davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
HARRY HOPKINS

DRESIDENT ROOSEVELT could not have
l. found a better man than Harry Hopkins
to be the sparkplug of the four bnlion-dollar
works relief program.
Things hum wherever and whenever Harry
Hopkins sticks in his hand. Dynamic tire
less. purposeful. he knows how to slash through
government red tape. get at the heart OF
problem and force action.
The problem which he now tackles is one OF
the most serious in the nations history.
Nearly one-sixth of the population exists on
doles 1t will be Mr.. Hopkins job to make
the works program click, and transfer the
breadwinners of relief families on to pay rolls
Mr.. Hopkins has been a very human and
efficient relief administrator. The remarkably
few instances Of graft and favoritism in the
relief setup have been traced to state and local
officials and eradicated. No scandal has
touched his own operations or those under his
immediate supervision. He has resisted polit-
ical pressure without needlessly antagonizing
politicians. Almost overnight he organized
far-flung corps of relief workers, who, fired
by his own enthusiasm, accomplished an al
most impossible task.
A lesser man would have cracked under the
strain. But Mr.. Hopkins kept his balance
and his detectives A man with bureaucratic
type of mind might have been content in such
position of power over the lives of millions
But perhaps no other man in the country has
felt more keenly the inadequacy and degrada-
ton of the dole system.
His goal is a Job with living wage for
every American. AS head Of the works prog
ress division, he can move down new path
toward that goal.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
THE CITY HOSPITAL

THE City of Indianapolis would have more
l. basis for being justly proud of DR.. Charles
w. Myers, superintendent Of City Hospital, if
DR.. Myers were not so personally modest and
so professionally objective.
In the routine of the research depart
ment, it was disclosed yesterday in a news
story Of the annual hospital report, antidotes
for three heretofore invariably fatal poisons
have been discovered in the last two years.
feather in any ones cap if he chose to wear
feathers in his cap!
The report disclosed, too, that meals were
served last year, at an average cost OF
fraction over 10 cents each. That compares
very favoraby with other hospital dietary de-
partment records, and it tops achievements Of
good many other unsupported institutions
that aren't called upon to cook the expensive
special diets that are prepared daily at City
Hospital.
In making his report DR.. Myers showed
lively imagination and good news judgement.
1t should be expanded next year to include
even more of the interesting, important and
useful information that DR.. Myers and his
associates can CLEAN from the operation of an
important institution in this city.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
MASTERS OF SCIENCE

EAR up in the jungles of the Amazon there
l. is one of the most romantic railroads IN
the world; railroad, according to grim leg
ends. whose construction cost one human life
for every tie in its track.
This railroad is silent testimonial to the
power of the human race to triumph over
the most amazing natural obstacles. Built to
carry Bolivian rubber around the rapids in the
Madeira and Mamore Rivers, it runs through
fever-infested jungles from eastern Bolivia to
the town of Porto Velho, in Brazil
ocean steamers can dock here, more than
a thousand miles from the mouth of the ANA
ION; the railroad was built to give Bolivia
something resembling a seaport.
Its construction took years of time, thou
sands of lives, and millions Of dollars The
engineering obstacles were many; the region
was more unhealthy than Panama in its worst
days, what with yellow fever, tropical malaria,
and other maladies.
That the road could be built at all was
remarkable evidence of mankinds ability to
cope with nature at her most hostile.
But although men can defeat nature, they
can't beat their own blindness. What jungle
and microbe could not 90, human folly has
done. This railroad has triumphed over natur-
al obstacles only to succumb to the depression.
Writing in the current issue of Harper's
magazine, Earl Hanson tells how this railroad
has fallen on evils days.
1.-THE rubber business is on the rocks" he
writes. 1.-THE railroad doesn't pay expenses.
Two trains a month are now run each way.
Budgets are pinched alarmingly on the main
tenance and replacement side.
LET the process continue and the road will
eventually be abandoned. Towns full of white
men will be left stranded, and Inflammation,
now already going on, will be speeded up.
Everything is dying and slipping back to the
jungle"
And right here, in miniature, you have a
telling picture of what is wrong with the world
today.
AS far as nature is concerned, we have won
our age-old fight. We can build practically
anything we can imagine we can whip the
Jungle at its worst, take ocean ships to the
middle of South America, and connect them
with railroad in spot where even to build
a footpath would have seemed absolutely i'm
possible a generation ago.
But we can't seem to find way to make
things work after We get them built
Our technical progress-great enough TO
make the desert blossom like the rose any time
we choose-is at the mercy of our inability to
master the economics of modern society. We
have conquered practically everything except
our own stupidity.
The one thing that keeps us from making
a garden spot of the whole world is the SIM
pie fact that we are standing in our own
way. The decline of this dearly-bought South
American railroad is perfect example.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27

