A-8
(THE EVENING STAR
WH* Bandar Morning Edition.
VABHINBTOK, D. C.
WMJHSSUrVT . November OT, 1930
VHEODOBS W. VOTES... .Editor
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Crime.
President Hoover’s demand that the
States enforce their laws to put down
the "rackets" which have made the crime
wave In some of the big cities of the
country almost permanent should not
be necessary. The police powers are
reserved to the States under the Fed
eral Constitution. State's rights have
been Jealously guarded, and encroach
ments upon the prerogatives of the
States have been resisted. The duties
of the States and their fulfillment by
the State governments are as impor
tant as States’ rights. The Federal Gov
ernment should not be called upon to
deal with the crooks and gangsters
who violate the laws of the States.
The Federal Government, the Presi
dent made it clear, will co-operate to
the extent of its power with the State
governments to rid the States of the
gangsters and the "rackets.” There are
Federal laws under which criminals may
be prosecuted, and these Federal laws
already are being enforced. Mr. Hoover
does not plan to ask Congress at the
coming session for an extension of Fed
eral criminal law. He believes there ic
guffleient law on the statute books of the
States and the Federal Government to
day to deal with the criminals. He
has, however, sounded a demand that
the Btates themselves tackle the job of
reducing crime through the process of
punishing the criminals and breaking
up the criminal gangs.
The eyes of the country have been
turned toward Chicago and New York
City particularly, because of the dally
reports of murder and robbery in those
cities. The charge Is made that the
Judicial system In New York has been
tampered with by corrupt politicians
who sell Judgeships. More and more
testimony is being developed to show
charge is correct and that the
men selected to see that justice is done
and the laws upheld are in league with
the criminals themselves. It is a situa
tion that the people of New York must
deal with. The protection of the criminal
tlmnm in Chicago by officials of city
and county has been charged again
and again. If the State and municipal
governments in this country would do
their Share and their duty, murder and
robbery would diminish.
There has been far too great a
tendency throughout the country to seek
to lay all the troubles of the citizenry
on the doorstep of the Federal Govern
ment in Washington. Congress and the
executive branch of the Government too
often have been guilty of encouraging
this attitude on the part of the States.
The breakdown of the whole system of
the Government of the United States,
which leaves to the individual States
the duty of protecting their citizens
against criminals, will follow if the
peoples of the States do not take these
matters to heart and Insist that their
State governments shall function
properly.
From many of the States have come
wails because of the national prohibi
tion laws. These dry laws, State offi
cials say, have widened the field of
criminality and have made it impossible
for them to cope adequately with the
criminal gangs and the racketeers. The
great trouble lies in the fact that State
officials, not sympathetic with the pro
hibition laws, have been content to
turn their backs while bootlegging has
flourished. Under the Constitution the
States are Jointly directed with the
Federal Government to enforce the
eighteenth amendment. As long as
theee prohibition laws are on the
statute books it is the duty of the
State officials to uphold them. But
there sire many laws aside from the
dry laws which are violated constantly
and with increasing frequency. The
offenders In many cases are never
caught, or if they are caught, they go
•cot free.
■ ■■■'■ > c
The much-heralded voyage of the
DO-X thaw Me «hner resembles a lady
crossing a brook on stepping stones,
with a pause for celebration and re
freshments at every boulder.
“Vizit Your Capital.”
Without trying to make a Loe Angeles,
Oallf.; a Houston, Tex., or a San Some
thing-or-other, Fla., out of Washing
ton, D. C, the Board of Trade should
be able to accomplish a great deal
through a carefully planned and ade
quately financed program of nationally
advertising the American Capital. A
committee of the Board of Trade Is
bow examining tentative suggestions as
to the form of advertising and pub
licity campaigns bast suited for its pur
pose and is generally sounding out
local sentiment regarding the project.
If present plans materialise, it is in
tended to launch the campaign in con
nection with the bicentennial celebra
tion of 1932.
There sue, of course, material ad
vantages to be expected from an or
ganised advertising and publicity cam
paign—the same advantages that lead
ether cities to bid for the patronage
a t industries and tourists. As far as
the Capital City proper is concerned,
wa have little to offer and little to
expect in the location here of indus
trial plants from which other cities
benefit, although there is prospect that
In time acme of the areas adjacent
to Washington will lend themselves to
Industrial development. What Wash
ington does offer the American tourist
is an opportunity to become acquainted
with Me awn Capital, te aae the de
velopment of a new city that h to be
the pride of every citizen and by first
hand inspection to learn eomething of
bow the Government here functions.
The Board of Trade does not intend
to center its activity on "booming” the
city in the usual sense, nor should it.
One of the features of attraction to be
emphasized is the unique location of
the Capital within easy motoring dis
tance of famous historical points in
Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
An invitation to visit Washington nat
urally includes an opportunity to visit
many places nearby intimately asso
ciated with the birth and the history
of the Nation.
The Board of Trade is depending
upon co-operation of the railroads and
transportation companies in Its cam
paign. It might count as much on the
co-operation that should willingly come
from the Federal Government. The
builders of Washington are doing more
than merely providing adequate hous
ing for the Government's working force
or laying out parks and highways for
recreation. “It is our primary duty,” as
President Hoover has said, "to do more
than erect offices. We must fit that
program into the traditions and sym
bolism of the Capital. Our forefathers
had a great vision for the Capital of
America, unique from its birth in its
inspired conception, flexibility and won
derful beauty. * * * This is more than
merely the making of a beautiful city.
Washington is not only the Nation’s
Capital; it is the symbol of America.”
In 1932 Washington will throw wide
iU doors and bid the Nation enter. The
invitation should reach everybody. The
symbol should be known.
Cuban Ceniorship.
