davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17

rash after the war. Most OF them are dead
letters. Several states have tried to repeal
theirs. states that did not pass such laws
have not suffered.
These two bills recall another peace-time
experiment in the suppression of ideas the
Alien and sedition Acts. that shocked both
jefferson and Hamilton.
Before their repeal these acts led to a reign
Of terror and eventually to the destruction Of
The Federalist party
Ideas are like dynamite. They explode
only II buried. Given free expression the most
dangerous" ideas become harmless The
crazior they are the less harmful. BY passing
ponderous laws against the expression of
crack Drained ideas we dignity such ideas.
1T is time enough" said Jefferson, for
the rightful purposes of civil government for
its officers to interfere when principles break
into overt acts against peace ard good order"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

NOTHING in American life is quite SO easy
to criticise as the administration of I'M
employment relief.
Here is job which, even if it should be
done perfectly, would stiI De bad job. Relief
is bad for those who receive it and, ultimately,
almost ruinous for the nation which has to pay
for it. And since its administration needs
wisdom seldom found on this imperfect earth
it is bound to accumulate series of abuses as
time goes along.
We read, currently, that all Federal doles
are to end by Nov. l, by which date people on
relief Will either be back at work or supported
by the states and cities; that President Roose-
welt doubling that this can be done, has sum-
moncd his advisers to prepare estimates on the
cost of relief for next year; that people on re-
lief are getting so used to receiving something
for nothing that they often refuse to take
jobs that are offered; and that relief syste-
matically undermines the morale of its recipi-
ents, building up a permanent pauper class
which doesn't care much if it never gets back
to work.
The publication of all these stories within a
few days of each other simply testifies to the
extreme difficulties that any relief program
must cary with it. And yet, while we admit
that the problems of relief are very great and
pressing it ought to be pointed out that the
relief question is only a symptom and not a
disease.
The real trouble is not relief but the unem-
ployment which makes relief necessary.
This truth is so obvious that it would be
silly to STATE it. if it were not for the fact that
the relief problem has been dragging on for so
long that it actually has obscured the under
lying cause.
The evils of relief may be ten times as bad
as the most pessimistic people say they are;
but the remedy for them is not to discontinue
The relief program but to stimulate employ
ment SO that relief program is no longer
necessary.
That, in the last analysis, is the only solu-
ton
1t does no good at all to sit back and moan
about the evils of the dole AS long as wide
spread unemployment exists, the dole must be
continued, no matter how expensive it is, or
how ruinous to its recipients morale.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
THAT GRADUATED IDEA

WHEN he proposed graduated tax on
w corporation incomes, the President sug-
gested a schedule ranging from 1914 to 1874
per cent.
The House Ways and Means Committee
narrowed the spread down to l per cent
from 1874 to 14h.
No attempt was made, nor we believe, can
be made. to Justify on an ability-to-pay prin-
ciple a tax which falls heavier upon the small
stakeholder of a large corporation than upon
the large stakeholder of a small corporation.
Presumably, then, the graduated corpora
ton tax idea sprang from that other prin-
ciple of taxation which the President espoused
the principle that taxes should be levied lin
proportion to benefits received" Yet no at
tempt ever was made to show how the "bene-
fits received" yardstick should be, or could be,
applied.
We ask for enlightenment: If a graduated
corporation tax can be justified, under any
fair principle then why wasn't the real spread
in the original Roosevelt rates retained? If it
can not be justified, then why even per
cent spread in the bill?
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17

THIS depression has more peculiar angles
than you can shake stick at and one of
the most peculiar seems to be provided by the
craze for gambling.
Thus We learn that race-track betting in
such a representative state as Massachusetts
recently attained an all-time high with 10000
patrons of three Bay State tracks wagering
the amazing total Of se56.343 in a single day.
This summer, an unofficial tabulation
shows that New England bettors have put up
approximately s3OOOO,OOO at various New Eng
land tracks.
This flood of money to the race tracks is
a hard thing TO understand. The depression
is not over-not by many millions in relief
expenditures. Yet some one. somewhere, is
more able to bet on the dogs and horses than
ever before. What's the answer. anyhow?
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
ROGERS AND POST

