davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14
ELMER GANTRY
That makes it unanimous.

Sinclair Lewis long-heralded book about the
preachers has reached the bookstands and is stirring
up the country, even predicted. He calls it Gel
Gantry,'' name likely to take its place in our
vocabulary along with Rabbit" for it is that kind
of book-a book to arouse violent discussion and
bitter debate.
Just Lewis vivisected the American small
town in Main Street." the American business man
in Rabbit" and the American doctor in Arrow
smith," he now has applied the scapeE-and occasion
ally the butcher knife-to the in the pulpit.
Gantry, the principal character, is Baptist
preacher with an instinct for immortality that
amounts almost to passion. He has no lovable
qualities like Babbitt; from first to last he offends
almost every sense of decency. The opening Of the
story discovers him a star football player in a
erkwater Baptist college in Kansas, loose in his be-
havor and wayering in his faith in the dogma of the
church By his physical prowess he succeeds in sub
jugatng the other undergraduates until they bestow
upon him all the honors of the class Finally in a
wave of emotionalism, evoked by Y NJ c. A. re-
viyaist, he hits the sawdust trail and at the mo-
ment gets his first taste of the power that can be
welded by sonorous voice and canting words when
he sways the audience in a speech announcing his
conversion.
His life at the theological school is more ma
turely hcentious than it at college. He is
years
salesman until he is again drawn to the mourners
bench at the feet of beautiful female evangelist by
lust for her physical charms and reawakened de-
sire to exercise the spell of his voice and enthusiasm
upon large audiences After joining this woman re-
vivast Gantry marches rapidly up the ladder to pull
pit fame and financial success.
Lewis undoubtedly intended to make Gantry. not
typical of the Baptist church ministry, but rather
prevalent type in the evangelical creeds But it Is
to the church as institution that he applies his
knife; occasionally with delicacy, but more often
with brutal strokes 1t is the shams the hypocrisies
the ignorance and the utilities of churchmen and
church dogmas that he is seeking to expose And to
what end.
Vivisection is a science and the only excuse for
Its cruelty is that it enables the vivisecor to find
means for curing human ills Lewis fails in that
junction. He dissects but attempts no reconstruc-
ton, nor even suggests remedies for the evils he
discloses. He is intelligent enough to know that re-
Agion is too deeply ingraned in human psychology to
be erased by criticism exposition of the vugari
ties that may have crept into it. A book like EEL
mer Gantry' only succeeds in offending the devout
and the intelligent reader who is cropping for bet
ter means of spiritual elevation than the churches
now offer. One lays it aside with feeling that the
author more DESTROYS of sensational success in
the book market than of contributing the spiritual
uplift of mankind.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14
WHEREIN WE JOIN
MIR. KELLOGG'S9 DEFENDERS

Magnifcently naive, to one of our gentler
adjectves, is the latest bedtime story from Wash
ington explaining just how Adolfo Daz came to be
made president Of Nicaragua
1t seems-accordng to the Washington Post,
regarded somewhat in the light of an organ Of the
State Department-that it was Mexico, not the
United States that brought it about and she did so
by means of one of the boldest forgeries known in
the annals of diplomacy.
1t was like this we are informed. One day
Lawrence Dennis the young charge d'affaires down
in Managua, received detailed instructions to fuse
pressure" to put Diaz in power said instructions
supporting" to bear the signature Of Secretary
kellogg.
But, the story continues: claims
that the document forgery, sponsored by
puous Mexican officials, have been advanced by de-
tenders of the State Department policies The sig
nature of Secretary Kellogg is false, they assert.
They contend the entire tone the document reeks
Of illogical reasoning quite at variance with dplo
matte subtlety.
I'm conclusion they point out the patent stu
pidity of any State Department official who will
fully might send out such a communication.
1t is really wonderfully written document, but
it seems to leave few stray ends dangling loose.
All along the State Departments defenders" have
insisted that Mexico was backing the Sacasa revol-
ton against Diaz The present yarn depicting Mex
leo the creator of the opposition well somehow
doesn't quite gibe.
Secondly, if the document is a forgery, why
did Secretary Kellogg feel bound to help the Mexican
game along to the handsome extent of sending sew
eral thousand marines and dozen United States
warships to Nicaragua TO bolster up the forgery
made Diaz?
Thirdly, how did the forgery get into Dennis
hands? Important State documents of this nature
surely not written stray bits of wrapping
paper and sent to our legations by the first small
boy that happens along. Signed, sealed and deliv-
cred into wellocked diplomatic pouches inside the
State Department ITSELF they supposed to be for
warded by special messenger or other safe means.
If the instructions to Dennis forgery, as
charged it is serious accusation not only against
Mexico but against the State Department as well.
For somewhere there would have to be traitor Of
the most odorferous variety to pass the forgery
along.a
On this beautiful specimen of Ciceronic logic
is the test of authenticity of State Department docu-
ments then those same "unscrupulous Mexican Off
cialT must be bordering on nervous prostration
due to overwork For they have been monstrous
busy of late, shaping with their wicked forgeries
practically the bulk of our diplomacy
Anyway, Mr.. kellogg has pretty good idea
of what his friends and defenders think Of his poll
cies.
That makes it unanimous.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14
Business Rules

