Evening star. [volume], July 25, 1937, Page B-3, Image 15

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Qandhi, in Recluse Role, Still India’s Idol
Interviewer Finds Him Wary of Political Queries—Denies
Dangers if English Lose Power.
One of the rare interviews
granted by Mahatma Gandhi is
presented here, in the first of two
articles, by a nationally known New
York advertising man who was re
cently appointed vice president of
tht University of Chicago. Mr.
Benton, now on a tour of the
Orient, takes up his duties at the
university in October.
BY WILLIAM B. BENTON.
SEGAON, India (N.A.N.A.).—The
mahatma reached over his legs,
crossed before him on the floor. He
grasped my hand firmly, like any good
Tammany politician. “You’d better
Bit over there,’’ he said, motioning to
a varnished box about half the size of
„ Bn orange crate, six feet directly in
front of him. This box was the only
article of furniture in the room.
As an American advertising man
traveling with press credentials, Ma
hatma Gandhi had granted me an
Interview’. Mahadev Desai, for 20
years his secretary, told me it was
the first interview this year given any
writer or press representative. The
mahatma is partial to Americans. He
’ cannot get a direct hearing in the
English press. His only chance to
reach the English is at rare Intervals
through America. He once called
Americans brothers.
Segaon is a thatch-roofcd Indian
Village of 75 or 100 mud houses. Most
of Segaon's 500 inhabitants are “un
touchables.’’ They are of India' de
pressed class, those the mahatma calls
“Harijan" or “man of God."
You reach Segaon by train from
Delhi—after 26 hours. I had ar
rived the evening before at hotelless
Wardlia, the nearest railroad station
and five miles distant. After a sleep
less, mosquito-ridden night on a
• bench in the station I had hired a
two-wheeled cart and had driven
across a plain, as flat and scorching
as Kansas at its worst, to the ma
hatma's ashram. Ashram, a famous
word in Hindustani, means the rest
ing place or hermitage of the holy
man.
Windows Are Small.
Gandhiji—the "Ji" is a mark of
respect—received me in his mud plas
ter one-story bungalow. Hut would
be a more accurate name for it. A
small room is tacked on to a main
room, perhaps 15 by 25 feet. Three
crude bamboo grills, no larger than
imall napkins, serve as windows.
4 Thirty feet to the rear of the Ma
hatma's hut is another, about half as
large, with two closet-sized rooms
opening on a narrow porch. There
a 6-year-old, Gandhi's grandson,
stands and bawls for 10 minutes, re
fusing to be comforted by a black
brtirded Indian who stops his work
to kneel before the boy. This hut is
a separate home for Mrs. Gandhi,
mother of four sons. Tire Mahatma
once advocated abstinense to Mrs.
Margaret Sanger as the only accept
able method of birth control.
His eldest son. a middle-aged man.
Is a turncoat Hindu; a few months
ego he switched to Mohammedanism,
then back to Hinduism again. He
likes the softer, better things of life.
He is not the son of the father. The
other three sons are sympathetic with
the Mahatma's movement, but do not
seem to be actively of it. Little is
heard of them in India.
Miss Slade Lives Near.
Further on to the rear, behind Mra.
* Gandhi’e hut, Is a third dun-colored
structure, about twice the size of a
double bed. Here lives Miss Madeleine
Slade. The daughter of an English
admiral, Miss Slade for 15 years has
been a follower of Gandhi. Potent
today in the movement to improve the
lot of the Indian ryot or village
farmer, she is perhaps second only
to the Mahatma as a leader of Indian
women of all races and creeds.
On the near side of Miss Slade's
cabin two spinning wheels are mold- I
ed cameolike on the mud wall. The ■
spinning wheel is a symbol of Gan- I
dhi's work. It appears on the flag j
of the all-India Congress party, Gan
dhi's nationalist political organiza
tion, which recently won an over
whelming victory in the first election
under the new India constitution.
In this primitive setting in the
heart of India. Gandhi has lived for
n. year. Here may he live for years
to come. To plumberless wardha the
working committee of the Congress
party migrates for crucial meetings.
Here Gandhi maintains his spiritual
overlordship while he delegates active
political leadership to others.
Today he is avoiding the direct
spotlight, gathering strength in repose
for his next rhythmic attack on the
English raj. Yet his hold on poli
ticians remains as strong as ever. His
magnetic power over the masses Is un
dimmed. His closest associates do
not know his next move. All agree,
however, that where he leads, tens of
millions of Indians follow
Blood Pressure Treatment.
As I settle myself on my box. I
notice that the Mahatma's knee-length
dhoti, usually his only article of ap
parel, is supplemented by a white head
bandage fastened in front by a single
safety pin. Gandhi's secretary later
told me that this turban contains
ordinary’ dirt, carefully sifted through
b clean white cloth and kept well
moistened. This treatment, plus gar
lic, Mr. Mahadev said, has brought
the Mahatma’s high blood pressure of
e year ago down to normal. The secre
tary credits the cure to a German
doctor, a Dr. Jost, and assures me
that mother earth has remedial pow
ers unrecognized by Western science.
