The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-11-11

Imprisoned. The picture below show
some Of his loyal followers in a clasl
with British native police in Bombay
copyright, 1892, NEA Service, Inc.)
London, Nov. 11.-Just because Ma.
hatma Gandhi is locked up by the Brit.
1sh In Yeravda Jail near Poona, in
India, and little has been heard Of
him recently, millions of people in
America doubtless imagine that ne is
spent political and national force
something like an extinct volcano.
Just the reverse is true.
In prison today, Gandhi Is as pow
erful as he ever was in his freedom
II anything, more powerful. In free
dom, he was merely leader. In
prison, to his followers, Gandhi is
also a saint and a martyr.
The indignation with which India
seethes rs the result of the British
governments recently announced plan
for proportional Hindu and Moslem
representation in the provincial leg
islatures proves the point Gandhi
wanted Indian freedom, nothing less
His followers still want it. His voice
Is silent because of rigid British prison
regulations. but their voices are raised
in loud protest.
X X X
The British governments arbitrary
solution of the division of power to
which midas 10000. 900 Moslems and
several hundred million Hindus were
never able to agree, affects one-fifth
OF the population of the earth. II
gives both faiths representation in
the legislatures, but retains British
control of the vast human cauldror
that Is India.
Certain that he was to be arrested
upon his return from the futile Indian
Round Table conference in London
last winter, Gandhi and his lieuten-
ants had made plans for their work
to go on. And the work still goes
on.
Five days after Gandhi landed at
Bombay from London, he was jailed
"for the duration of the pleasure OF
the British government" Since that
time. according to recent admission
in British Parliament, some $4,000
other Hindus have been arrested ano
Jailed. Gandhi followers say the
number is closer to $4,000.
X X X
Just before Gandhi left London he
gave this writer message to be de-
livered to the people of America
through NEA Service, Inc, and the
giSt of that message was prophetic:
II do not know what the future
holds in store. They may arrest
me. They may arrest my lieuten-
ants. They may arrest thousands.
But they can't arrest all of us.
They haven't got jailS enough.
They can't arrest millions. They
can't arrest whole people. And
If they could, they could only hold
their bodies. Their soul-that
soul yearning for liberty-would
so marching on"
Prison has no terrors for Gandhi
When free, he sleeps in a little cell.
like room with nothing but his bee
on the floor, q spinning wheel, few
books. In jail, he has the same
About the only difference is that HI
cannot hold political conferences
write articles or make speeches. Hi!
food is Just the samoa handful Of
nuts, some fruit and glass Of goats
milk.
From Qandhi's friends In London,
have learned something about how HI
Is faring in his far-off Indian prison
The British know that Gandhi l!
stu q power with millions Of Indians
that any form Of constitution Britain
hestows upon India cannot possibly
be worked with success until he give.
his approval. Therefore, Gandhi get!
concessions not granted to other pris'
oners. He Is permitted to write ant
receive all the letters he desires, but
with the restriction that politics must
not be discussed. Thus. he is KEEP
in complete ignorance Of what is go.
ing on politically in India, unless HI
gets the news by the grapevine route
from other prisoners who have come
to the TAIL later than he.
0andhi keeps up an extended cor
respondence with Miss Muriel Lester
the animating spirit of Kingsley Hall
that social settlement on London!
suualid East Side where Gandhi dwell
when here. He wants to know al
about the humble friends he made
during his visit. He asks about thu
old woman with the funny wart or
the end Of her nose: about Betty, thu
slum child, who used to curl up in hi
lap while he told her Hindu fair!
stories.
Miss Testers letters tell him abou
them. and also about the two elderl!
ladies who accompanied Gandhi OF
his walk through East Ends chill!
streets early each morning. An allie!
cat went with them, for the anima
soon learned that 1t would not get
kick from 0andhi. but be petted IN
stead. 0andhi became very fond O
it. One Of the two women recent!
made q picture Of this cat and gav'
it to Miss Lester. She mailed the pic
tire tc Gandhi. The picture OF tina