davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
THE MGUFFEY WAR"

BECAUSE onions, and not autos textiles or
ID shoes came out OF the fields of McGuffey,
o., labor war there has been allowed to ex-
coed all reasonable bounds and endanger life
and property.
Because these fields were remote country
land. rather than urban industrial areas, the
governments labor Cancellation machinery has
been slow in moving in or has moved in only
perfunctorily.
Now the labor department has delicate
and dangerous situation on its hands.
The onion fields are desolated and harvest
probably will mean little A strike leader
has been kidnapped, beaten severely, and
threatened with death if ne returned to the
onion marshes. The home of the mayor OF
McGufey has been bombed. There have been
sluggings and other violence. Armed "vigilan-
ties" lean toward mob rule
There is even more ready beligerence now
than at any other time during the dispute,
which has gone on for three months. Where
once the issue was between two sides, the
strikers and the employers, now strike breakers
represent still another front with which con-
ciliators must reckon.
It's time for the government to act, and the
action must be decisive. Agrarian warfare in
the fields of Hardin county threatens to be-
come as bitter as anything that has been seen
in industrialzed cities.
The governments immediate problem is to
stop violence, and, If possible, to place re-
sponsibility for the disturbance which has
gone on all summer. But it must go further.
It must study the whole industry to determine
whethe; it ever can be an economically sound
industry. as It is operated today.
Child labor wages of cents an hour can
not be reconciled with what we have come to
know as the New Deal. In theory, at least,
mere shacks for homes, and overalls for Sun
day-best clothes are supposed to be anachron-
lsms
And yet they are found at McGufey. And
because strikers have asked for more, there
has been trouble Perhaps the owners can not
pay more, as they say and still stay in business
Perhaps it may be found that, in onions at
least. Americas garden spot" is unecononic.
and may have to be turned to something else.
This is the problem the government faces.
Its study must go deep if it is to count for
anything. The difficulty has become too ag-
gravated. and feeling too bitter, to make any
cursory action effective.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01

current consumed in six months was
siXty-nine kiloWatt hours; the
charge each month was the mini
mum; discounts off, of S2.14, max
ing a total of $12.84 paid to the
company, or at the rate Of 1873 cents
a kiloWatt hour.
In justice to the public, the mini
mum charge should not be allowed
and the company should be required
to collect only for the current actu-
ally used. Even then, the rate Of 7
cents for the first fifty kilowatt
hours is enough to yield a big profit
according to reports Of costs of cleo
trio service in many places where
the plant is publicly owned and OPP
Grated for the good of the COM
munity.
1t is time the public awoke to the
practice that is being carried on by
public utilities and demanded So
cial ownership for service to the
people without private profit to a
lot of idle owners who do nothing
useful. A wave of enlightenment is
sweeping over the country and next
fall there will be mighty vote cast
for Socialism, the only thing that
can get us out of the mess that the
greed Of prohteers have plunged
US in.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01

