Evening star. [volume], February 22, 1937, 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.
MONDAY... February 22,1937
THEODORE W. NOYES.Editor
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The Living Washington.
When the American people celebrate
the anniversary of the birth of George
Washington it is their purpose and in
tent to pay tribute to a character—not
merely to commemorate a supremely
notable personality. The Nation realizes
that the services of the Father of His
Country did not terminate when he
drew' his final breath in the last month
of the last year of the eighteenth cen
tury. On the contrary, the force of his
example continues to be a growing
power as decade succeeds decade in the
chronicle of the expanding civilization
of the Republic he founded and estab
lished.
Washington's figure does not diminish.
Instead, it grows in proportions, it takes
on added light from greater compre
hension, it glows with the reflection of
more intelligent appreciation, it looms
both larger and brighter in the vision
of the masses today than ever before
since his career began. He was, in every
true sense of the phrase, a modern man.
His heart and his mind were framed of
sympathies and ideals so far in advance
of his own period as to be contemporary
In their nature with the noblest in
stincts and aspirations of the present
era. One of the few majestic and tran
scendant souls who are "not of an age.
but for all time,” he appears In the
current scene as vigorously alive, as
dynamic in his influence, as though he
still farmed his fruitful acres at Mount
Vernon and rode on occasion to the
District of Columbia to see with his own
eyes the development of the Capital
Which proudly bears his immortal name
Nor would he feel himself a stranger
If he were to come again in the flesh
among those to whom he bequeathed the
land he loved and the institutions he
dearly fostered. The problems of the
■ moment, he would understand, are those
with which he also was intimately fa
miliar. He would recognize them for
what they signify—tyranny attempting
the subjection of millions, poverty and
crime taking their pitiless toll of misery
and death, class strife and fratricidal war
turning paradise into hell; the same
eternal struggle, the same defeats, the
same hard-won victories.
But he would not be discouraged. The
fortitude of spirit that was born in him
would give him the strength to remain
faithful to principle, loyal to freedom,
devoted to progress. He would not
compromise, he would not resort to
deviousness, he would not cheat, he
would not have recourse to deception
for the furtherance of any interest,
however precious. Rather, he would
reassert the conscience, the righteous
ness, without which the United States
never could have survived the ordeal of
Infancy nor prospered through the trials
of youth. And he would reaffirm the
basic value of the preservation of in
tegrity in the prevailing crisis.
That was what Washington was and
Is and always will be —a leader who
symbolizes the qualities which the
Nation needs if it is not to perish. To
the degree that America merits such
a Moses, it can hope to find a path out
of the Wilderness into the Promised
Zion of its fairest dreams and its fond
est hopes. Neglecting or rejecting him,
the Nation would decline to a conclusive
disaster which thoughtful citizens fe^
fuse to regard with selfish equanimity.''1
t ■
Staff enlargement proposals may call
for press conference reports on whether
three White House secretaries are really
more serviceable than one used to be.
Labor leaders may find it possible to
agree with the administration on some
points without being persuaded to agree
among themselves.
Edwin F. Hill.
Edwin F. Hill, untimely lost to Wash
ington at fifty-five, would not have
wished a eulogy. A plain man, unas
suming in manner and bearing, he never
wanted notice for himself. Rather, it
was for the interests of his heart that
he sought understanding and apprecia
tion. It follows that it would be his
preference at this final moment of his
career to have the enthusiasms to which
he was devoted mentioned. v
He loved his country and the world
of which it is part. Humanity in the
most widely comprehensive meaning of
the word appealed to him. He made a
business of kindliness always, was lib
eral and tolerant by instinct and gen
erous by nature in the constant practice
of his life. Children especially won
his help—in them he saw the future of
the race and the best opportunity to
aid the advancement of' the whole
human species in this troubled earth.
Mr. Hill likewise had a passion for
knowledge. Facts intrigued his imagi
nation. It was a favorite hobby with
him to collect statistical data on a wide
variety of subjects. His war-time scrap
book was a fascinating compilation of
documented national experience. Per
k
haps It was his penchant for history
which brought about his gradual pro
motion from the humble rank of an
assistant lineman to be information
chief of the Chesapeake & Potomac
Telephone Company. A similar genius
in the field of social service gave him
leadership in the Kiwanis movement in
Washington and throughout the Na
tion.