This device would not restore citizenship to
Mooney and Billings, or remove the stain Of
guilt the state has put upon their lives.
Pending in California courts is motion for
writ Of habeas corpus to free Mooney on the
ground that he was denied due process under
the Constitution in being convicted by lying
witnesses known by the state to be perjurers at
the time. The United States Supreme Court
has indicated that If this case comes to it via
state courts it will entertain the motion. Free
ing Mooney and Billings under such a wit
would put the blame where it belongs-on Cali
fornias courts.
Pending also are pardon applications. If
California wants to save its courts from the
odiun of having been used as instruments of
revenge instead Of justice, its Governor will
pardon Mooney and Billings without delay.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
SATURDAY. hPRn q. 1895.
THE INDIANAPOLIS SCHOOLS

UNLESS the indianapolis Schools system
- finds some way Of obtaining an unre-
stricted Federal grant, its services and per-
sonnet will be seriously impaired. it appeared
today in studying the address Of Carl Wilde
before a Parent-Teacher meeting.
Mr. Wilde deplored the condition of many
OF the schools systems old buildings, the ov
ercrowding in many Of the schools, and the
pay reductions suffered by the city's teachers.
Mr.. Wilde. vice president Of the school
board, is absolutely right The school system
has suffered considerably in the last few
years and not small amount of the sashes
in its budgets have been the result of an
guished cries from taxpayers organizations.
Taxpayers, The indianapolis Times long
ago pointed out, are slashing. in effect their
own throats when they start injudicious knit
ing Of school city budgets.
Nothing can be more important to the
fathers and mothers of Indianapolis than
near-perfection operation Of the city's schools.
The Times, in a series of articles a few years
ago. pointed out the dreadful conditions of
many of the city's school buildings. One of
the articles discussed the problem of fire
hazard at one of the structures. Two days
later fire broke out at the school, Fortu-
nately, it was a minor blaze, but fire hazards
should not exist in buildires where our chill
dren attend school.
The School Board has been forced to re-
duce the salaries of teachers and to reduce
the teaching staff in the retrenching drive
that followed the onslaught of the depres-
sion. This reduction in the teaching staff has
resulted in the overlooking of classes.
1t is high time for the School Board to
consider seriously the plight of its many
teachers. They are not being paid salaries
commensurate with their positions and if
We are to have teachers devoting their en-
tire thoughts to the welfare of their pupils
we must do away with some of the financial
worries that now beset the majority of our
instructors.
indianapolis must realize that it gets what
1t pays for
And we're not paying enough for our
schools system.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
LOBBIES, OPEN AND SECRET

THE average citizen may not be represented
at either of the two pressure group ses-
sions in Washington next week-the United
States Chamber of Commerce convention and
the rally of American Federation of Labor
leaders.
But the welfare of the average citizen will
be vitality affected by the legislative grist
which Congress grinds out between these up
per and neither millstoneS.
The pressure method is not new to Wash
ington. 1t is a technique that has been en-
ployed since our republic began, and probably
will continue in use to its end. AS a mat
ter of fact there is nothing unhealthy about
this simultaneous gathering of business lead
ers in one hall and labor leaders in another
at time when Congress is considering NRA
and collective bargaining legislation. The open
conflict should help to clarity issues, force
wiser Congressional debate and decisions and
automatically protect the average citizen.
Unfortunately this automatic protection is
not provided when Hobbies operate in secret
as they DO too frequently.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
PENNY RACKETEERS

IT is with shudder of disgust that many OF
i us have read the expose of penny, nickel.
and dime racketeering in the Negro sections
of Indianapolis
The indianapolis Times has related how
the dream" lottery works with its almost alb
surd "shut-out" system, method that gives
the sucker" not a chance in a million to win
any amount Of Importance.
1t is sickening when one learns that Negro
Democratic politicians are the operators Of
the pool, plying their trade for paltry few
cents among persons of their race who can
earn hardly enough to keep them in nourish-
ment.
penny, a nickel, or a dime-it's actually
a "meanest- man-in- the-world" story.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
A FACE-SAVING DEVICE

THE California State Assembly has voted to
ask Gov. Merriam TO commute the SEN
fences Of Tom Mooney and Warren Billings in
order to solve "a fixed and contentious
problem"
This is not the way out either for California
or for the two victims of its injustice
If they are guilty of the mass murder for
which they have served 10 years in prison they
should not be freed. If they are not guilty,
as every unbiased student of the case from the
United States Supreme Court down now thinks.
they should either be freed by The courts or
pardoned by the Governor.
The assembly's proposal is obviously face
saving device for a state that is embarrassed
by worldwide criticism yet refuses to admit it
has Internationally wronged two Of its citizens.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
HOLDS STATE RELIEF is
ABLY OPERATED