Business has become the dominat
ing force in life. 1t bears the same
relation to modern government and
society that the army did to those OF
Rome, or the church did to those OF
the middle ages.
We are coming to measure every.
thing by money and mechanics.
The risk of the experiment lies in
it's repressive force.
Business is essentially conserva.
tive. 1t runs to routine, to a fixed
system, to methods that can be de
pended upon to produce given re-
suits from day to day.
1t welcomes such discoveries and
inventions as will make the existing
order more effective and profitable.
1t opposes those that promise revo.
lutionary change.
The telephone industry fears moth.
ing so much as a device that will
make radio available for private
communication and the electric in
dustry fears nothing so much as
cold light.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14
Nice-and Dull

What has occurred in the beef, oil
and steel industries shows how bust
ness begins to combine with the idea
of protection, how it is intrigued by
that of profit and how finally it be
comes so obstreperous as to invoke
regulation.
If the various branches of the
movie trade are brought under the
control of a few great corporations
as now seems inevitable, we shall
presently be more concerned over
the price of tickets than the char.
acter of films.
When dividends become the all.
important object, you can look for
safety first" to become an all-im.
portant policy.
That means such censorship is
bound to please the vast majority.
The balance sheet tolerates no UNI.
necessary risk, whether from ? "a
cracked steel beam or a racy head.
line. @
When the movies become organ
lied you can depend on them being
safe, sane, tame, respectable and un
interesting.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14
Dangerous Fields

Art and religion are the most
dangerous fields for business to en-
terri They demand freedom beyond
everything else; freedom of consci-
ence. faith, intellect and magma
ton.
Nothing worse could happen in
this or any civilized country, than
for the church and the theater to fall
under control of business methods.
An evangelistic circuit and a
movie trust mean little by them
selves, because each represents lit
tie more than froth, but they are
symptomatic of what may eventual
ly occur.
Organized capital and more par
kticularly the system of operating
vast enterprises which it has
evolved, is reaching in all directions.
Wherever there, is a dollar to be
made, or deal to be turned, you
will find it present.
e. Business has it's advantages. They
are not to be ignored or minimized.
There are some phases of life, how
ever, that cannot be subordinated to
it without great loss. Art and re-
ligion are two.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14

Now Religion Joins the
Chain Craze-It'S
Good Business,
BY M. f. Tracy

| The latest is a great religious
circuit a la Keith, with tabernacles
in every town of more than 100000,
with such well known headliners as
Mrs. Mcpherson and Billy Sunday
to draw the crowds.
You can't quarrel with the idea
from a business standpoint. 1t is
absolutely in line with what a board
of directors and an auditing depart
ment would suggest.
Besides, If religion is to become
an affair of organization and sales
manship, why not do the biggest
sort of a job?
The revival drift is evidently to-
ward faster and better pay. That
being so, why hesitate to borrow
methods from the vaudeville theater?
They have already borrowed from
the box office.
Business has become the dominant
strain of this jazzy age. We want
bookkeeper and an expert for
everything, with dividends semi
annually.
With cities managed" the gospel
on circuit, and all the movies
brought under trust control, we
should be very happy, providing
there is no default of interest on
bonds and preferred stock.
Canned drama offers the same
field for merger and combine as
canned fish. That is why Wall
Street is interesting itself in film
DOM
There is nothing new in the
scheme of putting Hollywood and
your favorite movie house under the
same directorate.
The distributing agency that for
merly bought from one and sold to
the other might just as well be in.
cluded.
The first thought back of the
venture was one of protection and
developed within the movie business.
The second is one of profit and
comes from the financial expert. The
third will be one of regulation to
safeguard the public, and you can
depend on politicians to supply it.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14
Times Readers
Voice ViezgS
Editor of The Times:

