The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 10

BROOKLYN EAGLE. THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1939 10 Chiang Kai-shek, staunch American- educated wife of the Chinese Govern- ment head, in third place. Brooklyn Eagle Ifoundrd bt Van Andrn 1841 iTiade Miri: Eag.a Rraisterwl i National Whirligig Itar Tucker Writes From Washington THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1939 THE BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE FRANK SCHROTH. President and PuOllher F. CROWELL Secretary ind Tresuier MAIN OFFICI: Baglt Building Johnson and Adams Streets Brooitlv New Yorlt TELEPHONE MAin 4-6200 Classified Ada MAin 4-6200 From our own midst we might well nominate Mrs.

Genevieve B. Earle, the courageous champion of reform in the City Council, for a high place. Hoses' Political Philosophy It was a striking coincidence that on the very day that Park Commissioner Robert Moses was discussing the problems and responsibilities of public service in the course of a Goodwin Memorial lecture at Packer Collegiate Institute, he was signally honored at another Brooklyn school. By an overwhelming majority the students of Abraham Lincoln High School voted to award him the cup given annually by that institution to the person who has rendered the greatest service to New York City. It was Chlcajo.

1614 Tribune Tower Can Francstto. Cat. Monadnock Bulidini .50, 000,000 yjx fH SLASH BY COMMITTEE Wff Jj IN F.D.R-.RBUH 1 00 SUBSCRIPTION RATES BY MAIL: 1 Yr. 6 Mns 3 Mos. 1M I Wk Democratic political strategists admit more or less openly that the leading Presidential contenders for 1940 are Vice President John Nance Garner and Secretary of State Cordell Hull.

Nobody else including F. D. sup- posed favorites, Harry Hopkins, Bob Jackson and Attorney General Frank Murphy is men- tioned in the poll recently taken by National Chairman Farley. Mr. believe it or not, appears to favor Mr.

Hull over Mr. Garner, although "Cactus Jack" is Jim's type of man rather than the sedate, dignified from the moun- rji ina nf TnriAGc Tin, 1 00 Pell and Sunday. 11 00 6 00 Daily Only 00 4 SO 3 no 2 i0 75 .911 .30 Sunday Only 3 00 1.50 Entered at the Brooklyn Postnfllca aj Serond Clasa Mail Matter MrMHt.R 01 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Press la entitled to the list for republication ot a'l news dispatches credited to it i rot othermse credited in this oaper and also the local news of spontaneous nrism published nerem All right of republication o( all other matter herein are also reserved. jnsiue iuea seems iodc 2 i that Mr. Farley has a hankering for the a well-merited distinction.

Incidentally it will add his name to the small, select list of those honored in previous years, which includes Samuel Seabury, Dr. William H. Park, Lillian D. Wald, Mayor LaGuardia and District Attorney Dewey. In his Packer address Mr.

Moses, with his usual keen insight, said that there was less reason "to become hysterical because of a threat that the State is going to invade some corner or segment of economic life until now pre-empted by private enterprise" than there is to fear the expansion of gov nomination himself. Realizing that he coula not beat the Texan if the latter develops expected strength at the convention, the Postmaster General prefers to see Mr. Hull hold the pole position. The Secretary of State is popular with the economists and the in- Ray Tucker i-r nom, uui jma, is oeiovea or me mass the common people and the conservatives. Barring unforeseen developments, Washing ton sharps are betting that the Democratio 1 ucnet, in irnu win De uarner and Farley, or Garner and Bennett Clark of Missouri, The Garner-Farley slate sounds more logical, if only because President Roosevelt, even though he dislikes both men's conservative could not afford to repudiate his No.

2 and the fellow who Dlaced him where hA la today. President Roosevelt's friends are chuckling over Capitol Hill's supposed defiance of the man in the White House. According, to their figuring. F. D.

R. will win out regardless of The President, in their opinion, has repudi- bm wic ciimgc trial, nc 13 a uiciaior oy proposing rather than demanding legislation. Ex ernment beyond our capacity to administer it. There has been ample evidence of that trend in recent years and all too little realization of it. Mr.

Moses described himself as a conservative in political philosophy and as "neither a reactionary nor a Bourbon nor an economic royalist." He said that a New Deal friend had labeled him "a compartment Socialist," meaning, no doubt, he said, that "I am socialistic in the fields of recreation and public works and otherwise a pretty tough, hide-bound fellow." Whatever Mr. Moses' political philosophy is, we wish it were shared by more of those who have entered public life. Pay for Directors There is something to be said for the suggestion by Chairman Douglas of the Securities and Exchange Commission that United States industry create professional directors to safeguard investors and endeavor to prevent such scandals as that in McKesson Rob-bins. There is also much to be said against it. If directors are to be professionals, this would be tantamount to creating additions to the management staff.

