Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 November 1949 — Page 16

Page PDF (8.49 MB)

Back to issue view

16 Tuesday, Nov. 22, 1049

Ba h

ET SR

BEN Dine IAaht and the Peonie Will Pina Their Own Wow

Off ;

Fund's annual drive came to its

Persistence Pays

: A official terminal date just a little short of the goal this

year it would have been easy enough to (dit and let the fund fall short, and there wouldn't likely have been a word of criticism from anybody. i; : Liv Tt just happened that Bill Kuhn and the campaign team he had built this year weren't the kind that quit. They stuck by the original terminal date alright, officially. But taking a note from the legislature they stopped the clock and went right on plugging at the campaign. Tid] : pv CE LAST week, a good month after the time set for them to stop, they came through with a victory. For the first time in four years, and for only about the sixth or seventh time in Community Fund history, they had met the campaign goal. ant ; ; Becausé they did Red Feather agencies will be able to run all through 1950 on the budgets planned for them instead of having to cut corners and trim down services. They

‘don’t have lush budgets to start with and any slice they ‘have to make, however thin, always takes away from Indi-

anapolis community services that the city can ill afford to

This has been one of the outstanding campaigns ef the 30 years of Indianapolis Community Fund history, and the congratulations of the whole town have been well earned by Mr, Kuhn and the 7000 workers who helped him make it

& success.

Russia and Africa is some irritation in Britain because a mission from Nigeria, one of its African colonies, will attend the Communist-sponsored Conference on Human Relations in Prague and later visit Moscow. This concern is understandable. Nigeria, in the very heart of Africa, seems as remote from Soviet influence as any area in the world. But Moscow overlooks no bets in its plans for world empire. And the tactics it has employed with some success in Asia are likely to strike pay dirt in Africa, too. .

THE Soviets regard colonial territories as one of the

minor railway stoppage, lasting only four days. But the Soviets it was the first break in an area where communism is just beginning to feel its way.

too late for Britain to enter into a with its African-colonies. But

Tt should not be

it must be done before Moscow sells them a phony bill of

$ 358 Billion Cigarets

JF YOU were born before, say, 1905, chances are you well remember hearing cigarets denounced as “coffin nails.” Smokers of them-—especially if they used the tailormade variety—risked being considered depraved characters

that 358 billion cigarets will be smoked in the United States this year, : That's almost seven cigarets a day each for every man, woman and child in the country. -And, since some men, more women ahd many children still don't have the

habit, the average consumption by those who do smoke is

i » IN THE last four years, the department says, the rate of cigaret smoking in this country has been double what it was in the five years just. before World War II. Cigaret exports—estimated at 21 billion in 1949—are roughly four times what they were before the war. : _ Meanwhile the average life span of the American people keeps getting longer. But this, it readily may be conceded, doubtless is in spite of, rather than because of, the constantly increasing use of “coffin nails.”

What Would It Cost? |

ECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE BRANNAN, speaking at Sacramento, Cal., has denied that his celebrated farm plan would cost the government $19 billion a year. “I'd like to nail down the fantastic estimate that, if all American farmers were subsidized at the rate suggested for milk producers, the administration proposals would cost $19 billion annually,” he said. : The estimate is reported to have been made by an economist at the University of Illinois. :

. =» . SINCE, as Secretary Brannan pointed out, $19 billion would equal the .average total annual cash receipts of all farmers in the last 10 years, his assertion that the plan ‘not cost that much probably is Justified ; But what the Brannan plan would indeed" cost would much more pertinent information, from the standpoint of Congress and the taxpaying public. And the country is still waiting for Mr. Brannan to supply that information.

fol

Canned Coffee

Nor long ago a coffee expert said hoarded coffee wouldn keep, even in vacuum cans. i ~ Now comes an expert in the can business who says coffee in vacuum cans can be kept fresh indefinitely. ", “That statement,” he asserts, “is entirely erroneous. to package it in the vacuum can.” : may keep, and cans may keep it. ut if the stocking hoarding: of coffee goes on. eason, that's not good.” “Excess buying » away in the back cupbodid,

du we hi

TER LECKNONE HENRY W., MANG -

Well, the Department of Agriculiurs has just pstimated

Platform Seen

Drafting Party Gospel : WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 — A proposal by National Republican Chairman Guy Gabrielson .

thatthe party hammer out a shining new badge: party principles gives all factions

rogram of its own?"

