davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17
Little capones on the Way Up

The stubby- bearded machine gun chopper of
tomorrow starts as the mischevous youngster raid
ing corner fruit store today Youthful truants may
grow into the errors of future gangand SO says Dir
Frederick M Thrasher Of New York university.
DR. Thrasher is the author of the standard book on
the gang and at present director of Of the great
ambitious Investigations of juvenile delinquency He
offers the following observations on the genesis of the
gangster:
Criminals begin their careers as truants from
school," said DR. Thrasher. Gang life begins in early
childhood for most of our gangsters The free asso-
citation in the streets and the organization of gangs
come hand in hand,
The informal education gathered by the child
through his associations with his companions in their
minor activities OF rading the grocer is just
stepping stone into gangland.
The gang teachers its members several things
Foremost among them the spirit of independence;
fatasm, the idea that the youthful lawbreaker will
be caught sooner later disrespect Of law and au-
thority and the technique Of crime
THE gang has secured considerable Importance
during the last six months. Young men who never
would have thought Of accepting the proposal to be-
come racketeer's assistant at $35 a week take
it in order to live
prohibition did not create the underworld, neither
did unemployment. Prohibition merely gave it an
mheard-of income. while unemployment brought re-
cruits to It's ranks. Criminals would swarm to other
of racketeering extortion in the event that
the eighteenth amendment would be repealed"
A little more checking up her boy today may
many mother from fainting before the screen in
the reception room of the deathhouse ten fifteen
years hence.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17
One More Victory

Another step toward public ownership OF
the gas company comes with a decision OF the
federal court of appeals that corporations
must keep their contracts with the people
4 little more than twenty years ago pup
lie spirited. citizens financed company under
an agreement to sell to the city in order TO
escape the exactions of private monopoly.
Now selfish interests look upon this plant as
a possible source of great profit to themselves
and have attempted in the federal courts to
prevent the people from realizing the great
dream of freedom.
There is but one more obstacle which
these pl1nderers may interpose to the final
delivery of the plant to the people
Public ownership of the gas plant should
he followed by public ownership of trans
portation system.
When the plan was advanced by Alfred
Potts, who drew the plan, one Of the leaders
at that time, with his money, time and
thought, was George Marott, who, in the
TRANSPORTATION crisis, comes forward with
another real solution.
When public ownership was proposed for
the gas plant there was opposition from the
conservative and the Bourbon type of mind.
It was said that it would be bad business for
the people
But it is here now and the people will
get the benefits of cheap gas, instead of pay
ing hidden CRAFTS to holding companies and
high rates to private owners.
The victory should be a spur to legisla-
tors and the civic bodies to speed up an en-
abling act to permit public ownership of the
transportation system.
Mr.. Marott proposes universal bus sys-
tenn and estimates that the people can be
more than generous to security holders in
the car lines and establish q real system for
much less than insult proposed to fix as the
basis Of his dividend collections. In. the
Marott proposal there would be no per cent
for money, but per cent on tax-exempt
bonds
Times are changing. Public ownership Of
utilities is an inevitable advance. If Indian
apolis is alert, it can lead in the new move
ment and become really free and a really
great city.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17
Phil La Toilette
years hence

Phil La Toilette is famous as the youngest of state
Governors.
Before he finishes his term he is likely to be known
for his ability rather than his youth The possibility
win occur to many who study his message to the
Wisconsin legislature.
Rarely have we read an executive message more
striking La Toilette has clear head and strong
heart If he proves to have also the steady hand Of
the administration, who can act as well as think,
he may aspire to the great record of his father as
Governor of Wisconsin.
BY the sheer law of averages, many have doubted
his ability First they surprised when his broth
er. Senator Robert La Toilette earned so rapidly
position of liberal leadership in Washington Then
it did not seem possible that the elder La Toilette
could have passed on his political genius to two sons
Those who watched this youngest La Toilette in
the primary and campaign, however. came to feel
tnat here self-seeking boy trading on a great
name. but standing on his own feet, political
leader In his own right
In his message to the legislature he prefaced his
recommendations with a reminder of the progress
thirty years: When many of these new agencies and
new policies established it was predicted that
they would drive industry from the state but almost
every one Of these since has been copied widely in
other states and their principles incorporated into
the structure and management of the nations greatest
industries"
But past achievements, he said are not enough.
Today We can not mark time when new forms Of
credit control new forms Of power development and
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17
DAILY HEALTH SERVICE
Sprinkle Cellar; Avoid Dry Heat

