Willis v. Barleycorn

Sirs:

It seems that TIME has a hard time to reconcile itself to the candidacy of our Senator Willis for the Republican nomination for President. . .

I am writing from his home town--"A prophet is not without honor, etc." Not so, Senator Willis as a student in the University here had the love and respect of his teachers and all who knew him best. His unusual intellectual capacity as a mere boy was recognized by the faculty and students as nothing short of remarkable. . . . Willis advanced by leaps and bounds in college; and while yet in knee pants, so to speak, became a teacher and professor of law. His neighbors sent him to the legislature of his own state, then later to the lower house of Congress and so proud of his career were the people, that they put him in the seat occupied by the beloved William McKinley as Governor. The one time he was defeated for office was not by a Democrat or a Republican but by John Barleycorn--just before this sum total of all things iniquitous was kicked into his grave. The fact that John had once knocked out "our Frank," was so hotly resented by the good people of Ohio that they urged him thereafter to spend most of his time in Washington, D. C., as Senator from the state now known as the Mother of Presidents.

Willis has never been a pussyfooter. He is dry in theory and practice, and a born leader of men. In this, his home town, in a room where he taught rhetoric and grammar, and where he inspired students as did Garfield at Hiram, Ohio, there was organized the Willis-for-President Club. Those present and forming the club were of every political complexion and religious creed. Its slogan is, "The Largest Willis-for-President Club in the State."

What a good thing it would be for this bumptious writer of cheap stuff in TIME to attend the Willis-for-President rally on the evening of March 7, where Hardin, Allen, Hancock, Logan, Putnam, Anglaize and many other fine counties in the state will be represented and do some "booming" for Willis, something which seems to hurt TIME terribly. There is not a thug, saloon parasite, grafter, bootlegger, and not a "big wet" in the state of Ohio who will not welcome with glee the slurs which TIME has spread out before the people. If I am not mistaken, the thousands of women voters in Ohio who know that Willis has fought for their homes and firesides against the blackest beasts that ever annoyed human kind (the liquor gang) will lose no chance of resenting these insults of TIME. . . .

It is to be hoped that TIME will become the mouthpiece of a better brand of Americanism.

J. M. RUDY

Pastor of Church of Christ

Ada, Ohio

P. S. Yes, Cincinnati, the paradise of booze, bootleggers and the home of Remus, will black both their eyes by voting against Willis. But "we love Willis because of the enemies he has made."

TIME is no man's and no brand's mouthpiece.--ED.

Froth Parody

Sirs:

The letter printed in your issue of Feb. 27, from William J. Turner of Wilkinsburg, Pa., concerning the Penn State "Froth" parody of TIME, contained several statements decidedly erroneous. To quote from his letter: "The editor was asked to resign from the local literary fraternity, the subject of the front cover caricature threatened libel suits," etc.

The President of Pi Delta Epsilon, the literary fraternity, has branded the above statement as absolutely false, and instead lauds the editor of "Froth" for the publication of the issue. Major W. O. Thompson, the "subject of the front cover caricature," states, "I was highly pleased with the entire magazine, and consider the issue a distinct achievement in the field of journalism. The entire 'Froth' staff should be commended upon it, and I took the reference to myself in the manner intended, that of an excellent joke."

May I further add, that there have been no changes whatsoever in the personnel of the "Froth" staff, as a result of action aroused by the mentioned issue. Favorable comments, except in the case of a few, were dominant, and the issue as a whole was considered a great success.

EDWARD LYON JR.

Junior Editor

State College, Pa.

Gross Blunder

TIME INC

TIME COMMITTED A GROSS AND UNPARDONABLE BLUNDER IN LINKING WEST VIRGINIA WITH MELLONIZED PENNSYLVANIA IN ITS ARTICLE ON THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSIONS RECENT RATE DECISION STOP WEST VIRGINIA IS GREATLY AGGRIEVED BY THE COMMISSIONS ARBITRARY UNPRECEDENTED RULING STOP LET TIME SEEK SENATOR NEELEY OR THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD FOR EDIFICATION.

