A-8
TJHE EVENING star
With Sunday Morning Edition.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
MONDAY December 15, 1930
THEODORE W. NOYES Editor
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Support of Capitals.
In his appearance before the House
Fiscal Inquiry Committee Mr. Simmons
of Nebraska made one suggestion that
might be adopted with beneficial results. I
He proposed that the committee insti- J
tute an investigation of some sort to i
determine what other nations of the j
world do in support of their capitals.!
Mr. Simmons predicted that such an I
investigation would show that Washing- i
ton is the only capital in the world *
"that takes the position of demanding :
something from the Federal Govern- [
ment or the governing agencies in their I
midst.”
If it is practical the committee might j
find it to its advantage to request that j
some Government agency, the State De- ;
partment or the Library of Congress, j
compile the data proposed by Mr. Sim- j
mons. There may have been seme
changes in the form and amount of
financial aid given by the nations to
their capitals since 1916. But in 1916
a comparable survey was undertaken by
citizens of the District and the results
introduced before the Joint Select Com
mittee of Congress which then was
making an inquiry concerning United
Btates-District of Columbia fiscal re
lations. The evidence was presented to
support the citizens’ contention that if
any comparisons are to be drawn be
tween the part taken by the United
States in maintaining and developing
its Capital and the part taken by for
eign powers In contributing to the
maintenance and development of their
capitals, the United States in some cases
suffers thereby.
An article appearing elsewhere in to
day's Star develops at some length the
findings of the 1916 survey, as presented
in the argument and the brief of the
Joint Citizens’ Committee on Fiscal Re
lations. It is interesting to note here
that one of the principal points brought
out was that whereas nearly every cap
ital in the world receives aid in greater
or less degree from the national gov
ernments, and while the citizens of all
the capitals contribute to the national
government in Federal taxes, as they do
in Washington, this community of all
the capital communities in the world is
the only one where the citizens are de
nied any voice in the collection or the
spending of their own taxes.
Washington is the only Capital in
the world where the National Govern
ment discourages the development of lo
cal taxable resources, such as indus
trial development, that would enable
the local community more easily to bear
its tax burden. In the other capitals
of the world such development is either
encouraged or permitted. Here an un
written policy cripples the city’s com
mercial growth because of the nature of
the plans for the Federal City.
While all of the capitals of the world
receive aid in some form from the na
tional governments, none of the gov
ernments are under such specific and
moral obligations to support their
capitals generously and adequately as
is the Government of the United States.
In none of the capitals studied was
there found a condition analogous to
that which prevails in Washington—
where some members of the National
Legislature which exercises exclusive
Control over the municipality wish to
repudiate the obligation that accom
panies power. In Paris, for Instance,
it was found that the community was
jealous of some of the few powers over
the municipality exercised by the
French government, yet wanted the
French government to contribute more
generously to the support of Paris. In
Washington, the tendency of some of
the gentlemen on Capitol Hill is to
control exclusively without paying.
Other interesting comparisons were
brought out in the survey of 1916. The
committee might profit by making
another one.
Hopes of legislative harmony are too
often based on a futile expectation that
some one may be induced to change his
mind.
Soviet Dumping Abroad.
A useful service is performed by the
Foreign Policy Association in calling at
tention to the Soviet government’s
policy of dumping grain and raw ma
terials in foreign markets at prices
generally believed abroad to be below
the cost of production. As the result
of its own su. vey of the situation, the
association concludes that it ‘‘presents
l no immediate menace.” In substantia
tion of that view, the fact, among
others, is cited that "Russian exports
still fall short of the pre-war level.”
In the case of the United States, Rus
sia sent to this country in 1929-30 ap
proximately $23,500,000 worth of com
modities of all kinds, as compared with
$39 315,000 in 1913.
Americans should take due note of
another fact adduced by the Foreign
Policy Association. That is that four
European countries—France, Belgium,
• Hungary and Rumania —have taken
formal steps to protect themselves
against Soviet dumping. In October of
this year the French cabinet adopted
a decree providing that henceforth the
Importation of a number of Soviet
products would be subject to license.
The imports specified were grain, meat,
eggs, sugar, timber, Unt, glue and gela
tin. The French minister of com
merce pointed out that his government
was proposing to do nothing more than
Russia itself does under its monopoly
foreign trade. Belgium's bpa on
dumping from Russia is even more
stringent.
The French, Belgian, Hungarian and
Rumanian restrictions on Russian im
> ports were interpreted by the Moscow
government as the first.steps in the or
ganization of an economic blockade of
the Soviet Union. The American em
bargo on timber, and subsequent sug
gestions to restrict imports of other
Russian goods into the United States
were met at Moscow by threats of re
taliation. As we are selling the Rus
sians at present about six times more
than we are buying from them, the
Soviet doubtless concludes that Uncle
Sam will think twice and thrice before
putting up prohibitive bars against its
wares.
The people of this coimtry are not
losing sight of the fact that the pro
digious five-year plan to convert Rus
sia into a colossal productive machine
is designed, primarily and eventually, to
enable the Soviet to drench the “cap
italistic” world beyond its communistic
borders with Russian commodities. The
profits from those operations are to find
their way into the Soviet national
treasury, not into the hands of the peo
ple whose sweated brows and backs
made the profits possible. The ultimate
use of the foreign gold Russia thus
plans to acquire has never been dis
guised. It is to be devoted to financing
the “world revolution.” Any other con
ception of the Soviet’s economic ma
neuvers, on the face of its own un
[ blushing admissions, is wholly un
| founded.
States’ Rights and Duties.
President Hoover has taken a definite
I stand on the subject of relief for un
! employment and the drought stricken
1 areas. He has urged and continues to
! urge that the States and municipalities
deal with the major part of these prob
-1 lems. The Federal Government, in the
; President’s opinion, can well set an ex
-1 ample and point the way in this emer
i gency by going ahead with construction
i work, giving employment to many thou
sands of persons, and by loaning money
to the farmers in the drought areas.