Our chief difficulty in modern
homes arises from the fact that we
believe the thermometer. Never
theless it is recognized that the
thermometer at rs without moisture
means that the room will feel cold,
whereas a temperature of SO with
moisture means comfort. In modern
homes the cellar is too dry.
If one adopts the suggestions of
Health Officer DR.. George w. Goler
of Rochester, N. Y, he will wet down
the cellar floor, the coal and the
cellar walls and keep them wet and
warm with from 10 to IS gallons of
water a day.
AS a result of the evaporation of
this water from the heated walls
and floor in the cellar the entire
house will keep warm, the floors will
stop cracking, the furniture will stay
together, the nose and lips will not
chap.
There are many other ways of
getting moisture into the house. A
six-room house requires the evapo-
ration of ten to fifteen gallons Of
water a day if the outside air is
from 10 to Is degrees Fahrenheit.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17

distribution, and FERNS of corporate organiza-
tion almost daily bringing economic disocations."
Unlike many other political leaders state and ma
tonal he made no attempt to minimize the signin-
canoe Of the present depression and the duty Of gov
ernment to do something about 1t. He put his finger
on permanent remedies" which he described as
methods Of increasing the purchasing power of the
producers the farm and in the factory, to enable
them to buy back the things which they produce"
Depression can be attacked. he believes. by cap
tal setting aside larger labor reserves by govern
ment providing better labor statistics employment
exchanges and g-time planning Of public works,
and by a fairer taxation system, placing the burden
on the rich.
For his own state he specifically proposed creation
of executive council consisting of industrial and
labor representatives well legislators; consti-
tutional amendment for direct popular initiative in
legislation; emergency highway and grade cross
ing appropriation to increase employment; tax re-
vision and anti-injunction legislation.
Perhaps the most challenging part of his message
his discussion of the importance of electric power
in modern life, the inadequacy of present state and
federal regulation of utility companies, and his re-
quest for constitutional amendment authorizing the
state if it desires TO provide "a statewide publicly
owned power system"
Apparently Wisconsin, under Phil La Toilette, as
under his father, is going to be an invaluable ex-
perimental laboratory in good government for the
rest of the country. We hope he keeps his head and
goes long way. The country needs intelligent po-
litical leaders.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17
ANA<1 AOO4 LANDS

THERE was a great meeting of protest against
l. Communism in New York City the other night.
but 1T was not happy idea to have for chairman
OF that meeting Martin w. Lttleton, who defended
Sinclair in the law suits growing out of the Teapot
Dome oil lease
There was one striking feature and it was the
denunciation of Communism by the head of the
American Federation of Labor
We've travelled lot in public sentiment since the
old days when tinid people regarded organized labor
as an anarchistic movement.
The papers tell about a new tank the war de-
partment has perfected travelling at a great rate
OF speed and knocking down trees, brick walls etc.
The war department. should not take the world
into its confidence in matters so vital to the ma
tional defense.
noWN at the Newark IN. j. airport fox terrier
IL attached himself to the outfit and one day a
New Jersey farmer offered to give the dog a good
home, and the men Jet the farmer take him twenty
five miles away.
But few hours later the dog returned and now
the airport men have built him doghouse and will
keep him.
This calls to mind an old dog of ours many years
ago.
He was big animal of no particular family tree
but what he didn't know about fighting wasn't worth
knowing
So one day Old Jack was given to some men who
were going west to Kansas in covered wagon, and
stood in the street with great sorrow and saw him
leave town tied to the back end OF that prairie
schooner.
THE months went past and the dogs Of the neigh
l. borhood had licked their wounds and got well
end were preparing to observe Thanksgiving day
more gratefully than ever before, when one cold
night something lunged against the sitting room
door and we opened it to find old Jack, in person
He nearly tore the house down in his JOY. jumped
everybody and all the chairs and round his
neck was the same rope with which he had been
dragged away except that he had chewed it of two
feet from the neck and made his escape.
Undoubtedly that dog had returned from beyond
the Mississippi river
Old Jack remained with us, resunling his battling
program. and he was disturber of the neighborhood
peace until finally old age brought with it a con-
sciousness of the futilty of combat and he became
confirmed pacifst.
It ought to be easy to teach dog to sing Home
Sweet Home.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17
Z[EtxSSSSn
Is de
EAMNEVGR$ARYI
.sT45
LLOYD GEORGES BIRTH
January II

