The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-03
MUSICAL PLAY
WINS PULITZER
DRAMA AWARD
The Good Earth Best
Novel; Indianapolis News
Given Service Prize.
BY II. ALLEN SMITH
United Press stan Correspondent

United Press stan Correspondent
NEW YORK. May 3.-"Of Thee I
Sing" a satirical musical comedy
which lampoons American politics
and political methods numerically,
has been awarded the annual Pulitz-
or prize from drama, It was an
nounced today.
The prize for the best novel writ
ten BY an American during the year
goes to Pearl S. Buck, China born
daughter oI a missionary. for her
book, The Good Earth" a story Of
present day life in China. Mrs.
Buck lives in Marking.
The award for public service was
won by the Indianapolis News for
It's campaign to eliminate waste in
city management and to reduce the
tax levy"
"On Aug. I. 1880. at the beginning
Of the budget-making period in In
diana, the indianapolis News
launched campaign to eliminate
waste in city management and to
reduce the tax levy" the announce
ment says. The news and editorial
departments were modified for a
period Of approximately eighteen
months and exhaustive studies were
made throughout the state.
AS a result Of carefully co-ordi-
mated effort. ably directed. eighty
six counties in Indiana made reduc-
tons in their budgets. The Indian
apolis News submitted a convinc-
ing display Of news and editorial
articles. On the basis Of the ma
terial formally submitted by all Of
the candidates for the prize, this
newspaper is ranked first"
Pershing Given Award j..
The prize for newspaper CORE
spondence is awarded To Walter
Duranty. Moscow correspondent for
the New York Times. for his articles
on the progress Of the fve-year
plan. and TO Charles G. Ross of the
st. Louis Post-Dispatch for an ar
ticle titled THE Country's Plight
What Can Be Done About It?"
The cartoon award goes to John
Z. McCutcheon of the Chicago
Tribune. for his drawing titled. "A
Wise Economist Asks a Question"
The cartoon depicted a shabby man
smoking pipe on park bench. A
bushy squirrel asks him:
But why didn't you save money
for the future, when times we're
good?"
L did" replies the man who is
labelled victim of bank failure"
General John J. Pershing wins the
award for history with his book of
memoirs. My Experiences in the
World War" and Henry F. Pringle
is given the prize for the best BIZ
ography. his Theodore Roosevelt
The best volume OF verse, in the
opinion of the judges, was The
Flowering Stone" by George Dillon.
Travelling scholarships, worth
$1,000, we're awarded to Frank
Kelley Brooklyn; Selma Hautzik,
New York. and Jonathan d.
Springer. Port Chester. N. Y, all
students at the Columbia school of
journalism.
Platform of Love
Ernst Bacon, San Francisco music
student. and Francesca Roggeri,
New York art student. likewise -e-
ceive $1,000 scholarships 10 con-
tinue their studies in Europe.
"Of Thee I Sing the libretto for
which was written by George S.
Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, is
the first musical comedy ever to
receive a Pulitzer award.
It is concerned with a presiden-
tial campaign in which the prime
issue is love. Running on a plat
form of love-" the bachelor candi-
date. for President promises he will
marry the winner of beauty con-
test If elected.
During the campaign, however,
he falls in love with another girl,
and his political speeches consist
of proposals to her.
He marries the second girl, Snub-
hing the beauty contest winner, and
trouble develops. Twins come to
the White House and more trouble
develops.
Novel Is Acclaimed
No award was made this year for
the best newspaper editorial, and
the award for the best example of
reporters work during the year
has been deferred.
Mrs. Bucks novel received almost
unanimous acclaim from literary
critics when It was published last
year. and even now continues to
hold It's place on the best-seller
lists, more than a year since publi-
cation.
It is the poignant. picturesque
story of a Chinese family. and of
the sacrifice made by The parents
for their children Mrs. Buck has
completed a sequel to it, which will
be issued this year.