should have told them to come to me when
they got into trouble" ne said.
But they weren't told to come. They we're
told to stay out Of trouble or stay away from
me" And so a boy and girl ran terrible
risks to avoid something which they had been
taught to believe was disgrace. They we're
old enough TO know that they we're taking
risks But they knew also that their parents
we're hard and that society IS cruel. They we're
desperate. So desperate that they tempted
death.
It's the old tragedy. One sees it so often
and so intimately in the small community
among mere children, high school boys and
girls and college freshmen. And when the
curtain is rung down one hears the same re-
frain: Poor childrenl Why didn't they come
to grown-ups for help?" Well. one grown-up
at least has had the courage to answer that
question.
Poor children indeed Why should they
ever come? Have these grown-ups been so
wise and kind as to have invited the conf
dence Of youth? Has society dominated by
grovn-ups been so tolerant?
Suppose that so-called "erring" youth
should seek the counsel Of its elders, what
would it find? A mind paralyzed by fear and
poisoned by notions OF original sin. It would
be met with tears and reproaches and threats
and anguished cries, until verify one would
think that the birth Of child was a major
calamity. Too often youth turns from the
counsel OF the aged with its wings clipped,
its dreams sullied and its banners furled
Small wonder that it doesn't seek the coun-
sci Of the aged any more.
And besides. youth which is bafhed or hurt
never turns to a befuddled mind for guidance.
An unerring instinct saves it that last indig-
nifty. And what must youth think of the
social mind which raises monuments to
wholesale slaughter and looks with horror on
one life begot in love? What must it think
of the mind which laughs at the cowardly
abortive philanderings of the middle-aged
and which frowns on the clean daring of
Young love? Small wonder that youth, like
Juliet. too often looks to the tomb for sane
tuary from the stiff necked prides and the
idiotic prejudices of grown-ups
1t is not a very hattering commentary on
civilization when youth will risk death rather
than face the hard eyes Of virtue. But per-
haps it is a wise choice after all. Perhaps the
parent earth which holds new year shame
lessly in her deep womb is kinder than these
grown-ups.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
CONFLICTING POWERS

NNE Of the oldest conflicts within the ma
~ chinery of the New Deal is coming up for
settlement just now. The administration is
bordering the overlapping fields presided ever
by the NRA and the federal trade commission,
and it is limited in Washington that these two
bodies eventually may be combined.
The federal trade commission is body set
up to see that industry be kept from making
large-scale combinations that might be against
public policy. It's theory dates straight back
to the old antitrust days. The NFA, on the
other hand, holds that large degree of in
dustrial combination is both necessary and
wise.
Thus, naturally, there has been a good deal
of conflict. 1t is high time that it be straight
ened out. The government can hardly fight
combination with one hand and help it with
the other
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
JOINS ATTACK ON
COURT BROADCAST
BY Disguised.

BY Disguised.
I listened to the broadcast of the
traffic court proceedings this week.
and heartily agree with the letters
that have appeared in your paper
recently.
was surprised to learn that the
courts could use so little judgment
in disposing of minor traffic cases.
It was an easy matter to predict,
when each case was called, what the
verdict and fine would be.
Three dollars and costs and I'll
suspend the cost for ya," was the
usual hasty decision.
Regardless Of the type Of viola
ton, the fine was the same. While
the cab drivers usually are accused
VI reckless driving, which I believe
is often unjust, one can not help
feeling sorry for the way they are
treated in traffic court. I know
their incomes must be very meager,
and still fines are meted out TO them
without any consideration.
1t is unfortunate that Indian
apolis must take the blunt end Of
such a publicity stunt. And still, as
long as such proceedings are taking
place. the general public should
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
ABOUT ROBINSON'S
MILITARY RECORD
Nv James F. Walker.

BY James r. WALKER
Replying to The Fighting Soldier
and Carl C. Reeves, will state that
Lii Arthur's war record is some
what like his record as a senator,
a rear admiral, always in the rear
out of notice, and admirably de-
spised by every one.
He must have been in the signal
corps also, for his performance on
the platform, waving his arms and
hands believing about the Consti-
tuition is evidence that the perfec-
ton was gained wig wagging sig
nails in the army signal corps. His
veterans bunk is an idea to prepare
for a raise in pay, because after next
January it will be his only source
of income.
You state you was once a Demo-
crat. If you ever was, you should
be one now, for we have for the first
time in history, men in state and
national Offices, men who have tried
to do something for the under dog.
This is evidence conclusive that
neither OF you ever voted the Demo-
cratic ticket in your life, for any
normal 5-year old child could I'M
derstand, or examine the records Of
the two parties and determine
which one has represented the
masses, and I suggest that you look
this up and you will find no Demo-
cratic Governors in the prisons and
none that stood on the statute OF
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01