Editor OF The Times:
Now that the Legislature has adj
journed, the good citizens of Indi-
ana should offer up prayer of
thankfulness and manifest a spirit
of pride in the great work accom-
plished by their lawmakers The
late Legislature certainly acquitted
itself with great honor and profit
to their State. The membership of
the outgoing Legislature have GER
tainly crowned themselves with
everlasting glory as lawmakers.
Yet among the many measures
they enacted, and the many resolu-
tons they passed and the many
commissions they appointed, 1 find
nowhere among this vast maze of
legislative action a resolution offered
to determine the exact time dog days
begin and when they end. This is
very important matter from the
standpoint of health, as we are told
fresh fish is unhealthy food in dog
days.
Nor has this same body arrived
at any definite understanding, by in
vestigation, as to how the odor sack
may be removed from the skunk
without injury either to the oper-
ator or the animal. This, too, would
be Of great Importance to thes fur
dealer.
take it these are matters of suf-
ficient interest that they should not
have been overlooked, in their mad
rush for personal glory, as they
greatly transcend in Importance
many of the measures they so vigor-
Sously and heroically wrestled with.
J. r.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14
By w. ID. Hickman

I true, was pretty much of sap.
Now, may be all wrong about
Casey at the Bat" and 1 probably
am. There win be those who will
rave over the quaintness of thu pro-
duction and will welcome it as some
thing really different.
Wallace Berry makes Casey a com
plete boob "a small town sap, and l
doubt If this Casey could actually
swat fast ball. So L will let the
baseball fans and those who love the
poem to champion this one, as l
can't become enthusiastic over this
one.
Charlie Davis and his gang are in
''Radioland' this week.
At the Ohio all week.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14

his audience in a seconds time.
was shown yesterday, when the au-
dience applauded his wise remarks
so loudly that it was difficult at
times to hear what he was really
aging. Jessel starts his act, and
while talking a telephone bell rings,
and he admits that such Interrupt.
tons are disgusting. Finally he an
swers the phone and discovers II is
his ''mommer" wanting him 20 make
his younger brother take a bath.
And we have lived in that house
for eight years and the water all of
sudden gets hot" This telephone
stunt is a comedy knockout Then
Jessel closes with one of his intimate
heart songs. He has been faithfully
recorded as to voice as we'll as man.
nerisms. Really, very wonderful.
The second number on the Vita
phone bill is Mischa Elman, noted
delicate shading and expression
which is characteristic of this mans
playing. The third presentation on
Vitaphone is the Four Aristocrats,
who play banjo, uke, piano and the
like. Here is sensational jazz play
ing. AS wonderful as the first Vita
phone bill was, the second is ten
times more enjoyable.
The movie feature is "An Affair
OF The Follies," with Lewis Stone,
Billie Dove, Lloyd Hughes and
Arthur Hoyt. Here is another one
of those backstage romance movies
in which Follies beauty, played by
Miss Dove. turns down a rich guy
lewis Stone) for a poor but good
looking clerk Nloyd Hughes) who
couldn't keep his job.
The marriage is quite a mess be-
cause the Follies beauty left the
stage for her apartment and a hus-
band. Said husband could not meet
the bills, so friend wife returns o
work. Husband runs away and little
wife is so lonely.
Now don't be ridiculous. Sure
Billie and Lloyd, that is the char
acters they play, make up and ev-
erybody is happy. oh so happy.
Here is just conventional entertain.
meHt with a new twist here and
there to a very old and muchly used
theme.
At the Circle all week.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14
THE CITY MANAGER