Dangers Seen

BUT party leaders see a certain danger

the West, contending its alm is to promote a U. B. socialism, At times he has flirted with the old Smoot-Hawley high tariff idea, denounced Democratic bossism and machines and criticized some phases of foreign aid. ~ A good part of the moneyed wing of the GOP wants an all-out attack on the Fair Deal and the welfare state and doesn’t at all like Republican friendliness to some measures public housing and health bills, for example— which are favored even by Sen. Taft.

Needs Rebuilding

BUT in New Jersey the re-elected Gov. Alfred Driscoll, who as holder of the major GOP victory in the recent election, may have some right to talk, won't settle for anti-Truman opposition alone, Nor will Harold E, Stassen, who says that “clearly the Republican Party needs a tremendous lot of rebuilding if it is to serve the people of America.” And Gov. James H. Duff of Pennsylvania warns that “our party has to more closely understand the problems of the average guy.” In many respects such men as these do not think in the mold of Mr. Gabrielson. But how to reconcile the opposites In a statement of principles? In 1948 Tom Dewey did considerable to make the platform adopted at Philadelphia a product of advanced rather than deeply conservative GOP thinking. His right-hand man, Elliott V. Bell, and Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts had much to do with the actual drafting. Gov, Driscoll is bluntly telling the Republican Party it must stop being the “party of yy quit switching to match what it

- expedienc thinks is the public fancy.”

‘Me-Toving’ “ONE thing that riles me,” he said, "is this talk that the Republican Party mustn't be a ‘me too’ party. It all depends on what you're ‘me-tooing.’ If it's the Ten Commandments, then ‘me too! If it's the preamble to the Constitution, then ‘me too.’ If it's a strong national defense without wasting money, then ‘me too. Ti “But when Mr. Truman comes out for socialized medicine, then the Republican Party has an issue on which to put up a real battle. And we've got to let the people know we want decentralization of government and make them: see why home rule is vital for this country.” He said his state has made progressive reforms the national Democratic administration hasn't matched ~- civil liberties, a sickness benefit insurance program, housing and a guarantee of veterans’ loans. Timing of a new party policy statement is uncertain—presumably it will be after Congress has assembled in January, when GOP Congressmen are able to report on what the folks back home are thinking.

“FRIENDS AND FLOWERS ~~ Friends and flowers are kindred things Richness in possession each oné brings. : Some by their fragrance ease all care 3 Others 80 refreshing by + + « Just being there.

The world would be desolate without any flowers

* &,

promise—if honestly. consulted=z0f a scene of violence

To cheer weary souls and banish dark hours,

tends What would it be . . . devoid of friends? ‘=--ANNA E. YOUNG, 3547 N.

EUROPEAN POLITICS . . . By Marquis Childs

Tragedy of France

“PARIS, Nov, 22—Befors the present “government” of Preformed, France was 19 days without a

mier Georges Bidault was government. dom

Most Frenchmen appear to have accepted this state of comfortable anarchy with a philosophic shrug. After all, they say, has not France always been an individualistic nation, resentful

of the powers exercised by

AVR,

OUR TOWN . « +» By Anton Scherrer ; Strange Case of Musical Talent

TO WRITE scrupulously of Mrs. Oliver's phenomenal gilt it-behooves me, first of all, to tell the little I know of her girlhood. Moreover, to reveal, as objectively as possible, the tantalizingly little known of her life before she set up housekeeping in Eden Place, the romantic name of an absurdly short North Side street, just a block leng, which had (and still has) its source in Delaware St., adjoining the present Bertha Ballard Home. Mrs. Oliver's maiden name was Cleatta Billings. And, if 1 remember correctly, she was born somewhere in Ohip—the exact location of which has escaped me. Anyway, it was in that region when she was a little girl that she tried to play a melodeon. She gave it up as a bad job because she couldn't learn to read music. The notes looked like ugly little black spots dancing before her eyes, she

Later, she went to Kansas City, rar across Mr. Oliver and married him. All the time they lived in Missouri, the Olivers never had a musical Instrument in their home. Finally] guess

it was sometime around 1885-—the tone-deaf

family moved to Indiana, to Acton as a matter of fact. Even then there wasn't a musical instrument of any kind around the house.

