Los Angeles Epidemic
Sirs:
. . . I am appealing to you for information which I am confident you can give. What is the seriousness and extent of the infantile paralysis epidemic in Los Angeles? I had planned to spend part of the summer there, but am deterred by newspaper reports, and rumors. . . .
MAZI C. GORDON New York City
Some 900 cases of infantile paralysis have been reported in Los Angeles County during the past two months. Only seven deaths occurred during the epidemic which, county authorities believe, has passed its peak. In Hollywood cinema folk closed their private swimming pools when Actress Ida Lupino, and Cameraman Hal Rosson, estranged husband of Jean Harlow, contracted mild cases of the disease.--ED.
Utopians
Sirs:
Several times during the past month I have been approached by persons who claim to be members of the Utopian Society of America, wanting me to join their organization, which, they claim, will dictate the policy of the U. S. Government within 60 days. Their claim is:
200,000 members in California. 25,000,000 members in the U. S. Could you give a TIMELY report on this organization in an early issue? . . .
MARK J. HAMPTON Los Angeles, Calif.
Sirs:
Can you give me any information about "The Utopians?" I have heard many people talking about it and how the movement is "sweeping the country." . . .
ANNIE-LAURIE GREGORY Long Beach, Calif.
Organized in Los Angeles last January. The Utopian Society purports "to give people economic education." Its aims include: 1) Tax reform, with heavier burden on the rich. 2) All persons to be educated until they are 25, work from 25 to 45, then retire. 3) Workers to be paid in nontransferable "units of buying power." Membership is highly secret, members being designated by number. Headquarters claims 200,000 members in 15 major cities and 400 towns. Initiation fee is $3; dues of 10-c- a month are expected if the member can pay. Neophytes pass through a series of mysterious "cycles," at one of which each is expected to write a letter to President Roosevelt praising his program. --ED.
Twinning Sheep Sirs:
TIME, June 11, Animals, p. 38, footnote: ''So, rarely, do horses, cows, SHEEP, deer [have multiple births.]" You should feel a little ''sheepish'' about the sheep part of your note. One hundred ten to 130% lamb crops are not uncommon in California. So you see a few of the woolies must double up to bring this about. . . .
ROBERT A. DOZIER Rio Vista, Calif.
Sirs:
After reading your issue of June 11 I went down to the pasture and read to the old ram your famed statement on multiple births. Since which he has done nothing but strut, because he is the father of twins by more than a fourth of the ewes. . . .
R. B. HERBERT Columbia, S. C.
TIME erred. In certain breeds, notably Shropshire, the twinning rate is as high as 50%. Sometimes triplets occur; quadruplets very rarely. Western sheep, mostly a cross of Merino and native breeds, twin less frequently. Cows rarely have twins, but last week in Tullahoma, Tenn. a Jersey produced triplets.--ED.
"Dead One"
Sirs:
In your May 21 issue, under Milestones, you report dead Cayetano Ordonez, "Nino de la Palma," near Seville, Spain. . . . ''Nino de la Palma." in a bullfight yesterday, June 4, at Seville, covered himself with glory, got an ovation and two ears. Pretty good for a dead one--and exceptional for the "-Nino"
WILLIAM SCHENSTROM Malaga, Spain
When a Seville dispatch reported the death of "the famous matador El Nino" the U. S. Press, including Spanish language newspapers, assumed it meant famed Cayetano Ordosnez, first matador to use the nickname "El Nino" ("the kid"). Later it developed that lesser matadors, hero-worshipful, call themselves "El Nino,'' precisely as prizefight novices in the U. S. adopt ring names like Young Corbett. Kid Dempsey, etc., etc.--ED.
Conscienceless Congressmen
Sirs:
The content of the article["Election Census"]appearing on pp. 15 and 16 of your June 18 issue has impelled me to voice my indignation. It is inconceivable that anyone, even the type of Democrats that we seem to have in Congress now, would dare vote for a bill that calls for the use of Federal money--money appropriated for relief purposes--to promote the re-election of Democratic Congressmen. When these men have so brazenly given evidence of their conscienceless state when an election is imminent, how can any citizen capable of independent thought and having a sense of responsibility vote for their reelection? . . .
