anaheim-gazette 1932-03-24

THE ANAHEIM GAZETTE HENRY KUCHEL, Editor and Publisher ESTABLISHED 1870 ISSUED EVERY THURSDAY SUBSCRIPTION PER YEAR $2.00 SIX MONTHS $1.00 Entered at the Anaheim, California Postoffice as second-class matter. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT The most frequent comment we hear about the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby is that "hanging is too good" for the perpetrators of this heartless, brutal crime. We are inclined to agree, not only in this instance but in general, that our present methods of punishment for crime are "too good" for the criminals. We have tried being tender-hearted with criminals for a good many years, in most parts of the country. The net result is an enormous increase in crime, overcrowded prisons conducted at heavy cost to the taxpayers, and the belief of every "smart" crook that can "beat the rap" if he only gets a lawyer smart enough and crooked enough to find the loopholes in the law. We have carried to the limit of absurdity the principle that it is better for a thousand guilty men to escape punishment than for one innocent man to be convicted. Certain facts seem to us incontrovertible. One is that the death penalty is no deterrent of murder where it is not promptly and surely enforced. Another is that imprisonment does not reform criminals nor the fear of it frighten them. Other methods of punishment, other means of preventing crime, must be discovered and applied. Let sociologists deal with the causes of crime, the influences that make criminals out of boys. But let us all take a practical, common-sense view of the punishment for crime. At all costs let us back up our law-enforcement agencies, let us clear the statute books of the laws which protect the criminal, let us speed up our criminal trials and place men on the bench who will show no mercy to those who deserve none, and then let us consider whether the old-fashioned whipping-post, the stocks an dthe pillory, and surely enforced. Another is that imprisonment does not reform criminals nor the fear of it frighten them. Other methods of punishment, other means of preventing crime, must be discovered and applied. Let sociologists deal with the causes of crime, the influences that make criminals out of boys. But let us all take a practical, common-sense view of the punishment for crime. At all costs let us back up our law-enforcement agencies, let us clear the statute books of the laws which protect the criminal, let us speed up our criminal trials and place men on the bench who will show no mercy to those who deserve none, and then let us consider whether the old-fashioned whipping-post, the stocks an dthe pillory, which held the convicted criminal up to public disgrace and shame, may not be as effective deterrents of crime as the gallows, the electric chair or the penitentiary. The outstanding characteristic of the modern criminal gangster is his vanity. Destroy that and you have destroyed his chief incentive to crime. "Two-Gun" Crowley went to the electric chair a hero in his own eyes and in those of his child-minded admirers. Gerald Chapman, murderer, is a figure of greatness among youthful crooks because he smiled when the trap was sprung. Would crime seem heroic, criminals heroes, if Crowley had been flogged in public and Chapman exposed to public contempt in the stocks? We think not. We think that punishments to be effective should be so shameful that dread of their disgrace will deter even the most hardened. BRIGHTENING SKIES A hundred and fifty million hoarded dollars have already been put back into banks, bonds and other places where they are useful, Col. Frank Knox's committee on hoarding reports. The procession of failing banks has about come to an end. Railroads and other large industries have saved themselves from receiverships by loans from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Business credit is already easier because of the Glass-Steigall bill amending the Federal Reserve Act. Thousands of factories which have been shut down are starting up; thousands more have gone back to almost full-time production. There is still an enormous unsatisfied demand for every kind of manufactured commodities, wise men tell us. As fast as money and credit begin to circulate freely again people will be able to buy. We are not all going to get rich in a hurry, but the pessimism of a few months ago has given place to optimism almost everywhere, and we believe it is safe to say that the economic skies are getting brighter. UNCLE SAM'S LIMIT ABOUT REACHED If the Federal government were to enter into the business of supplying relief to the destitute on a nation-wide scale the effect would be to slow down the various forms of local and individual help for the unfortunate, maintains Walter S. Gifford, director of President Hoover’s organization for the aid of unemployment, and the net effect would be less help for the needy rather than more, he contends. There is a good deal of sense in that argument. There is a widespread belief that the Federal treasury