Beat Time With Pen

I™ WAS in Acton, while sitting at her husband's desk one day, that Mrs, Oliver's pen started acting up. Instead of performing the. task assigned to it. the pen began beating time not unlike the behavior of 4 well-oiled metro-

..aome.....Amazed at what appeared to be the

work of Hoosier goblins, Mrs. Oliver laid down her pen. Immediately thereafter, a strange impulse seized her fingers and sent them tapping the desk performing the same movements the pen had made only a moment before. It was just as if she were playing a plano. When Mr. Oliver heard of his wife's strange behavior, he didn't pooh-pooh it as a less in-

__fuigent husband might have done (like you and

me, for instance). No, indeed; he persuaded her” to have a parlor organ sent from Indianapolis.

DeQuiney St. After owning it six months, Mrs. Oliver con-

SIDE GLANCES 2

Mr. Harrison asked for Sousa's Stripes” and was tickled pink when she deliv-

“to suspect that Mrs. Ofiver also had the makin

cluded that a plano lent itself better to her technique, Again she got in touch with Indianapolis, traded the organ for a piano (plus some cash) and started all over agai. This time the results were nothing short of phenomenal. On the piano, Nirs. Oliver discovered that she could play almost anything anybody asked for. Later, when she moved to Indianapolis she got to be even better with the result that nothing fazed her, no matier how difficult the piece. Mind you, she did all this wi t ever having received a wmusig, lesson. » i

Wide Acclaim

AS A MATTER of fact, it was during her residence in Eden Place that people from all

over ‘the world came to: witness the “miracle.”

Indeed, on one historic day Beajamin Harrison showed up with a group of intellectual foreigners intent on a diplomatic mission which also included seeing: the sights of Indianapolis. On that occasion, the monocled foreigners asked for Beethoven's “Sonata Appasionata.” Mrs. Oliver had never heard the piece—indeed, she was ignorant of its existence. Nonetheless, she played it from beginning to end ‘without so much as a bobble. What's more, she allowed for no intermissions between the movements. “Stars and

ered every note—even those of the piccolos

which, more often than not, musicians had a

wretched way of slurring over at the time. Mrs. Oliver explained her extraordinary gift simply by saying that some unknown power guided her fingers. She added that she didn’t know one note from another. And one day, in a penitent mood, she confessed that when she eat down tq play, she didn't know whether she

was lturning out harmony or discord. Appar- °

ently, all that was necessary to get her going

“Was to give the name of “a plece ‘or that of a ..,£0Mposer. .. ines Be ris oh

Makings of Composer ONE DAY some smart aleck, out tu get her goat, asked for “Mazurka.” To her it sounded like some outlandish composer's name. She fumbled a moment, then lit into a dance tune

in three-quarter time. The tune was never identified which led some people around here

gs of a composer by remote control. : All of which, so help me, is the gospel truth.

Jia

* cost of insurance or pensions. These

As state Te Mayor Feeney and the bers of the City Council in behalf of my organ ization for standing behind their I realize that a terrific amount of influential pressure was exerted by the to see that this measure was and to stand up to ‘such pressure groups and vote the way oobi mad sertainly: sparates the statesmen "from the politicians. I am quite sure that those

5 i RE qd i i :

Lots and lots of laughter from in the bellies of the human rave. Hollywood and the movie industry could hti-out 43 4h seapact, stead of the phony love matches, the

screens, I suggest a reversal. Let's have some darn good comedy. Clean

Memory Lane.” . The show has actors that most moviegoers have heard of, but never have seen. Hollywood stars during the days when Los Angeles was an interurban ride away. Maybe these artists and their style of come edy are gone forever. Let us hope not. Come on Hollywood, dig up a few and let's have a few laughs. : ; ee @

‘Security for Workers’

By Carl H. Ramer The same caution used in crossing a street should indicate to both parties concerned in the recent strike that less and less is gained by

“no ‘production.

The need for a definite but variable wage scale based on the cost of living is a caution. This last strike could have been averted simply by adding a slignt wage increase based on the vary too. The American Federation of Labor and CIO unions have quite capable employees who could handle this part of the employees’ security. In this manner, employees who change jobs or get laid off do not lose the money paid in on old-age security or insurance. Obviously any manufacturing company going out of business is a poor prospect for security. On the other hand, the unions are here to stay and would be interested in the workers’ security. So the unions should be entrusted with all insurance and pensions money. z This would leave the employers entirely free to devote their time and energy to business. It would leave the unions free to secure the workers’ security. g

So They Say

THE basic source of our strength as a nation is spiritual. We believe in the dignity of man. We believe that he is created In“the image of God, who is-the father of -us all.—President Tru... . man.

