PAGE FOUR
w.
435
3
Tht OREGON STATESMAN, Salea, Oreffon, Tn3ay Morning. December 20, 1933
I a nr. mm f -
"No Favor Sways Us; No Fear Shall AwsT
from First StatesmanMarch 18. 1851 j
Charles A. Spracue - Editor and PubKsfter !
. THE STATESMAN PUBLISHING CO.
Charles A- Sprague. Pres. Sheldon T. Sackett. Secy.
Member of the Associated Press
The, Associated Press ..exclusively entitXl to the W for PbIJea
ttoa of all newa dispatches credited to tt or not otherwtao credited la
this paper. . - ,
Protecting Investor Difficult Job
Although the "American end" of the McKesson-Robbins
company is reported to be unaffected by the fraud charged
to the Musica brothers, the f antastic record of their activities
as it unfolds indicates that the mess will not be straightened
out without some severe jolts to various business structures.
The question has arisen with respect to the victimized corpor
ation, as to why present laws and agencies are not sufficient
to prevent the practices in which the Musicas have indulged.
It is true that there is a securities and exchange commis
sion entrusted with the task of regulating the stock exchan
ges and protecting investors, in so far as possible, against
fraud in connection with the issuance of securities ; but : lthas
no effective supervision over the activities of legitimate bus-
i AwroniTOfl and financed.,;
There was a time when a billion dollars worth of totally
worthless securities were sold to the American pudiic eacn
year, this sum coming largely out of the savings of wage
earners, low-salaried people, small business men and widows.
onlrl t-n rrta tvotmp wno COUlu aiioru
to take the loss, for they already had ways of knowing what
they were buying.
A start toward the curbing of the J. Ruf us WalUngf ords
was made with the passage of the state "blue sky laws, Kan
sas leading the way in 1911. Oregon's corporation commis
sion, in charge of administering this state's blue sky law, has
done excellent work, as have many of the others. There re
mained a loophole for fraud, through interstate operations;
the 1933 and 1934 securities laws passed by congress were de
signed to complement the state laws and close this avenue for
fraud. In so far as securities with nothing at all behind them
are concerned, these enactments have helped greatly; but it
has not yet been demonstrated that they are especially ef
fective in preventing subtler varieties of fraud. ;
Salesmen of stocks and bonds are now able to tell pros
pective customers that their wares are honest and point out
registration with the corporation commissioner or with the
federal securities and exchange commission, thus lulling sus
picions. But neither state nor federal registration is or can be
a guarantee that the particular issue of securities is a sound
investment the most that the federal law attempts is to col
lect information from which an-investor may make this judg
ment himself. Once again, the "smart" investor is already
informed; once again, the "lamb" is unable to make proper
use of this information. !
A moment's reflection will show why the federal govern
ment cannot guarantee any investment, cannot even advise
the prospective investor, cannot enforce sound business prac
tices after securities are sold. The conclusion seems to be that
the person with money to invest is still in the position of a
boxer who, technically protected by the Marquis of Queens
bury rules, is solemnly advised that those rules require him
to "protect yourself at all times."
Trade War of Ideologies
Not only in sabre-rattling and the threat of armed force
is the conflict between democracy and totalitarianism going
forward. That is a threat of future struggle; going on iuh tux
already is the trade warfare between the two groups of nations.
Britain was an important factor in that struggle, drawing
these two nations closer together in trade matters and push
ing Germany, in particular, farther away because it will not
participate in any of the benefits which will accrue to many
not? r no nnrlof V10 "wnrtcf favnrtwl noUrm" rlfirispa in' their T-
UMHViig WMVA W1V UJVOb MV V. V wmw
spective trade agreements.
While some of the imoosincr aims with which Secretary
Hull and others in the American delegation set sail for the
Lima conference are runnine into difficulties, an achieve
ment which may outrank them all in its practical importance
was recorded when the conference, unanimously; adopted the
United States trade resolution calling for a general lowering
of tariffs barriers and eliminating other trade hindrances.
This like the other actions of the conference is not binding
upon the nations involved; the real test will come when dele
gates seek ratification at home; but it is a promising begin
ning.