KAREN LOUISE CARLSON Waukesha, Wis.
The House bill to let the Administration hire 105,000 canvassers to take a census of unemployed, was killed by Republican Senators led by Delaware's Hastings.--ED.
Solvent Cities
Sirs:
Paragraph 2, col. 3, p. n, of your issue of June 4, relating to the President's signing the municipal bankruptcy bill, includes this sentence: "Such municipalities as ... Wilmington . . . were expected soon to reorganize their debt structure under its terms." Kindly advise whether the Wilmington alluded to is Wilmington, Del.
Wilmington, Del. has never defaulted on any of its obligations and our credit is of the highest. There is no reorganization of our debt structure contemplated here. . . .
Will you kindly publish that Wilmington, Del., is not going to take advantage of the Municipal Bankruptcy Act.
WILLIAM H. SPEER, M. D. Mayor Wilmington, Del.
Moody's, generally accepted authority on municipal bonds, rates Wilmington's credit "AA" (excellent).--ED.
Sirs:
. . . We are unable to conceive of any possible reason why Flint should be mentioned or referred to as a bankrupt city or in connection with the compromise of debt under the recently signed municipal bankruptcy bill. The financial condition of Flint has improved radically within the last two years. . . .
Flint has been engaged in a Refunding Program over the past seven months which includes the refunding of all bonded indebtedness, exclusive of Water Works Extension and Improvement Bonds, with maturities to June 30, 1935.
We earnestly believe and the facts bear this out that when this refunding is accomplished
Flint will be able to carry on and pay its debts in full as incurred. . . .
OLNEY L. CRAFT Director of Finance Department of Finance Flint, Mich.
Moody's rates Flint's credit "B" (Poor).--Ed.
Toledo Truces
Sirs:
In your article entitled 'Peace over Toledo" you outline the settlement made in the Auto-Lite strike [TIME, June 11]. So that your information may be accurate we are pleased to enclose copy of the agreement. . . .
The majority of our employes had continued at work. A large number of them had an association of their own (not a company union because the company had nothing to do with it). We entered into a similar contract with them. . . .
D. H. KELLY Vice President The Electric Auto-Lite Co. Toledo, Ohio.
In its report TIME erred in four major points. 1) TIME said Electric Auto-Lite Co. agreed to "rehire first those who did not strike, then the strikers, then men employed prior to the strike, last (and probably not at all) the strikebreakers." Fact: The company promised to rehire all strikers within a week. In case of layoffs, the company promised to discharge first those men who were hired since Feb. 23, which includes strikebreakers. 2) TIME said: "Workers will be represented by officials of the striking union, thereby practically killing off the company union." Fact: The agreement called for workers to be represented by whichever union they belong to, whether A. F. of L. or the Auto-Lite Council Body (socalled company union). 3) TIME said of the Toledo Edison Co. settlement: "The union was recognized." Fact: The company formally recognized the union more than ten years ago, was completely willing to negotiate with union officials, whether employed by the company or not. 4) TIME said: "Union members were given preference for employment." Fact: Mediator Charles P. Taft II overruled this request as not authorized by Section 7 (a) of NIRA.--ED.
Praying Leaders
Sirs:
Your very gracious reference to me in TIME [June 4] . leads me to make one correction concerning the list of 50 [leading! men named by Roger Babson and not by J. W. Gerard. It was printed in the American Magazine for March 1926. . . .
Mr. Babson submitted the six questions:
1) Did you have a praying father, a praying mother, or both?
2) Do you believe there is some Power higher than human power?
3) Do you feel that we are responsible to this Higher Power?
4) Do you feel that we need help from it?
5) Do you ever pray?
6) Has this feeling of responsibility influenced your life?
. . . Thirty answered "yes" to all questions. Seven including such men as John D. Rockefeller and J. P. Morgan, notably religious, declined to answer because it was too sacred a matter. Others were out of the country. Only one, Philip Maxim, did not pray and had no faith in God though his ideals were Christian. . . .
CHRISTIAN F. REISNER, D.D. Broadway Temple New York City
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