In a period when ideals are supposed
to be out-of-date unless they are radical
ly revolutionary, Mr. Hill symbolized
the more definitely constructive phi
losophy of steady and natural progress.
A builder, he won and kept the respect
of all who knew him. He died deeply
grateful for the privilege of having
lived and warmly appreciated for hav
ing lived so intelligently, bravely and
usefully—a man without an enemy be
cause, by grace of noble character, he
never deserved to have a foe.
Cost of Propaganda.
The cost of Government propaganda
information services is the term used in
official circles—is a considerable item
in the annual expenditures of Gov
ernment in this country. Laying aside
the money paid in salaries and wages
for the preparation of this material, the
cost of printing and sending it through
the mails has grown to more than
$50,000,000 a year. Representative Taber
of New York, speaking in the House on
tiie Treasury and Post Office appropria
tion bill, called attention to the fact that
the cost of printing all this Government
material has increased to $20,000,000. This
is twice the amount that was expended
for this purpose prior to 1933. He called
attention, also, to the fact that the cost
of transmitting the Government mail
under the franking privilege has in
creased from $9,000,000 a year to $34,000,
000 under the present administration.
The Government sends through the
mails free of charge a vast amount of
material that is not printed in the Gov
ernment Printing Office but which is pre
pared in the mimeographing sections of
the various agencies. There is no gov
ernmental hand to plough under this
production, apparently. It flourishes like
the green bay tree.
Under the guise of information the
agencies of the Government—and par
ticularly the newer agencies created since
the New Deal was brought to Washing
ton and the whole country—are turning
out millions of copies of all kinds of
pamphlets. They are put out in most
attractive style, some of them copying
the magazines of the day, with a great
number of pictures of all kinds. They
are printed in fancy colors, some of them.
All of these publications cost money—a
great deal of money.
They serve, too. as advertisements of
what the Government is doing in Its
many new lines of activity. And. like
i advertisements, they put these activities
! in the most favorable light possible. The
idea is to convince the people that these
activities and the people who work in
them should be continued. Beyond that,
these publications serve as propaganda
for the administration and the kind of
work that it is doing, and what it is pro
posing still further to do. And the money
for this propaganda is coming out of the
pockets of the American people in the
shape of taxes and more taxes.
It is quite necessary that the Govern
ment should provide information about
activities in which the public is inter
ested. There should, however, be a rule
of reason governing the character and
the quantity of such publications.
Of the huge expenditure for Govern
ment mailing only about $750,000 is
chargeable to members of Congress, who
have the franking privilege. The remain
der of the $34,000,000 which it costs to
send this franked material through the
mails is used by the executive depart
ments. A great deal has been said and
written about the use and abuse of the
franking privilege by members of the
House and Senate. It is time that a
little light was thrown on what the
executive departments are doing along
this line.
When Herbert Hoover takes to the
microphone he speaks with the candor
of a plain citizen who has been enabled
by practical experience to know what
he Is talking about.
____ t
When charges of a dummy pay roll
\jfrre made J, Edgar Hoover is faced with
J the possibility of having to inquire into
the "alias" as an incident of Govern
ment procedure.
Nazi Flivvers.
Chancellor Hitler has imperiously
ordered the German motor industry to
produce a good cheap car—or else! His
challenge was hurled at Saturday's
opening of the annual automobile show
in Berlin. It was uttered in der
Fuehrer’s best dictatorial tone, for man
ufacturers were warned in just so many
words that unless they prove themselves
capable of turning out a satisfactory
“people’s auto,” priced within the reach
of the average German, the industry
faces the end of its existence as private
enterprise. The plain inference is that
the Nazi state will take over the business
of providing serviceable cars costing
between $400 and $500. The German
assembled Ford and its nearest do
mestic-made rival now sell at about $560.
Hitler’s purpose is not only to put more
Germans on wheels, but to make the
Reich progressively independent of for
eign supplies. “It is my irrevocable
will,” he thundered, “to relieve the auto
mobile industry of the insecurity of
reliance on international imports.” It
is his ambition to place the motor trade
on "a safe and solid domestic basis,” and
he reminded the industrialists whom he
was lecturing that he would “tolerate
neither slackness nor ill will” on their
part. During the past eighteen years, he
adjured them, “I have never admitted
the plea that ‘it can’t he done.’ ”
It is the intensive motorization of the
United States that fires Hitler’s imagina
tion. While German auto production
and sales have risen threefold since
1933, only one German in every fifty
owns a car. He described the American
proportion as “one In every five” and set
that as the mark at which Nazis should
aim. As a stimulus to the Industry to
solve without delay the problem of a
cheap machine, the chancellor promised
that Germany would within a year or
two cease to depend on constructional
raw materials and fuel from abroad.
