davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01
/. THE PuBLIc,s BUSINESS

EIGURES presented by Onlteo States haool
Il Statistician Lubin at the national housing
conference prove that slum elimination is up
to the cities and public housing authorities
DIR Iubin showed that unless the United
States raises the incomes Of workers lar ABOVE
even the 1929 level the amount the average
workman's family can pay for renting a decent
home is too small to interest private capital
In 1929, Dr. Lubin said, the average manutac-
turing wage-earner received $1,000 year, the
average communicating worker $1,4OO Now
the former gets 1915, the latter $3.50. A family
spends about 20 per cent of its income for
rent.
Hence, at the height of our so-caled pros
perity" American wage-earners' families hao
available for monthly rent between S21.50 and
s23 so. or about Sc a room for home OF 31z
rooms Apartments at Sc room do not at
tract private investors.
The answer to slum abatement therefore,
lies in municipal housing on large scale or
housing by public authorities or co-operatlves.
Limited dividend corporations can furnish
cheap-rent homes, but their services will large
" be confined to homes for the better-paid
workers. FOI SOOO dbI4 dSb4NCs NAAOoP SAAN~ 1890
ern homes cities must furnish the capital and
public-spirited citizens the brains and initla-
tive.
Cities should realize that slum elimination
is an investment returning tremendous dlVl-
dends not only in social values. but in actual
tax savings Langdon Post, New York Citys
tenement house commissioner. found that the
tuberculosis death rate in his citys slums
averages 113 per 100000 compared with u for
nonslum areas and So for New York as
whole. Sanitation, police, fire and health serv-
ices this year, he said, are three times greater
in these areas than the tax revenues they
yield
The federal government can aid the cities
In leadership standard plans, cheaper credit.
Even if the 500, 100000 Federal Housing Cor
poration were financed with new millions.
however, it could not do the whole job.
There are millions of disease-infested,
crime breeding, oul-destroying homes" which
the United States should blot from its cities
and towns 1t is the public's job, and the
sooner the public sets about it the better
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01
HELPING THE DEAF

A MOTHER sign of the awakening Ameri-
can conscience is a project being
launched by the federal Office OF education
and financed from civil works administration
funds that may result in better schooling and
training for deaf and partially deaf children.
To gather information corps of S75 job
less social workers in the next six weeks will
visit every state. Assisted by local workers
among the deaf they will prepare report to
guide communities and states in training these
handicapped children for useful employment.
According to a recent estimate 100000 children
in the schools are so afflicted with bad hear
ing as to need special training Very few states
provide proper courses.
For the hale and hearty. living has become
e chore in these uncertain days. The handi-
capped carry double burden. Public moneys
spent in making them happier and more eff
Gent viii not be wasted.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01
A Woman's Viewpoint
. BY MRS. WALTER FERGUSON

DUT how about the first family
ID and our pretty little myth?
Surely you're not ready to tell me
the President is having an easy
time or that he lazies around
much. Yet from all read in the
papers Mrs. Roosevelt doesn't find
it necessary to be at the front
door when he comes home after
long sessions with the cabinet, or
tits with congress, or bouts with
NRA complainers. Like as not
she's flying off somewhere to make
a speech, dedicate a corner stone
or to attend a convention.
According to the new deal in the
White House, then, it's taken for
granted that wifely devotion and
love can be demonstrated in other
ways than bringing in the slippers
and smoothing the weary brow.
And if the President gets
through these first four years alive
and well, and if Mrs. Roosevelt
dashes about as fast as she has
done in the past ten months, I
shall know for sure that another
illusion has vanished. Good rid
dance perhaps. 1t may be that
men could get more done without
us puttering around taking care Of
them.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01
MEN AT TOP COUNT