is a cow with an inexhaustible supply of milk, an dthere is a growing tendency to place as many of our local burdens on the shoulders of Uncle Sam as that over laden gentleman can be induced, by hook or crook, to bear. "Let Uncle Sam do it," is the common cry of those who wish would be to slow down the various forms of local and individual help for the unfortunate, maintains Walter S. Gifford, director of President Hoover's organization for the aid of unemployment, and the net effect would be less help for the needy rather than more, he contends. There is a good deal of sense in that argument. There is a widespread belief that the Federal treasury is a cow with an inexhaustible supply of milk, an dthere is a growing tendency to place as many of our local burdens on the shoulders of Uncle Sam as that over laden gentleman can be induced, by hook or crook, to bear. "Let Uncle Sam do it," is the common cry of those who wish to escape individual and community responsibility. Mr. Gifford believes it to be the duty of the states, cities, counties, townships and other units of government to care for their own in times of distress rather than to call upon the national government to do it. That, of course, does not mean that the Federal government should not continue with all needed improvement works that give employment, but merely that it should not engage in the handling out of charity. There may be communities too poor to take care of this citizens who are in need, but probably there is no state that is unable to give emergency aid in such localities. Let us not thrust our hands any farther into Uncle Sam's pockets. Their bottom has been about reached. In arguing about what they will do in the matter of German reparations the French and British are giving us another example of counting the chickens before they are hatched, especially in view of the fact that Germany says there ain't going to be any reparations. It is said that they are now having a contract bridge tournament along Hudson's Bay. Isn't there any primitive place anywhere, anymore? The House of Representatives votes to give Farm Board wheat to the needy. But what most people need most is not wheat, but gasoline. Somehow or other the drinking water seemed clearer and colder in the old-fashioned rusty tin dipper than it does in the modern grem-proof paper drinking cup. One invention which is badly needed is a back seat silencer for hen-pecked motor car drivers. "Shaw's New Play Tedious With Talk," says a headline in the New York Times. In other words it is quite Shawvian. Here's Action! Parker Shelby, Los Angeles athlete, snapped just as he touched the bar at 6 feet 6 inches. He cleared it at that height the next try. THE FAMILY DOCTOR By JOHN JOSEPH GAINES, M. D. DANGER OF WORRY One of the most dangerous influences seems to be abroad in these strenuous days, and it is growing as our cares increase. I can think of nothing quite so harmful to human well-being as WORRY. Both worry and happiness are states of mind; but the latter is the thing most sought for; men will toil, strive, and wreck mind and body in pursuit of that elusive phantom—Han- THE WAY OF LIFE By BRUCE BARTON CHURCH Years ago an eminent economist had an idea. Selecting one protestant denomination whose records had been kept carefully, he set down the number of new members added each year. Opposite this, in another column, he classified each year from an economic standpoint as prosperous or bad. The year 1865 was an inflation year; nine- By JOHN JOSEPH GAINES, M. D. DANGER OF WORRY One of the most dangerous influences seems to be abroad in these strenuous days, and it is growing as our cares increase. I can think of nothing quite so harmful to human well-being as WORRY. Both worry and happiness are states of mind; but the latter is the thing most sought for; men will toil, strive, and wreck mind and body in pursuit of that elusive phantom—Happiness. It seems paradoxical, for a man to worry himself insane, in his quest of bliss. The patient that I really, down in my heart dread to meet—is the victim of self-induced worry. I know of no drug that will help him, and, too frequently good advice slides off him like water off a duck's back. Some, indeed, seem to me to find a cort of sucidal gratification in worry over things that are often not worth crying about. The man who lies awake nights, grows thin, disagreeable, and hard to get along with, will soon develop a hyperacid stomach and very aggravating indigestion. Then he consults the doctor. I have traced many a case of acidosos to plain, old-fashioned worry. It will most certainly undermine the constitution if persisted in. "Having food and raiment be ye therewith CONTENT." What a prescription that is! Unfailing in results too. A contendet life is a happy life. It's wise to work while the sun shines, for the rainy day is quite certain to come. But there is no sense in tearing one's system down in a struggle for so-called happiness, which is after all illusory in many cases; simple contentment will turn the trick quicker and better than