The Reich has a long way to go
before it can hope to match the United
States in either output or consumption
of automobiles. If German Industry
should contrive as great a manufac
turing revolution as Henry Ford wrought
when he brought out his Model T some
quarter of a century ago, Hitler’s hope of
a “people’s car” era might come within
the realm of realization. But as long
as Germans are compelled to squander
their substance on cannon Instead ,of
butter—the requirement now ruthlessly
imposed upon them—the dream of a
flivverized Nazi nation on anything ap
proaching conditions In this country is
not likely to materialize. It doubtless
makes der Fuehrer’s head swim with
envy to learn that leading American
producers expect an aggregate output of
more than 2,500,000 cars before the mid
dle of June. That is the kind of a
target at which even the biggest Berthas
of German‘ industry will shoot in vain
for a long time to come.
Certain forms of expression are for
bidden to radio, among them voice imi
tation and direct travesty of opinions
and arguments. Some great ideas have
had to survive the test of ridicule. It
might assist in testing the popularity
of a new deal for the United States
Supreme Court if the comedians of the
air were invited to cut loose. If ridicule
is on the wrong side of an argument it
destroys nothing but itself and as time
goes on strengthens any truth that it
may have assumed to assail.
Closer association of youth on friendly
terms with the police will be of benefit
to the youngster and of benefit to the
police in conquering certain cynical
tendencies caused by contacts with the
underworld. Nobody is too old to mem
orize the Boy Scout oath and to repeat
it frequently.
No question if offered as to the per
suasiveness of Mr. Farley's oratory dur
ing the presidential campaign. He will
be heard with respectful attention if he
should express his views on subsequent
national policies.
The great fortune ascribed to Sir
Basil Zaharoff proves to be exaggerated.
Ohe of the mysteries of finance lies In
the fact that in so many aggregations
of wealth there must often be so much
imaginary money to be accounted for.
Constitution avenue is mapped on a
straight line. It is not likely to attempt
a topographic portrayal of deviating
ideas by calling for remodeling as a sort
of ‘‘zig-zag boulevard.”
Ohio has placed so many distinguished
men in public that it is inconceivable
that the Cincinnati river front should
suffer for the lack of competent hydraulic
engineers.
The only man who boldly asserts spe
cial commercial privilege is the Grecian
gentleman known as ‘'Parkyerpopcom"
at the White House comer. He needs
no N. R. A.
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
The Wicked Refuse to Flee.
We used to see
The wicked flee
When no one was pursuing.
The racketeer
Is drawing near,
Quite safe in evil-doing.
The wicked stand
In bold command
Where all the world is seeing.
The honest man
Must face a plan
That makes him do the fleeing.
The M. D. iff Congress.
‘‘Does medical training qualify a man
for service in Congress?”
“Yes,” answered Senator Sorghum.
“Some of our best legislators have been
doctors. They Jearn to be patient and
philosophical as they wait for their ideas
to develop. A law is very much like a
prescription. No matter how carefully it
is written, you can never be absolutely
sure it is going to work.”
These Gossip Days.
“Why don’t you write a book?”
“For two reasons,” answered Miss
Cayenne: “If I wrote one that didn’t
sell, I’d be disappointed, and if I wrote
one that did sell, I’d be ashamed.”
February Reminder.
George Washington the truth would' tell.
His worth is ne’er forgot.
But in preparing books to sell,
Biographers would not.
Jud Tunkins says a great man who
endures sorrow and hardship earns a
grand birthday party every year—after
he has departed this life.
Paradoxical Bliss.
The cynic is a curious elf.
Complaint is his especial pride.
He never can enjoy himself
Except when he’s dissatisfied.
“We desire to be envied,” said Hi Ho,
the sage of Chinatown. "Yet envy
easily turns to hatred, and we should
not be surprised if success brings more
foes than friends.”
The Great Art Instrument.
