Letters, May 16, 1938

“Harpers Ferry to Eagle Pass”

Sirs:

I’m hardly a professional Southerner, but I can’t take it lying down, suh. I mean, of course, this damnable reference to Franco as “Spain’s R. E. Lee.” [TIME, May 2] . . .

You may expect Southern colonels from Harpers Ferry to Eagle Pass to cancel their subscriptions. And if you do it again, I’ll have to begin praying over you myself.

VIRGINIUS DABNEY

Editor

Times-Dispatch Richmond, Va,

Sirs:

As a son of a Confederate veteran, who, for four long years, followed “Marse Robert,” I protest. . . .

WILLIAM P. BARRON, M. D.

New York City

Sirs:

. . . Decent Southerners will resent. . . .

JOHN C. HEWEY East Falls Church, Va.

Sirs:

Confederate blood boils at TIME’S comparison of Fascist Franco with Confederate Robert E. Lee. This is the absurd apogee of its consistently biased, frequently inaccurate, reports of the Spanish war. TIME’S glib essay at historical analogy, is shallow, unsupported by historical fact.

Franco incited a rebellion opposed by the great majority of his countrymen. Lee joined a rebellion (call it that if you wish) advocated by the great majority of his countrymen, after that rebellion was an accomplished fact.

Franco’s army contains few Spaniards, many hired Moorish cut throats, drafted Italian and German cannon fodder. Lee’s army was as native to its soil as the Swanee River.

Franco is the willing puppet of German and Italian Fascist imperialism. Lee was the faithful servant of his own people, and of them alone.

Franco aspires to be a tinpot Dictator. Lee declined during the Civil War and after, to convert the almost fanatical worship of his people, into political power for himself.

Franco has sanctioned the bombing of women and children. . . . Lee notably succeeded in keeping war on the battlefield, where he and most of his soldiers thought it belonged.

TIME has posited a resemblance between Franco and Lee; let TIME defend its thesis.

LUCIUS MIRABEAU LAMAR Dallas, Tex.

Not biased is TIME, but Reader Lamar, who does not have all his facts straight. General Franco did not start the Spanish revolution. The revolt’s military leader was José Sanjurjo, killed in an airplane crash on the third day of the war. General Franco’s army of 450,000 contains at least 300,000 Spaniards by the count of the Spanish Embassy in Washington.

In more ways than one Spain’s Franco resembles the South’s Lee. The government of each sought foreign aid. Both men renounced the uniform of the army they had been bred to. When a new social order threatened, both decided to forego the new, stick to the old with their class and kind.—ED.

Wolf Tooth

Sirs:

Re TIME, May 2, picture caption: “Chief Wolf Two and Fiorello LaGuardia.”

That copper-colored aborigine was pretty emphatic about being called Chief Wolf Tooth when he was introduced to Mayor LaGuardia as “Mr. Hawks.” I overheard it because I was sitting just behind the two, where, incidentally, I shamelessly eavesdropped their entire conversation. Wolf Tooth explained that he had graduated from Carlisle in 1879 and that he had visited Mayor LaGuardia’s city “long time ago.” He still remembered the State of Liberty and he fought in his tribe’s last battle against the white men. After hearing all this in perfectly good English, I was somewhat puzzled to observe Wolf Tooth using an interpreter during the ensuing adoption ceremony that made the Mayor Chief Rising Cloud.

LOWELL M. LIMPUS

Daily News

New York City

P.S. I gotta right to eavesdrop. I’m a reporter.

D. A. R.

Sirs:

Since reading your account of the recent D. A. R. Continental Congress [TIME, May 2], I am wondering why I have ever considered TIME fair and reliable.

Your reporter and photographer caught not a single faint, far glimpse of the purpose and achievement of that organization known as Daughters of the American Revolution.

EDNA WHITE McCoRKLE

Elmira, N. Y.

Sirs:

As the President reminded the Women, all of us are descended from immigrants and some from revolutionists. . . . Some of us have remembered what that Revolution was about, and have thought we might have to get out our muskets again. . . .

We would remind the President that one of the major causes of that Revolution was taxation which interfered with trade. Patrick Henry thought George III might profit by the example of history. So might Roosevelt II. “If this be treason,” etc. WILLIAM SILLIMAN ROGERS Buffalo, N. Y.