The three most important Spanish
language newspapers of Havana and
other dailies, weeklies and magazines
of Cuba are maintaining the highest
traditions of journalism by choosing to
suspend publication rather than submit
to the censorship imposed by the Cuban
government. Their heritage In a free
country is freedom of the press. Upon
its preservation depend not only their
lives and success as newspapers, but in
even larger measure ths life and prog
ress of their country. As newspapers,
they are deserving of high commenda
tion: as patriots and citizens, they are
fulfilling an obligation.
As one of the "measures of precau
tion” adopted by the Cuban government
during the present crisis the "suspen
sion of constitutional rights” ordained
by the Cuban Congress carried with It
a censorship reputedly extending to
press, cable, telegraph, telephone and
radio. The viewpoint of the censorship,
from the censored at least, is that it
prohibits the unbiased publication of
local news relating to the economic and
political problems of the republic. As
the publication of 6uch news would in
vite government interference, the news
papers affected suspended publication.
Last Sunday they printed a combined
edition, presenting the latest world news
for the momentary enlightenment of a
supposedly free people plunged in the
darkness that accompanies suspension
of the functions of the press. Many
copies of joint-edition were sup
pressed by the government.
Cuba’s problems are her own and the
hope of her friends is that she will be
able to solve them without interference
from the outside. Censorship and with
drawal of the traditional privileges of
the press are stumbling blocks along
the road to complete Independence and
freedom of thought and speech. They
must, and eventually they will toe, over
come. They are the obvious resort of
the weak and the insecure. The dig
nified refusal of the Cuban press to
lend itself to such practices is a healthy
sign. It promises more toward the
accomplishment of real progress than
all the assuring government manifes
toes that can be printed.
To a man of Stalin’s type and posi
tion an occasional assassination rumor
becomes a normal part of his career.
A dictator must be able to establish the
charmed life in popular superstition as
part of his regular working equipment.
There is a certain reluctance about
jury service with a chance of being
locked up. However Interesting the
trial, there is no demand for ring-side
seats.
A "lame duck” would not be regarded
as so objectionable if It did not insist
on getting out of step and trying to lead
the legislative parade.
Getting the Jump.
The Republican insurgents in the Sen
ate have boldly seized the lead in the
development of a legislative program in
the coming short session of Congress.
If the measures which the insurgents
are demanding are brought to a vote
and passed, the credit will be claimed
by the Republican insurgents. The
Democrats so far have contented them
selves with following the lead of the
insurgents, although it is quite obvious
that the Democrats hold the great mass
of votes required to put through these
progressive measures. Had Democratic
leaders Immediately announced their
program of legislation, in definite, con
crete form, as the insurgent Republicans
have done, after the elections, the party
would be in position of leadership in
the coming short session. As it is, the
Progressives apparently have soored,
while the Democrats so far are without
a definite program.
Republican leaders in House and Sen
ate, it is now reported, have decided
not to put stumbling blocks in the way
of voting on the measures advocated
by Norris of Nebraska, Borah of Idaho
and others of the group, which seems
to know what it wants. The price of
such acquiescence is the avoidance of
a special session of the newly elected
Congress next Spring. Senator Norris
will not attempt to force a special ses
sion by the means of holding up ap
propriation bills If his pet measures are
permitted to come to a vote in the short
session. These pet measures include the
Norris resolution proposing a consti
tutional amendment doing away with
the "lame-duck” sessions of Congress,
the Norris bill for govammsnt operation
of the Muscle Shoals power project, the
antl-lnjunction bill favored by organ
ized labor and measures proposing to
deal with the unemployment situation.
These measures must, to be sure, run
ths gantlet of both bouses of Congress
still. The Norris lame-duck Congress
resolution has passed ths Senate five
times. The Norris Muscle Shoals bill Is
at present In ths conference stage. The
anti-injunction bill Is before the Sen
ate with an advene report from the
Senate Judiciary Oommttteah e«a g
THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1930.
the bills are put through, they must
also receive the approval at President
Hoover to beoatne law or be passed over
his veto.
The determination of the Republican
leaden In the Senate and House to
permit theee measures to come to a
vote may be regarded as an evidence
of weakness, and a determination to
yield to expediency. On the other
hand, If a majority in a legislative
body favors certain measures, the
majority is entitled to act upon those
measures.
Ths administration’s program of
legislation for the short session of Con
gress is yet to be heard. It will be
contained in President Hoover's com
ing message to Congress. Until It Is
revealed, the country will be In no
position to judge of it. If the President
puts forward sound proposals that
could obtain a majority of the votes
in both houses of Congress, the insur
gent Republicans and the Democrats
will gain no advantage in the country
by seeking to prevent action on these
measures, merely because they come
from the Republican administration.
Perhaps the Democratic leadership
will arrive at some definite legislative
program by the opening of the Congress
session, too. So far, the only concrete
proposals put forward by the Demo
crats are for a five-day work week, ad
vocated by Chairman Raskob of the
Democratic National Committee as a
means of curing the unemployment sit
uation, and a proposal made by former
Gov. James M. Cox of Ohio, Democratic
candidate for President in 1920, to re
peal the Smoot-Hawley tariff act im
mediately. The proposal of Mr. Ras
kob carries with it the demand that
wages shall remain the same for the
five-day work week as they stand at
present. Just what is going to happen
to productivity and the prices charged
for products under such changed’ con
ditions remains to be explained. After
all, the producers must obtain sufficient
money from their products to continue
to pay ths wages of their employes.
. ■■■■■■ » > ■ ■■■-
The regal spotlight skips from Ant
werp to Assisi, from Addis Ababa to
Oslo, where King He ikon’s twenty
fifth anniversary is to be attended by
several "royal flushes.” It seems as
though the training of a future mon
arch and a sales manager were very
much the same.
Communists rioting in New York rep
resented many different racial origins.
It may be doubted whether they could
have understood one another well
enough to decide on a definite meaning
for the word "Communism.”