Musicians took our hearts by storm,
But now all Art is slow
Unless it’s able to perform
Upon the radio.
“Book leamin’,” said Uncle Eben, “is
no help if It encourages a man to think
It entitles him to do nuflln* ’cept lex*
wIm and act haughty.”
Our Nation’s a Republic
And Not a Democracy
To the Editor of The Star:
Tyrants never lack plausible excuses
to sugar-coat their misdeeds. It is
equally true that designing politicians
always have a well-filled bag of tricks
to entice the people into compliance
with their schemes.
The most alluring form of seductive
ness seems to have been reached Dy the
repeated and reiterated misconception,
that, this Nation Is a democracy—that
we must make democracy work. A de
mocracy is a form of government in
which the people select and control
directly their public servants. Those
who fulminate loudest about “our
democracy” never were selected directly
bv the people, but through intermedi
aries. If this were a democracy there
would be no great horde of appointed
officeholders, exercising despotic power
of administration and prodigality with
out responsibility or accountability to
the people. There would be no herds of
special favorites, intimidating, threat
ening or coercing legislators to carry out
their selfish purposes. There would be
no domination of bureaucrats and no
rash rulership of politicians.
The United States of America is a
federal republic—in which the people
have the right to choose their own public
servants for government administration
and to enact their own laws within pre
scribed and restricted fields. Through
legislative power by them intrusted to
representative bodies and by the adop
tion of a constitution, the people "limit
their own power against sudden im
pulses of mere majorities,” banish all
executive rulers and restrain benevolent
or ambitious dictators.
How ridiculous is the present hysteria
of politicians, stampeded by their own
transgressions against orderly govern
ment and their own depredations upon
the people's rights! How silly to stir
up mobocracy, simulated as democracy,
to transform a free republic into undem
ocratic bureaucracy!
The rational common sense of a sen
sible people may well turn away from
such false guides as—
"Some positive, persisting chaps we know
Who, once wrong, must needs be always
so"
and keep in remembrance the truth
that God gives men light to see the right
so that men wrong shall not always
drag this Nation along condemned and
worn-out roads.
JOSEPH W. CHEYNEY.
Confusing Gratitude With
Power to Scrap Liberty
To the Editor of The Star:
If Mr. Roosevelt knew that the N. R. A.
was against our fundamental laws, why
did he not have a separate law covering
the child labor clause? Or was the
clause put in purposely so that N. R. A.
could force its power upon us over the
backs of our children? A child labor
law is good and necessary and the
President is to be commended for his
effort to rid us of this evil.
If he felt the need was so great at
that time, why did he not take steps
to divorce the perfectly good child labor
law from the dictatorial N. R. A ? Eight
een months ago was the on-coming
election more important? While now
he cannot wait for the natural processes
of our common law? Why not put forth
propaganda which has been used most
effectively in some other lines in the !
States concerning the child law?
Humanity, like a river, must always
struggle to reach the main goal. Past
experience has taught us that too sud
den changes or courses in rivers or hu
man fundamental laws makes for de
struction rather than the common good.
The English system which Mr. Roose
velt says is good enough for him to
copy is taking the people's rights. In
England the system is used to oppress
the poor. Absolute power can be used
in any direction.
As a free people we voted Mr. Roose
velt into office, but we did not relinquish
our liberties in gratitude for his leader
ship MARY McNUSS.
Plea of Car Owners for
Use of “Parks'’ Amusing
To the Editor of The Star:
The purported sarcasm of, Willis
Rutledge anent the use of the parks
for parking purposes is amusing in the
extreme.
Just where does he find any real
parks in Washington nearer than Rock
Creek? Where are those wonderful
breathing spaces “for the multitude”
that he speaks of?
He must have a car to go way out
and sit down, for the old parks beauti
ful are now deserted prairies. All they
need to complete the picture is a few
prairie dogs.
The old restful parks were really
parks and breathing spaces with their
lovely trees, winding paths, benches to
rest on and drinking water, and were
very much used as such by the multi
tudes.
But now they are great expanses of
grass and cement exposed to the burn
ing sun of the high heavens in Sum
mer and the icy blasts of Winter. No
trees, no benches, no shade, no drinking
water.
