davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
The Generous Utilities

Those who may be inclined to take a tolerant
view of utility extortion because of pretended gen.
crosby in civic matters may be disllusioned by the
evidence given in hearing of a rate case involving
the city of Franklin.
The utilities receive loud applause when their
donations to the Community Fund in Indianapolis
are announced at the dinners of workers.
The representatives of these utilities are given
credit for being good fellows and for an hour re-
sentiment against utility greed is lost in the thought
of generous donor to the poor.
But the city of Franklin discovers that whenever
the Public Service Company which is an insult con-
cern donates to the needy of Indianapolis, a pro-
portion is charged to the customers of insult in
their town.
just few of the items which public service
accountant testified he found in the list of operat-
ing charges against the Franklin company were
part of the donation to the Community Fund of In
annapolis, a part of the membership fees to the
Chamber of Commerce, presumably in Indianapolis;
a part of a donation to the Civic Theater of this
city, part of donation to a hospital in Newcastle
All that happens when donations made to
public causes is that the total is distributed among
the various companies owned by the same holding
company and the people are forced to pay it in the
form of higher rates.
OF course, the practice is against the law but the
utility companies of this state have never been
PEELED to respect law. They make the laws. They
pick the men to enforce them. They laugh at them
when it is profitable TO laugh.
Perhaps some one can defend the practice of
charging the people of Franklin for any part of
donation to the Indianapolis Community Fund.
Possibly some one find some reason for per-
hitting utilities to defend the charging of donations
to charity to operating expenses
When citizens compelled or are impeled to
make such contributions, they have to dig into the
money which would otherwise go to their personal
savings or expenses
The utility does the same thing. 1t reaches out
into the pockets of their customers and no sacrifice
whatever is made.
The next time you hear about utility generosity
remember the testimony in this case.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
Times Readers Voice Their Views

Editor Times-School No. A is at
the corner of Sugar Grove avenue
and Twenty-frst street. I believe
it would be worth your time to
drive out there, go two squares
west on Twenty-frst street to
Harding, turn around and go back
to Sugar Grove, then give the pub
lie your version of thrilling ride
on an unimproved street in the
Beautiful City of Indianapolis"
The property owners of this COM
munity filed petition five years
ago for the paving and opening of
this street to Northwestern avenue.
They said it was the largest petition
ever presented for the improvement
of street, but the POOR" street
car company, did not have the
money to repair its roadbed, The
water company said it would ruin
its canal if a bridge was built across
it, and the city was all sold up on
bonds and could not issue any more.
Mr.. Perry builds a ball park at
Sixteenth and Harding streets.
When it is opened, BEHOLD" there
is no way for the traffic to get in
and out, and he realizes he has
made a terrible mistake by giving
the city his airplane something
else the poor people will have to
pay taxes to keep up) so Sixteenth
must be opened up right now.
The water company canal will not
be damaged and the city can issue
plenty of bonds. Sorry we are not
all able to give airplanes to &C
compliSh what We want.
We are just one poor family try
ing to buy little home, keep our
children in school and do our best
to make respectable citizens out of
them, but it surely is tough shedding
when you do not have half time
work at much less salary and
have to pay the water company
$3.50 a month, regardless of con-
sumption, but run over a gallon
and see what happens.
We had 65-cent gas when we had
two companies, and the gas COM
pany would give the coke for haul
ing it away, but gas went to $1.O5
and coke to 81 to $40 a ton.
The Community Fund, either lose
your position or pay what they ask
you to donate. I believe any of us
would like position with the Com
munity Fund with the salaries they
pay. There are many people in
position to donate their labor to
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
Crooks EmboIdened

TIME was when the most hard
l. ened criminal baked at kid
MAPPING, when he felt that society
was too much against him, that his
own kind might turn on him, that
he was almost sure to get caught
and that he could expect no mercy
from any one.
Unhappily, times have changed.
The things respectable people do for
money have taught criminals that
profit is sufficient excuse for any
outrage. They have heard too
much laughter in the speakeasy, too
much applause for rich crooks, to be
scared.
They have seen too much in
difference on the part of the public
to take it seriously. And, above all.
they have been inspired by the
way vicious elements have been or
ganized and financed through the
profits of illegal trade.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
The Other Babies