Russians are taught rigid personal
economy. The Soviet handles immense
sums of money in confident expectation
that there will be no real trouble when
some one insists on calling in an expert
accountant.
It seems that the business depres
sion has traveled so far that tt has
reached Siam, almost half way around
ths world. Perhaps It may perform
like the "shingles”—go nearly around
in the other direction, to be followed
by recovery of the patient.
Capital punishment is definitely
abolished under ths new penal code
of Mexico. Ah, but they probably have
little ways of getting around any such
obstacle as that.
Tbs motion picture business possibly
regards a clash with tbs anti-trust law
as a part of Its program in calling at
tention to its rank among the country’s
leading Industries.
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Thoughts at the Future.
Our ears are deafened by a wild
farrago.
There's Just one spot where miscreants
mild
Bay "Keep the change!” when mm get
riled
And bullets ’mid the gold are piled—
"Chlcagol”
A racketeer makes friends much bin
lago.
Behind the back a knife will strike.
It isn’t safe to rids or hike
When you are nearing, on the pike,
“Chicago r
The "hostess" doll will prove a rough
virago.
She sings or dances as a bluff
To shield ths gunman very tough.
The name still means ths same (fid
stuff:
“Chlcagol"
In ways eccentric you will see
The laws go.
A righteous life seems safe to me
With Heaven Ks aim, where souls agree.
My home eternal must not be
"Chicago!”
Speeches and Borrows.
"Are you not afraid you may say
some things you will be sorry fort”
"Not at present,” answered Senator
Sorghum. “I am in what is referred to
as a key position and when I open up
It is hoped I won’t say something the
other fellows will be sorry for."
jud Tunklns says most men worry
about unemployment, but a few get
used to It and seem positively to enjoy
it.
No Escape.
They put the Jury under lock and key.
The citizen declared in discontent.
“The man accused will possibly go free.
"But I am sure of my Imprisonment.”
Power Behind Fame.
"Wouldn’t you like to be a motion
picture star?’’
"No,” answered Miss Cayenne. "I
couldn’t make enough of a hit to con
vince me that the publicity man wasn’t
entitled to most of ths credit and the
salary."
"My ancestors,” said HI Ho, the sage
of Chinatown, "were worthy men. They
are named only hi praise, since they
were all so powerful that it would have
been foolish to mention their faults.
. Purpose of a Holiday.
Permit no controversy to Intrude
Upon the blessing sent.
Thanksgiving day is meant for gratitude
And not for argument.
“Losin* yoh money,” sold Uncle Bben,
"don’t keep you sway sum de race track.
We’d be fine characters if we was as
focglvin’ toward our Mbw men as wc
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAC EWELL.
Do you read all the new books as
they come out?
You do, or at least you say you do,
if you are talking to a certain type of
pseudo-booklover.
To confess to the failure of being “up
to the minute” on any one of the hun
dreds of new books published every
month is to be met with a sneer, cov
ered or otherwise, from such a person.
And who wants to be sneered at?
It is easy enough to say, “Oh, I don’t
mind what he thinks!”
The truth is that most of us do mind
what other people think.
Especially if it happens to be a pret
ty lady.
Pretty women have a very bad habit,
as a class, of attempting to appear so
phisticated in the matter of books.
To be well read, with them, is to
know the newest books of the authors
who have undeniably "arrived.”
One either reads what they have
read or one suffers the sight of their
lifted eyebrows.
♦* * *
And how they can lift ’em.
If you have never had a Galsworthy
“fan” raise her shaded eyebrows at
your crass ignorance, you have missed
something amusing, yet intensely dis
concerting.
Yes, a thing may be amusing but ter
rifying.
It is no light thing to have some
bright young lady, whose good opinion
you rather crave, whether through love
or for some other reason, freeze up cn
you because you confess to a failure in
your Galsworthy.
Just now It Is “On Forsyte ’Change.”
"Rich with the best of Mr. Galswor
thy’s genius, full of fun, sadness, biting
social criticism, and the haunting sense
of beauty unattainable,” said the Lon
don Times.
Your fair friend, having read that,
rushed to a book store and purchased
two copies.
She found It full of fun, sadness, bit
ing social criticism—and my! how it
did bite!—and a haunting sense of
beauty unattainable.
Particularly she loved the beauty
unattainable. If the London reviewer
had written it, "a haunting sense of
unattainable beauty,” it would not have
gone over half as well.
No, beauty unattainable Is great,
grand, glorious.
Now this Is a happy way to be, if
one "goes in” for the newest of new
books. One finds his—or her—opinions
ready made.
One does not have the discomfiture
of buying a new book, to discover that
one does not agree with the dear critics
at all.
Your fair friend is sure that she is
going to find fun. sadness, and. above
all, a haunting sense of something or
other.
The biting social criticism Is thrown
in for good measure.
Books come all labeled, for her, with
their good points and their bad points,
and sal the Perfect Reader has to do
is to find them. Publishers might do
well to put in footnotes, "Sense of
unattainable beauty begins here,” etc.
Again we say, in idiomatic English,
that it is a good way to be—if one
does not put much reliance in one’s
own Judgment.
** * *
It is a curious thing how little respect
many persons have for their own Judg
ments. Their taste in clothes is good,
they believe. When it comes to motor
cars, and radios, and such things, they
are willing to pit their opinions against
the world.
But in the matter of books—which
ones are good, though old; which ones
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
By FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE.
- -
Wets and drys alike are admonished
to keep their eye on Newton Diehl
Baker. Birds are whispering that
the little giant of Cleveland may turn
in a moist, or perhaps even a sopping
wet, minority report when the Wicker
sham Commission breaks silence a few
weeks hence. If Baker, as some of his
friends rather confidently predict that
he will, does oome out either for repeal
or drastic modification, he will auto
matically become as formidable a pres
idential candidate as Dwight Morrow's
liquor attitude has made him. The
World War Secretary of War has al
ways been White House timber. It’s
been said that if he had another six
Inches of height, Baker would have
been nominated long ago. All things
considered, many Democrats look upon
him as the best horse in their stable.
