Daring Wellman

Sirs: The attached clipping concerning Walter Wellman which appeared in the Detroit Free Press of Oct. 13, particularly interested me as I have in preparation a History of the Wellman family in America. ... I would be greatly interested whether TIME, which in the adagial sense, like the tide, "waits for no man" can enlighten the Free Press as well as myself as to the present whereabouts and condition of this well-known explorer & writer of only two decades ago. Can it be that through ill-fortune he has passed into obscurity at 72 (born Nov. 3, 1858)? Might I suggest that if such be the truth, that his former friends and coworkers, and possibly many of the public generally would be glad of an opportunity to give him a birthday greeting next Nov. 3?

Lucius E. ALLEN

Detroit, Mich.

Said the Free Press: "What has happened to the daring Wellman, whether he is living or dead, available records do not disclose." The daring Wellman is alive and well at No. 4672 Broadway, Manhattan. Last week he said he had no birthday plans, would be at home Nov. 3. --ED.

Heimer for Hamer

Sirs:

In your Oct. 13 issue, p. 13, you refer to one "Bodenheimer" having been given the "bum's rush" in a hotel recently while President Hoover was there.

The man to whom you intended to refer bears the name O. M. Bodenhamer . . . and to have stated that he was given the "bum's rush" was probably using a term far below the dignity attached to one who only recently headed that magnificent group of Americans, the American Legion. I think you owe him apology, and should correct his name. No "Bodenheimer" was ever given the "bum's rush" and, most likely, "Bodenhamer" should not have been so accused.

J. A. BODENHEIMER

New Orleans, La.

To a late-working writer, reprimand for reproducing a telegraph misspelling. But a "bum's rush" was precisely what Ossee Lee Bodenhamer, outgoing Legion chief, was unintentionally given in Boston by police zealously, blindly guarding the person of President Hoover at Statler Hotel. --ED.

Malcomson & Ford

Sirs:

... I have read many accounts, written by those who thought they were well-informed in the matter, of the early history of the Ford Motor Co. and have yet to find one that is correct in all its details. Up to date, I've been merely amused at some of the statements and have not thought it worth my while to challenge them. However, when I read, "In 1903 Malcomson helped Henry Ford start his motor company but, ashamed of the venture, invested under Couzens' name," I'm annoyed at the stupidity of such a statement.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Briefly, Mr. Malcomson was very proud of his part in the organization of the Ford Motor Co. He never took out any stock under Mr. Couzens' name. Mr. Ford and Mr. Malcomson each owned half of 51% of the stock, and Mr. Malcomson's 25 1/2% was always entirely in his own name.

Mr. Malcomson's reason for selling his stock to Ford was simply that the two gentlemen could not agree as to the policies of the company, particularly as to the type car they should build.

Mr. Couzens, with a very small stock ownership which was his own, and not Mr. Malcomson's (except that I believe Mr. Malcomson may have given him a few thousand dollars' worth of stock as a gift) was given an executive position in the Ford Motor Co. simply because he was a splendid business executive, and for no other reason.

So far from being ashamed of the venture, Mr. Malcomson was so enthusiastic about it that he pushed it with every ounce of energy he had, personally signed the notes of the company at a time when they had no credit, and almost forced his friends to buy stock at a time when they had no confidence in the new venture. Faith and pride in the organization of the Ford Motor Co.! He was bursting with it!

I think Mr. Malcomson might have been living today had he not grieved so over the mistake he made in selling his Ford stock--selling the American stock to Ford and letting him have the Canadian stock, under their agreement, without recompense. He took the money received from his Ford Motor stock and organized another motor company, and it failed, carrying with it not only all the amount received from the Ford stock but making it necessary for Mr. Malcomson to meet, for some years afterward, notes which he had personally signed to save the new organization. . . .

. . . James Couzens was the bookkeeper and later the business manager of our downtown coal office, and a very good manager too, and Mr. Ford dropped in to our home once in a while to talk over plans for the new organization. We enjoyed having him come. He was simple, quiet, sincere and earnest, and we all liked him. I remember once asking him to have evening dinner with us and serving him a huckleberry pie which I had made myself and which could not be cut. the crust was so tough. You see, I was a bride that year, and pie was a new venture to me. I was not embarrassed about it. Mr. Ford seemed to enjoy the fun too.