Sirs:

Your D. A. R. story was a darb. As one who, although descended from revolutionary warriors, has always enjoyed laughing at this aristocratic organization I can’t thank you enough. Ever since I read Rabble in Arms and Drums Along the Mohawk I’ve been unable to reconcile the haughty dames with the haggard, dirty, ragged, hungry and thieving horde that fought well but didn’t put on half so good a show as we get today from its descendants. Pardon me while I go out and wave a red flag so our friends can call an indignation meeting.

JOHN A. OLVER

Syracuse, N. Y.

Chinaman?

Sirs:

If that nasty article about “Taboo Words” [TIME, May 2] was “newsworthy,” I’m a Chinaman!

E. A. KUEHL

Holstein, Iowa

Some Chinamen have queer names. —ED.

Affirmation

Sirs:

For TIME, April 25 on Iran, congratulations for a job well done.

After spending most of 1937 in and over most of that country, my head nodded affirmation—wound up wagging wistfully for those Americans who may be trying to do anything in Iran. They will pay for your searchlight reporting.

With due respect to them, the good word for your work still stands. WILLIAM G. BENN

Washington, Pa.

‘Encouraging & Significant”

Sirs:

This letter is about the unsought and surprising publicity given me by the “March of TIME” on April 17, and TIME, April 18. . . .

I feel that the credit accorded to me was greatly exaggerated; for without the work of the local committee of able and earnest men and women, and the strong support of one of our local papers, the Kenosha Labor, directed by its editor, Paul Porter, what I felt and thought and expressed would have availed little.

Except for this, your article in TIME is satisfactory, and, judging by the letters that are coming to me from near and far, it has proved interesting to readers of TIME. These reactions, giving evidence as all of them do, of widespread opposition to the R. O. T. C. movement, may be considered as encouraging and significant. . . .

MRS. MARY DAVISON BRADFORD

Kenosha, Wis.

“Firm, Sturdy, Steady”

Sirs:

Many thanks for your ad in TIME, May 2 for St. Petersburg’s most remarkable rattan chairs, where it takes longer to die in these chairs and on our world-famous green benches than any others on earth. Many who came here to die—within 90 days—40 years ago are still waiting but not hoping. Your pappy, Father Time, is here but you wouldn’t know him. Last seen he was chasing a bevy of our beach beauties—and not with a sickle. . . . Time marches on—in St. Petersburg—with a firm, sturdy and steady step. . . . [And] whereever one will find dear old grandmothers and grandfathers one will also find loving sons, daughters and grandchildren or are you listening.

BURWELL NEAL Manager

Chamber of Commerce

St. Petersburg, Fla.

Sirs:

THIS ORGANIZATION OF 454 YOUNG MEN, AGES 18 TO 35, RESENTS LIBELING OF SUNSHINE CITY BY SMART ALEK TIME. . . .

JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE St. Petersburg, Fla.

Colored Children

Sirs:

In the issue of TIME, April 18 under “Business in Bronzeville,” in which my picture occurred, there occurred the use of a phrase that TIME so often uses in connection with articles concerning Colored children namely, “pickaninnies.” This word is very objectionable to us as a Race and has been quite embarrassing to me inasmuch as many of our customers and friends have the mistaken idea that I either wrote or dictated the statement as usual he [Joe Louis] was surrounded by admiring pickaninnies and etc. For the benefit of those who may have that idea, will you please print the correction that I do not write for TIME, and that while TIME’S reporter was present some of our local teachers were escorting a group of Colored (not pickaninnies) children through the Exposition, showing them the greatest demonstration that Negro Business has ever given. . . .

FRANK HOWELL JR. Mae’s Dress Shoppe Chicago, Ill.

Inaccurate Reporting

Sirs:

In quoting the Pope on p. 14 of TIME, May 2, can it be possible that the editors of TIME did not know that the quotation referred to the newly canonized saint, Salvador da Horta, and not to Francisco Franco? Is it accurate reporting to use that quotation, as you did, without explanation?

LAWRENCE ROSSITER

Hartington, Neb.

