anaheim-gazette 1935-03-28

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. THE AMERICAN FRANCHISE "The right of an American to cast his vote is a precious one and it should be utilized and safeguarded. What is the duty of the voter?" says Major A. S. Atwood, in an article in the current issue of a national magazine. "We have recently had an election and more than ever skilled political observers all over the nation view with alarm, an alarm that is rapidly approaching the tocsin point, the abuses of the voting kingship of our citizens. There is an alarming lack of interest and apparent apathy in a vast number of our most intelligent men and women, some of whom even go through the motions of registration and qualify as legal voters, but for some unknown reason never, or seldom ever, exercise their franchise and inalienable right as American citizens," continues Major Atwood. "Many American-born men and women are so immersed in their own pursuits that they never even take the few minutes time necessary to register to vote. In the last election, in one of our Eastern states alone, it is estimated that there were between 75,000 and 100,000 non-voters who were legally qualified. Many of these 'patriots' are the loudest and the most vociferous in their condemnation of the policies of their government, or exude their venom on some particular incumbent of public office. The strangest part of all this is that many of these citizens are taxpayers on real property, and therefore furnish the bulwark of income to the government. It is also estimated that there are three million, and this is a very conservative figure, of such citizens in the country playing no role on the political stage of their native their own pursuits that they never even take the few minutes time necessary to register to vote. In the last election, in one of our Eastern states alone, it is estimated that there were between 75,000 and 100,000 non-voters who were legally qualified. Many of these 'patriots' are the loudest and the most vociferous in their condemnation of the policies of their government, or exude their venom on some particular incumbent of public office. The strangest part of all this is that many of these citizens are taxpayers on real property, and therefore furnish the bulwark of income to the government. It is also estimated that there are three million, and this is a very conservative figure, of such citizens in the country playing no role on the political stage of their native land, literally selling their birthright for a veritable mess of potage. "On the other hand, we have a condition in the nation today not wholly unlike those which exist in many European countries, a spirit of political unrest which of its very nature brings about a natural change in the voting population. That change is most significant in that it has brought to pass voting practices that are anything but healthy for the welfare of the nation, with all the known and some generally unknown forms of illegal registration and voting. Of course it follows that illegal and corrupt practices are more flagrant in some states than in others, depending on the laws and methods governing the machinery of registration and voting. In states which have re-registration of voters at prescribed intervals of time, properly identified ballots and the use of voting machines, many of the worst of illegal election practices have been to a large extent eliminated. However, there are many states in the Union which have never had a complete re-registration of voters. This is nothing more than a purging of the existing voting lists but a very important one, as results have shown in the states where such laws are in force. "Padded voting lists' is a term we hear much of now-a-days and this is accomplished with the same ease and cool effrontery with which the old padded payroll was put into being. Floating voters in gangs, much the same as nomadic tribes, drift from city to city and state to state for elections; voting on names of registered voters who have been found through pre-election canvasses by the hirelings of dishonest politicians to have recently become deceased, sick in hospitals or confined to the home, or away on trips and not expected to return to vote. Many honest citizens have appeared at voting precincts at an election and have been informed to their utter amazement that they had voted, and it usually works out that this honest vote is lost and the voter has been deprived of his inalienable right by some 'gang voter'. The honest voter usually becomes disgusted and does not or perhaps cannot take the time necessary to protest. Many attempts to vote on such names have been thwarted by alert election officers and wardens, but the majority of such violations undoubtedly pass undetected by city precinct officers who of course cannot possibly identify each person who enters the voting place. It also naturally follows that election officers receive their appointments through political activity, and such guardians of our many polling places have strong ties with political organizations and candidates for office and cannot be perhaps entirely unbiased in their duties." SOME POLITICAL CHANGES One of the most significant political developments in America during the past few months has been the increasing rift between SOME POLITICAL CHANGES One of the most significant political developments in America during the past few months has been the increasing rift between the leaders of the administration and the leaders of the so-called "left" or radical movement. Personalities have flown thick and fast but this does not disguise the fact that the differences are fundamental and cannot be permanently healed by compromise. From