Evening star. [volume], February 24, 1932, Page A-8, Image 8

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

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THE EVENING STAR
With Sunday Morning Edition.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
WEDNESDAY. .February 24, 1932
THEODORE W. NOYES. .. .Editor
The Evening Star Newspaper Company
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The Hale Bill. I
The Hale bill, sui homing * naval
building program which would give the !
United States full naval strength under j
the provisions of the treaty of London. ;
has received unanimous approval of the
Senate Naval Affairs Committee. Th"
committee has acted expeditiously and
Wisely. It is high time that the rest 1
of the world should understand that If
it persists in a policy of big arma
ments the United States proposes to
be in a position to protect Itself. Ana
It is high time that the American
people should understand that national
defense is not An issue to be Aide
tracked. George Washington, whose
memory the American people are cele
brating in this year of the Bicentennial
of his birth, sensibly and patriotically
warned his fellow Americans against
p’rmanent foreign alliances and uiged
them to "care always to keep ourselves
by suitable establishments on a respect
able defensive posture." The London
treaty set forth the principle that the
United States not only was entitled
to have a Navy equal to the strongest
in the world, but also that it should
have such a Navy for defensive
purposes.
Too often the impression has prevailed
abroad that the United States is not
concerned with national defense needs;
that it is willing to follow a laissez
faire policy, hoping that nothing ad
verse will turn up. And too often that
is th? foolish policy that has been fol
lowed in this country. The United
States very properly has taken a lead
in the movement for arms limitation,
hoping finally for measures that amount
to disarmament by the nations of the
world, and in the movement for the
settlement of international disputes
without recourse to war. But while the
United States has for years set an
example to the rest of the world In the
matter of limited armaments, the rest
of the world has disregarded the exam
ple as completely as though it had never
existed.
The Senate leadership, both Repub
lican and Democratic, favors the passage
of the Hale bill, though It is reported
that there is difference of opinion re
garding the time when the measure
should be taken up.
One school of thought in the Senate
proposes that the Congress shall act
on the naval program immediately, so
that the American delegation at the
Geneva Conference on Disarmament
may be in a stronger trading position.
Another holds that it would be unwise
to give the impression at Geneva that the
United States is interested in propor
tionate armaments rather than in dis
armament. It is obvious, however, that
actual disarmament is a long way in
the future, while limitation of arma
ments is a goal which may be attained
within the lives of present generations.
A big step along these lines was taken
In the London Conference when three
of the great naval powers, the United
States, Great Britain and Japan,
reached an agreement regarding all
categories of naval vessels. If at the
Geneva Conference it is found possible
to win the rest of the nations to a sim
ilar agreement much, very much will
have been accomplished. In the mean
time, however, it is clearly not only
to the advantage of the United States
to provide for a treaty-strength Navy,
but also It is a duty to the people
of this country.
Men can still remember when as boys
they were told to go to the barber shop,
but to be sure not to look at the Po
lice Gazette. The pink paper that de
picted wild life has passed away and
there Is no use trying to prevent a
scrutiny of the picture magazines on
•very newsstand.
Strict Regulation Required.
In his appearance not long ago be
fore the Subcommittee on Diatrtct Ap
piopriations Gen. Patrick of the Pub
lic Utilities Commission was admon
ished by several of the members against
permitting taxicabs and busses to
usurp great areas of curb space on the
public streets. One gained the impres
sion that the members wanted some
thing done about it.
Well, what is to be done about it?
The Public Utilities Commission, as a
first step toward extension of neces
sary regulation over the taxicab busi
ness, which business exists in a wild
arid primeval state within the borders
of the District, sought to have the cabs
equipped with meters. As a few mem
bers of the House are constitutionally
opposed to equipping taxicabs with
meters, they succeeded in putting a
lesolution through the House to the
effect that the House would look with
keen disfavor upon any move thus to
equip the taxicabs. With the Public
Utilities Commission saying one thing,
and the House of Representatives of
the United States saying another, the
taxicab operators have chuckled over
the vagaries of governmental regula
tion in the Capital City and have mer
rily gone their way. The possibility of
effective taxicab regulation is apparent
ly as far away as ever.
The bus operators, in the mean time,
have presumably studied with Interest
the ineffectiveness of the Public Utili
)ties Commission’s efforts at taxicab reg
ulation On April 1, aceoaUtaa to an
Brier %eued by tilt conunUrigfc lilt
I Suirmer, the class A, or intercity bus
{lines, are suppoaed to move their routes
. end trrminals from the congested area
j that is bounded by Pennsylvania avenue,
, New York avenue, Fifteenth and
Seventh streets * By August 1 none of
these class A lines will be permitted to
i maintain curbstone tern-Inals In down
! town Washington They must either
park outside the downtown area cr main
tain ofl-street terminals on private
property. They are barred altogether,
however, from the congested area ar
outlined above. Although only a little
more than a month intervenes be lore
the effective date of the order requiring
the vacation of the downtown area, there
are no indications that the bus lines
plan to obey the Public Utilities Com
missions mandate. The properts are
that the matter will be contested in
court. So far the commission's efforts
to enforce its orders through the courts
have been unsuccessful.
At the same time the abandonment
of its tracks within the District by the
old Mount Vernon. Alexandria A: Wash
ington Rail wry and the substitu ion of
busses for street cars have added a
number of so-called clrss B bus lines
and termina's In the congested area.
These busses are not affected by the
commission's "cl’ss A" bus order. But
I
the increasing amount of curbstone
space they now utilise shou'd justify a
requirement that they also maintain
off-street terminals.