BY j. Wilson White.
Agitation for reduced taxes be-
gins againn with consideration OF
budgets. Farmers are owners of
land and the land is worth more
than he will need during life.
Any man who pays high taxes
has something worth a great deal
more than he needs to live on,
and any good farmer does not
need to suffer for food if he is
industrious and Thoughtful to plant
the seed that makes all kinds of
food, as well as corn for hogs
and cattle. But IN calculating
profits he does not count in what
he eats.
AS to the man who has moth
ing but his hands to labor with
and poor as Jobs turkey with
only one feather left in its tail,
it takes all that he can make to
get by. How much have wealthy
farmers ever helped the poor?
How many farmers and real es-
tate men are willing to suffer
with a little emergency tax to get
the old age pensions started to
help the old and helpless men
and women that have no way TO
live, and no one to help them
live?
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

port lines, and used the airplane to bring re-
mote spots in the arctic and the tropic closer
10 civilization, we spend too much Of our
energy in developing the plane as war ma
chine.
An invention which brings all nations
closer together has served chiefly to make
war far more horrible than it ever was before.
Instead Of increasing our neighborliness, it
has increased our fears and suspicious.
It has even made US accept the fact that in
future wars We shall visit death on women and
children, and not just on fighting men.
All this. Of course. is in no sense the fault
of the men who build and fly the planes. 1t
is the fault of humanity everywhere-human-
ity which solves the secret of flight and then
uses its new knowledge to make the world a
more dangerous place than it was.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
HIGHWAY WARNINGS

NEW JERSEY authorities, aroused by the
rising toll of traffic Deaths are trying to
impress the dangers of reckless driving on the
minds of motorists by painting white crosses
on the highways at spots where accidents have
occurred.
This is similar to the stunt Ohio once tried
putting up a wooden cross by the roadside
at the scene of every traffic fatality. 1t was
sound and logical scheme, although for some
reason Ohio has since given it up.
A little reminder like that is bound to have
a SOLDERING effect on the not-too-careful driver.
When you have passed three or four little
warnings, like that, in the course of an after
moons drive, you automatically pay a little
more attention to your driving.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
LABOR DAY

IT is ironical that this Labor day will find
= the nation SCARED by widespread unem-
ployment and industrial strife
From 100000 to 100000 workers are
jobless. The cotton textile strike beginning to-
night and involving some $4,000 men and
women I'm thirty-one states. the wooden strike
of approximately 10000 more. swell the total
Of strikes to a figure far in excess OF any in
rccent years.
Beside these major walkouts there are up
ward Of leo smaller ones.
Behind this unhappy picture, of course, lie
grave evils in our economic system. But more
TO the point is the fact that the vast New
Deal mechanism the government developed to
establish industrial justice and maintain peace
seems TO have failed so far to do either
The administration and congress have taken
a year and a half to build this elaborate bull
wark against industrial chaos. They did it
not out of a sense Of justice only. but because
it was automatic that recovery could not be
won or sustained without high mass purchas-
ing power. They we're backed not only BY the
workers and general public. but also by most
employers
Why is it. then. that at the time when its
services for prevention, for adjustment, for en-
forcement are most needed, the NRA is en-
gagcd in chickering's and personal politics? Why
IS it that the National Labor Relations Board.
with its otherwise spendid record and its great
decision today in the Houde collective bar
gaining case. should have delayed in meeting
this larger crisis? Why. with all its powers,
has the government been 50 futile in enforce
ment2
Labor cay 1884 is a challenge to the gov
eminent and 10 Americans generally to make
our New Deal work. We have the laws. But
We need wise and courageous men to enforce
them.
With fortnight compliance and enforce
ment. Labor day next year can be a happier
occasion than today.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01