In some parts of Europe this is done but, bearing in mind various European scandals, it is clear that it is no antidote for managerial dishonesty. Moreover, were directorates to be composed solely of professionals a good deal of cept for relief for the railroads and Government reorganization, he has asked for no new or disturbing reforms. Wanting nothing of political, social or economic importance, he has handed the legislative ball to tinninff fnp latiarnl Ainet-num rnll1 TTill Letters lo lhc Eagle fumbles. Congress, however, especially Vice President Garner, is equally wary. The legislative branch, if it carries out ita present plans, hopes to show the country that it knows a lot more Letters must bear the signatures and addresses of the writers, but pen names will be permitted at the discretion ot the editor.

Contributions should be kept as short as possible, but the editor reserves the right to cut them down to meet requirements of space. about running the nation and the Government' than President Roosevelt does. It will be political Rose Bowl battle fer 1939. a Would Reroute Bus to Solve Cerritsen Reach Problem To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle: There has been a great deal of agitation to make the Avenue Station of the Brighton Line nn express stop. Various civic groups have working towards this end for the last six years.

Here is an alternate Idea for Ger-ritfen Beach which should give them the traffic relief they desire without much trouble. Gerritsen Ave. has recently been graded, sidewalked and paved from Avenue to Nostrand Ave. If Gerritsen Beach were to agitate for a rerouting of their present bus line (which terminates at The most gorgeous political story of 1938 volves former Congressman John O'Connor of New York and Father Coughlin. Although John once threatened to "kick the priest from Claims Surples Abandoned Campaign Pledge To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle: Upon reading Clifford Sinnings letter In the Eagle one almost would be convinced that the platform upon which Councilman Abner Sur-pless ran included the planks of both State and national Republi A Fact a Day About Brooklyn Brooklyn's first schoolmaster was Carl Debevoise, appointed in 1661.

The first school was organized in the little church which then stood on a spot close to the present junction of Fulton and Bridge Sis. The second public school established within the limits of the present borough was organized in Bushwick, in 1662, only a few months after the colony of Bushwick was founded. Two centuries later, when Bushwick was consolidated with Brooklyn, this original school developed into Public School 23. The first schoolmaster here was Boudwyn Manout, who received as salary 400 guilders a year, payable in Indian wampum, with house rent and firewood free. Bedford Village had the third school founded in the present Brooklyn, in 1663.

It later became Public School 3. In all the schools mentioned, the Dutch language was at first the only one used. A Itculistic Housing Plan All signs point to bi-partisan support of housing legislation at Albany this Winter. Primarily this is made possible by the action of Mayor LaGuardia's Committee on Housing Legislation in Adopting a compromise plan which appears to be reasonably satisfactory to the various groups involved. As a matter of fact it would be difficult to visualize the Republican-controlled Legislature lining up against measures designed to implement the new housing amendment in the State Constitution which, was sponsored by the Republican majority in last year's convention.

Paul Windels, acting chairman of the Mayor's committee, deserves a great deal of credit for developing the details of the plan. In general it calls for the State to make available loans totaling $120,000,000 out of the $300,000,000 authorized by the amendment of which $100,000,000 would be for use in this city and the remainder in other sub-divisions of the State. The principle of home rule is wisely recognized by the provision made, to place control over initiating and developing the projects in the hands of local authorities, while a reconstituted State board would act as a banking agency and have power to grant capital and periodic subsidies. It is good to note that Commissioner Moses seems to be having his way in his contention that provision be made so that up to 10 percent of the new housing funds may be expended for recreational and other public facilities. This should guard against the developing of new slums in the future.

Constructive reference was made by the committee to the need of keeping down construction costs. There should be general approval of the plan to make the rooms rent at not more than $6 a month and also to restrict the tenants to persons whose total income Is less than $1,800 a year. Another good feature of the proposed bills is that which would authorize municipalities to make loans to the owners of multiple dwellings for rehabilitation purposes and also to grant full or partial tax exemption to limited dividend corporations. Concurrently plans are reported under way by insurance company executives for enabling legislation to apply 10 percent of Insurance assets to purchase of real estate, and development and construction of housing, as well as commercial structures, involving a potential total of $2,500,000,000 for the country. It is encouraging that insurance companies are considering in a big way the supplementing of public projects.

In spite of continued criticism in some quarters, we believe that the theory of low-cost public housing may be considered as generally accepted in this State as a result of the action on the Constitutional amendment. Certainly private enterprise alone could scarcely meet even the minimum urgent requirements in this city. Nineteen hundred and thirty-nine may well prove to be a red-letter year in the history of the low-cost housing and slum clearance movement. Outstandiny Himipn This seems to be the season for naming the outstanding women of 1938. The editor of "American Women" started the ball rolling by V.4l 1 Capitol Hill to the White House," they became fast friends when F.