But beyond this the President would
not have the Federal Government go.
Opposed to the President’s plan of
relief are a considerable group In the
Senate and a lesser group—in propor
tion to the size of the two bodies—in
the House. These groups are asking for
greater appropriations from the Federal
Treasury than the administration be
lieves are wise or necessary. It is ob
vious that the Federal Government
cannot bring an end to the unemploy
ment situation by dipping into the
Treasury and pouring out the money—
which in the present Instance would
not be there but would have to be
raised by taxing the people. The prob
lem in this country is one which can
be dealt with more effectively by the
communities in which the unemploy
ment exists. The Federal Government,
even if it undertook to make distribu
tion of funds to the unemployed, or to
provide every one with a job, would not
be in a position effectively to carry on
the work. Governmental red tape must
usually be cut when it comes to emer
gencies if effective action is to be had.
The disposition on Capitol Hill is to
attack proposals advanced by the Chief
Executive, no matter what the proposals
may be. If Mr. Hoover urges economy
in Government expenditure at this time,
he Is charged with supporting the
wealthy taxpayers of the country and
turning his back on the poor. Indeed,
the very essence of the resolution now
before the Senate, offered by Senator
La Follette of Wisconsin, a critic of the
administration, is that the unemployed
are to be favored over the wealthy.
The resolution would place the Senate
on record as declaring that such is the
belief of the upper house of Congress.
Such should be the belief not only of
the Senate but of every man and woman
with a heart. The purpose of the La
Follette resolution, however, Is to give
President Hoover a buffet on the ear;
to make the country believe that the
Senate has the interests of suffering
humanity at heart but that the Presi
dent has not. There is a very con
siderable chance that if some of the
critics of the administration keep on in
their present course, the country will
come to the conclusion that after all
Mr. Hoover was right when he said
that some of the members of Congress
are playing politics with human misery.
Aside, however, from the question of
attacks made upon Mr. Hoover, It is a
sound policy that would have the States
and municipalities, the local communi
ties, deal with the problem of relief in
this country. It Is the policy upon which
this country has grown independent
and great. When the States and the
local communities turn finally to Wash
ington for aid on every occasion—the
theory on W’hich the Government has
been constructed and the philosophy of
American institutions will have been
abandoned. Who Is to halt the advance
of centralization of all Government in
Washington Is a question. More and
more the demand comes from repre
sentatives of States which originally
were strongly for States’ rights—which
also implies States’ duties. When the
dual system of Government, with the
States dealing with affairs local to them
and the Federal Government only with
those things with which the States can
not deal for the entire country, breaks
down, there will have been established
in Washington a centralized Govern
ment which, from its very size, may
collapse.
There is Just one exalted title to
which Mr. Ritchie of Maryland appears
Ineligible, that of ex-Govemor.
The Stringless Bean.
Among the essential men of Amer
ica’s progress must be counted those
who, from time to time, have bred
new types of vegetables, either making
■ two grow where one grew before, or
i creating a new type through the re
moval of disagreeable characteristics.
E Among these humble heroes w'as
i Calvin Noyes Keeney, who died last
• week at Leroy, N. Y. Although na
, tionally known as a seed grower, his
i lasting fame will come through the
s fact that he originated the stringless
( bean.
i To remove the "string” from beans
t was to do something which millions
t of housewives longed for, but which
i. it took a practical seedsman to achieve.
The result was secured, not through
- magic or horticultural hocus-pocus, but
- simply by breeding various strains of
t beans which had lesser amounts of
1 “string” to other varieties with similar
y properties.
2 At last the stringless bean wai
THE EVENINO STAR. WASHINGTON. D. C.. MONDAY. DECEMBER 15. 1930.
» achieved. In Its Infancy It was a
"novelty,” as seedsmen call such things,
1 but in time it became a standard, until
• today no one stops to think much
7 about it.
Similarly the professional and ama
t teur grower of vegetables has been
• given a large number of edibles which
• are distinct improvements on old types,
r not new creations In any sense, but
> rather new forms of old types with
■ some essential improvement, or lacking
■ some evident disagreeable quality. The
: so-called “rustless asparagus” is another
• example.
; In this good work, quietly conducted
! by men with efficient and loving hands,
» the United States Department of Agri
culture has as quietly and efficiently co
; operated. Such men as Keeney leave
living memorials to themselves every
year in a million gardens, although the
' gardeners may never have heard their
> names.
A Beacon on the Monument.
Aviators, particularly those who fly
at night, will doubtless be gratified to
learn of the decision to place a dis
tinctive beacon on top of the Washing
ton Monument. The Monument has
long been known as a serious menace
to those who zoom through the sky in
darkness. It is quite close to the prin
cipal airports of the National Capital
and narrow escapes have been recorded
by pilots coming in for landings. With
adequate illumination, which in these
days of heavy air travel should be an
essential on every tall structure near
airports, the Monument will serve as a
guiding point for flyers. The Capitol
dome sometime ago was similarly
treated after a night airmail pilot had
avoided a crash with it by inches in a
heavy mist. The sooner the work is
completed the better.
■ » « , .
Trade should, of course, be conducted
in entire frankness. The methods of
Soviet Russia’s immense economy of
production are in many minds a mys
tery. It was hard for schoolboys
“to swap” the contents of both hands
when one of the boys insisted on
keeping a hand behind his back.
The average citizen resents the word
“dole.” The and perma
nent solution of an employment situa
tion must depend on the mental ability
to devise an industrial system that
will utilize to the fullest extent what
economists have described as the most
important power on earth, man power.
Communists claim to have certain im
portant ideas as to a reorganization of
social relationships. They are rather
too complex to be intelligibly conveyed
by a series of placards in an impromptu
parade.