The Mahatma's eyes flash and sub
side behind his spectacles as he waits
for me to begin. I hesitate. He gives
me no lead or encouragement. He sits
cross-legged on the floor in a narrow
recess formed on two sides by a corner
of the room and on the third by a
shoulder-high pile of books and boxes
Shadow light drifts through the
doors and the small bamboo grills.
This is conscious staging, a simple
illustration of Gandhi’s gift for the
theatrical. Here the Mahatma be
nignly reigns like the idol In its way
side temple, gathering unto himself
the traditions and powers of the
6,000-year-old Hindu gods.
I ask him some questions about In
dian politics, about the victorious Con
gress party's policies.
(The Congress party, while accept
ing office under the new constitution,
continues its fight for India's com
plete independence.)
"This isn't the time for such ques
tions. I have work to do here. I
can't take myself from it to answer
them,” he snaps a little testily. "You
should ask these questions of the
political leaders.”
A Contemplative "Recluse.”
My surprised look at the Mahatma's
•S8umption that I would agree to ex
clude him from political leadership
makes him add hurriedly, "Of course,
I wouldn't say that I don'r know any
thing about politics. But I have no
time for such questions now.” Gandhi's
* /
pose today is that of the contemplative
recluse. This is well keyed to Indian
psychology. Although he cannot deny
his leadership, in his public relations
he does his best to sidestep admission
of active political domination. Yet this
is as real as it ever was.
“Many feel that any form of co
operation Is a mistake,” the Mahatma
went on. “Others disagree, feeling
that perhaps our objectives can best
he achieved by giving ground now and
then. Both groups are sincere.
“We have just won a great victory
and this brings us a big responsibility.
We had literally no opposition. This
is what counts. This result didn't
surprise me, but it is a fine thing for
others to see. It shows the world
our strength.”
We talk then about American pub
lic opinion, its attitude toward India.
“American opinion is of great impor
tance to us,” admits the Mahatma,
“and by our deeds we hope to win it.”
Gandhi agrees that British foreign
policy Is ofee*,* influenced by Ameri
can opinion. He is aware that Eng
land tries in many devious way to
mold it.
He remarks, “We cannot compete
for American attention on the same
terms with the English. We do not
try. Our methods must be different
methods. We make no conscious effort
to influence American opinion. I be
lieve that America is emotionally sym
pathetic with our cause, but it is pro
foundly ignorant of the real facts and
of our real problem. When the time
is right. America will learn the truth
by what we do.” His voice trails off.
Denies Danger Without British.
“It's a prevalent idea in America.”
I comment, “that India requires Eng
land for defense. Without the Eng
lish, would there be civil and re
ligious disturbances? As the Con
gress party is successful In driving
the English out of power in India,
will India fall a prey to some one
else? Or, for that matter, how will
Congress deal with the native princes
right here at home?”
"These are gross superstitions,” he
replies, now at his gentlest and soft
est, ‘ They have been propagated for
years. Stories and statements of such
dangers are hopelessly exaggerated. I
know that many English people sin
cerely believe them: there you have
the power of such ideas oft repeated."
“As to the native states," he con
tinues, “they’ll fall in line when India
comes into her own.”
Little realized in America is the
feudal and almost absolute power of
some of these native rulers. They
are feared and hated by the Con
gress party perhaps as much as the
British.
(Copyright. ln.tT, by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Inc.>
’Quake in Scotland.
Beds were rocked and crockery
shaken off shelves by an earthquake
in Inverness, Scotland, recently.
A. F. L. REPORTS GAIN
3,106,439 Members Claimed, an
Increase of 666,363.
The American Federation of Labor
said yesterday the membership of un
ions affiliated with it totaled 3,106.439
on July 20, a gain of 666,363 since
August 31, 1936.
Frank Morrison, secretary-treasurer,
said this total did not include the
membership of the 10 unions suspend
ed last year for supporting John L.
Lewis' Committee for Industrial Or
ganization.
Mahatma Gandhi at ivork on spinning wheel, one of his
favorite pastimes._ _A. P. Photo.
Inquiry to Be Made Despite
Story of Brother That He
Killed Sister, 11.
Br the Associated Press.
MADISON, Wis., July 24—Craw
ford County authorities opened a new
inquiry tonight into the mysterious
killing of Mildred Best, 11-year-old
Soldiers Grove girl, whose death her
brother, Harold, 15, twice confessed.
Two official reports sent to Juvenile
Judge Jeremiah O'Neill of Prairie du
Chien expressed the belief Harold,
held in jail without charge, was in
nocent and was shielding some one,
and that the death of their uncle,
Orla L. Shaw, with whom the chil
dren lived, was caused by poisoning.