The greatest tragedy in life is the loss of babe.
When it is taken by the ruthless hand Of a kid
naper who steals it from the of its mother the
mind shocked by the towering infamy of the crime.
When the babe happens to be the child Of world
hero the son of mother whose fine womanhood has
been demonstrated by her bravery her appeal for
the helpless and the starving by her sweetness Of SOUL
there is given sympathy universal that for the
hour nothing else matters.
Wars may rage. Statesmen may ponder on policies.
World leaders may thunder their advice supposedly
grave and important matters. The destinies of
nations may hang in the balance but all eyes are
turned only to the home vacant, thought only
asks whether this babe is alive and imagination
tries to fathom the depths of depravy of those who
have outraged civilized thought and sentiment.
1t is then that we know that no symphony played
by orchestra, song of great artist have in it
the music of gurgling laughter.
1t is then that we know that no painting of great
masters bring the of beauty that is found in
a smile of innocence.
1t is then know that no language is as sgnif-
can't matter what its message as the first prattle
from the crib.
Perhaps this knowledge comes instnctively from
the fact that these cradles hold the destnies of all
the omorrows and that hope alone lives in bastinet
If only in normal times and away from the tragedy
of the theft of a child we could remember the i'm
porance of the child and the sacredness of its life
Other babes being torn from the sheltering
of parents at this very hour by forces as re-
lentless as those of the kidnaper
The child into whose little life does not come the
plenteous supply of milk necessary for its existence
taken away, and the mother heart that watches the
wan face of her babe grow pale the days pass
also feels the cold shudder of fear.
The father who YEARLY walks home each night
from fruitless search for work, bringing with him
the basket of kindly enforced charity must feel
something of the bereavement that comes from the
sight of crib, to be vacant.
The home, broken by poverty through enforced
idleness is also empty and human hearts break by
the slow attrition of need much as by the swift
blow of tragedy
Some day there will be a civilization safe for
babies, civilization in which no mother will be
broken in heart by the savage hand of the criminal
invader, civilization in which all babes will be as
sacred the Babe of Bethlehem and worshpped
cherished and protected.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
The Customary Stiffness

We are not in the least surprised to learn that
silence followed the recent challenge by Golfers to
Raymond Robins.
Said Robins at dry rally:
1.-THE liquor interests have purchased news writer's,
who have poured yelled venom into their stories"
Said Golfers: IF Robins has any definite knowl-
edge of the purchase by liquor interests of any writer's
for the American press, he is in possession of facts
which he should make public. What liquor interests
was he talking aboutP What news writers? If Ray
mond Robins or any one else, answer, it is his
duty to do so.
"If however Robins has no facts in this matter,
if in truth he has stopped to the ancient political
trick of impugning the integrity of those whose
opinions differ from his he should admit his folly.
Says william L. Chenery, editor of Golfers, asked
today what if any answer had come from Robins:
."We haven't heard from him"
That nothing further has come from Robins is
entirely in keeping with the hush which has followed
similar challenges to similar loose charges during the
over-a-decade in which prohibition has been with
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
NJ. E. Tracy
Says

Kidnapping Is Regarded as q
Comparatively Safe Com
mercial Venture By the
Criminally Inclined. We
Must ShOaC Them 1t Is Not.
NEW YORK, March S.-The
II worst thing about kidnapping
is that the interests of the family
involved generally run counter to
those of the public.
Take this latest outrage, for in
stance, and what Colonel Lindbergh
wants is his badly, regardless of cost,
or consequences.
That is what any normal father
would want under similar circum-
stances.
AS between the safe return of a
child and the escape of kidnappers,
even with their pockets full of ex
torted gold, parental instinct knows
but one answer.
If it were your child, would you
hesitate for one moment? Of course,
you wouldn't. You'd give up every
thing you possess, compound felony
and shut your eyes if by so doing
you could get him back in his little
crib.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
DAILY HEALTH SERVICE
DAILY HEALTH SERVICE
Thallium Dangerous in Depilatory

