anaheim-gazette 1932-05-19

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. SHORTENING THE WORKING DAY A general shortening of the hours of labor in all branches of industry may come about as one result of the present business depression. An increasing number of large business concerns are operating on a five-day week. There is a great deal of discussion among business men of the possibility of making the six-hour day the standard. A bill has been introduced in Congress for the reduction of the working day on government work, with a corresponding reduction in compensation to each worker, and for the adoption of a general five-day week in all industries. We don't expect very much to come out of that, because we have given up expecting Congress to do anything to bring about the millennium. But we hear encouraging reports from industries that have adopted the shorter day and the shorter week, and it wouldn't surprise us to see this movement grow very rapidly. Of course, the earnings of workers are necessarily less, individually, when they work shorter hours; but it takes more workers to operate the business and, on the whole, it seems a better thing for the nation at large to have everybody earning something than to have a few earning big pay and a lot earning nothing. Fewer people are going to be able to buy luxuries in the next few years than were able to buy them in the few years preceding the big slump. But even if everybody earned twenty-five percent less for the next ten years than they did in the years from 1920 to 1930, our average income and buying power would still be much higher than that of the people of any other nation in the world. And if the five-day week and the six-hour day will result in putting everybody back to work, then we are for it. PENSIONS The United States has always been the most liberal country in the world in providing pensions for the men who have served in its army and navy. Recently, there has been a good deal of discussion of this pension situation, which is costing the taxpayers of the United States considerably more than a billion dollars a year. We have no quarrel what ever with the principle that a man who has been wounded or disabled by illness while risking his life for the defense of his country should be taken care of, so long as he needs it, at the expense of his country. But we have no sympathy for the able-bodied, self-supporting man who thinks that he is entitled to a pension merely because he was under arms for a while in a training camp. And we have still less sympathy for the man who tries by fraudulent means to obtain a pension by special act of Congress. President Hoover put his finger on one of the weakest spots in our pension system when he vetoed the Omnibus Pension Bill. This is an annual affair which usually has a great many meritorious claims in it, but frequently also contains claims of would-be pensioners who are not by any stretch of the imagination entitled to be supported by the public. As Mr. Hoover pointed out, the people of the United States should not be taxed to pension a man who was court-martialed for drunkenness and conduct prejudicial to good order and was finally discharged without honor for the good of the service, or for a man whose injuries were incurred in attempting suicide, or for a soldier whose only injury was the loss of a leg by being run over by a street car when he was lying on the track intoxicated. Those are only a few of the fraudulent claims for pensions which were included in this year's Omnibus Pension Bill. By all means, we think every man who has ever proved his willingness to die for his country has a special claim upon the nation's gratitude. But we feel, also, that the greatest care should be taken at all times, and especially now, to protect the nation against fraudulent pension claims. DEBTS AND DISARMAMENT Internationalists would like to have us believe that in some mysterious way war debts and disarmament are tied up together, and that Europe will be willing to disarm if the war debts are cancelled. But thinking Americans are not in the mood for an attempt to bribe Europe to be good. Europe needs disarmament in a financial way more than America needs it and after all it is Europe that is the potential field for war not the Western Hemisphere. It is true that war debts and disarmament ought to be considered together but not in the sense that the internationalists DEBTS AND DISARMAMENT Internationalists would like to have us believe that in some mysterious way war debts and disarmament are tied up together, and that Europe will be willing to disarm if the war debts are cancelled. But thinking Americans are not in the mood for an attempt to bribe Europe to be good. Europe needs disarmament in a financial way more than America needs it and after all it is Europe that is the potential field for war