davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28
A BUREAU OF STANDARDS

4 NATION wise to the ways of chiselers has
L begun to wonder whether uniform wage
and hour schedules under NRA codes. desirable
as they are, do not threaten the quality of
goods offered for sale to the public
This fear is well grounded, according to the
NRA consumers advisory board, which has
received a report from its committee on STAN
dards streSSing the danger that unethical pro-
ducers, no longer able TO compete in wages,
may try to undersen competitors by offering
inferior merchandise
The committee points out that while there
are both public and private, agencies for test
ing and protecting the standards of such goods
as steel beams. chemicals and other industrial
materials, the small purchaser of goods at re-
tail has little or no such protection. The man
who buys razor-blades. for instance. has no
way Of assuring himself as to their quality. nor
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28
THE POWER PIONEERS

TALIFORNIANS, with courage and inagi-
~ nation worthy of their pioneer fathers,
have voted for great $170OOo0OO state
owned water and power project. comparable in
scope to Boulder Dam and Muscle Shoals.
Engineers will essay featS as heroic as those
of Paul Bunyan, mythical Hercules of western
forests and his blue OK Babe, who hauled
mountains and lakes about as fancy pleased
them. They will erect two big storage and
power producing dams, hold back flood waters
of the Sacramento pump it down into the
thirsty san Joaquin through series of canals
and locks, save from reversion to the desert a
vast rich plain of the lower San Joaquin. in
sure steady water supply to one-third of the
state.
A Central Valley Power Authority will sell
current wholesale, giving cities, towns and irri-
CATION districts first call on cheap power.
California thus joins New York and Wis
conSin as the first three states empowered by
law to capture and sell power. The plan,
fought by private interests for decade, is an
other step in the national movement for cheap
power. another step toward the electrification
of America.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28

has the woman who purchases children's shoes.
The committee recommends two methods
Of correcting the situation First it proposes
inclusion in all NRA codes of a guarantee that
producers will not let their goods fall below
specified standard. To this it adds recon-
mendation that consumers standards board
be created TO develop means for accurately
labelling articles sold at retail
If this program is carried out in effective
fashion the public will be saved millions of
dollars.
If there is to be competition in private in
dustry there could be no better field for it
than high standard production There is no
reason why business should net compete for a
share Of public patronage with better and
better goods rather than with shoddy and
cheap materials.
The protection proposed by the consumers
board is an essential part of the NTsA program
and one which doubtless will be seconded
warmly by better class business men.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28

4 EN- IdQleSl
Men like us better when we DO, and
since the deed to the globe is made out in their
name we might as well learn to keep still if
1t will make them any happier.
A member Of the faculty at Columbia uni
Versity remarked the other day that something
should be done so women wouldn't talk 81
much They have talked themselves out Of
husbands, employers, and other things the
academic gentleman implied
Listening doesn't mean sitting with vo,1r
mouth closed until it is your turn to speak
1t means showing a sincere interest in the
other persons conversation.
And when you do speak, talk about some
thing besides the fact that the maid forgot IN
scrub the bathroom door and the price of
beans has gone up cent.
In fact wise woman will let man do
most of the talking. Remember the leading
man always has the most lines in the play If
ne isn't given chance to recite them to YOU
ne will go put on recital on somebody eIse's
stage. But if you will listen and applaud and
sympathize he will spin you as many tales as
the captured maiden in the Arabian NIGHTS
He will give you a reserved seat for his
show The depth of your listening silence
the strength of your applause will decide
whether or not he is going to invite some
friends into the gallery, too. He won't if you
listen well!
Tom Mix, the screen idol of a few wears
ago, blames most of the Hollywood marital
dlthculties on the fact that both husband and
wife have so much to tell each other that
neither gives the other chance. It is a wo-
mans cue to be dumb. For if she isn't there
will come a time when there will be no men
to listen to her, anyway
Ask questions when the masculine member
of the tete-a-tete subsidies and mods that if
you have anything to say he doesn't mind
he'll let you say it. Though you know the
number of square miles in Timbuctu and the
width Of the Gauges river, if geography is the
gentleman's hobby ask him! Be wise enough
to keep your brain concealed unless he de-
hberately asks you to show him that you have
one. There are men who do. When you find
them listen, listen, listen.
Men, fiction writer remarked the other
day, should be treated as though they are ex-
actly 10. Of course, it makes loves and romance
regular juvenile if we look on men in that
light. Surely there are some men who are
going on 10! But there is an ounce of truth
in the statement. Ten-year-old boys love to
tell you about their new trains and sleds and
the yellow-haired boy who has moved into the
house next door. They like to talk and they
want you to listen.
Men want to give accounts of the stock
that fell and the story that sold and the new
red-haired stenographer. Going on 10? May
be that's too high. Let's make it r.
Still, we go to all Of this trouble to find out
what men like so We'll know how to treat
them which probably makes us or Z.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28
VAN NUYS SUGGESTS