Legislation relating to p.oprr regula- !
tion of the various common ccrrirrs in j
the District is in drastic need of over- [
hauling. The streat cats deserve no ■
sjmpathy merely because of the advent j
of new forms of competition. They do |
deserve sympathy because of the abso- j
lutely unfair basts upon which they are i
forced to compete. The busses end the
taxicabs should be made amenable to
strict regulation, exercised for the com
mon good, or the street cars should be
removed from the supervision of the
regulatory agency. As the letter alter
native is unthinkable. Congress and the
Public Utilities Commission should pro
ceed to correct an anomalous situation
that is constantly leading to more con
fusion in traffic and discriminates in
the distribution of the financi’l burden
among those who use the public streets
for profit.
Japan's Note to the League.
Japan's reply to the League of Na
tions Council's appeal of February 16
that her treaty obligations be observed,
in relation to China, will not go into
historical records as a masterpiece of ,
diplomacy. It Is, however, an extraoi - j
dinary document. Briefly stated, it is
an expression of surprise that the ap
peal should be addressed to Japan
rather than to the Chinese, "as the
attacking party." This amazing pre
mise is Immediately followed by the
statement that the Council docs not
appear to suggest that "Japan was
wrenj in resisting the attack on her
marines,” and therefore "it is impos- ‘
sible to see why it (the appeal) should j
be made to Japan alone."
Some day perhaps it will be possible :
to obtain a satisfactory’ statement of
the precise justification of Japan'* ag
gressive move in China. The present
reply to the League Council does not
cover that point. It has been shrewdly
camouflaged throughout the diplomatic
exchanges. The ‘ attack upon her ma
rines" cannot be accepted as Japan*
cause of warlike measures—It is always
to be borne In mind that only a "state
of war" exists at Shanghai. Outside
of the International Settlement Japan
had no rights that required the adop
tion of independent military measures
for defense. The other powers having
interests in the International Settle
ment did not delegate to Japan the re
sponsibility for the defense of that area
against Chinese intrusion.
So far as it can be determined
Japan's military move at Shanghai
was initiated as a measure of compul
sion to effect the abandonment of the
boycott against Japanese goods that
had been begun by the Chinese peo
ple. The ‘‘state of war” was unmis
takably due to Japanese aggression.
Yet In the reply to the League Coun- j
ell the Japanese foreign minister says:
“There is nc possible reason why the
aggressive measures of China should
be condoned because of her pacific
declarations, while the defensive meas
ures of Japan are branded as hostile."
If Tokio expects the powers to ac- j
cept this sort of chicane as the basis
of its recognition in the role of a de
fensive nation there is indeed need
of a complete readjustment of all in
ternational valuations. If it is sincere
in its argument, from the standpoint
of Western civilization, it is in need
of instruction in the fundamentals of j
human relationships. If it is not sin
cere it is simply employing the diplo
macy of deceit to cloak a monstrously
wicked purpose.
Shrewd argument is readily offered
by Bishop Cannon. If he had not
decided to identify himself with re
ligion he would, no doubt, have been
eminent in the law.
Percentage of alcohol ha* been pro
moted by prohibition to almost as
prominent a place In discussion as per
centage of Interest charges.
Boy and Gun.
The boy and ths gun! The combi
nation works fine for the undertakers,
but It is hard on the families. The boy
sometimes gets the gun by parental
gift, sometimes by secret purchase.
■ gain by theft. However he gets it,
he is seldom capable of its proper use
or trained in his responsibility as its
possessor. Having the gun, he must
use it, just simply has to use it. £te
fires at a mark somewhere. It may be
in the heart of the city, or it may be
in the suburbs, only rarely out in the
open spaces of the country. Of course
he prefers a living mark, a bird or an
animal. It is much more fun to shoot
at something that is living than at a
tin can or a bottle or a paper target.
The living thing may move and if the
gunner can hit it on the move he(is
Indeed a marksman. And is it not true
that guns are made to hit living things
and make them dead things? There is
no escaping the boy's reasoning on that
score. He gets a bit of a kick out of
the bang of the charge and the recoil
of the weapon and the knowledge that
he is sending a missile at high speed
somewhere. But back of it aU is the
knowledge that the gun represents the
possibility at killing something. Mkd
that U why the run Is inch a woofer*
ful plaything. It was that line of argu
ment that caused a lad of thirteen In
San Francisco to select a soldier of the
American Army sitting on a bench
near Fort Funs Ion as his mark. 1 There's
a soldier—he's used to being shot at
and will make a fine target." So ray
ing, the boy with the gun took aim and
fired and the soldier went to the hos
pital with a wound that, fortunately for
both soldier and boy, was not a dan
gerous one. The youth, the dispatch
states, was held for the Juvenile Court.
Will the court go to the root of the evil
and punish the person who gave or
allowed the boy to get the gun? If it
docs not it will have missed the point
of the matter altogether.
A confirmed stock gambler cannot see
why there should be any more objec
tion to his betting that the market will
go down than there is to betting that
the thermometer tomorrow will go
down and not up. His style of trans
action is entirely apart from consider
ations of normal supply and demand.
So is the transaction of a man who
expects a rise in value. Stock gambling
has enjoyed the advantage of getting
itself mentioned in comnany with legit.
mate Investment until it seems compel -
atively respectable.
Advocates of a sales tax do not con
tend that It will be universally popular.
No tax ever is. The sales tax has the
advantage of lessening the shock by
requiring so much calculation to let the
consumer know what he is paying that
lie seldom goes to the trouble of ascer
taining the bitter truth.
When a country goes into war for
the purpose of providing food and shel
ter for its large population, accurate
account is never taken of the number
of people who could have been main
tained by the wealifc destroyed in
battles.
It is never very easy to command
popular interest for statistics. Reed
and Hale have managed to do so in
their discussions of our Army and Navy
as compared in equipment with those
of other nations.
Possibility now asserts itself that
there may be enough adherents of the
old Russian royalist regime to cauac
Stalin to consider military as well as
industrial features in connection with
the next Soviet plan.