The Army foot ball hero, Ray Stecker,
comes from Hazelton, Pa., not a very
big town, and another example of how
the small communities often produce
the most famous men.
His fondness for athletic endeavor has
not yet tempted Mussolini to over
exertion which might compel him to
recognize a family physician as an auto
crat even greater than himself.
Thanksgiving produced enough alco
holic tragedies to ofTer a warning that
Christmas should be celebrated with
honest sentiment and without indis
criminate artificial stimulation.
The score of 6 to 0 in favor of the
Army foot ball players is calculated to
leave the Navy lads more than ever im
pressed with the belief that there is no
Santa Claus.
There are Senators who hesitate to
enter a World Court unless it is equipped
with red lights indicating exits in case
something very serious happens.
Co-operation is desired by Senator
Robinson. But it is always the privi
lege of a Senator to make careful in
quiries as to the results of any course
of procedure.
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Sufficiency of Hostilities.
Since first man trod this blossoming
earth
He fought for all that he was worth,
And reckless warriors risked their lives,
Sometimes for gold, sometimes for wives.
For centuries this has gone on
Since Reason first began to dawn,
And now by Reason we're advised
To be a bit more civilized.
Seeking from strife a glad release
And making this a world of Peace.
Though Reason often fills the mind
With doubts that bring a mood unkind.
On this point still she lays great stress —
Fighting is Just Plain Foolishness.
So, let us cease the customs rough
And say at last, "We've Had Enough!"
A Shade of Envy.
“How does it feel to be unquestion
ably an idol of the populace?”
“How should I know?” rejoiped Sen
ator Sorghum. “I haven’t had the
training to be a foot boll player, and
I’m too old, anyhow.”
Jud Tunkins says he never yet knew
a man who felt like bragging about his
wealth when it came to reporting his
income tax.
| Mechanization.
The gangsters find us much surprised
And overwhelmed with doubt;
If this age must be mechanized.
Let’s leave machine guns out.
A Selfish Attitude.
! “I hope there will never be another
1 war,” said Miss Cayenne.
> “We all hope so. Have you a special
reason of your own?”
“Yes. I don’t w’ant expectations of
Army and Navy foot ball games in any
| way Interfered with."
• “Any man,” said Hi Ho, the sage of
1 Chinatown, “can teach the rules of
; proper moral conduct, but no man can
! be relied on to follow all his own teach
ings.”
s Appeal to Law.
l The Communists are curious elves,
i. Who from our laws demand release,
i They start a quarrel ’mongst themselves
t And then they call for the police!
f
f “I cant see no sense,” said Uncle
r Eben, “foh a soap box orator when de
Winter's cornin’ on and a soap box is
m to useful fob kinduaV* - . . ,
fS
I I THIS AND THAT I
i
BY CHARLES E. TRACER ELL.
i .1..
1 The fireplace!
, If there is any word in the English
> language which warms the heart, it Is
"fireplace.”
1 Hearth and heart!
! How strange It is that these two
: words, so different in meaning, are yet
. so alike in spelling. “Hearth” is merely
“heart” with an “h” hitched to it.
A fireplace is at once the center of
l attraction in every room which has one,
, and the desire of all families which do
. not own one.
And there can be no fireplace, of
course, like a real one, with a real
! hearth, a genuine chimney, flanked by
' a fireset and wood basket.
.** * *
The wood-burning fireplace is the
one which warms the heart and mind
best of all.
There are some advantages to the
coal-burning hearth, and to other types,
but for old-time satisfaction nothing
• can quite take the place of the fire
light which comes from burning logs.
* There is something elemental, un
doubtedly, about the hearthstone set
with andirons, upon which repose for
their brief period of glory fresh logs
brought in from the outdoors with all
the smell of fresh air upon them.
There is no pleasanter household
task, whether for man or woman, than
preparing the fireplace for the late
afternoon fire.
Some prefer the evening fire, while
some like to kindle it in the morning,
but connoisseurs usually take the hours
between 4:30 and 6, or extend it per
haps to 7 or 8, or maybe later.
Just as dusk comes down, or perhaps
a little before, Is the best time to light
the fire. For home-coming ones there
is no better greeting except a kiss.
** * *
One can spend a great deal of money
on a fireplace, and it is money well
spent, too, but it is not at all necessary.
The essential thing is a good hearth,
good firebrick, good chimney, good
draft, good damper —and good wood.
Failure in any one of these elements
will make a fireplace a nuisance. With
all of them properly worked out, a home
has real fireplace pleasure ahead of it.
Fireirons was the old name for the
modern fireset, which consisted then as
it does now mainly of tongs, poker and
shovel. Often a small brush or broom
Is added.
Many like the fireset In dull black,
with shiny brass knobs, or handles,
while others prefer the all-brass. Wood
baskets, as all know, come in wrought
iron, brass and wicker, and then there
are Innumerable other gadgets one may
acquire from year to year, such as
fancy lighters, and so on.
We say nothing of a crane, for only
the greatest of fireplaces, the sort which
will hold trees, almost, deserve this an
cient heritage.
The smaller fireplaces will do very
well with their brass andirons, and their
firescreens, and their firesets, and their
shining guard rails, their wood holders.
With these, we are ready for the
wood,
** * *
Select the back log, put it in first,
then build up the remainder on the
andirons to suit the individual fancy.
There are “approved methods” of build
| WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS |
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE.
I
That important and industrious
branch of the White House charged
with the duty of keeping an ear to the
ground is persuaded that, whatever
Congress thinks of the Hoover relief
program, the country approves it.
