New Britain herald., 1922-04-08
WRITER DESCRIBES
 INDIAN CONDITIONS
Ralph Henderson, American, Re :. turns After Four M(nthS' Visit

rangoon, April Spy Associated Press)-Ralph F, Henderson, an Am- erican writer and traveller has re- turned here after spending four months In visiting many places in In dia to study the political conditions This is his third Visit to the orient Summing up his impressions of the ' Indian situation he sail 10 repre- sentative of The Associated Press,
 "The traveller .aust feel in his first hour ashore that the air is fairly cracking with new element. In the towns ana cities the white man Is no longer ~ tin god and even in the remote villages his divinity is fast slipping from him.
 Prince Of Wales
 'I was in Calcutta week before the PrincA of Wales was due 10 land. At that bHe our taxi was caught in a traffic sam on one of the main thoroug|}fares and held for Is min utes w.,Ale the packed stream ot carts, Bullock drawn, horse drawn, buffalo drawn or man drawn, stralhed |. through the crowded street.
 When the prince landed at Cal cu,xe. the streets were as deserted as - tr1vse of New England town on an old Puritan sabbath Calcutta shops did no business. Mahatma Gandhi ? had so commanded.
 "A few days later in Assam we were in Gauhati, the capital Of the province. Government officials had just raided the home of wealthy and influential citizen, found lncrlm- mating literature and made an ar rest. There were rumors of a pro posed assault upon the court where the case was being tried, but com pany of British soldiers was marched . into town to guard 1t.
 Talks With Students
 we were talking with two students ih Cotton college. the government college at Gauhati The conversation was naturally upon the subject no" uppermost in the minds of all Indians, the political situation and Gandhl' Non-cooperation they evidently ap- proved. Gandhi they frankly admir- ed-revered almost. Why? Because, they said, of his love for India, and his life of sternest asceticism and self sacrifice.
 we travelled south, toward Ma dras Everywhere we saw the uni- form of the Gandhi volunteer, the white cap and the coat of coarse homespun. Some time ago these volunteer bands were declared un- lawful by the government
 Curious Proceeding
 "An Indian member of the munich pal government of Delhi told us or the curious reaction to this order ln a large town where his brother was a civil judge. The day following the edict a procession of men in Gandh1 uniform marched to the courthouse l. and demanded that, in accord with the law, they be arrested.
 "The judge, knowing that there was no provision for such a multitude o1 prisoners, was at his wits end te know what to do. The volunteers clamored for arrest. The Judge de- I clared that the uniforms constituted no offense to law, and ordered the po- lice to confiscate the white caps and coats. This done, the procession withdrew to take counsel.
 '"The next day they returned with cloth badges around their arms de- claring themselves volunteers Tn or fense of law and demanding arrest. The judge confiscated the cloth badges. They returned on the mor- row with paper badges These were r stripped off and the farce petered out Such wholesale defiance of law recalls Burke's words, You cannot indict a whole nation.'
 Uniform a Fashion
 "The Gandhi uniform is now httle more than fashion. In Poona, the hot season capital of Bombay presl- dency, I saw street urchin seated : on a. buffalo and meditatively drum ming his heels against the amman ribs wearing the illegal white cap and homespun.
 "In a village near Madras one eve ming a group of villagers went past the bungalow singing. our most translated for us the words or a strange ouavering song that came out of the darkness It was regular hymn of hate against the detested white men and had been taught the villagers, our host explained, by Gan dhi proselytes. In a small town Tn the same province two or three small boys spat at us from discreet als- tance as we walked through the na- Zaar. ........,.,
 "In these homes of superstition there is a widespread belief in Gan dhi. With simple trust the villagers will tell you that Gandhl IS not man; he is a god. He has four arfrs' four legs two heads. The govern ment tried to kill him. They put hlln through a meat chopper, but he came ont sound and well. It is no wonder that they shout Victory to Mahatfna Gandhi' and look forward to hilssi LII times"
 Whether Democrat or Republican, do you approve of present condluoi's