When I was able to make good pie, I was proud of it. When Mr. Malcomson organized the Ford Motor Co., he was proud of it! Were they not both worthwhile achievements?

MRS. ALEXANDER MALCOMSON

Altadena, Calif.

To Mrs. Malcomson all thanks for putting the record in apple-pie order. -- ED.

Well &Truly Socked Sirs:

You must by now be fairly sick of receiving letters of admiring congratulation. . . .

You are the most compelling writer I have read. You literally force me to read about things I don't want to know. Once I start on an issue of TIME, I cannot let go a syllable. What the devil do I care about the IMRO in Bulgaria? or about Fascist Hitler? or the scandals of New York? Yet I actually smack my lips after reading what you have to say about it.

Do you know, sir, that you are creating a dangerous demand for something that can not always be supplied? Who is going to keep it up if you should suddenly fall a victim to a Chicago gangster?

I would like to become a subscriber but I'm scared of you. You make me miss too many social appointments. Enough to catch sight of a back-number on a hotel table.

Your paragraphs give me a joy similar to a golf ball well & truly socked down the middle. Keep it up and may your pen be preserved to us for a long time!

P. J. M. LARRANAGA

London, England

Let bouquet-hurling Reader Larranaga have no fear. TIME is written by a staff of one dozen writers well able to take care of themselves in Chicago (where none of them lives) or elsewhere.--ED.

Telegrams & Gas

Sirs:

In your issue of Sept. 22, p. 44, you make the statement that New England filling stations, not the telegraph companies, are supposed to have originated the telegram service idea which will soon make every gas station a telegraph station.

The facts are that in May 1926, Western Union sold this idea to a number of gas stations between Stamford and New Haven, Conn., with the argument that tourists seeing the Western Union sign would stop and possibly buy gas and oil after sending their telegram. This signing up of gas stations, hotels, restaurants, and drug stores in New England was continued and now has spread over the entire U. S.

As with the night letter, day letter, and special colored blanks for social telegrams, Western Union was the pioneer in the plan of providing telegraph service at gas stations.

H. L. HAMILTON

Advertising Manager The Western Union Telegraph Co.

New York City

Sheik's Stuff

Sirs:

Just after the death of Valentino, who showed how absolutely foolish most women are and can be, our town movie showed the "Sheik of Araby'' --I believe it was.

I knew of the recording that Brunswick had made of this Valentino's voice; and through Mr. J. E. Henderson, manager of the Cincinnati branch, it was easy to have Muskegon, Mich., plant send me a pressing of the record. This was played on a Brunswick Panatrope just before the film of the "Sheik" started.

So, as far as Norton is concerned Wanamaker made no startling announcement. I played the record in either 1926 or '27 and I am glad that the women here showed good sense and decency in not creating a demand for "stuff" put out by such as was known as a "Sheik."

A. C. MCCLURE

The Brunswick Shop

Norton, Va.

Tunes

Sirs:

Why are you so highbrow? Or is your record reviewer asleep half the time? Two of the season's best tunes are Ten Cents a Dance and Sing, You Sinners but I have seen no mention of them listed in TIME's music. Perhaps you are not aware that Frank Harling wrote the second and that he has composed a grand opera, The Light from St. Agnes, for several years in the Chicago Company's repertoire. Doesn't that make his jazz worthy of mention? . . .

FRED WISMER

Chicago, Ill.

Let Reader Wismer become aware of jazz tunes when they are new. TIME reported Ten Cents a Dance in May, when it went on the market. Sing, You Sinners was listed as a dance record in April and again in July when the Revelers released their vocal version.--ED.

Perkins Mirror

Sirs:

TIME, Oct. 6 contains a news item on the Perkins Reflector, the source of which I cannot divine.

Your comment represents the large 69-inch mirror to have been installed under my supervision. The facts of the case are that there are several months' work yet required in figuring this mirror in the factory of the J. W. Fecker Co., Pittsburgh. Such a statement causes us some embarrassment, especially in scientific circles. . . .