Newspaper editorials form the basis of
this belief. On a single day last week
229 favorable editorial utterances piled
up. They originated in all parts of the
Union and represented all shades of
politics. One of the earliest and
strongest commendations was in the
New York World, leading Democratic
organ. Some of the President’s news
paper supporters think his choice of
phraseology might have been happier,
but there is virtually unanimous agree
ment that in standing guard at the
Treasury door against reckless raids on
the people’s money, Hoover's position is
unassailable. This observer’s atten
tion has been drawn to a bit of canny
Coolidge wisdom on this score 1 1 -j
years ”B. C.”—before the crash. Ad
dressing the annual business meeting
of the government, “Cal” said, early in
1928: "The steady increase in State
and municipal governmental costs can
not continue longer without disaster.
It is a red flag, warning us of the
danger of depression and a repetition
of the disaster which overtook the
country at the close of 1920.”
** * *
All sorts of stories are afloat about
the “background” of the feud between
the White House and Congress. One
circumstantial yam is to the effect that
Col. Arthur Woods, the President’s un
employment chairman, submitted to the
cabinet seven or eight concrete propo
sals for grappling with the jobless situ
ation on grandiose lines. The plan is
said to have called for disgorging of
public funds on a colossal scale, which
would have put hundreds of thousands
of idle hands to work all over the
country and kept them at work for the
better part of a year. Col. Woods’ al
leged recommendations were scrapped—
so the report goes —on the ground of
their excessive cost. Another tale is
that in reading the riot act to Con
gress, Hoover had mainly in mind the
project to cash the soldiers’ bonus cer
tificates, aggregating a total estimated
as high as $3,000,000,000. The bitterest
criticism of the President in House and
Senate cloakrooms is that ne is pur
suing a flea-bite and drop-in-the-bucket
policy on emergency relief. This has
been the keynote of discussion on the
floor in both branches, too.
** * *
Washington newspaper men who at
tended Gov. Gifford Pinchot’s invita
tion press conference on Saturday came
away convinced that the Pennsylvanian
there and then shied his big, black
sombrero into the 1932 presidential ring.
’ Pinchot foreshadows power as the para
mount issue two years hence, but in
i dicated that prohibition will not be
wholly ignored. One of the journalis
tic wags who went to the Governor's
seance says that Penn’s new G. O. P.
’ boss has now hoisted alliterative colors
, to the breeze: “Power, Prohibition and
Pinchot.”
** * *
Mrs. Medill McCormick (that’s what
Representative Ruth Hanna McCormick
Is now calling herself) beamed like
anything but a defeated senatorial can
didate as she proudly introduced her
wdllowy young daughter Katrina to
Capital society the other day. The
throngs of friends at the reception got
the impression that “Ruth” looks bet
ter and feels better than she has for a
long time, now that her two strenuous
■ campaigns—primary and election —be-
long to the ages. Mrs. McCormick will
. throw herself into the farewell weeks of
1 her congressional duties and then, so
her friends are assured, retire to private
> life. It isn’t likely to be altogether
private, for Mark Hanna’s daughter
r isn’t built that way. Her big home in
Georgetown is sure to be the scene of
high, even if unofficial, politics in the
r days to come.
** * *
c The late Senator Lee S. Overman of
l North Carolina was the last surviving
. member of the Senate conferees who
put the final O. K. of Congress on the
Volstead act. A few hours before his
death last week the noble old Roman,
who looked the part of a Senator as
if chiseled for it. told some friends of
Mabel Walker Willebrandt that he had
stood unflinchingly for section 29 of the
s enforcement act. It is under that do
mestic wine-making provision of the
law that the California grape concen
trate folks are now preparing to operate.
+* * *
6 Everv once in a while Associate Jus
-8 tice Oliver Wendell Holmes of the Su
preme Court dines quietly at a down
ing fires, it is true, but a little free
hand may be permitted; a man may be
an artist with his logs no less than
with his brushes.
The humbler matters of paper and
kindling and the actual lighting of
them all may be left to the fancy of
each firebulider. The fireplace is his:
it is the place for fire, the controlled
place where Nature’s draft takes charge,
and logs turn themselves neatly into
heat, flame and smoke.
Up the chimney goes the smoke, to
the glorious snapping and crackling
which help to make up the fascination
of the fireplace!
Not a drop of smoke comes Into our
nostrils, for the damper is set, chimney
and draft are fine. The wood is dry,
it burns well and easily, with pic
turesque leaping flames which honor the
sturdy firebrick.
** * *
Now is the time to sit back In one’s
chair and gaze with fascination at the
leaping flames.
Those flames remind one of the sea
waves; there Is something strangely
alike in their action, although no two
elements could be more dissimilar than
fire and water.
Yet as one watches the fire bum
higher and higher, with its ever-vary
ing tongues of flame, multi-tinted for
his peculiar benefit, he realizes that the
forces of Nature are much alike, w’her
ever found or under whatever form.
We have watched the breakers on the
seashore, watched them roll, never two
after the other by the hour, never two
the same, yet all much alike: have suc
cumbed to the hypnotic influence of
their rolling; and now we sit by the
fireplace, watching the leaping flames,
as the chimney draft pulls them up.
seeing the curling bits of smoke which
puff out of the right side, watching (he
leaps and darts of fire, hearing the
sharp snap of escaping saps and juices.
And as we sit here we realize that
the two are one in effect, that, water
and flame though they be, Nature has
economized her forces here, producing
the same effect on beholders, so that
fish and salamanders must know the
same things, and have the same sensa
tions, and that we, as human beings,
when watching the fire in the fireplace
come the nearest we will ever come to
understanding fish and salamanders.
** * *
One should not be a pig about his
fireplace.
That is why it is both cheaper and
better to stint one's self with it rather
than run it constantly.
The modem home scarcely needs the
wood fire for comfort, but, aside from
that, moderation is a virtue here as
elsewhere.
If the fire in the fireplace is made
an event rather than the usual, its ap
peal will be the greater.