not the Western Hemisphere. It is true that war debts and disarmament ought to be considered together but not in the sense that the internationalists consider them. Senator Dill, of Washington, pointed out the proper connection in a recent statement against debt cancellation or postponement, a theory which, he declared, is opposed by our congressmen and senators almost to a man. In answering the complaint of the internationalists that Europe is no longer able to pay us what she owes us Senator Dill said: "So long as England can spend $678,000,000 per year for armaments, she can afford to pay the $171,000,000 each year as she agreed to do when we agreed to cancel all of the principal and part of the interest she owed us. As long as France can spend $518,000,000 for war preparations, she can afford to pay $45,000,000 per year, as she agreed to do when we agreed to cancel all of the principal and part of the interest she owed us. As long as Italy can spend $269,000,000 for armaments, she can pay $15,000,000 per year as she agreed to do when we agreed to cancel all of the principal and half of the interest she owed us." Here is a real answer to the financial defeatists who tell us Europe is no longer able to pay. The theory that Europe will disarm if we cancel the debts is foolish to say the least, in the light of the figures quoted above. A reduction of the debt would only give European nations more money to spend on armament. The Senate Committee, to Richard Whitney, head of the New York Stock Exchange: "There’s ba’ars in them here hills." What we can’t understand is why nature gave the rhinoceros such a tough hide and at the same time failed to make him a politician. The dear old free trader longs for a time when everything is cheap but always forgets that when things get cheap the people don’t have the money to buy with. If Sherlock Holmes were only alive now maybe he could locate the corner around which Miss Prosperity is concealed. Here's a Fine String of Fish for Mr. Hoover Miss Vesta Steven of Cape May, N J., with the first catch of mackerel, which were sent to the President as a gift from Jersey fishermen. THE WAY OF LIFE By BRUCE BARTON THE OBITUARY PAGE Once I was talking with Kent Cooper about what interests people in the newspapers. He said: "When a man gets to be about forty-five years old he discovers the obituary page." I certainly am not a gloomy minded person, but I always thought more or less about death. The attitude of a large portion of the human race toward it seems to me infantile and silly. THE FAMILY DOCTOR By JOHN JOSEPH GAINES, M. D. "FIELD NOTES" One of my friend-patrons came into the office this morning. He is a fine specimen of manhood, a good family and a reliable citizen. But, he came to me ten days ago with ACUTE ALCOHOLISM. . . Some earnest advice — a medicine to take the place of the stuff that MUST be let alone—and he was on the road to recovery; rapidly becoming himself again. Very well. Almost ready to return home to his wife and grown-up daughters. THE OBITUARY PAGE Once I was talking with Kent Cooper about what interests people in the newspapers. He said: "When a man gets to be about forty-five years old he discovers the obituary page." I certainly am not a gloomy minded person, but I always thought more or less about death. The attitude of a large portion of the human race toward it seems to me infantile and silly. It isn't a pleasant subject but certainly it is an inevitable one. Why dodge and pretend and act like children? Said Caesar: "Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come." All of which leads me to remark that there is a certain advantage in discovering the obituary page comparatively early in life. The tragedy is that some men never discover it. I have seen a doddering old millionaire, with one foot in the grave, fighting with a taxi-man over a nickel, or trying to beat down the price of a neck-tie. I once sought a contribution to charity from a millionaire who was well over sixty and notoriously tight. He told all the reasons why he couldn't give up a cent, and as he warmed up to the subject he began to act as if my call were an insult. Finally I said: "Why are you so mean? Why do you deny yourself pleasures and squeeze every nickel? It isn't your money; it's your children's money, or will be in a few years. Why let them have all the pleasures? Why not have the fun of giving some of it away?" This rude remark shocked him. Think it started a line of thought that made quite a change in his life. Moses prayed: "So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." I assume that to mean that, when we get along toward middle life and note by the papers that men of our own age, or a few years older, are dropping off, we ought to stop and take stock. We ought to say: "As life goes I have maybe ten, fifteen or, at the most, thirty