One plot is sadly needed for a play
ground for the children of the neighbor
hood—between Freer Art Gallery and
Aeroplane Building. The kiddies near
there noted the possibilities of the plot
and began to play ball on it—just the
thing. But down swoop the indignant
officials, who put up a sign “No Ball
Playing.” They want grass, not healthy
children. The idea of their trampling
precious grass. It’s preposterous.
I say let the boys have ball grounds,
and plenty of them, and the grown
ups and babies real breathing places
and the motorists parking places.
ALEEN ROGERS.
Taxicab Driver Approves
Judge’s Views on Speeding
To the Editor ol The Star:
May I be one in defense of Judge
Hitt's views on speeding here in Wash
ington? I have closely observed the
charges for speeding brought into the
Traffic Court and I can say that a
great many of them are for such minor
infractions of the speed regulation that
the honorable judge should be com
mended for the stand which he takes—
that more judgment is not used by the
arresting officer.
In my opinion, if every motorist would
strictly observe the 22-mile speed limit
regulation during the rush hours in the
morning and afternoon, it would take
from 1 hour to 1 hour and 45 minutes
longer for the traffic to move into the
downtown area and to move out.
What we all know is that what we
really need in this city is more one
way streets and increased speed limit,
and above all. a right-hand turn on a
red light in the outlying sections.
Just being a taxi driver with more
than 300.000 miles behind the wheel in
Washington traffic prompted my writing
this letter, that Judge Hitt might know
that some one with first-hand informa
tion as to conditions certainly agrees
With hien. E. ERWIN DOLLAR.
A fat song sparrow was perched on the
fence Just before the snow.
He was singing merrily, his fine trills
and melodious gurgles filling the air, so
that Spring seemed very close at hand.
The bird didn’t know it, and neither
did the observer, but within a few hours
a heavy fall of snow was to begin, to
last all day.
It was to be a snowfall which clothed
all shrubs and branches with at least
three solid inches of heavy, soft, white.
The fat song sparrow did not know it,
and neither did the observer nor the
Weather Bureau, for that matter.
The sparrow's song was beautiful, no
doubt about that. The bird books were
right. Observations of scores of bird
lovers were right.
This was a special song, belonging to
this one member of the sparrow family.
Once identified, it is never forgotten.
It is said that more persons know this
song than that of any other bird, but
we doubt that.
w * * *
The bird on the fence—he was really
on the post—held his head up at a
distinct angle, and poured out his song
to the cool morning air.
The sky was gray—it was destined to
grow grayer, as the snow began later—
but that fact did not lessen the ardor
of this song.
“Melodia," the ornithologists correctly
call this bird.
He is melodious, without doubt, a
natural-born singer, with a simple song,
but a very beautiful one. It has two
notes, then a note higher, then a trill
downward. In between come various
flutelike notes, reminding one very much
of those of a canary.
The bird that morning was giving a
fine exhibition of his art. The post he
had selected was among a hedge of
thorny climbing roses.
There he sat contentedly, all by him
self in the grayness of the early morning,
just after light had arrived.
He was on his way to the feeding sta
tion in the back yard, but before he
dined he sent up this song of praise and
thanksgiving.
Is it attributing too much to a bird?
One may think not. They are crea
tures of great Nature, more directly than
man. They do what they do because of
her. and know no “reasons" for what
they do.
Hence the morning melody of this
small sparrow was a real outpouring of
Nature.
It was, in truth, Nature praising
Nature.
If one may judge from a specimen
of the art, man, self-praise is inherent in
the universe.
When the stars sung together, they
must have warbled about themselves.
* * * *
It was a magnificent seeing, to watch
that song sparrow.
It was charming hearing, to hear him
deliver his song.
It was good thinking, to think of him
there, in the cold gray of the morning,
all alone, but singing before his break
fast.
How well mast humans would do. if
they emulated him, and had music be
fore their meals, not with them.
Music before meals is more satisfac
tory. especially at breakfast time.
Try It some time and see. A phono
graph is the most satisfactory instru
ment; even the old-fashioned type is
good, for it permits one to play exactly
the type of music one likes.
* * * *
Birds in the yard at feeding stations
love to listen to man-made music.
The radio is good for this.
Birds particularly appreciate so
pranos, violin music and dance bands.
Give a wild bird any of these and he
will perch contentedly on a shrub by
the porch, listening intently.