News Of the death Of VIII Rogers and
l Wiley Post leaves every American with
a sense Of deep personal loss. These two Ok
lahomans were more than national institu-
tons Although for different reasons, bot
had won the honor and affection of the hum
blest Of lis.
The scene OF the tragedy cold and fog
bound Alaskan tundra on the rim OF civiliza-
tion-was particularly uniting stage set
for VIII Rogers last act. He was Of the stuff
of sunshine on the pra5ses.
This young repubIc-and our own Indian
apolls-win hardly seem the same without its
gum-chewing wag philosopher and statesman
without portfolio. VIII Rogers role had come
to be a mighty important one. It was, like
that of the kings Jester. to puncture the pre-
tentions Of little men in high places.
He kept reminding them all that under
their high hats and gold braids they were
nothiug but folks like himself and his cow
puncher friends. But the fun he poked at
Republicans and Democrats. at Presidents,
princes and the rest. while full of salt, was
never bitter The tinscl of HOLLYWOOD the
money he made, the great audience he COM
manded put no mark on him. He never dressed
up Either literally or hguratively. He even
played polo in blue denim.
Since Mark Twain there has not been born
to America a more authentic humorist. And
he understood his complex time quite IS
thoroughly. he was growing wiser, more toll
Grant and more life-loving with the years
What a rare old man he would have grown to
be-
Wiley Pest too was humble in his great
achievements. His incredible aerial adven-
lures almost dared the gods to 90 their worst
with him. He lived dangerously. and. although
young. he seemed TO have shared the plight of
Alexander. who sighed because there were
no mOro worlds TO conquer.
WIN Rogers and Wiley Post were two
great souls and two great personalities If
our religion embraced a Valhala We would
know they are both there. EARNING ana pok-
ing flm at the other heroes Of the ages.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17

DOUBTLESS because it had nothing par
- IRREGULAR to do one hot afternoon this week
the House judiciary Committee reported the
Kramer bill. As Congressman Maury Nav
erick Of Texas said, this is the 'ill-favored
twin Of the Tydings-A IcCormack BILL less
recently reported by the House Military Al
fairs Committee.
The Kramer bill would subject to 10 years
Imprisonment or $4,000 fine or both. any
ono who advocated ~ speech or writing the
overthrow Of the American government by
force or violence" The Tydings- Mccormack
bin Furnishes those who by speech or writing
try to spread ~disaffect on" among the nations
armed troops.
This bill should be relegated TO the waste
basket along with the military disaffection"
bill Both are needless. Both are fraught
with dangers OF abuse. Both are un-Amer-
lean.
The Kramer bill is a Federal replica of the
score or SO Of state criminal syndicalism" and
criminal anarchy" acts that broke out like a
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17

to work and live decently. But it
seems there is something that shuts
off this view from Mr. .Pettingill and
others of his type. I wonder if 1t
is the same obstacle that disturbed
their views on the utility bill.
Like Westbrook Pegler, they prob
ably think that the Townsend Plan
is a dead isue, but it is more aliva
today than ever before and grow
ing rapidly A thing that is right
is not so easily killed.
1t has been figured that a per
cent transaction tax will keep the
plan going and who among us would
not welcome such a chance to have
prosperous times again? 1t would
cost the government nothing. 1t
would simply be the people putting
their money into this revolving plan
that would keep every thing moving
and your 2 per cent would come
back to you with interest. And you
would have the satisfaction or
knowing you had helped break the
depression and therefore been a
blessing to the world.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
SATURDAY. AUG IL ,aas