Machine politics has furnished the final and con-
vincing evidence OF the need of city manager form
Of government in Indianapolis.
When Governor Jackson signed the measure
which then became law under which present
mayors cannot be supplanted by city managers until
the end of their elected terms, he confessed for all
the machine that the people need a change, want
a change and would obtain change if they had the
power.
So certain were the mayors of Indianapolis and
Evansville that the people they serve would like
to get rid of them that they asked the state to set
aside the implied contract with the people at the
time of their election.
The argument that man who pays his money
for campaign for mayor is hired for four years
and ought not to be deprived of any emouments
or perqusites or power during that time, is of
course, most fallacious.
When Mayor Duvall made his strenuous effort
to obtain nomination and election, the law under
which he sought Office gave to the people the right
to change that office to city manager at any time
the majority so wiled.
That law stood as the protection of the people
against misuse of power.
That part Of his contract.
To get rid of that part of the bargain the
Legislature induced to pass this new law which
permits him and all other mayors to keep the jobs
until their terms expire.
There has never been a more fragrant breaking
of contract or of faith with the people
Apparently the people have recourse. No one
comes forward with an opinion that law which
sets aside contract in their favor unconstitu-
tional. That reserved for the protection of
officials with whom the people may desire to enforce
their contracts.
The answer, of course, should be an immediate
organized effort to prepare for city manager gov
eminent at the earliest possible moment
It would be pity If Indianapolis found itself
two years hence, again tied to the archaic, costly,
expensive, political, partisan government which is
responsible for much trouble and which has become
real obstacle to it's growth and its prosperity
Let's get rid of the system which fastens the
burden of politics upon the people, Let's get rid of
Oh contract breakers for all ti1ne.-
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14

decided to permit Wallace Berry to
be the Casey in this 'immortal"
poem. The director goes back about
twenty-five years. Those were the
days when the good women when
they went buggy riding would say
to their fresh escorts, "Unhand me,
Sir, I thought you we're a gentleman
but see that am mistaken" Those
were the days, according to the sub
title writer in Casey at the Bat, -
when the skirts of women started
at the ankle and when mems thirst
was satisfied at every corner. The
director has tried to reproduce small
town baseball life twenty-five years
ago and then shift it to New York
during the same period.
Casey in the movie version was
idle six days a week and on Sunday
became the village idol when he
played ball with the home team.
Never have I seen Wallace Berry act
so much like William c. Fields as
he does in this one.
Casey was in love with a small
town belle, played by Zasu Pitts who
has developed sort of a Lillian
Gish way. Zasu is given no chance
to be a funny woman this time, ex-
opt that she does look funny in her
old fashioned long dress.
1t seems to me that the director
and the person responsible for bring
ing this poem to the screen would
have bettered conditions if the small
town atmosphere had been produced
with more regard to realism. There
is strong element of farce in the
first part of the movie, and then it
becomes nightly melodramatic
when some crooks try to frame
Casey. They frame him, but use
such silly method, which shows
that Casey, if the movie version be,
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14

=
might be just a
fad. But, after
seeing the second
Vitaphone bill at
the Circle this
week, j know now
that Vitaphone is
not a fad, and
that it will be-
come just as i'm
portant to movie
theaters as the
photoplay. George
Jessel is a come
dian of life. He
knows moods and,
a b o We all, h @
knows how to get
direct cnnfnct with
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14

spoke pieces in
public generally
recited Casey AT
The Bat" To me
the poem has
never been the
knockout classic
as it is to many
others. Its appeal
came from the
general love that
Americans have
for baseball. AS
Wallace Berry has
suddenly devel-
oped into a come
dian of much box
office power, those
who control what
goes on the screen
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14