CENATOR VAN NUYS is asking a congress
~ sional investigation of credit conditions
He charges that the federal reserve system is
not cooperating with the administration in its
recovery plans and he points out that many
businesses in Indiana are ready to operate but
can not because of lack of working capital
Every one with common sense knows that
he is right. The banks received such scare
at the time of the bank holiday that they are
holding their assets, refusing to lend and
focusing their whole effort on achieving the
ultimate in liquidity. They really have gone
out of the banking business and become moth
ing but strong boxes gorged with funds which
are not being put to any useful purpose.
This is not altogether the bankers fault.
They apparently are convinced that this is the
best way to safeguard their depositors, which,
after all, is their primary purpose. But there
is absolutely no reason why the federal reserve
and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
can not lend direct to businesses which are
good risks.
Credit is the life-stream of commerce and
industry We wish Senator Van Nuys every
success in his efforts to blast the credit log
jam. He should receive the backing of en-
ployers and employees alike no matter what
their political faith happens to be.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28
THURSDAY. DEC. %. 1879.
TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
1 sCRIPPs-HOWARD NEwsPAPER)

TRAFFIC conditions have been extremely
hazardous for the past three days. No one
can do anything about the weather so the
situation is unavoidable Matters have not
been helped, however, by wholesale violation
not only Of traffic regulations but of the rules
of ordinary common sense.
Fortunately there have been few injuries.
but property damage to cars has been heavy.
Most OF 1t has been unnecessary. Indiana is
famous for its abominable driving promi-
nent man from Colorado in a public address
here few weeks ago remarked: When we see
car with Hoosier license in my state we
give it a wide berth"
There are two reasons for this poor driving.
The first is the ease with which drivers Ii
censes may be obtained. 1t is time for Indiana
to think about making prospective motorists
take thorough road test before they are per-
mitted to have a drivers certificate
The second is the fact that persons of in
fuence are permitted by the police and the
courts to quash charges for minor traffic vio-
lations. Instead of going down and paying his
fine the man who gets a ticket hustles up some
pull and has the whole thing killed This is
vicious practice and grossly unfair to the
ordinary person who has no political influence
1t demoralizes the traffic policemen who
are doing their duty and, incidentally causes
a considerable loss in revenue to the courts in
these times when the government needs every
cent it can get.
That is why double parking and Illegal
parking of all sorts are a commonplace in In
dianapolis. Let the police and courts enforce
the law with even-handed justice to all and
many traffic abuses would cease in a week.
No law can 10 much to restrain the
perennial crackpotS on wheels. Every one has
seen them since the snowstorn dashing about
streets as slick as glass at forty miles an hour
We suggest that they be taken out on lonely
road where they can hurt nobody but them
selves and forced to drive over ice at a mile a
minute and then obliged to clamp down their
brakes. This might cure them.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28
BRAINS ARE NO BAR