There have been repeated statements that the United
States is losing out to Germany in the South American mar
ket, but while it is true that Germany has gained, the United
nations. To a considerable degree, United States and South
American production complement each other so that this
trade is mutually beneficial. If the United States delegation
can come away from Lima, leaving a greater friendliness
than existed before it went there, the mission will have suc
ceeded better than if its political objectives had been won.
Economic Aims in Voting
The really significant thing has been happening in the
United States since 1932. is that the people have been learn
ing to use the ballot for what they consider to be 'their own
economic advantage: a nationally known forum leader said
in a northwest city the other day. On this basis he explained
the two Roosevelt victories, not as a rise' to dominance by the
democratic party as such, butfas evidence that the voters were
acting upon conviction that their interests lay in that direc
tion. '.-."''
Likewise he characterized the new deal as a "percolator"
philosophy, based on the supposition that if prosperity can
be created at the bottom, some of it will bubble up to the top.
in contrast to the "drip system which had prevailed previ
, ously, and which presumed that prosperity created at the top
would seep through to the bottom. The law of gravity appears
to be on the side of the "drip" method, but may not apply if
" prosperity is viewed as a lighter-than-air vapor created by
boiling. Perhaps this is not a safe analogy to pursue.
But if Americans are voting their economic convictions
in this generation, there is no use in deploring it ; that is their
right. Jt was perhaps an inevitable development in the course
as a ) a S
oi pouucaK evolution, mis years election results may ue in
terpreted in the same manner, but if so they represent a shift
in popular economic thought; an admission that the previous
I goal proved unsubstantial. The only possible hope is that
'along with a desire to use politics for economic gain, there is
also developing a greater intelligence as to what measures
and what leadership are likely to bring such gains on a per
manent and sound basis.
1 Hearing Anthony Edens address on democracy and lib
erty over the radio and reading what he said in the paper are
.all right as far as, they go, but seeing in the movies the ex
panse of white shirt fronts before which he delivered it, at a
, manufacturers' association meeting in New York City, adds
mightily to the impression. Television needs to be speeded to-
- ward perfection. .,. - ::Hv ;y: ;
1 nomas Hi. iewey wasn t eiectea governor oi xsew x otk
so he will be able to proceed with another court fight to con
vict James J. Hines. The trial opens 'January 9, which is get
ting to be quite an important date on the calendar. Dewey
lost 10 pounds at the f irt trial and during his campaign, but
he has regained them while on a vacation in the south.
The Coster (or Musica) swindling probe ' '" . j
. Extends to all civilized parts of the globe; t ! -
Detectives are searching from Kobe to Rhodesia . ; "
mm for
Breakfast
By R, J.ENDRICK3
Roll of honorf crows: 12-2 0-3 S
Men who leawied hera
and aared th nation for
America, demcracr for world:
(Continuing? from Sunday:)
The courtmarLfal sentence of Re-
I li. - J n 1 . .
Lincoln on Stember 10. 1 8 8 4,
(as of course t would be.)
General Revere wrote several
books: "Tour got Duty in Cali
fornia." (184Sfj. "Keel and Sad
dle; A Retrosjjpct of Forty Years
of Military ap Kara! SerTice,"
U7Z), and gathers that were
(and are) Informative and Inter
esting, f o
Cadwalader 1 Rinegold takes
cumber 149 in this peculiarly
distinguished scroll. Born In
Washington county, Md., Aug.
20, 1802, he ired till . pril 29,
1867. He became a midshipman
March 4. 18 p. lieutenant In
1828. ommftider. 1849. He
cruised on thw Vandalla to the
Pacific, 1828-p." aays the Dic
tionary of Blcpaphy, adding:
"He commanded the Porpoise
in the Wilkesf exploring expedi
tion, 1838-42.iUnder Wilkes he
cruised along f.the antarctk con
tinent; participated in a -xlrmlah
with Fiji Islnnders Aug. 18,
1840. and mde surreys along
the west coasg of America, and
returned to East Indies. . .
In 1849 and lp50 he (Ringgold)
was engaged & further surreys
on the- California coast, and In
1851 published 'A aeries of
Charts and Sawing Directions .. .
to the Bay m San Francisco,'
which reached a fifth edition.
and, the follMring year, 'Cor
respondence tog Accompany Maps
and Charts & California.' He
subsequently Commanded the
North Pacific purveying and ex
ploring expedition which left
Norfolk on Jifhe, 1953, chatred
numerous Pacific shoals and
islands, and leached China in
1854. Delayed there to protect
foreigners duMng revolutionary
disturbances, Mngold was a long
time reaching piome ports."
