at: twohour intervals until: 6 o'clock in the ;evening. “The last boat was patronized ‘mostly by lovesick swains who liked to do their courting in a graveyard. You'd be surprised to learn the number of successful marriages that got their * start in Crown Hill » In 1875, the Crown Hill people started building. The first structure was the Gothic chapel designed by Dietrich Bohlen {August's grandfather). The first entrance of any architectural dignity was completed 10 years later, just. in. time (by working night shifts) to admit the funeral procession of Vice President

Hendricks—the first to enter by way of the

east gate. It was the most solemn dedication I ever saw. Sure, I was there. And it wasn’t

because of any pull Father had, as some.

jealous kids of the South Side seemed to think at the time. It was because I happened ‘10 “be the 42-inch-tall son of the architect employed by the Crown Hill people to design that gate. a Besides Thomas A. Hendricks, two other

+ Vice - Presidents lie buried in Crown Hill:

Charles W. Fairbanks and Thomas R. Marshall. Not to forget George W. Julian, Willlam H. English and John W. Kern, all of whom received nominations for the evice presidency by their respective parties, but didn’t have the luck to get elected. Even more lubugrious is the case of a U.S. Senator. A gentleman of distinction and unblemished character but with unfortunate family relations, he had the hard luck to be buried in a part of Crown Hill entirely removed from the plot which eventually received the monument recording his estimable virtues. And in the same category belongs the pathetic case of Judge Caleb B. Smith, a story so tragic that you couldn't possibly endure it on a day as sticky as this. Till Friday then— weather permitting. , .

Psychiatrist in the House? ~~

will defend to the depth yeu right

WE MAY HAVE TO—

Save Japs

By CLYDE FARNSWORTH TOKYO, July 21-—-If . another world war occurred, the United States would have to "bear the burden of defending Japan. Disarmament, demobilization and a pacifist constitution have reduced Japan to military impotence. At the same time—thanks to our concessions at Yalta and to Washington's indecisive China policy—Russia’s strategic power and position facing Japan have been steadily enhanced. The United States, principally among the allies, has created a’ power vacuum in Japan without so far filling it herself but with Russia nearby and no doubt willing to do so.

> TR . ” % IN A WAR with Russia the defense of Japan could : not be separated from the de- | fense of the United Stctes. Officially there is now no defense of Japan, but merely a small occupation force of tactica) troops and military government personnel, an aid arm and a naval command for the stated purpose Of enforcing the surrender terms. The tactical forces in‘ Japan have never been put to active tactical use.

Side Glances—By Galbraith

OT A 8 LAT » "John says we'll haye to quit buying things if we want to bring prices down—he's always kidding like that!" :

——————— Es b *1 do not agree with a word thet you say, but |

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fly around, he was afraid they would fly into the fans.

“=. Can the Democrats get away with stuff like

that? If that isn’t cruelty to animals, I don't know what is. ‘ As one of the Southern delegates said, “There isn't anywhere else to go. Ha! I could tell ’em where to go, in three words. I never heard so much mud slinging, bullying, griping, silly takling and getting tough methods. No wonder this country is the way it is. Our . getting tough with the American people. Why not get tough with Russia and others, not

us taxpayers and those who feed you. Know that old saying? “Dog that bites the hand, and ete.” hs . {

I'm not a Republican or a Democrat, I'm independent. So my friends what are we going to do on a dew, dew, Dewey day? y

* So

Eulogizes. Capt. Reynolds

By Keith W. Hardy, Director Children’s Bureau” .

at Indianapolis’ Orphan Asylum. .° It was with the greatest regret that all the staff of this cy learned of the passing away of Capt. Golden Reynolds. As head of the Juvenile Aid Division of the Police Department he had shown kéen discernment of the problems “of youth. - HM yy 3 In Capt. Reynolds we saw efficiency, reésourcefulness, -imagination and a real desire to help all youngsters. His understanding, patience and courage to create and carry out new ideas identified his type of leadership. We sincerely hope that Indianapolis will be fortunate enough to secure, in behalf of its children, the services of another officer of Golden Reynolds’ caliber, 3

LABOR IN POLITICS— Labor Watching Wallace Group

By Fred W. Perkins WASHINGTON, July 21—The Wallace “New + Party” convention in Philadelphia this week will be watched closely by labor political lead. ers—some of whom will have observers sta tioned in the hall. Orthodox union leaders are disturbed bY what they see as an emerging pattern for ham-= pering the drive to elect a Congress that will be favorable to organized labor. This involves entering extreme left-wing can: didates in some Congress races where a pro union “liberal” or middle-of-the-roader had 2 good chance of election. This, according to the AFL League for Political Education, is in line “with the Communist. theory that the best field for growth of come munism {s a country with a reactionary govern: ment.” A spokesman for the CIO Political ‘Action Committee thought the object of the left-wing: ers was “to keep Congress under reactionary or conservative eoftrol so that the Communists can make hay while the sun shines.

Enter Candidates Against Liberals

IN MINNESOTA the Wallace followers, with or without the consent of their presidential can: didate, have entered an active candidate in the same senatorial race with Hubert Humphrey, mayor of Minneapolis, who made an outstanding impression in the Democratic National Convention with his fight for a strong “civil rights plank. r This, according to the . backing Mayor Humphrey, election of Sen. Joseph H. whom it calls anti-labor. In Illinois, the AFL league points out “the Wallace people are running a candidate against the nationally known liberal, Paul Douglas, fo the U. S. Senate. This would help the re-ele® tion drive of ‘Curly’ Brooks, anti-labor R& publican.” Opposition of the same type is feported f0 have been entered against Reps. Helen Gabi gan Douglas (D. Cal) and Ray J. Madden (D:

AFL League, which i$ might insure the Ball (R. Minn),

Ind.), both of whom are seeking re-election on |

their pro-labor voting records.

Fail to Attack Reactionaries THE AFL says that the same tactics &% being used in many congressional districts, And attempts to unseat the liberal candidates. 0 the CIO says that that tendency is showing '¥. “wherever thers is a ‘good’ incumbent congress” man. } 5 A . 3 The Wallace movement. according to th AFL, “has yet to show a single sign of er® in attacking a reactionary candidate anywh® “This curious pattern reminds us of “het

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' Advance re made for 1 Country Clul party Saturd: Among the are Dr. anc Harrison, Me C. B. Stein, J. Lyda, Willia Lykins, Paul Robert J. Ma Hargitt. Following the men's § tournament § p. m. buffet will gut the | committee in includes Mey Storer, Robe Mack. H The India: Girls will 1 “Christmas” and Sunday Festivities w

New Trip |

r Nupti: Befote a i leaves and a : pink, coral, fi; Miss Florence Bernard 8. Club, bedéime L. Canfield, } The Rev. officiated at f mony in the b Gerald J. Car 2 p. m. today. The bride, § her father, wc blue crepe o¢ With the gow blue felt pict: to match her were a casu white purpletwined with of ivy. Mrs. Carlo attendant, w dress and roy ried a bouque backed with Carlon was t A receptior ftely followir the Carlon ho motifs were the house. white and jy bunches of w holia foliage, The piano gladioli in re leaves and to while the ha eee

Trip

Critte

FT. JACKS Lt. Col. and 1 tenberger Jr Ga., followin 8:30 p. m. \ hapel here.