THE troubles that af1ict the great city of
= New York are New Yorks own concern.
Now and then. however, the rest of the coun-
try can get an instructive lesson by looking
at them.
Just at this moment New York has a new
city administration which actually seems set
to inject a little honesty and determination
into the processes of law enforcement.
1t has taken a number of steps toward this
goal the most spectacular being the raid on
the Welfare island prison where the most APP
palling conditions of graft, neglect and incom-
petence ever disclosed in any American prison
were revealed.
And the interesting thing about it all is the
fact that the authorities seem to have very little
real trouble in their task of showing the under
world who is boss.
They are cracking down on the crooks, the
gamblers. the gunner and the hard guys with
the same police and inspection agencies that let
these gentry flourish like the green bay tree
under the former administration. Changes
have been made at the top, of course, but the
rank and file remains the same.
A thoughtful citizen who looks about him
and sees how firmly the underworld can get
intrenched in a city's life often is moved to
despair. Gangs racsets and corruption exist
with the tolerance of the police. How, asks the
citizen, are you ever going to smash them
without first getting an entirely new police
force2 And how, considering all the diff
culties is such thing practically possible?
1t isn't possible-but it isn't necessary,
either.
It's the attitude at the top that counts The
ordinary policeman, the man who pounds the
pavement and gets the evidence and makes
the pinch, will give just exactly what is re-
ouired of him in the way of service.
If little is asked, that's what he'll give; If
much is asked, he'll give that-cheerfully and
effectively
What we are getting in New York is simply
a large-scale demonstration Of this fact.
The same enforcement agencies that winked
at crookedness a year ago are jumping on it
with both feet now.
Smashing gangs really is one OF the SIM
plest of Jobs. A city administration that really
wants to do it can do it. All it needs to do
is tell the cops
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01

that trial ought to be as basiness-like and
straightforward as is humanity possible.
If it fails. it ought to fail because Of its own
inherent contradictions and not because Of po-
litical ineptitude.
What We are getting now is a discomfort
ing hint that our political machinery is not
robust enough to carry the loadn ugly graft,
favoritism, self-seeking and plain, everyday in
efficiency can not be kept out of the operation
of these projects. they have small chance of
succeeding.
No chain is any stronger than its weakest
link. 1t is beginning to look as if the ordinary
variety Of politics is the weak link in the chain
upon which the administrations experiments
are pulling. If that link gives way, the expert
ments are very apt to flop.
Unless We can root political selfishness, stu
pidity and chicanery out of such activities as
the CWA, we will lose our chance to test those
activities upon their merits
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01

frenzied finance and fictitious pros
perity the building business was
overdone. I have travelled from
northern Michigan to southern
Florida; and, in every town, city
and rural district, there are numer-
Gus vacant residences and store
rooms. The removal of slums is
project of promoters, contractors
and real estate men.
Spend millions to remove some
sore spots in Indianapolis and they
will reappear elsewhere. The price
of the property for the indianapolis
Stun district is four times its mar
ket value
The idea OF creating new houses
in this district to rent for ST a room
is preposterous, when such tenants
can not now pay 81 for a four room
house. I know of an eight-room
residence on Ashland avenue, mod
ern in every way, and in the heart
of a fine residence district, that
rents for S22.50 a month.
With such conditions, it is foolish
to spend millions of dollars in order
to give promoters some graft and
union labor wartime wages, Until
the unions come to their senses and
reduce wages, no man will invest
his money in building He can rent
cheaper
If houses in slum districts can not
be built to rent for less than ST
room, it is folly to build them. The
government has no business wasting
money on such projects.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01
UNDEFILED HIGHWAY

THERE won't be any ugly billboards or
l. ramshackle hot dog stands along the
twenty -one-nile highway which the Tennes-
see valley authority is building in the vicinity
of Norris dam.
This highway will have 25o-foot right
of-way and all buildings erected along its
borders will have to conform to architectural
standards set by the valley authority.
Since the highway will cross country of
great scenic beauty, especial pains will be
taken to prevent the erection of any structures
which might cut of the motorists view.
This news is apt to make many motor
list wish that some similar regulation could be
laid down for highways elsewhere. No one
can take motor trip nowadays without
being obliged to look at a great number of
roadside eyesores.
twenty-one- mile stretch Of road COM
pletely lacking in such phenomena ought to
be q rare treat for the eyes.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
A CRISIS I'M COTTON