At the opening of the Civil
War. Ringgold commanded the
Bailing frigate f Sabine. He saved
all but seven aboard the steamer
Governor; was;-- commended twice
by congress. Ite became a com
modore in Jiffy, 1862; retired
August 20, 18f4. Two years later
he was made rear admiraL
Edward Dis Townsend is
given the even number 150 in
this charmed ckcle of immortals.
Born at Boston, Mass., Aug. 22,
1817, he lived! through Interest
ing years to fay 10, 1893. His
mother was & daughter of El
bridge Gerry, fa leading states
man of his period, govenor ot
New York, rfie president with
Madison, etc.$ etc Towusend
graduated froijj West Point in
1837, and wag sent, 2nd lieut.,
to the arUllefjr; served in the
Florida Indianiwars and assisted
in removing 5ie Cherokee In
dians to what lis now Oklahoma.
"In 1846 ie transferred to
the adjutant general ' depart
ment and for She next 15 years
served on thefPacific coast and
at WashingtonD.C." (The words
just quoted arfj from the Diction
ary of Biograjpy.)
During the winter of 1860-61
he was consumed t to the de
fenses of Boutfeern forts. He rec
ommended thaf as the forts were
in no conditio to resist attack,
a nominal defease be made, stip
ulating only l( honorable 'crms
and a free passage to the north
of the defenders.
"When Lindn became presi
dent, Townseigi was a lieuten
ant colonel; pjecame adjutant
general to "General Scott, com
mander In chief. Bowed with age,
Scott left the direction of affairs
to Townsend. President Lincoln
frequently visipd his office, and
formed a lifelojig friendship with
Townsend. j
S 1 S
-"Townsend i&& responsible for
many measurejf taken in 1861
for the detenp of Washington
and for the Organization and
discipline of fhe newly raised
troops. On fcotfs retirement,
Nov. 1, 1861, gie became senior
assistant 'to tip adjutant gener
al's department March 23, 1863
he became adjutant general; con
tinued with tje president and
secretary of wfr for three years
carried out Jheir orders; was
faithful, efficient, self effacing.
At the end ojg the war, Town
send was brettted major gen
eral for his se&vices." The quot
ed words are srom the Diction
ary of Biography.
When, In if! 9, Grant became
president, he'njade Townsend ad
jutant eenerau and he hac been
and was largely responsible for
the : splendid Condition of tne
vast mass of wr records.
Townsend rlfired In 1884. He
published two! religious books
that year, containing many anec
dotes ot me egmi war.
John Caldwell Tidbail takes
number 151 fk this imortal
scroll. Bom infOhio county, Va-,
Jan. 25, 182, be lived nntil
May 15, 1896.e was a ti ember
of the 1848 fVest Point class,
and went to tiie 3d Artillery.
"He saw vice against the
Semlnoles, in psew Mexico, ana
In the exploration of a route to
California, wim the Co-st Sur
vey, and with fihe Harper's Fer
ry expedition !o suppress John
Brown's raid.1 1859." says the
Dictionary of ISIography.
After the outbreak ot the Civ
II war, he - too$ part in the ex
pedition to FTt Pickens, Fla.,
April-July, '6 li He had become
captain in &Ly; returned to
Washington In: command ot Bat
tery A, 2nd ATtillery; ser ed In
the Manassas i&mpaign. His and
another batters covered te with
drawal of thenlon forces from
Centreville lnta the defenses of
Washington. Si :
In SeptemMr he organized
nis Dauery looperaie wun car
airy was In Ml the battle . :
the Peninsulars campaign; acp-
portea rorter witnarawai to
Gaines's Mill, Irhere he checked
tv rrKH.ja ii j i i
again assisted mi tne witnarawai
He Initialed t custom of , hav
ing "Taps" sounded at a sol-
They'll Do It Every Time
By Jimmy Hath
Hectmbatiue
dCSSEATd ON WS.