II ME courage that is inherent IN the family
= name was required for the losing fight
that Senator Robert W. La Toilette conducted
for broadening the base Of the income tax
he was defeated by the same sort Of trans
parent politics that has characterized the con-
duct OF the tax bin from the start; vote-fear
that makes Senator's and Congressman shrink
from levying visible taxes on those who cast
the ballots.
It is that vote-foar which brings those hid
den methods Il taxation which raise two
thir@s Of our Federal revenue; taxes that fall
heaviest on the poor and middle classes and
lghtcst 81 the rich.
What Senator La Toilette would have done
would have been to institute fundamental
change in the tax policy Of this nation. He
would have instituted visibility to the point Of
ultimate elimination Of the invisible nuisance
and sales taxes. But to have done so would
have brought to The income tax rolls nearly a
million and a half citizens. in addition to the
rich and very rich already assessed in the bill
under discussion. such thing was political
dynamite. and So Senator La Toilette lost.
He knew he had lost before the vote was
speech with which his defeat va accom-
panied there was a prophetic note when he
said:
II have made this statement because I
wanted to have the amendment in the record
and because I firmly believe that ultimately
the Justice Of this proposition viii appeal even
to the taxpayers who would be affected
Prophecy. like courage, is a family trait
with the La FoIettcs. and the incident in the
Senate chamber is reminiscent Of the time
when the elder La Toilette back in 1906, speak
ing against the system Of railway rates and
rebates that then prevailed. was left alone eX-
cept for the presiding officer and one Senator,
al other Of his colleagues having walked out.
AS this organized rcbuke reached its climax
old Fighting Bob" La Toilette paused in his
remarks to say.
II can not be wholly indifferent to the fact
that Senators by their abesnce at this time
indicate their want of interest in what may
have to say. But the public is interested. IN
less this important subject IS rightly settled,
seats now temporarily vacant may be perma-
nently vacated by those who have the right
to occupy them at this time
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
IMPROVEMENT NEEDED

MANY a resident of large Midwestern city
~ the other day undoubtedly read with
combination of doubt and shame some figures
government with the aid of CWA and FERA
work-relief people.
The figures showed:
That 1906 families in that citys metro
politan area are living in homes unfit for
human beings to dwell in.
That there are % .258 families without tubs
or shower baths.
water.
That 57O2 families still light their homes
with kerosene lamps
That there are l4108 families without the
sanitary necessity of a private indoor toilet.
All this is no reflection on that city, which
was Cleveland. Official figures on conditions
elsewhere show that there are many cities
which Go not stack up SO wei In fact, Cleve-
land is one of the better cities in regard to its
general standard of living.
OF course there were also redeeming
features showing the efforts that are being
made to advance the standard of living
For instance, there are 1851 wage earners
in the city who ride to work in automobiles
There are 572Ol families using electric refrig-
orators. There are 14,2O3 families with two or
more automobiles.
1t is not necessarily a black picture at ALL
for it shows clearly that many, many thousands
of workers are living in a comfort that could
scarcely be imagined by workers in any other
country in the world.
Nevertheless, the inadequate standard
available to even small minority is blot on
any city and a danger Surveys like this are
the first step toward improving the conditions
they expose. For unless we first get clear
picture Of our shortcomings, it is hard to move
toward better things.
Every city would do we'll to think about
these statistics, for no city can afford to allow
such conditions to exist without making a de-
termined effort to better them.
Further. the potential domestic market for
housing, plumbing lighting and similar i'm
provenents is clearly shown. 1t waits for the
time when the people lacking those vital things
set enough money to buy them.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17

Beech Grove-men who have spent
their lives there learning trades,
who are married and have families
and are trying to buy homes but
can't get on this work relief.
1t looks to me like that work
should be divided up between the
old and young men. We have strug-
gled along to buy homes and now
we have no work to keep payments
going. I think the old men should
be given a weeks employment with
the same amount of work to the
young men. I would like to know
from others who were laid off from
the Big -Four and would like fer
them to express their opinion
through The Times.
Come on, Big Four, give us all a
chance,
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
UPHOLDS BROUN'S STAND
| ON NATIONAL SITUATION