Japan has made a close study of
diplomacy and. even when her advances
cause world consternation, does not for
get her fixed custom of breaking bad
news as gently as possible.
Some politicians refer to the bou
quets now thrown to favorite sons as
bunches of crocuses. The crocus is first
of the blossoms and never lasts into
the Summer.
So much histrionic talent is required
for an anniversary celebration that the
joys of patriotism are likely to be tem
pered by the pangs of artistic jealousy.
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON
Advice.
We get advice on everything
Pertaining to this earth,
On what to say and what to ting
In sadness or in mirth.
On what to read and what to wear,
On what is rude or nice, /
For every phase of human care
We daily find advice.
As admonitions we attend
From minds both great and small,
Attention we too seldom lend
To real Wisdom's call.
How often has thiji fate been met
By Washington so brave.
We praise him loudly, but forget
The good advice he gave.
Moment of Musieal Candor.
"Are you fond of music?”
"Of course I am,” answered Senator
Sorghum.
"But you never join in a patriotic
tune.”
"Let me make a confession. My ear
for music is not good. The worst way
In the world for me to show how fond
I am of a tune is to try to sing it.”
Jud Tunkins says the world might
have gotten rid of war sooner if there
hadn't been so much more poetry than
truth written about it.
Discrimination.
Our ancient sires revered the laws.
They favored no rough frolic,
But did not shoot at men because
Of tangles alcoholic.
Those old-time warriors bring a thrill.
We honor their position.
For patriotism they would kill,
But not for prohibition.
Debt Extension.
"If you extend a note too often," re
marked the broker, "you might as weU
burn It.”
"I agree with you,” answered Mr.
Dustin Stax. "What you Intended as
a moratorium become* a crematorium.”
''Wars,'' said Hi Ho. the sage of
Chinatown, "call on us to build monu
ment* and speak splendid pralae, In
order to help them forget the horrors
they have erdured.”
A Simile.
The taxes they design to make ua pay,
Like clothing ready-made, will bring
a sigh.
A vast variety is on parade.
But nothing really seem* to satisfy.
"I ain’ gineter argue,” said Uncle
Eben. “If a man Insists on bein’
wrong, I don’ feel called on to risk a
fight tryin’ to do him de favor of puttin’
him right.”
A Difficult Taak.
From the Hamilton (Ohio) Journal.
A list. Just compiled, of 15,000 dis
eases that afflict mankind ahows how
much harder it must be in modern
times to be an all-around hypo
chondriac.
East’s Push Fails.
From the Toronto »Canada) Dally Star.
One might almost suspect that the
East imagined that a good strong push
at the present time might topple over
the structure of the Western World.
There to Stay.
From the Florence (Ala.) Herald.
Some of our foreign investments
may not be entirely sound, but they
nevertheless have the sppsuterine ef
permanency. / ® ^
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES F.. TRACEWELL.
The c^rdinffl birds nsver heard of
such r thing as a depression. Or
did they?
•'Cheer, cheer, cheer!" they cry.
A squirrel crek-creks at them from
a tree.
Did you ever hear a squirrel crek?
That's a sort of word which has a
very long and fancy name, but which
is explained easily enough by saying
that it attempts to give the sound.
Languages are full of such words.
Every tongue has them.
I The crek-crek of the squirrels is
j the curious, grating, teeth-gnashing
I noise made as thp rodents sit in trees,
j Most often it seems to be an impre
i cation hurled down at passersby.
Once v.e saw and heard a squirrel
I crek-crek while he hung onto a tree
; by his hind legs, upside down, and
waved his iront paws in a gesture of
defiance.
* * * *
It is a pleasure to watch the car
dinals. which have been around for a
month or two.
i Tile splash of color the male makes
I in shrubbery is bright, indeed, at this
I season.
He is a first touch of Spring, far
ahead of the robin.
His clear song, or call (it seems more
like a call than a song), rings out every
now and then.
There is an old legend that if a
cardinal is imprisoned, its mate will fly
to its tage. bringing it a poisonous
[ berry, which it will eat and thus per
j ish.
This is probably a folktale, originat
' ing in the early days of the republic.
[ when the beautiful cardinal was much
sought after as a cage bird. It wns
found necessary to stop this traffic, and
thus save one of our cheeriest birds,
as well as almost the most beautiful.
It is a question, indeed, whether there
is any common bird more lovelv than
this. Its bright color is instantly rec
ognized by most people, even in cities.
The femal<\ although duller in color
ing, yet is bright enough.
•a* ^ m *
Let all the songbirds come back,
they will all be welcome, but the gath
ering will not be complete until the
tvood thrush arrives.
There are several sorts of thrushes, i
and we are not sure which one enter
tains us. but it makes no particular
difference. The Important thing is that I
he Is a thrush.
The thrush is a kind of American
nightingale, it seems to us. His song
is unvaried, with slight exceptions, but
it is so clear and cool, so filled with
the music of woods and stream, that
it comes near to being our idea of the
way a nightingale should sing (but
probably doesn't).
The books say that originally the
thrushes stayed away from human
habitation. They were shy. and to be
found only in the deepest thicket.
Well, if that were true once. It is so
no longer. The thrush is one of the
chummiest of modern birds. He comes
down. In the cool of the evening, during
that beautiful period when grass takes
on its greenest hues, and walks around ]
under the shrubs, hunting for his j
dinner.
In thus viewing the thrush at close
range one probably will feel convinced |
that if he were to dangle a particularly j
long worm before the bird the speckled
fellow would hop right up.
Then a swiftly descending hand
might Imprison him, if any one wanted i
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
Theobservance of George Washing
ton's birthday anniversary and the In
auguration of the Washington Bicen
tennial Celebration proved to be a
world-wide affair. The Geneva Disar
mament Conference halted its snail's
pace and took a three-day recess on
Washington's account. Ambassador
Edge, In Paris, delivered a highly sig
nificant speech concerning the Ameri
can position respecting reparations and
war debts. Poland issued a special
Washington postage stamp. Speakers
throughout Germany lauded the U. 8.