BUClCStOMOCHlM
T
I 1
Cm l4, faaiM.M till a?h. "
M Btaw
1 ff
AOCXJPLEC3rtNEQCS '
UrTEI2.-CW,BOS .
isMrrrTWFFERcnTf,
IHEVU-DOIT
IT r&lGXKT
TXtlXSlSEXSy W SEE
PrTABTiO-BlTS
I OUGHT "fa TWOE
UP AJrTHtUE BO&S!
X3UUT B SURP0SEO
SOUtrlVinHALOTOr J
DOUGH AB0UKXol J
- I C J V T7 I
DlkndlB IPirogofiiinms
ULU-f UHfibAT-lifo SU.
T:30 Nw.
T:45 Tim O'Dmr.
8:00 Mornlnf McdiUtioa.
8:13 Hmlon Melodt.g.
8:80 Uara ot KtU
8:45 Utwu
:00 Ptor' CU.
9:15 Friendly Circl.
9:45 Kiehsrdsoa Eniembl.
18:00 Hwua Parmdii.
10:15 Nawi.
10:80 Horning Ifafaiin.
10 :45 Hitmkers.
11:00 Or;ni,li tie.
1 1 :S0 Fit l,'erld Review.
11:45 Hollywood Wbitpera
12:15 Kewg.
18:30 Hillbilly Serenade
12:45 Muiical Interlude.
1:00 Better Buiinesa Bareta.
1:15 Midstream.
1 :80 Two Keyboard!.
1:45 The Hatterfields.
2:00 Brad Collins.
2:15 The Johnson Family.
2:80 WOB Symphony.
3:00 Feminine fancies.
3:30 Christmas Seals Show.
S:45 Mnsical Interlude.
4:00 Fulton Lewis, Jr.
4:16 Raymond Gram Swing.
4:30 Private School.
5:00 Pinky Hunter Sings.
5:15 Adventures Gen Shafter Parker.
5:30 Johnny Lawrence Club.
5:45 Dinner Hour Melodies.
6:30 Morton Gonld's Orchestra,.
6:45 Tonight's Headline.
7:00 Walts Time.
7:30 Green Hornet.
S :00 Newa.
8:15 Don't Too Believe It.
8:30 "Just Think."
8:45 Musical Interlude.
:00 Newspaper ot the Air.
8:15 Wrestling.
10:30 Chuck loster't Orchestra.
-11:00 Jack McLean's Orchestra.
XSX TUESDAY 1180 S.
6:30 Musical Clock.
7:00 Family Altar Hour.
7:30 Financial Service.
7:45 Iou Webb.
7:55 Market Quotations.
8 :00 Breakfast 4 Cfoh.
:00 Dr. Brock.
9:30 Farm and Home.
10:15 Agriculture Today.
10:30 Newa.
10:45 Home Institute.
1 1 :00 Travelogue.
11:15 Tho Ranch Boys.
11:30 Voice of American Wosms.
11:45 Radio Review.
11:50 Little Variety Show.
12:00 Dept. Agriculture.
12:15 Army Band.
12:25 Hints to Housewives.
12 :30 News.
12:45 Market Reports.
12:50 The Quiet Hour.
1:15 Club Matinee.
2:00 Lord Lorgaa.
3:15 Fiuncial aad Grain.
2:20 Fran Allison.
2:80 Landt Trio.
2 :45 Curbstone Quia.
8 :00 Orchestra.
3.25 News.
8:80 Orchestra.
3:45 Ralph Blaine.
4:00 Orchestra.
4:15 Howard SUlholland.
4:80 Oscar Shnmsky.
4:45 Vivian Delia Chios.
5:80 Piano Surprises.
5 :45 Stringtime.
dier's burial, in lieu of firing
volleys.
S
In the Maryland campaign of
1862 he served with the cavalry
division. The fire of his battery
was frequently the decisive fac
tor. He was in the operations
culminating in ChanceJlo-svIlle.
In June, 1863, Tidbail assumed
the command of a brigadier ot
horse artillery. He ably supported
the cavalry corps throughout
the Gettysburg campaign. In Au
gust he was appointed colonel
of the 4th New York Volunteer
Artillery and was assigned to the
defense of Washington. He was
reassigned to the Army of the
Potomac in March, 1864, com
manding the artillery of the 2nd
Corps; rose to chief of artillery
ot the 9th Corps. In 1S65 he was
directed to the artillery prepara
tion and support in the final as
sault on Petersburg; was made
brigadier general ot volunteers.