the statements of some of the cricial "left" leaders we would be led to believe that the present administration has "turned to the right." This would presuppose, of course, that the administration had started out by moving toward the left. At any rate, the present situation emphasizes the truth of a statement often made that there is little chance of satisfying the radical. The leftist movement feeds on its own success. It is like a sonnball rolling down hill. The farther it goes the bigger it becomes and the bigger it becomes the more it demands. You cannot satisfy it unless you go the whole distance. Radicalism seems naturally to lead toward socialism, political or otherwise, and those who have studied the question tell us that the active socialist is headed toward communism. A communist, so the saying goes, is little more than an impatient socialist. Be that as it may, it is undoubtedly true that every victory they achieve only spurs the leaders of the "left" to more drastic accomplishment. This is why any political movement which starts out to placate the "left," but to remain in the middle of the road, usually ends up by losing the support of the "left." The time comes when the middle of the road will no longer satisfy the extremists. They will demand a sharp turn to the left. Any effort to keep the machine in the middle of the road is hailed by the leftists as a turn "to the right," and they immediately begin to criticize and denounce, and to plan a new political movement. That is the phenomenon we are witnessing today. Of course we will never know what would have happened if things had been different. Political strategists will tell us that huge public expenditures for relief and public works had a pronounced political effect last year. That may be true, but this is another year now, and the future is not clear. At any rate, it is being learned that it is difficult to satisfy the "left" by leaning to the left and yet maintaining a "middle of the road" policy. ANAHEIM GAZETTE SCHOOL DAYS By DWIG WHATCHA DOUH, ED? POUR ON SOME MORE CREAM. GOSH, BUT IT TICKLES! HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE BEFORE THE MUSTACHE STARTS TO GROW? CHARLIE MACFARLAME'S STARTED TO GROW IN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE CAT UCKED OFF THE CREAM. PETE HOSLER'S IT TOOK MORE A MONTH. DON'T LET HER LICK YOUR NOSE, FOR GOSH'SAKES, OR YOU'LL HAVE A BEARD ON IT— VANISHING CREAM DWIG WASHINGTON WEEKLY REVIEW Special to ANAHEIM GAZETTE California agriculture has a new ally—virtually a new type of farmer—due to a changing order in the timber industry, according to S. Rexford Black, Secretary-Manager of the California Forest Protective Association. Taking a leaf from the farmer’s notebook, the timberman is placing his business on “a crop basis” and growing as he harvests. And California, a pioneer in the movement, is leading the way for the entire nation, with every indication that the entire industry—at least in this state—will shortly achieve a sustained yield basis. Two California timber companies—the Fruit Growers Supply Company at Susanville and the Diamond Match Company at Chico—already have qualified under the new set-up, with new growth for last year equally or exceeding their “cut.” It is of special significance, incidentally, that the Fruit Growers Supply Company — one of the first lumber concerns to follow in the farmer’s footsteps — is a subsidiary of the California Fruit Growers Exchange, the state’s largest farm cooperative. To the State and the Nation, the new movement is of vast importance, for it marks the end of destructive logging operations and devastation, with a reasonable guarantee of an adequate timber supply for future generations. And the trend toward sustained production in California’s great timber areas also has particular importance for the California farmer, as it will check the stripping of watersheds, affording protection against winter flood and adding nature in the storage of water for a summer supply. Most important of all, it means that one of the state’s great natural resources necessary to the continued functioning of a geographically integrated operating utility system, the utility holding company with its present powers must go. His message has been considered as one to offset the flood of letters Congressmen are receiving protesting the drastic nature of the bill. Where last year’s mail on the stock exchange bill came largely from brokers and investors, this year’s mail is probably from tors. In this connection the President, the utility employees as well as investees in his message, allowed to “the propaganda by enemies of utility holding company legislation to exploit the most far-fetched and fallacious fears of investors.” He assured Congress that such a measure would not destroy legitimate business or wholesome and productive investments. On the other hand utility spokesmen complain the threat contained in the bill has already resulted in a three and a half billion dollar loss, say the bill will “cripple” the power industry, and contend that the five year period of grace serves no purpose because the moment the bill is passed the investment value and possibilities of a holding company end. While the House passed a bill repealing the “plink slip” income tax publicity law, Senators LaFollette and Couzins are organizing for a fight in the Senate to retain the measure. They also will wage a fight for a graduated excess profits tax, estimated to yield three hundred and twenty-five million dollars a year, and an increase in existing income and surtax levies estimated to yield two hundred seventy-five million dollars in taxes; the latter amendment proposing the lowering of exemptions for