c. J. Jones
Robert Taylor does not like the
attitude of Haywood Broun. After
writing some sarcasm in Thursdays
Message Center he finally ends with
the innuendo that Broun may
also be guilty of the irrevocable sin
of intolerance"
I hasten to the defense of Mr..
Broun. The point seems to be that
the accuser has intolerance mixed
up with a fight for economic justice.
I ask is interpreting the truth ard
getting facts straight to the dis
arrangement of greed, special priv
leges and plain bally-hoo the cir
revocable sin of intolerance?
"Hayseed," as the gentleman
calls Mr.. Brun, even though he has
spent most of his life in New York
City, is against the editorial policy
of the New York Herald Tribune,
because Of its reactionary conServa-
tism as typified in Herbert Hoover
the old noise of the full dinner pail,
while working people are made to
suffer more and more through the
greed for larger profits and CEN
tralization of wealth. The same
thing goes in lesser degree for the
New York Times. Mr.. Taylor calls
it certain national ideals. Doesn't
honest intelligence demand that we
recheck and overhaul certain of our
national ideals, particularly that of
getting all you can, just so long as
it is within the law and to hell with
the other fellow?
And if Mr.. Taylor thinks William
Randolph Hearst is a liberal jour-
nalist, am afraid he is miSin-
formed. Hearsts newspapers cater
to the uneducated and sensation
loving type. That is in order to get
circulation and advertising, but as
far as social and economic philos-
ophy are concerned, Hearst is an
aristocrat, and as near to dicta-
torship as any one we have in this
country.
Which of us is not intolerant to a
certain extent, but if a fight for
Justice is intolerance it is about time
vast majority of us were becom-
ing more so. When has this coun-
try ever witnessed a more pathetic
scene than during the reign of
/ Hoover when honest, working
men. women and children tainted
from malnutrition while standing in
bread lines? Shall we tolerate that
again?
Every person in this country with
a passion for equality. justice and
democracy owes a debt to Haywood
Broun for putting into clear, con-
else statements just where the
snake in the grass may be found.
And who, Mr.. Taylor. is not intol-
Grant of snakes?
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17

BY Reader
Only a few times in the life of
a generation of people does there
come that bombshell of informa-
ton that shocks them, makes
them stand breathless, makes
them sorrow for days.
Most of us have some remem-
brance of the announcement of
the declaration of war against
Germany. Most of us remember
the Shenandoah tragedy, and
most of us remember that gray
morning when the newsboys
yelled up and down the street
their terse story that Baby Lind
bergh had been kidnapped.
Of such appalling magnitude
was the news yesterday that Will
Rogers and Wiley Post were killed
in an airplane crash in Alaska.
1t stopped the nation in its tracks.
1t seemed unbelievable. But it was
confirmed by the terse, unimagi-
native report of the United States
Army Signal Corps, which had
known it for almost II hours be-
fore the world was told.
Will Rogers, one of the greatest
contemporary entertainers. Color
fully American, he had tried his
hand at everything from punch
ing COWS to the cinema. AS he
grew older he grew dearer to
great many people in the United
States and the world. His hu-
morous and philosophic comments
we're the reading and picture It'd
bits to hundreds of thousands.
Hundreds of thousands of peo-
pie will remember him as he APP
peared in his various pictures.
Fewer will remember him as he
appeared with the Follies and
hoped his rope and chewed his
gum and ratified off his peculiar
blIr1Or
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
LdnlentS Plane TrdQedy

Hundreds of thousands more
will remember his radio shows.
One in particular comes to mind
the time he spent about Is min
utes kidding members of the
United States Senate in front of
them.
In this show he got the biggest
laugh when he told John Nance
Garner to stop looking round for
a way to escape, pointing out to
him that there would be a poker
game Immediately after the
broadcast.
No so colorful, but just as i'm
portant, was Wiley Post. 1t so
happens that this writer knew
Wiley Post, met him and had bust
ness relations with him.
He was a fortnight person,
whose business was flying and
who was as hard as nails about
it. He had a genial way about
him when he greeted old
11ACI4Oo, DUG IlC always oCCItlCQ "
be in a hurry to get to the par
ticular job he had in hand.
News stories, for instance, had
it that he would scarcely speak to
reporters when one of his trans
continental stratosphere flights
failed, or when one of the alti-
tude ATTEMPTS was short of a rec
ord.
He was disappointed, and when
he was disappointed he was dis
gusted. He didn't like to fail,
and he did like to win. Fortu-
nately for him-and for the world
he generally won.
Yes, that was crash that was
heard around the world, and
will be regretted by people as a
whole and the aviation industry
w y,orfici,1or IT ic tO0 ha6
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
HERE'S A REQUEST FOR
SLEEPING AID

