davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
INDUSTRIES OPPORTUNITY

WHILE electric power interests prepare to
W take the whole Tennessee Valley expert
ment to the Supreme Court. to see whether
anything in the Constitution enables Uncle
Sam to behave as he has been behaving in the
vicinity of Muscle Shoals, new proposition of
even greater interest is being made in con-
nection with a neighboring watercourse.
This one is the Monongahela Valley of
northern West Virginia. There is already an
extensive industrial development in this region
coal mines. steel mills. glass factories, and
wha-not-and Government experts have been
looking at the possibilities for a great power
project there.
But this time according to reports in Wash
ington. they are going to suggest that the job
be done by private industry and not by the
Government.
Many details still are to be worked out, of
course Whether the electric power which can
be had so abundantly in these 10 West Vir-
ginia counties should be generated by water or
by coal is still an open question.
The precise way in which housing projects,
industrial organization and power distribution
systems would be organized has not been
settled.
But the interesting thing is the suggestion
that this whole development be financed and
controlled by private capital with Uncle Sam
doing little more than offer suggestions and
exercise general supervision.
With the social objects that are being
sought in the Tennessee Valley no one has any
quarrel. Better housing, rehabilitation of back
ward rural areas, cheaper and more abundant
electric power, a regional plan which would
eliminate wasted effort and give every inhabi
tant a chance for better life-these are goals
with which no one can quarrel.
Objection to the program arises because the
Government is doing these things leaving little
room for private initiative.
The Monongahela proposal would be an ex-
celent counter-balance. BY this plan, private
initiative would have chance to show whether
it can provide the same social reforms.
If it should prove that it could-if the ends
sought in the Tennessee Valley can be made
available by private capital seeking a profit
then our traditional, profit-motive economy
would justify its right to survival in the mod
ern world
1t would be hard to think of better way of
comparing private and public projects of this
kind than to set up some such undertaking as
this, with the IVA alongside it as a yardstick.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
A BETTER DEFENSE

FOLLOWING the electric industry's an
nouncement of plans to test constitution
atty of the whole Tennessee Valley Authority
project. comes news that the Alabama Public
Service Commission has called private COM
panies into conference to consider rate reduc-
tons comparable with iva schedules.
The Alabama commission. hy its action.
pointed to the only effective way The utilities
can meet the New Deal challenge to make cleo
tricity a greater servant of humanity.
Public demand for lower rates-proved
feasible by IVA in Tupeio, Miss.-can not be
stemmed by attacks on the constitutionality
Of the act which created IVA. They only will
increase public conviction that existing utility
rates are unjustihed. Fees paid swyers will
increase the cost of private electric service
fees which. if saved, might be applied to the
saner method of meeting low-rate public COM
petition.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
POPULATION NEEDS ADJUSTMENT

A if American cities did not already have
= enough problems, a declining birth rate
is about to present them with an entirely new
one.
E o. Baker, specialist attached to the De-
partment of Agriculture. warns the American
Country Life Association that the American
birth rate already has fallen SO low that the
national population ran not be maintained
permanently.
Nothing can keep our cities at their present
size, he says but heavy migration from farm
to city, and that will do the trick only for a
few more decades-at the cost, incidentally, Of
a drained and impoverished countryside.
Sometimes one is forced to suspect that the
race has managed to reach an end of whole
biological era. During the last two centuries,
there has been a tremendous expansion of
world population. The rising curve now seems
to be leveling Off
If national populations including our own,
are not to increase any more, or even to
diminish, some profound establishments will
presently be in order.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
MONDAY. DECEMBER 3 ias4
SPLENDID DECISION