married persons to $2000 and single persons to $800, with an increased tax rate from 4 to 6 percent. While the House may have passed the bonus by time this is printed there is a long trail of hurts ahead of it, as the President is certain to veto it and any... marks the end of destructive logging operations and devastation, with a reasonable guarantee of an adequate timber supply for future generations. And the trend toward sustained production in California's great timber areas also has particular importance for the California farmer, as it will check the stripping of watersheds, affording protection against winter flood and aiding nature in the storage of water for a summer supply. Most important of all, it means that one of the state's great natural resources may be made a permanent resource and a permanent industry. Secretary Black, in reporting on the new program, which has been carried on under President Roosevelt's Lumber Code Authority, points out that reforestation does not necessarily imply the planting of trees. This method, he says, is followed only when lands have been denuded by fire or disaster. "Nature takes care of the planting, if the new growth is given proper protection," explains Black. "The lumber companies are achieving a sustained yield basis by selective logging methods—cutting only the larger trees—and intensive fire protection to guard the young growth left standing." Of interest to farmers, in the light of the present revoluntary program in forestry, is the effort in the State Legislature to place a state severance tax on timber. The severance tax is advanced on the theory that industries which drain natural resources of the country, such as oil, gold and timber, should pay a special tax. But the timber on "a crop basis", similar to the farmer's crops, the application of the severance levy to the timber industry takes on new significance. Regardless of the final decision on this point, it is undoubtedly true that the California timber industry, during recent years, has had virtually as hard a fight for survival as the agricultural industry. And it certainly deserves every encouragement in the new move to insure an adequate timber supply for the future. is encouraging prospect that it will be more representative of public sentiment than the present set up, which was hurriedly organized and through a great publicity campaign popularized with the public at least for a temporary spell. An important legislative development, the recent favorable report of the Senate Judiciary Committee on the 30 hour week bill, recalls the fact that the Senate passed this bills two years ago. That action probably percipitated the Administration's side-tracking the measure with the establishment of the NRA. It is too early to predict any possible outcome on the 30 hour week bill, but it has much strength in both Houses. The President issued an Executive Order last month reserving for military purposes all governmental land in the Muroc area of the Mohave desert desired by the War Department as a bombing and gunnery range. The establishment of this range has been recommended by the War Department for the proper training of the units of the 1st Bombardment Wing stationed in California. Congressman Sam L. Collins of California, a Member of the Military Affairs Committee, is now attempting to work out some plan for the acquisition by the War Department, by purchase, of certain privately owned tracts of land which project into the Government area. Establishment of the range, which will be a valuable addition to the training facilities of March Field, cannot be completed so long as there are privately owned tracts of lands within the boundaries considered necessary for safety in aerial gunnery. The long drawn out fight last session on the stock exchange bill has a companion controversy in the public utility holding company bill. That portion of the bill having with holding companies, if enacted into law as it now reads, would gradually dissolve them within a five year period. Interest in the measure was accentuated by a recent Presidential message in which Roosevelt said: "Except where it is absolutely profits tax, estimated to yield three hundred and twenty-five million dollars a year, and an increase in existing income and surtax levies estimated to yield two hundred seventy-five million dollars in taxes; the latter amendment proposing the lowering of exemptions for married persons to $2000 and single persons to $800, with an increased tax rate from 4 to 6 percent... While the House may have passed the bonus by the time this is printed there is a long trail of hurtles ahead of it, as the President is certain to veto it and anything but certain is the attitude the Senate may take following a veto should body now vote to send the bonus bill to the President... Of interest to our farmers is the first deficiency appropriation bill just passed, carrying a sixty million dollar fund for seed loans which are to become available immediately... The breaking of the dam which for three weeks has blocked Senate enactment of the Works relief legislation will probably result in the speeding up of action on a number of major issues. The controversy in the Senate over the prevailing wage amendment permitting the President to set wages at such levels as will not depress pay in private industry; but requiring the payment of code wages for work on Federal buildings. National Affairs By FRANK P. LITSCHERT A great deal of American attention so far as diplomatic affairs are concerned, has been centered on late on the situation in Europe and Africa. News-paper dispatches have told of the trouble between Italy and Abyssinia and how this has been affected by the alliance in