THE Roosevelt administrations agricultural
experiment apparently has reached its
greatest crisis thus far.
Entirely voluntary heretofore, the proposal
of compelling crop production is now ad-
vanced. and so seriously that Secretary of
Agriculture Wallace is conducting referen-
dun in the south to determine whether seine
sort of forced crop control would be accept
able there.
Mr. Wallace naturally says that "the gov
eminent itself is not proposing conpulsion"
in wishing to ascertain the sentiment Of the
south. He also says that he would be op-
posed to any measure in which the farming
operations Of any group or section would be
controlled against the viii of even q substan-
tial minority"
But, nevertheless the AAA is seriously in
quiring of $4,000 farmers and others in the
cotton south do you favor plan of COM
pulsory control of cotton production to COM
pei all producers to cooperate in cotton adj
justment programs?" 1t would not conduct
such a referendum unless it feared the fall
ure of its second voluntary program in the
south.
Heretofore, the agricultural adjustment adj
ministration has said to wheat and cotton
farmers: "If you reduce your acreage, the gov
eminent will lease your idle land, paying you
from taxes levied on the processing Of your
products"
Last season. the cotton south accepted
this proposal, so that finally 100000 acres
were taken from production. This seasons
goal has been 100000 In the wheat belt,
too, the response was good. Both sections
received large benefit payments.
But this season in the south the sign-up
campaign apparently hasn't been progressing
very well Recent official figures show an in
crease in winter wheat acreage.
Thus the voluntary programs have hit
obstacles Secretary Wallace pointed out two
important ones: First, the government has
no control over new lands, not eligible under
the voluntary plan, which may be brought
into production; and, second. it has little or
no control over intensive cultivation of land
left in production. Finally in both the wheat
and the cotton belts, those who have not
taken part in the voluntary control programs
menace their success
The decision to substitute compulsion for
voluntary cooperation Of farmers in con-
trolling crops would be a nonentous one. 1t
NAV have to be taken, at least in the cot
ton south.
But, in any event, the Roosevelt admin
istration can not retrace its steps. 1t can not
permit rugged individualism" again to bring
farmers to the borders of serfdom
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01

he was "just baby killer" mean
ing that the bandit was a killer Of
innocent, unarmed people.
The same editorial compliments
the law officials of Tucson for their
well-planned and brave work in
capturing the murderers. Notwith-
standing, those officials have been
slurred by the murderers as "dubs''
and chicks" This writer knows
from personal observation that there
are no drawer or more efficient law
officials between the two oceans
than those found in the southwest
and west, and this is not saying a
word against our own splendid Off
Gals.
Again, those "molls" who join,
accompany, aid, and abet murderers
should be handled as accessories and
receive the same penalties as the
bandits and murderers. No maudlin
sentiment should be shown them be-
cause they are females. A few exc
cutions along this line would ma
terially reduce the present crop of
''mollS." y
We hope The Times will keep up
its attack on murderers and "molls. ;"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01
MILK CONTROL

THE agricultural adjustment admiristra-
4 ton. having experimental with marketing
agreements and abandoned them as major
prop for the dairy industry. now tentatively
suggests a method of production control.
Like the problem of reducing cotton acre
age when thousands need cotton clothing and
reducing wheat acreage when millions are on
relief rolls, the milk program is offered, al
Though there are hundreds of thousands Of
children who don't have enough milk to drink.
1t is another phase of the lCp-sided eco
nomic situation that is causing deep distress,
and out of which the Roosevelt administration
hopes to lead US. ~
If milk production can be controlled. but
not to the point where city consumers will be
cheated of an adequate supply reasonably
priced: if it can be financed out of a process
ing tax, but not one so. high as to curD con-
sumption; if it is accompanied by additional
action aimed at reducing distributors profits
which Secretary Of Agriculture Wallace has
called unreasonable, this new experiment may
be justified.
> But, eventually. unless the distributors
control is broken-milk may have to be
handled by the government as a public utility,
and regulated-its prices. financial practices,
profits etc-as a public utility.
Meanwhile the new production control ex-
pertinent is proposed by NJ. Wallace. who
promises no miracles as a result.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01
POLITICS THREATENS CwA