BY J. w. P.
In answer to the letter of Miss
Noone on Senator VanNuys' COM
parison of the cost of relief adj
ministration under the old system
of township unit to that of the
present state operated, wherein he
shows cost of 81 per cent under
township to 10 per cent state, may
state he is absolutely correct.
But was it not fact that under
township control, we experienced
the basket filled with pineapple,
canned milk and bacon, issued on a
certificate to the relief family, with
no choice but take it or an order
issued to a designated grocer with
an agreed price above the price OF
regular sales because of carrying
charges or having to wait on the
county or township to pay?
The basket was then handed or
delivered to the relief man as we
handle a bale of hay, fodder or
straw to the dumb animal, with no
choice in the matter, but take it
home and eat what was given.
True, the cost is greater, but in
stead of a few political grocers
handing out bacon, ETC., under the
state supervision, each man is hand
ed his check weekly, properly signed
by the Governors Commission on
Unemployment and the relief man
is privileged to go out into the open
competitive market and buy as any
other good citizen is, just what he
wants and wherever he wants, in
stead of a few selected grocers re-
ceiving all.
Many or any of the merchants
may receive a part or all of the
weeks earnings, naturally selling to
the relief man for cash. The morale
of the relief man is worth the diff
ference in the cost between the fig
ures the Senator so ably sets out
between the township unit and that
of the present state relief so ably
operated.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27

get that work done. Just any kind
of water will do, so long as it's pure.
Having filled the pool, the COM
miSsionerS could sit around and con-
slider the issues at stake. Children,
one Of the appealing bodies, have a
great deal of human interest on
their side. If the commissioners
turn them down in the matter, the
commissioners will be looked upon
by the entire city as hard-hearted
men who have no human qualities
the kind of men who would push
baby chickens into water
That would be bad politics. Chill
dren would band together and take
the stump against the party at the
next election, and as their iisping
oratory rose during the campaign,
the party would recall the Bible
prediction that a little child shall
lead them, and see its grasp on the
voters dwindle to nothing.
That, moreover, has a second. and
larger, significance, since it would
start children into politics and In
dianapolis might have a bunch Of
ward heelers running around on po-
litical business in kiddie cars.
On the other hand. the fishermen
Of the city have votes to cast. as
we'll as fishing flies, and they look
pretty formidable arrayed at the
voting booths.
Personally, if I was the park
board I would dump the matter
into the lap of Mayor John w. Kern
and let him settle it. He's paid
to decide important things in the
city.
But let's have action. It's get
ting too hot for this suspense.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27

/ not publish list of pedestrians
killed by their own negligence?
We have in our municipal code
a regulation pertaining to the way
pedestrians are supposed to cross
streets. The law provides for cross
ing at street intersections only, and,
if there is a traffic signal pedes-
TRANS are to cross with the 60
sign only. Why not make the po-
lice enforce the Jay walking" laws
to protect motorists from careless
pedestrians?
Much has been said about autos
running through caution signs. 1t
is an impossibility to always stop
when the timing is so short on the
change. Try making the change a
little longer, Capt. johnson.
1 should like to hear why. by
action or statement, these COM
mon sense traffic laws can not be
enforced.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
LAUDS TIMES-E
SHOOTING SCHOOL

By II. d. Skiles.
1 want to express my opinion re-
garding the free school of instruc-
ton in the use of firearms spon-
sored by The Times EN- Roe Sport
ing Goods Co. at the Indianapolis
Gun Club.
AS an observer I was impressed
by the courteous and patient man
ner in which the instructor, Mr..
Adams, handled his class, giving
particular attention to the art of
handling gun in a correct and
safe manner. Every one was given
personal attention.
I think it is an unusual opportu-
nifty for those interested il field
or target shooting to take advan-
tage Of the instruction given, there
by reducing the chance for acct
dents in the field as well as innprov-
ing their craftsmanship. It also
enables one to enjoy the art of
shooting flying targets when field
shooting is not in season.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
BY A Good Democrat.

BY Good Democrat.
Will the State Administration be
SO kind as to enlighten me as to
just who is Governor of this SOW
ereign State of Indiana?
have just finished reading your
newspaper and I am diSpatching
this to you post haste. Russell
Ryan has quit the state liquor
commission because your article
relates he couldn't stand Pleas
Greenlee's tinkering around with
the appointments.
The Governor recently said poll
tics would play no part in the ap-
pointments, but Mr.. Greenlee
seems to have countermanded the
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
He Doesn't Seem to Like Pleas

Governors order with words prac-
tically to that effect.
have lot of respect for Paul
V. McNutt, but can't stomach this
everlasting countermanding of his
orders by Pleas Greenlee. The
election returns, as I remember
them, failed to show Mr.. Greenlee
ELECTED to anything and as far
as I'm concerned they never will.
I know the rumors that Pleas
would like nothing better than to
be Governor, but by the manner
in which he's acting as Governor
now I'd actually leave this state if
he became a Governor with full
title.
He's just another Huey Long IN
miniature.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
PEDESTRIANS CARELESSNESS
FLAYED BY MOTORIST