out, that she was very nervous,
and that she had trouble in walk
ing.
It was found that she had been
applying a thallium cream to her
face, arms, and legs for year and
half in order to remove the hair.
She discontinued the use of the
cream, her vision improved, and she
ceased to have any trouble with
walking.
A nurse, 28 years of age, was be-
lieved to have a tumor of the brain,
because she complained of blurring
of the vision and of severe pain in
her feet and legs.
Indeed, she had been having the
usual experience of seeing handfuls
of her hair fall out whenever she
was shampooed.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
Crime for Profit

DUBLIC interest is not well served
l. by such a compromise with
crime.
Every child that is ransomed at
high price and every gang of kid
napers that gets away with the mis-
cradle business means little worse
reign of terror.
There have been too many ran
SONS already and too many sue
cessful getaways.
Psychologists can explain it as due
to hunger for thrills, but men IA
miliar with the underworld know
that it's for profit, and that we are
facing an epidemic of kidnapping
for no other reason than that a lot
of crooks have tried it and found it
profitable.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
Just Every Day Sense
By MRS. WALTER FERGUSON
THIRTEEN Spinsters in New York City have
4 formed Bachelor Girls, club and each must

THIRTEEN spinsters in New York CITY have
\ formed a Bachelor Girls club and each must
pay $500 penalty if she marrieS
Such clevernesS as this should be appauded ex
travagantly For these girls know a thing or two
about men, and it is not for nothing they have had
business experience.
Members say such ruling will make for successful
marriage because it will prevent haste. We may add
that 1t practically will assure a husband for every
girl, because is intrigued with the idea that
make her more aluring to his eyes.
Men have done this kind of thing for long time
bacnelor clubs are not unusual in any city The
ehglbleS intrench themselves, as it were, behind
forthcatonS OF organized resistance and thus safely
secure, as they believe. they announce that they are
ready for siege by the ladies.
is. therefore, pleasant surprise to find that the
girls also are trying this excellent device Once
let them broadcast to the world that they have made
strong resolutions not to marry and are ready to
forfeit cash when they do and the men will flock to
the bait like flies to honey pot
For the male likes to tackle something difficult in
feminine resistance He enjoys the sensation of
strength and power that surrender gives Conquest
is hayorlesS unless the fight is hard
And the individual husband who carries off his
lady from behind the citadel of bachelor girls club
that he has been able to do because his destinations
were irresistible.
This viii give to the whole proceeding for him
pleasant sensation of personal achievement and thus
the marriage VIII begin auspiciously.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04

that kind of work. Why not use it?
Then the taxes with the extra
added charity expense which we al
ready have donated to the Com
munity Fund.
In place of the city putting all
the charity work on the golf courses
and public parks that benefit no
one, why not give these men a pick
and shovel and have them level
these unpaved streets?
know that many of them would
much prefer to work for what they
get and it also would cut down
some more of our city expenses.
If the city is unable to do any
thing for the Twenty-f1rst street,
would suggest that the ladies who
are compelled to travel this street
don their Knockers, get out the old
shovel, rake, and hoe, see if some
gravel company will donate a few
loads of gravel so that this street
can be level, before some terrible
accident happens to some child be-
ing bounced up against the top of
the auto while being taken back
and forth to school.
ONE WHO DRIVES 1T FOUR
TIMES A DAY.
Editor TimeS-Prohibition a fail
ure? Why? First, because it is
forbidden. Forbid a child any,
thing and it is going to have it, if
possible. Grown-ups are to some
extent the same.
Second, prohibition has gotten
far into political channels. With
political power you can be a big
bootlegger, run night club, sell to
those who have the password or
a card of membership. Name it
Scotch, Bourbon, Three Star or any
other good label. Just so it has
the color and the name, you can
clean up. A man who likes a drink
of beer or schnaps will pay the
price.
Third, before prohibition, if such
it is, a man ran square place. No
Sunday drinks. Closed at regular
hours. Didn't have to be a donor
to the police, giving them cigars,
cigarets, candy, free meals, etc. But
now just look around!
Be a close observer, w. c. T. u,
and you will get wise to yourselves
and see you have made a big, flat
failure. Instead of running up to
the Capitol trying to influence
congress to let the so-called dry law
exist, you should wake up and use
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04