D. R. set out to purge genuine ability and knowledge and can platforms of the late Presiden the chairman of the Rules Committee. Father Coughlin got out a special edition of his magazine Social Justice to help O'Connor. On the front page was emblazoned a highly eulogistic article and photographie layout of the Tammany man who had dared to defy the President.

The article should have tial election. Defenders of Mr. Sur-pless' negative vote on Councilman Criticism of Inquiry System at L. 1. R.

R. Depot To the Editor o) the Brooklyn Eagle: I would like to see the Long Island Railroad find some other means of keeping the Flatbush Avenue Station clear of loiterers, without sending special policemen among the commuters waiting for trains, subjecting them to indignities and embarrassment by Inquiring of them whether they have tickets. LONG ISLAND COMMUTER. Bellmore, Jan. 5.

Carlin Resolution on Public School Forums Opposed To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle: It is not necessary to theorize about the Walter Jeffreys Carlin resolution to close public schools 1o controversiaj discussions. A practical example of how the public school, used as a forum for opposite points of view, aids Immeasurably in preserving the democratic traditions, which says that all groups should and may be heard, is available in Brooklyn. The Christian American Citizens' Committee against Communism, which, incidentally, was one of the groups which picketed outside the Board of Education building last Friday night in favor of the Carlin resolution, held a meeting in Erasmus Hall High School. If the Carlin resolution had been in effect, it seems probable that, as a considerable part of the population would be offended by this use of public property, the meeting would never have been held. As it is.

a lot of steam was, let off at the Earlc's county reform bills lay down a smoke screen, which even includes the waving of the American flag, to Justify that for which there is no justification. In November, 1935, the people by a been good, for Mr. O'Connors campaign publicists wrote it. Unfortunately, however, the 50,000 copies were mailed to the candidate's' 3 to 1 vote in New York City made possible county reform. That vote cuii.Miiurilti uiirci, iium ueuuii.

tjuilll 3 puilli- cal handlers did not see the finished product the edition which finished Mr. O'Connor. followed a campaign In which no the Avenue station of the Brighton line now) to the Kings Highway station tan express stopi, I am sure they could accomplish their aims. The distance between Gerritsen Ave. and Avenue and Nostrand Ave.

and Avenue Is about the same as the distance between the former point and Nostrand Ave. and Gerritsen Ave. This is an important point to consider because it eliminates the question of travel time. Now, I propose that the Gerritsen Ave. bus be rerouted to continue up Gerritsen Ave.

to Nostrand then northerly to Avenue tone block up Nostrand thence westerly along Avenue to E. 16th which parallels the Brighton line, thence one block southerly to the Kings Highway station. The trip should take about the same time as the present one. If Gerritsen Beach gets this change, I hope they will let the residents along Avenue ride on their buses and not make them express buses as they now do on Avenue U. MARINE MANOR.

Brooklyn, Jan. 7. punches were pulled. There was no mistaking the issue: county reform vs. status quo.

For alongside the boost for Mr. O'Connor was a typical Coughlinesque attack on the Jews a sort of Hitler tirade. Since Mr. O'Con An Eagle columnist quotes a campaign pledge made by Mr. nor's district includes very many Jewish vot- 1 1 1 Hnl.

wA i 4U Surpless that he would support a plan which, among other things, would 'merge the offices of sheriffs and city marshals into a single city- era, aim lie ju.m vy viuy jjr uguics uifti the amateur politician Father Coughlin licked him. Maybe the padre, in view of their long-time feud, did it on purpose. wide department, with a head appointed by the Mayor, and staffs se The I'nifier I Prom the London Fre PrfsM Herr Hitler has succeeded in drawing the democracies closer together. They are beginning to realize that it Is only by co-operation that they can meet this rising new menace of dictatorships. Roosevelt's speech was a reflection of the changing American public opinion.

lected by civil service." The clarity of that promise is typically Abner nunucia: NOTES Treasury officials express full con fidence British sincerely trying to keep pound in reasonable line with dollar. Mar- tin Dies believed likely to get $50,000 appro- priation to continue his investigat'on of un-American activities twice as much 4 re- ceived last session, but only one-third of Miat he's aasking for. GRIN AND BEAR IT By Liclity general experience might have to be sacrificed. Possibly the solution is somewhere between Chairman Douglas' idea and present practice, perhaps in having directors of two or more classes, as in the Federal Reserve Banks. Then the services of hard-worked outside executives might still be availed of, while the "professional" directors would exercise a kind of super-authority audits and responsibility for fiscal policies and supervision.