OF the many wise things that DR.. Nicholas
~ Murray Butler said in his annual report
to Columbia university trustees one of the
wiSeSt was this:
'Democracies in general, and particularly
the off1ce-holding and ofice-seeking class, are
very disdainful of him who knows They
greatly prefer to be permitted to deal with
each question as it arises in what they are
pleased to call practical fashion, which, being
interpreted, means without the slightest notion
of how the question has arisen of what it in
wolves. or of what its solution will imply, but
with an eye fixed solely upon the result which
is instantly to follow 1t is precisely this habit
of allowing the so-called practical man to
guide public policy which has brought more
countries than one into their present troubles
and which has wrecked SO much of the worlds
business"
1t is encouraging that our own federal and
state governments are calling into service
economists, engineers and other trained men,
All such are not professors, of course, but
complex civilization can not get along without
experts That is The experience of our munich
palities with city managers and of successful
states like wisconsin and North Carolina
which tie their state universities into their
governments
The most successful nation will be one that
makes the most effective use of men and
women with trained minds and unselfSh pur-
pose. Mr.. Roosevelt also seems to be of that
opinion.
In view of tn mess practical" men have
made of things. their sneers at the brain
trust" are bit unbecoming.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28
.M. E. Tracy Says:

IN a fecund land, where there are cats says
l. Ridpath, there will be honey but without
cats the hungry mice will multiply and steal it.
The problem of equilibrium, which this illus
trateS, runs throughout nature. Those evolu-
tionary processes by which species are reduced,
diminished or even exterminated constantly up
set the balance. Man with his penchant for
planning and interfering often adds to the
confusion.
In new country the ruthless destruction of
forests is common, with floods and an eventual
reduction of the water supply as a consequence.
The first generation of farmers usually finds
it necessary to slaughter all kinds of birds, but
only to suffer from insect pests later on.
ID ESEARCH workers at the Rice Institute at
IN Houston, Tex, have discovered that the
hated redbug feeds on mosquitoes, the inference
being that if mosquitoes were plentiful, the red
bugs would be less likely to prey on human be-
ings. But mosquitoes prey on human beings, and
there you are.
Some months ago, the governor-g general of
Indo-China asked his chief administrator to
solve an even more complicated problem. It
hinged on the age-od conflict among rats and
pythons, with rice as the principal stake.
During recent years, many hunters Of Indo-
China have made good living through killing
pythons and selling their heads for wearing ap-
parel This business reached such proportions
as to threaten extinction of the great snakes,
when it was discovered suddenly that rats, which
constitute their principal diet, were multiplying
at tremendous rate and destroying the rice
crop.
A S might be expected, the people are not anx-
y ious for a restoration of python suprenl-
acy. What they want is planned economy
just enough pythons to hold the rate population
down, but not enough to cause an overproduc-
ton of rice.
A code might answer the purpose-so many
pythons to each million rats and so many mill
lion rats to take care Of the rice surplus.
If local professors can't figure that out, and
if a code administration can't be found to en-
force it, Indo-China should apply to the United
States.
The taxpayers of this country would regard
it as blessing If they could depend on such a
cheap method as that of rats to hold down the
grain crop.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28