Following the Civil war. Gen
eral Tidbail had service on the
Pacific coast and Alaska, In
1881-4, he was aide-de-camp of
General Sherman.
He retired for age Jan. 25,
1888. He wrote a good deal on
artillery service.
S U
Egbert Thompson draws num
ber 1S2 in this long list. Born
in New York City Jane 6, 1822,
he died Jan. 25, 1881. Wat made
a midshipman March 1 1837.
"After a ' year's duty on the
Independence, he experie' ced un
usual trying duty, first In the
Wilkes exploring expedition,
1 S3 8-42, In the Antarctic and
South seas, and next in the brig
Somen, commanded by Cat. Al
exander S. M'Kenzle at the time
of the alleged mutiny led by
Midshipman Philip Spencer,
which resulted in Spencer's exe
cution.' (The quoted words are
from the Dictionary of Tiogra
phy.) Thompson was the execu
tive of the Lonita during the
Mexican war. During the Civil
war, he was c t the Powhatan in
the Gulf, and on January. '62,
joined Foote's Mississippi flotilla
at Cairo.
(Continued tomorrow.)
lfJIS CHARLES BOYER
A H SIGRID GUMS J
6:00 Want's the Big Idea,
6:80 -8 port Column.
6:45 Community Cheat Review.
7:00 If I Had the Chance.
7:30 Rhythm School.
; 7 :45 Dr. Joseph Jastrow.
8 :00 Newt.
8:15 The Name-It Game.
8:30 Covered Wagon Days.
8:00 Tonr Health.
S :30 Orchestra.
11 :00 News.
11(15 Pant Carson.
KOW TUESDAY 620 Kc.
7:00 Story of the Month.
7:15 Trail Blasers.
7 :45 Newa.
8:05 Ted White.
8:15 Dr. Laurence Cross.
8:30 Stars ot Today.
8:00 Ray Towera.
8:15 The O'Neills.
9:30 Tena and Tim.
9:45 Musie Mskers.
10:15 Pepile and Jive Five.
10:30 Dangeroua Roads.
10:45 Dr. Kate.
11:00 Betty and Bob.
11:15 Arnold Grimm's Daughter.
11:30 Valiant Lady.
11:45 Hymns ot All Churches.
12:00 Story of Mary Marlin.
12:15 Your Radio Review.
12:30 Pepper Young's Family.
12:45 Guiding Light.
1:00 Backstage Wife.
1:15 Stella Dallas.
1:30 Vie and Sade.
1:43 Girl Alone.
2:00 Houseboat Hannah.
2:20 Three Cheera.
2:30 Smiiln' Ed McConnelL
2:45 Edward Daviet.
3 :00 News.
3:15 Candid Lady.
3:30 Woman's Magatine.
4:00 Easy Aces.
4:15 Mr. Keen.
4:80 Stars of Today.
5:00 Swartout'a Muaie.
5:30 Information Please.
6:00 Martin's Music.
6:30 Fibber MeGee.
7:00 Bob Hope.
7:30 Uncle JCrra.
7:45 Voice of the Farm.
8:00 Amos 'n' Andy.
8:15 Vocal Varieties.
8:30 Johnny Presents.
9:00 Good Morning Tonight,
8:30 Orchestra.
10:00 News Flashes.
10:15 Orchestrs.
XOXK TUISDAT 840 Xt.
6:S0 Market Reports.
6:35 KOIN Kloek.
8.00 News.
8:15 The Old Cowhand.
8:30 This and That.
9:15 Her Honor Nancy James.
9:30 Romance of Helen Trent.
9:45 Our Gal Sunday.
10:00 The Goldbergs.
10:15 Life Can Be Beautiful.
10:80 Harvey Harding.
11:00 Big Sister.
11:15 Real Life Stories.
11:30 School ot the Air.
12:00 News.
12:15 Singin' Sam.
12 :30 Seattergood Baines.
12:45 Silver Serenade.
1:00 Pretty Kitty Kelly.
