LETTERS

Antiquated System

Sirs:

The shocking intelligence of the sudden demise of ex-President Coolidge indicates in no uncertain manner that the many responsibilities devolving upon the Chief Executive of the U. S. are both taxing and arduous. This is all the more evident when we review the history of Mr. Coolidge's administration and note the comparative tranquillity that marked his tenure of office.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that this exalted office is a sacrificial one, made more so by the unjust and unreasonable criticism of biased partisanship. The time has come for Congress to limit presidential administrations to one term of five or six years, and thus lighten the burden of presidential cares. Especially would this put an end to the undignified spectacle of our President's "electioneering" role every four years, and make this great office one of genuine dignity and high service, devoid of many imperfections that at present mark our Presidents as martyrs to an antiquated system.

If such popular periodicals as TIME would join in the advocacy of this much-needed legislation, two-term presidential administrations will go the way of the "lame duck" session of Congress.

HERBERT L. WHITE Okolona, Miss.

TIME promotes no cause. Arguments pro a single, lengthened term for U. S. President: no administration straddling with an eye to next Election Day; no undignified campaigning for a second term; less anxiety strain on the President's health; less need for hypocrisy; less control of the President by the Party; more freedom of presidential leadership; more time to carry out a program; more prestige; Party freedom from the tradition of renominating its President, etc. Arguments con: hypothetical need for a second term in time of national emergency (war, depression); increased irresponsibility of the President to the people, etc. (These con arguments apply equally to the second term under present system.)

In 1829 President Andrew Jackson in his first message to Congress proposed limiting the Presidency to a single term of either four or six years for "the people's liberties." Nevertheless, he ran a second time, was reelected.

Weighing well, let Subscriber White hound his Congressman or Senator to present a Constitutional Amendment for a single term for President, noting Senator George William Norris' long fight against the "lame duck" session, won in Congress last year (TIME, Feb. 22 et seq.). TIME will report progress.--ED.

Lions

Sirs:

Answering a questionnaire on 21 topics of likes and dislikes of every nature, six out of 13 "Lions" at our dinner yesterday named TIME as their favorite magazine.

In a remote town of 500 pop. this is a pleasing showing. Your influence is being felt.

H. B. PLEASANT Bear Valley Motor Co. Ford Authorized Sales & Service Hayden, Colo.

TIME subscribers in Hayden, Colo. total seven, four Lions.--ED.

Jan. 9, 1933, p. 55; col. 3

Sirs:

Meticulous TIME! Jan. 9, 1933, p. 55; col. 3: "somebody else's" (sic).

F. D. MULLAN New York City

Yes, purists notwithstanding.--ED.

Class

Sirs:

I am writing in behalf of Mrs. Dwight Morrow with regards to Miss Morrow's wedding (TIME, Jan. 9).

. . . You say the announcements were sent second class mail. It is no innovation on Mrs. Morrow's part as many other people have used the same type of announcement which I am enclosing for your information, requiring the penny and a half postage due to the openings on either side.

Will you be good enough to retract this statement in your next issue?

FRANCINE DARBY Secretary to Miss Fanshawe New York City

Retraction: announcements of Elisabeth Reeve Morrow's marriage* were mailed third-class, not second-class. Unusual, not unprecedented, is this sensible practice. Second-class mail is restricted to periodicals, third-class to advertising matter and such.--ED.

Czechago

Sirs:

Clinton W. Gilbert's article in Collier's for Jan. 8 suggests to me a TIMEly appellation for the Windy City, viz: CZECHAGO.

Incidentally, many people pronounce it thus instead of using the customary Shekawgo.

GEORGE H. CAMERON Fishers Island, N. Y.

Reporter Gilbert totted up smart Czech Mayor Anton Joseph Cermak's political strategy: to rally Chicago Czechs, Poles and Jugoslavs, to ally Jews, to split Irish (a small, rich minority).--ED.

Evil at Sallyport

Sirs:

In your issue of Jan. 9 you relate our ounce-of-prevention-pound-of-cure measures to eliminate drinking at The Citadel. Unfortunately, your statement: "They [the Cadets] went on drinking" is subject to the incorrect interpretation that drinking here is general.

On the contrary, drinking is not a serious problem at The Citadel. I am in a position to know that not 5% of our 507 cadets drink on or off the campus, and that less than 1% would be silly enough to risk sure dismissal by attempting to introduce liquor into barracks. Chicken wire has been placed over the sallyport gates (not the campus gates or fence), because we believe that preventive measures are sound and in accordance with the Lord's Prayer--"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

JOHN W. LANG Lt. Col. Inf. P. M. S. & T. The Citadel Charleston, S. C.