NN Jan. II. 1863. David Lloyd
~ George, British statesman and
prime minister, was born Of Welsh
parentage at Manchester.
He was educated at church
school and later studied law. AS
winner of a great lawsuit involving
the right of burial in parochial
grounds, Lloyd George achieved
wide deputation and was elected to
parliament in 1890.
During the Boer war he opposed
the policy of the Conservative gov
ernment, for which he became un-
popular. His independence, ability
and brilliant debating, however,
steadily gained him recognition.
Made chancellor Of the exchequer
in 1908, he took leading part in
important legislation.
After the outbreak Of the World
war, he was made prime minister
and granted special dictatorial
powers. In this post he served with
great ability and skill.
The war over, his ministry was
given, in 1918, overwhelming en-
dorsement in the parliamentary
elections.
In 1921 he brought about the
conference with the Irish leaders
which later resulted in the estab-
lishment Of the Irish Free State
He resigned the premiership In 1922.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17
IT SEEMS TO ME BY HBET99D BE045S

THE long encyclical of the pope
l. on the problems Of marriage
bring up another problem. What is
a commentator on affairs in general
going to say about it? If this COL
unn makes no mention of the
statement set forth, I'll be accused
of trimming.
During the course of a year, quite
few letters come, in which l am
charged with being too tirnid con-
cerning the Catholic church. The
familiar reproach runs, Nov, If
Bishop Manning said something
like that. you'd get after him ham
mer and tongs."
There's some truth in this, be-
cause no Protestant clergyman
speaks with the whole tradition Of
an organization behind him. In
any number of rows which have
risen round the head of the good
Bishop of Morningside Heights, it
has been possible to detect a dis
tinct process of taking sides, even
within Episcopal ranks. Clergymen
of the diocese have at times ex-
pressed dissent.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17
A Family Affair

DUT in the case OF papal mes
ID sage, one realizes that he can
score nothing within the group.
And I may add that the pope's
message seems to me to be put for
ward as counsel from a pontitf to
his own people.
After all, the pope is saying in
effect, "Here is the attitude OF the
Catholic church" 1t is hardly news
to learn that the church has come
out against birth control. That po-
sition has been stressed over and
over again by various Catholic
prelates.
And the difficulty Of attempting
debate with any Catholic consists
largely in the fact that you can't
begin with the same premise.
For instance, can say with all
sincerity that I believe very many
ills of this world could be relieved
by easy divorce and by full and
free dissemination of contraceptive
information.
It seems to me evident that some
phases of poverty are directly
caused by the coming of children
to homes which are not economical
ly adapted to support them.
I think there is soundneSs in the
theory that war might be made far
less likely if it we're not for the
clashes which arise in the world
between peoples who have bred
themselves into a numerousneSS
necesSitating new territory. IA
Catholic might question these opih-
ions, or he could waive them.
The pope makes some reference
to the harnlfulness of birth control
as considered from a purely secular
point of view. This is merely in
cidentaI.
The Catholic position is logical
enough if you accept the Catholic
creed. When anybody says, Such
and such things are against the
clearly indicated win Of God" what
is there to say in reply If you are
not believer in that creed2
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17