® * o UNTIL the generation that was engaged In this war has passed out of the picture .. ., we are not going to be able to make a good democracy out of Germany.—Sen. Lester C. Hunt (D.) Wyoming. * £0 ® ©

IN ‘spite: of all-man’'s genius, he has never been able to master the art of living with hime self.—Dr. Ralph J. Bunche.

Galbraith BRANNAN PLAN . . . By Earl Richert

Farm Cost Mystery

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22—'Tain’t so. The Brannan Plan won't either cost the government $19 billion a year, says Secretary Brannan. : . —t Not more than a handful of people knew that anyone had estimated the Agriculture Secretary's controversial farm plan could cost as much as $19 billion annually until Mr. Brannan chose to denounce the estimate

of coffee,

She, judge and the tax collec or? 3 © How long the present feeble patchwork of a government will last is anyone's guess. It may fall tomorrow. Or it may last until after the Christmas holidays.

As Bidault, who is typically

French, sald himself -at a re-

cent ‘luncheon, he just happened to walk into the office of President Vincent Auriol when the search for a compromise premier had reached a desper-

ate stage. Any one of 42 mil . Mon Frenchmen might have

walked in at that moment and found himself tapped for the

_ Job.

But despite the philosophy of the French individualist, there is tragedy in the fact that this country has produced no political leadership since the end of the war, Nor does it seem likely to produce any. Even the myth-shrouded figure of Gen. Charles De Gaulle is receding into the distance with only a claque of right-wing Soclalists to keep the hero-wor-ship going. Beneath the bustling surface of recovery, which is truly impressive, are deep-seated fears

tion of wa¥, French nervousness also revives. :® Ro FOREIGN Minister Robert Schuman, almost the only man In the government with any strength or integrity, was partly persuaded at the recent meeting with Acheson and Bevin that Western Germany should be brought into the European community, ~The three Allied high commissioners in Germany were given some bargaining power with the Adenauer regime in Bonn to scale down the present program of dismantling German industry. But Schuman was only partly and reluctantly persuaded. One reason for his re-

might pull out of the government that agreed to full German accord.

MANY of the French I have talked with express the fervent

COPR. 1940 BY MEA SERVICE, NC. TV. MAREQ. WL. 8 PAT. OFF,

"I don't like bridge either, but | hate to miss a club meeting and: give them a chance to talk about me!"

they argue, when America can be a benevolent by-stander

‘hope that America will take a fear. That fear is inspired by ir line to bring the Franco's private say, by direct participation of fn public that Spain be brought America Joth She scuttle ale into the and military

in a speech in Sacramento. “And- while we're talking about costs,” he told the national Grange convention, “I'd like to nail down the fantastic estimate that if all American farmers were subsidized at the rate suggested for milk producers, the administration pro--posals would cost $19 billion annually.” ; "He did not name the source, but an ald said the $19 billion figure came from a University of Illinois economist and was made public by the university.

milk, The same rate of subsidy ; i= spending on other Items such ck of this urging is. another as pork, butter, cheese, potastrategic concept that they toes, eggs, etc, would add up consider fatal in its conse- to $19 billion, according to the quences. That is to retire be- Illinois professor. hind the line of the Pyrenees The possible great cost of Mountains and defend a foot- the Brannan plan has been its hold in the Iberian Peninsula = main obstacle in | The while preparing to retake the plan would let prices of rest of the continent. The able commodities fall to natafter prolonged Russian occu- © ment paying farmers ditthere would be nothing = ference between the prices they

E3E 1 gE

BUT not even the most vigorous opponents came up with a figure approaching $19 bile lion. Sen. Robert A. Taft (R. 0.) has estimated cost of the plan at $6 billion annually, and

never estimated the cost. Bupporters claim that it cannot be done—that it never has been done on any of the previous farm bills passed by Congress and that cost estimates céin-

i658 fy iz

3-7 g o : Pp i

fe Ed

sib fies

iL |