years. Therefore, I ought to quit thinking—How much money can I pile up? and begin thinking—How can I be sure to do all the things I want to do, see all the places I want to see, and leave behind me a reputation for having been a reasonably good and generous individual?" It would help if the papers would print at the top of the obituary page every day this quotation from Rousseau: "FIELD NOTES" One of my friend-patrons came into the office this morning. He is a fine specimen of manhood, a good family and a reliable citizen. But, he came to me ten days ago with ACUTE ALCOHOLISM. Some earnest advice—a medicine to take the place of the stuff that MUST be let alone—and he was on the road to recovery; rapidly becoming himself again. Very well. Almost ready to return home to his wife and grown-up daughters. Yesterday, he told me this morning, he met an acquaintance, a travelling salesman, a "hail fellow well met." This fellow was equipped with a real arsenal—a quart of bootleg liquor, that he kept to treat his customers. My man "broke over," and today is entirely off the mineral water wagon. Not drunk, not at all maudlin, but just a little extra steam on. Of course he is sorry and repentant, but he mustn't go home for another week to face that trusting wife and daughters. I mention this for my readers, so that they may know how we physicians have to struggle with the "noble experiment" that we have, which some hug to their breasts as bearing the sprouting seeds of the millenium, when they fondly expect a "DRY" world will emerge from its moonshine coils. It is all well enough to talk about, but its practical working is another thing, or it is so here. There is not a minute of the day or night when the victim of dipsomania can't go out and help himself to liquor, if he has the price—not bonded liquor, but bootleg! Why don't I stop it? My dear sir, I'm not a federal officer; if I were that travelling salesman is probably 200 miles out of town this morning, charging some other man's battery. No, folks, we shall have to devise some other way. Wife—Robert. Hypnotist—Yes, dear. Wife—I wish you would come here and tell baby he's asleep. Mrs. Huff—Did you see the Johnson twins? Huff—Yeah. Mrs. Huff—Don't you think the boy is the picture of his father? Huff—I sure do—and the girl is the talkie of her mother. Peggy—I'm divorcing Charlie. You don't know what I've gone through, living with him. Anne—Well, everybody says it was all he had. Oshkosh—I dreamed last night that a burglar stole our new chime clock and when I swoke We ought to say: "As life goes I have maybe ten, fifteen or, at the most, thirty years. Therefore, I ought to quit thinking—How much money can I pile up? and begin thinking—How can I be sure to do all the things I want to do, see all the places I want to see, and leave behind me a reputation for having been a reasonably good and generous individual?" It would help if the papers would print at the top of the obituary page every day this quotation from Rousseau: "The dead take to the grave, in their clutch-ed fingers, only that which they have given away." Mrs. Huff—Don't you think the boy is the picture of his father? Huff—I sure do—and the girl is the talkie of her mother. Peggy—I'm divorcing Charlie. You don't know what I've gone through, living with him. Anne—Well, everybody says it was all he had. Oshkosh—I dreamed last night that a burglar stole our new chime clock and when I awoke I looked to see if it was still there. Kennenunk—Was it gone? Oshkosh—No; but it was going. OBSERVATIONS EYES OF THE WORLD ARE UPON YOU And now the very interesting question is, who will be the nominee of the G. O. P. The wheel horses have a real he-man job on their hands. WISE CRACK After diligent inquiry it has been learned that the report about the new Speaker of the House being given the job because he managed a pecan ranch down Texas way is unfounded. NOBODY HURT When the governor and the "ex" uncorked things about each other they did so with a smile, when talking things over back yonder in an eastern state. HERE'S YOUR HAT: WHAT'S YOUR HURRY When the two Carolina Governors met years ago the conversation indulged in by the executives went down in history in the wet column. The other day when a mayor of an eastern city called on the mayor of a western city, on a pardoning mission, from all accounts it seems as though the meeting was brief, dry and the host wanted to be somewhere else. SAY. AIN'T THIS DELIGHTFUL WEATHER WE ARE HAVING There awhile ago when times were tough an editor got mad as the dickens when he saw a steam shovel at work digging a trench while hungry men were standing looking for work. And then the owner of the steam shovel spoke up and said to the editor, why don't you padlock your linotype machines and go back and set type by hand. And then all hands went over and took a lime