Brilliant lawyer, eloquent orator, ardent
Wilsonian, progressively minded and
seasoned administrator, Baker would fit
ideally Into his party’s standardbearer
ship on a wet platform —provided, of
course, he Is wet.
*♦ * *
That Labor portfolio In his cabinet
continues to be President Hoover's un
ending worry. The American Federa
tion’s opposition to "Billy” Doek of
West Virginia, respected railroad
brotherhood official, is precisely the
sort of hostility that sprang up two
years ago this Winter when ths new
President was looking for some one to
fill "Jim” Davis’ shoes. Half a dozen
men were under consideration. But
Mr. Hoover found that labor leaders
couldn’t agree on any one of them, so
he cut the gordlan knot by reappointing
Davis. President Green says the Fed
eration doesn’t want an “outsider” in
the Labor secretaryship. Doak, as a
rail brotherhood man, is not affiliated
with the A. F. of L. Green is "agin"
another kind of outsider, i. e., a mere
politician. The White House has never
seriously thought of appointing any
body but a recognized labor man to the
Davis vacancy, yet the danger always
exists that some merely worthy Repub
lican—possibly a lame duck —might
edge his way into the place.
** * *
Senator Frederick Steiwer, Repub
lican, of Oregon, who has Just returned
to the Washington scene, recuperated
from campaign exertions by Indulging
in a fortnight of game hunting In
the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon.
Steiwer is almost prouder of bringing
down a big buck deer than of keeping
his State safe for "Charley” McNary
and Representative Hawley. The as
sistant chairman of the Republican
Senatorial Campaign Committee banged
away at the buck at 150 yards, and
although the deer was in full speed,
Steiwer’s unerring eye enabled him to
bring down his prey with a bullseye
straight to the shoulder. The Senator
and his brother, who was his shooting
partner, carved up their booty on the
snow-covered mountainside. Each half
weighed about 100 pounds, but the
Btelwers shouldered the burden and
trundled it back to camp three miles
away. In the Senator’s case, the cargo
included a magnificent pair of antlers.
** * *
Over at the War Department these
days some of his former brother offi
cers are sympathetically contemplating
the fate of a certain high-ranking com
rade who left the Army three years ago
to scale the heights of big business. At
the time, he was in one of the Army’s
premier posts at Washington. Along
came a New York capitalist one tempt
ing day—a former national treasurer
of one of the big political parties—and
dangled before Gen. ’s eyes a fat sal
ary, a three-year contract and dazzling
prospects of quick riches. The soldier
succumbed and submitted his resigna
tion, though still a young man with
an assured career ahead of him in the
military establishment. A couple of
weeks ago it was announced that the
company of which he became president
faced a receivership. Gen. , his
Washington friends understand, got out
from under long before the crash. Some
of them, who had faith In the venture
under his leadership, still have their
Stty stock certificates ae souvenirs of
Ir Investment. The company's mis
art poor, though new—they have no
definite opinions at all. based upon the
articles In hand, but must take those
of other people.
So the words of an unnamed critic,
3,000 miles across the sea, become for
them the words of God. In a literary
sense. If the Deity Himself were to
speak up for John Oalsworthy, they
could accord Him no more reverence, In
a critical sense, than they do the un
known on the London Times.
We have not read “On Forsyte
’Change.” It may be all of the things
the critic says it is. There is no doubt
of Mr. Galsworthy's artistry. But
whether the volume stands on Its own
legs or not we are not sure. Would It
be readable by one who had never read
the novels In which the Forsytes ap
pear?
Well, here Is where our rambling is
getting: When you meet the charming
young woman mentioned, and she asks
you if you have read "On Forsyte
’Change,” or Mark Sullivan’s new one,
"Pre-War America,” or Feuchtwanger’s
"Sueceas,” or Arnold Bennett’s "Im
perial Palace,” do not put yourself in a
position to be sneered at politely or
impolitely, but immediately say, “Oh,
yes, isn’t it wonderful?” and she will
be perfectly satisfied with you and
think you are a wonderful fellow and a
great deal of a critic.
Her mind works according to the fol
lowing simple psychological formula:
Whatever she likes, or thinks she likes,
is great: therefore whoever agrees with
her opinion, or what she thinks is her
opinion, is a great fellow.
** * *
The best use of book reviews, as far
as we can discover, is to provide ons
with enough chitchat of authors and
books to be able to meet successfully
the onslaughts of these readers who
triumphantly assail one with the
never-failing question, "Have you
read ?”
Os course, one has! One always has,
either as the result of experience or
, of reading the present article, which,
. we hope, contains enough of sound
, common sense to enable our readers
; to meet completely and perfectly all
such mental assaults.
Our complete directions follow:
1. Read the book reviews religiously.
. You may not know what the books are
; about after you have read the reviews.
, or whether you will like them yourself
or not, but you will get something or
, other about them.
2. Never admit to not having read a
| book—any book, old, new or yet un
published. In the latter event, it is best
, to avoid plain lying, but to indicate, in
i a veiled way, that one has had access
■ to the manuscript before publication.
3. Immediately and enthusiastically
i declare,- “Oh, yes. I have read it; isn’t
it wonderful?” Never fall to add the
i second phrase, as it rounds out the
, first and stops all secondary assaults,
i 4. If questioned about the wonderful
i work, look very wise, if ignorant, and
' smile delightedly. Thus, if reference is
. made to the “three pigs,” and there
, are no pigs, either one, two, three or
i four, you will not commit yourself,
i 6. As swiftly as possible turn the
conversation away from the unread
book by asking quickly. "Have you
; read ?” This is always a good
counter attack.