cents, blankets; ST., milk bill, and 50
cents, hospital.
BY Frank G. Mccormack.
After two years Of looking out of
my office window at the Indiana
World war memorial I finally
mustered up enough enthusiasm to
give it the "Once over"
I climbed up the stairs to the
south entrance and before going in
1 turned and looked out over Uni
verSity Park. This point afforded
a wonderful view of hundreds of
victims of the postwar depression
who were clamoring at the doorway
of building south of the Chamber
of Commerce; many of them pre-
sumo were former wearers of olive
drab who now are fighting for
choice positions in a line that may
lead to job and regular eating.
From here. walked around the
stone balcony to the north side, and
what a sight greets the eye here.
In the distance looms Legion head
quarters and the public library and
between these two imposing struc-
lures one is afforded a splendid view
of the Indianapolis Power and Light
Company lamp post preserve, lamp
posts, lamp posts. I never knew
there were so many in the world,
almost enough to act as a memorial
for every boy who served. Look as
I might, the only sign of life I could
detect in this forest of lamp posts
was a small white terrier who acted
like he had gone nuts as he darted
from post to post as though renew
ing old acquaintance.
After feaSting my gaze on the
lamp post preserve for several
moments I turned and opened the
green glassed doors that permit one
to get into the memorial proper.
Frankly. was overcome by the
sight that greeted my eyes as I
gazed at the stately grandeur of
the immense f1uted granite columns.
My eyes Travelled from the top to
the bottom of these wonderful
specimens of the stone workers art,
and then I looked between them,
and wished now that I hadn't, for
that spoiled it all. Between each
column and against the wall T saw
oil paintings of a bunch of whiskered
guys with Sam Brown belts and
opera glasses peeking out at me.
Well, that requested me- for I
recognized every one of them lex
cept Pershing) as fellows who owe
us money, which they never intend
to pay.
Twenty million bucks of the hard
earned taxpayers money to build a
stone memorial in the heart of
Hoosierdom so as to afford a place
to put the portraits of bunch of
dead beats. I think Barnum was
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28
So They Say

A country passing through rev.,
olution is always liable to ghastly
episodes owing to the administra-
ton Of justice being seized here and
there by an Infatuated rebel.-DaVid
Lloyd George.
I'm only six feet one, but give me
chance to grow-Dave Hutton.
I have been accused Of being a
silk-stocking candidate. Did you
ever hear Of a Couzens in public
life who was that?-Frank CouZens,
former acting mayor of Detroit.
I have yet to meet anyone in Eur
ope who looks forward to a world
war-Professor william r. Shep-
herd Of Columbia.
It seems to me that what is hap
pening in Germany is a clumsy
louis revolution against thought,
sanity and books-H. @. Wells.
1t is good plan not TO make
AAAOAS VI a OdAAt1 4OOA VI yO~-@
than God Almighty intended you
should.-Former Secretary Of the
Navy Charles Francis Adams. q
The country needs Super-men
and super-women among the lead
ers and among the followers for the
solution Of present-day national
prolbems.-Mary E. WooIley, presi-
dent Mt. Holyoke College.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28
Attention City!

By a Reader.
Whenever it rains the wood
block street on the southwest cor
ner of Pennsylvania and Maryland
streets is a veritable death trap.
In the course of one hour one day
last week I witnessed five acct
dents on this corner. One woman
was knocked down by skidding
car. Another narrowly escaped
being crippled or killed by the
side slip of heavy truck. One
automobile broadsided into the
rear of the car ahead. Another
car turned clear around, SKIM
ming the safety zone. Two women
slipped and fell.
The driver who knocked the
woman down probably will find
himself in a tight spot when they
drag him into court. Whose fault
is it? Not the drivers surely.
What about putting the finger on
this corner, indianapolis Times?
If anybody can give people safety
and automobiles traction on this
corner you can.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28

IT'S no wonder DR.. Logan Glenden-
i ming is a popular member of his
profession. He's always telling us
the things we like to hear.
According to his latest edict you'll
probably live just as long if you have
some fun about (which is exactly
what the average individual wants
to believe. But he'll probably not
be in such good standing with physi-
clans, since he also says that hos
pitals only are conveniences for busy
doctors and that women might just
as well stay at home to have their
babies.
Unfortunately a good many lay
men are beginning to think this may
be true.
And, if we are talking about rich
women, 1t probably is. They can
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28

The children cry and quarrel. The
father comes home weary, and she
knows he is worried about the bills.
Things go wrong in the kitchen. The
new baby walls. She is so exhausted
mentally with the effort TO get on
her feet again that it takes her
twice as long to do so.
In the hospital she is spared these
petty troubles. She is detached from
ordinary existence and with her
baby can gather from the silence
and peace that physical and spirit
ual strength which she needs later
to take up her old and her added
burdens.
Hospitals are boons TO humankind.
The tragic fact about them in our
land is that their best facilities are
given to those who need them least.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28
To a Mosquito