Shot and shell around Shanghai some
what cramped the style of the Wash
ington celebration there. Japanese and
Chinese troops failed to observe the
American holiday. Mr. Hoover’s Wash
ington birthday address to the joint
session of Congress was his first per
sonal appearance before the House and
Senate since his ascension to the presi
dency. At its conclusion and after the
President and cabinet and the Senate
and the diplomats had departed from
the House chamber the House staged
an ovation for Speaker Garner, against
which all the gavel wielding prowess of
the ruddy Texan could not prevail.
‘ Hurrah for Garner,” some member
shouted and then beldam broke loose
and continued for several minutes.
Members stood In their places, ap
plauded. yelled, waved handkerchiefs
and flags and generally made merry In
honor of their popular leader. At the
Bicentennial costume ball, which cap
ped the climax of the day, a harassed
gentleman appealed to the master of
ceremonies. "Where do I go?” he
asked? "I married a Washington.” To
which the M of C. replied, “Are you of
the blood? If not, go in group one or
two. Group three is only for those of
the blood.”
* * * *
“The Democratic Roosevelt—the Life
Story of F D." is a new book destined
for wide circulation by the Roosevelt
campaign managers. The authors of
this “authentic biography" are listed as
Leland M. Ross and Allen M. Grobin.
The pen portraiture of the hero is
highly flattering. Gov. Roosevelt’s
character, courage, capacity and ac
complishments are graphically set forth.
The illustrations, too, are highly ef
fective: "Young Franklin With His
Father and Mother at the Hyde Park
Home,” “Franklin Roosevelt With the
Groton School Foot Ball Team,” “The
Assistant Secretary of the Navy,” “The
Family Group at Hyde Park," “Gov.
Roosevelt on Horseback After His Vic
tory Over Infantile Paralysis,” “Gov.
Roosevelt at His Desk in the Executive
Chamber at Albany," “Gov. Roosevelt
Reading His Now Famous Message on
Unemployment to the New York Legis
lators in Extraordinary Session.”
* * * *
John Garner's potential strength, in
the event of his nomination for the
presidency—his political assets and lia
bilities as the Democratic standard
bearer, are being subjected to minute
scrutiny. It is being warmly debated,
for Instance, as to whether Texas is
South or is West. The Texans claim
it is West when confronted with the
contention that the Northern Democ
racy is in no mood to give the nomina
tion to the 8outh. “Jaak Garner’s
home is west of Omaha,” aay his friends;
"that certainly makes him a Western
candidate, rather than South.” A Bos
ton Democrat in Congress was asked
how he thought Garner would run in
Massachusetts if nominated “Well
they say, one of his grandmothers was
born in Ireland and that ought to
help,” he replied. “That may be a
myth, but there is no harm in it, not
a bit of harm."
The conversational topic was the
business depression and the tremen
dous deflation In property values and
security prices in the past two years.
The speaker was a prominent member
of Congress possessed of a large private
fortune. “I have recently had occe
sion to take an inventory of all of
my real estate and of my persons!
property," he said, "and to compare
their present realisable value with
values prior to the collapse of the
Mellon-Coolldge boom, I find that I
own only two things which are today
worth more than I paid for them—my
wine cellar and my French bonds. My
liquors, bought In 1920 before prohibi
tion and measured by present bootleg
prices, show an Increase In value of
400 per eent. My French bonds bought
to ltM are today quoted about 90
pr cent above what I paid for than.
' Everything else I own has depreciated
! from 20 to *0 per cent.”
* * * *
A sidelight on the extent of the in
vasion of the Kentucky coal fields by
volunteer investigators of the labor
troubles there, la contained in an ad
vertialng circular *? a Kentucky-Ten
nessee Interstate bus service, which
was being exhlbitad in a Senator s office
one day this weak. The circular con
tained the bus service schedules and
; references to busses for special char
i ter. and autoe for hire at reasonable
! rates and contained the printed foot
note, “Special Facilities for Visiting
; New York Writers." The senatorial
! group agreed that this was a rather
I cryptic statement, with a possible dou
i ble meaning. It was suggested that it
may have meant that the company
offered special facilities to speed the
. visiting writers out of the State and
out of trouble. The local authorities
in Kentucky, according to protests now
lodged with Congress, have showed the
visitors the exit with scant ceremony.
a * * *
The White House Conference on
Child Health and Protection, like the
babbling brook, seems destined to run
on forever. It is just announced that
Arkansas is to have a “White House
Conference” on March 1, Michigan on
March 18 and Oregon on May 2. Eleven
books have been published by the con
ference to date, but that is Just the
beginning. Some of the titles are "Psy
chology and Psychiatry in Pediatrics—
the Problem,” and again. “Pediatrics,
Education and Practice,” “Nursery Edu
cation" and "Parent Education,” “Body
Mechanics—Education and Practice.”
* * * *
The Ritchie presidential campaign
has now reached the stage, where it is
to have a full-fledged publicity bureau.
Norman W. Baxter, veteran of 20 years
of newspaper experience here and
abroad, and until recently managing
editor of a Washington morning news
paper, Is to direct the Ritchie publicity.
Political developments of the past few
weeks In the Democratic camp have
greatly encouraged the backers of the
Maryland Governor. The new impedi
menta in Roosevelt's path for the nomi
nation. the activities of the Smith fac
tion on the one hand and the phe
nomenal rise of the Garner boom on
the other hand, are seen as increasing
chances of a deadlock at Chicago, from
which Ritchie might emerge victorioua.
