Hoover & Feagans
Sirs:
I read TIME to obtain facts, which in case of TIME means news.
I wish facts back of newspaper articles (accompanied in case of Minneapolis Journal, evening edition, May 30 by photographs of three children). Statement is that three children of Charles Feagan called on President Hoover, asserted their father was innocent of a crime writh which he was charged; that within an hour of the children's interview with Hoover, the father was released on personal bond.
I would like to know all facts. How the children were caused to go from Detroit to Washington? Who paid their expenses? How the very unusual publicity was obtained for this news?
C. J. O'CONNELL
Minneapolis, Minn.
TIME cannot discover that the Feagan children were inspired to go to President Hoover by anything but their desire to help their father. A bus line gave them free rides, paid hotel bills. Publicity followed naturally, encouraged by the White House because, though he is no baby-kissing politician, a conspicuous feature of President Hoover's legend is his fondness for "kiddies."--ED.
Why Dr. Baruch Left
Sirs:
I read with much interest, in your issue of May 30, the item regarding the Cash-Shannon duel.
My father, Dr. Simon Baruch, was the doctor who officiated. He notified the sheriff, Billy de Pass,* but the sheriff came just as the fatal shot was fired. As a boy, I remember very well the posse that came to my father's house the next day to discuss the question of going after Cash.
I am wondering from whom you got the information. It was the most famous duel of the time and really ended dueling. It was also the last straw that broke the camel's back and caused my father to leave South Carolina where Col. Shannon was one of the foremost men in his community.
BERNARD M. BARUCH
New York City
TIME'S sources for its Cash-Shannon account: pamphlets, letters and memoranda by kin of the principals; old newspaper clippings, local investigation.--ED.
Colonel's Daughter
Sirs:
I am mailing you under separate cover a pamphlet. "The Cash-Shannon Duel." After reading the fair account of their duel in your issue of May 30 I thought you might be interested in it. . . . Col. Cash was my father.
BESSIE CASH IRBY
Boykin, S. C.
Sportsman & Aintree
Sirs:
TIME, June 6: "Horse conscious readers were astonished that Sportsman did not print a report on the 1932 Grand National at Aintree, the year's most important steeplechase."
The March 1932 Sportsman devoted three full pages to an advance account of the Grand National at Aintree, by the outstanding Aintree writer, David Hoadley Munroe, who has been the Sportsman's regular Aintree reporter since 1928.
DANIEL ROCHFORD
Managing Editor The Sportsman Boston, Mass.
Alabama's Steagall
Sirs:
The following subscribers to TIME, and constituents of Congressman Henry B. Steagall, of Alabama, would appreciate your publishing the record and achievements of Mr. Steagall.
G. W. BLACKSHEAR WM. J. SAMFORD N. D. DENSON J. G. PALMER A. J. PEACOCK
Opelika, Ala.
The record of Representative Henry Bascom Steagall of Alabama is as follows:
Born: At Clopton, Dale County, Ala. May 19, 1873
Career: Educated in the common schools, he attended the Southeast Alabama Agricultural School at Abbeville for two years (1890-92), moving on to the University of Alabama to obtain a law degree (1893). After nine years' private practice he became solicitor for his native county, later serving a term (1906-07) in the Alabama House of Representatives. Quick of mind, sharp of tongue, he had himself chosen prosecuting attorney for his district, a position he held when he attended the Democratic National Convention as a delegate in Baltimore in 1912. As a small-town lawyer, he was nominated and elected to the House in 1914 to represent the 3rd Alabama District (1930 pop.: 270,471). There he has served continuously ever since.
In Congress: Appointed a member of the House Committee on Banking & Currency upon his arrival, he rose by the slow process of seniority to become its chairman when the Democrats took over the House last December. No professional banker, and lacking expert qualifications, he approached his legislative job as a layman unfettered by technique or tradition. Early in the session he put through the House measures to increase the capitalization of the Farm Loan Bank system, establish the Reconstruction Finance Corp. and expand the credit and currency facilities of the Federal Reserve System (the Glass-Steagall bill). Much of this legislation was put into his hands by the Republican Administration as part of President Hoover's relief program. He expeditiously piloted it through the House under a non-partisan agreement. He and Senator Glass of Virginia worked hand in glove to effect speedy conference compromises. When left to his own devices, he helped produce the Goldsborough bill for inflating commodity prices by deflating the dollar's value and rammed it through the House over the violent objection of the Federal Reserve Board.
He voted for: War (1917), the 18th Amendment (1917), restrictive immigration (1924), Soldier Bonus (1924), tax reduction (1924-27), tax increase (1932). Federal Farm Board (1929). the "Lame Duck" Amendment to the Constitution (1932), bonus loans over veto
(1931).