HARLAN T. STETSON

Director

Perkins Observatory

Ohio Wesleyan University

Delaware, Ohio

To Ohio Wesleyan & Director Stetson, apologies for telescoping the future into the present.--ED.

Nebraska's Norris

Sirs:

We, the undersigned subscribers, would appreciate your publishing a sketch of the political life of Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska.

JEAN B. CAIN

PAUL P. CHANEY

N. W. TODD

WM. UHLIG

W. J. PRICHARD

Falls City, Neb.

The record of Senator George William Norris of Nebraska is as follows:

Born: on a farm in Sandusky Co., Ohio, July 11, 1861.

Start in Life: farmhand.

Career: As a child he helped support his widowed mother by farm work, became a champion cornhusker. Winters he studied hard at school, saved enough to attend Baldwin University at Berea, Ohio, and Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. Valparaiso University gave him a law degree; he was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1883. As an itinerant schoolteacher he roved for two years, finally settled as a lawyer at McCook, Neb. In 1890 he married Pluma Lashley who bore him three daughters before her death in 1901. He was appointed county 1899). prosecutor In 1902, (1887), as a elected regular district judge Republican, he (1895, was elected to Congress from the 5th Nebraska District. Next year he married Ella Leonard. Galled by the legislative dictatorship of Speaker Joseph Gurney ("Uncle Joe") Cannon, he helped organize and lead a revolt against him which resulted in drastic changes in the House rules. In 1912 he was elected as a Republican to the Senate, where he has served continuously ever since.

In Congress: He is a front-rank independent who considers partisanship the curse of politics and legislative government. No man in the Senate fights harder for his honest convictions. For ten years he has kept Muscle Shoals out of private hands. His opposition to Illinois' Frank Leslie Smith, Pennsylvania's William Scott Vare, was a prime reason why they were denied Senate seats. President Coolidge never forgave him for his part in barring Charles Beecher Warren from the Cabinet as Attorney General. Starting from scratch he mustered the 26 votes against Charles Evans Hughes as Chief Justice, assisted in blocking the advancement of John Johnston Parker to the Supreme Court. Chairman of the potent Judiciary Committee, he appointed the Sub-committee to investigate Lobbying.

He voted for: the Soldier Bonus, Restrictive Immigration, Tax Reduction (1924), Farm Relief (1927, 1928, 1929), the Boulder Dam (1928), the Reapportionment, the Jones ("Five & Ten") law (1929).

He voted against: War with Germany (1917), the Draft act (1917), Michigan's Truman Handy Newberry (1922), Tax Reduction (1926, 1929), the Navy's 15-Cruiser Bill (1929), the Tariff (1930).

A passionate antimilitarist, he opposed the Versailles Treaty, the League of Nations; favored the World Court with reservations, the Kellogg-Briand Treaty, the London Naval Treaty.

He votes and drinks Dry.

Legislative hobbies: i) abolition of the "lame duck" session of Congress; 2) public operation of public utilities; 3) heavy taxation on the rich; 4) farm relief by an equalization fee or export debenture.

In appearance he is short, well-built, with a square jaw, a high forehead below a shock of grey hair. In his eyes is a droopy woebegone expression. His smile is wry, tired. He dresses in dark unfashionable clothes. He is an easy, clear, impressive, frequent speaker, handling himself well in debate. Without oratorical tricks, his attack is sometimes brutal, sometimes adroitly sarcastic. He rather prides himself on his burlesque humor.

Outside Congress: He lives at the Alban Towers apartments when in Washington, works long hours at his office, where he likes to put his feet on his desk, drawl out his political discouragement at men and affairs. Driving his Willys-Knight motorcar is a diversion. Not interested in Society or socialite sport he goes to bed regularly at 10 p.m., sees his principal friends--Senators Borah, Johnson, Brookhart, LaFollette--mostly at the Capitol. He likes to listen to radio reports of baseball games, to smoke numerous cigars.

Impartial Senate observers rate him thus: a sincere, hardworking, intellectually honest legislator whose conscientious insurgency against cut-&-dried party government has won him the respectful enmity of the Republican Old Guard: a political emotionalist whose heart is instinctively warm for the "plain people," cold for Big Business: an able opposition leader more concerned with his own convictions than with his following. His term expires March 3, 1931.--ED.

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