(Copyrlcht, 1932 >
Protests Police Service
At Capitol on Monday
To the Editor of The Star:
The writer is wondering if one of
your news reporters happened to notice
the deplorable treatment of the public
Monday at the Capitol grounds during
the opening of the George Washington
Bicentennial. If not, may he point out
some of the facta?
The general public was held back
beyond the curb of the plaza and
crowded in like cattle, women and chil
dren being nearly crushed, when there
was room within the plaza for thou
sands to hear and aee the program,
whereas they were crowded back to the
sidewalk and not allowed by the police
to *t«p foot off the curb. Hundreds of
these people came from all parts of the
United States to be present at the
opening of the Bicentennial, and then
to be held back to a point where they
could not aee or hear the program,
when there was room for thousands
in the plaza, certainly Is not Just to our
people, and especially so on such an
occasion when we honor the Father of
Our Country.
Then to climax the situation the
Police Department started to park a
large group of busses In the plaza In
front of the people who had stood for
hours for the opening of the program,
and they, no doubt would have left
them parked there if the people had
not set up a complaint.
V. L. McKINSTRY.
Infantile Lapses.
From the Sen Antonio Krenins Newi.
Statistic*. remarlu a contemporary,
■how that babies cannot be too careful
to Inflict imprisonm*nt upon such a
sweet singer.
* * * *
The scng of the thrush is th? only
bird song which we find ourself listen
ing for as Spring com?s around this
way.
It is music.
Only a slight re-arrangement of
notes would b? necessary to make it
into what human brings call a melody.
It would be in waltz time, a lilting,
descending sort of thing, elemental and
primitive.
Few birds possess patterns in their
songs. Mostly they are hodgepodges.
notes thrown together, in the same se
quence. it is true, but scarcely to b?
dignified as musical patterns.
The song of the thrush, however, is
distinctly of a musicianly nature: that
is why. although the listener may not
suspect it, it is so pleasing to him.
It possesses a folksong quality, nior?
than most birds' tunes. Perhaps the
natives around Honolulu, inventing
some of their waltzes, used bird songs.
* * * *
It is interesting to speculate at this
time upon the exact wav the plants
must look upon this Winter, so com
paratively warm and mild.
One may feel convinced that the
plant fibers have a way of their own
of looking at life as they grow it.
It is not intelligence, exactly, as we
know it. but it is some sort of knowl
edge, one may feel sure of that.
Their knowledge is a reaction to cer
tain outside stimuli, but it must come
frem the inside. It is like a finger press
ing a doorbell, Th’ finger presses from
the outside, the bell rings inside.
The plants respond, as we sav, to
warmth and rain. But that is not all.
Their ancestors made the same re
sponses over the centuries and it is in
their very being to so respond. That
is what may be called the plant's Intel-i
ligence. or the plant s mind. In a way, 1
it thinks, just the same as wTe do, and
for just the same reasons.
* * * *
But how is a plant to think in such
topsy-turvy seasons as these?
Perhaps a lilac does not know any
more what to make of such weather \
Ihrn we do.
Both lilacs and human beings are
entirely at sea,
A whit? lilac in the yard is making
itself ready, however, for Spring It has
a fine new set of leaf buds all ready,
and these will unfold shortly.
Unless extremely cold weather Inter
venes. these new leaves will never fold
up entirely. There is a wide latitude
m Nature, which takes care of tender
new shoots. Frost and freeze may get
them, at last, but not surely.
While it is extremely hazardous to
prophesy in such an abnormal weather
year, it will seem to many an amateur
gardener that true Spring cannot be
very far away.
As a matter of fact, and strictly on
number of days. Spring is not so very
far away. Ordinarily, one may begin
on the lawn about the middle of March.
And March 15 is not very far off.
after all. It will be here before one
knows It. There will be plenty of cool
days, but the mysterious "feel" of
8prtng will be In the air. That will
make a difference.
Then the birds will begin to arrive in
earnest, and to wake up at 4 o’clock in
the morning, all cheeping and chirping
together, as If the very success of the
new season depended upon the amount
of song from each individual bird.
__ 1
No Preference Given
To Veterans in Fact
To the Editor of The Star:
I have read with a yreat deal ol
interest the statement made in a let
ter published In The Star over the
signature of Mickie Barker, that many
advantages arc given the veteran in
search of employment by both private
and Government employers. Mr. Bark
er's letter Is fairly written, but, I be
lieve. without a knowledge of the sub
ject under discussion.
Par from receiving a preference
from private employers, it has been my
experience, and hundreds of cases
come to my desk monthly, that it Is
much more difficult for a veteran to
obtain a Job than it is for a non-vet
eran to obtain one. The reason for
this is that practically all veterans suf
fer a vocational handicap due directly
to their service in the late war. Dur
ing the period of their life that is
usually spent in attending schools of
higher learning, starting at the bottom
in low-paid jobs, or learning a trade—
I might say during the time that
Mickie Barker was attending high
school and thereby obtaining advan
tages that will stand him in good stead
later on—these veterans were in the
Army and Navy. Tfcey went in as
boys, came out as men. untrained men
in so far as earning a living is con
cerned, and have suffered, vocation
ally, ever since. These claims are
proved by the fact that while the vet
erans are but 10 per cent of the wag;
earners of the country, they compose
over 15 per cent of the unemployed.
In other words, in proportion three
veterans are out of work for each two
non-veterans. Does that look as
though they were obtaining preference?
The veteran of the World War who
is not suffering from a disability in
curred as a result of his service is en
titled to a 5 per cent preference in
the matter of civil service examina
tions. Any person who has ever con
ducted examinations of a general na
ture knows that there can be a 5-point
difference in marking the same papers
by different instructors, so it may be
readily seen that this 5-point prefer
ence amounts to very little.