THE Times frequently has pointed out that
= Judge John F. Geckler Of Juvenile Court
was temperamentally unsuited for judicial OF
fee. 1t is likely that he would make an ex-
tremely useful public servant, but We have felt
that as Judge ne was too prone to violence
and bursts of temper, that his court lacked
dignity and calm.
It was for these reasons that We opposed
him both in the primary and in the recent
election. We we're frankly disappointed when
the Democratic landslide carried him back
into Office.
Thus we we're pleasantly surprised at his
conduct OF the Mack case in which he showed
real Judgment and ability. 1t was not an easy
case for any Judge to handle. Here was
father who had committed cruelties of the
most repulsive sort upon his daughter
The very unnaturalness of parent who
would imprison his child IN dark room for
year revolted decent people. Yet Mack on the
other hand had none of the advantages OF
decent education or background. He had
served his country with honor during the war
Judge Geckler could have been as harsh
as he pleased without risking criticism. On
the other hand he might have given way to
maudlin sympathy for this unfortunate and
ignorant man. He did neither.
L have taken into consideration the fact
that this man served his country ..1 have
taken into consideration also the fact of his
limited education He had no conception
of what a father should be to his daughter"
said the judge.
There is nothing in the evidence against
the character of the stepmother. Society or
dinarily blames the stepmother for the things
that happen in a home where there is STEP
mother"
His sentence OF Mack to $50 days and
5000 fine is, we think, entirely just. 1t is long
enough to give this stupid parent chance to
mediate on his wrongdoing, but not so long
that the man can not still become a useful
member of society when he is released.
Judge Geckler was justly merciful in sus-
pending sentence on the stepmother AS the
Judge remarked, too many people are inclined
to blame a stepmother for everything that goes
wrong IN home. There are thousands and
thousands of devoted women who raise other
women's children and do as good job as if
they we're their own.
1t is gratifying to discover that Judge
Geckler has talents of high order when ne
chooses to display them. Let us hope that the
Mack decision is the forerunner of new and
better era in the Juvenile Court.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
MERIDIAN ST. HAS
ITS PARKING PROBLEMS
BY Jimmy Cafouros.

BY Jimmy Cafouros.
On the days before holidays and
on Saturdays there is a surge OF
Joy amidst the traf1ckers on South
Meridian street. Ranged at every
available point next the curb and
far out into the line of traffic in
every conceivable fashion are trucks
hauling fowl and other creatures,
as well as shoppers, in all manner
of vehicles.
A good object lesson showing how
not to park is in force most any
Saturday and on similar occasions.
Many motorists no doubt are de-
touring to avoid this traffic horse
play while it has been whispered in
several quarters that others are re-
moving their tenders and other vul-
nerable accessories and deposit them
at home before venturing into this
mad house.
To thread ones way through
Meridian street on such occasion is
much like camel trying to squeeze
through needles eye.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
GOADING THE G. o. p.

ORGANIZATION of the Republican
N party along liberal lines was advocated
over the weekend by Senator McNary in
Portland. Ore, Chairman Mellen of the New
York county committee. and Senator Borah
IN washington These gentlemen foresee the
virtual death of their party unless it is re-
claimed from the Fletcher illes reactionary
machine.
Few will argue with them as to the need.
But many will be less optimistic as TO the
Young Republicans ability to capture the
machine. The need was equally apparent
following the New Deal victory in 1882 But
the Young Republicans could not prevent the
Old Guard from manipulating Chairman
Fletcher to conduct the disastrous 1884 cam
paign-
The job requires brilliant and courageous
leadership-which is lacking. Liberals like
Norris long since have dispaired Of party re-
organization. Borah will be II in the next
campaign. The McNarys and Vandenbergs are
lukewarm fellows Mayor La Guardia of New
York City. far ADLER than any Of these. is an
outsider. OF the Senates younger liberals.
such as Cutting and Nye, none has national
following.
The Republican party lost its best chance
for reorganization around a new leader and
new policy when it lost Senator La Toilette.
II LaFoIlette continues in the next congress,
IS in recent sessions. to be TT INST vigorous
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
FAIR COMPETITION IN
TRUCKING is URGED
BY o. L. Davidson.

BY o. L. Davidson.
I noticed an article in The Times
and also other Indianapolis news
papers in regard to what was termed
Wildcat Trucking and Wildcat
Mines" Your paper was much fair
er on the subject than one of your
competitors.
I will admit that there are crooks
in everything you see or hear about.
But I, for one, buy the genuine
Brazil shaft COAL" and have each
load or part of each load weighed
on w. MorriS-st. and never have
delivered or had delivered coal but
what it weighed from so to 900
pounds overweight.
Then another thing: I do not
know of a small mine around Bra
I'll that has a siding, and all of
these mines work from two to nine
men. Consider the gas tax our state
gets from these trucks and the en-
ployment afforded. tt is great
help to the unemployment situation.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
REVAMPING RELIEF