a cart-load of bromide. Pardon me for writing things that can be understood. THE SCRAP BOOK THE ROAD OF REMEMBRANCE BY LIZETTE WOODWORTH REESE The old wind stirs the hawthorn tree; The tree is blossoming; Northward the road runs to the sea. And past—the House of Spring. The folk go down it unafraid; The still roofs rise before; When you were lad and I was maid, Wide open stood the door. Now, other children crowd the stair, And hunt from room to room; Outside, under the hawthorn fair; We pluck the thorny bloom. Out in the quiet road we stand, BY BRUCE BARTON CHURCH Years ago an eminent economist had an idea. Selecting one protestant denomination whose records had been kept carefully, he set down the number of new members added each year. Opposite this, in another column, he classified each year from an economic standpoint as prosperous or bad. The year 1865 was an inflation year; nineteen thousand people joined this particular church. In 1866 came panic, and new members jumped to thirty thousand. Then years of "good" times, but bad times for the church, until the panic of 1873 when up shot the membership reaching a "new high" in 1877, when prosperity registered a "new low." Panic in 1893 was followed by a church gain in 1894; the pinch of 1907 by a boost in membership in 1908. And so on. I fancy the same thing is happening today; at least our church has been full recently. Last Sunday the pastor chose this unusual text: "And when David inquired of Jehovah (as to whether he should attack the Philistines) Jehovah said: And it shall be when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is Jehovah gone out before thee." The preacher said that religion consists in being able to recognize the extraordinary in the ordinary things of life. Many people hear the wind in the trees, and say: "It is the wind in the trees." Now and then comes one who says: "It is the footsteps of Jehovah." Many people see the turmoil of the present, and say: "It is confusion; it is anarchy; it is hopeless." But those who are wiser say: "It is God remoulding His world into a new and better image. Let us bestir ourselves and go forward." The sermon lifted us. It was a clear prophetic voice announcing that the Power which made the world has not deserted it, is still working in it. It made us feel that we ought to lift our eyes and be active, lest these great and far-reaching changes come to pass without our recognizing them. I advise all preachers these days to preach a positive faith. To put aside any sermons that criticize people or discourage them, and preach confidence, and courage and hope. Men need this now. If the church can provide it, the church will make great gains. Bad times have always been its best times. As the trouble in China progresses we are being reminded more and more of the World The folk go down it unafraid; The still roofs rise before; When you were lad and I was maid, Wide open stood the door. Now, other children crowd the stair, And hunt from room to room; Outside, under the hawthorn fair; We pluck the thorny bloom. Out in the quiet road we stand, Shut in from wharf and mart, The old wind blowing up the land, The old thoughts at our heart. I advise all preachers these days to preach a positive faith. To put aside any sermons that criticize people or discourage them, and preach confidence, and courage and hope. Men need this now. If the church can provide it, the church will make great gains. Bad times have always been its best times. As the trouble in China progresses we are being reminded more and more of the World War. First invasion, then the atrocity stories. Let us hope that the analogy ends before Uncle Sam is involved in the conflict. MOTHER - THIS IDEA OF BEIN' GOOD ALL THE TIME HAS NO SENSE TO IT! GOSH - I WISH I WERE AN OYSTER WHAT, BUDDIE, WOULD BE THE ADVANTAGES OF BEING AN OYSTER? CAUSE THEN ID ONLY BE GOOD FROM SEPTEMBER TO APRIL OBSERVATIONS HEY, FDDIE, FETCH THE PRUNING KNIFE In a city up the boulevard, where they claim the most of its good and the least of its bad, it is reported that quite a bit of graft has taken root on the municipal family tree. In an interview the chief-high officer is quoted as saying that when inefficient employees get on any of the payrolls it is hard to dislodge them; and then the city goes in for the popular pastime to transferring the guys from one place to another in order that they would cause as little trouble as possible. FORMED A CONTRACT In a murder case in another county the fact was stressed that the victim, after having been drilled, held a cigar between two fingers on one of his hands. That was gone into thoroughly to show that the defendant's plea of self-defense was not tenable, or something like that. But, listen, there are cases on record when a bozo blew smoke in your face and then held the cabbagero in his fingers, and started to do it again. A guy just feels like—well, mebbe, he would reach for the gas mask. Oh, well, let it ride. PUT HIM ON THE SPOT After listening to a lot of tomfoolery in those gangland "pitchers," it was refreshing to see an