In order that we may compare the
treatment of the Government relative
to civil service positions sought by
veterans and non-veterans, let us com
pare two cases, one of a man who went
In the Army during the war and one
who did not. On April 7, 1917, two
men went into the Government serv
ice. One became Pvt. John Smith and
fhe other became Cleric John Smith of
the Bureau of Fisheries. Both had the
same qualifications as to education.
Pvt John Smith got *30 per month.
Clerk John Smith got *120 per month.
Pvt. John Smith goes to France,
fights valiantly and comes back in
1919 The war was over, but the dura
tion had just begun, and by the time
Pvt. John Smith gets out of the Armv
It is for one reason or another. April
7, 1922, five years after his enlistment.
Also, on April 7, 1922. Clerk John
Smith decides to resign from his Job
because he has an opportunity to make
more money elsewhere.
In April, 1931. the Smiths both lose
their Jobs. Both have families to sup
port and both apply to their Govern
ment, which they have served faith
fully, and ask for jobs as clerks.
To Clerk John Smith the Civil Serv
ice Commission is able to say:
“Oh, yes, Mr Smith, you served your
country well for five years and you
are, therefore, entitled to reinstate
ment without examination.”
To ex-Pvt. John Smith the Civil
Service Commission must say:
“Sorry. Mr. Smith. You served your
country well for five years, during and
after the war. But you served as a
soldier and not as a clerk. Therefore,
the Government cannot give you a
Job”
There Is your veteran’s preference.
I never met a veteran who would not
change places with the man who served
his Government as a clerk, except for
the fact that they know that If it were
not for the veterans there would be
no United States here for the young
men of today to seek to serve for
"patriotism and profit.” But with pens
and not guns.
JOHN ARTHUR SHAW.
Director, Veterans’ Employment Serv
ice.
National School Best
Tribute to Washington
To th* Editor of Th» Star:
The celebration of the Bicentennial
of the birth of George Washington af
fords wide scope for reflection and
appraisement, admiration and testi
monial. Whether we consider Wash
ington as cltlsen, Mason, patriot,
soldier, president of the constitutional
convention, statesman, or chief magi
strate, his career reflects high credit,
an honor accentuated by the Influence
ot his character and achievements not
only upon his country and his age, but
upon the whole world and through suc
ceeding generations.
Varied as were his public ac
complishments. it was In the realm of
democracy that they were most con
spicuous. have endeared his name to
lovers of liberty throughout the world,
and will consecrate his fame to all
posterity. And it was directly out of
this paramount phase of his public ac
tivity that grew his advocacy of a na
tional university for the country he
loved and served so well.
And yet, strange as It may seem, this
great educational Interest of his life is
perhaps less known to the general pub
lic than is any other. Unfortunately,
the American people have been too ab
sorbed In the territorial and material.
Industrial and commercial development
of the United States, and In the sev
eral wars through which it has passed,
to found the national Institution of
learning which Washington knew
would best disseminate the principles of
democracy to the uttermost ends of the
eartn. , .
It la fitting, therefore, at this special
time of testimonial to Washington's
public services, that renewed attention
be directed to his national university
project, with the efforts made there
for by himself, by a number of his
successors In the White House, and by
a multitude of distinguished Americans
In all periods of our national history.
Many will be the tributes paid Wash
ington during the period of the Bi
centennial observance, February 22 to
Thanksgiving day, 1932. The great
national Masonic temple, at Alex
andria. erected primarily In his honor,
will attract attention to his virtues as
a Mason. His restored birthplace at
Wakefield. Va., and the churches where
he worshiped, at Pohlck and Alex
andria, Va., will share with Mount
Vernon the distinction of pilgrimage.
His name and fame will be the theme
of Innumerable speeches, pageants and
writings. His monument at Washing
ton will draw added scores of thous
ands. And yet. noble as is this marble
obelisk, no one acquainted with Wash
ington's mind and heart will for a
moment doubt that he would indefi
nitely have preferred, as a monument
to his memory, the national university
which he so repeatedly and earnegtly
advocated—a monument to endure in
living and beneficent activity when
monuments of stone are dust.
Indeed, how so finely could gratitude
and honor be shown Washington, and,
at the same time, how could so splen
did an educational service be rendered
the Nation which he bequeathed to
posterity as through the establishment,
by the Government, at the National
Capital, of the national university so
near his heart—an Institution calcu
lated to have resources, prestige and
achievements Impossible to any other,
and yet to co-operate with each and be
the friend and Inspiration of all—an
Institution which would give the United
States a new and enduring distinction
among the nations of the world. Could
the nation give Washington so fitting
a testimonial as through such atone
ment for its neglect, for 140 years, of
his great educational Ideal?
KEPLER HOYT.
Opposition or Remonstrance?
Prom the Duluth Htrtld. I
Thu country haa learned that a third
polittealjmrty^eaeMbe little more than
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. H/tSKIN.
Many renders send in questions signed
only with initials, asking that the
answers appear in the newspaper. The
space is limited and would not accom
modate a fraction of such requests.
The answers published are ones that
may interest many readeis, rather than
the one who asks the question only. All
questions should be accompanied by the
writer's name and address and 2 cents
in coin or stamps for reply. Send your
question to The Evening Star Infor
mation Bureau. Frederic J. Haskin, Di
rector, Washington, D. C.
Q. How much money is spent on
amusement in this country?—A. O. K.
A. Market Data says: "Measured by
income, the amusement field is the
fourth largest industry in the United
States. Its annual receipts are esti
mated at $1,500,000,000."
Q. What is the longest air line In
this country?—E. S.
A. The New York-Chicago-Paciflc
CLast Airway is the longest. Last year
23,000 passengers were carried.
Q. When were news reels first popu
larised?—E. H. B.
A. The news weekly came on the
screens of the United States in 1910,
when Pathe Freres of Parts circulated
a weekly issue of their Pathe Journal.