NEW believe the Administration will ask
L Congress for as much as the reported
eight or nine billion dollars for work relief
next year. The Government has neither the
machinery nor plans for wise expenditure OF
that amount in year.
But all who understand the seriousness OF
the relief and unemployment problems nope
a practicable plan to enable more men and
women to earn their living will be evolved
from the Presidents conferences at Warm
Springs with his aids
Reckoned in dollars, work relief is more
costly than doles. but the social advantages
can not be disputed.
Few proposals for providing jobs by Gov
eminent spending promise speedy results
Plans are ready and actual work can be
started on a large scale this winter in refores-
tation. elimination of railroad grade crossings
and construction of new highways. But high
way building has been overdone in many
places. 1t would be wasteful to sink much
more money in roads at this time, especially
in view of the relatively meager work relief
which this type of expenditure brings.
Except in building homes for the needy
along the line started by the Administrator
rural rehabilitation program. little can be ex-
pected from a Government low-cost home
building program this winter. Stun clear
ance and low-cost housing of the type spon-
sored by Secretary Ickes are necessary, but
they are essentially long range projects
Business revival remains the quickest and
hest alternative to relief doles.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
ALUMNI COULD EMPLOY
TIME MORE PROFITABLY

BY v. H.
The old gentlemen who totter back
to their colleges at commencement
and football games still mutter
into their boards at the lack of col
lege spirit. In their opinion, col
lege spirit is manifested by enthusi-
asm over football, by rallies on the
campus in which, over bonflreS, the
student body screams that it would
gladly skin knee for dear old Rut-
gers; in effect, by cauvinism that
shows the weakness of the collegiate
brain.
The very fact that a young man
is willing to spend four years fill
ing and training his brain should
enable him to give more relative
value to things. If he cares more
for football than for studying, ne
should not be in college at all. The
for ideas and for greater struggles
than ever took place between goal
posts. The tragedy is that we have
so few educated men among our
undergraduates.
College spirit should be pride
in the aims and ideals of all col
leges, the spirit Of an educated class,
the spirit of enthusiastic youth that
attacks the ideas of older people and
not the aimless yelling of children.
AS it is, we already have in this
country more egotism than is good.
I shall be glad, not when football
rallies are as wild and vociferouS
as they were in former years, but
when our eagerness is directed to
vital things. And if the old alumni
die of horror, let there die with
them the feeling that beating the
other team is more significant than
beating the prejudices and narrow
ness that still abounds in our Land.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
Builders Hold Prosperity KEY

come here and oversee it. No
man knows the other mans COM
munity as he does himself.
Let the government tell every
contractor who was in business
five years before the depression to
start work and call back all the
men he had working for him. If
all contractors would call all the
men back, about one-half of them
would be taken off the relief rolls
and the other half would come
out of factories, and that would
make room for some who are on
relief to find jobs in factories. In
about a week, lumber and build
ing material men would start buy
ing, the railroads would call back
their men which would take more
men off relief. In another week,
the saw mills would call their men
back and by that time, plumbers,
timers and furnace men would
be working
It would be common sense for
the government to loan this
money to put these men to work.
Some people will say they can't
sell or rent the homes they have
so why build more? If you put
the men to work, they won't have
to live as they are now with four
or five families crowded in one
house. Each family will get a
home. They will occupy all the
homes that can be built and there
will be a market for everything
that goes in a house.
There would be a buying wave
in this country in thirty days if
the contractors could get money
to start work.
Most contractors can start work
in two days after they are sure
they can get money.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03

BY Floyd Peterman.
Building is the only thing that
will put the country back on it's
feet. If the Government would put
the contractors back to work, it
would start the wheels rolling.
About one-fourth of our people
are depending on living from out
side work.
When the bankers told all con-
tractors five years ago to stop
building, that they couldn't loan
them more money, the bankers
would have known that when all
building stopped, the worst depres-
sion that the country ever had
seen would follow. 1t has.
The Government could stop this
depression at once if it would put
money working in the right place.
People don't want this charity, but
it is the only way out.
If the Federal Government
would put out as much money in
a business way as they do in a
charity, this country would get
some place.
This country never will get any
place as long as you see carpen-
tiers, bricklayerS, plumbers, plas-
terers and all building trade men
working on country roads or
standing in soup lines. Put those
men back where they belong and
they will start the wheels rolling
again. The Federal Government
should start this work with men
who have had the experience and
know how to run it. Don't get a
man from one city and put him
in another city where he doesn't
know the conditions in that city.
They are going to do some
building in Indianapolis and they
had to get men from Chicago to
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
THE TIMES IS LAUDED
FOR READING VALUE

BY Mrs. r. Caldwell.
long have been planning to
write you, telling you how much I
enjoy The Times.
I think you have a splendid staff
of writer's and columnists. I es-
pecially like Broun. Jane Jordan,
Mrs. Ferguson, the entire editorial
page and current events.
That and the rest of the paper
which is all Of it!
I only regret not having taken
the paper years ago. 1t constitutes
my chief source of recreation.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03

handing the enforcement of those
regulations already existing.
I read the traffic department
claims it is short of officers. I
should like to know if the other
officers who are not detailed par
ticularly to traffic are only officers
who can't enforce other laws out
side Of their own department., or
does their oath of Office cover all
offenses?
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
PUTS QUESTION ABOUT
RIGHT OF-WAY