Prom time to time he will join in
the music. The humble English sparrow,
in particular, enjoys doing this. It
helps him with his own. He is not as
melodious, by nature, as the song spar
row, but he has a will to sing, and
where there's a will, it is said, there's a
way.
Open a window, and let the birds at
the feeders hear the music from indoors.
Our song sparrow, that morning,
needed no assistance.
A small bit of soft banded brown and
light gray, he sat atop his post happily
in the cool of daybreak, lifting his head
in song.
The music was sweet which he sang.
It rippled over the street and yard and
back to the feeders, at which a few Eng
lish sparrows already had gathered.
In a few hours the first of the snow
had arrived. From then on it kept up
all morning and all afternoon.
At 5 o’clock that evening there was
a song sparrow in the shelf of a feeder.
Was It our musician?
There was no way of being sure, but
we rather thought it was and hoped it
was.
Down went his bill, time after time,
after seed in that endless, relentless way
of birds the world over.
The snow now stood three inches thick
on all vines and boughs.
The yard was beautiful, with the exact
beauty which only snow brings.
Snow is a nuisance, in a great many
ways, but before man and his ways can
spoil it, it is beautiful with endless
fascination.
The grouchiest character, who hates
snow, will thrill to that first unsullied
loveliness, that wide unbroken expanse
of white.
Footprints of man in it strike him as
wrong.
Footprints of animals in it strike him
as right.
Why the difference?
* * * *
The birds, scores of them, eating all
day long, had left no tracks behind.
Only one bird, our song sparrow, sat
in the feeder.
Was he asleep?
So he seemed. He was facing out, his
round, light gray chest contrasting well
with the snow.
He was just reposing, evidently.
Would he remain there all night? If
he did, he would be the first bird ever
to do so.
The day grew darker, but the ex
panse of white kept him plainly in sight.
The clock hands had reached almost
the hour of 6
When, zip! away he flew.
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE.
Speculation is rife as to how long |
President Roosevelt will wait before
broadcasting a "My Friends" appeal to
the Nation on behalf of his imperiled
Supreme Court program. So far the
White House has withheld indication of
any such purpose. As the fight waxes
hotter and the opposition grows in size
and importance, the impression widens
that F. D. R. cannot afford to refrain too
long from going on the radio and throw* -
ing the full weight of his personal in
fluence into the scales. This feeling is
heightened by the colorlessness of the
public defense the court plan has so
far had. Hardly anybody outside of the
inner administration circle thinks that
Attorney General Cummings' recent talk
strengthened the President's case. Other
pleas have suffered from a certain con
tradiction in argument. Apparently the
Rooseveltian strategy is to let the situa
tion develop without intervention by the
President, in the confidence that the
country in due course wrill line up on his
side, especially organized labor and farm
elements. But the view is crystallizing
that the opposition is gaining momen
tum at a clip which can only be checked
by some dramatic effort on Mr. Roose
velt's part.
Connecticut, home State of Attorney
General Cummings, and Wisconsin, an
cient citadel of Western liberalism, don’t
seem to hold with current theories that
70 is the limit age of usefulness for public
men. At the November election Con
necticut re-elected Wilbur L. Cross,
former dean of the Yale Graduate
School, to a fourth successive term in
the governorship. Dean Cross will be
75 years old in April. Progressive Wis
consin redrafted from private life and
re-elected to the State treasurership
picturesque and perennial Solomon
Levitan, who was one of •'Fighting Bob"
La Follette’s earliest lieutenants. Old
Sol" was retired from office in 1933, when
the Progressives temporarily lost control
at Madison, but despite the fact that he
is in his 75th year, he was restored to his
former post for a sixth term, by an
immense majority, in 1936. Neither
Rhode Island nor Delaware has any
objection to statesmen in the lean and
slippered cycle of life. “Little Rhody”
has just sent 69-year-old Theodore F.
Green to the Senate, and from Delaware
there comes to the same body James
H. Hughes, also aged 69.
No one would have been better
equipped to take a hand in the Supreme
Court controversy than the late Repre
sentative James M. Beck. In his famous
book on the Constitution, Beck indulged
in what now reads like grim prophecy.
Describing an independent judiciary as
“the balance wheel of the Constution”
and the Supreme Court as “the final
conscience of the Nation,” Beck said:
“This great power to curb Legislatures
and executives, and therefore majori
ties, has been exerted for over 130 years.