We believe that that Is the way most
people run their fireplaces. Then every
bit of Its flaming life remains Interest
ing, down to the last glowing embers,
when black and white ash mingle, and
heat alone remains in the firebricks,
which will radiate for several hours
after the last spark is out. Draw the
firescreen close so that no lingering bit
of wood may come to life, and let us
follow the fireplace to rest.
town hotel where Mrs. Holmes and he
lived during their early days in Wash
ington. One night the head waiter,
suggesting a dessert, told Holmes that
there was a particularly succulent
tapioca pudding on the bill. The vet
eran jurist turned smilingly upon his
would-be benefactor and ejaculated:
“My friend, one of the pre-nuptial
clauses in my marriage contract with
Mrs. Holmes was that tapioca pudding
should never be served at our table 1”
** * *
Col. Charles A. Lindbergh dropped
into Washington from the sky to fill a
social engagement during the week end.
In the course of his literally flying visit
this observer encountered Senator Mor
row's son-in-law, and recalled the time,
a year or two ago, when “Lindy,” Am
bassador Hairy Guggenheim and the
scribe breakfasted together in a Wash
ington hotel. There was mention of tlie
succulent Virginia ham—gift of Gov.
Harry Byrd—which Lindbergh had just
flown to Washington, after a sojourn in
Richmond. The colonel, at the break
fast threesome, did the honors at the
carving table and then served the slices
all around. “Funny thing about that
ham,” Lindbergh reminisced. “It mys
teriously disappeared right after our
breakfast, and what was left could
never be traced."
** * *
A certain distinguished member of
Congress recently moved into a brand
new mansion built to his plans, in one
of Washington’s swagger residential
districts. The street number is 2222.
A political crony called his attention to
the fact that 2222 is the number of the
“joint” on Wabash avenue, in Chicago,
W'here A1 Capone began his career 10
years ago. The house became famous
in gangland as “The Four Deuces.” The
congressional inhabitant of 2222
street northwest, claims he doesn’t play
poker, so he isn’t afraid anybody will
dub his menage “The Four Deuces.”
(Copyright. 1930.)
Ohio Expert Contrasts
Various Love Methods
From the Toledo Blade.
Here’s a theme from the heart-balm
department, that comer of almost every
newspaper where feminine emotions are
given a time exposure. Ordinarily, per
haps, not stately enough for editorial
discussion. But why should one comer
usurp the ups and downs of emotional
life? The subject concerns human love,
love leads to matrimony, the corner
stone of the American home, and this Is
a home newspaper.
It Is like this: The girl asks Doris,
the corner oracle, whether it is wise or
otherwise “to let a man be aware of the
full extent of your feelings about him.”
Some say keep him guessing: others hold
to 50-50 love making. Doris admits it
is the privilege of modern girls to be
rather barefaced about their emotions.
Doris also says she has seen men
“practically railroaded into marriage by
the enthusiasm of a girl’s feelings for
them.” That isn’t all. “They lived to
thank their lucky stars they drew such
a prize.”
Some of these discussions are based
on the error that love-making Is of two
kinds, ancient and modern. Really,
there is only one distinction —publicity.
Where girls once wept on their pillow
they now weep In the corner of a news
paper. As for the man, who is not
wholly disinterested, if he is not a
"dumb egg,” he has some intuitions of
his own. Usually he knows when he is
being railroaded to the altar. Even the
cave man knew his stuff.
Degrees in Falling.
' From the New Lendon Day.
The French government seems to fall
Just as often, or oftener, as any South
American government. The difference
is the French government doesn’t fall
so hard or so far.
■ !»► « -
, Small Town Racket.
1 From the Detroit News.
There was nothing in the home town
■ to correspond to the modem racket, ex
i cept holding up the grocer for $2 for
: an ad in the Happy Five’s dance pro
[ gram.
“Red*’ Wheat in U. S.
’- From the Miami Daily News.
The best quality of hard red Winter
wheat, says the Department of Agri
■ culture, Is produced in the United
> States. Is this calculated to make the
■ Russian reds turn with envy?.
IThe Political Mill!
By G. Gould Lincoln.
North Carolina faces a new deal In
political leadership. Senator Furnlfold
M. Simmons, who on March 4 next
completes 30 years’ service in the Upper
House, goes out of office, having failed
to be renominated by his party. For
28 years the late Senator Lee Slater
Overman, served side by side with Sen
ator Simmons. Three days ago he died.
The old order passeth. In place of
Senator Simmons there comes to the
Senate Jcsiah W. Bailey, able lawyer
and speaker, who won the Democratic
nomination over the veteran Senator
in the primary last Summer. Already
the successor of Senator Overman has
been chosen by Gov. Gardner. Cameron
Morrison, selected for the appointment,
served as Governor from 1920 to 1924.
Senator Overman's term of office has
still two years to run, and it is under
stood that Gov. Morrison will hold on
until the elections are staged in 1932.
He had expected to be a candidate for
the Overman seat in that year in any
event. He will doubtless be a "candidate
for election when the time rolls around.
** * *
Morrison becomes the senior of the
two Senators who will serve in the
Seventy-second Congress, though onlv a
few months will separate them in the
matter of service. Morrison was a sup
porter of Bailey in the senatorial pri
mary this year against the veteran
Senator Simmons. The issue was party
loyalty, with the refusal of Senator
Simmons to support the Democratic
national ticket headed by A1 Smith In
1928 the major matter of contention.
In other words, the two new Senators
belong to the faction in the State which
stood for Smith in 1928 against the
Simmons leadership. Senator Overman,
who followed Senator Simmons so long
in North Carolina political battles, left
Senator Simmons in 1928 and supported
the Democratic ticket.
Both of the new Senators from North
Carolina have the reputation of being
aggressive political leaders. They will
have to start at the bottom of the sena
torial ladder when they reach Washing
ton, it is true, but there are plenty of
North Carolinians ready to predict they
will make their mark in the Senate be
fore they have been there long. North
Carolina, however, in the interim will
lose important committee assignments
in the Senate which have been held by
Simmons and Overman. Senator Sim
mons is the ranking Democratic mem
ber of the Senate Finance Committee.