Brief pictures of troops taken by cam
era men during the Spanish-Amerlean
War were the prototypes of the news
weekly.
Q. How often does a person move In
his sleep?—R. A. R.
A. A normal healthy adult changes
his position about once In seven or
eight minutes while sleeping.
Q. 'What American newspaper leads
in classified advertising?—W. C. F.
A. The Los Angeles Times still is
leading the Nation in the number of
want ads printed. In 1931 the Times
published 5.692,722 lines of classified ad
vertising. This was 933.906 lines ahead
of the Brooklyn Eagle, second In rank.
The figures indicate that about 1,200,000
single classified advertisements w'ere
printed by the Times in a single year.
The Times has long held this leading
position.
Q. What became of the American ;
flag carried by United States troops in
London, England, during the World
War?—L. L.
A. This particular flag is now hang
ing at President Wilson's tomb, in the
National Cathedral of St. Peter and 8t.
Paul, in Washington, D. C.
Q What Eastern university was the
recipient of the Fidac Medal last Sum
mer?—S. W.
A. At the Twelfth International Fi
dac Congress, in Prague last Summer,
the Fidac Medal was awarded to Prince
ton University for distinguished service
in promoting world peace and under
standing. The medal was presented
by Dr. Stephen Duggan on the occa
sion of the annual alumni meeting, Feb
ruary 20-22, 1932.
Q. As the Japanese reckon time,
what year is this?—R. E.
A. The year 1932 la the year 2592 of
the Japanese era.
Q. How many people have been c»r
ried acroaa the ocean In one ship?—
P. A. o.
A. The Leviathan holds the record.
During the World War, counting offi
cers and crew of the ship and the con
tingent of soldiers being carried, the
grand total of persons aboard was 13,
558.
! Q How young was Mary Wigman
; when she started dancing?—A W.
I A. Miss Wigman was 27 when she
j learned to dance. She had gone to
school in England, traveled in Europe
and the Orient, and ventured into mu
sic before she found that dancing was
j her life work.
Q. What are the comparative areas
i of Texas and Alaska?—B. B.
A. Texas, with 265,896 square miles,
is less than half the sise of Alaska, with
586.400 square miles. But Texas has
almost 6,000.000 people and Alaska only
60,000. An even more amaaing dls
crepancy between area and population
of Alaska and a State of the United
States is th? case of Rhode Island,
which is one-four-hundred-and-sev
entieth of the size of Alaska, with 1.24*
square miles, but has over 600,000 p*o
pie. and hehes 10 times as much popu
lation.
Q. Whst i* isinglass made of?—J.
E. T.
A. It is a semi-transparent, whitish
and very pure form of gelatin, chiefly
prepared from the sounds or air blad
ders of sturgeons from the rivers of
Western Russia,
Q. Who said "I will not kill a dog
that barks at me?"—G. V. C.
A. Vespasian, the Roman emperor, is
said to have made the remark in ex
pressing his attitude toward a group of
republican conspirators.
Q. Please tell something of the life
of Dmitri Merejkowski, author of "The
Romance of Leonardo da Vinci."—F. L.
A. This Russian novelist and critic
was bom in St. Petersburg (Leningrad)
August 2, 1865, the son of a court offi
cial. He graduated from St. Petersburg
University and married Zinaida HIppio
poet. His first volume of poetry was
published In 1888 and was followed by
translations from Euripides and other
Greek classics, and by a trilogy of his
torical romances collectively entitled
Christ and Antichrist." The influence
of Sienkiewlcz can be traced in many
of his writings.
Q. Is Devonshire House in London
still standing?—M. M.
A. This historic mansion was de
molished in the World War and a
large new hotel and apartment house
was erected on it3 site.
Q. Did former Gov. Smith of New
York have a precedent for his tactics
in dividing the New York Democratic
support for Gov. Roosevelt by an
nouncing his own willingness to run?—
S. A. H.
A. In 1879 when the Democrats
nominated for Governor of the State
a man personally objectionable
Honest John Kelly, then leader of
Tammany Hall Kelly had himself
nominated in addition, thus dividing
the party vote, electing the Republican
nominee and disciplining the party.
Q. Do all mammals have hair?—
L. M.
A. Hai* Is the characteristic covering
of mammals. Hairs are not wanting
on any mammals, but vary greatly in
abundance, some being densely clothed
while others possess It only on limited
parts of the body.
Q How long has veneered wood been
ustd?—M. S.
A. The Forest Service says that the
art of veneering can be traced back to
the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries
preceding the Christian era.
Q. What makes a muscle develop?—
C. P. B
A. Exercise causes muscles to develop.
The actual mechanics of the develop
ment of muscle consists of an increased
amount of blood to the heart during
exercise. This causes growth of the
mu.vcle and tissues, with the resulting
development in sixe.
Q. What verse of Scripture is called
the ‘epitome of good citisenship”?—
L. H.
A. This title has been applied to the
verses found in Mark, xii.17; Luke
xx.25, with respect to payment of
taxes: “Render unto Caesar i the state)
the things that are Caesar s and unto
Ood the things that are God s.”
Q. Was the British Wall actually
built by Hadrian?—S. H.
A. The development of the wall was
gradual. Before Agricola advanced into
Scotland, about A. D. 78. he built forts
to protect him from attacks in the rear.
The lines thus formed were made per
manent by embankments of earth and
a ditch, known as the vallum. Hadrian,
about A.D. 120. and Severus Septimus
90 years later completed the structure,
murua. or stone wall, parts of which
still remain.
‘Banking Measure Is Lauded
As Basis of New Confidence
Benefits likely to be derived by the
country from the Glass-Steagall bank
ing bill are emphasized In press com
ment. Under supervision of the Fed
eral Reserve Board, there is offered an
extension of rediscounting facilities,
with the prospect of eUmlnating fears
that have been disclosed In the course
of the depression. The use cf gold from
the vaults of the Treasury Is expected
to aid In producing beneficial results.