A water pan in the furnace and
even pans Of water on the radiator
hardly get fifteen or sixteen gallons
of water into the atmosphere in the
home.
Dr.. Goler suggests also that it is
uncomfortable to have too many
heavy blankets. The lighter the bed
clothing consistent with warmth the
better.
Due to modern motor transporta-
ton and improved street cars and
trains the average human being
fails to dress properly for outdoor
conditions.
Less than twenty-five years ago
every one wore heavy underwear,
caps with ear-muffs, mittens, and
broad shoes covered by rubbers or
arctics. If one we're to wear the
same clothing today, he would suf-
fer greatly while indoors, or have
to change his clothes completely
every time he went from outdoors
into the house.
Hence we chance the cold of the
outdoors to be comfortable when
indoors,
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17
Started in 1924

A SIMPLE modern Georgian style
4 A was adopted in the design of
the elevation of the new labora-
tory to make it conform with the
neighboring buildings of the Ma
tional Physical laboratory, Professor
Morgan says.
The construction of one of these
units was started toward the end of
1924, and when scientific work was
commenced in the autumn of 1925
about one-third of the first unit had
been built, although actually only
one room was ready for occupa-
tion," Professor Morgan says.
"The fitting of the remaining lab
oratories and workshops, however,
rapidly was effected, and by the end
of 1926 the whole of the available
space was fully occupied, the staff
then consisting of the superintend-
ent and ten chemists, with one en-
gineering assistant and ten members
of the artisan, clerical and general
staff.
"The frontage to the half unit
was commenced in November, 1927,
and completed for occupation by
Easter, 1928, and the staff then was
increased gradually to its present
total strength of about so.
Beyond a small addition for
stores and workroonlS completed in
1929, there has been no further ex-
tension of the building, so that aft
er five years rather more than half
OF the first unit has been erected
and put into commission.
There has been no attempt to
force the growth of this state lab
oratory, which still is to be regarded
as being at an experimental stage.
THE work of the laboratory is
conducted under the guidance Of a
chemistry research board, which
has taken over certain functions of
the older chemistry co-ordinating
research board.
This board is charged with the
duty Of advising the department on
the program of work to be under
taken at the laboratory and of ex-
erciSing general supervision over its
execution.
"At the outset, executive control
was exercised by part-time direc-
tor of chemical research and a
whole-time superintendent, but
from 1927 to the present this re-
sponSibility has been vested in a
whole-time director"
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17
NJ. E. Tracy
Arizona and Pennsylvania
Are Novel Combination
When They Join for Some
LeaisLatiue Trading.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., Jan. 1.-Two
i reptile ranches, with horned
toads, gila monsters, and other prize
pets Of the region on display, a fine
view of the painted desert, door
yard full Of petrif1ed wood for tour
lists to buy and have polished at
the next house, and f1ve-mile side
trip to see where that meteor bored
l.200-foot hole in old mother
earth. only to mention few things
which make the 1914 miles from
Gallup. N. NJ, to Flagstaff, Ar1z-, SO
interesting.
Flagstaff Is nearly a mile and
one-third above sea level, which
means timber in this part of the
country, no matter how bleak or
barren its lower sections may be.
though ringed about by the desert
in every direction. This little city
stands in the midst OF pine forest
which stretches north and south
along the high plateau for more
than $50 miles. 1t has been made a
part of the national preserve, which
is said to be the largest unbroken
patch of pine in the United States.
Lack of rain causes the trees to
grow rather far apart. with no I'M
derbrush between, but with the
ground well covered by coarse,
buncl1y grass. The appearance is
like that Of a great park.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17
Under One Roof
THEsE original invegtigat

THESE original investigations
Il were carried out by isolated
groups Of workers, Professor Nor
gan says, and it soon became evil
dent that there would be an increase
in economy and efficiency if they
were brought under one roof.
"A suitable site was chosen on
the Busy Park estate in close prox-
unity to the national physical labo-
ratory and the admiralty research
laboratory, and here in 1924 the
building of a chemical laboratory
was commenced on a plot of land
allowing ample scope for future
expansion" he continues.
The original plans drawn out
by the architects of H. M. office of
works made provision for three
laboratory units, each Of rectangular
shape and built round four sides
OF a central courtyard.
The front and back of the tol-
low rectangle consist of two two
story blocks; the front block de-
signed for general and special small
scale laboratories with the necessary
offices, the back block arranged to
accommodate workshops, service
rooms and heating plant.
The two sides of the rectangle
which consists of two single-story
blocks with saw-toothed roofs, north
lighted and with clear head room
of about sixteen feet, give. ade-
quate space for 1arge-scale labo-
ratories.
These buildings are constructed
in steel and brick, and SO arranged
that partitions readily can be re-
moved for alterations or extensions.
In the two story blocks the floors
and roofs are formed Of hollow con-
crete tubes, but in the engineering
section Of the building, where heavy
superloading had to be. considered, a
more rigid type of construction in
steel and concrete floors was
adopted.
Tn the interest Of economy,
plaster and other relatively expen-
Sive internal f1nishings were omitted
wherever possible, any distemper or
paint being applied to flush pointed
brickwork. The floors were covered
with stout cork carpet, laid directly
on the cement rendering"
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17
An Odd Course