He was chairman of the committee dur
ing the Wilson administration and the
last Democratic tariff act bears his
name and that of the late Senator Un
derwood of Alabama. Senator Over
man was ranking Democratic member
of the Senate committees on appropria
tions, judiciary and rules, all important
committees.
** * *
Mr. Morrison is expected here to take
the cath of office as fast as trains can
bring him, perhaps today or tomorrow.
He w’ill arrive in time to take part in
the expected fight ove~ the nomination
of Frank R. McNinch of Charlotte,
N. C., to be a member of the Federal
Power Commission. The Senate Inter
state Commerce Committee had Mr.
McNinch before it Friday. He was the
anti-Smith Democratic leader in North
Carolina in 1928 and he is violently op
posed by the Democarts who followed
Smith in that campaign. Senator Robin
son, of Arkansas, Democratic leader of
the Senate and the running mate of A1
Smith two years ago, has announced
that he proposes to fight the appoint
ment of McNinch if it is reported to the
Senate. Senator Simmons is still in the
Senate and it is understood will strongly
support the confirmation of McNinch.
The row over the McNinch nomination
is merely the aftermath of the struggle
which has been going on in North
Carolina against Senator Simmons and
his leadership for the last couple of
years. The anti-Simmons Democrats
have for years sought to gain the
ascendency over the veteran leader,
who dominated Democratic politics for
more than a quarter of a century. His
declination to follow Smith gave them
the chance which they had been look
ing for.
** * *
Just when It seemed as though Chi
cago might be able to “lose” Big Bill
Thompson from the office of mayor, in
the election next Spring, things are
looking up for the mayor. The Demo
crats are divided among themselves
and the Republicans have so far shown
no ability to get together and oust Big
Bill from the City Hall. Added to that,
it now appears that Thompson is to
succeed in putting through his big lot
tery scheme to aid unemployment and
build up trade for many of the stores
in Chicago. He devised the plan of
having each purchaser of goods given
a coupon bearing a number. These
numbers were to play their part in a
great lottery with SIOO,OOO as the prize.
The merchants would be called upon
to put up the prize money, since it was
planned to boost their business, stimu
late trade and do away with unem
ployment. The Federal Government,
through the Past Office Department,
frowned on the scheme, but Thompson
amended the plan in some particulars
and the department reversed its first
decision. This lottery may aid Bill
Thompson in his campaign for re-elec
tion. Big Bill also has been relieved
of a great burden when the Superior
Court decided in his favor in the fa
mous suit brought against him by the
Chicago Tribune, which was to Co6t
him a million dollars or more. Then
he had his appendix out, and, from
a sick man, is now in the saddle again.
** * *
The Democrats in Chicago have been
unable so far to agree cn a candidate
for mayor. Anton Cermac, better
known as "Tony,” who was re-elected
last month president of the Cook Coun
ty board and is chairman of the county
Democratic committee, is a candidate.
Michael L. Igoe, however, a power in
the party organization and Democratic
national committeeman, is not yet will
ing to assent to the nomination of
Cermac. There has been talk also of
nominating Col. A. A. Sprague, a suc
cessful business man, who was the
Democratic nominee for the Senate sev
eral years ago. Sprague, however, is
not willing to enter a free-for-all race
for the nomination. The Republicans
who are opposed to Thompson and his
city hall crowd are expected to place
a candidate in the field for the mayoral
ty nomination. There is talk, too, of
Charles Barrett, another of the city
politicians, making the race.
Perhaps the faction which follows
Senator Charles S. Deneen, who retires
from the Senate next March, will put
a candidate in the field. Indeed, it is
entirely likely it will do so, provided
there seems to be a chance of success.
The suggestion has been made that
perhaps Senator Deneen himself might
become a candidate for mayor of the
city. Certainly if his faction could
nominate a mayor it would be a big
step for Senator Deneen toward a po
litical comeback. He was defeated last
Spring in the senatorial primary by
Mrs. Ruth Hanna McCormick, who had
the aid of the Thompson faction in
that primary. Thompson left Mrs.
McCormick, however, as soon as he had
brought about the defeat of Deneen,
and supported Senator-elect James
Hamilton Lewis. Lewis, according to
reports from Chicago, has been quite
ill with a cold and threatened with’
pneumonia.
** * *
Democratic leaders are beginning to
figure on their chances for winning the
next national election and placing a
President in the White House. The one
thing that is causing them worry, how
ever, is the possibility that factional
differences may arise in their own ranks
which would give the Republicans a
chance to win in 1932. Every effort
will be made from now on to maintain
harmony. Furthermore, having used
the “failures” of the Republican admin
istration—the Democratic term—to aid
them in the congressional campaign
this year with considerable success, the
party leaders are now seeking to perfect
a definite constructive program upon
which their party may stand in 1832.
One of the matters which has caused
\ ,
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
Did you ever write a letter to Frederic
J. Haskin? You can ask him any ques
tion of fact and get the answer In a
personal letter. Here Is a great educa
tional idea Introduced Into the lives of
the most Intelligent people In the world
—American newspaper readers. It Is a
part of that best purpose of a news
paper—service. There is no charge ex
cept 2 cents in coin or stamps for return
postage. Address Frederic J. Haskin,
director. The Evening Star Information
Bureau, Washington, D. C.
Q. Lately we got a station on our
radio which sounded like Renosa. Where
is it?—R. D. P.
A. The Federal Radio Commission
says that Station XED, in Renosa (or I
Reynosa). Mexico, operates on 961 kilo
cycles. 312 meters, and is a 10.000-watt
station. Renosa Is located In Tamauli
pas, Mexico.