THERE is something rather ominous about
all these reports of graft and double
dealing in operations of the CwA-
They have been widespread enough to cause
department Of justice agents to get busy. and
the story they tell isn't a pretty one. Public
officials in some localities calmly have put
themselves on the CwA pay rolls; in others
they have connived at a racket whereby CWA
men had to fork over part of their pay; in
others they have passed out jobs precisely as
rapacious city machine hands out plums at the
city hall.
Part OF this is due to local political condi-
tons, and part of it may be due TO the federal
administrations failure to proceed sharply
enough against the spoils system
There still are too many men who see in
government Jobs only a new opportunity to
reward deserving party workers.
But. whatever the cause of it. the net effect
Is TO raise grave doubts about the working-out
Of the vast programs now being put into effect
at Washington.
We don't know yet how far some of these
programs are going to so or how long they are
going TO last. Many people are convinced that
some. at least. OF these government projects
are profoundly unwise and ought to be aban-
doned.
But however opinion may run in those re-
spscts, one thing is obvious: Since We are
more or less committed to trial of vast ex-
sension Of activity by the central government,
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01

IT'S a dull week when Mrs.
l. Franklin Roosevelt doesn't fur
nish material for column. Let's
talk about her again today.
It's a well-known fact that she
has knocked down precedents and
conventions as reaper with his
sickle lays low the proud grain.
But that's not half the story.
For she has also destroyed an al
most sacred myth. I'm wondering
what the reaction is going to be in
the American home.
1t is a legend with us that men
engaged in great causes or noble
endeavors need at their side some
loving woman who will comfort,
cheer and uphold them. A thou
sand times We have been told that
they would fall in their tracks
without such daily feminine min
istrations. The brave, the strong,
the gallant can not bear their ire
mendous burdens of finance, pol
itics, industry or art lacking the
sweet touch of a Woman's hand.
All that old Angel in the Home"
stuff was kept going by just such
propaganda. We believed it and
if the men did not, at least they
pretended TO.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01
ALPHABET JUST PLUMS,
SAYS VETERAN

BY E. H. RAIDER
Abraham Lincoln said: "You can
fool all of the. people part of the
time and part of the people all Of
the time, but you can't fool all the
people all Of the time
MIRA and AAA and CCC and
CWA and PWA equal Democratic
political plums. Each of those Or
CARNATIONS and commissions are
under control of a bunch of politi-
cal appointees whose salary eats up
about one half Of the money allowed
to carry out the experiment. Some
body is getting fooled.
The senate and congress believed
that the good old U. S. was bank
rupt and persuaded them to pass
the economy act, cutting the COM
pensation of disabled veterans 25
per cent and then, for every dollar
so saved, expended $40 to help the
railroads, who, during the war, were
under government control, paid out
high salaries and bonuses to show
the said government that railroads
were a losing proposition.
Yet when the present seventy
third congress convened, they faced
an increased budget of ten billion
dollars. Again, somebody got fooled.
Before the November, 1882, cleo
ton the Democratic politicians pat
ted the veteran on the back and
said: Boys, Hoover turned the
police and the army loose on the
ex-service man. Vote the Demo-
cratic ticket, and vote it straight.
When we get in power you will get
your bonus and get it quick" Again,
somebody got fooled, and howl
The Democratic party is now CIV
ing employment to a few thousand
men, at a wage that they can exist
on but not live on, and saying pros
perity is here, as if present cond-
lions can keep up forever. Again,
somebody is getting fooled. The
present administration is now pat
ting itself on the back and
saying: What a big boy am"
1t doesn't seem to realize that Re-
publicans voting the Democratic
ticket put them where they are; but
wait until 1886, and again, some
body will be fooled
Yes, I am a disabled veteran. 1
entered the service at the age of %
on a contract to serve thirty years
and retire. I put in twenty years
of that service and was wounded in
action in France on the st. Mihiel
front. I was 50 on Jan. 10. I
can do any work that any man 50
can do, with one arm gone and full
of rheumatism I am at present
several payments behind on my
home in which I have the savings
of a life time invested. My sub
scription to The Times expires the
31St, but I will renew it if have
to go hungry in order to do so.
If any one tells you that the
economy act did not hurt the serv-
ice-connected disabled veteran, you
tell them for me that they are not
only fooling themselves, but are
also trying to fool you.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01
HOUSING PLAN BRANDED
AS PURE FOLLY