6. If the other shows the slightest
■ hesitation, seize the opportunity to
elevate your eyebrows (the new dic
tionary ads explain that this Is how
we get our word “supercilious”) and
i say: "What, you haven’t read It! You
i should read it, by all means.”
fortunes were dus to causes for which
Gen. was in no respect to blame.
** * *
Ons of Senator George W. Norris’ pet
aversions in Nebraska politics is former
Gov. “Sam” R. McKelvle, new a mem
ber of the Federal Farm Board. Now
and then, an and off the stump, the
Progressive leader refers to McKelvle as
“Slippery Sam." During the recent Nye
Committee Investigation, according to
stories Just brought to Washingtanfrom
Nebraska, It developed that McKelvle
was the original source of $2,500 con
tributed to the anti-Norris senatorial
exchequer under another name. At least,
when the Nye sleuths probed the con
tribution to the bottom, Gov. McKelvie’s
name bobbed up as that of the angel in
question.
** * *
When the Senate Committee on Com
mittees swings into action next week,
many plums will be ripe for distribution.
An immediate one will be the Foreign
Relations Committee vacancy created
by the disappearance of Senator Henry
J. Allen of Kansas. On March 4, 1931,
two more foreign relations plums will
be dropped Into new laps, because
552?* 01 ? of Massachusetts and
Goff of West Virginia will then be
among the departed. Places on Borah’s
wwimlttee, as an those on the Foreign
Affairs Committee in the House, are
much coveted. Respectively, they’re
, considered the blue ribbon bodies of
Congress, though In many respects of
less real power than other committees.
° ne , of the reasons statesmen crave
appointment to them Is the social pres
wge they carry. It means, among other
things, Invitations to the tables of for
eign Ambassadors and Ministers It
also means that when friend wife of a
foreign relations or foreign affaire
member invites envoys to her teas or
dinnera, they generally toddle along in
a spirit of possible favors to come from
friend husband some day.
** * *
William C. DemJng of Wyoming, tor
mer president of the United States
Civil Service Commission, is one of the
grand army of one-time Federal officials
who succumb to the lure of Capital life
and come back for more. He has set
tled down In Washington for the Win
ter, after motoring his own way across
from Cheyenne, where he
publishes the leading State paper, the
Tribune-Leader. Once upon a time
Demlng loomed as a prospective Repub
lican Senator from Wyoming. He
points proudly to the fact that his State
this month re-elected its G. o. P Gov
ernor and all other State officers, like
wise a Republican United States Sena
tor and Representative. In other words,
Wyoming and Pennsylvania were about
the only “white spots” on the Repub
lican map. Demlng was drafted by the
party State Committee as director of
publicity In the 1930 campaign.
** * *
One of the most provocative and
revolutionary military studies of the
Civil War will appear next Spring in
the form of “The Military Career of
General Grant,” by Col. Arthur Latham
Conger, who has Just retired from the
United States Army after a distinguish
ed career. His last post was that of
military attache at Berlin. Col. Conger
was graduated from Harvard before
entering the Army in 1898. and has de
voted his life to the study of military
history and strategy. He commanded a
brigade in the Argonne campaign of
1918. Col. Conger's estimate of Grant,
his campaign and his part in the Civil
War, is destined to arouse much con
troversy in a field which, up to now,
has curiously enough been left largely
to English military critics.
(Copyright, 1910.)
Or Eating Sandpaper Bread.
Prom tho Akron Bsscon-Journsl.
The war reoord isn’t complete yc
There Isn’t a single book that reven
i the horrors of kitchen police.
Beer for Labor Delegates.
: Prom ths De* Moines Tribune-Capital.
Delegates to te next Federation •
Labor convention can drink beer as wr
: as vote lor it. The convention will b
|hsM to Vaoeowra*
Education in Civic
QeanlincM Is Urged
T* «M XU (or of Th. Star:
A Taw 7«an ago the MsTThsots* As
sociation of New TorkClty carolled,
from the cl via class— In the high
schools, 8,000 "block captains.” who
rokmtoered to help dean the city and
keep It clean. Each "block captain’*
nndertook to urge the housshaldsm In
the block assigned to him to co-operate
In a campaign for a "dean New York.”
Efforts are now being made In the
National Capital to have not only a
"city beautiful," but a dean city, by
1932, when the Nation la to celebrate the
200th anniversary of George Washing
ton’s birth, and when people from every
State In the Union will visit Washing
ton. Would It not be a good Idea If
our Board of Trade and Chamber of
Commerce were to organise in our high
schools a movement similar to the
admirable one Inaugurated In the high
schools of New York by the Merchants’
Association of that city?
But the special purpose of this com
munication Is to suggest another and
a very far-reaching service to our beau
tiful city In behalf of a cleaner city, by
teaching the gospel of civic cleanliness
to the younger children before they
reach the high schools. The plastic
time for developing good habits Is be
tween the ages of 5 and 12 or 14.
Rightly directed, habits are easily form
ed during childhood, and, once formed,
they become the fixed habits of a
lifetime.
An effective and easy way of Instill
ing Into the minds of our young chil
dren an Instinctive preference for clean
streets would be to teach the children
In our kindergarten and primary grades
a very striking song called "White
Wings,’’ the title of which was sug
gested by the nickname given to the
“Street Cleaning Brigade’’ in New York
City when It was reorganized and put
Into white uniforms by that great apos
tle of municipal housecleaning, the late
Col. Waring.
The song has been admirably set to
music by a distinguished composer,
Henry T. Burleigh, who for over 30
years has been the baritone soloist at
St. George’s Church, New York City; It
has been published In cheap form by G.
Ricordl & Co., 14 East Forty-third
street, New York City.