Europe between France and Italy, with Great Britain looking in an approving fashion. We have been told quite properly that this is no business of the United States and that we are fortunate because we are not a member of the World Court if this vexing problem should come up to the League of Nations for settlement. History of Anaheim Officially Recorded In Minutes of Anaheim Water Company, Which are Copyrighted, 1932, by Anaheim Gazette, and Printed In Weekly Installments Town Hall, December 11, 1880. In accordance with a call issued by the board of directors a general meeting of the stockholders in the Anaheim Water company convened at 3 o'clock p.m. The meeting was organized by the election of B. Dreyfus as president and R. Melrose as Secretary, but this action was immediately thereafter rescinded by the discovery that Section 1 of Article VI of the by-laws empowered the president to preside at all meetings of stockholders, and Section 3 of the same article made it the duty of the secretary to keep a record of all meetings of stockholders. The secretary called the roll of those present and 949 shares of stock were found to be represented being more than a majority of the stock issued. The president stated that the meeting had been called to discuss the affairs of the company generally and that he would first invite the attention of the stockholders to the fact that a few hours previous a conference had been held with a committee of the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Co., in regard to entering a suit jointly against the Riverside Land and Irrigating company to prevent that corporation from longer infringing upon our water rights. We desired to ascertain the views of the stockholders as to the advisability of entering such suit. Mr. Rimpau moved that the board of directors be empowered to enter into an agreement with the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation company to jointly enter suit against the Riverside Land and Irrigating company and all other B. Dreyfus, 221 shares; F., A. Korn, 56 shares; H. Knapke, 1 share; R. Melvin, 1 share; John Adams, 29 shares; T. Rimpau, 22 shares; A. Bittner, 24 shares; E. Barr, 22 shares; D. W. Fish, 4 shares; H. Werder, 20 shares; H. Boege, 11 shares; W. Konig, 21 shares; L. Dravson, 1 share; T. Reiser, 186 shares. Total 792 shares. No—John Meredith, 9 shares; R. W. Scott, 120 shares; H. Rogers, 20 shares; D. J. Sorenson, 2 shares. Total 151 shares. The secretary reported the indebtedness of the company at the present date to be $18,000. He read a letter from C. C. Miller, the engineer employed by the company to make a preliminary survey for a new ditch, in which were estimates of the cost of constructing a ditch. A profile map showing the line of said ditch was also exhibited. After some discussion in regard to the Cajon ditch, Mr. Rimpau offered the following resolution: Resolved, That it is the sense of the stockholders of the Anaheim Water company that the board of directors should either sell the interest of this company in the Cajon ditch, or purchase the said ditch; and that the directors are empowered to consult legal counsel as to the best and safest method of carrying out the wishes of the stockholders. The above resolution being duly seconded, was carried unanimously. The following resolution was offered by Mr. Melrose: Resolved, That the Board of Direc- REVIEW to the continued funca geographically interrating utility system, holding company with flowers must go." It has been considered as the flood of letters Conreceiving protesting the of the bill. Where last the stock exchange bill from brokers and investsors mail is probably from connection the President, employees as well as invessors, alluded to "the propalies of utility holding tion to exploit the most fallacious fears of inassured Congress that were would not destroy ness or wholesome and testments. Hand utility spokesmen threat contained in the resulted in a three and dollar loss, say the bill the power industry, and the five year period of no purpose because the bill is passed the investpossibilities of a holdhouse passed a bill repeallip" income tax publicity LaFollette and Couzens for a fight in the Senate measure. . . They also not for a graduated excess estimated to yield three twenty-five million dollars increase in existing intax levies estimated to reduced seventy-five million; the latter amendment lowering of exemptions reason to $2000 and single, with an increased tax percent. . . While the have passed the bonus by is printed there is a long ahead of it, as the tain to veto it and any- tering a suit jointly against the Riverside Land and Irrigating company to prevent that corporation from longer infringing upon our water rights. We desired to ascertain the views of the stockholders as to the advisability of entering such suit. Mr. Rimpau moved that the board of directors be empowered to enter into an agreement with the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation company to jointly enter suit against the Riverside Land and Irrigating company and all other persons or corporations who are infringing upon the water rights of this company; provided that after consultation with their legal adviser, he shall give to the board a written opinion that no right of this company will be jeopardized by combining with the S. A. V. I. Co. in bringing said action. The above motion being duly seconded, it was adopted, there being 792 votes in favor of the motion and 151 votes against. The vote in detail was as follows: Ayes—D. Strodthoff, 20 shares; M. Oefinger, 10 shares; C. Wilkins, 27 shares; C. Wehmeyer, 20 shares; J. P. Zeyn, 46 shares; F. Hartung, 50 shares; R. Melrose, Secretary. WASHINGTON