BY viii H. Craig
The new deal with it's numerous
and confused organizations has
dazed and confused the people.
While all wish the ends will justify
the means yet there are pitfalls and
dangers all along the way. Most
serious of these is the destruction
of the morale, initiative, and indie
pendence Of the individual.
Thrift and ambition to get on in
the world are things of the past. A
large portion Of our people are now
dependents end believe the govern
ment owes them a living.
Some workers in G. w. A. have
the audacity to strike for higher
wages and better conditions. In
many cases these workers don't earn
their salt. Their pay is a dole.
The Times is a supporter Of the
removal of sluns, and claims there
is a great shortage in building. The
trouble is that during the period of
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01
Phone Riley 1851
THvRspAY. FEB. ] 1879


.TEHE last time the Indianapolis Power and
Il Light Company made the empty gesture
of microscopic rate reduction it slashed
temployss' salaries Some means should be
found this time to protect the power ana light
.company's workers since the corporation itself
;does not seem inclined to do so.
/. This group Of Indianapolis wage earners
has been most shamefuly chivvied about
.during the depression. Records Of the COM
.pany show that when their salaries weIe re-
.duced by $4,000 s1r1e $4,000 vas added to the
Executive salary budget
In addition the employees were strongly
,urzed to put their savings into the companys
stock. Many Of them felt that there was an
.implcation when hey bought that the man.
.agement would buy back the certificates at
par if the employe at any time needed TO get
mis- money back.
ASK any light company worker whether the
company will repurchase at par the stock it
sold to its own people.
These public utility workers deserve far
better treatment than they have received.
Despite salary cuts they have never lost their
sense OF duty to the people of Indianapolis.
They are up at all hours and in all sorts of
weather making emergency repairs and main
tanning service.
When the rate reduction goes through this
time it should come out of the well lined
pockets Of the executives and the management.
Let the holding company in Chicago carry the
loss instead Of this f1ne group Of indianapolis
citizens.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01
FIRM AGAINST KILLERS
AND THEIR "MOLLS"

The Times should be congratu-
lated and thanked by all good citi-
zens everywhere for the sensible and
true analysis Of the real character
of the bank robbers and murderers
trapped and jailed few days ago
by the police and sheriffs Of Tue
son, Ariz.
This analysis was the first on the
editorial page Of The Times on Jan.
81.
AS the editorial truly says, rob-
bers and murderers are at heart
towards. They never attempt their
nefarious business unless they know
they have the advantage over their
victims. They would not dare to
enter a bank if they thought the
employees Of the bank were ready to
do battle with them. They would
run if they felt that such we're the
case.
The sheriffzat Tucson described
ione of them aptly when he told him
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-01
FREEDOM OF PRESS
BEGINS AT HOME

BY Frank Young
Every one has a right to his own
opinion, but I think they should
not be published in the Message
Center and, if you must continue
to accept such offerings, each
should have the full name and adj
dress Of the writer published with
the offering
There are lots of insulting and
unnecessary comments published in
this department; and, for one, I
think the space could be used to
better advantage. I know of sew
eral such editorials that have been
printed that show ignorance of the
subject mentioned and make accu-
sations that they know nothing
about.
So for one who has read your
paper since Nthe first issue (The
Sum, I think this department
should be abolished.