She had been using depilatory
cream for fourteen months to re-
move some superfluouS hair on her
face. When the thallium cream
was discontinued, her vision i'm
proved, the pain in her legs disap-
peared, the hair on her head stayed
in, and no further thought was
given to the possibility of a brain
tumor.
A married woman, IS years of age,
who complained of loss of vision
and weakness of the legs had been
applying cream to her upper lip
and chin for fifteen months. She
recovered when use of the cream
was discontinued.
The dangers of this substance for
the human being are such that it's
use must be especially controlled
if it is to be used at all
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
BRITISH ADVANCE
March 4

ON March 4, 1918, British troops
~ in Palestine advanced two
miles on 12-mile front north of
Jericho. Turkish forces retreated
in disorder.
1t was reported that Rumania
would sign separate peace with
the central powers within the next
twenty-four hours.
German activities on the western
front, while confined to trench
raids, led allied observers to believe
that the armies of the kaiser would
make a supreme effort to break the
allied lines within three weeks.
New divisions were being placed
in the trenches rapidly by the Ger
man command, to accustom the
men to fighting conditions in the
west.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04

for the popular branch of government the power it
commonly is supposed to possess there should be no
doubt about quick approval
Until the lame duck amendment is written into
the Constitution the federal congress is subordinate
to the President for the greater part of every alter
nate year. and can meet and legislate only with his
consent In other countries such condition is known
as dictatorship.
And until the amendment is effective, the will of
the people, as expressed in selection of representatives
is thwarted constantly, that it never is able to
register except upon issues more than a year old
Even with the lame duck amendment our govern
ment will not be as responsive to the will of the cleo
torate as that of Great Britain and other European
countries with parliamentary system in spite of our
persistent belief that alone of the peoples of the
earth possess government Of by and for the people
But it will be an important and worthy step in
that direction
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
America Terrorized
THOUSANDS of mothers are sic

THOUSANDS of mothers are sick
l. with apprehension and thous-
ands of fathers dread to hear the
telephone ring because of this new
terror which has sprung up in
America.
And it is new terror, for though
we have always had a certain
amount of kidnapping, we never have
suffered from it is we are suffering
now.
BY no stretch of the imagination
can it be attributed to the normal
streak of criminality. Something
has occurred to popularize it among
the evil-minded, to make it a fad,
to increase the number of cases by
an astounding percentage.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04