Q. Why does tinfoil coming In con
tact with the gold filling in a tooth
cause a sharp pain?—T. E. C.
A. It is the result of a slight elec
trical current which is thus generated.
Q. What kind of a snake is a black
mamba?—T. L. P.
A. The black mamba Is merely a
popular term among the African na
tives for large black reptiles and is not
any particular species.
Q. Could members of the President's
cabinet be permitted to sit In Congress
without amending the Constitution?—
S. W.
A. “Our Government,” by Gamer &
Capen, says that members of the cab
inet cannot at the same time be mem
bers of either house of Congress. They
could, however, be allowed to occupy
seats for the purpose of advocating or
opposing the enactment of laws affect
ing their departments and for giving
explanations to Congress and defending
their policies against attack. This privi
lege could be allowed without amend
ing the Constitution, and President
Hoover is said to favor such an arrange
ment
Q. When was tea first shipped to the
American colonies?—l. W. C.
A. The Dutch East India Co. Intro
duced tea Into the Netherlands early
In the seventeenth century. It reached
England as early as 1657 and was
shipped by the English to the American
colonies In 1680. At that time it was
selling at $5 a pound and upward, ac
cording to the quality.
Q. When did New York City first
have mounted police?—W. C.
A. They went on duty September 9,
1904.
Q. Wliat vocation did John D. Rock
efeller follow before he became inter
ested In oil?—M. T.
A. Mark Sullivan in “Our Times” says
that when Rockefeller’s family moved
to Cleveland, he began work as a book
keeper. He saved enough money to
become a partner In a produce commis
sion firm, and then with his partner
and a young mechanical engineer, in
1862, he ventured into the oil refining
business.
Q. What is cloisonne?—G. M. F.
A. It is the name applied to a method
by which enamel is laid out in a pattern
with strips of flat wire. The spaces are
filled in with enamel paste, which is
then fused into place.
**•'•** ■ xnaidimu riem ui V/niCAgo.
Complaint from Railroads
Reaches Sympathetic Ears
Complaints by the railroads that they
suffer from excessive regulation while
their motorized and other competitors
have greater freedom are seriously re
ceived by the American public, which
shows an open mind toward corrective
legislation. The rail lines themselves
demand definite action. Although jus
tice in their plea is recognized, caution
is advised against laxity in dealing
with transportation.
Vigorous expression of opinion comes
from the Chattanooga Times, which
feels that "it behooves the public to
consider the plight of the railroads and
make earnest effort to remove the cause
of their growing troubles.” Pointing out
that ‘‘Government builds highways and
permits busses and trucks to compete
with the railroads and use the highways
at a nominal charge,” the Times adds,
“Self-interest alone should cause the
public to demand that the operation of
bus and truck lines should be placed
upon a basis that would compel them
to compete with the railroads without
subsidy by the Government.”
"How to adjust the situation eqi
tably,” says the Hartford Times, ‘is not
an easy problem to solve, yet consid
eration for the ra: oad’s plight in the
battle to retain patronage should be
greater than it has been in the past.
If the railroad’s patronage diminishes,
the rates for it must increase. Public
convenience and necessity demand a
due and suitable proportioning of trans
portation charges, with all public trans
portation under a common regulatory
policy. Otherwise there is inevitable
increase in the Nation's total traffic bill
without a well rounded betterment in
the service and safety for the vast in
vestments involved in providing it. The
legislative problem suggested is becom
ing more and more urgent with the
passage of time.”
** * *
‘‘Although the railroads are not ex
tending their lines into new territory,”
observes the Seattle Daily Times, ‘‘they
have been tremendously active during
the last decade. They have improved
their roadbeds, built double tracks on
their main lines, increased the power
and efficiency of their locomotives and
have established a new record in mak
ing repairs to their rolling stock. Car
shortages are now unheard of, although
car loadings have reached unprecedent
ed heights. The country would make
a serious error if it pressed its ham
pering regulations to a point where
the railroads could not command new
capital. If the transportation lines are
to continue to give efficient service,
they must be permitted to earn a rea
sonable return on their capital invest
ment.”
‘‘The issue which the rail men raise
is one that must be faced in Justice to
them and to the public, which is still
primarily dependent upon the service
given by these carriers,” declares the
Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, while the
Youngstown Vindicator remarks, “The
railroads have done much of late years
to their credit, and since the period in
which they were the objects of attacks
in legislation and otherwise, public sen
timent toward them has greatly
changed as there came a larger appre
ciation of their service.”
“Unquestionably the logic of the sit
uation is with the railroads,” in the
judgment of the Birmingham News.
"As long as Congress sees fit to regu
late both their income and their outgo,
it cannot, without impairing railroad
service, refuse to protect them against
unregulated competition, the trans
the Democrats great trouble in the past
is prohibition. It is likely that a sug
gestion will be put forward by some of
the Western Democrats—some of whom
are committed to the prohibition side
of the issue—that the Democrats in
corporate in their next, national plat
form a declaration in fffvor of submit
ting the question of the repeal of the
eighteenth amendment to the people of
the States. Western drys say they see
no reason why dry Democrats would
not be able to support such a plank.
They could do so themselves, they say.
They believe that both wet and dry
Democrats could unite behinw»the pro
posed plank. Gov. Roosevelt at New
York, who favors repeal, is far out in
front, it is said by these at
present in the race for the Democratic
presidential nomination. He could win
stand on a platform which proposed ft
submit the eighteenth amendment ft
the States Jgr their decision, it is held 3
Q. Is there a vehicular tunnel be
tween Canada and the United Stalest—
C. L.
A. The first international vehicular
tunnel is the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
Q. How many tribes of Israel were in
Palestine at the time of Christ? —R. N.
A. The dispersion of the tribes of
Israel had occurred several centuries be
fore the time of Christ, so at that time
there were only the United Tribes of
Judah and Benjamin living in Palestine.