The Pope did bless Francisco Franco, but in these words: “We send from our hearts the apostolic blessing, propitiator of divine favors.” At TIME’S Foreign News editor and checker, raised eyebrows for misapplying the Pope’s words about St. Salvador da Horta to Generalissimo Franco; to TIME’S Roman Catholic readers, an apology.—ED.

Spanish Insignia

Sirs:

In TIME, April 11 you published a photograph presumably of General Juan Yague. Rebel Commander.

I have a doubt concerning the authenticity of this picture for this reason: if you will closely scrutinize the photograph in question, especially the insignia on the gentleman’s cap, you will discover what appears to be the hammer and sickle of the Communists.

Perhaps I am wrong but I was wondering if some photographer had fooled TIME or was TIME trying to palm off on us an unauthentic photograph—a thing which even the best of journalists have not at times balked at.

THOMAS J. HIGGINS, S. J.

St. Joseph’s College

Philadelphia, Pa.

TIME’S was an authentic picture of General Yague. What the Reverend Thomas Higgins mistakes for Communism’s hammer & sickle is the insignia worn for at least 30 years by Spanish infantry generals and continued as the insignia of Rebel generals. It is a four-pointed star with baton and sword crossed behind it. TIME is amazed at Father Higgins’ opinion of journalistic ethics. TIME never knowingly publishes an unauthentic photograph, never has, never will.—ED.

Wood on Coward

Sirs:

Seems like Britannia not only rules waves of waters but tempers blasts of air, according to TIME, April n under the heading “Inquiring Reporter.” The British Admiralty Office in the role of family physician to Mr. Noel Coward’s jangled nerves is an astonishing one. the more so since it would appear this august body has the power of prophecy. Two months before the London reviews of Operette appeared to jangle Mr. Coward’s poor nerves, Mr. Coward told me and others that he was to be sent on an official visit to the Mediterranean fleet, the dates of his departure and the dates of his return. You don’t suppose Fleet Street had been around to see the Admiralty Office and told them in advance how they were all set to jangle Mr. Coward’s nerves, advising that office that if they wanted to play the part of a family physician now was their chance ? . . . PEGGY WOOD

London, England

Actress Wood, currently playing in Old Friend Noel Coward’s Operette, undoubtedly knows best.—ED.

Phoney Ozies

Sirs:

Would Benny Goodman qualify for an association of those whose given name is “Benny” (not short for Benjamin) ?

Twin sons of jesting parents we are both “Benny.” One of us Benny L(eft) and the other Benny R(ight). Known jointly as “the Bennies.” We are not known severally at all, and as we grow we feel a progressive lack of individual personality.

We feel that if we were part of an association of Bennies it would compensate for this, so we want to promote it.

BENNY L. OZIE BENNY R. OZIE

No. 4 Brattle Street

Cambridge, Mass.

Let the Phoney Ozies think up a better gag. TIME’S correspondent can find no Ozies at No. 4 Brattle St., no Ozies in Cambridge—ED.

Bids

Sirs:

With reference to the letter from P96 of Wollaston, Mass, asking for a bid on a perpetual subscription [TIME, May 9], would you be good enough to submit my bid of $20 for the same providing of course, you accept the transfer.

JOSEPH NETTER II

Baltimore, Md.

Sirs:

I will offer $25. . . .

P. H. SCHLOSBERG Portland, Me.

Sirs:

Offer P96 $30. . . .

AVERY D. POWELL, M. D. Attica, Ohio

Sirs: My offer [is] $40. . . .

M. P. PITOCK, M. D. Fairfield, Conn.

Sirs:

WILL PURCHASE PERPETUAL TIME SUBSCRIPTION [FOR] $50. . . .

M. M. McCALLEN

Mayor Huntington Beach, Calif.

Sirs:

WILL BE GLAD TO PURCHASE IT AT $60. . . .

LEONARD LEE

West Los Angeles, Calif.

Sirs:

I OFFER 10% ABOVE HIGHEST CASH OFFER RECEIVED BY P96 FOR PERPETUAL SUBSCRIPTION RESERVING RIGHT TO WITHDRAW OFFER IF PRICE UTTERLY UNREASONABLE.

D. R. W. WAGERSMITH

Amarillo, Tex.

TIME is turning over the bids to P-96.—ED.