1:15 Myrt and Marge.
1:30 Hilltop House.
1:15 Of Men and Books.
2:00 Music for Fun.
2:30 Hello Again.
2:45 Songs for You.
8 .00 Newspaper of the Air.
4:00 Backgrounding the News.
4:30 Second Husband.
5:00 Five o'clock Flash.
5:15 Howie Wing.
5 :80 Orchestra.
5:45 Leon F. Drews.
6:00 We, the People.
6 :30 Orchestra.
7:00 Dr. Christian.
7:30 Jimmy Fiddler.
7:45 Little Show.
8 :00 Orchestra.
8:30 Big Town.
9:00 AI Jolson, Freddie Bartholomew.
9:30 Jollytime.
10:00 Five Star Final
10:15 Nightcap Yarns.
10:30 Westerners Quartet.
10 :45 Orchestra.
11:45 Prelude to Midnight
XOAC TUESDAY 550 Kc
9 :03 Homenakera' Honr.
10:15 Story Hour for Adults.
11:00 Musie of the Masters.
12:00 News.
12:16 W. C. Leth. Polk Agent.
12:30 Market, Crop Reports.
12:48 FHA.
1:15 Variety.
3:00 Dr. Howard Taylor.
2:45 Guard Your Health.
3:15 Facta and Affairs.
8:45 Monitor Viewe the News.
4 :00 Symphonic Half Honr.
4:30 Stories for Boys and Girls.
S :45 Vespers.
6:15 News.
6:80 Agriculture as Viewed by Editors.
6:45 Market, Crop Reports.
7:00 Farm Crops Dept.
7:15 H. P. Ewalt, Dairy Dept.
7:45 Citiien and His School
8:15 Book of tho Week.
8:45 Globe Trotting With Oregonians.
10 Years Ago
December SO, 1923
Miss Cornelia Marvin, the only
state librarian Oregon ever haa
had and holder of that position
for last 25 years today handed
her resignation to the state lib
rary board.
Dr. Norman K. Tully, pastor
of the First Presbyterian church,
was speaker Tuesday night at
dinner of the Young Men s dm
sion of the YMCA.
15 Years Ago
December 20, 1923
Dr. Henry E. Moaris was elect
ed to succeed himself cs presi
dent of the Salem Federated
clubs at a meeting at the cham
ber of commerce.
Brazier Small, Salem attorney,
was yesterday appointed attorney
for state land board replacing
Roy Shields.
With the First National bank
today taking over the Cunning
ham drier, in West Salem, an
nouncement of r new cooperative
cannery with headquarters in Sa
lem, has been made by George
F. Rodgers, president ot the
bank.
Call Board
CAPITOIj
Today "Hard To Get," with
Dick Powell and Olivia da
i Havlland. and Gene Antry
In "The Sagebrush Trouba-
dor," and chapter 8, Dick
Tracy serial.
Wednesday D o n b 1 bill.
"Nancy Drew Detective,"
with Bonlta Granville and
John Lltel and Bill Boyd as
Hopalong Cassidy in "The
Frontiersman."
Zion Church Choir Sings
Christmas Music Tonight
SILVERTON HILLS The Men
nonite chorus of the Zton church
from Hubbard will make its 5th
yearly appearance in the Silver
ton Hills Community hall at
7:30 p.m. The program is free
and open to every one. Tho sa
cred and Christmas ma sic will
be offered by this group which
has been In existance for 35
years.'
THE PROGRAM
OF THRILLS
:1S Sa 8:30 P. M.
Tims, and Thure.
TNE fiREEM HORMET
7:30 to t:00 P. M.
Tues. mi Thure.
MBS . KSLM
1370 Kc
STATE
Today Charles Boyer, Hedy
LaMarr and Sigrid Gnrie in
"Algiers." and Mickey
Mouse in "Polar Trappers."
Thursday Jones Family In
"Safety In Numbers," and
"Time Out For Murder,"
with Gloria Stuart, Michael
Whalen and Chuck Chan
dler. Saturday Midnight show,
"Three Loves Has Nancy"
with Janet G a y n o r and
Franchot Tone.
GRAND
Today Tony Martin, Phyllis
Brooks, Slim Summervllle
and Preston Foster in "Up
the River."
