Letters, Dec. 4, 1939

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Prayers in Michigan

Sirs:

. . . We feel sorry to observe what seems a straining at an effort to be flippant, not to say smart-alecky, in referring to our good Governor as senile (TIME, Nov. 13). We Michigan folks who know Governor Dickinson think highly of him. His efforts to help a difficult labor problem in Detroit assuredly ought not to be considered senile. True he tried prayer. To be sure it was a Protestant prayer. And Mr. Murphy, now Attorney General and our former Governor, also tried prayer. His was a Catholic prayer. We Michigan folks would not think it senile or flippant if a Jewish prayer should be used in an honest effort to get the automobile workers back on the job. Many Michigan people regret your action.

HOMER GUCK Eagle Harbor, Mich.

> Shame on Reader Guck for suggesting that TIME regards prayer as a sign of senility.—ED.

Jury Not Guilty

Sirs:

Your issue of Nov. 13 (p. 18) carries an article regarding the first mixed jury in the Federal Court of Illinois.

You make the statement that "seven jurors favored setting the will aside. Five opposed." This is not true. The first ballot was nine to three in favor of setting the will aside, and it was never less than this majority.

Also, we were not told that we would be locked up till Monday if no verdict was reached. The time set was 10 a.m. Saturday.

As one of the jurors, and as a TIME subscriber, I hope you will correct these inaccuracies.

MRS. CHARLES E. MERRIAM

Chicago, Ill.

> To Reader Merriam (wife of University of Chicago's famed political science professor), TIME'S thanks for the inside story. She is not to be confused with her fellow juror, Mrs. Katherine Merrifield, wife of a Northwestern professor, whose change of mind caused a mistrial.—ED.

Or By Golly

Sirs:

"Moonfaced" am I? Because of that three minutes I did in Tobacco Road as a result of my run-in with John Barton, I've been resigned to being called "Jeeter" the rest of my days, but now you have to come along and call me "moonfaced" (TIME, Nov. 13).

For years I've set aside a section of my den for the display of trophies I've won because of my peculiar looks, but never a trophy for being "moon-faced."

It's a libel and a deep hurt to me, and to prove how mistaken you are, I'm enclosing a lovely, authentic portrait of me done in oils by Bill Scott, Minneapolis Times-Tribune artist.

Retract or—or by Golly and by Jiminy I won't let you write my next play for me.

Imagine, having dear little children shout "Hi, Moon-face" at you!

MERLE POTTER Drama Editor The Minneapolis Tribune Minneapolis, Minn.

Defiled

Sirs:

Your otherwise judicious article on Rumania published in the Nov. 13 issue, is terribly defiled by certain low remarks against that country's dynasty. In my opinion those insinuations are old lies invented by cunning foreign propagandists and used time and again to discredit a country that in spite of its precarious geographic position and much diplomatic pressure from abroad, has done more than any other small Central European state to further the cause of democracy and social justice.