The melody Is a very tuneful one
which would be quickly caught by chil
dren. It Is what kindergarten teachers
call an "action song,’’ because It Is to
be acted out by the children with ap
propriate gestures. The words, which
are very picturesque and full of appeal
to the dramatic Instinct of children,
are as follows:
"As I was walking down the street,
A Man In White I chanced to meet;
A long-handled broom there hung at
his side,
While a huge pile of dirt he ruefully
spied.”
Then comes the chorus, which is In
tended to be Illustrated dramatically by
the children, with the characteristic
motions of picking up and sweeping:
"Pick-uppity, pick!
And sweep-lty, sweep!
This Is the way he cleans the streets.”
The second verse contains a sugar
coated moral which would certainly
sink Into the minds of the very young
If the lesson Is emphasized by the
teacher. That verse forcibly reminds
the children that the surest way for
everybody to clean the streets Is to
learn never to dirty them:
"And though WE’re young, we surely
know
That on the streets we MUST NOT
throw
The skins of fruit and paper scraps,
For a great deal of harm they may do —
PERHAPS!
Pick-uppity, pick!
And sweep-lty, sweep 1
This Is the way WE clean the streets.”
One could devoutly wish that some
millionaire, with a vision for a Na
tion-wide cleanliness, would distribute
that song to the primary schools and
kindergartens In every State in order
to help teach all the kiddles in Amer
ica to sing that song. And the surest
way to teach a truth Is to set It to a
tuneful melody.
To bring this matter nearer home, I
venture to hope that some wealthy man
or woman of vision In Washington
would bear the comparatively slight
expense of furnishing that song to all
the kindergartens and primary grades
1% Washington. If during the next 10
years all or the younger children In our
schools could be taught to sing that
song, and to do It with gusto, the
streets of Washington, which are now a
disgrace to the National Capital, would
before very long remind one of the
legendary "Spotless Town of St. Sa
polio.” If our streets were once cleaned
It would be so much easier to keep
them clean. To Illustrate that point,
permit me to confess a sin of my own,
or rather to describe a certain occasion
when I narrowly escaped yielding to
the temptation of being untidy.
Many years ago I was walking
through the streets of the quaint Ger
man city of Regensburg, or Ratlsbon,
and I was struck by the extraordinary
cleanliness of the streets. I bought a
bag of large, ripe peaches, and as I
was in a foreign city, with no friends
nearby who would have criticized a
grown man for such an unconventional
act, I proceeded to devour those lus
cious peaches as I walked along the
street on the way back to my hotel.
When I had finished the first peach, I
was on the point of doing what I would
have done In any city in the United
States—namely, to throw the skin and
the stone Into the street 1 Just as I had
poised my arm In readiness for that
unseemly act and was about to throw
the stone Into the street, it came to
me with a shock that I ought not thus
to soil a street that was as clean as a
well kept kitchen floor, and although
I ate all the peaches before I reached
my hots, I scrupulously put all the
skins and stones In the paper bag,
which I carried In my hand until I
could deposit It In one of the oans for
rubbish, which were placed at con
venient points along the sidewalk. At
that moment In my own education In
good habits an entirely new sense of
civic cleanliness was bom In my own
mind, and I have never unlearned that
habit. RICHARD D. HARLAN.
Declares Modern Trend
Justifies Half Holiday
To the Editor of The Star:
In behalf of many Federal employ*,
permit me to thank you for a recent
editorial, entitled, ’"rat Cost of Half
Holidays.”
The justification for the Saturday
half holiday for Federal employes Is
the same that has supplied warrant
for every other general reduction In
working hours In civilized countries,
namely, a great Increase in the aver
age output since the working day or
week then existing was established, re
sulting from very widespread employ
ment of labor-saving devices, more sci
entific grouping of activities, elimina
tion of duplication and waste and a
vast Improvement In working methods
generally, so that the old order seemed
to belong to the dark ages.
The present working week in the
Federal service, established over half
a century ago, belongs to the period
when stenographers were unknown out
side of the halls of Congress; when
our wonderful filing systems and the
card Index were unknown, so that the
assembling of the necessary data re
quired for the determination of a claim
against the Government sometimes took
the examiner a week or more before he
could begin the work of adjudication;
when a call from Congress for a report
and exhibits comprising a hundred
pages or so oompelled virtually the
entire office force to drop their work
and go to copying by hand; when
office telephones and elevators were
undreamed of. In the basements of
many Federal buildings or In adjoin
ing buildings there are today scores of
devices which, with one, or perhaps
two, operators, do the work formerly
requiring the services of hundreds, If, I
ndeed, the work was performed at all.
In the commercial world these
:onomies have been reflected, In part- 1
•y a reduction In the work perkaf l
/lthout reduction in pay. The ease V
he Federal employe Js no different In
prlnetpia. X And *■* to yuM. U
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ■
•T FREDERIC I. BASKIN.
This Is a special department devoted
to the handling of Inquiries. You have
at your disposal an extensive organisa
tion in Washington to serve you In any
capacity that relates to Information.
Write your question, your name and
your address clearly, and inclose 3 cants
in coin or stamps for reply. Send to
The evening Star Information Bureau.
Frederic J. Haskln, director, Wash
ington, D. C.
Q. Who recently gave a fellowship
in bibliography to the University of
Pennsylvania?—*. W.
-A. Dr. A. 8. W. Rosenbach. writer,
bibliographer and collector, has given
the University of Pennsylvania $30,000
for the establishment of an honorary
fellowship in bibliography.
Q. Why Is the Bank of England
called “the Old Lady of Threadneedle
Street”?—D. B. N.
A. The Bank of England was given
that nickname because the street In
which It stands was formerly called
Three Needles street.
Q. Is Walter Huston really as tall
as he looked In the picture “Abraham
Lincoln"?—M. C.
A. His extra height In this picture
was accomplished by a pair of specially
built boots which raised him $y 2 inches.
Q. Who were the cyclic poets?—
8, M.