BY Times Reader.
I see that you placed my letter
in the preferred space, but I failed
to see anything as to the question
I asked as to the law the driver at
the right having the right of way.
There is no red light at 2lst.-
st. and Sherman-dr. yet, and
I wish the board. or whoever has
the say, had been in my car one
morning. when there was misty rain,
when one could not see that column
under the railroad track ten feet
away, let alone see or know there
was a dangerous street crossing Just
back of the column.
The present generation doesn't
seem to know the meaning Of Web
ster's S. s. s., stop, Safety, Selfish
ness"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03

and not only that, but there are
two good-sized coal companies
hauling.
While we are on the trucking
problem, I am hoping we can do
something about Michigan, Tennes-
see and other states trucks hauling
produce in here but not having our
$3.50 license.
Yours for fair competition and
employment for all.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
FEDERAL AGENTS WHO DIED
ARE PRAISED FOR VALOR

By a Times Reader.
The two young federal officers
who sacrificed their own lives in
order to rid the country Of major
public enemy deserve the deepest
respect and gratitude Of every right
minded citizen.
They were two men who gave
their lives for their country as
bravely as any soldier on the battle
field and, in so doing, upheld the
most cherished traditions of our
nation since its foundation.
If we are to have any hero wor-
ship nowadays. let us worship real
heroes such as these men were in
place of glorified thugs.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
SCAR

BY HARRIET SCOTT OLINICK
I shall forgive your outwardly.
I shall be smiling. gay. and sweet.
You will be sure that I forget.
And you will think my hurt was
feet.
Oh, I shall love you as before,
And keep you on your altar place.
But I shall carry. hidden deep.
A red scar on my souls white face.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
Daily Thought

For I the Lord love judgment, I
hate robbery for burnt offering; and
l will direct their work in truth,
and I will make an everlasting COW
enant with them.-Isaiah, 61:5.
THERE is no killing the suspi-
L cion that deceit has once be-
gotten.-George Eliot.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03

pathetic looking figure-was entertained by
friends here over Thanksgiving Yesterday, ac-
companied by her sister. Mrs Ben Thaw, she was
glimpsed in the cocktail lounge of the May
flower Hotel before luncheon, tall, SLIM smartly
dressed in black-but very sad, despite all the
gay chatter around her.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
Capital Capers
BY GEORGE ABEL

MOST of the cabinet followed the presiden-
4V1 tial lead by spending Thanksgiving Day out
of town, but a season of buffet suppers cock
tail parties, and teas-and, naturally, the tradi-
tional Thanksgiving dinner-stil whet the ap-
petite of diplomatic and official gourmets.
Postmaster General Jim Farley pink
checked and jubilant-looking election results
have made him look like Santa Claus without
the whiskers) went to New York to spend the
holiday with his wife and children.
An admiring throng stood gasping as Jim
stepped into his limousine to be whirled to the
station.
Eat plenty of turkey. JIM" called some irrev-
erent onooker.
The bets as to what might happen to Jim
if he ate plenty of turkey would have made a
medical man look very serious.
II ATE my turkey right here in town." an
l. nounced Secretary Henry Wallace. He and
Mrs. Wallace had as their guest at Thanks
giving dinner the secretarys sister, Miss Ruth
Wallace.
Wallace likes the old-fashioned type of din
ner iwith cranberry sauce and many vege-
tables. The more vegetables people use the more
agriculture flourisheS.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT
DRIVE is SUPPORTED
By a Motorist.

By q Mot0rist.
I wish to compliment your paper
upon your drive to demand the en-
forcement Of the traffic regulations.
We do not need more laws, but
need drive by public opinion de-
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03

Premier Flandin is thinking of getting
France New Deal" President Roosevelt
may be glad to give him some Of ours. as .
starter.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
The Message Center

(Itmes readers are tnUtted to cypress
their Uiet0s in these columns. Make your
letters short, so all can have a chance.
Limit them to $50 0ords or tess.I
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03
Communists a

Communists are waiting for the day to set
up Soviet republic in Cuba. Perhaps the
approval Of sloppy Joe Is holding them UP.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03

Hitler should have Huey Long helping him
to furnish the comic relief in the German
drama.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-03

Justices of the Supreme Court spent the day
in secusion at their homes.
Only gay dog" in the lot seemed to be Jus
tce George Sutherland, who entertained group
of friends at Thanksgiving party in his home.