EIRST, Senator Ashurst cuggests
Il that the United States buy a
big hunk of Mexico, which makes
every Mexican mad, and now comes
this alleged -palaver between the
states chief executive and the head
of q great eastern railroad.
Reverting to the tariff, oil wants
help, as we'll as copper. There are
those who think that this depres-
sion was brought on largely by too
much tariff, but they appear to be
losing out in the scramble; big boys
seem to have the inside track at
Washington, with their made to Or
der remedies and price boosting
propositions, just as though the
country weren't finding it hard
enough to pay its bills under ex-
isting conditions, and just as though
we could rehabilitate foreign trade
by building more barricades across
tbs road.
According to the record, we owed
most Of our prosperity to selling
things abroad, especially to people
lIOe III pOSlI4Oil " olOOuSe OileIH 1O1
themselves. Having gotten used to
American goods, many foreigners
would like to continue buying them,
but the only way they can do so is
with money, or by exchanging things
they have to sell.
We have acquired such a large
proposition Of the worlds gold supply
that they have no money, and now
we propose to raise the tariff until
they can't sell us anything.
1t is perfectly good layout, pro-
vided the American people can con-
sumo all this country produces and
stand the boosted price. But can
they, or, what is more to the point,
will they?
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17
SCIENCE
by DAVID nIETZ

Prosecution of Scientific Re-
search Is Ne10 Duty OF
Government.
WITH the advance Of civiliza-
w ton new duties fall upon gov
ernments. Among the newest Is the
prosecution Of scientific research. A
sample Of how well such enter
prises can be carried on was fur
nished recently by a report of Pro-
fessor G. T. Morgan, superintend-
ent Of the chemical research labora-
tory Of the department of scientific
and industrial research Of Great
Britain.
At the meeting Of the British AS
sociation for the Advancement of
Science at Bristol in 1875, Professor
A. @. Vernon Harcourt expressed
the view that the science Of chem
istry would advance more rapidly
- ~ nSAC POSSAH4C W VI SoA4ANC N4-El1i~
lists into working parties, having
each a definite region to explore. "
rs such organization in any de-
gree possible?" he asked.
Professor Morgan points to the
work Of the department of scien-
tif1c and industrial research as an
answer to the question thus asked
in 1875.
"The work of the department of
scientific and industrial research be-
gan in 1915" he says.
During the first ten years Of its
existence various problems were in
vestigated, including researches on
the production of glycerine, formal
dehyde, on the manufacture of
chemical products from fish resi-
dues, OH the corroSion of metals
and on high-pressure reactions for
the production of liquid fuels.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17

caused by the denial or the over
strict regulation of divorce.
But here you run into another
stone wall. Even the stanchest
Catholic hardly will contend that all
the marriages within his own church
produce happiness. But he will add
that happiness is of far less i'm
portance than blessedness.
After that, there's nothing to be
said unless you are both eager and
competent to enter into an eIabo-
rate theological controversy.
Being neither eager nor compe-
tent, simply will state the wish
that the pope's letter will be con-
sidered as applicable to the conduct
OF good Catholics and have no great
bearing upon the attitude of those
outside the fold.
1t was addressed to church mem
bers. I never have been for COM
pulsory birth control or compulsory
divorce. And it seems to me that
Catholics might consistently take
the attitude of non-interference in
regard to secular legislation on
these points. The rule of their own
church is clear and decisive. This
should satisfy them.