actor in farce and in comedy. If
you consider Let 1t Rain" as just
entertainment, sort of an extrava-
CANT comedy idea Of life upon a bat
tleship, then this one viii not worry
you. But If you desire realism, even
in your comedy, then this one will
worry you just as it did me.
MacLean is cast as LET 1t Rain
Riley" the leader of the marines
who goes in for hazing and playing
tricks upon members of the Navy
on a battleship. 1t seems that the
battleship in this movie is more of
a stunt parlor than a real battle
ship.
MacLean and a COB fall in love
with the same girl, telephone oper-
ator in a big hotel. Both the COB
and the marine play tricks upon
each other to win the hand of the
girl. And of course, MacLean wins
the girl, played by Shirley Mason.
OF course, MacLean gets in a lot
of trouble and is kept in quarters
for treating superior officer a lit
tie too rough.
Mclean disobeys orders, arrives
on time when gang Of mail bandits
were getting ready to overpower the
marines and steal the money.
When these train scenes arrive,
this movie becomes very melo-
dramatic and MacLean succeeds in
rounding up the bandits all by him
self. And while this exciting affair
was going on, the girl was present
to see him make a hero of himself
The bill includes a Buster Brown
comedy, a news reel, Dick Powell in
songs and music by Emil Seidel and
his orchestra.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14

tating boomerang.
At the risk Of repetition, I again
strongly emphasize the importance
of using the informatory double con-
servatively. With a dependable part.
ner-one who can be relied upon TO
have at least five high cards of such
strength and with such guards that
they will probably take. tricks--the
informatory double usually is effect
iva and rarely produces a loss Of
any consequence; but the improvl"
dent doubler who. without the roqui.
site strength. may be forcing his
partner to assume a contract TO take
eight tricks with a hand not good
for even one, is a very dangerous
vis-a-vis. When a player announces
that he will not double unless he
has the FIVE high-card strength re.
quirement above described, and lives
up to his announcement, he avoids
serious losses and maintains the con-
hdence of the partner.
One other essential point TO be re-
membered in connection with the
use Of the informatory double is
that the partner dn the absence. OF
an intervening adverse bid Is forced
TO bid: consequently his bid unless,
he rebid) cannot be depended upon
as showing anything more than four
cards of the suit he names. 1t Is
a common and serious error for a
doubler who has doubled soundly
with a holding just sufficient to JUS
tify the double, TO feel that when the
answer OF the partner happens to be
in a suit in which the doubler Is,
strong, it is the duty of the doubler.
to raise the partners bid. This is
an unsound practice which produces
innumerable and serious losses.
When the doubler's strength no..
more than justihes his double, the
partner Of the doubler should there
after do all the talking. IL South
DEALER bid one No Trump, West
holding
Sp: A-10-x HIT: K-x-X.x Di: XIX CT;
Q-10M would have a sound double,
but il North pass East bid two
Hearts, and South two No Trumps,
West should not bid three Hearts;
East's forced bid may have been
made with four worthless Hearts and
trickless hand. 80
Copyright, John f. Ollie Coz
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14

leatherneckS, done
with a fine regard
to realism. Let
1t Rain" is a diff
ferent sort Of en-
tertainment, as it
runs to comedy,
farce and melo-
drama as well as
t h e a trio al ro-
nance. The actors
playing the ma
rines and the
Navy in Let 1t
Rain" act more
like freshmen on
a College campus
than they do men
in the service of
Uncle Sam. OF
course, Douglas
Nal .nnn ic q oond
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14
THE NAVY AND MARINES
ARE GLORIFIED AGAIN

1t is becoming quite popular these
days to glorify the marines and the
Navy.
Let 1t Rain" with Douglas Mac
Lean, is another attempt to make
these two branches of service mighty
alluring.
OF course, the best of all this kind
of entertainment is Tell 1t to the
Marines" just everyday life of the
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14
GEORGE JESSEL WINS IN
VITAPHONE PRESENTATION

Some months ago, journeyed to
Cincinnati to see George Jessel in
1.-The Jazz Singer,
Yesterday I went to the Circle in
Indianapolis to see how this same
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-14
Movie Verdict

OHIO-Wallace Berry tries
to enter Hall of Fame as Casey
in Casey At The Bat" Jury
still in doubt.
CIRCLE-"An Affair of the
Follies," is another one of those
stage stories in which a show
girl turns down riches to marry
poverty and love. Remember
this is a movie and not life.
APPOLO-The Navy and the
Marines have been glorified
again. This time in LET 1t
! Rain"