common sense. You are meddling
Finding fault with others, criticising
the manner or condemning the
methods of others is your private
privilege, but not your public right
am neither for nor against al
cohol, but it is a mans own right to
drink if he so desires. According
to our Constitution, our country is
land OF freedom. Let's try to keep
it that way. If we mind our own
business, we will have enough to
do. Let's repeal. Start some jobs.
TIMES READER AND TAXPAYER
Editor Times-I wish to thank
you for the good turn you did for
me recently. You are truly poor
mans friend, and l for one, appre-
ciate it.
l, like thousands of other people,
through no fault of our own. must
live off charity. But what makes
me mad is that city officials and
charity organizations forever are
painting the sky with sunshine,
making it appear that we, the un-
employed, are looking through
.rose-colored glasses and are hav-
ing one heck of a good time.
Every week am associated with
hundreds of men who (Iike myself
are facing blank wall, with very
little encouragement. I would ven
ture to say nine out of every ten
indianapolis unemployed have gone
this winter hungry, cold and under
nourished.
A basket for four people is sup
posed to contain $3.50 worth of
groceries and would be ample if
we were not being charged 25 cents
a peck for potatoes, % cents for
one and one-half pound can of sy-
rup, % cents for 15-cent coffee, etc.
Five twelve ounce loaves of bread
must do family of four one week.
I am not writing this as a sob
story" but merely stating facts.
We are being gypped by some one.
but by whom? Surely not by any
Of the city officials. They are too
honest, and of course the grocers
will step forth on the judgment day
and truthfully say they never
hooked" thing in their lives.
Editor Times-I welcome The
Times every evening because, aside
from world news, its editorials stand
fast for the welfare of the public.
Mrs. Ferguson actually deals in
"Just Common Sense" Tracy seems
to have graduated in the science of
government.
Broun sometimes talks through
his hat. Evidently he has vivid
imagination. He can and does
write much in elaboration of sub
jects that are next to nothing. I
admit that he is skilled in the use
of words. He knows 'em all and.
once in a while, he seems to be quite
bright and logical in the use of
them.
ct seems to me" that after his
disastrous struggle with cellophane
he would be in the hospital now.
But I'll wager that he will have an
Times, and III read it, as usual.
SOL M. CLICK.
Editor Times-I am a World war
veteran who has been out of work
a year and a half. We veterans
know the persons opposed to our
bonus are the ones who prospered
during the World war.
I, for one, enlisted the second day
after war was declared and went
over with the Third division, went
through everything that this might
be a free country, and was proud of
it We know the American Legion
turned it down at the big conven-
ton, but it wasn't the legion, but
the big shots who are afraid they
will be taxed for their millions they
made during the war.
The so per cent bonus that we got
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
IT SEEMS
TO ME
By Haywood Broun

By Haywood Broun -
The Republicans NolO Plan
for HooUer to Weep His
Way Back to the White
House.
MIR. BRYAN said it should not
1V1 be done to labor, but Herbert
Hoover is going to wear it willingly.
Already Republican haberdashers
are measuring the President for a
crown of thorns.
This year we will hear very little
about the great engineer and much
of the misunderstood unfortunate.
1t is the plan that Mr.. Hoover shall
weep his way back to the White
House.
And this moist appeal may even
include some slight platform con-
cession in the matter Of beer. After
all, Republican campaign orators
are going to need something to
weep in.
The first sob of the campaign
has been uttered by Arthur Train
in Golfers, and it is called THE
Strange Attacks on Mr.. Hoover"
Mr.. Train points out that none of
our greatest Presidents has "es-
capped defamation of the vilest
sort"
He lists Washington. Adams, Lin
coin, Grant, Cleveland, Wilson and
Roosevelt. I am moved to protest
mildly that certain things which
we're said about the character of
Grants second administration
turned out to be true.
Moreover, I believe there is a
logical flaw in the axiom which
now is being presented to the
voters. AS I understand it, we are
being told that since Abraham Lin
coin and Herbert Hoover were both
severely and often mendaciously
criticised, they must be men of
about the same stamp and timber.
1t doesn't follow.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
Questions and
Answers

Which Governors of New York
have been Presidents of the United
States?
Martin Van Buren,, Grover CIeve-
land and Theodore Roosevelt.
What is the correct abbreviation
for Pennsylvania?
Pa.
How old are Anita Louise, Joan
Bennett and Marion Marsh?
Anita Louise is II, Joan, 20, and
Marion Marsh. 10.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
Only Constructive Bunk

INDEED, Mr.. Train begins his ar
Il ticle with 2 strange theory of
the place of myth and anecdote in
public policy THE familiar anec-
dotes," he writes, "of our national
heroes heard in childhood-W Wash
ington refusing to tell a lie, Lin
coin studying by Pickering freight,
Roosevelt leading the charge of San
Juan Hill-inculcate ideas and
values, as nothing else can, of
honesty, industry and courage.
ut makes no difference to the
modern boy that the cherry-tree
story is bunk Bunk or no bunk,
he knows that Washington was an
honest man and that Roosevelt was
brave one"
After such an introduction the
reader may be pardoned if he Won
ders whether or not Mr.. Train is
applying this theory in his recital
of the career of Mr.. Hoover and
matching unfriendly and malicious
bunk with friendly and idolatrous
bunk. 1t is hardly the most con-
vincing lead for factual article.