By a Motorist.
In the April 25 issue of The Times
I noticed that the death rate caused
by automobile accidents has in
creased in Indianapolis at a sharp
er rate than in any other city in
the United States. AS motorist
I feel that in many instances it is
the pedestrian who is to blame. We
all see such headlines as this: Mo-
torist Kills Another in Marion
County" Richard Roe, father Of
two was killed on his way to work
when he stepped, without looking.
in front Of a moving automobile.
The police said the driver Of the
car was not at fault"
In spite of the fact that death
was not the drivers fault, it was
held against the motorists. Why
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
THERE'S NOTHING CUTE
ABOUT DISLOYALTY, HE SAYS

BY B. NJ. G.
Until I read Haywood Broun's ar
ticle April % in The Times, 1 had
formed no opinion regarding Mr..
Walgreens withdrawal of his niece
from the University of Chicago be-
cause of communistic teaching.
Mr.. Broun after, to my thinking,
the second greatest preamble in his
tory, concludes by thus addressing
Mr.. Hearst, who presumably has
shown poor taste by sympathizing
with Mr.. Walgreen:
Isn't it better to have a girl or
boy learn these things in the class
room rather than have him pick
them up from street companions?"
In that case, presume Mr.. Broun
would advocate the teaching Of
prostitution, bank robbery, gambling,
the dope habit, display Of lewd pic
lures, also plain and fancy cussing
in the classroom-anything which
might dangerously influence the i'm
presSionable youngster should be
pounded into him in the classroom,
otherwise he might possibly escape
it in the street. what? Dangerous
reasoning, Mr.. Broun.
1t seems that we must go vio-
lently mad either to the right or
the left in bringing up our young
things. Either so Victorian we
smother them or so ultra modern we
strip them naked and leave them
unprotected to every germ.
Do you believe the students are
thinking up all their little teapot
riots, demonstrations, comic revolu-
tons, strikes, etc? I believe they
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
So They Say

God help capitalism if it won't
defend a common national crisis
without its pound of flesh.-Senator
Vandenberg Of Michigan.
Any man who condones the NRA,
the AAA, and other things going on
in this country is a radical-Gov.
Talmadge Of Georgia.
If I can't beat a clown like Baer,
I'll never admit was a fighter
Jess willard, after challenging the
champion.
All we have to show for admins
tration schemes is the greatest debt
the country ever had, shattered con-
fldence, and a Federal government
waterlogged with ward politicians
Col. Theodore Roosevelt.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
Idle Question
BY MARY JOHNSON

If We immortal be, then time goes
on forever
But, we are taught, that scarcer
things are ever
More precious than the common,
countless stuff;
CAnd more time than we can use)
Queer then. we feel there is never
time enough
To do all our "ougAt-to-do's
And things we would rather choose.
II we fail TO DO a mere thousand
things or so
Why do we fret or fear,
When there's cons to spend in thas
place where We go,
Each one of US. from heref
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
The Message Center

(Times readers are fnvtted to cypress
their Uietcs in these columns. Make your
letters short, so all can have q chance.
Limit them to ESQ toords or less. Your
be t0ithheld at request Of the letter
tCriteF
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
Daily Thought

The Lord shall cut of all flatter-
ing lips. and the tongue that speak
eth proud things.-Psalms xii. 3.
EEATTERY is a base coin which
l. gains currency only from our
vanity Rochefoucauld.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27

Pennsylvania state police announce hitch
mixers will be jailed or fined In other words,
thumbs down on thumbs up.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27

auey harangued the Senate in an Easter
outfit which included red tie and lavender
shirt. Nevertheless. seismographers still are
confident their instruments recorded the For
moSa quake.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
A VOTE-CASTING MATTER,
1T SEEMS TO -. L."

BY ]. L.
Ever since early spring there have
been news stories now and then
about the proposal to change the
pool on Fall Creek pkwy, near
College-av, from a casting pool to a
wading pool. 1t seems that the
children Of the neighborhood want
the park board to reserve the pond
for them, and it seems the fishermen
want the park board to keep the
pool for them to practice casting in.
At the last report the park COM
missioners haven't been able to
decide just what to do with it. The
commissioners are appointed by the
mayor, and the position is honorary
no salary.
Under ordinary circumstances il
would seem that making up one 5
mind about whether to use a given
pool for a casting practice place. or
a wading place for children wouldnt
take much time.
To begin with, in either case the
pool must have water in it. Maybe
a good way to begin on the problem
would be to fill the pool and then
start from there. It'll have to De
done sooner or later, and while the
commissioners are weighing the
matter is as good a time as any to