Double Dam
. . . You probably know of the Los Angeles Times's single-handed fight to persuade the world that the name is Hoover, not Boulder, Dam. On the surface this does not seem to be much of a cause but the Times has elevated it to a kind of daffy dignity. In fact, its bulldog tenacity and unconquerable championship of Hoover Dam has been so fierce that when an innocent cigaret company offered it a whole page advertisement tying up the great project with a happy mouth, but referring to it always as Boulder Dam, the Times accepted it like a shot and suspended its holy vow for that day. But it promptly returned to its own Republican nomenclature the following morning and recently it carried a cartoon showing Uncle Sam rather pitifully reminding the President again that the name is Hoover, not Boulder. The cartoonist, apparently a defeatist, depicted the President as oblivious of the request.
. . . Will the readers of the Hearst Examiner and the Times come to the conclusion that the President is handling two dams in one day? What about Rand McNally? Isn't there some-thing just a little unsettling in the Times's dogmatic position, as though the editor had decided to ignore subsequent elections and announced that henceforth he would refer to Mr. Roosevelt as President Chester A. Arthur? What can you do about a thing like that? . . .
NUNNALLY JOHNSON
Fox Film Corporation Studio
Hollywood, Calif.
Sirs:
Now that President Roosevelt just dedicated the great Colorado River dam, let TIME relieve its perplexed California readers who are confused by the Los Angeles Times's continual harping on "Hoover Dam.'' Has the Times any justification for its stand? . . .
What is the official and permanent name of the dam? . . .
L. K. KINSPEL Los Angeles, Calif.
In ten columns of type and pictures reporting President Roosevelt's dedication of the dam. the die-hard Los Angeles Times, whose publisher Harry Chandler is a staunch friend of Citizen Hoover, stubbornly called it Hoover Dam except when directly quoting the President and Secretary Ickes. The project has never been named by law. Construction was authorized by "The Boulder Canyon Project Act." but the actual site was changed from Boulder Canyon to Black Canyon 20 miles distant. Customary procedure is to name a project after the act authorizing it, unless Congress decrees otherwise. Two Congressional bills introduced in 1929 and 1930 to declare the name Hoover Dam failed to pass.--ED.
California Consolation
Sirs:
Your account of President Roosevelt's western trip in the Oct. 7 issue was extremely timely and interesting. The impression was gained that the crowds that turned out at the various stops were not as large as anticipated, which is significant.
We, in the San Francisco Bay Region, were hoping that this section would be included in the itinerary of President Roosevelt's western trip and not because we desired to view our President, but to point out the intolerable condition that exists today in our marine industry. We are placing the blame of our troubles squarely upon the shoulders of his Administration, for it has been the lack of Government support that has created this condition and we can see little hope of cleaning up the situation until the Government decides to reverse its shortsighted attitude. Those familiar with the facts of the trouble know that the steamship owners can secure no support from any Department of our Government in Washington. . . . Direct pointed action by our Department of Labor in straightening out the labor unions involved is needed before any hope of settlement is seen.
With the marine situation daily becoming worse, our only consolation will be the concerted campaign by the citizens of this region for the defeat of President Roosevelt when he seeks re-election in 1936.
W. J. GLEASON
Oakland, Calif.
Good Interneship
Sirs:
You are to be commended for your article ''Wages for Internes" [TIME, Sept. 30], I have had the opportunity to enjoy all the privileges of an unpaid interne, for 21 months, at the Newark City Hospital, Newark, N. J. I am heartily in accord with the cry, as you call it, for some remuneration.
The article stated some things that are slightly exaggerated, but interesting, especially to laymen, such as paucity of obstetrical opportunities, surgical experience limited to sewing up bellies, bullying of patients, student nurses and orderlies.
A good interneship is one that gives ample obstetrical training, about 100 major laparotomies . . . and incidentally should include a course in bullying. This is supplied by most of the 700 rated U. S. hospitals. . . . The Newark City hospital interneship, which is a good representative hospital offers all these qualifications. . . .
0. W. JOHNSON, M. D.
Rugby, N. Dak.
Sirs: . . . Poor hospital internes overworked, not paid while aspiring to the coveted M. D. Their pay as low as $1.15 a week. . . . But the coveted M. D. received, the charge in Manhattan is $5 for an office call and $10 for an apartment call. They refuse to cut to $1 and $2 in this day of depression. . . . Really have internes any kick? A few years of pinching and then the public makes recompense at the rate of $5 and $10.
JAMES D. GRIST
York, S. C.