"It is a temporary measure," says the
Springfield (Mass.) Union, "which re
laxes credit restrictions, for a one-year
period, but which could be extended as
an emergency measure If circumstances
demanded. The effect upon the unem
ployment situation, of the release cf
additional credits, will be helpful in
proportion as business men and the
banks avail themselves of this oppor
tunity to expand their facilities." The
New Orleans Item voices the opinion
that "there are sound reasons for open
ing up credit through the Federal Re
serve and putting a stop to the contin
ual pounding of prices." As to present
conditions, the Item advises that they
are not "going to keep the American
Nation from continuing to grow in real
wealth, or from being permanently
prosperous."
It Is pointed out by the New York
Times that indefinite credit expansion
Is not contemplated, while the Rock
Island Argus emphasises the fact that
"action Is discretionary with the Fed
eral Reserve Board,” and makes the
further statement: "It is argued that as
the legislation is to meet an emergency,
no financial inflation Is under contem
plation and that the idea that new cur
rency Is to pour out Is a figment of the
imagination." The Roanoke World
News explains that the "main purpose
is to pave the way for the liquidation of
billions in sound securities now held by
banks, but not eligible for rediscount
ing,”
"The deep-running restraint, the
strength of the safeguards set up by the
bill against any risk of unreasonable in
flation are most impressive," according
to the Boston Transcript. The Birming
ham Age-Herald remarks that "it is in
teresting to observe that Senator Glass,
who has always Insisted on the strictest
requirements In connection with the
Federal Reserve System. Is leading the
movement In behalf of this amelioration
of credit stringency.”
“Senator Glass probably is right, in
the opinion of the Chicago Daily News,
"in affirming that the privileges of the
measure will not be taken advantage of
as widely as some expect As a matter
of fact, few banks are suffering from
a shortage of redlscountable commercial
paper. The additional rediscounting
privilege will operate chiefly, though not
exclusively, as a fear-removing factor,
and will tend to expand credit for legit
imate purposes where it has been un
duly restricted because of the bankers'
passion for liquidity. There Is no basis
for the fear, manifested In some char
ter*, that there will be Inflation as a
direct result of the liberalisation of
credit.”
The Boise Idaho Statesman sees "not
a step toward currency Inflation so
much as a shift In the mechanics of
the Federal Reserve ayatem. which will
allow It to function In the depression
as it was designed to function in normal
periods." The Cleveland News advises
that "the fear of Inflation In the wake :
of the new credit Is not taken seriously,
as Indicated by the strong support given
the measure by both parties." The Fort
Wayne News-Sentinel takes the position
that "the purpose of the measure is to
place the Republic's banking system In
the strongest possible position in resist
the sinister force of credit deflation. ’
That paper smpharless “the legal status
of a TeAa^gSmeexm note” with the l
' statement: "It Is the obligation at the
United States Government; it must
have behind it 40 per cent in actual
gold, and It la. in addition, a first lien
on the assets of all issuing banks."
Indorsing the present proceedings,
the South Bend Tribune states: "The
simple truth is that the Federal Re
serve System has become a hoarder of
gold. It has $250,000,000 in gold, cor
responding to $2,250,000,000 in credit,
In excess of legal requirements. The
Federal Reserve can enlarge the banks'
credit: the banks can meet the credit
demands of manufacturers and mer
chants; and the manufacturers and
merchants can work back to normality
with confidence that elimlnatipn of the
actual unemployment and of the pros
pects of further unemployment will
stimulate purchase of the merchandise
that Americans desire and need."
‘ The measure apparently Is designed
to broaden the powers of the executive
officials controlling the administration
of finance and to trust to their Judg
ment,” according to the Buffalo Eve
ning News, and the Nashville Banner
sees in this “another timely affirmation
of the Government's willingness and
ability to support the banks of the Na
tion to whatever extent may be neces
sary.” The Charleston (S. C.) Evening
Poet offers the comment: “Hie bill
promises some real relief to an intol
erable congestion of credit. If that
easement does not lead to an improve
ment in business and to a reduction in
unemployment it will be because the
foundations of the old order have been
shaken loose by the excessive mechani
sation of industry and that something
much more radical than easing of
credit is needed to bring back what we
used to call prosperity."
"It has remained for Senator Glass,”
declares the St. Louis Times, "to step
forth and call a spacle a spade. ‘Ab
solutely disgraceful.’ is a description by
the learned Virginian of the situation
in which men who have been called
Napoleons of Finance have hoarded
their sound paper when the credit
facilities of the Federal Reserve sys
tem were open to them. 'These timid
and frightened bankers have ceased to
function. Their banks havs stopped
banking. Seemingly they have no sense
or conception of duty to their respec
tive communities,' asserted the Senator
to a very large and attentive and ap
proving audience, that was learning in
astonishment that hoarding has pre
vailed In banking.”
Replying to this charge, the Harris
burg Telegraph offers the side of the
bankers: "Senator Glass should under
stand that bankers are but custodians
of the money of others, that they have
faced most trying conditions and that
extreme liquidity has seemed to some
of them, under the circumstances, the
sole chance of aurvlval in case of
emergency. But now that Government
credit is to be had the banks will be
able to take care of their customers
without injuriously limiting their credit
resources. More than that, many banks
which have money aplenty will now
be encouraged to loan it, knowing they
will be able to discount heretofore In
eligible paper If they should have need
of Immediate cash.”
The Placid Past.
From the Rochester Times-Unlon.
What did Tammany hare for the
day's best worry before Beabury sup
plied the daily need?
Limitation of Armi.
Prom the Toledo Sled*.
As « concession to disarmament,
Great Britain has dacldad that a bays*
net a inches in length * adequate.