HERMAN L. BENNETT

TIME erred in not distinguishing between Northern and Southern West Virginia.--ED.

In the Appalachians

Sirs:

I doubt if you have a reader who can more vividly recall his first meeting with Geologist Bailey Willis than I.

Time: forty or more years ago, and I a small green country boy.

Place: on the summit of a knoll located on my father's farm, nine miles from town in Greene County, Tenn.

Hero: a man clad in knee length corduroy "britches," long stockings, shoes and a wool shirt, equipped with pocket for carrying field notes.

He carried a compass and level, while a Negro assistant named "George" carried the rod.

He was engaged in making the Appalachian survey, a task to which he devoted eight years.

When making long journeys from one camp location to another, he lived in a tent, he traveled in a "buck board" drawn by two horses, while a span of "yaller" mules supplied the motivity for covered wagon, and "cullud" cook.

Those were days devoted to hard work. "God had not yet tipped him off."

B. CLAY MIDDLETON

Oklahoma City, Okla.

In Carey

Sirs:

Just to say have had two copies of TIME weekly since my renewal in January. Evidently due to slight difference in address. No objection on my part, as have passed extra copy on to local businessmen with recommendation that they make TIME a habit. On such suggestion I know of three more copies coming to Carey weekly--more will follow.

Do not agree with all your conclusions or policies. Would not want TIME so agreeable. Like the challenge to constructive thinking it offers. Our students quote TIME like a minister his Scripture. More power.

C. E. PALMER

Superintendent of Schools

Carey Public Schools,

Carey, Ohio

To Jersey City

Sirs:

TIME cover was the only part of TIME that came to me this week. Somehow a Jewish paper was substituted in its place. . . .

MATILDA VOORHEES

Jersey City, N. J.

Hound

Sirs:

The man who makes the front page of your magazine certainly deserves the compliment of being consistent.

The hound that appears on the front of No. 9 edition [TIME, Feb. 27] is certainly in line with the long-whiskered gentlemen who have been appearing on the front page.

It was my thought to discontinue looking at those funny pictures but since the one who makes this has been so consistent and places a hound along with others of similar appearance, such consistency makes me look forward to getting TIME each week.

L. H. THOMAS

Van Camp's

Louisville, Ky.

Morons

Sirs:

Feb. 13th issue p. 12, contains this statement: When he (meaning Lindbergh) left the following day, a family of Morons, island aristocrats, (and so on).

For my information, would like to know if you didn't mean "Moros" instead of Morons?

Is there such a thing as an aristocratic Moron?

MRS. ELEANOR FLYNN

Rocky River,

Ohio

TIME meant Morons. A branch of the Moron family, Venezuelans, has lived at St. Thomas (Virgin Islands) some hundred odd years, owns the Country Club field on which Col. Lindbergh landed. They are neither Moros nor morons.--ED.

"Breaker-Boy"

Sirs:

I notice an article in TIME, Feb. 20, p. 12, in regard to our representative, Hon. John J. Casey, in which you state "himself a coal-breaker when eight years old."

A coal-breaker is an inanimate object with no brain of its own. It is a building in which the coal is broken and assorted to size.

Mr. Casey is an animated gentleman of great intellect and vitality, whose service to the anthracite cause and labor as a whole is immeasurable. He was a "breaker-boy" at one time.

EDWARD L. LEWITH

Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Improving

Sirs:

TIME is steadily improving. . . . Your summary of the two dominant points of view at the Havana Pan-American Conference is clear and accurate. I find myself more and more dependent on TIME for the news. My reading of the daily newspapers is nowadays usually limited to glancing over the table of contents in my morning and evening paper. For the real news I wait until TIME comes, and then read that carefully. In this way it is possible to keep up with the world's news, and to make the most of the little leisure I have for reading outside of my own scientific field.

ROBERT DEC. WARD

Harvard University,

Cambridge, Mass.