A. They were epic poets who on the
death of Homer caught the contagion of
his poems and wrote continuations,
illustrations, or additions thereto. These
poets wrote between 80. 800 and M 0
and were called "cyclic” because they
confined themselves to the cycle of
the Trojan War. The chief were Aglas,
Arctlnoe, Eugamon, Leeches and Stra
•lnos.
Q. Some time ago you said that the
holder of a check could have It certi
fied, Just ss can the drawer of the
check. Are you sure about that?—
O. Y. H.
A. Crowell’s Dictionary of Business
snd Finance says that a certified check
Is “a check having written across its
face the signature of (usually) the
cashier or paying teller of the bank
on which It Is drawn, certifying to the
signature of the drawer and to the fact
that the latter has sufficient funds on
deposit with which to pay It. Funds
ara held In reserve from the drawer’s
account by the bank to meet the check.
When the holder of a check takes It
to the bank upon which It is drawn
and has It certified, the drawer of the
check and the Indorsers, If there are
any, are released and thereafter the
holder must look to the bank alone.
The bank Is absolutely liable upon the
check unless It was ‘raised’ either be
fore or after certification. The bank
by certifying the check guarantees the
genuineness of the signature of the
drawer and certifies that It has In Its
possession funds belonging to the draw
er sufficient to meet the check, and It
thereby engages that thoss funds shall
not be withdrawn by the maker of the
check to the prejudice or loss of any
bona fids holder of the check.”
Q. Please give a short biography of
James Boyd, who wrote “Drums” and
“Long Hunt.”—H. O.
A. James Boyd was bom in 1888 In
Dauphin County, Pa., but moved to
North Carolina when he was 13. He
graduated from Princeton in 1910 and
afterward spent two years at Trinity
College, Cambridge. In 1917 he mar
ried Katharine Lament of New York*
City. They have two sons. The Boyd
home, at Southern Pines, N. C., is
patterned largely after Westover, in
Virginia, the famous home of William
Byrd.
Q. What is the origin of the sobriquet
"Jim Crow”?—M. J.
A. According to Crowell’s Handbook
for Readers and Writers, the expression
New Partnerships in Sight
Turn Eyes to British Empire
Americans, as well as eltlsens of other
nations, study the prospect of new part*
nermhlps within the British Empire. Ac
tion by the Imperial Conference favor
able to equality with Bagland for the
dominions is looked upon as historic,
because It makes England a dominion,
and there Is strong belief that India
will emerge from negotiations with the
home government on a basis of greater
self-government.
“Have the British people finally
found, In common sense ana the liberal
mind, the fountain of eternal national
youth?” asks the Dayton Dally News,
with the comment on the equality of
the dominions that "what the United
States could get a century and a half
ago only by revolution, the other former
colonies of Oreat Britain have won by
peaceful evolution.” The Asheville
Times points out that “the King Is
really now the ruler of seven countries,”
and states that "despite the disappoint
ment the dominions feel over the dead
lock on tariff, the conference will be
hailed by them as one of great achieve
ment.” „
“In conjunction with this action,
says the Hartford Times, “it was agreed
that the governors for the dominions
shall be named by the King alone,
without interference by the govern
ment, and this opens the way for the
appointment of natives from the do
minions.” The Cleveland News, In re
viewing the results, wonders "what
might have been the course of world
history had this decision been made a
generation, two generations, a century
ago.” Notwithstanding the change, the
Cincinnati Times-Star declares: “The
old affection of the colonies for the tra
ditions and institutions of the crown ,
seems to be unwavering. The dominions
may have the right to secede, but there
Is no hint of a wish to exercise it. ’
*** * *
Recognizing the fact that virtually
Independent state* have been wealed
“by a process entirely peaceful, by
consent of those concerned,” the
Rochester Tlmes-Unlon declares that
“there Is nothing quite like this In the
history of any other empire at any
period in the history of the world.”
“What the empire will do as an em
pire,” according to the Savannah Morn
ing News, “will be determined by the
partners repreeented by their premiers,
and It Is easy to Imagine a condition of
affairs which would cause England
Itself to be in a minority In the votes
of the several partners. The empire Is
stronger than It was by reason of the
parceling out of the power which used
to be vested In the government In Lon
don.” A dissenting opinion, however,
comes from the St. Paul Pioneer Press
in the statement: “The really funda
mental question, the relation of each'
dominion to the empire, Is left Just as
confused as ever. And this question is
probably destined never to be answered
until some event occurs that will put
hours was the general working day In
industry, and that the reduction to 10 1
hours was mainly due to an Increase, ,
which was little short of amastog, In .
the use of machinery and the applica
tion of labor-saving devices.
It Is doubtful whether any reduc- :
tion in the work period In any con
siderable field did not, for the time
being, result in some extra expense, 1
but It was not long before better de
vices and Improved methods overcame 1
this The Item of temporary additional :
expense Is an Independent question. 1
Applying the reasoning which, In all 1
civilised countries, has been held .to
Justify— nay, call for—a shorter period
of labor, the case of the Government
I worker Is well grounded. The Gov-
I eminent, as an employer, should not
lag behind progressive, enlightened i
employers
! cams from a popular Negro song and
i dance first introduced by Thomas D.
Rios Into a play called “The Rifle,” by
’ Solon Robinson. The story Is that Rice
picked up the song and peculiar limp
i?* b f accident from an old
1 to Loufavliis, Ky„ in 1838, whom
i he heard singing, ’’wheel about, turn
Jk so. an’ ebery time X wheel
about I jump Jim Ctow.’ r
Q What Is the” HI-Y?— I T. N.
A. The Hl-Y is the Y. M. O. A. In
! toe high school. It la a group of older
hlgh-school boys, who, having united in
a common and challenging objective,
, are seeking for themselves snd their
fellow students high standsnto at
Christian character.
Q Please tell something at the
, origin of the short story.—B. A.