Wednesday Double bill, "Ad
venture in Sahara" with
Paul Kelly and "Pana
mint's Bad Man," with
Smith Ballew.
Saturday Penny Singleton
and Arthur Lake in "Blon-.
die," based on the comic
strip by Chic Young.
HOLLYWOOD
Today Double bill, George
O'Brien in "Painted Desert"
and "I'm From the City,"
with Joe Penner.
Wednesday Family night,
Kate Douglas Wlggln's fa-
mous novel, "Mother Car-
ey's Chickens" with Anne
Shirley, James Ellison and
Ruby Keeler.
Friday Double bill, Mickey
Rooney In "Hold That Kiss"
with Maureen O'SuIlivan
and Dennis CKeefe and
Rln-Tin-Tin, Jr., in Jamea
Oliver Curwood's stirring
story of the momtlti,
"Caryl of the Mountains."
ELSIXORE
Today Double bill, "Brother
Rat," with Priscilla Lane
and Wayne Morris and
"Shadows Over Shanghai,"
with James Dunn and Ralph
Morgan.
Thursday "Comet Over
Broadway. with Kir Fran-
cis ana ian Hunter.
- ttS fltVl s4oMI eWsJ tsWtjsV
i esW ImoIis t f far 4um
4sJ fto3rsv4 w)9
; O ;
i
By DOROTHY THOMPSON
ABUSE OF THE AIRT All OPEN I
LETTER TO MR. McNIXCH
Mr. Frank R. McNInch,
Chairman, Federal Communica
tlons Commission,
Washington, DC.
Mr dear Mr. McNInch: On No
vember 19, 138, speaking at the
Fourth District National Associa
tion of Broadcasters convention
at White Sulphur
Springs, W. Va.,
you said:
"Should there
ever be an at
tempt here by
anyone to so "de
base radio as to
use It as an in
strument of ra
cial, or religious
persecution, the
eommnnlea-
JewotSf noose commjsslon
would employ every resource it
has to prevent any such shocking
offense. President Roosevelt
wonld, of course, support xn to
the limit in such a stand. He has
consistently sought the safeguard
ing of radio as an instrument of
democracy, never to be used to
Injure any racial, religious or
other group.
This statement of policy will
hardly be questioned by any
American anxious that this coun
try should avoid the racial agita
tions which have turned so much
of Europe Into a shambles. The
Instinct which prompted you to
make auch a statement was, we
believe, very sound. For this coun
try, being composed of many ra
cial strains, might be peculiarly
vulnerable to auch agitation
should it once start, and our de
mocracy shaken and disturbed by
it at a time when it is very neces
sary that we should display the
utmost unity based on the toler
ance and good will of each citizen
toward all other citizens.
Racial and religious persecution
is contrary to the basic concepts
and laws of American constitu
tlonal government, and is so dis
tasteful to the American mind
that time and again, in our his
tory, and at this very moment,
the president ot the United States
and the leading spokesmen of all
our political parties and of our
educational and religious institu
tions have protested officially and
publicly against such persecutions
outside our own borders.
In view of the policy which you
so clearly enunciated a month ago,
may I ask whether you have been
listening to the broadcasts of Fa
ther Coughlln? Have you sent for
the records of them? And if you
have, do they, In your opinion,
contribute to the fomenting of
"racial or religious persecution"?
Do yon believe that they serve
to "injure any racial, religious or
other group"? Whether you feel
that they do or not, you would
be rendering a public service, first,
to the broadcasting companies,
and, second, to the American pub
lic, by making a ruling on the
matter.
In case they have escaped your
attention, may I say that In a
somewhat cautious and subtle
manner, in a style which Is not
unfamiliar to me, since I became
acquainted with It some years ago
when I was living in Germany,
Father Coughlin is coupling in
his own mind and in the minds
of his hearers Judaism with athe
ism and with communism.
o
He has taken some of the
"facts" to . substantiate many ot
his remarks from a publication
called "World Service" which is
published in Ehrfur, Germany, in
eight languages, and distributed
in this country by numerous agen
cies, one of them being the "Amer
i e a n National Confederation,"
which openly calls itself an Amer
ican fascist party and distributes
propaganda put at its disposal by
the German government.