Shaw' died two weeks after he and
his wife, returning to their farm
home the night of June 4, found
Mildred sprawled across her bed with
a bullet through the head and Har
old fast asleep in a room nearby.
Shaw's death had been attributed
to a nervous breakdown caused by a
kidney disorder. District Attorney
James P. Cullen of Crawford County
declined to comment on the develop
ments, but the boy's attorney, Carl
N. Hill of Madison, said if Cullen
did not order a post-mortem on
Shaw-'s body he would ask the Circuit
Court to instruct him to do so.
Because he made two confessions
and retracted one of them, Harold was
subjected to a truth-serum and lie
detector test by Dr. William F. Lo
renz, University of Wisconsin patholo
gist, and Prof. J. H. Mathews, crim
inologist.
They said the result of their tests
strongly indicated Harold did not
shoot his sister and that he was
attempting to shield either the actual
slayer or some one who has guilty
knowledge of the crime.
They told Judge O'Neill further In
vestigation was necessary in the in
terest of justice. The boy is held in
Crawford County Jail without charge.
ICKES WONT CHANGE
HIS LEGAL RESIDENCE
He's Moving to Maryland, but
Will Keep on Voting in
Illinois, He Says.
In moving out to his new home
near Olney, Md.. Secretary Ickes has
“no intention of changing his legal
residence.”
“I am a citizen and voter of the
sovereign State of Illinois,” Iekes
said.
Recalling that he was born on a
farm, the cabinet officer said that In
moving to the nearby Maryland farm
he Is “merely reverting to type.” He
says that he has not decided Just
what crops he will raise, but indicated
he may raise cattle.
The “Naval Hospital air” is respon
sible for his return to health, I ekes
told his interviewers, who had asked if
the farm air had aided in his recent
recovery from illness.
Brussels Fair Crowds Increase.
Attendance at the 1937 Interna
tional Fair in Brussels, Belgium, was
nearly 50 per cent above that of last
year.
Those fortunate
enough to own one re
gard it with pride and
affection. Its glorious
TONE is the result of
painstaking craftsman
ship. The Knabe w hich
you select today repre
sents a century of con*
tinned development
and improvement.
KITT’S
1330 G Street
See it . . . you’ll agree
there has never been a
piano more gracefully
charming than the new
W u r 1 i tz e r Spinette!
Hear it . . and you’ll
scarcely believe your ears.
The exclusive Wurlitzer
Augmented Sounding
Board gives this small
piano the thrilling rich
tone you’d expect only
' from a far larger, much
more expensive piano.
® Very Eaey Termi •
————_ _
! spin£C duK
lAf "*"*
TV UR UTTER
WurliUer Spinettes ffOOr
are priced from op
km
Experienced AdvertisersP refer The Star
The New Orgatron
An Instrument That Looks, Plays
and Sounds Like a Pipe Organ
'J’HIS new portable organ-like instrument con
forms to the standards and recommendations j
of the American Guild of Organists os adopted in
May, 1933. Its tones are natural and normally ;
j produced. Organ literature can be played as
l written. The mode! pictured is a five-stop, single
expression, duplexed, two-manual and full 32
‘ note pedal clavier instrument, and looks, sounds
and plays like a pipe organ I It is capable of the
! rich tone quality associated with the church, but
new tonalities and an entirely new action moke it
the idea! instrument for public and private enter
tainment. The price is $1,415, on easy terms.
I
LEADERS need not boast ♦ . .
THEIR RECORDS SPEAK FOR THEM
Lindbergh need make no claim he can span
the Atlantic single handed. He proved he
could. Shirley Temple does not have to
claim she is first among child screen stars.
The box office receipts establish that. I
Claims are weapons of challengers. Leaders 1
prefer to hold their lead with merit and
performance.
Mayer Cr Co. need not claim they hold the
confidence of their clientele. The wealth j
of fine old traditions surrounding this store i
for 42 years has earned for us the respect
and esteem of our customers.
The Washington Public believes our state
ments. They know we deliver only good
quality furniture. Their safety in buying
here is increased by our membership in the
Grand Rapids Furniture Makers' Guild.
Like Sterling on silver, the mark of Authen
•trif tic Registered Grand Rapids Furniture is
rapids your assurance of good quality. At Mayer
& Co.—where Authentic Registered Grand
Rapids Furniture is shown exclusively in
Washington—we shall be glad to tell you
more about this fine furniture and how
mark of A^thentx!Kg9 inexpensively it may be acquired.
istered Grand Rapids
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on the furniture you
buy. Mayer & Company.
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IN GROCERIES PRESERVE general canning
With each purchase of
an Electric Roaster from
a member of The Electric
Institute you receive a
$2.00 certificate exchangeable
in trade at any
SANITARY OR PIGGLY WIGGLY STORE
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This offer is for a limited time only!
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