A. The short story has always w
toted, though It was not until to* nine
teenth century that the art of writtim
It was consciously practiced. As Bopho
eles said of Aeschylus, these surly
1 authors of short stories did the right
thing without knowing why. It was
only on rare occasions, however, that
these happy accidents occurred. Thus
Prof. Baldwin, after exhaustive exam
ination of the 100 tales In Boccaocloto
"Decameron.” decided that only two of
them are short stories In the modern
critical sense, while three others ap
£ roach the totality of Impression which
i the result of conscious unity in ex
pression. We must go back to the New
Testament for a abort story which to a
structural masterpiece. The parable of
ths Prodigal Son, which Is only 800
words long In the authorised version,
satisfies the modem definition, securing
the greatest emphasis possible with a
surprising economy of means. In Amer
k* toe short story had Its beginning In
the "Sketch Book” of Washington
Irving.
Q. What are a” "ship’s articles”?—
O. H. J.
A. A ship’s srtlclas are the terms and
conditions which seamen sign and agree
to be bound by when taking their places
on board the ship. The articles, bind
ing both master and seamen, specify
toe amount of wages to be paid, ths
food to be given, the sailors’ position on
board, the length of time for which
they are shipped, and toe stipulated
conditions which they agree to abide by
during their engagement.
Q. What to Scripture Cake?—A. N.
A. It to a cake particularly popular
with Ladles’ Aids and other church so
cieties. The recipe to made up of bib
lical references. When these are looked
up they are found to be the necessary
ingredients of the cake.
Q. From what animal does krlmmer
fur come?—B. D.
A. The krlmmer to a sheep Inhabit
ing the Krlmmer Peninsula In Russia,
i It to gray or slate colored. This sheep
to similar to the Persian sheep, but m
looser In curl.
Q. Where did the signs of the aodlM
originate?—*. H.
A. The aodiac to probably Babylonian
In origin. The figures seem to have
been based on toe resemblance of the
lines connecting the stars in toe aodtr
seal constellations to certain plotortoi
outlines, which form toe substratum m
the Aaeyro-Babylonlan cuneiform gfc
phabeta, while the animal figures sag
outlines were chosen for antmtotlo
sons. The signs of the aodlao were sal*
ried from Babylonia to Orveoe. whence
they spread throughout toe ancteal
’ civilised world.
Q. Who Invented Esperanto?—i.Q, CL
A. Esperanto Is the name of afi M
ficial or international language devised
by Dr. Zamenhof, a Russian |TiisliSaiL
who, In hls first publication on the SUb»
Ject, signed himself Dr. Esperanto or
Doctor Hopeful. The language to baaed
as far as poaslbl# on words common to
the chief European language*
the unity of the empire to practical
test.”
The situation In India Is made more
Impressive by the reports that there Is
unprecedented harmony among the va
rious factions In that populous posses
sion of Great Britain. "There can be
confidence,” In the Judgment of the
New York Herald Tribune, "that the
pleasure with which they now greet an
Indian united front in London is not
feigned. The British cannot be other
wise than pleased, because a powerful
Indian league now promises to take the
problem of dealing with Gandhi-Ism off
their hands and because they know that
both the princes and the Moslems will
favor continued British control of such
essential safeguards to British interests
as national defense, domestic police ad
ministration, foreign relations, currency
and possibly revenue collection, all of
which an untrained Oriental democ
racy Is prone to muddle.”
** * *
“Light seems breaking,” remarks the
Portland Oregon Journal, "over the.
tragedy of India. There Is promise that
the mailed hand with which Britain
has held India bound for more than
two centuries Is partly to loosen Its
hold. • • • Back In 1917 Britain an
nounced her purpose to prepare India
for self-government as rapidly as pos
sible. A constitution giving some share
of responsibility to Indian ministers
was put into effect In 1920. Tremendous
problems are Involved in any solution
of the Indian situation.” The San An
tonio Express feels that "doubtless
2 I J^ at ,. Br i tal *} will proceed carefully
with the feudatory sultans and rajahs,
hoping that they voluntarily will be
cane constitutional rulers.” The Louis
ville Courier-Journal thinks that “plans
l now to the making will be laid with an
readjustment, rather
•** ch *°« which
taevltably would follow radical changes.”
Prediction of “an agreement to con
fer dominion status upon India, with a
rew reservations that reasonable Indians
can tolerate," Is made by the Toronto
Sfr. with the explanation that
a federal system of government may
>» •*) «P with the native states In
cluded. ’ The Hamilton Ontario Spec
tator asks, “Who can doubt that, If an
agreement Is reached, It will go far
toward restoring harmony in the coun-
•Hfl that the faction which Is so
obstinately refusing its aid in the set
tlement will be compelled by the logic
of circumstances to fall into line*"
The Scranton Times Is convinced that
* , ““test measure of self-government
possible will be granted," though the
Providence Bulletin makes the reserva
tion, “How India’s nationalism can be
made to work for the eventual realiza
tion of dominion status Is the problem
which tests British genius for diplo
macy.”
Announcement at the London meet
ing that the native princes of India
are In harmony with the Hindus In
demanding dominion status for India
Impels the Richmond News Leader to
declare that, “for the flbt time In
her history, India may present a
united front to Britain.” The Near
York Evening Post assumes that
“their realization of the force which
lies behind Indian nationalism has
brought them together and resulted
In the presentation of a united front
by the princes, the Moslems and the
Hindus.” The Wilmington Delmarvla
Star advises: “An Indian dominion
would gradually come to enjoy that
enormous wealth upon which the Brit
ish Empire has been founded. An In
dependent India would lose in turmoil
that which it already has.”
Helps Other People's, Too.
From the Sioux City Journal.
The first milliner who puts a toad on
the new mushroom bat that is pow the
vogue may be discovering a sure way
to kesp from growing eld.