Catholics in Jail

Sirs:

Your comment in the issue of Dec. 26 on why so great a proportion of prison inmates are listed as Catholics is interesting, but I do not think you have given the chief reasons correctly. . . .

Here are two reasons, neither of which are touched upon in your article. First: Invariably, one having Catholic antecedents when taken to a hospital or prison will, although never having practiced the faith they claim, list themselves as Catholic, while one not having been formally received into a Protestant church will claim no religion. Second: There is a persistent feeling among wrongdoers that the Catholic Church will do more to ameliorate their condition than the other churches. The first point is illustrated by the report made a year ago by the chaplain of Joliet Prison, who after a thorough study of the question found that less than 2% of the inmates of Joliet listed as Catholics had made any effort to live up to the rules of the faith they claimed, and the second by the case of Ruth Snyder, who on entering Sing Sing, although an Episcopalian, listed herself a Catholic. . . .

A. J. DEER Secretary Catholic Truth Committee Pittsburgh, Pa.

Blind Spectacles

Sirs:

I was formerly a subscriber to TIME and have often been tempted, while listening to your excellent radio program, to resume my use of the magazine. But last night's program starting, as I remember it, with the description of the scenes enacted in an optometrist's office by poor, almost blind, unfortunates who look for miraculous results from the use of telescopic spectacles, has made me change my mind.

Telescopic spectacles have been in use for a number of years and as far as can be learned from the press, the optometrist in question has only added a cylindrical correction to the well known Zeiss telescopic spectacles. . . .

J. FLANDREAU VAN FLEET, M.D. New York City

TIME is a newsmagazine. "The March of Time" is a radio program. TIME reports, levels out the facts. "The March of Time" dramatizes the facts. The difference between reporting and drama has two effects on "The March of Time":

1) it cannot qualify or criticize news;

2) it will sometimes present a humanly dramatic incident which may not have sufficient news importance to be covered in TIME during a crowded week.

TIME reported the American Academy of Optometry's $1,000 award to Dr. William Feinbloom, optometrist of Manhattan's West Side Hospital, for his telescopic spectacles with triple cylindrical (instead of spherical) lenses which in some cases enabled 98%-blind patients to see well enough to work. Zeiss telescopic spectacles, not new, have been shown helpful in about 3% of clinical cases. Dr. Feinbloom's development is new, still of debated importance. The Journal of the American Medical Association last fortnight advised "strenuous protests" against Dr. Feinbloom's "socalled improvement." The American Foundation for the Blind and the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness followed suit. The American Academy of Optometry stood stoutly behind the Feinbloom claim of increased helpfulness to the 98%-or-less blind.

"The March of Time" dramatized one successful case of Dr. Feinbloom's. If the dramatization gave any blind listener false hope, TIME regrets. But also, if one sufferer has benefited from the Feinbloom development TIME rejoices. TIME counsels those interested in Dr. Feinbloom's spectacles to consult their eye specialists.--ED.

Silver Dollar

Sirs:

In yours of Jan. 2 under "New Pictures," you devote a column and a half to Silver Dollar and to H. A. W. Tabor. Commenting on the same:

Tabor was never spoken of as Haw, but as H. A. W. or as Tabor. Mrs. Augusta Tabor was not a shrew, just a sensible hardworking wife; a mother just a little foolish about her only son, Maxy. A business woman successful until in an unguarded moment she backed Maxy, was thrown against the '93 panic and went broke.

Tabor was a large-framed, rugged man with little surplus flesh; utterly unlike the nutty-faced impersonation in Silver Dollar. His great weakness was neither whiskey nor women. In these I would say he was normal. His gambling appetite followed him to the grave. When W. S. Stratton gave him a $10,000 present, it lasted only a few days, vanished over the card table. . . .

As to his election as lieutenant-governor-- and my father was his Democratic opponent in that race--Tabor's $10,000 per week poured into the campaign, only helped win the election. . . .

As to the book and the movie, it is all too apparent to us who know both the spirit and history of the Tabor period that the author was ignorant of both.

In closing I rise to remark that the myth of the salted mine turning out to be a bonanza was a classic amongst us before Leadville was discovered. The same classical legend is with variations attached to nearly every big mine in Colorado. . . .

Remember this Leadville was in the early Tabor period a camp largely of tenderfeet, who, released from the restraining influence of their Eastern homes, ran wild for a time; a condition exotic rather than indigenous.

JOHN E. FIELD Denver, Colo.

Again, the split between drama & reporting (see above). David Karsner's book was accurate enough to get him a Denver Post proposition to further research old-time Colorado. Warner Brothers' cinema Silver Dollar called its hero Yates Martin, dramatized, did not report Horace Austin Warner Tabor's life.--ED.

*To Welsh Industrialist Aubrey Niel Morgan.

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