SNAP-SHOTS There is one answer, as Washington sees it, to Huey Long and Father Couglin—and that is a return of prosperity with the re-employment of many of the idle. Until that comes either this pair or others of their type who promise the people in glowing terms things that cannot be accomplished will continue to have their following. This is largely the reason why there is less steam behind the Administration's drive for reforms at this session of Congress and more emphasis on recovery, why sound Democratic thinkers at the Capitol are warning against "leftist" legislation, why the "Brain Trust" has been more or less isolated. Their schemes were all right so long as the United States was drifting in the land of fantasy Now, despite Coughlin and Long and the others, there are It is reported that France is already in favor of such an agreement. Her interest lies in western Europe, especially along the Rhine, and she is anxious to have as many allies as possible since Hitler has put on his rearmment program. Italy, with its present relations with France, would doubtedly be willing to sign the agreement, too. definite indications that the people are tired of playing with trick legislative panaceas and want sound doctrines which have led to recovery in the past. Social reforms can wait. Share-the wealth and similar cure-alls which substitute horse-linament for horse-sense are nothing new. A Chinese student in Washington recently traced his country's history back several centuries and found it had a new deal, a share-the-wealth promise, and an entising slogan like "Every man a king." In America, at various times when economic conditions were at as low an ebb as now, we had General Coxey, William H. "Coin" Harvey, Father James R. Cox, and "Pitchfork Ben Tillman. All had their day but faded with the sunlight which exposed their plans. Mark Sullivan, one of the better known political analysts writing on this subject recently, said: "If Mr. Roosevelt wants to escape the menace of Senator Long let him abandon that presidential attitude which Mr. Walter Lippman called 'punitive and terroristic attacks on private business.' Most of us here in Washington think that, for the present It is reported that France is already in favor of such an agreement. Her interest lies in western Europe, especially along the Rhine, and she is anxious to have as many allies as possible since Hitler has put on his rearmment program. Italy, with its present relations with France, would undoubtedly be willing to sign the agreement, too. In other words, France and Italy doubtless are willing to guarantee the status quo in eastern Europe if Russia will help guarantee the present territorial situation in western Europe, which she is willing to do. This puts it up to Great Britain. John Bull is ready to enter into an agreement which will prevent war and keep things as they are in western Europe, because western Europe is near Great Britain and John Bull is anxious not to have anything happen so near home. But when it comes to entering into an agreement about eastern Europe, John Bull is not so eager to sign. The Ukraine is a long way from home and the British are not at all anxious to agree to put men and money into eastern Europe to protect something which Russia now possesses. This is why Russian diplomats are using every effort to line up British diplomacy with them for an Eastern Locarno. It is a vital matter for them. For if Great Britain does not go into a direct agreement, France and Italy will not be so anxious to do so. Russia believes that she has political troubles with Japan on one side and Germany and Poland on the other. She claims to believe that she may be attacked either in Europe or Asia and that she may have all these three nations as enemies. The Soviet diplomats therefore are seeking to get an agreement with France, Italy and Great Britain for a pact which will guarantee the present territorial status of eastern Europe. In return they promise to help guarantee the present territorial status in western Europe. Mark Sullivan, one of the better known political analysts writing on this subject recently, said: "If Mr. Roosevelt wants to escape the menace of Senator Long let him abandon that presidential attitude which Mr. Walter Lippman called 'punitive and terroristic attacks on private business.' Most of us here in Washington think that, for the present certainly, Mr. Roosevelt had abandoned this attitude." If this sentiment is impressed upon Congress more and it can be induced to pass necessary legislation and adjourn, a further pickup in business is inevitable. Dropping such legislative proposals as the 30-hour week, the Wagner Labor Board bill to put organized labor in the saddle, and other such measures which keep business upset would be a stimulant to recovery. For this early in the session, the Senate is playing to its largest crowds in history. The depression which has hit the show business has had reverse effect in Congress, and the continual buzz day in and day out has become a headache to Senators. One of the amusing stories in the Capitol today is told on Miss Frances Robinson, Secretary to General Johnson. A friend of hers had two Welch terrier puppies, one named "General" and the other "Blue Eagle." "General" was given to Miss Robinson. "Blue Eagle" died a couple of months ago just about the time General Johnson was lamenting that the new NRA administrators were killing his bird. While the Nation is arguing the merits of the General's debate with Father Coughlin and Senator Long, the General is enjoying it. He has his greatest fun when he is fighting an issue and this has given him one where he feels that he is rendering a service by answering false theories.