old Civil war veteran portray the character, in the play called the Star Witness, and put the racketter where the law could handle him. Those boys who bared their breasts to the leaden hail in 61 were made out of the right stuff, and the generation today should take up the work where they left off, you know, preserve the nation. THEM WERE THE HAPPY DAYS One of the highly interesting and educational pastimes is to pick up the paper and see the picture of a former bad man, and outlaw, who long since has gone straight and settled down to a quiet and peaceful life. Of course, those instances are rare and apply only to the guy who escaped the sheriff's bullets and hid away, then to take his medicine in the shape of a jail sentence and be paroled and then live happily ever after. QUE DE NEUVO? Scene: Tia Juana. Holiday. Large crowd. Much activity around roulette wheels. Drunks—One gal about 45, who had THEM WE'RE THE HAPPY DAYS One of the highly interesting and educational pastimes is to pick up the paper and see the picture of a former bad man, and outlaw, who long since has gone straight and settled down to a quiet and peaceful life. Of course, those instances are rare and apply only to the guy who escaped the sheriff's bullets and hid away, then to take his medicine in the shape of a jail sentence and be paroled and then live happily ever after. QUE DE NEUVO? Scene: Tia Juana. Holiday. Large crowd. Much activity around roulette wheels. Drunks—One gal about 45, who had quite a load, a 21-year-old girl who got the trimmings—and hysterical. NOW, WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT? A city in the upper valley has passed an ordinance prohibiting meat markets from opening on a Sunday, claiming the law was enacted as a health measure. THE TURN IN THE ROAD Some folks said something "terrible" had to happen before things would change. Let's see, what about the tumbling of the gold standard. CAL'S ON THE MIKE AGAIN And, now, folks, Cal says he does not choose to run in 1932. Once again he has become loquacious; but have all the other precincts been heard from. EDDIE, FETCH THE BLUE PENCIL If all those smooth guys, who fleeced the gullible public with their fanciful inflated dividends, go to jail, the social registers will have to be revised quite a bit. KEEPING THIS SPOT WHITE If Jupiter Pluvious should fail to send about 20 inches of rain here every year for about 10 years, that Colorado river water will be derned handy to have to tap in these parts. HOLD 'EM LEVEL AND LET 'EM TROT Southern California and Arizona will double in population within the next 20 years, or perhaps sooner; and if anybody tries to tell you differently just rare up on your hind legs and tell the guy he doesn't know what he is talking about. KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING Now that several well known couples have kicked the Reno dust off their heels, and have the divorce papers on ice, it is expected the press agents will announce the new forthcoming engagements. ANYWAY ONE SWALLOW DOESN'T MAKE A SUMMER It is said the wine bricks are great if you get one at a time; but should they come in bunches it might be like a house falling on you. IN ONE END, OUT THE OTHER Some people fuss and fume about the law's delays. But the faster you fill up the pens, on account of the crowded conditions, the sooner the birds get paroled. GLUTTON FOR RUNISHMENT ANYWAY ONE SWALLOW DOESN'T MAKE A SUMMER It is said the wine bricks are great if you get one at a time; but should they come in bunches it might be like a house falling on you. IN ONE END, OUT THE OTHER Some people fuss and fume about the law's delays. But the faster you fill up the pens, on account of the crowded conditions, the sooner the birds get paroled. GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT If you can read all the crime news daily and still keep your head above water you are a peachereno, and no foolin'. CONTENTED PESOS Some folks object to silver as a circulating medium — but that's all there is in evidence down at Tia Juana. YES, WE HAVE NO BANANAS A town on the coast boasts that a resident there has a banana tree that yielded two bunches of the fruit this year. HARD TO TEACH OLD DOG NEW TRICKS Just after the flush times following the war people got to wearing silk, and are still trying to keep up with the procession. MIGHT SHRINK A BIT If India goes in for wearing cotton it might help a lot. It doesn't rain much over there—and even if it did look what Gandee wears. HEY, MISTER BAILIFF, ORDER IN THE COURT ROOM! Some of the trial courts "scenes" in some of the pitchers" remind a feller that perhaps they are of the kangaroo variety. THE LOST CHORDS It is said a man in an upper valley town has formed a baby orchestra, composed of young ones under 6 years of age. CINCHING THE ARGUMENT If Cal doesn't choose to run in '32 he should tack on another phrase that its final and no foolin'. LOOKING 'EM OVAH Now that they have trotted out that fightinest governor as a presidential possibility the spotlight has been switched from Nu Yoork to Oklahoma.