But above all, it would be well to remember that the McKesson Rob-bins case proved so startling and disturbing precisely because such happenings are so rare. Dam the Statistics! His wife no longer suspiciously asks the tired businessman, "What were you doing 'at the office' so late last night?" She knows he was spending the evening not in riotous living but in filling out Government questionnaires. The amount of time consumed by the businessman of the country in piling up statistics for his Government may be gauged by the report of the Central Statistical Board that Federal agencies required citizens to fill out 135,500,000 forms in 1937, most of them asking the same information. The board recommended a co-ordinating agency to preclude duplication. This recommendation should be acted upon at once.

Businessmen and private citizens generally are thoroughly sick of what they rightly regard as an intrusion by Government upon their time and resources. They may see the need of having to pav taxes, but they do not see the need of having to make tax returns half a dozen times over. Among other things that this country needs is fewer statisticians but more thoughtful ones. Surpless. Upon that pledge, with others I organized an independent campaign group, whose literature, paid lor by ourselves, named Mr.

Surpless as No. 1 choice, and our work probably accounted for more Surpless votes than the slim margin of several hundred votes by which he emerged victorious over his nearest opponent. Good Americanism demanded that Mr. Surpless fulfill the mandate of the 1935 people's referendum and his own campaign pledge. It appears, however, that his personal hatred of Mayor LaGuardia has.

led him to betray those who sent him to City Hall, and no amount of flag-waving, no Ingenious dragging in of national political issues will excuse his undemocratic conduct. J. B. MILGRAM. Brooklyn, Jan.

7. meeting. And a meeting was arranged by the Flatbtifh Council to Promote Pifial Tolerance, also in Erasmus Hall it is axiomatic that conflicting points of view, if they are to be reconciled at all, can only be reconciled when each side has an opportunity to hear the other and nonpartisans may hear both sides. Underground discussions, if that term is applicable, are unnecessary and even vicious in this country. By providing a forum for this type of controversial discussion, the public school serves as a direct descendant of the old town hall, which may be considered to have been one of the purest manifestations of democracy.

A move to amputate this institution from our social system is apparently unwise. A CITIZEN. Brooklyn, Jan. 8. Heredity Problem By EDGAR A.

GUEST i Silence Deemed Consent To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle: Hitler demands that we keep quiet while he plunders the Jews iwhole- 25 Years Ago In Brooklyn Monday. Jan. 12. 1914 Brooklyn policemen wfrr given orders by Mayor Mitchel to club gun-fighters and gangsters to rid the borough of the criminals. jsale robbery).

I I quote Pfalm "Thou sawest a thief and nominating micturu uy uugc riui- rnce E. Allen of the United States Cir- I wonder how it comes to be So fond of animals is she, Especially dogs, both large and small. And wants to feed and house them all? Never a cat or dog astray By Janet would be turned away. Was there a case I do not know Of grim frustration years ago; A child who cried herself to sleep. Denied the right a dog to keep? And did that little youngster say: "I'll have all sorts of dogs some day?" And did she live and die and be Followed by others down to me, Until at last to share our name This canine-loving Janet came; And in her life today appears The wish of several hundred years.

That may explain why Janet now Wants dogs from pekinese to chow And owning three insists that four Would after all be Just one more. At least to me the thought occurs Some wild heredity Is hers. Small chance there is that we wdl ever keep quiet while the thief goes on plundering. RICHARD WELLING. Manhattan, Jan.

5. Col. Andrew D. Baird was elected president of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank at the annual meeting of the bank trustees. He succeeds the late Ezra B.

Tuttle. cuit Court of Appeals, and including Jean Broadhurst, bacteriologist of Teachers College; Pearl Buck, Helen Hayes, Alice Marble and Kate Smith. How any list of outstanding women rould omit Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, we do not see.

And we would favor Dorothy Thompson above some of tbos Earned. Indeed, a poll of radio listrmw in twelve Eastern States the other day did show Mrs. Roosevelt and Why irrom th Charleston Nrw and Cour.1 Well, why shouldn't Harold L. Ickes be available for the mayoralty of Chicago? The great city of Illinois survived "Big Bill" Thompson as mayor. At any rate with Mr.

Ickes as mayor Mr. Adolf Hitler would not be sticking his nose into Chicago affair. All the people of the United States, avers a Wisconsin statesman, fall into three great classes. Ah, to be sure' 1 Those who work for the Government, those who work the Government, and those who Just work. Boston Herald, i Close on the heels of the announcement that the Emerald Ball had been called off because of the hfln on modern dances by the Cath-olir Church, nine other Catholic dance were called oft.

M'ss Thompson leading all others as outstanding women of 1938, with Jme. Tshaw I knew itl He would want the one in the mlddlel".