BY FRANCESCA
Last night big mosquito
Sailed around my bed;
I got up to get him
He got me instead.
He dived at me and landed
Full force upon my cheek
From the bump he left me,
He'd been starved a week.
He zoomed around and tipped
awhile,
And let his motor hum.
Compared with him, the Spirit Of
st. Louis" would sound rum.
He was feeling playful,
He chewed on both my ears
Then l lost my patience
And stripped his flying gears.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28
A Woman Viewpoint ::
By. MRS. WALTER FERGUSON

have all the facilities for labor
brought to them and enjoy seclusion
at home while recovering. But the
poor and middle class women do
need hospital service, more especial
ly if they already have children and
live in crowded apartments or small
houses.
= q
TINE mere act Of giving birth may
i may be accomplished at home
as easily and safely as elsewhere, but
recuperation is much more difficult.
DR.. Glendenning-nor any other
man-can understand what a wo-
man endures who is weak, worn and
nervous, with every sense on the
alert, when she must lie helpleSsly
and watch and hear the details Of
domestic routine.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28
:: The Message Center ::
will defend the death right itVOla

fTimes readers are melted to cypress
their Uiedos in these columns. Make your
letters short, so all can hare chance.
Limit them to $50 qoords or Iess.)
BY F. d. Roper.
Because of having faith in the
fairness and efficiency Of The Times
in its efforts on behalf of the wor-
thy common people, solicit your
cooperation in the following mat
ter.
That there seems to be an I'M
conscious spirit on the part Of civil
works authorities and relief agen-
cies to consider lightly the appeal Of
taxpayers for work or relief is quite
apparent. Men who have tried to
own a home and steer clear of the
trustees basket system are little re-
garded for their pride and ambition.
Facts are that hundreds of them are
today in actual distress. And to
make matters worse, the county
treasurer has announced that he
soon will advertise and sell their
homes for delinquent taxes.
The very roofs which cover these
good people stand as a guarantee
for the cost of those baskets which
have been given in many cases to
people who scott at the idea Of
troubling themselves to own real es-
tate. And yet the man who would
own property and pay taxes must
be penalized at every turn for his
ambition. They now are making
ready to substitute the hobo" but
not word about the unemployed
taxpayer.
make this suggestion that the
county treasurer use his Influence"
with the civil works authorities to
give employment to unemployed de-
linquent taxpayers and deduct SO
per cent of the pay for delinquent
taxes. The applicant for the job, of
course, would sign an agreement to
that effect. This would give him an
even break with the hoboes and
shiftleSs, and would in no wise be
new to our public system. Not many
years ago, farmerS-not unemployed
farmers at that, were allowed to
work out part of their taxes on
roads. At any rate, why not give a
taxpayer a fighting chance with the
tramp? Will The Times help us in
this cause?
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-28
BY a Times Reader.

BY Times Reader.
There is every provision made for
the family whose father is unem-
ployed, which is as should be and
in which I have co-operated, but
now another question arises, espe-
cially during your "Clothe -a-Child"
campaign.
Many of our fathers have just
started to work and haven't Is cents
extra for clothing of any sort for
the family. We feel that he should
be made happy and encouraged
when he is not sitting waiting for
things to be handed to him. Here
is a family which has strived to
keep going at a very great cost to
the health of mother and probably
the nerves of the father.
Mother has ripped up used cloth
ing, washed and pressed it, and if
it was faded, used a package of dye
on it, cut down boys clothes, washed
and pressed them, washed out cloth
ing each evening to keep them clean
in school, doctored them with as
little as could be had, kept them in
Sunday school each Sunday. Father
kept shoes mended from remains of
used shoes and I dare say if you
ask the school board about these
particular pupils, they would say,
ooh, they are some of the best
dressed youngsters in school," Of
course, the board doesn't know the
hardshipS, work and stitches it has
taken and now how well the children
would enjoy some real clothes and
how much rest the parents would
get.
This father pays each week: $3.25
on rent; $3.50, coal, kerosene and
grocers; 81, furniture, bedding; rs