BY C. F. J.
Speaking of sleep! When is the
police department going to crack
down on the transcontinental trucks
and their rowdy exhaust explosions
which take occasion almost any
morning to awaken one and all,
especially if one and all live on an
arterial highway street?
I have been awakened many a
morning by what seemed in the
haze Of drowsiness to be the cackle
of machine gun fire, only in slow
tempo and louder mot funnier).
Buses make the same distressing
noises also, and something should
be done about them. 1t seems TO
me I remember some agitation
about this same problem several
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
TOWNSEND PLAN is
ALIVE, READER SAYS
BY John Nevins

BY John Nevins
S. B. Pettingill in his radio adj
dress said the need of the hour is
more recovery, not reform, to which
I agree. But he was one Of the
first of our Representative to de-
nounce the only plan thus far de-
vised that would bring permanent
recovery from this depression.
Our greatest need today is buy
ing power. The Townsend old-age
pension plan will supply that need.
1t would create a demand for every
thing that goes to make home what
it should be, thereby making work
for all classes of people. most Of
whom are praying for the chance
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
So They Say

I am convinced no power on
earth can attack US any more
Adolf Hitler.
I doubt if even the most sanguine
among our assailants think that
Republican success is possible in
Postmaster General Farley.
Clark, at heart, is religious, but he
can't be himself. Nh Williams calls
it movie madness" but I call II
Hollywood hypnosis. Mrs. Clark
Gable.
This country stands for sanity
Queen Wilhelmina Of Holland.
The New Deal is full of mistakes,
but the Old Deal is no substitute
Senator Peter Norbeck, S. D.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
SOnnetS of a
SOjOurner
BY BERTRAM DAY


We are descendants Of the ages past:
1t is worth while to make pill
grimage
To places that have lived and
seemed to last,
To see fine art which is our heri-
tage.
Go see the cradle Of the Renais-
sance,
For Florence is a light Of history;
She is the after glow, the utterance.
The treasure-house Of Platos
memory.
The Arno lave5 this Athens Of the
West,
Her golden current waits a new
born day,
Perhaps Savonarola with his test
VIII come again and show the
Spirit-way.
Men live in canvas, marble and
in books;
In architecture men reflect their
looks.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17

years ago, but the boys who drive
and operate the trucks seem to have
forgotten that at that time it was
ruled that only impolite motors
forgot to cup their exhaustS when
they helched
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
Daily Thought

Fear, and the pit. and the snare.
are upon thee, o inhabitant of the
earth.-ISaiah 24:17.
T IFE is thick sown with thorns,
IL and I know no other remedy
than to pass quickly through them.
The longer We dwell on our mis-
fortunes, the greater is their power
to harm us.-Voltaire.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
The Message Center

Times readers are jhUited to cypress
letters short, so all can hare a chance.
Limit them to ESQ words or less. Your
letter must be SiqHed, but names 1ouI
be roithheId at request OF the letter
tcriter.l
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17

Belgian paper-making industry is prosper
ing. Which is understandable in view of the
rate at which treaties are being turned into
confetti.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17

American soldiers moved to New York
training camp for maneuvers by taxicab.
When the bills come in, we'll have a public
debt that is public debt.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17
SUGGESTS WORK PLAN
FOR EMPLOYEES
Nv Tnemuioyed

BY Unemployed
I would like for you to publish
this in regard to the men who were
laid off from work more than year
ago from the Big Four shops at
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-17

NOTHING in American life is quite SO easy
to criticise as the administration of I'M
emnlovment relief