Rachel McDowell Defended
Sirs:
Several of your readers, obviously Presbyterian, have felt ashamed of the way in which fellow churchwoman, Rachel McDowell, was affected by her audience with the Pope (TIME, Oct. 7). Maybe her Rood Irish name signifies an inbred respect for the Church.
JOHN R. BUTLER Menomonie, Wis.
Sirs:
... I would like to compliment Miss Rachel McDowell as a member of the Presbyterian Church. May her mind always be as unbiased and her understanding as keen and fair as it is. ...
ALICE ANDERSON Omaha, Neb.
Sirs:
. . . Rachel McDowell is bigger than her religion. . . . Her own are stoning her for her courage. When they have piled their cairn high I should like to place on it: "Rachel McDowell, Honest Woman! I Salute You!"
MARY ASQUITH
Orrtanna, Pa.
Sikorsky's Mode
Sirs: TIME, until now fair and accurate where Sikorsky Aircraft are concerned, goes into a flat spin when in the Oct. 7 issue under Transport it refers to the Sikorsky Clipper as "Far outmoded by the new Martin Clipper, which has three times as much carrying power." Every schoolboy knows the Martin boat is some 25% larger than the Sikorsky and that carrying power--whatever this may be--cannot vary far from this ratio. The size is not everything. Pan American Airways, for whom both boats were built, has placed goodly orders for Sikorsky Clippers, some of them within the week. Your statement is unfair to Kingsford-Smith, British Aircraft Ltd. and United Aircraft. Everyone in aircraft knows it is next to impossible to sell airplanes to England. The license of the Sikorsky to a smart British firm speaks for itself, but hardly in the language of your comment. Even the sum of money mentioned ($500,000) is far out of line. Somewhere someone's slide rule slipped.
E. E. WILSON
Vice President United Aircraft Corp. Hartford, Conn.
All credit to Sikorsky Aircraft for pioneering the art of ocean flying. Sikorskys will be surpassed by Martin's new China Clipper at hauling passengers, mail & express over such long routes as the California-Hawaii run (2,410-mi.) But the Sikorsky Clipper will continue to give able service in South American waters, is admirably adapted to the 1,250-mi. jump across the Tasman Sea contemplated by Sir Charles Edward Kingsford-Smith's airline.--ED.
Forward Gaze, Reverse Gear
Sirs:
Being an ex-railroad man and familiar with the accuracy of TIME, also LETTERS, the writer had a chill of fear for the safety of the Presidential party on their recent cross-country jaunt. In the picture of Engineer Britton looking [TIME, Oct. 7] straight ahead with keen eye and steady hand on the throttle lever, it appears very much as though the reversing gear is set to send the locomotive and its burden in the opposite direction, quite a dangerous practice on any railroad.
Or am I wrong?
N. A. SHOLLENBERGER
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sirs:
. . . Mr. McAvoy should . . . have taken time to have the engineer put the power reverse gear handle in forward motion on the quadrant, instead of reverse, as in its present position, when he pulls the throttle, the engine will reverse, and if he's a good engineer and has his slack ''bunched," he won't move the train at all.
JOHN P. MCGLYNN
North Platte, Neb.
Let Readers Shollenberger and McGlynn have no fears. Able Engineer Shroeder* will never open a throttle without knowing exactly where he is going. His controls were in reverse when the picture was taken because he had just backed his locomotive onto the Presidential special in the Washington station, before starting West.--ED.
Even Sirs:
On p. 11 of TIME, Sept. 30, you describe the President's Western trip as a ''political reconaissance." I am quite familiar with the word reconnaissance, but do I need a new dictionary or did TIME err in spelling reconnaissance with one "n"?
BURWELL SPURLOCK
P.S. I am trying to get even with you for spelling my name wrong [Spurlok] in the May 27 issue.
Berkeley, Calif.
Credit to the brooding vigilance of Reader Spurlock who last spring won $100 for the best solution of a chemical engineering problem (TIME. May 27). Correct spelling : reconnaissance.--ED.
Boettcher's Competence Sirs:
Your article of Oct. 7 regarding Denver's invitation for the National Legion Convention reflects unfairly on the competence and ability of our treasurer, Mr. Charles Boettcher II. Mr. Boettcher did not give out the story that the check was lost, and the origin of this story is unknown. He turned the check over to me on Sept. 22 on his arrival at St. Louis. I presented this check of $26,650 together with pledges of Denver businessmen to the amount of $75,000 to the Time & Place Committee on Sept. 24. . . . Mr. Boettcher has served efficiently and well as treasurer of this corporation. . . .
JAMES P. LOGAN
Executive Vice President
American Legion Convention of Denver, Inc. Denver, Colo.
*Wrongly identified by TIME as Engineer Britton, who took charge later in the trip.--ED.
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