While not infrequently the party whose
power is thus curbed has vented its
wrath and disappointment upon the
Supreme Court, yet after the thunder
of political debate has passed and the
earthquake of party passion has spent
its force, the ‘still small voice’ of the
Supreme Court has always prevailed.
Each time the will of the majority is
nullified, because inconsistent with the
fundamental law. threats are made, as
are now’ being made, to destroy this
power, or at least to impair it by re
quiring the concurrence of seven out of
nine justices before a statute can be
invalidated. The most effective re
straint which freemen have ever im
posed upon themselves is this extraordi
nary power of the 8upreme Court. The
value of such a restraint upon precip
itate action is so great that It Is im
probable that the American people will.
A
at least in the near future, thus destroy
the efficacy of the great balance wheel.”
* * * *
Opinion is general that Gov. John G.
Winant. retiring chairman of the Social
Security Board, will next be heard of
as secretary of the future department of
public welfare. The Lincolnesque son
of New Hampshire has long been
• credited with Republican presidential
ambitions. He would, of course, auto
matically eliminate himself from that
picture by accepting a Roosevelt cabinet
portfolio. In a mock national conven
tion at Oberlin College last Summer, on
the eve of Landon's nomination. Gov.
Winant was picked as head of the Re
publican ticket. His successor on the
Social Security Board, Murray W. Lati
mer. is presumably also a Republican,
though his Mississippi birth suggests
the contrary. The law requires that at
least one board member shall be of
different political faith than that of the
two others. Messrs. Altmeyer and Miles,
who were Winant's associates, rank as
Democrats.
* * * *
Up from Texas comes a tale that
House Majority Leader Sam Rayburn is
being groomed for the 1940 Democratic
presidential nomination. Some of his
Capitol friends think that if any such
movement ever really gets going, its
underlying purpose would be to secure
second place for him. That’s what hap
pened in the case of that other famous
Texan, John Nance Garner, in 1932.
when he wound up by being nominated
for Vice President after a pre-convention
campaign for first place. Representative
Rayburn played a major role in the
strategy at Chicago which resulted in
Garner’s becoming Roosevelt’s running
mate.
* * * *
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, jr.’s.
Washingtons birthday debut in the
Senate enlivens the suggestion that the
Supreme Court conflict gives the young
Bay Stater an opportunity for leader
ship that comes to few rookies in Amer
ican public life. As one of the slender
band of 16 Senate Republicans Lodge has
a unique chance to step out and make a
reputation in the constitutional crisis
of the generation. The expectation is
that he will be in the thick of the fray.
* *»*
Washington friends rejoice in the im
pending return of Roland Robbins to
the Capital theatrical field after an
absence of 10 or 12 years. A native
Bostonian, Mr. Robbins, though still very
much in the prime of life, looks back
upon roundly 40 years' association with
the stage. As long-time manager of
Keith’s.Theater here, he played host
regularly to President Woodrow Wilson,
whom he describes as “vaudeville's most
distinguished patron.” Mr. Robbins will
have charge of Washington’s first news
reel theater, the Trans-Lux.
* * * *
American tourist traffic to Latin
America is doing more to cement Uncle
Sam’s relations with the sister repub
lics than a century of diplomacy, accord
ing to President Madrazo of the National
Railways of Mexico, now in this country.
Because of the increase of Yankee travel
across the Rio Grande, the Mexican
lines are about to make seme heavy pur
chases of American rolling stock. They
also plan to build a magnificent r.ew
union station in Mexico City. In search
of ideas for it Senor Madrazo will in
spect terminals throughout the United
States.
(Copyright, 1937.)
American Art.
From thg Grand Rapid* Fret*.
American art can’t decide whether to
be Mphlsticated or primitive.
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC 1. RASKIN.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by writing The Evening
Star Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. How many W. P. a. workers are
assisting in the flood zone?—A. T.
A. There are about 150.000 workers on
duty between Wheeling, W. Va., and New
Orleans.
Q. Why is bock beer drunk particu
larly in the Spring?—B. M.
A. The custom started on the Conti
nent where bock beer was looked upon
as a tonic rather than a beverage, and
taken in lieu of other Spring tonics.
Q. What is meant by parallel center
in the news about Russia's treason trials?
—C. F.
A. It se£ms to be the center of or
ganization of groups to carry out
sabotage and terrorism.