Q. Is the moon a luminous body?—
C. D.
I A. A luminous body is one which
. emits light. The sun is a luminous
bod*?. Bodies which shine by light
other than their own are called illumi
nated bodies. The moon is an illu
minated body.
Q. What was the Spanish Alarm?—
D. B. H.
A. The North Carolina Historical So
ciety says that the Spanish Alarm was
the attacks on the North Carolina coast
in 1747-48 by the Spaniards. In 1747
an expedition attacked Beaufort, and in
1748, Brunswick.
Q. What the the meaning of the cry,
“Fourteen Hundred”? —R. S. N.
A. It is the cry raised on the Lon
don Stock Exchange to give notice that
a stranger has entered the “House.” It
is said to have originated at a time when
for a considerable period the number of
members had remained stationary at
1,399.
Q. Who was recently awarded the
George Robert White Medal?—R. C.
A. Dr. David Fairchild, botanist and
agricultural explorer, has been awarded
this medal by the Massachusetts Horti
cultural Society. A summary of the
career of this scientist shows that at
least 80.000 separate species and va
rieties of useful plants have been added
to the Nation's resources through his
efforts.
Q. Please give a brief biography of
Frank B. Kellogg, the peacemaker.—
M. M. D.
A. He was bom at Potsdam, N. Y.,
December 22, 1856. Went to Minne
sota with his parents in 1865. Had a
common school education. Admitted
to the bar in 1877. Married Clara M.
Cook of Rochester, Minn., in 1896. Was
city attorney for three years, county
attorney for five years. Moved to St.
Paul, Minn., in 1887. Was special
counsel for the United States in the
case against the paper and Standard Oil
trusts, and for the Interstate Commerce
Commission in the investigation of the
Harriman railroad. Also counsel for
the United States in the action to dis
solve the Union Pacific merger. Senator
from Minnesota, 1917-23. Ambassador
to Great Britain in 1924. Was Secre
tary of State, 1925-28. At present time
is Judge of the World Court.
Q. What date was the first Monday
in August, 1899?—A. F. B.
A. It was the seventh of the month.
Q. Is Admiral Lord Beatty Irish or
Scotch?—N. N.
A. Admiral Lord Beatty is the sec
ond son of Capt. David Longfleld Beatty
of County Wexford. Ireland. Earl
Beatty owns many places in Ireland,
Scotland and England. He married a
daughter of Marshall Field of Chicago.
portation act stands now, it is the duty
of the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion so to adjust rates as to enable
the carriers to earn a fair return on
the value of property used for trans
portation purposes. Even in years of
heavy traffic the contemplated fair re
turn has not been earned by all. This
year, with traffic down and competi
tion keener than ever before, it will
probably not be earned by many major
transportation systems. The situation
is one w’hich Congress can hardly
ignore."
“With their increasing army of stock
holders,” advises the Topeka Daily
Capital, “the railroads are certain of a
hearing. * * * They will insist on reg
ulation of waterways, canals, oil and
gas companies, busses and trucks cor
responding to regulation which is im
posed on railroads. The'only stipula
tion that may be raised to such a pro
gram Is that regulation of other trans
portation should be such as is appro
priate in each case and as is first of
all in the public interest. Excessive or
strangling regulation is not desirable
either for railroads or for other public
utilities.” v
The matter is viewed with caution by
the Lincoln State Journal, which com
ments on the present campaign for im
provement of conditions. “While the
economic position of the railroads is
of importance to all inland points
where there is much bulk freight to be
moved long distances by rail, the his
tory of the decline of the railroads in
power Is even more significant. Other
combinations of interests have made
Uieir threat and have been curbed.
Folk who used to get excited over the
power of the railroads have long since
sought other interests to become ex
cited over. Yet the people and the
Government are ready and able to meet
any present or future threat. Just as
they have defeated those of the past.”
** * *
“Any one who has watched the trend
of railroad earnings as reported on the
financial pages in recent months,” ad
vises the Chicago Daily Tribune, “will
be disposed to agree with the railroad
men that they are in need of relief,
and any one aware of the importance
in our economic structure of the un
derlying securities of the railroads will
see the need for restoring the railroads’
credit. The end will not be achieved
by harassing other forms of transpor
tation, but by relieving the railroads of
their burden of excessive regulation.
That is the good which the railroad
executives should aim at.”
“Forty years ago,” recalls the Raleigh
News and Observer, “the railroads were
united in opposition to any regulation.
They said they owned the roads and
the trains and had a right to run them
as they pleased and charge what they
pleased. In spite of their opposition,
regulatory laws were enacted by State
and National governments. Today the
railroads, suffering from bus and truck
competition, are demanding that the
same strict regulation applicable to
railroads shall be enacted as to other
transportation agencies. They were
wrong 40 yi*ars ago; they are right
now.”
An order by the Interstate Commerce
Commission to the Pennsylvania Co,
a non-operating subsidiary owned by
the Pennsylvania road.” to divest itself
of stock of the Wabash and Lehigh Val
ley roads” is pointed to by the Pitts
burgh Post-Gazette as based on the
anti-trust law, and that paper believes
that “the move will afford a test of the
power of the commission to put through
its railroad consolidation plan.” The
Post-Gazette adds: "In reference to
the railroad problem, the President In
his recent message said that further
legislation is necessary to facilitate the
proposed consolidation. In view of
various considerations, It would seem
that some progress might be expected
before long toward the railroad group
ing that has for so long been discussed.”
1 - % j
From Wet to Dry?
From the Raleigh News and Observer.
We go from one extreme to another.
The last Congress was concerned with
flood relief. The problem with this
Congress is to provide for drought re
lief.
Thanksgiving Is Passed.
From the Terre Haute Star.
The average foot ball stadium soon
** m § park jKDCfc, _