He voted against: Fordney-McCumber Tariff (1922), Hawley-Smoot Tariff (1930), equalization fee for farm relief (1928), Congressional reapportionment (1929), the Sales Tax (1932), State option on Prohibition (1932).
He votes Dry, does not discuss his personal drinking habits, if any.
Legislative Hobby: a bill to guarantee national bank deposits. He argues that citizens should not be asked to risk their money in institutions chartered by the Federal Government and sponsored by the Federal Reserve, any more than the Treasury which requires banks to put up bonds to protect its deposits.
Tall, lean, athletic, with neatly combed iron grey hair and blue eyes, he makes a good impression when he addresses the House. No ranter, he speaks to the point and is well prepared on the few subjects he selects to discuss. He waves his hands, indulges in a few oratorical flourishes but is otherwise logical and legalistic on his feet.
Outside Congress: A widower with three children, he chums mostly with other Southern Democrats, cuts no figure in Washington's formal society. His home is at Ozark, Ala. where, a power in local Democracy, he is in considerable demand as a public speaker. A member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, he fought down the Ku Klux Klan when it sprouted intolerantly in his district, had the courage in 1928 to stump for Alfred Emanuel Smith when James Thomas ("Tom-Tom") Heflin was trying to turn the State over to the Hoovercrats. He helped to oust Heflin in 1930.
Impartial House observers rate him thus: a mediocre legislator, experienced in the mechanics of lawmaking, who has been popped into a position of importance by the accidental meeting of Hard Times and Democratic control of the House: a solid, substantial citizen, loyal to his own rural system of economics and alien to the --Wall Street idea," who has put aside partisanship to cooperate to the limit of his ability with a Republican administration.--ED.
Senator Bratton's Rug
Sirs:
What I want to know is how to make a U. S. Senator pay for a Navajo rug that I sent him by mail a year ago. He was at the Indian investigation and asked me to send him one of my good rugs. I sent it by insured mail soon after and I have sent him around ten statements and letters asking that he either pay for the rug or return it and he absolutely ignores my letters not ever having answered me a line or paid for the rug. Please is there some way for a poor Indian trader to make him come through?
This was Senator Sam G. Bratton of New
Mexico. I sent the rug to Albuquerque and have the receipt of the postmaster there that the parcel was delivered all right.
I will certainly appreciate any information you can give me as to how to proceed to make collection for this rug or get the rug back, not that it would be good business to get the rug back after a year's time but it would be better than losing $50.
GEO. B. BLOOMFIELD
U. S. Licensed Indian Trader Toadlena, N. Mex.
Says Senator Bratton: "So far as I know I never made such a transaction, but I cannot be sure whether it is true or untrue. I will look it up and if the rug was delivered I will certainly pay him."--ED.
Two-Time Mayor
Sirs:
In the May 23 edition of TIME, you make the statement that Charles Howard Kline is the "only man ever to be Mayor of Pittsburgh twice in succession.'' Is this exactly true? When a small child (many years ago) my grandmother told me that her brother, one Henry Weaver, had been Mayor of Pittsburgh three times in succession. If this is not so, I should like to be advised.
ELIZABETH G. STOREY
Los Angeles, Calif.
Pittsburgh's mayoral term was changed in 1858 from one year to two. Henry A. Weaver served a one-year and a two-year term, 1857-60. Prior to him, Magnus Murray served three one-year terms, 1828-31. John Darrah had eight terms, 1817-25. But Pittsburgh's present charter dates from 1903. William A. Magee had two four-year terms (1910-14, 1922-26). Charles Howard Kline was the first four-year Mayor of Pittsburgh to succeed himself.--ED.
Banjo-Eyed
Sirs:
For years every time that one of Willard's comic strip characters referred to Moon Mullins as a "banjo-eyed bum," I have agreed with them that that is just what Mr. Mullins is. But I could never figure it out. Your issue of May 23 says, inter alia, "banjo-eyed Norman Klein." Do Klein's eyes look like banjos, or does Mr. Klein look like Moon Mullins? And another thing, that expression is the only one that angers our Mr. Mullins; a sort of "when you say that, smile" business. Are you not taking considerable chances that Mr. Klein's views are the same as Moon's?
ALBERT HILLIARD
Reno, Nev.
When Reporter Klein worked for the Chicago Tribune his wife nicknamed him "Banjo-eyes" because his round eyes would frequently bug with astonishment like those of Moon ("Banjo-Eyes'') Mullins, hard-boiled Tribune comic strip character.-ED.
*Mr. Baruch's memory errs. The Sheriff was a Captain Doby. Capt. William L. de Pass was a lawyer, one of the gentlemen originally challenged by Col. Cash.--ED.
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