SATURDAY. SEPT !. 1884


A FTER today's unanimous decision Of the
1 ANatonal Labor Relations Board in the
Houde case there should be no more argument
about the meaning Of collective bargaining
under the recovery act. The Law means that
an employer must attempt in good faith TO
reach ar agreement on hours. wages and work
ing conditions with representatives freely
chosen b. a majority Of MS employees in any
craft or class
The only room for legitimate argument
regarding ma iorty rule is as TO the unit Of
Tepresentaton-vhether the entire plant or
separate groups Of workers. depending upon
the nature 81 the work and similarity Of condi-
tiors
The board in stating that it stands upon
the majority rule" points out that this is in
accord with American traditions Of political
democracy" and with the long-estabIished
meaning Of the term collective bargaining"
This is "the only Interpretation Of Section
IA tof the recovery acO which can give effect
to its purposes that the representatives of
the majority should constitute the exclusive
agency for collective bargaining with the en-
ployer"
As proof Of its contention that this inter
probation is not novel and that similar pro-
visions have been made whenever the ques-
ton has presented itself" the board cites de-
cisions Of the national war labor board under
William Howard Taft the railroad labor board,
the congressional hearings and debates on the
recovery act and the labor disputes resolution,
decisions OF the first national labor board and
Of the petroleum board and the Roosevelt
executive orders Of Feb. l. and June %, 1884.
Finally it recalls that the United States
supreme court found the majority rule prin-
Ciplcs laid down by the railroad labor board to
BE- Just and reasonable"
But this Houde case decision is as impor-
tant ON the negative as on the positive side
tt specifically states that it does not deny
the right to minorities to present grievances;
nor compel employees to join the majority or
gauization: nor force a closed shop: nor pass
upon an employers duty when the majority
union is discriminatory in membership or or
ganizatlon. or otherwise abuses its privileges
nor when only plurality is represented; nor
does the board lay down any rule as to what
shall constitute the proper unit of representa-
ton
This decision impresses US as Just. and care
fully limited TO the practical requirements of
effective collective bargaining as guaranteed
by both practice and law. If it is enforced by
MIRA and the department of justice there will
be fewer strikes. better work for the employer,
larger purchasing power and long step
toward the productive industrial peace which
is the basis Of prosperity.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
TaTes and Old Age Pensions

Ofiials cry for high salaries in
times like these when thousands
of men are only making small
amount of money for food and
rent each month. These officers
are getting high and steady sal
aries the year around. They
should consider the poor men that
voted for them who are now
struggling to get by.
Helpless old age seems to be
unnoticed by politicians in max
ing speeches. 1 have heard none
mention it.
Thousands of voting old pension
applicants with their relatives and
friends, aggregating thousands OF
Indiana voters, have their eyes
open to see if there will be any
cutting in the old age pension
budget.
The old age pension law should
have first attention.
The eyes of real estate men are
watching the budget adjusters
and so are the eyes of thousands
of the voting friends of pension
applicants. The days are ending
when the words of political boss
like D. c. STEPHENSON can be law IN
Indiana.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
CAPITALISM BRANDED
AS REAL DEVIL
By Charles Burton.

By Charles Burton.
Capital punishment should not
be administered, if at all, except
to murderer whose guilt has been
established to the satisfaction Of the
great ma jority of the persons in the
community of which the accused is
part.
If William II really was the devil
behind the European war in which
sc, 100000 young men lost their lives
and if Thomas Mooney really was
the devil behind the San Francisco
explosion in which ten citizens lost
their lives, punishment of death
might be urged with much show OF
reason as a special necessity, but II
both were hung on the same gal
lows, the world would go on suffer-
ing by the ever recurring and closely
related misfortunes of war and riot
as if nothing had happened.
The real devil behind all war and
riot is the capitalistic system. There
never will be an end Of war and
riots until this devil is overthrown.
Just now the human part of the
world is especially afflicted by I'M
necessary and therefore unjustifla-
BILE deaths. The Governor of Cali
fornia, should save Thomas
Mooney, the revolutionist, as PLATE
the governor of Judea, according to
the verdict of all right thinking
men and women, should have saved
Jesus, the revolutionist.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
WHAT WILL RESULT?