Q. Wh£t is the average cost of having
a prescription filled?—H. P.
A- About 85 cents. In small towns
the average is about 51 cents, in large
cities about 95 cents. About 165.000,000
prescriptions are filled yearly in the
United States.
Q. Is it true that no one except Sen
ator Huey Long may be buried on the
grounds of the State Capitol of Louisi
ana?— H. K G.
A. There is a State law that no one
else may ever be buried in the grounds
of the Capitol.
Q How much do sportsmen spend for
hunting licenses and bird stamps?—
L. W.
A. In 1935, the latest year for which
figures are available, hunters in the
United States and Alaska paid $9,256.
758.94 for hunting licenses and $446,919
for Federal bird hunting stamps.
Q. Who organized the Council of
State Governments?—A. T. L.
A It originated with Henry W. Toll
nine years ago. While it has been slow
in getting a start. 17 States now belong,
and Mr. Toll is the executive director.
Q. How many safety pins are made
in the United States?—A. H. ■
A. The number is estimated as a |
million gross a year. 1
Q. How many languages does Cardinal j
Pacelli speak?—T. B. J. J
A. The papal secretary of state speaks^
Greek. Latin. Italian. German, Frenci^B
English, Spanish and Portuguese. !■
Q. How many nations besides the”
United States have tried to enforce pro
hibition?—M. L.
A. Since 1912 seven nations have at
tempted to enforce national prohibition
without success. They are as follows;
Canada, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Nor
way. Russia and Turkey.
Q Where is the ski museum?—W. H J
A It is at Darmouth College. Hanover.
N. H.. and was opened by the Dartmouth
Outing Club.
Q. What countries own or control
most of the earth?—C. R S.
A Great Britain comes first with con
trol of 13.172.000 square miles; Russia, or
the Soviet Union, second, with 8,144 000
square miles; France, third, approxi
mately 5.000.000 square miles; China,
fourth, with 4.250.000 square miles, and
Brazil and the United States are next
with each about 3.000,000 square miles.
That accounts for about three-fourths
of the earth. The remaining fourth is
divided among some 60-odd countries.
Q. Does the Government depository
for gold at Fort Knox, Ky., have a
moat?—H. W.
A Two water-filled moats encircle the
structure and are provided with a device
to permit flooding of the underground
vaults in the event of danger. This
idea was copied from the Bank of
England.
Q. How many cans of corn, peas and
tomatoes are put up by commercial
canners?—G. M. •
A. In 1935. it is estimated that over
6.000.000.000 cans of major vegetables—
corns, peas and tomatoes—were packed
for the canning industry.
Q How long did it take Christopher
Columbus^ to cross the ocean in 1492?—
S. B.
A. It took about 70 days.
Q Do all Army flyers have to be able
to use a parachute?—R. H..
A. All flyers in the Army are para
chute jumpers.
Q. What .are the lowest and highest
number of vibrations a second that can
be heard by the human ear?—H. B. S.
A. The lowest sound heard by the
average ear is 20 vibrations per second
and the highest 29.000.
Q Is Harry Stillwell Edwards, who
wrote “Eneas Africanus,” still writing
for newspapers?—J. W.
A. The author contributes a column to
the Atlanta Journal called “Coming
Down My Creek."
Q. How many bachelor Kings had ,
England before Edward VIII?—M. H. J
A. It had had three Kings since 10661
who remained unmarried—William II. l
Edward V and Edward VI. Several
other Kings were unmarried when they
ascended the throne, but married during
their reigns.
Q. Is it correct to use the word “en
thuse"?—W. H.
A. The word is not in good usage.
Hiller Prepares.
Prom the Saginaw News.
Maybe Hitler is right and Germany
didn’t start the last war; but he cer
tainly is building up a beautiful case
against her for the next.
Probably Fed Up.
Prom the Elgin (111.) Courler-Netos.
A Norfolk, Va., man is 102 years old,
and has never had a doctor. Still, he
must be tired of eating apples.
A Rhyme at Twilight
Bv
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton
All Things Pass.
I had a friend who used to say
When threatening clouds obscured the
day,
"The sky will soon be clear as glass—
This, too, will pass."
My friend has long since gone her way;
Yet when life's sky grows dark and gray
1 hear her whisper. "Though clouds mass
This, too, will pass.”
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