rickey. LETTING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG In another county a paper said, editorially, that the animated amendment was a great success and its enforcement was going along satisfactory. And then, by golly, a columner in the same paper, spilled the beans by saving that the jailing of the headman of a big racketeering outfit, only had a tendency of changing LETTING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG In another county a paper said, editorially, that the animated amendment was a great success and its enforcement was going along satisfactory. And then, by golly, a columner in the same paper, spilled the beans by saving that the jailing of the headman of a big racketeering outfit, only had a tendency of changing the faces of the drivers of the beer trucks in a big city on the lakes. WHOA. THAR. YOU PESKY CRITTER Now that the democrats have captured congress some of the big bell wethers are "afreed" the donkey will rare up and kick over the applecart. OCH. OH! A well known actress with nifty form and 20 other gals put on a show depicting the night life as viewed in the slums of a big city. It went over big and some of the "seens" were so loud that the windows rattled. Then the headman of the purity squad came along and said "naughty" and bang went the padlocks.. All the ballheads in town stood around pouting and wanted in, but were shooed away and told to go home. The actress who put on the eye opener said it was for art sake, and she said the show was really restful for the eye. At latest accounts the owner of the show was a twitter and thinking of heading west and taking a chance with the pussyfooters, meanwhile looking for the hootinninny. HOUSE BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD When the large financial concerns formed that National Credit corporation, with a capital of $500,000,000 back of it, to releave frozen assets, that will thaw out, they created a life saver, and no foolin'. GEE. IT'S DANDY TO BE A DIPLOMAT In another city a man was arrested for possession of liquor. He countered by declaring he was a diplomat and that his home and person were immune. NAW. IT WAS A MOIDER TRIAL The score was 10 to 2 and the battle raged within. Then it shifted 11 to 1 and all hands were nearly tuckered out. It had been going on for 48 hours. And then when it looked hopeless the men were discharged. HERRING ACROSS THE TRAIL And now, folks, some of the boys say the reason the affable and/debonair executive from out the east came west was to avoid as much as possible the fumes from the political ports at home. LOOKS LIKE HIM. TALKS LIKE HIM. YEP. IT'S HIM There awhile back a man, said to be wealthy, married an actress and after coming back from Niagara went into seclusion HERRING ACROSS THE TRAIL And now, folks, some of the boys say the reason the affable and debonair executive from out the east came west was to avoid as much as possible the fumes from the political ports at home. LOOKS LIKE HIM, TALKS LIKE HIM, YEP, IT'S HIM There awhile back a man, said to be wealthy, married an actress and after coming back from Niagara went into seclusion on his estate, away from the busy whirl. Then another woman ups and says the new groom had swindled her out of a lot of cash. Of course, since the man may have a lot of dough in his safety box, it might be the means of attracting gold diggers, especially if they are of the blonde variety. The man says it ain't so, while the woman says it is, with the new wife on the firing line with the rolling pin ready to strike. The old man may have a double. WHEN EAST MEETS WEST Scene: A western thriller. Strange cowboy drifts in to the Bar none ranch. The crook foreman looks daggers at him. Then the girl who owns the outfit appears. "Let's see what's your name," says the gal. "Let me introduce this man—he's my fee-you-say." It's time to punch the clock and call it a day. PEEK-A-BOO! A vivacious actress, who held the lead in a recent talkie that had something to do with a circus, in one "seen" gave a terpsico-crean interpretation of the hulu-hula; and say, boy, it would make a hen-pecked husband forget his troubles and wish he was single again. The actress is the life of any party, and some of the lines in the song she sang, and the hand gestures she gave as she wiggled, would make a wooden Indian stare in open-mouthed amazement. And while doing all this the lady showed her pulchritude and no foolin'. YES, WE HAVE NO SMUDGE POTS Just about the time the folks were picking over the turkey bones, derned cold weather set in, and it looked like icicles; but the gentle zephyrs from the east blew in and the cold spell blew out. NOT SO HOT In 1928 there were 43,000 millionaires in this glorious U. S. A., but in 1930 the crop dwindled to 19,000, owing to that terrific stock crash, when some of the big busted boys jumped out of 10-story windows.