THE national air races, where the fastest
planes and the most daring fliers in the
land are put through their PAGES before a vast
crowd of spectators remind one, somehow, of
the jubilance of child playing with a fine
new toy whose full use he has not quite dis
covered.
That. as a matter of fact. what modern
aviation itself is like. The air races simply
bring Its chief characteristics into focus
These planes are masterpieces of skillful
design and construction. The short, stubby
racers. the graceful gliders. the sturdy broad
winged transport planes. the grimly beautiful
machines of the military services-these are
artistic creations. in a very real sense su-
premely fitted for what they are supposed
10 do.
The men who fly them, likewise, are artists.
They have taken a brand-new craft, made
their own precedents, and developed their own
skill In so far as an incalculable element like
the air can be mastered. they have mastered it.
And yet. when all this is admitted, there
remains the fact that We are still little bit
foggy about the uses to which We shall put
these fine planes and the men who fly them.
We nave here an instrument which is
completing the job of shrinking the world
down TO pocket size-a job that began when
men discovered the principles of clipper ship
construction. continued with the steamship
and railroad train. went still further with the
telegraph and telephone, and came down TO
date with the automobile and The wireless.
But while We have set up far-fung trans
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
SOME CONSIDERATIONS
OF PRISON CONDITIONS

BY Mrs. William Myers.
have read so much in The Times
of prison conditions. I have keen
interest in this great work and read
every bit of it. My heart goes out
to imprisoned men and women. In
so many cases, they are young men
who have risked their lives to get
money to keep up with a fast set.
After all, sin is to blame.
I don't know anything about
prisons, but do know this-these
men are restless. They never can
be reformed unto peace. They will
have to be regenerated.
I so often have wondered how
much room is given to Gods work
in our prisons and who brings Gods
message to these men. Is it spirit
filed soul who has a love and pas
sion for the souls of men, or is it
some one who is paid to do his lit
tie part?
I think the prison question is one
which the nation should be in
interested in. l am in favor of bet
ter and bigger prisons, with plenty
of room for churches which preach
repentance and let these men find
rest in Jesus. Gods forbearance
must never be mistaken for laXness
in government. There can be no
love of God and no forbearance of
God that is not also just.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
THESE GROWN-UPS

From column called "Mugwump Mus
ingS." BY Marion EIet in the Concordia
tKanI Blade-Empire.l
ONCE a pretty young student at the Uni
- verSity Of Oklahoma died in her effort to
avoid maternity. and since murder charges
have been fled against the boy who was her
lover. the papers have been full Of pious edi-
torialS shout the wages OF sin. And OF course
the sin under discussion mas been that OF the
two young peOplc who loved one another.
Nothing has been said about the sin OF the
parents or the sin Of society.
Al least nothing vas said until the boys
father himself broke down in the extremity Of
his grief and confessed that the blame was
partly his because Of his attitude OF uncom-
promising intolerance toward his children. 7
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
TO EVE
BY EuGENIE RICHART


You, like the older Eve,
Coming to grief,
Have not a refuge left,
No shielding leaf.
Mourn that lost innocence,
Splendor so brief.
Startled, young, aimless feet,
All the world lies
Ready to roam in.
What's Paradise?
Even bland apples may
Hold a surprise.
Under a tree at night,
You viii find rest
When you forget again
Love is not best;
When you recall
Adams head at your breast.
Eve, there are places yet
Sweet for reposing.
Find them, and then forget
Heavens gates closing.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-01
q = =
MINIMUM CHARGE FOR
CURRENT ASSAILED
Nv w. H. Richards.

By w. H. Richards.
The minimum charges made by
he Indianapolis Power and Light
Company constitute gigantic grab.
Thousands of patrons Of the COM
pany are paying each month for
current they do not use, or in other
words, are paying rate Of two or
three times what it would be if
charged at the kilowatt rate for the
current consumed.
I have looked over the bills for the
last six months for my small shop,
where 7 have two small motors,
neither of which run anything like
fun time. The bills show that the