It would seem to me in view
of your statement of policy last
month, to be fitting that the fed
eral communications commission
should analyze these broadcasts,
the groups that are supporting
them and demanding that they
be continued on the air and the
effect they are having on Ameri
can public opinion.
00
I am aware that the federal
communications commission 1 s
strained and rightly so by the act
which created it, from censorship.
Nevertheless It Issues or with
holds Its licenses to broacastlng
networks on the basis of whether
the radio is serving "the public
interest, convenience, and neces
sity." And on several occasions
it has been led to reprimand
broadcasting companies because
of the nature of their programs.
We all recall the fact that when
Mae West went on the air with a
rather ribald script called "The
Garden of Eden" the federal com
munications commission called for
records of the program, demand
ed a hearing, and issued a repri
mand to the broadcasting com
pany responsible; for the number.
i . ..'.i..,, '
O'Brlea
fn
"Painted
Desert
Two -Movie Quia" pictures
George
the Ctiy"
with
Joe Penner
I tmoiEvs
1 He aat Ssh. j
fMMovi
JTy rash QttI
W Picture
and threatened to take it into ac
count In considering the renewal
of licenses for all stations that
carried it.
At that time you wrote:
"The care which the public has
a right to expect, and which is,
we understand, the practice in the
writing and editing of the manu
scripts . . . would seem to exclude
the elements of accident and sur
prise. "The admittedly objectionable
character of these features is. in
our opinion, attributable to the
lack of a proper conception of
the high standard required for a
broadcast program intended for
reception In the homes, schools,
automobiles, religious, social and
economic institutions, as well as
clubs, hotels, trains and other
places, reaching in the aggregate
a much larger number of people
daily than any other means of
communication, and carrying its
message to men, women and chil
dren of all ages. A clear recogni
tion of the social, civic and moral
responsibility for the effect upon
listeners of all classes and ages
requires such a high standard for
programs as would Insure against
features . . . offensive to the great
masses of right-thinking, clean
minded American citizens . . . The
right to continue operation under
a license can be Justified only so
long as public convenience and
necessity are served through pro
grams broadcast to the listeners."
Again I should like to ask you:
Do you think Father Coughlin's
recent broadcasts, in the light of
the present situation in the world
at large, serve "the public con
venience and necessity"?
00
Recently the federal communi
cations commission held a hear
ing on a broadcast ot "Beyond
the Horizon," a radio program
made from the famous play ot
Nobel Prize winner Eugene O'
Neill. The uttering on the radio of the
words "damn" and "hell" awak
ened the sensibilities of the fed
eral communications commission.
Does the federal communications
commission believe that these two
words are more likely to offend
or corrupt any part of the Ameri
can public than the implications
of some of Father Coughlin's
broadcasts?
H. G. Wells's mythical Invasion
from Mars as dramatized on the
air led the federal communica
tions commission to call for an
explanation. Is an Invasion from
Mars more to be feared than an
invasion of nazl propaganda?
And, finally, does the federal
communications commission be
lieve that the truth or untruth of
over the radio is a matter affect
a statement of fact transmitted
ing "public, interest, convenience
and necessity"?
If it does, then It would seem
to me that Father Coughlin's re
cent broadcasts might be investi
gated from the viewpoint of
whether or not what he has been
saying is true, or whether he is
disseminating misquotations and
misrepresentations.
Sincerely yours,
. DOROTHY THOMPSON.
(Copyright, 1938, New York Tri
bune, Inc.)
Five Tires and Trumpet
Taken From Barker Cai
As He Goes for Gasoline
CLOVE RDALE Thieves strip
ped Clyde Barker's car of five
tires and also took his trumpet
from it one night recently when
he left it along the road after run
ning out of gasoline.
William Anderson left Sunday
for Ventura, Calif., to spend the
winter with his daughters there.
Today and Wednesday
&vjf' v "Shadows Over
fp Shanghai"
in
Coming Thursday
KAY FRANCIS in
"Comet Over Broadway"
Starts Wednesday a Hits
What chance has a
crook with Nancy
Drew on his trail?.
f V I I
AND HIT NO. 2
Last Times Tonight
: Comedy Hit -
"Hard to Get-and
Gene Antry in
"Sagebrrish Troubadour